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D.C. and District Talk

· Energy Bill Signed into Law
As a member of the House-Senate Conference Committee that negotiated a compromise on national energy policy, I was especially proud to see President Bush sign the bill into law on Monday in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The House passed the conference bill on July 28 with a bipartisan vote of 275-156. The Senate passed the bill on July 29th by a vote of 74-26.

As both a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and an ardent advocate of the need for a national energy policy, I am thrilled that we have finally reached this point. We need to implement these provisions, which will help meet our energy needs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs, and increase the use of renewable fuels.

The energy bill includes provisions on these issues:

Oil, Gas, and Renewables

Doubles ethanol production to 7.5 billion gallons annually by 2012.

Extends the biodiesel tax credit through December 31, 2008.

Authorizes over $3 billion for oil, gas, and coal industries.

Allows for a deduction over 24 months of geological and geo-physical oil and gas exploration costs.

Cuts the number of special gasoline blends now required for certain cities or areas.

Coal

Authorizes $250 million annually for the Department of Energy’s program for new coal research at National Coal Centers of Excellence, possibly including Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Provides $1.8 billion over nine years for the Clean Coal Power Initiative.

Authorizes $3 billion over ten years for the Clean Air Coal Program, which provides loan guarantees and financial assistance for the deployment of air pollution control equipment.

Electricity

Institutes mandatory reliability requirements for high voltage power lines.

Contains incentives and legal changes to encourage increased capacity.

Offers financial assistance to generate more electricity from solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal sources.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Authorizes a $2.15 billion hydrogen fuel cell program to get hydrogen fuel cell cars on the market by 2020.

Authorizes $200 million for the Clean Cities program to provide grants for alternative fueled and fuel cell vehicles.

Requires a 20 percent reduction in federal building energy use by 2013.

Increases funding for the Low Income Housing Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Authorizes $200 million for the Clean School Bus Program to reduce fuel usage.

I was pleased to be able to work with my Illinois colleagues who were also on the Conference Committee on certain aspects of this legislation – Senator Obama was very helpful on the ethanol provisions, and Congressman Costello is always supportive of the coal industry.

There are significant benefits for ethanol in this legislation, including a tax credit for gas stations that install E-85 pumps. This was a provision that Speaker Hastert was very supportive of and helpful in getting it included. I was also able to amend the bill to have automakers place a label that identifies the vehicle as being able to run on E-85 on the gas cap or inside the fuel door.

Another provision of the bill is to extend Daylight Savings Time by four weeks beginning in 2007 to run from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Energy consumption is expected to be reduced. If a study shows that this change will not provide energy savings, Congress can then vote to maintain the current schedule.

Will electricity and gasoline prices drop immediately as a result of this bill, unfortunately the answer is no. But I do believe that it will help us become more independent of foreign oil, will expand our use of renewable fuels, and will make our electricity production and transmission more reliable. All of which will help slow price increases.

I truly believe this is a good bill not only for my constituents in the 19th district, but also for all Americans. As we work hard in the coming months to begin implementing these new laws I anticipate even more attention will move towards energy policy. To keep up to date on any legislation pertaining to energy issues please keep your eye on the Energy and Commerce Committee website at http://energycommerce.house.gov.

Constituent Corner

· New “Traveling Help Desk” Dates

On Wednesday, August 10th, Mary Ballard of my Springfield district office will be available to help the residents of Farmersville and Pawnee. In Farmersville, she will be at the Farmersville Village Hall on Nobbe Street from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. In Pawnee, she will be in the Pawnee Village Hall from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Appointments are not necessary, so feel free to drop by at any time. For more information, please visit my web page at http://www.house.gov/shimkus/helpdesk.htm. I hope you stop in to see us!

Anticipated Action on the House Floor Next Week

· Congress will be in recess for the month of August. For more info on the House legislative schedule as we get closer to September keep an eye on the Office of the Clerk’s web site: http://clerk.house.gov/legisAct/index.html.

Did You Know?

· Ride of Passage Visits Illinois

Matt Parker, a 25-year old Ann Arbor, Michigan native has set his goal to become the first person to traverse 6,800 + miles of the American Discovery Trail (ADT) on horseback. Leaving in 2003 from Sacramento, CA, Parker and his Tennessee Walking horse, Smokey, are making a cross-country trip along the American Discovery Trail (ADT). The team recently passed through Southern Illinois and is currently in Kentucky.

The two will travel the entire length of the trail, which spans from California to Delaware, stretching over 6,800 miles and crossing 15 states, and is the only coast-to-coast, non motorized recreational trail.

The nationwide trail, which runs through cities, townships, forests, mountains and deserts, connects five national scenic trails, 10 historic and 23 national recreational trails. It leads to 14 national parks and 16 national forests.

Learn more about the trip at www.rideofpassage.com.

Thank you for the interest in my newsletter! Remember to tell your friends about it as well--they can sign up on my web page at http://www.house.gov/shimkus.

Sincerely,

Congressman John Shimkus

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