U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL-13th) Weekly E-Newsletter
April 1, 2008
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For more information, please visit http://judybiggert.house.gov/.
In this Week's E-Newsletter:
- This Week in Congress
- Week in Review
- Featured Story
- From the Press Desk
- In Her Own Words
- In the News
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This Week in Congress:
Congress meets this week for legislative business, including possible consideration of:
H.R. 4847 – U.S. Fire Administration Reauthorization Act.
H.R. 5501 - Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008.
H.Con.Res. 302 - Recognizing the Month of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Rep. Biggert is a cosponsor of this resolution.
H.Res. 1021 - Supporting the goals, ideals, and history of National Women's History Month. Rep. Biggert is a cosponsor of this resolution.
H.Res. 997 - Expressing the strong support of the House of Representatives for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to enter into a Membership Action Plan with Georgia and Ukraine.
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Week in Review:
Monday, March 24, 2008 through Friday, March 28, 2008
Congress was out of session last week for district work period.
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Featured Story – An Economic Boost for Seniors:
Judy tells seniors at Ogden Manor in Naperville how to get their tax rebate
Naperville, IL – On March 28, Biggert visited seniors at Ogden Manor in Naperville to talk about the economic stimulus rebate checks that the Internal Revenue Office will begin sending this May. With Biggert’s support, Congress recently approved a bipartisan economic stimulus package that gives a minimum $300 rebate to anyone who earned or received at least $3,000 in income, Social Security or certain Veterans’ benefits in 2007. To receive the rebate, individuals must file tax returns for 2007. Because many Social Security recipients do not normally file tax returns, they need to file a 1040A or other applicable tax form with the IRS to receive their rebate.
“We want all our eligible seniors to receive their checks, so don’t hesitate to have your neighbor or loved one call my office for assistance or to get a copy of the form,” said Biggert. “The number for my Willowbrook office is (630) 655-2052.”
For more information about the event or to read more about the rebate, click here.
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From the Press Desk:
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Fighting Fire in Homer Township and Lemont
Biggert Presents $1.26 Million to Local Firefighters
Lemont, DC – U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) today joined local firefighters at a Lemont station to present two local fire protection districts with federal fire safety grants. The Homer Township and Lemont Fire Protection Districts received $948,000 and $316,000, respectively. On hand to accept the checks were Lemont Chief Carl Churulo and Homer Township Chief Michael Schofield.
“Our firefighters put it on the line for us every day,” said Biggert. “Making sure they are well-equipped, well-staffed, and well-protected is the least we must do.”
To read more, click here.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Biggert Declares Earmark Moratorium
Demands real reform to stop pork-barrel politics
Willowbrook, IL – U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) today announced that she will not participate in Washington’s broken earmark system. The announcement was made during an economic roundtable event in Downers Grove where Biggert met with local business leaders from the Downers Grove Chamber of Commerce and Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation to discuss local and national economic concerns, including federal spending, taxes, and mortgage reform.
“Last year, Congress passed 11,737 earmarks at a cost of $16.9 billion in taxpayer money,” said Biggert. “And just this month, the House Democrat majority passed a budget that sets the stage for more spending and the largest tax increase in history -- $683 billion over five years. They want to raise taxes, but they don’t want a transparent process that allows wasteful spending to be challenged on the House floor. My constituents don’t want to pay for bridges to nowhere and indoor rainforests in Iowa anymore.”
To read more, click here.
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In Her Own Words:
Monday, March 10, 2008
Biggert Asks Transportation Board Chair to Tour EJ&E; Line
Willowbrook, IL – U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) sent a letter to Charles Nottingham, Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), inviting him to tour local communities and assess first-hand the potential impact of a pending railway merger currently under consideration by the STB. It is estimated that the merger, between Canadian National Railway Corporation and Grand Truck Corporation (CN) and the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E;), could increase train traffic on the line through Will and DuPage Counties by as much as 150%.
The full text of the letter can be found by clicking here.
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In the News:
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Daily Herald
Editorial
Unwise Retreat in Funding Research
We turn the key in the ignition, and the car starts up.
When our rooms grow dark, we flip the switch, and the lights go on. When we want to relax, we turn on our TV sets, and hundreds of channels are available for our entertainment.
We take all this for granted, never thinking about how these amenities came to be.
It all started with research. A man or woman found support for development of a great idea, and it evolved into something useful for society. Innovations that have made our lives easier, more enjoyable. Innovations that have broadened our access to information. Innovations that can lead to much more, including finally breaking us free of our dangerous reliance on foreign oil.
Yet, Washington regards research as something that can be diminished in value in the interest of fiscal discipline. This unfortunate point of view is reflected in funding cuts at the Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia. It has forced the layoffs of 200 Fermilab employees -- and is a setback for the continuation of cutting edge research.
U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, a Hinsdale Republican, has enlisted the help of scientists in making an appeal to Congress to not only restore funding at Fermilab, but also to assure Argonne National Laboratory near Darien and other federal research facilities don't fall under the budget ax.
To read more, click here.
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For more information, please visit http://judybiggert.house.gov/.
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