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Constituent Corner

" Breese Receives Federal Funds to Boost Job Growth
I am happy to say that on Thursday U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans today announced a $1.5 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) investment to the city of Breese. The investment will support the construction of a surface water treatment plant that will be the catalyst for commercial development in Breese. I am pleased that President Bush, Secretary Evans, and the wonderful team they have put together at EDA have approved another worthwhile investment in Southern Illinois. This $9 million project will be a cornerstone for job creation for years to come.

EDA serves as a venture capital resource to meet the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA partners with states, units of local government and community nonprofit organizations in economically distressed areas, regions and communities in order to alleviate conditions of poverty and substantial and persistent unemployment and underemployment.

Additional information on how EDA investments are helping distressed communities create a positive and sustainable economic future can be accessed at http://www.doc.gov/eda.

" New Grant to Promote National Road
I am pleased to announce a $25,000 grant from the United States Department of Transportation to the Illinois Department of Transportation for the promotion of the Historic National Road, which stretched across Illinois roughly parallel to the current Interstate 70.

The Federal Highway Administration grant, from Fiscal Year 2004 National Scenic Byway Discretionary Funds, will be used to implement the Corridor Management Plan, Interpretation Plan, and Sustainability Plan for the National Historic Road.

As part of the planning, information will be compiled on attractions, events, and history of the National Road and shared with the Effingham and Collinsville Convention and
Visitors Bureaus, Central Illinois Tourism, Southwestern Illinois Tourism and local governments to further develop attractions.

For more information on the National Historic Road please visit http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/13749/.

" New Grant for Ohio River Scenic Byway
There will be a new $25,000 grant from the United States Department of Transportation to the Illinois Department of Transportation for a part-time coordinator of the Ohio River Scenic Byway, which stretches from Cairo to the Indiana border.

The Federal Highway Administration grant, from Fiscal Year 2004 National Scenic Byway Discretionary Funds, will help the Ohio River Scenic Byway organization be reformed with a coordinator charged with soliciting input from local residents and businesses.

In addition, the coordinator will cultivate the tri-state byway relationship with Indiana and Ohio and monitor the byway's multi-state projects and construction work to ensure successful completion and optimum benefit.

The funds will allow a coordinator to continue efforts to mobilize byway supporters and to implement targeted portions of the byway's Corridor Management Plan. I hope the project can provide a shot in the arm for the economy of the region.

" New Worker Reemployment Accounts Legislation
As a way to provide unemployed Americans additional flexibility, greater choice, and more control over their employment search - as well as a reemployment bonus for those who find a job quickly I am in the process of promoting a pilot plan in the House of Representatives, specifically HR 444, the Worker Reemployment Accounts Act.

This bill allows demonstration and pilot project funding under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) to be used by states and local workforce investment boards to offer personal reemployment accounts (PRAs) of up to $3,000 to help unemployed Americans return to work quickly. The key to the plan is the incentive to find employment within 13 weeks. Recipients who do so may keep the balance of the account as a cash reemployment bonus.

With funds from the PRAs, unemployed workers may purchase a variety of employment-related services, such as job training, child care, transportation, career counseling, relocation services, and case management to help them reenter the workforce.

PRAs would be administered through the One Stop Career Center system, where the unemployed already seek assistance in obtaining employment. The level of PRAs, up to a maximum of $3,000, would be determined on the state or local level. The minimum requirements are that an individual must be receiving unemployment compensation, be identified by the state as likely to exhaust his or her unemployment benefits, and be eligible for at least 20 weeks for unemployment compensation.

For more information please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/ and type in HR 444 in the 'Bill Number' box.

" New Grant for South Central Commission
I am happy to announce that the South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission of Salem is receiving federal help for planning assistance.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded a District Continuation Planning Grant to the South Central Commission. I believe that it is important to continue to make resources available to bring economic development to our region and am continuing to work for such projects in Washington. While the national economy has improved in recent months, central and southern Illinois still face big challenges.

The grant, from the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration,
is for $55,628 of the total investment cost of $74,295.

" New Library Grants
There are two libraries in the 19th district, Collinsville Memorial Library and
Glen Carbon Centennial Library, that have been named winners in the second round of the
We the People Bookshelf awards presented by the National Endowment for the
Humanities (NEH).

As I former teacher, I know just how important reading is for our young people. I am pleased to note that these two libraries will each receive a free set of 15 classic books on the theme of courage.

The "bookshelf" includes The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass, and The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. Libraries will organize community programs that highlight the theme and encourage young readers to explore these important works of literature. NEH is undertaking the program in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA). For more information on the American Library Association please visit http://www.ala.org/.

" Traveling Help Desk
On Tuesday June 8th, Andrea Madigan of my Springfield district office will be available to help the residents of Rochester and Edinburg. In Rochester, she will be at the Rochester Village Hall at #1 Community Drive from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. In Edinburg, he will be in the Edinburg Village Office on 205 W. Washington from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
For more information, please visit my web page at <http://www.house.gov/shimkus/helpdesk.htm>. I hope you stop by!

Legislative Week in Review

" H.R. 4109 - Simple Tax for Seniors Act Passes House
This bill allows eligible seniors (or their spouses in the case of a joint return) with Social Security and pension income to use new Form 1040SR (similar to Form 1040EZ) to file their Federal income tax returns regardless of the amount of their taxable interest or other taxable income.

" H.R. 3866 - Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 Passes House
This legislation amends the Controlled Substances Act to subject an offense of manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to distribute an anabolic steroid within 1000 feet of a sports facility to twice the maximum penalty otherwise imposed for a controlled substance violation.

Anticipated Action on the House Floor Next Week

" Congress will be in session from Tuesday through Thursday of next week. We have yet to receive a floor schedule but check http://www.congress.gov/house.html for one as soon as it becomes available.

Did You Know?

" D-Day Anniversary is June 6th
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called Operation Overlord, or the D-Day invasion of Normandy as we know it today, "The most difficult and complicated operation ever to take place." This Sunday marks the 60th anniversary of this momentous victory over the tyranny that Nazi Germany attempted to place upon the people of Europe. I encourage everyone to remember the sacrifices that our American Armed Forces have given for our freedom. For more information on the battle please visit the following sites:
http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/d-day/
http://www.dday.org/
http://www.defendamerica.mil/profiles/jun2004/pr060404a.html
http://www.d-day60.co.uk/

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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