There are many issues that are important to us from a national, regional and local perspective. Here, I present a discussion of some of the current issues before us. As new issues emerge or new developments occur, I will continue to keep you updated.

Education

While education funding is primarily handled at the state and local level, the federal government does have an important role to play, particularly when it comes to assisting students afford the increasing cost of going to college. -- Read more ->

Ethanol

Domestic ethanol production has enhanced rural development, reduced our dependence on foreign oil, improved air quality, and increased the value of corn. Illinois corn is used to produce 40% of the nation's ethanol. -- Read more ->

First Responders

I have said repeatedly that public safety needs to be our top priority. As a former police officer, I know there is no substitute for well trained and equipped first responders to keep our communities safe, and I have supported federal funding to get these critical resources directly to our local police and fire departments. -- Read more ->

FutureGen - Illinois Coal

After almost five years of determined effort by me, the Illinois Congressional delegation and state and local officials, the FutureGen Alliance of Energy Companies selected Mattoon, Illinois as the site of the project from among four finalists, two of which were in Texas. -- Read more ->

lraq

This year will mark the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. I voted against giving President Bush the authority to send our troops into Iraq because I was not convinced that Saddam Hussein presented an imminent or direct threat to the United States. -- Read more ->

Medical Malpractice

I have always believed that this issue is best handled at the state level, as over half of all states have passed legislation addressing it. -- Read more ->

Metro East Levees

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are in the process of redrawing the nation's flood maps. -- Read more ->

MetroLink Light Rail

MetroLink Light Rail has been a huge success for Illinois and the entire St. Louis region. I chaired the Committee that made the decision to move forward and construct light rail. -- Read more ->

Military Survivors' Benefits

For years, spouses of deceased career military retirees received 55% of the soldier's annual retirement pay until they turned 62, when they began receiving only 35%. -- Read more ->

Prairie State Energy Campus

Last October, ground was broken on the Prairie State Energy Campus in southwestern Washington County. This power plant will be a great economic boon to the region, supporting 1,500 construction jobs, and when completed in 2011-2012, creating 2300 jobs and employing state-of-the-art clean coal technologies using Southern Illinois coal from an adjacent mine. -- Read more ->

Prescription Drugs

I continue to support efforts to reduce the price of prescription drugs. In November 2003, the U.S. Congress passed the Medicare reform plan supported by President Bush which created the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. -- Read more ->

Problems at Marion VA Medical Center

Last August, the surgical unit the Marion Veterans' Administration (VA) Medical Center was closed after statistics showed that the facility had a mortality rate four times the expected rate between October 1, 2006 and March 31, 2007. -- Read more ->

River and Water Issues

The 12th Congressional District occupies a truly unique geographic location. Three of the great rivers of the U.S. (the Mississippi, the Ohio and the Missouri) – indeed, the world – flow into or form the border around the district, while other important regional rivers and lakes are essential to the environmental, recreational and economic life of our area. -- Read more ->

Scott Air Force Base

Scott Air Force Base (AFB) and the men and women at Scott play a critical role to our military mission world-wide and to our great nation. -- Read more ->

Transportation

I strongly believe that maintaining an efficient, multi-modal transportation system is critical to regional and national economic growth. Toward this end, I have made transportation issues a top priority and have played a leadership role in major projects such as MetroLink and the new Mississippi River Bridge. -- Read more ->