Congressman
John Shimkus

CEOs of Chrysler, General Motors and Ford again traveled to Washington this week seeking financial assistance from Congress. Likewise, many of you have called and emailed my office to express your opinions on a possible bailout for the automakers. I appreciate your input as well as this opportunity to address the issue.

Propping up an ineffective business model with taxpayer dollars only prolongs our economic troubles. At the same time, I understand the potential for downstream effects if the auto industry were to fail.

Congress will debate how to address the automaker's crisis in the coming week. I will continue to support a free-market approach that rewards success because taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize failure.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake announced that effective November 17, 2008, the rate increased from 28.5 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile for all eligible veterans.

In light of the economic problems our nation is facing and the rapid spikes in fuel prices we have witnessed recently, it is appropriate that we do all we can to make sure veterans can afford to get - and get to - the treatment they deserve. That is why we in Congress mandated this increase and provided record funding in the most recent VA budget.

Service-connected veterans, veterans receiving VA pensions, and veterans with low incomes are eligible for the reimbursement.

In addition, the VA has announced that deductibles for mileage reimbursements will decrease on January 9, 2009, to $3 for a one-way trip and $6 for a round trip, with a maximum of $18 per calendar month. The current deductibles are $7.77 for a one-way trip and $15.54 for a round trip, with a maximum of $46.62 per month. Deductibles can be waived if they cause a financial hardship to the veteran.

My office frequently hears from constituents who want to show their appreciation for our military men and women, particularly during the holidays. In the past my office has collected valentines for service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

However, Walter Reed is so overwhelmed with kindness that they are unable to accept additional holiday cards and letters. As a result, this year Walter Reed has teamed up with the Red Cross in a program to share holiday wishes to service men and women around the world.

If you would like to send holiday greetings to our heroes at home or abroad, please mail them to the following address:

A Service Member
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5464

Cards must be postmarked by December 10, or they will be returned to the sender. All cards must be signed but do not include your mailing or e-mail address. Any gift, letter, loose item or insert will be removed. Online cards may also be sent.

Additional information is available here.

Last year alone, Americans adopted more than 17,000 children from abroad. Adoption.state.gov will provide adopting parents with the answers and information they need. The site includes step-by-step instructions for adopting a child from another country, and a new publication for adoptive parents, "Intercountry Adoption from A to Z."

Adoption.state.gov provides a central resource for adopting parents, adoption agencies, and others involved in the intercountry adoption process. Prospective adoptive parents will find country specific information and background about the Hague Adoption Convention on the website.

For more information, click here.