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.
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 ->
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 ->
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 ->
Coal underlies 65 percent of the state’s surface, and the Illinois coal industry annually produces approximately 32 million tons of coal, generating nearly $1 billion for the state’s economy each year. -- Read more ->
Congress has passed health care reform legislation and the President has signed it into law. -- Read more ->
This year marks the seventh 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 ->
...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 ->
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 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 ->
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 ->
Construction is underway on the Prairie State Energy Campus in southwestern Washington County. This power plant will be a great economic boon to the region, supporting over 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 ->
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 ->
In August, 2007, 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 ->
H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is a $789.5 billion legislative package designed to create jobs and spur economic activity. The legislation was signed into law by President Obama on February 17 and there has already been substantial economic activity generated throughout our nation, our state and our district. -- Read more ->
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 (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 ->
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 ->
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