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D.C. and District Talk

· Bill to Eliminate Death Tax Passes House
This week I voted in support of the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2005, H.R. 8, of which I was proud to be an original cosponsor.

We have been fighting on behalf of small business owners and farmers for years. Current law provides for the repeal of the death tax in 2010; however, the very next year the tax reappears.

I strongly support making this unfair tax disappear forever. Taxes were already paid once on these assets, which are then taxed again upon the owner’s death. Permanently repealing this tax will simplify the tax code and allow farmers and small business owners to not have to worry about long-term financial planning that is currently necessary to make certain their business or farm stays in the family.

Many organizations support this action, including: American Farm Bureau Federation, Associated Builders & Contractors, Independent Community Bankers of America, Independent Insurance Agents of America, National Association of Realtors, and U. S. Chamber of Commerce.

I have talked to families who were forced to sell their business or property to pay for this tax, and I know that our actions will help other families in the future.

HR 8 passed 272-162 with bipartisan support. The measure now moves to the Senate for action. To monitor HR 8 as it moves through the legislative process please visit http://thomas.loc.gov and type in HR 8 into the search box.

· National Energy Bill Passes out of Committee
This week I voted to move the national energy bill out of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, on which I serve. The bill, H.R. 6, passed with bipartisan support and will come before the full House next week.

We have passed an energy bill out of committee for the third Congress in a row. Last year we were even close to a final agreement with the Senate. This bill starts with the agreed language from the 108th Congress, add to that the record high oil and gas prices, and I hope that we will finally see an energy bill signed into law by the President this year.

This legislation improves our nation’s electricity transmission capacity and reliability; promotes a cleaner environment; promotes clean coal technology and renewable energies; and decreases our dependence on foreign oil among other issues.

Clean Coal Technology

The energy bill authorizes $1.8 billion for the Clean Coal Power Initiative, which funds projects including coal gasification technology. The energy bill authorizes $3 billion for the Clean Air Coal Program, which funds pollution control equipment.

Ethanol and Fuels

The energy bill establishes a five billion gallon Renewable Fuel Standard by 2012; improves the Leaking Underground Storage Tank program; and limits the number of boutique fuels, which cause higher gasoline prices.

Electricity

The energy bill promotes investment in electric transmission; provides for expedited siting processes; and makes other changes to existing law that improve the operation and reliability of electricity.

Environmental Issues

The energy bill encourages energy efficiency in federal government buildings and other governmental buildings; provides renewable energy incentives for solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass; launches a program to get hydrogen-powered automobiles by 2020; and contains other provisions that encourage energy savings.

This is a comprehensive energy plan that we must see through, for our nation’s own energy security.

For more information on the Energy and Commerce Committee please visit http://energycommerce.house.gov.

Constituent Corner

· Offices Now Accepting Page Applications

I would like to invite high school students throughout my district to apply to be a House page in Washington, DC. Pages act as messengers and assist in the operations of the House of Representatives.

This is an excellent opportunity for students to get first-hand experience with the legislative branch of our federal government. Students live in our nation’s capital, attend classes, and get to witness history in the making.

To be qualified to serve as a page in Washington, applicants must be at least 16 years of age at the time their appointment would begin and have a cumulative grade point average of a “B” (3.0/4.0 or 80/100) or better in the five major subjects: English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language. Electives are not counted in the GPA.

Students applying for the school year program must be entering their junior year of high school. The semesters run September 4, 2005, through January 27, 2006, and January 29 through June 9, 2006. Students are selected to participate for one semester.

To obtain a page application, which contains additional information about this unique opportunity, please call Congressman Shimkus’ office at (618)252-8271. Completed applications must be returned to the Congressman’s office by Friday, May 6. Applicants must be residents of the 19th Congressional District.

We review our applications and submit two nominations to the Speaker of the House. The final decision is made by the Speaker’s office.

· New Legislation to Promote

Last week my colleague Congressman Albert R. Wynn (D-MD) and I introduced important new legislation entitled the Hydrogen Liberty Act (HR 1482), a $3.9 billion program to put the hydrogen economy on a fast track by creating federally supported, collaborative demonstration projects between the private sector, major universities and laboratories. The measure authorizes the Administration to embark on a plan to produce hydrogen from three clean energy feed stocks -- nuclear, solar and wind power.

“With the price of gas over two dollars a gallon, coupled with diminishing domestic oil production, there is a strong need for the U.S. to wean off of its traditional, carbon fueled economy. Helping develop a hydrogen economy, fueled by renewable energy sources, will reduce oil consumption and increase energy security,” said Wynn.

Nearly half the hydrogen produced in the world today is derived from natural gas via a steam reforming process and natural gas alone will not be able to sustain a hydrogen economy. A hydrogen economy will only emerge if we are able to harness that power of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and nuclear to produce hydrogen. The Hydrogen Liberty Act authorizes the Department of Energy to have joint demonstration projects between the private and public sectors, as well as major universities and laboratories to develop hydrogen production from the three feed stocks. The synergy created by bringing these parties together will help spur innovation and jumpstart the hydrogen economy.

This legislation continues our efforts to make our nation less dependent on foreign oil. When we can use our nation’s own resources to create clean, dependable energy like hydrogen, our nation’s power prices will become less susceptible to price swings brought on by foreign governments. This legislation builds upon President Bush’ Hydrogen Initiative and will be a tremendous help to the State of Illinois’ H2H Initiative to build a hydrogen infrastructure in the State of Illinois.

The Hydrogen Liberty Act would create 15 demonstration projects around the country, five demonstration projects in the areas of nuclear, wind and solar energy. Major research universities such as the University of Maryland, Southern Illinois University and the University of Illinois would be eligible for funding under this program, and can work jointly with federal institutions like Argonne National Laboratory. The bill also encourages the participation of minority institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

To monitor HR 1482 as it moves through the legislative process please visit http://thomas.loc.gov and type in ‘HR 1482’ into the search box.

· Discussion of Bullying and Harassment Prevention Legislation to be Held at UIS

On April 25th I will be leading a presentation on bullying and harassment prevention legislation currently under consideration in Congress from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium, located in Brookens Library at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The event will be hosted by the Public Policy High School Initiatives program within UIS’ Center for State Policy and Leadership.

A roundtable discussion on bullying and harassment, moderated by UIS Associate Professor of Teacher Education Allan Cook, as well as a question-and-answer session including myself, will follow. The program is free and open to the public.

I introduced H.R. 284, along with fellow Illinois Representative Danny Davis, which would amend the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act to specifically include bullying and harassment prevention programs and would require states, districts, and schools to prevent and appropriately respond to instances of bullying and harassment as part of school safety. The bill has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Education Reform.

Recent research indicates that bullying has reached epidemic proportions in American schools and communities. The National Education Association estimates that 160,000 children miss school every day because they are afraid of being attacked or intimidated by other students.

According to the 2002 National Survey of Students Grades 5 - 12 conducted by the Families and Work Institute, 66 percent of youth report being teased once a month, and nearly one-third say they are bullied at least once a month. The National Crime Prevention Council suggests that nearly one child in six – or 3.2 million children – is the victim of bullying each year and 3.7 million children are themselves bullies. The U.S. Secret Service Report of May 2002 reported that harassment and bullying had been linked to 75 percent of school-shooting incidents.

For more information about the presentation at UIS, contact Peggy Dunn, director of the Public Policy High School Initiatives program, at 217-206-7399.

· New “Traveling Help Desk” Dates

On Thursday April 14th, Holly Healy of my Harrisburg district office will be available to help the residents of Metropolis and Vienna. In Metropolis, she will be in the Metropolis Community Center on 516 Market Street from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. In Vienna, she will be in the basement meeting room of City Hall at 205 N. 4th Street from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 a.m.

On Thursday April 28th, Matt Pickett of my Centralia district office will be available to help the residents of Sumner and Albion. In Sumner, he will be in the Village Hall on 129 East South Street from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. In Albion, he will be in the Board Room of Edwards County Courthouse at 50 E. Main Street from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Appointments are not necessary, so feel free to drop by at any time. For more information, please visit the web page at www.house.gov/shimkus/helpdesk.htm. Please stop in to see us!

For more information on Metropolis, please visit http://www.metropolischamber.com.

For more information on Vienna, please visit http://www.hometownlocator.com/City/Vienna-Illinois.cfm.

For more information on Sumner, please visit http://www.hometownlocator.com/City/Sumner-Illinois.cfm.

For more information on Albion, please visit http://www.hometownlocator.com/City/Albion-Illinois.cfm.

Legislative Week in Review

· The following bills were passed by the House of Representatives this week:

o S. 167 – Family Entertainment and Copyright Act of 2005 (Sen. Hatch – Judiciary)

o H.Res. 184 – Recognizing a National Week of Hope in commemoration of the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City (Rep. Istook – Government Reform)

o S. 256 - Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (Sen. Grassley – Financial Services)

· To keep up to date on legislation as it moves through the legislative process please visit http://thomas.loc.gov and type in the bill number.

Anticipated Action on the House Floor Next Week

· Congress will be in session from Tuesday through Thursday of next week. Some of the legislation which will be considered includes:

o H.R. 6 – Energy Policy Act of 2005

· Want to know more? Keep an eye on the Office of the Clerk’s web site: http://clerk.house.gov/legisAct/index.html. This site provides up-to-date information on House legislative schedules.

Did You Know?

· Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Dedication Festivities Start this Weekend!

This weekend kicks off a series of events to be held at the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in downtown Springfield. The festivities will culminate on Tuesday with the official dedication and speech by President George W. Bush! For more information on the dedication activities please visit http://www.alplm.org/dedication/home.html and for general information on the library and museum visit http://www.alplm.org/home.html.

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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