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Congressman Shimkus speaking at Greenfield College’s Opportunities for Adult Learning (GOAL) and Ministry Programs (LAMP) commencement on May 21, 2005.

D.C. and District Talk

· New Legislation to Increase Penalties on Sex Offenders
I am proud to be cosponsoring three pieces of legislation dealing with registration and monitoring of sex offenders

The Jessica Lunsford Act (HR 1505) will tighten laws regulating sex offenders. In Illinois alone, 2,000 sex offenders who were supposed to register with local law enforcement could not be found. This bill would increase penalties for failing to register and will give law enforcement some new tools to use.

The proposal would:

o direct states to mail a non-forwardable verification to the address at which a sex offender is registered; failure to return the form would be punishable in the same manner as failure to register;

o require the state, court, or other official to notify the agency responsible for supervising a released prisoner that they are required to register as a sex offender and

o provide the supervising agency information on the person;

o provides that those with two or more convictions for failing to register as a sex offender or failure to keep their registration current would be required to wear a location-transmitting device (like an ankle bracelet);

o increase penalties for failure to register or fail to notify of address changes within ten days to $100,000 in fines and one year imprisonment for first offense and up to $100,000 fine and ten years imprisonment for two or more offenses.

Sex offenders who are required to register should do so. These penalties will hopefully force the issue. I also want to remind Illinois residents that the sex offenders registry is available online to see who in your community is a convicted sex offender.

Shimkus is also cosponsoring the Jacob Wetterling, Megan Nicole Kanka, and Pam Lychner Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (HR 2423), which would “improve the national program to register and monitor individuals who commit crimes against children or sex offenses.”

This bill would expand the registration to those convicted of non-parental kidnapping of a minor, solicitation of a minor to engage in sexual conduct, use of the Internet to facilitate or commit a covered offense against a minor, and other specified crimes.

In addition, HR 2423 would expand the information gathered in registration to include where the person is employed or going to school. Schools, daycares, businesses, and residents of the area where a registrant lives or works would also be notified.

The Trafficking Victims Protections Reauthorization Act of 2005 (HR 972) extends foreign offenses to those requiring sex offender registration; adds sex trafficking to military crimes; extends federal jurisdiction over federal contractors; establishes pilot programs for treatment facilities for minor age victims; and directs other anti-trafficking policies.

I believe that Congress must act to do all we can to protect our children from sexual predators and I hope to see these bills come to the floor of the House for a vote very soon.

To monitor these bills as they move through the legislative process please visit http://thomas.loc.gov and type in the bill number. For more information on missing and exploited children, please visit www.missingkids.com.

Constituent Corner

· Small Business Week

Recently, America celebrated Small Business Week, a week in which we reflect on and recognize the importance of small businesses in our lives and economies. Small business plays a very important role in the U.S. economy. Small business account for 99.7% of all firms recognized as a business and they employ approximately 53% of all persons associated with business. With the economy growing stronger every day, small businesses are the largest creator of net job growth. Small businesses impact our lives whether we live in an urban, suburban or rural area. Small businesses are also vital in the exporting and importing of products and they even account for 52% of our Gross Domestic Product.

Last Friday, I held my semi-annual Small Business Advisory Committee Meeting. I have this committee so I can gauge interest and concerns from small business owners and employees, civic leaders, educators and community developers. This committee gives me input regarding issues from taxes to health care to trade agreements. At last Friday’s meeting I discussed new legislation that impacts small businesses, including the new Energy Plan, Class Action and Bankruptcy Reforms, the repeal of the Death Tax and the popularity of Health Savings Accounts. Valerie Ross, interim director of the Springfield Small Business Association office, gave a presentation on the SBA’s services and policies.

If you would like to learn more about small businesses, you can visit these websites:

U.S. Small Business Administration: www.sba.gov

National Federation of Independent Businesses: www.nfib.com

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: www.uschamber.com

Illinois Chamber of Commerce: www.ilchamber.org

· New Grant for Economic Development

I am pleased to announce that the Southeastern Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission is receiving more federal help to support the commission’s economic development plans for the area.

Bringing federal dollars back to southern Illinois is vital as we continue to work on improving the economy and creating more jobs. The national economy has rebounded tremendously, and we need to take advantage of that bounce here in our region.

The grant, from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, is for $55,628 of the total investment cost of $74,171.

For more information on the Southeastern Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission please visit http://www.sirpdc.org.

· New Physical Education Grant to Keep Kids Fit

I am pleased to announce an investment of nearly a quarter-million dollars in Springfield Public School District 186 by the U.S. Department of Education through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program.

This program supports local efforts to initiate, expand, or enhance physical education programs for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. We hear so often about the increase in childhood obesity in our nation and the negative health consequences. One way to combat that problem is to make sure students’ bodies are trained in school as well as their minds.

District 186 will receive $230,355 for Fiscal Year 2005, to be used to help students make progress towards meeting state standards for physical education. The program encourages grant recipients to propose research-based projects that reflect integrated, comprehensive approaches to fitness and healthy eating habits.

The funding is used to provide teacher training, develop physical education and nutrition education curricula, conduct fitness assessments, and purchase equipment.

As a former teacher and a graduate of the United States Military Academy, I know how important it is that we exercise our bodies as well as our minds if we our to reach our full potential.

For more information on the Carol M. White Physical Education Program please visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/whitephysed/index.html.

· New “Traveling Help Desk” Dates

On Friday, June 24th, Doug Bugger of my Collinsville district office will be available to help the residents of Sandoval and Fairfield. In Sandoval, he will be at the Sandoval Community Center on 102 North Cherry Street from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. In Fairfield, he will be in the Wayne County Courthouse Board Room on 305 Court Street from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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

Legislative Week in Review

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

o H.R. 2744 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Rep. Bonilla - House Appropriations)

· 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. 2862 - Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Subject to a Rule, Begin Consideration) (Sponsored by Rep. Wolf / Appropriations Committee)

o H.R. 2863 - Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Young (FL) / Appropriations Committee)

o H.R. 2745 - United Nations Reform Act of 2005 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Hyde / International Relations Committee)

· 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?

· New Grants Available from the Illinois Humanities Council

The Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) invites non-profit organizations to apply for its next cycle of mini grants of up to $2,000 by its July 15, 2005 deadline. The deadline for the next cycle of major grants (up to $10,000) is also July 15, 2005. Any non-profit group, organization, or institution is eligible to receive financial support from the Illinois Humanities Council for a public project in the humanities, including documentary films, local and community history projects, literary symposia, and oral history projects. Mini Grants are restricted to organizations with annual budgets under $1 million dollars or organizations applying for new or experimental programs. The IHC makes it a priority to fund projects developed by, for, or aimed at a reaching new or historically neglected audiences.

Potential applicants may review and download grant applications and guidelines by visiting www.prairie.org/Grants. Copies of the grant information may also be requested by calling 312.422.5580 or by sending an email to ihc@prairie.org. IHC program officers are available for consultation at this number as well, and new applicants are encouraged to seek consultation.

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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