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Constituent Corner

" New Grant for Head Start Programs
I am pleased to announce United States Department of Health and Human Services funding for Wabash Area Development, Inc. (WADI), which is based in Enfield. The organization will receive $2,589,990 for Head Start services in its region.

As a parent and former teacher, I know that children need to begin developing their learning skills at an early age…skills that are necessary in order to obtain a quality education. Head Start is a program that provides a boost to pre-school age children in order to ensure a bright future for our youth.

WADI offers Head Start programming for children up to age five in the counties of Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Saline, Wabash, Wayne and White.

This funding covers full-year programs for part-day students, handicapped students, and training and technical assistance.

" Loan Approved to Complete Hospital Sale
I am happy to announce that federal approval for a $4.4-million loan to the not-for-profit group Richland Memorial Hospital, Inc., to enable the corporation to purchase the hospital from Richland County.

This transaction will allow Richland County to pay off its debt on the facility and should help the hospital obtain additional long-term financing needed for Modernization.

The loan terms for the not-for-profit organization, which has leased and managed the
135-bed hospital for the last eight years, are for 30 years at 4.375 percent.

" New Loan for Jersey County
I am pleased to announce the approval of a $200,000 loan to Jersey County Rural Water Co., Inc. from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development.

The loan, at 4.375 percent for 19 years, will be used to purchase a new facility to accommodate six additional employees at Jersey County Rural Water. The facility will have drive-thru access. The property includes a 3,400-square-foot building with two acres north of and adjacent to current Jersey County Rural Water facilities.

The $200,000 loan follows a $600,000 loan and a $300,000 grant to Jersey County Rural Water in Fiscal Year 2003.

" New Grant for Vienna
I am happy to announce the approval of a $268,880 grant to Johnson County 2000, Inc. from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development.

These funds will be used to construct a roadway in Vienna that will be key in developing an industrial park that has the potential to create as many as 60 jobs.

The grant will fund 2,970 linear feet of roadway at Industrial Drive and Commercial Street. The two roads will connect Illinois Route 146 to Red Bud Road, giving access to the winery building being constructed for use by the Shawnee Winery Coop and the Johnson County 2000 speculative building.

" EJ Water Receives Funding
It was announced this week further federal funding in the amount of $1,954,600 to EJ Water Corporation from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development. I am pleased that we can continue to bring federal dollars to the 19th Congressional District for such worthwhile projects.

EJ Water will receive a loan of $1,510,000 at 4.375 percent for 40 years as well as a grant of $444,600 to be used to construct a rural water distribution extension to serve 120 users, construct a 250,000-gallon elevated storage tank and interconnect with Hardinville Water Company, which will become another supplier for the EJ Water system.

Earlier this year I announced a loan of $293,900 for EJ Water, which serves more than 4,100 customers in the counties of Effingham, Jasper, Clay, Cumberland, and Richland. EJ Water received Rural Development loans and grants totaling more than $4 million in Fiscal Years 2002 and 2003.

" New "Traveling Help Desk" Dates
On Wednesday June 30, Jed Nelson of my Harrisburg district office will be available to help the residents of Equality and Cave in Rock. In Equality, he will be at the Village of Equality
Municipal Building on 138 N. Calhoun from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. In Cave in Rock, he will be in the Cave in Rock City Hall on 100 West Canal 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 my web page at <http://www.house.gov/shimkus/helpdesk.htm>. I hope you stop in to see us!

" Open Office Hours
As part of my ongoing effort to make myself as accessible to my constituents as possible, I will be holding Open Office Hours in Litchfield next week. I encourage you to drop by and share your problems and concerns with me. Appointments are not required, though they are appreciated in order to give me time to adequately address your concerns. If you would like to make one, please call (618) 344-3065.
Here is the location and time:

Monday, June 28th: Litchfield
4:30pm - 6:00pm
Litchfield City Hall Conference Room
Litchfield

For more information on Open Office Hours, please visit my web page at <www.house.gov/shimkus/openoff.htm>. Hope you drop by and chat with me!

Legislative Week in Review

" The following bills were passed by the House this week:
o H.R. 4363 - The Helping Hands for Homeownership Act of 2004. This bill, which I cosponsored, will help facilitate self-help housing homeownership opportunities.
o H.R. 3973 - Spending Control Act of 2004. This bill amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to establish for FY 2005 through 2009 unspecified discretionary spending limits, otherwise known as 'spending caps'.
o H.R. 4614 - Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for FY 2005.

The Senate also passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 on Thursday. The House passed its' version on Tuesday. The two versions of these bills will now head to a conference committee comprised of members of the House and the Senate. For more information on the status of the FY 2005 Appropriations bills please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app05.html.

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

Anticipated Action on the House Floor Next Week

" Congress will be in a district work period until July 6th. Please keep an eye on http://www.congress.gov/house.html for a floor schedule as soon as one becomes available.

Did You Know?

" June is National Dairy Month
National Dairy Month attempts to increase awareness of the values dairy foods can have in our diet. Small dietary changes, such as increasing dairy food intake, can improve the nutritional quality of the diet and play a beneficial role in health promotion and disease prevention. According to a recent analysis, consuming 3 to 4 servings of milk, cheese, or yogurt a day contributes to a healthier population and substantial healthcare cost savings. For more information please visit http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/.

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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