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D.C. and District Talk

· Energy Conference Committee Begins Deliberations
I am honored to have been named to the House-Senate Conference Committee to resolve differences in each body’s version on an energy bill.

I am very supportive of getting an energy bill passed. Skyrocketing oil and gas prices illustrate the need for us to finally get this accomplished.

However, this legislation has a far greater reach than just gas prices. Our farmers will benefit from the renewable fuels portion of an energy bill. Our manufacturers will benefit from the proper use of natural gas if we can reduce its demand as an electricity generator. All of us will benefit from the provisions in this bill that ensure a reliable electricity grid. And the environment will benefit from the energy efficiency and hydrogen provisions of the bill.

The specific benefits to southern Illinois are tremendous. Marginal oil wells, coal, agriculture…it is just mandatory that we get this done. I will work to the best of my ability to get to a compromise between the House and Senate differences and bring the importation provisions within the legislation to Southern Illinois.

For more information on the Energy Bill please visit http://energycommerce.house.gov.

· House Votes in Support of Expanding Locks on the Mississippi
I voted in support of the Water Resources Development Act of 2005 (HR 2864), which passed the House July 14 by a large bipartisan majority. The bill funds Army Corps of Engineers projects.

This legislation includes civil works projects, including the expansion of seven locks on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers from 600 feet in length to 1,200 feet. This expansion is vital to the continued export of our agricultural and manufactured goods.

If we cannot utilize our river navigation system, we will add 870 tractor trailers to our highways for each typical tow of 15 barges. Our highways cannot take the toll this traffic would add. In addition the bill includes millions of dollars for environmental restoration along the rivers.

We have been working for years to improve river traffic. I am pleased that this legislation has again passed the House, and we urge the Senate to act quickly.

Constituent Corner

Congressman Shimkus fills up with E-85 as Jonathon from Russell Oil Company, owner of the ROC One Stop in Harrisburg, Illinois, looks on.

· E-85 Gasoline

I visited the ROC One Stop in Harrisburg to promote the use of E-85, a fuel made with 85 percent renewable ethanol.

While we continue to import way over half of our oil and we see oil prices rise to $60 per barrel, it only makes sense to look at alternative fuels – such as E-85. Not only is the price much lower than regular gasoline or even ten percent ethanol fuel, but it’s use supports our neighbor farmers who grow corn.

E-85 not only helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil; it is beneficial to the environment. Tests results show that E-85 vehicles reduce harmful hydrocarbon and benzene compared to gasoline vehicles. Ethanol also degrades in water quicker than oil or regular gasoline.

One cautionary note…only flexible fuel vehicles can use E-85. Drivers should make sure their vehicle is compatible before filling up with the cheaper E-85, which is becoming more readily available.

Daimler Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes, Mercury, and Nissan all currently manufacture flexible fuel vehicles that can run on E-85.

The website www.e85fuel.com has a complete list of vehicles that are flexible fuel.

The website also has a partial list of retailers that sell E-85.

I have also been visiting numerous gas stations throughout the 19th district to show support for renewable fuels. I fully support efforts underway in Congress to pass a national energy policy resulting in more domestic production of oil and increased use of renewable fuels.

· New “Traveling Help Desk” Dates

On Thursday, July 21, Steve Tomaszewski of my Collinsville district office will be available to help the residents of Goreville and Creal Springs. In Goreville, he will be at the Goreville City Hall on 213 105 West Collins from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. In Creal Springs, he will be in the Creal Springs City Hall on 507 E. Walnut Street from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 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!

Legislative Week in Review

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

o H.R. 739 – Occupational Safety and Health Small Business Day in Court Act of 2005 (Rep. Norwood – Education & the Workforce)

o H.R. 740 – Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Efficiency Act of 2005 (Rep. Norwood – Education & the Workforce)

o H.R. 741 – Occupational Safety and Health Independent Review of OSHA Citations Act of 2005 (Rep. Norwood – Education & the Workforce)

o H.R. 742 – Occupational Safety and Health Small Employer Access to Justice Act of 2005 (Rep. Norwood – Education & the Workforce)

o H.R. 1220 – Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005 (Rep. Buyer – Veterans’ Affairs)

o H.R. 3100 – East Asia Security Act of 2005 (Rep. Hyde – International Relations)

o H.R. 2864 – Water Resources Development Act of 2005 (Rep. Young {AK} – Transportation & Infrastructure)

o H.Res. 356 – Condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in London, England on July 7, 2005 (Rep. Hyde – International Relations)

· 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 Monday through Friday of next week. Some of the legislation which will be considered includes:

o H.R. 2601 – Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007 (Rep. Smith {NJ} – International Relations)

o H.R. 3070 – NASA and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Rep. Calvert – Science)

o H.R. 3199 – USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Rep. Sensenbrenner – Judiciary and Intelligence)

· 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?

· Today in 1965 Mariner 4 Studied the Martian Surface

On July 15, 1965 the unmanned spacecraft Mariner 4 passed over Mars at an altitude of 6,000 feet and sent back to Earth the first close-up images of the red planet.

Launched in November 1964, Mariner 4 carried a television camera and six other science instruments to study Mars and interplanetary space within the solar system. Reaching Mars on July 14, 1965, the spacecraft began sending back television images of the planet just after midnight on July 15. The pictures--nearly 22 in all--revealed a vast, barren wasteland of craters and rust-colored sand, dismissing 19th-century suspicions that an advanced civilization might exist on the planet.

Next week we will be voting on H.R. 3070, the NASA and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005. This bill includes funding for the President’s plans for the future of the space program and will help maintain America’s status as the being at the forefront of space exploration and scientific discovery.

This weekend we will hopefully see the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery. Please keep all of the astronauts and men and women working on this important mission in your thoughts and prayers.

For more information on NASA please visit http://www.nasa.gov. For more information on the scientific contributions of the Mariner 4 spacecraft please visit http://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov/HAS/cirr/em/10/3.cfm.

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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