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Teaching

This past week I had the chance to get back in the classroom and talk to many young people about my job in the United States House of Representatives. As a former teacher, I love to teach and talk to the young people. I would like to thank the kids and the teachers at Liberty Middle School for giving me a chance to talk with them.

Constituent Corner

· Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Monday, we come together as a nation to thank Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his teachings. He was the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He even donated the prize money to the civil rights movement.

Dr. King has given so much to our nation and worked to progress civil rights through peaceful protest and knowledge.

For more information on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., please visit the links on my website at www.house.gov/shimkus.

· Alternative Minimum Tax

I would like you to know that the Internal Revenue Service has an Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Assistant. This application can show you whether or not the AMT currently applies to you.

If you would like to see if you are subject to the AMT, please visit www.irs.gov. If you click on “Advanced Search” in the upper right corner, under the text box, it will take you to a search screen. Please type “Alternative Minimum Tax” on the first line and click “Search”.

Keep in mind that the information that you get back is only as good as the information that you put into it, so make sure that your numbers are correct.

· Amber Alerts

In an effort to gain help in the case of child abductions, police notify the public by announcing an “Amber Alert”. Wireless AMBER Alerts is one of the great programs that is under the Wireless Foundation, which is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established by the membership of the Cellular Technologies Industry Association, or CTIA.

Now we have a chance to use more of the technology to get these alerts in the palm of our hand, on our cell phones. If you would like to receive these alerts, please visit www.wirelessfoundation.org, or www.wirelessamberalerts.org.

· Agriculture Loans and Grants

This week, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced more available funding for the development of renewable energy projects and value-added agricultural business ventures in the amount of $19 million.

He also announced $18.8 million in economic development loans and grants. These will be given to 33 recipients to spur economic growth and create or save more than 2,700 jobs in 19 states.

Since 2001, the United States Department of Agriculture has invested nearly $290 million in renewable energy. I applaud this work by USDA Secretary Johanns as we work to continue to find new benefits from these projects.

For more information regarding these loans and grants, please visit www.usda.gov.

· Transit Money

I am happy to announce funding to the South Central Transit, www.southcentraltransit.org, under the recently passed reauthorization of the highway bill.

South Central Transit plans to use the $320,000 to purchase five new vehicles for their fleet. This money will be accompanied by state funding for a total of $400,000. South Central Transit currently serves six counties, including Marion, Clinton, Franklin, Perry, Washington, and Jefferson Counties.

For more information on this funding, please visit the “Newsroom” at my website, www.house.gov/shimkus.

· Financial Education

Voices for Illinois Children has recently announced a new “Illinois Kids Count” report, entitled “Invest in Our Future: Strengthening Families by Building Assets”.

This report emphasizes building one’s financial resources for long-term use, such as higher education, general savings, building a home, or even starting a business. This report will help to prepare individuals for saving for their future.

I recommend visiting the Voices for Illinois Children website, at www.voices4kids.org, for more information.

Anticipated Action on the House Floor Next Week

· The House of Representatives will remain in recess until January 31, 2006

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

Did You Know?

· Grand Canyon

On January 11, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Grand Canyon a national monument. He stated that “the ages had been at work on it, and man can only mar it.” Later, in 1932, Congress increased the protection of the Canyon by making it a national park. Today you can see it almost exactly as it was 500 years ago.

For more information, please visit www.historychannel.com.

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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