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Fire Department Visit

A couple of weeks ago, I was privileged to tour the new Mulberry Grove Fire Department building. I was also able to take a look at the equipment that was purchased with the help of a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Shown in the picture, from left to right are Chris Waters, secretary, Dwight Volkmar, chief, and myself.

REMINDER:

· Medicare Part D Sign Up

This is a very important opportunity for Medicare beneficiaries, particularly those who do not have a prescription drug benefit plan, to obtain one through Medicare. I want to make sure that seniors and others who apply, first, get all the information they need to make a decision; second, that they understand they have choices and options and need to make a decision that fits their personal needs.

While the Medicare Part D program officially began on January 1, 2006, Medicare beneficiaries currently on Medicare actually have until May 15, 2006, to make their choice without penalty.

There are numerous plans available to Medicare beneficiaries in Illinois, and I’m sure there are still some questions.

I will be hosting seminars on April 21st and 22nd, for Medicare beneficiaries to gather additional information on the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit and to sign up. The exact times and places are:

Friday, April 21, 2006, 10:00 a.m.- 12 noon

Lakeland College Kluthe Center, Room 222, 1204 Network Center Drive, Effingham;

Friday, April 21, 2006, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Sanford-Brown College, 1101 Eastport Plaza Drive, Collinsville;

Saturday, April 22, 2006, 10:00 a.m.-12 noon

Southeastern Illinois College, A144, 3575 College Road, Harrisburg;

Saturday, April 22, 2006, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Frontier Community College, Richard L. Mason Building, Room 25, 2 Frontier Drive, Fairfield.

Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is the best place to get assistance in making your Medicare prescription drug plan choice. Feel free to contact them at 1-800-548-9034 or visit the Illinois SHIP website, http://www.idfpr.com/DOI/Ship/ship_help.asp.

Also, Rx for Illinois, A Partnership for Prescription Assistance, works to provide access to over 475 programs that help people without prescription coverage pay for their medication. They will be in Springfield, Illinois on April 4, 2006. For more information, please visit their website, www.pparx.org, or call 202-835-3436.

Also, for more information on how to sign up, please visit my website, www.house.gov/shimkus.

D.C. and District Talk

· 527 Legislation

This week the House of Representatives passed H.R. 513, the 527 Reform Act.

This bill will close many loopholes which were left in our recent efforts towards election reform. Previous reforms were made to make sure that there was some type of regulation of those who try to influence elections through donations and large unrestricted and unreported contributions. It allows the public to see where funding is coming from as well as limiting the size of donations.

527 organizations found a loophole in this. They began funneling money through these groups, rather than directly to a campaign, which completely defeated the purpose of previous legislation.

In order to put everyone on the same playing field with regards to federal elections, we have passed H.R. 513. For more information, please visit the Committee on House Administration website at http://cha.house.gov.

· FY07 Budget

As we go to press with the newsletter, we are debating H.R. 609, the Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Resolution. This bill is based on three very clear priorities: Strength, Spending Control, and Reform.

This bill will continue to build on some of the greatest strengths of our nation, including the economy and defense and homeland security. Our economy has continued to grow at a rate better than three percent per year since 2003. Nearly five million new jobs have been created in the past 2.5 years. Revenues into the United States Treasury have also continued to grow with our economy, and increase of almost 15% last year alone.

We will continue to fund our homeland security and defense at the levels needed to fight our war on terror and to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the needed equipment to succeed, and continue to protect the United States.

This budget shows spending control by holding non-security discretionary spending to a near freeze. This does not mean that every program will be held at the current level, but rather that high-priority programs will receive funding increases, while low-priority, under-performing, or obsolete programs will have to do with less.

We have a chance to include $6.8 billion in mandatory savings over 5 years through reforms to reduce fraud and overpayments, eliminate corporate subsidies, strengthen retirement security, and restore market forces. We must also continue to reform entitlement programs, which continue to grow almost unwatched and are about half of our current budget.

This budget also works to reform the budget process itself. It establishes a new reserve fund for natural disaster emergencies so that we are better prepared for the disasters of the future.

For more information, please visit the House Budget Committee website at www.house.gov/budget.

Constituent Corner

· Financial Literacy

I have recently signed on as a cosponsor of H. Res. 148, supporting the goals and ideas of Financial Literacy Month, celebrated in April.

Financial literacy is very important in the lives of everyone today. An understanding of basic fiscal principles is essential to help Americans make sound financial decisions, whether they’re buying a home, opening up a bank account, or investing in the stock market.

Financial Literacy Awareness Month is a great opportunity for schools and community centers to offer training in important skills like budgeting or saving for retirement. I encourage everyone to take control of their financial futures by learning the best way to manage their money.

For more information, please visit www.mymoney.gov.

· Abuse and Assault Prevention

The month of April is also dedicated to National Child Abuse Prevention as well as National Sexual Assault Awareness.

Child abuse and sexual assault are both horrible realities that people often do not want to face. It is important that everyone know the warning signs of both, how to recognize them, and what to do if such atrocities are believed to have happened. We must make sure that we confront these problems head on.

For more information, please visit http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/topics/prevention/index.cfm, and www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/saam.htm.

· Government Contract

I would like to congratulate TPS Enterprises, Inc. in Newton, Illinois for their work to aquire a federal contract.

TPS recently received a U.S. Government Printing Office contract for the production of FCC Records books. I am pleased that they took the time and effort to go after this contract. Government bidding isn’t always the easiest process to maneuver and this shows the commitment level of TPS Enterprises, Inc. Congratulations.

For more information on contracts, please visit www.gpo.gov.

· Internet Phishing Scams

Internet scams are all over the internet and even with spam blockers, they manage to get through into our email accounts.

Many of these emails will falsely make you believe that they are contacting you from a legitimate business, while trying to hook unsuspecting individuals.

For more information on these scams, please visit www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/phishingalrt.htm.

· Price Gouging Facts

The U.S. House of Representatives is committed to the energy stability of our country and we want to assure that pricing is under control.

Price gouging is the act of an individual station taking advantage of a supply problem, or even perceived supply problem. The Secretary of Energy, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Justice will continue to investigate the occurrence of significant price increases.

While the Department of Energy (DOE) is working to address longer term supply issues, they’re also working to make sure that American families are not victims of over-inflated prices at the pump.

If you believe that you have been a victim of this, please report to you state and local authorities, as well as the DOE at http://gaswatch.energy.gov.

· New “Traveling Help Desk” Dates

On Tuesday, April 11, 2006, Rodney Davis of my Springfield district office will be available to help the residents of Raymond and Divernon. In Raymond, he will be in the Raymond Village Hall from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. In Divernon, he will be in Divernon Village Hall at 50 East Brown from 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

For more information, please visit my web page at www.house.gov/shimkus/helpdesk.shtml. 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. 513 – 527 Reform Act (Rep. Shays – House Administration)

o H. Con. Res. 376 – Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Resolution (Rep. Nussle – House Budget)

· 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 recess until April 25, 2006 for a district work period.

· 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?

· Lee Surrenders

On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to the Union Army led by General Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, Virginia. The American Civil War was essentially ended upon this act. While fighting continued sporadically for the next couple of weeks, the country could now work to become whole once more.

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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