---

This week I met with National Corn Growers Association Corn Board members and staff to discuss the continued promotion of renewable fuels such as ethanol made from corn. From left to right: Chairman Leon Corzine of Assumption, Illinois, Director of Public Policy June Silverberg, Corn Board member Ron Litterer, and Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett.

D.C. and District Talk

· Right-to-Ride

This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 586, the Right-to-Ride Livestock on Federal Lands Act. I am a cosponsor of this bill which now moves to the Senate for further action.

H.R. 586 seeks to “preserve the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on public lands.” It is a bipartisan effort intended to protect the use of public lands by citizens. It deals with National Wildlife lands, National Parks, Bureau of Land Management lands, and National Forest lands.

This legislation states that “…all trails, routes, and areas used by pack and saddle stock shall remain open and accessible for such use.” It does not prohibit reductions in use if the “…full review process required under that National Environmental Policy Act of 1969” is followed. Temporary emergency closures are also still allowed.

This legislation was introduced in February 2005 and is not a reaction to the new Shawnee plan. I support access and multiple use of our national natural resources.

For more information, please visit the House Committee on Resources website, http://resourcescommittee.house.gov.

· 2007 Budget

This week, the House of Representatives also passed H.Con.Res. 376, the Concurrent Resolution for the Budget for FY 2007.

The Fiscal Year 2007 budget focuses on continued economic growth, while tightening spending and making necessary reforms to ensure that your hard-earned tax dollars are wisely spent. This budget provides important funding for our troops and their missions at home and abroad, by setting aside reserves for defense spending and the war against terrorism and natural disaster preparation and response. At the same time, the federal government remains on track to cut the federal budget deficit in half by the year 2009.

The FY 2007 budget provides for reforms that seek to establish consistent oversight of entitlement programs to make sure that important services are still provided, while keeping spending under control in an effort to balance the budget. This budget addresses the current deficit and the conditions that will prevent a return to a balanced budget to avert problems that could arise in the future in regards to mandatory spending and the budget process.

This budget continues to build on the policies that have guided the country to economic success and created new opportunities for American workers. I believe that passage of this budget is a major step forward in Congress’ effort to eliminate the deficit, and I feel that it is reflective of our commitment to fiscal responsibility and accountability to you, the American taxpayer.

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

Constituent Corner

· Opening Prayer

I would like to thank Reverend Ted A. Hartley, senior pastor of Farina United Methodist Church in Farina, Illinois for giving the opening prayer for the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 17.

Reverend Hartley is a native of McLeansboro, Illinois. He has been a United Methodist pastor for the past 14 years, previously having been a public school music teacher for 15 years. His previous pastorates have included Peoria, Charleston, Virden, and Abingdon.

Reverend Hartley has shown civic pride through numerous community positions and has given the opening prayer for the Illinois Senate twice. His son Chris was able to join him, watching from the House Gallery for the prayer.

Again, I thank Reverend Hartley for providing the opening prayer and for he and his son joining us in Washington, DC.

· Economy

As our economy continues to grow and jobs continue to be created, I am pleased to be able to share more information with you about how this affects our district.

I have recently been notified by the Home Builders Association of Greater Southwest Illinois that homebuilding and remodeling is thriving in the region. Over 3,200 new homes have been built over the past three to four years and thousands more are being remodeled. These activities create thousands of good paying jobs, while creating more opportunities for individuals to become home owners.

It is great to hear this information that really hits home and brings the job numbers to light.

· Gift List

I have recently submitted a list of the numerous gifts which I have received during 2005.

Every year, Members of Congress are required to submit their financial disclosures; however this list of gifts is something that is not required. My gift list is something that I have kept and voluntarily submitted each year since I joined Congress.

I believe that sharing this list of all the gifts I received in my role as a representative of the people of Illinois is important. First, it lets everyone know who has given something of nominal value, just as all my campaign contributions must be made known. Second, it shows the reality of this job – who I meet with, the places I go, and the things people wish to share with me.

This list has a variety of items on it, such as calendars, coffee mugs, t-shirts, books, pens, and even some food items. Some of these items are from constituents, some from different groups, and even some from other Members of Congress.

· Law Enforcement Grants

I am pleased to announce federal funding through the United States Department of Homeland Security to local law enforcement agencies. These grants are through the Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program, which provides smaller law enforcement agencies with equipment items.

This equipment will enhance regional responses, mutual aid and interoperability of responder equipment – an issue I have been dealing with for some time now and an issue that was very evident in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I am pleased that our local agencies were successful in obtaining this equipment.

Receiving assistance in our region were:

o Staunton Fire Protection District – Spreaders, cutters, and RAM tools, $17,914

o Pana Police Department – Night vision goggle, $5,327

o Grafton Police Department – Modular portable video system, $8,821; and

o Findlay Fire Protection District – Thermal imager for fire service responders, $9,721

For more information on these grants, please visit the Department of Homeland Security website, www.dhs.gov.

· Click It or Ticket (Reminder)

The United States Department of Transportation reports that each year over 40,000 Americans die in motor vehicle crashes. One of the best ways to lower this number is to wear your safety belt.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sponsors the Click It or Ticket mobilization to increase the use of safety belts. This year, this Mobilization will run from May 22 through June 4. Over 12,000 state and local law enforcement officers, highway safety officials, and others will be involved in safety belt checkpoints and other stepped-up efforts.

The use of a safety belt increases a person’s chance of surviving a serious crash by 50 percent.

Over this Memorial Day weekend, remember to drive safe. For more information on this effort, please visit www.buckleupamerica.org.

· New “Traveling Help Desk” Dates

On Friday, May 26, 2006, Dora Rohan of my Collinsville district office will be available to help the residents of Dieterich and Farina. In Dieterich, she will be in the Dieterich Village Hall at 109 N. Main Street from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. In Farina, she will be at the Farina Village Hall at 106 S. Oak from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.

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. 586 – Right-to-Ride Livestock on Federal Lands Act of 2005 (Rep. Radanovich – House Resources and House Agriculture)

o H.R. 4200 – Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act (Rep. Walden – House Resources)

o H.Con.Res. 376 – Congressional Budget for FY2007 (Rep. Nussle – House Budget)

o H.R. 5386 – Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007 (Rep. Taylor – House Appropriations)

· Note: Congress was still in session and votes were in progress on the following bill at the time this newsletter was written and distributed.

o H.R. 5385 - Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Open Rule, One Hour of General Debate) (Sponsored by Rep. Walsh – 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 next week from Monday through Friday.

o Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for FY07

o Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY07

· 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?

· Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis

On May 20, 1927, American aviator Charles Lindbergh began his record-breaking nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in New York, in his plane which he named the Spirit of St. Louis, in honor of his St. Louis Chamber of Commerce sponsor. The 3,500-mile flight ended the next day when Lindbergh landed at Le Bourget field in Paris, France.

The original Spirit of St. Louis is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., while a replica is displayed at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in St. Louis, MO.

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic newsletter is a weekly publication sent to all interested constituents. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please send a message to shimkus.il19@mail.house.gov and put UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject Line, and we will remove you from the mailing list.

Please do not reply to this e-mail for any other reason; instead, visit http://www.house.gov/shimkus/emailme.shtml to contact me.