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While traveling with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, my wife, Karen, and I recently had the honor of dining with Illinoisans serving in the Air Force. From left, back row: Sgt. John Dennison, Mechanicsburg; Airman Donny Henry, St. Charles; Sgt. Patrick King, Jonesboro. On the front row, far right: Airman Holli Brown, Highland.

D.C. and District Talk

· From the Front ….
While Iraq continues to be a dangerous place, two things occurred this week that will hopefully lead to a more peaceful and democratic nation.

Al-Qaeda’s leader in Iraq, Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, was killed in an air raid north of Baghdad. The Iraqi people stood up and informed their local police of his whereabouts. The Iraqi Security Forces then forwarded the tip to the United States, whose troops made the successful attack.

The new Iraqi government also filled out its cabinet this week with the appointment of two Shiites and a Sunni to the last important cabinet posts, including Interior Minister and Defense Minister.

The Iraqi people and their government are taking forward steps to securing their future by forming a government and by standing up to the invader rebels that only terrorize the Iraqis they purport to support. I hope these two events will bring peace closer to reality.

· New Information regarding the stolen veterans data
Please visit http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1134 in order to view Secretary Nicholson’s most recent update on the stolen data and what veterans can do to protect themselves from fraud due to the missing data.

· USDA releases Conservation Paper; Second of the 2007 Farm Bill Theme Papers

I was pleased to see that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Johanns recently released the second of the 2007 farm bill analysis papers. The topic is conservation programs.

At the end of March, Secretary Johanns announced the release of 41 papers summarizing the 4,000 comments received during 52 USDA Farm Bill Forums and via the Internet. In preparing for the 2007 farm bill, USDA is gathering from these papers a number of themes that warrant further analysis. The first analysis paper, released in May, focused on risk management.

The conservation paper is authored by a team led by the Office of the USDA Chief Economist with input from the Economic Research Service (ERS), the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS). It contains factual, useful information for examining future farm policy directions.

The paper discusses natural resource issues, current USDA conservation programs administered by FSA and NRCS and policy alternatives. The conservation paper is available at: http://www.usda.gov/. Transcripts of the Farm Bill Forums and the 41 Farm Bill comment summary papers are also posted there.

· Shimkus Press Releases from this Week
Please visit my website at www.house.gov/shimkus for more information on the following press releases issued this week.

o SHIMKUS SUPPORTS 25% RENEWAL FUELS BY 2025
o SHIMKUS SUPPORTS MINE SAFETY LEGISLATION

o SHIMKUS SUPPORTS SPEEDING UP REFINERY PERMITTING

o SHIMKUS SUPPORTS HIGHER FINES FOR INDECENT BROADCASTS

o SHIMKUS INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION

o MODERNIZING THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM

Constituent Corner
· Outsmarting Internet Crooks

The U.S. General Services Administration has free materials that you can request in order to help you protect yourself from cyber crooks and those who would try to steal your identity. The Department of Treasury has issued a new DVD, Identity Theft: Outsmarting the Crooks which is included in the package along with brochures on Internet Fraud: How to Avoid Internet Investment Scams. You can request this package three different and convenient ways:

Send you name and address to Outsmarting Internet Crooks, Pueblo. CO 81009.

Visit www.public.gsa.gov/rc/n39internetcrooks.htm.

Call toll free at 1-888-878-3256, weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. eastern standard time and ask for Outsmarting Internet Crooks.

· The Weir House is Open for Tours

The Madison County Historical Museum is housed in the Dr. John H. Weir home at 715 N Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois. The federal style home was built in 1836 and has recently gone through extensive renovations. It is open to tours as of June 1st. Please contact the Museum at 618-656-7562 or via e-mail at mchm@co.madison.il.us.

· June 14th is Flag Day

Please visit http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/misc/ourflag/titlepage.htm for information regarding Flag Day and how to honor our flag. I would like to remind you that my office can assist those of you who would like to purchase a flag and have it flown over the United States Capitol in Washington. Please visit my website at http://www.house.gov/shimkus/flags.shtml

· Home Safety Month

June is Home Safety Month. Nearly 20 percent of the deaths caused by unintentional injuries actually occur inside the home. Home Safety Month has been designated as a way to help teach all of us ways in which we can create a safer, injury-free environment in our homes. For more information, visit www.homesafetycouncil.org.

· June is also National Homeownership Month

Since its inception in 1934, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has been a door to homeownership for 33 million American individuals and families. At dozens of events across the nation during National Homeownership Month—they will celebrate FHA's accomplishments and they look forward to its continued role in making the dream of homeownership achievable for all Americans.

Browse their homebuying resources below and join them at an "FHA Celebrates Homeownership" fair in your area—note that they are still arranging fairs in many parts of the country.

· How to Help our Veterans

My office often receives questions from constituents asking what they can do to help our soldiers fighting the Global War on Terror. One way to honor those soldiers would be to help those who came before them. The Department of Veterans Affairs John Cochran Medical Center in St. Louis, MO, is looking for any volunteers to drive veterans to their appointments in St. Louis. Even if you can only volunteer one day a month, the VA would be happy to accept your help. For more information, please contact Marcena C. Gunter, Community Relations Manager, VA Medical Center, 915 North Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63106, phone: 314-289-6393.

On a related note, the Department of Veterans Affairs would like to encourage all veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to sign up with the VA as soon as they leave the military, including National Guardsmen. Veterans can lose their eligibility if they do not sign up within two years of discharge. Even if veterans have no health problems, the VA says they should take the precaution in case they need help later in life.

· New “Traveling Help Desk” Dates

On Friday, June 16, 2006, Doug Bugger of my Collinsville district office will be available to assist the residents of Sorento and Oakdale. In Sorento, he will be at the Sorento Municipal Building at 508 Wabash from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. In Oakdale, he will be at the Oakdale Village Hall on Weigh 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 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. 5522 - Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Sponsored by Rep. Kolbe / Appropriations Committee)

o H.R. 5252 - Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006 (Sponsored by Rep. Barton / Energy and Commerce Committee)

o H.R. 5441 - Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Sponsored by Rep. Rogers (KY) / Appropriations Committee)

o H.R. 5126 - Truth in Caller ID Act of 2006 (Sponsored by Rep. Barton / Energy and Commerce Committee)

o S. 193 - Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005 (Sponsored by Sen. Brownback / Energy and Commerce Committee)

o S. 2803 - Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (Sponsored by Sen. Enzi / House Education and the Workforce)

o H.Res. 265 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month (Sponsored by Rep. Berkley / Energy and Commerce Committee)

o H.Res. 833 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with regard to the importance of National Women's Health Week, which promotes awareness of diseases that affect women and which encourages women to take preventive measures to ensure good health (Sponsored by Rep. Hinchey / Energy and Commerce Committee)

o H.R. 5449 - To amend title 49, United States Code, to modify bargaining requirements for proposed changes to the personnel management system of the Federal Aviation Administration (Sponsored by Rep. LaTourette / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

o H.Res. 763 - Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Children and Families Day, in order to encourage adults in the United States to support and listen to children and to help children throughout the Nation achieve their hopes and dreams, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Tom Davis / Government Reform Committee)

o H.Res. 626 - Congratulating Albert Pujols on being named the Most Valuable Player for the National League for the 2005 Major League Baseball season (Sponsored by Rep. Carnahan / Government Reform Committee)

o H.R. 5117 - To exempt persons with disabilities from the prohibition against providing section 8 rental assistance to college students (Sponsored by Rep. Pryce / Financial Services Committee)

o H.R. 5521 - Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Sponsored by Rep. Lewis (CA) / Appropriations Committee)

o H.R. 5254 - Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act (Sponsored by Rep. Bass / Energy and Commerce Committee)

· 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. __ – Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, The Judiciary, District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006

o H.Res. __ – Global War on Terror Resolution

· 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?

· Save Our History

Did you know that you can help save our history, our historical structures, etc? Please visit http://www.saveourhistory.com/ for more information.

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.

CORRECTION: In last week’s newsletter, we congratulated US House Speaker Denny Hastert for serving as the longest Speaker of the House. The correct statement should have been that Speaker Hastert is the longest serving Republican Speaker of the House.

Sincerely,

Congressman John Shimkus

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