Congressman
John Shimkus

Headlines

May 12, 2008 | Gas Prices

Congressman Shimkus supports ethanol's inclusion in the Farm Bill

Energy conservation is important to both our economy and our environment. Simple things like switching from incandescent to compact fluorescent light bulbs can save both energy and money. If every home replaced just one traditional light bulb with a compact fluorescent, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, save more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

Conservation alone, however, will not significantly lower gas prices or drastically reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Our energy plan must includ increased domestic production in addition to responsible reductions in demand. So this week I again urged my colleagues to support advances in ethanol production and distribution. Ethanol reduces our demand for oil and is more environmentally friendly than burning fossil fuels.

Illinois is fortunate enough to have 171 E85 fueling stations. States like Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island, however, have none. Because of this distribution disparity, I urged my colleagues to support changes to this year’s Farm Bill to increase funding for new fuel related infrastructure. To watch the video of my remarks, click here.

Land and Sea Travel Rule Announced

Travelers entering the United States will be facing enhanced security requirements next year, a core recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) final rule has been issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department, requiring travelers to present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States. WHTI establishes document requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. These requirements, originally set to go into effect this year, will be effective June 1, 2009, giving citizens more time to obtain the necessary documents.

Many cross-border travelers already have WHTI-compliant documents such as a passport card or an enhanced driver’s license (EDL). Passport cards and EDLs will contain security features to prevent counterfeiting and will include vicinity Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to help speed the entry process at the land borders.

Specific information on documentation requirements may be found here. General information on WHTI or other travel-related programs is available at www.dhs.gov or www.travel.state.gov.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officials have received a number of inquiries regarding the amount of rebates individuals and families are receiving as part of the economic stimulus package passed by Congress.

Although most individual taxpayers are getting $600 ($1,200 per joint return), the total could vary depending upon several factors, such as:

· You are single and your net income tax liability is less than $600. If you file Form 1040, net income tax liability is the amount shown on Line 57, plus the amount on Line 52.

· You are married and your net income tax liability is less than $1,200.

· You are single and your adjusted gross income (AGI) is more than $75,000. On Form 1040, AGI is the amount on Line 37.

· You are married filing a joint return and your AGI is more than $150,000.

· You owe back taxes.

· You have non-tax federal debts such as unpaid student loans or child-support obligations.

More information about these limits can be found here. Taxpayers also can use the Economic Stimulus Payment Calculator. For those who prefer to call with questions, the IRS has a toll-free phone number, 1-800-829-1040.

On Saturday, May 10th the National Association of Letter Carriers and the Campbell Soup Company joined with the US Postal Service and America’s Second Harvest to sponsor the nation’s largest single day food drive.

To help needy families in your area, simply place non-perishable food items in a bag by your mailbox on Saturday. When they come to deliver your mail, postal workers will collect the food and deliver it to local food banks.

For more information, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com.

Troops, Vets Invited to Write About Their Experiences

The Operation Homecoming program invites veterans as well as active duty troops to participate in progressive, four-to-six-week writing workshops at 25 sites around the country, including U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, military hospitals, and affiliated centers in communities around the country. Among the locations is the St. Louis VA Medical Center.

The 2008 writing workshops are free and open to active duty troops and all veterans, with a focus on those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. More information on registration, dates and locations is available at www.operationhomecoming.org.

On Friday, May 16, 2008, I will be holding Open Office Hours in the office of State Senator John O. Jones, located at 2929 Broadway, Suite 5 in Mt. Vernon, from 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call my Collinsville office at 618-344-3065.

My staff will be meeting with local constituents in various communities throughout the 19th Congressional District in the coming weeks.  This provides the opportunity for us to make our office and services more accessible.  Appointments are not necessary.

On Monday, May 12, 2008, Matt Pickett of my Springfield District Office will be available to meet with residents in Willow Hill and Bridgeport.  In Willow Hill, he will be at the Willow Hill Township Building, located at 101 South Cumberland, from 10:30 a.m. – noon.  In Bridgeport, he will be at the Bridgeport City Hall, located at 235 West Washington Street, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

On Monday, May 19, 2008, Holly Healy of my Harrisburg District Office will be available to meet with residents in Rosiclare and Metropolis. In Rosiclare, she will be at the Rosiclare City Hall, located on Main Street, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. In Metropolis, she will be at the Metropolis Community Center Conference Room, located at 900 W 10th Street, from noon – 1:30 p.m.

For more information on this program, please visit my website at www.house.gov/shimkus.

The House will be in session next week from Tuesday, May 13th through Thursday, May 15th.  The following bills will be considered:

• Legislation to provide suplimental funding for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Possible consideration of the Farm Bill Conference Report
• Possible consideration of the Budget Authorization Conference Report
  

To view the Calendar for the 2nd Session of the 110th Congress, click here.

For information on the upcoming schedule, please visit the Office of the Clerk’s web site.  This site provides up-to-date information on House legislative schedules.

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