Rep. Johnson announces reelection bid

December 07, 2005

CHAMPAIGN, IL - U.S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson this week announced his reelection bid for a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. Johnson made the announcement at a meeting of the Active Senior Republicans at the GOP headquarters in Champaign.

"I've done my best to represent the broad and diverse interests of the 15th Congressional District," Rep. Johnson said. "After six years in Congress and 24 years in the state Legislature, I like to think I'm getting a little better all the time. But that's up to the people who put me here. There are close to 700,000 of them in this district and I'll do my best to serve them as I have throughout my career.

"Whether it's farming interests, higher education, labor, the business community or most importantly, citizens' individual needs, there are many concerns deserving of attention. I've attempted to represent the district and the people who put me here to the best of my ability. It is my hope that citizens will look at my record and conclude that my work and my votes have served them well," Rep. Johnson said.

Rep. Johnson, 59, was first elected to Congress in 2000 following 24 years in the Illinois Legislature. The 15th Congressional District that he represents encompasses 22 counties, some 10,000 square miles, three major public universities, eight community colleges and more than 100,000 farms.

"If you will permit me a conceit, I am proud of my district. I'm proud of the contributions our district makes in terms of agricultural productivity, in terms of its universities' research efforts, and in terms of the work ethic of its citizens. It is my intent to bolster those efforts whenever and wherever I can. This is the kind of district that is emblematic of the backbone that keeps our country strong," Rep Johnson said.

"It is these people - the mayors, the postmasters, the Legion commanders, the coaches, the moms and the mentors or our young people - who provide the marching orders with which I govern. It is to them that I owe my allegiance."

Among the highlights of the 109th Congress that Rep. Johnson has been involved in include:

• Passage of the Energy Bill, the first comprehensive energy legislation to pass Congress in 13 years. This legislation creates important new incentives and requirements for the development of alternative energy and weaning oursevls from dependence on foreign oil. With higher production requirements for ethanol and biodiesel fuels, which Rep. Johnson worked for, this legislation will help maintain or creat 100,000 full-time and part-time jobs in Illinois . The bill requires that 7.5 billion gallons of ethanolo be blended with the U.S. fuel supply by 2012.

• Passage of the new Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, a 6-year, $284 billion plan to restore and rebuild highways, bridges and other transportation needs of our citizens and economy. The 15th District and the state of Illinois did exceptionally well in this legislation that we've negotiated over three years. Illinois received a 30 percent increase over funding secured in the previous transportation authorization known as TEA-21. We secured some $30 million for projects in this district alone, vital projects that will serve practical and critical needs.

• Passage of Association Health Plans legislation that allows businesses to form associations that will allow them to economically obtain health care coverage for their employees. By far the majority of people without health insurance in this country are those who work for small businesses that have until now been unable to afford the provision of health care. This legislation will change that.

• Protection of Farm Service Agency offices from closure. This proposal, which Rep. Johnson successfully opposed, would have meant the closure of 665 FSA offices, offices that the agricultural community depends on. Nine offices in the 15 th District faced the threat of closure.

• Introduction of the Medicare Part D plan that for the first time gives seniors Medicare coverage for their pharmaceutical needs.

• Passage of the private Property Rights Protection Act that restores a measure of sanity to property rights principles in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Kelo v. City of New London . The legislation prohibits state and local governments from receiving federal assistance when they seize private property to turn it over to a private developer under the guise of economic development.

"We have much work to do to see these initiatives to fruition. It's an exciting time to be part of the process that I think that will pay considerable dividends to the people I represent," Rep. Johnson said. "With their continued support, I hope to serve my constituents in a way that will benefit them individually and as part of the collective that makes up the best that America has to offer."