From George O’Connor, Communications Director for Congressman Mike Bost  

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) today voted for H.R. 3354, the Make America Secure and Prosperous Act, to fully fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2018. The legislation—which passed the House with a bipartisan majority – supports America’s rural economies, provides law enforcement resources to fight crime, and promotes small businesses.
“This legislation invests in proven programs that are vitally important to Southern Illinois while also reducing unnecessary and wasteful spending,” said Rep. Bost. “It is Congress’s constitutional responsibility to exercise the power of the purse and this legislation sensibly funds our government and puts the American people first.”

Make America Secure and Prosperous Act:

Spurring Economic Growth:

• Supports America’s rural economies by providing funding for infrastructure development, housing needs, and loans to help expand rural businesses and industries
• Promotes opportunities for American small business to begin, grow, and prosper by providing funding for small business loans and veterans’ small business programs

Supporting Our Farmers:

• Continues funding for critical programs that support farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners, including programs that help with the implementation of the Farm Bill
• Invests in agricultural research by continuing operations at all Agricultural Research Service facilities and supporting the Agriculture Food Research Initiative grant program

Fighting the Opioid Epidemic:

• Enhances drug enforcement efforts within the DEA, including heroin enforcement and combatting transnational organized crime, and increasing funding for DEA’s Diversion Control Program
• Includes funding for drug courts, treatment, and prescription drug monitoring as authorized in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act

Supporting National Security:

• Includes funding for physical barrier construction along the Southern border
• Invests in new border technology, new aircraft and sensors, and new inspection equipment to protect the border
• Combats the increasing threat of cyberattacks by funding programs to enhance critical infrastructure and secure government networks

by ReAnne Palmer, Rend Lake College Public Information

INA, IL– Coming in September, Rend Lake College and Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation will be partnering to assist individuals with legal barriers to employment. Attorneys from Land of Lincoln will provide on-site free legal services by appointment from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at Rend Lake College in Applied Science Center, Room 103.

Land of Lincoln attorneys will assist clients with filing petitions for the expunging or sealing of criminal records and will address other employment barriers. It is preferred that attendees bring their criminal records, but it is not required. The services are free and open to the public.

If you are interested in attending the event or would like more information, please contact Charah McKinzie, paralegal for Land of Lincoln, at 618-457-7800, Ext. 133, or Kaylee Smith, Career Services Specialist at Rend Lake College, at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1264.

by Pete Rosenbery, Southern Illinois University News Service

CARBONDALE, IL – Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Career Services Center will host two career fairs next week that are open to students and alumni.
The STEM Career Fair is from 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the SIU Arena. Held each fall, the career fair provides an opportunity to connect with employers hiring in the science, technology, engineering and math fields. The University Career Fair will be from 1 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 20, also at the SIU Arena. Visit siu.joinhandshake.com to pre-register and see the list of visiting employers for both career fairs.
Industry areas include K-12 education; aerospace technology; automotive; banking; defense; food and beverage; internet and software; manufacturing, real estate, research and wholesale trade.
About 50 employers have registered with Career Services for the STEM Career Fair. Industry areas include K-12 education; aerospace technology; automotive; banking; defense; food and beverage; internet and software; manufacturing and research. The employers include Aisin Manufacturing Illinois, LLC; Banterra Bank; Boeing; Consolidated Electrical Distributors Inc; Cummins, Inc.; the Defense Intelligence Agency; Flight Safety International; Jasper Engines and Transmissions; The Korte Company, Vecro Blue Farms and the United States Transportation Command.
Nearly 70 employers registered for the University Career Fair. Employers include Academy for Urban School Leadership, Bankers Life, Bridgestone Tire Operations, LLC; Carbondale Police Department; Cushman & Wakefield; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Hormel Foods; Isle Casino Cape Girardeau; Pepsi MidAmerica; Southern Illinois Healthcare and West Point Financial Group.
For each fair, job seekers should bring multiple copies of their resumes and any other pertinent credentials, and should dress professionally.
For more information, contact Career Services at 618/453-2391 or by email at careerservices@siu.edu.