ALINDENFELSER

**A. Lindenfelser **


 * Political Party:** //Republican//


 * Congressperson:** [|Mark Steven Kirk] I agree with him on all issues, except that I do not believe we should have Universal Health Care.

**3 Most Important Issues:** - __//Health and Safety//__: This is one of the most important issues to me because the U.S. is one of the unhealthiest states in the world, and I think the government should be more involved in requiring places to serve healthy foods like in schools. I think health care should be provided to those who work for it, and not have it as a right that is guaranteed to everyone. Lastly, I think the government should put more money into the funding of finding cures because disease rates have increased a lot over the past years, and it is something that is really affecting our country. - __//Education//__: This is one of the most important issues to me because you need a good education to be successful. I think education standards should be raised in schools all over the country, and kids should be required to have to take more subjects to help them be ready for future jobs. Also, I think that the gaps between students (wealthier and poorer) should be decreased because there is a very big difference between the money spent on the wealthier kids compared to the money spent on the poorer kids. I think everyone deserves a quality education, even if they can't afford it. -__//Environment and Energy//__: This is one of the most important issues to me because our country is becoming very polluted, and we are not doing much about it. I think that we need to put government funding into finding more ways to be environmentally friendly. I also think that the environmental things we have should be used to power public places/public transportation owned by the cities/states.


 * My Bill:** My bill is HB 2. It is about requiring healthier foods to be served in schools, and providing breakfast. As well as, showing athletes proper nutrition. My bill is low in cost. The reason being that students pay for their own lunches and breakfasts, the government does not provide them. The health of kids needs to be improved because right now, 9 million teens (15% of the people under the age of 15) are obese. Also, the foods being provided are not nutrional enough to properly fuel athletes for sports events. Lastly, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it should be offered at everyday. My bill will replace foods like breaded chicken and French fries, with foods like grilled chicken and mashed potatoes. Quick breakfasts such as yogurt, toast, or cereal will be provided. Athlete's choices will be a way to show athletes and other students what proper nutrition is before a game. With healthier foods and breakfasts, it is shown that it is easier to do well in school. My bill will help kids in creating a healthier future. With the passing of my bill, comes healthier foods for lunch and breakfast, and specific choices for athletes. You should support my bill for these many reasons.

- Corn, soy beans, hogs, cattle, dairy products, wheat, machinery, food processing, electric equipment, chemical products, printing and publishing, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, coal, and petroleum are main focuses in Illinois' economy. - Illinois has a 69.1% unemployment rate in March 2009 and a 10.7% poverty rate in 2004-2006 . - 46.7% of Illinois energy comes from coal, 4.6% comes from gas, 45.9% comes from nuclear, and about .2% comes from renewable resources in 2007. - 86.6% of Illinois Population has Health Insurance, so 13.4% does not have Health Insurance. - Illinois has 48 community colleges, which serve almost 1 million students per year.
 * 5 Illinois Facts:**

- "Health Insurance Plans" May 11, 2009 [|www.healthinsuranceplan.us/illinois-health-insurance] - "U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Prevention" May 11, 2009 [|www.HHS.gov/safety/index.html] - "American Red Cross- Central Illinois Chapter" May 7, 2009 [|www.redcrossillinois.org/pandemic-flu] - "Illinois Government" May 11, 2009 [|www.illinois.gov/government] - "Library of Congress: Thomas" May 8, 2009 [|www.thomas.loc.gov] - "Illinois: Overview" __United States Geography 2009__ ABC-CLIO 11 May 2009 [|www.usgeography.abc-clio.com] - "Northeast Midwest Institute: Illinois" May 11, 2009 [|www.nemw.org/il.htm] - "50 States: Illinois" May 11, 2009 [|www.50states.com/illinois.htm] - "U.S. Congressmen Mark Steven Kirk: Issues" May, 11, 2009 [|www.house.gov/kirk/issues.shtml] - "YLI e-Congress Demonstration." __Civics Lesson Plans, Student Mock Election - Youth Leadership Initiative__. 12 May 2009 []
 * 10 Most Important Information Sources: **