U.S. Rep. Mark Souder (District 3, R-IN) commented on President George W. Bush's Tuesday State of the Union Wednesday morning, saying Bush's $250 million plan for job-training grants will directly affect northern Indiana.

"I think that will have the biggest impact locally," Souder said of the initiative.

Souder also backed the proposal encouraging citizens to save for catastrophic health care costs.

"The health care plan is very expensive. This goes beyond Medicare and asks how we are going to cover health care for low income families.

"Clearly the President is trying to respond to what I'm hearing all across the country about health care costs. Trying to get people to save money is a Republican approach and so is offering a tax credit as opposed to having the government make a national health care tax.

"At least we're trying to address catastrophic care and how much is paid by the individual and how much by the government."

Souder also applauded the $23 million pilot plan to encourage drug testing students in public schools.

"The drug czar, (John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy) is behind the drug testing initiative. There are all kinds of prevention programs and no accountability.

"In some schools, drug use has dropped dramatically after drug testing. It doesn't change people's minds about using drugs but if no one catches you, you don't have much incentive to behave."

Souder is co-authoring a bill with Rep. Anne Davis of Illinois regarding training and housing for ex-prisoners.

Bush proposed a $300 million training and placement program in his annual address to the nation. The program is to help newly released prisoners find jobs and provide support to their families during the post-prison transition period.

"Five years ago crime rates drop predominately because we put more people in prison. They're coming out of prison in huge numbers," Souder said. "They'll either go right back to prison, which is very expensive, or make the transition back into society."

Bush urged major league sports leagues and athletes to end the use of performance-enhancing drugs, to set an example for young people. Their use by even a minority of elite athletes sets a dangerous example for the millions of young Americans, encouraging them to take dangerous risks with their health and safety, Bush said.

"He is a big baseball fan, like I am," the congressman said.

"It's kind of a touchy situation. For example, Oxycontin has a number of legitimate uses.

"The President, and I, and other believe you can't have legitimate sports competition if people are cheating. And it's damaging individuals in the long run.

"Kids believe they can't get into athletic programs unless they are more muscular. Anywhere from 25 to 65 percent of athletes on the football field, baseball field, in weight lifting and wrestling are cheating. The motivation to win is overwhelming and the health care crisis for kids is just starting. It's a shock to their systems when they're still adding height and weight to their bodies. They have no professional guidance at all and it's messing them up."

Souder can be reached by writing 1227 Longworth Building, Washington DC 20515. The Washington DC telephone number is 202-225-4436.

In Winona Lake his office is in The Boathouse, Suite D, 700 Park Ave. 46590. The Winona Lake thelephone number is 269-1940.

On the Net: www.house. gov/souder [[In-content Ad]]