Congressman Denny Rehberg

Letter to Canadian Ag Minister Expresses “Concern” at Handling of Mad Cow Case

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today called on Canada to reform its beef testing standards in the wake of a recent confirmed case of the so-called “mad cow disease” [Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)]. In a letter to Lyle Vanclief, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Rehberg said he was “troubled” by Canada’s “delay in reporting the case.”

“We all witnessed the drop in the commodities markets immediately after the announcement, and the long-term effects remain to be seen,” Rehberg wrote. “In the interest of the entire beef industry, I would encourage you to implement remedial measures to expedite your testing system.”

Rehberg said this week’s news of a case of mad cow disease on a farm this week in Alberta raises concerns about beef that may have entered Montana in light of the Ministry’s unexplained holdup in the case to light.

“Due to our close proximity and the large number of cattle that cross our border, I am concerned by the details of this case,” Rehberg wrote. “Canada works closely with the United States and tests hundreds of high-risk animals per year for the incidence of BSE, but I am troubled by the nearly four month delay in reporting the case, particularly when the U.S. tests nearly 20,000 animals per year and the results are known within eight days.”

News of the occurrence and how the case was handled have negatively impacted the beef industry, Rehberg’s said.

“Producers from my home state of Montana and producers from Canada have enjoyed a long-standing trading relationship,” Rehberg wrote. “As a rancher who also happens to be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, I pledge to work with you in any manner possible in this effort.”

Letter:

May 23, 2003

The Honorable Lyle Vanclief
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Sir John Carling Building
930 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0C5

Dear Minister Vanclief:

This week the entire beef industry suffered a setback with the announcement of a confirmed case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Alberta. Producers from my home state of Montana and producers from Canada have enjoyed a long-standing trading relationship. Due to our close proximity and the large number of cattle that cross our border, I am concerned by the details of this case.

I am thankful Canada’s screening system prevented the infected animal from entering the food supply, but I am extremely concerned with the nearly four month delay in receiving the results. I know Canada works closely with the United States and tests hundreds of high-risk animals per year for the incidence of BSE, but I am troubled by the nearly four month delay in reporting the case, particularly when the U.S. tests nearly 20,000 animals per year and the results are known within eight days.

Montana’s beef industry is worth over $760 million to our economy annually, and I worry about the animals that may have entered Montana during the four-month delay. We all witnessed the drop in the commodities markets immediately after the announcement, and the long-term effects remain to be seen. In the interest of the entire beef industry, I would encourage you to implement remedial measures to expedite your testing system. As a rancher who also happens to be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, I pledge to work with you in any manner possible in this effort.

I thank you for your attention to this critical matter and if I can be of any assistance, please to not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg
Member of Congress

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), will take part in the grand opening ceremonies of the newly designated Beartooth All-American Road, a 68-mile scenic stretch of US Hwy. 212, between Red Lodge, MT, and the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Last June, the US Department of Transportation designated the Beartooth Scenic Byway an “All-American Road,” the highest scenic designation given a federal roadway.

“Traveling the state’s highways virtually every week as Montana’s Congressman, I’ve seen my share of roadway. The Beartooth All-American Road is both an engineering marvel and a spectacular drive,” said Rehberg. “It’s fully deserving of the nation’s highest scenic designation and I’m honored to be a part of the official grand opening.”

The highway’s special status comes after several years of work by local civic and government leaders, and was officially announced June 13, 2002, by U.S. Transportation Secretary Leon Mineta.

To receive an All-American Road designation, a road must possess multiple intrinsic qualities, (archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic character), be nationally significant, and have features that do not exist elsewhere. The road or highway must also be recognized as a “destination unto itself.” The route, completed in 1936, takes travelers through three national forests, the Custer, Shoshone and Gallatin, and over 10,947 feet in elevation.

The National Scenic Byways Program, established by Congress in 1991, was created to preserve and protect the nation’s scenic byways while promoting tourism and economic development. Congress has appropriated $25 million annually for planning, enhancing, and promoting the byways. There are 75 National Scenic Byways and 20 All-American Roads in 39 states across America.

Also scheduled to appear for the ceremony are Montana Senator Conrad Burns, Montana Transportation Director Dave Gault, Bruce Blevins, author of Beartooth Highway Experiences, and District Ranger Rand Herzberg. The grand opening coincides with the annual memorial weekend seasonal opening of the highway. Other activities include displays, musical performances, and refreshments.

Who: Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg
What: Grand Opening of Beartooth All-American Road
Where: Beartooth Ranger Station, ¼ mile south of Red Lodge, U.S. Hwy. 212
When: 12:00 pm (noon), Saturday, May 24, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today announced the Department of Commerce will award digital television conversion grants to Montana’s two public television stations. The grant, almost $800,000, will fund new equipment for KUSM-TV 9 in Bozeman and KUFM-TV 11 in Missoula.

“These channels in Bozeman and Missoula allow public television to reach nearly half a million people in Montana, and comprise Montana’s primary link to award-winning, noncommercial programming that entertains and enlightens communities across the state,” Rehberg said. “With conversion to digital a federal requirement for all television stations in the country, this funding is critical for public television in Montana. This award is a win-win for both the Bozeman and Missoula stations and for the people of Montana, at a time when public television offers new opportunities to enrich public life in the digital age.”

The $798,750 grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will allow the stations to purchase the necessary equipment to complete their conversion from analogue to digital. Digital conversion will allow Montana’s public television to partner with the state to produce the Montana Legislative Channel, featuring coverage of the state legislature as well as programming produced by various state agencies.

“The grant includes the purchase of equipment to enable KUSM and KUFM to interconnect, thereby enhancing their statewide coverage,” Rehberg said. “A digital hookup will allow these stations to partner with our state universities to develop televised college credit courses.”

Says Jobs and Growth Tax Act “Vital” for Montanans, Will Create Montana Jobs

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today praised passage of the House Jobs and Growth Tax Act (H.R. 2) as a “vital package that will create jobs for Montanans.” The bill, approved by Rehberg and the House of Representatives this afternoon, will create an estimated “2,700 jobs next year in Montana, and another 2,500 jobs” the following year, Rehberg said.

“The bill we passed today will provide relief for the poorest Americans, help for married couples, an increase in the child credit, and an immediate jumpstart to our economy,” Rehberg said. “While some want to take back promises they made to taxpayers during the last election year, our work today is a vote that continues our promise to return Montana taxpayers their hard-earned money this year.”

“I’d like to know just exactly what are tax cuts for the rich?” Rehberg told the House. “If you apply the sweeping logic of the anti-tax relief crowd, the term ‘rich people’ includes everyone who makes more than $5,000 a year.”

“Our bill expands the 10 percent bracket beginning this year. Is that a tax cut for the rich? It increases the standard deduction for married persons filing joint returns beginning this year. Are all married couples rich? It provides a $1000 dollar child credit beginning this year. Do only rich people have kids?

“In fact, the House Jobs and Growth Tax Act will create an estimated 1.2 million jobs by the end of 2004. 1.2 million jobs – that translates to 2,700 jobs next year in Montana, and another 2,500 jobs the year after that. It will also provide a break for small businesses and a boost to our struggling economy.”