Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R-Montana) has set 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 2, at Seeley Lake Elementary School for an official House Resources Committee forest management field hearing.

“Seeley Lake is the perfect setting for this important hearing, getting at the heart of the need for better management of our forests,” Rehberg said.

Entitled “Management Challenges Across Montana’s National Forests,” the hearing will include participation by Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-California) and Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam), as well as testimony by local officials and forest land management experts.

“Congressman Rehberg has worked tirelessly on behalf of Montana’s natural resources during his tenure in the House,” Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) said. “In fact, his efforts were instrumental in passing the Healthy Forests Restoration Act just a few short weeks ago.”

“Self-proclaimed preservationists for too long have gotten away with literally loving our forests to death, tipping the scales of our justice system against doing the right thing,” Rehberg said. “Finally we’re getting the government to focus on common-sense partnerships with local managers who know how to keep our forests safe, while protecting communities and property from the threat of wildfires.”

WHO: Reps. Rehberg, Pombo, and Bordallo
WHAT: U.S. House Resources Committee Field Hearing
WHERE: Seeley Lake Elementary School, Seeley Lake, Montana
WHEN: 10:00 am, Wednesday, July 2, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has introduced legislation creating a national council designed to provide for a consensus-building process in addressing national public policy issues. Rehberg’s bill, H.R. 2459, would officially establish the United States Consensus Council.

“The idea is to resolve policy disagreements before they turn into stalemates,” Rehberg said. “Washington often faces policy dilemmas over a variety of critical issues – from reforming Social Security and Medicare to management of our natural resources – this kind of council already works in Montana, and it can work for Washington, too. “

A similar bill (S 908) has been approved by Committee and awaits a vote in the Senate. H.R. 2459, “United States Consensus Council Act of 2003,” would create a 12-member panel charged with bringing together diverse stakeholders to build consensus solutions on a wide range of critical legislative issues where there is conflict among interest groups. No such permanent body currently exists.

“Today more than ever, we need to reach out across party lines and find common-sense solutions to America’s urgent priorities,” Rehberg said. “I’ve found that getting people to sit down at the same table and talk to one another can be the key to reaching agreement, even on the most contentious of issues.”

While members of the council would be appointed by the president and bipartisan congressional leadership, recommendations from the U.S. Consensus Council would be advisory, subject to normal legislative or regulatory processes.

Rehberg Secures $6 Million for Butte Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Program

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg (R), announced today he has secured another $6 million for Butte-based MSE’s MARIAH II Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Program, a Department of Defense backed project to establish cutting-edge hypersonic ground test facilities for the advancement of hypersonic vehicles

“This is such an important and exciting project that puts our focus squarely on building a more secure future for the nation’s defense program, as well as for Montana,” said Rehberg. “I’m very proud of the cooperation and dedication the people of Butte and MSE have shown and I’m pleased the House of Representatives has recognized that leadership and ability.”

“Congressman Rehberg’s support of MARIAH is strengthening both America’s Defense and Montana’s economy,” said Don Peoples, president of MSE Inc. “The MARIAH project has met with great success and Denny has shown great vision in supporting aerospace development.”

Early indications are the MARIAH II Hypersonic Wind Tunnel may prove to provide unparalleled research capabilities. Current ground test facilities can duplicate flight conditions above Mach 8 for no more than a few milliseconds because of the very high temperature required. Flight tests are very expensive, in the neighborhood of $30 million, so the full development of the MARIAH II project will dramatically improve the ability to design and test new vehicles for space access, high-speed flight and re-entry. MSE-Technology Applications of Butte is in charge of the project with support from other nationally known research facilities such as Princeton University and Sandia National Laboratories.

“Step by step, we are continuing our steady march toward firmly establishing Montana’s aerospace industry, with it’s promise of high-paying jobs and far-reaching economic benefits,” said Rehberg, who helped secure a vital $6 million appropriation for the project in 2002.

“The aerospace industry has the ability to provide the state economy with the boost it needs, and Montana families with the jobs they deserve,” said Peoples, adding, “the work Congressman Rehberg and Senator Conrad Burns have done to support MARIAH will not only benefit us today, but is putting in place the pieces for an even brighter future.”

The funding was included in the Appropriations Committee report on FY 2004 Defense Appropriations at the direct request of Representative Rehberg. As Montana’s only member of the United States House of Representatives, Rehberg handles all federal appropriations requests for Montana in that chamber. The next step is for the House of Representatives to vote on the bill before seeking Senate approval.

by Denny Rehberg, Montana’s Congressman

After years of gridlock over the issue, Congress has finally carved out a path to Medicare reform. The process, however, requires good medicine, not just an immediate and fast-acting remedy.
Crucial especially to Montana seniors, Medicare will cease to meet the needs of its beneficiaries if it isn’t brought into the 21st century to address today’s increasing reliance on disease control and prevention. Medicare reform must, therefore, include a prescription drug benefit.

At the same time, this reform effort will be incomplete if it fails to address rural states like Montana, whose seniors deserve the same medical care as the smaller and more populated states. Medicare reform must also include the ensured availability of quality health care in rural and under-served areas.

Passing a bill so meaningful for rural health care in the urban-dominated House of Representatives has been a tortured process. On the one hand, while insisting on better guarantees for under-served area providers and beneficiaries, my rural colleagues and I have had to fight tooth and nail for those improvements. On the other hand, while arguing for a prescription drug benefit, we’ve had to fight against the kind of “kid-in-the-candy-store” readiness on the part of some to sacrifice Medicare’s financial integrity.

The result this week in the House is a good start toward what I would term authentic Medicare reform.

Our bill includes a prescription drug benefit for seniors in both the traditional fee-for-service and the new integrated health plans. Since the average senior spends roughly $1,300 per year on prescriptions, they need coverage to help pay for needed medicines. Seniors, after paying a $250 deductible, will have access to a drug benefit that covers 80 percent of the next $1,750 in drug costs, under our plan. Add to that reductions in the overall cost of drug prices, since the plans seniors enroll in will have the group purchasing power to negotiate better prices from drug manufacturers.

Meanwhile, our bill also includes a permanent fix to those “big city” formulas that have long discriminated against health care providers in Montana and other rural areas. This is a policy change that goes to the heart of the problem, the benefits of which will be multiplied for years to come.

In addition, our bill increases health care access by supporting physician recruitment and retention in rural areas that traditionally have a scarcity of physicians. As amended, our bill contains rural provisions estimated at $27.2 billion. Montana hospitals and physicians should receive well over $33 million next year alone. Plus, our bill includes a five percent add-on payment to rural home health agencies over the next two years. While I would have preferred to see that amount higher and made permanent, I’m happy for its inclusion.

After nearly 40 years since its birth in 1965, it’s time for Medicare to embrace the cutting edge health care innovations of the 21st century. While it is no miraculous healing our remedy this week is, nevertheless, good medicine. However, the expiration date will be up soon if we don’t take advantage of the political window of opportunity. Good legislation does, after all, have a shelf life. America’s seniors shouldn’t have to wait any longer.

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R), is honoring two Great Falls high school graduates with his “Spirit of Discovery” award during a 1:00 pm presentation at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls, Saturday, June 21.

“Adam Riehl and Ashley Vukasin are so deserving of recognition in the way they have responded to very serious illnesses. Through dramatic changes in their lives, they have discovered that a meaningful life is not simply measured in one’s accomplishments, but more so in one’s contribution’s to the accomplishments of others,” said Rehberg. “It’s a privilege for me to be able to recognize their courageous response to the challenges they and their families are facing.”

In 1999, Adam Riehl was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a life-threatening disease, complicated by a malignant tumor in his knee. Chemotherapy and cancer treatments followed, but instead of feeling down and defeated, Adam’s spirit of discovery was shown in the positive way he faced these daunting challenges, prompting school officials to nominate him for the congressman’s award.

Ashley Vukasin was an all-state athlete at CMR as a sophomore, and after struggling through nagging muscle pain as an upperclassman; doctors at the Mayo Clinic diagnosed the teen with a rare, incurable muscle disease called Focal Oxidative Enzyme Skeletal Muscle Disease, of which there have been only eleven confirmed cases in the United States.

Prior to the diagnosis, Ashley was voted captain of the cross-country team, and though unable to participate physically, Ashley remained the team’s captain, supporting her teammates in every way possible, and proving to be an inspiration: “I have begun to realize that perhaps my job is different now. Possibly my fate is not to be an all-state runner, but instead, to be a person who inspires and motivates others to achieve and strive for their best,” said Vukasin.

Adam Riehl and Ashley Vukasin are the 17th and 18th recipients of the “Spirit of Discovery” award, which Rehberg created to recognize and encourage out-of-the-ordinary Montana high school students who display courage and commitment, together with a spirit of discovery in service, surmounting obstacles, or developing skills.

The award is named in honor of the commitment to courage and discovery found in Lewis and Clark’s “Corps of Discovery.” Rehberg sent letters to high school officials across the state asking for nominations of students who demonstrate this spirit of discovery.

GREAT FALLS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg (R), is convening the first meeting of the Montana Advisory Council on Base Realignment and Closures (MACBRAC) to be held Saturday, June 21st at the Townhouse Inn Glacier Room in Great Falls. Rehberg formed MACBRAC this spring “to guide Montana’s effort to best protect Malmstrom” in advance of a federal panel’s base realignment and closure recommendations to be made by September 2005.

“Malmstrom’s economic importance to Montana is measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Rehberg. “I’m confident the expertise and leadership of the members of MACBRAC, along with state officials, and Montana’s congressional delegation, will have an impact in highlighting the importance of Malmstrom as a military installation.”

MACBRAC includes high-ranking retired U.S. Military officers, along with public and civilian leaders:

Col. George Donnelly, USAF, Ret.
Lt. Col. Blanche Proul, USAF, Ret.
Randy Gray, Mayor of Great Falls
Warren Wenz of Marra, Wenz & Johnson, P.C.
Col. Sam Roberts, USAF, Ret.
Tom Hoffman, President, Summit Aeronautics Group
Dave Micheletti, MADA Project Dev. Manager
Brig. Gen. Bruce Bramlette, USAF, Ret.
Maj. Gen. Gary C. Blair, USA, Ret.

While in Great Falls, Rehberg will also present two courageous Montana teens with his “Spirit of Discovery” award, and meet with medical and civic leaders.

Saturday, June 21

Great Falls, MACBRAC Meeting, Townhouse Inn, 10:00 am

Spirit of Discovery Awards
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, 4201 Giant Springs Road, 1:00 pm
Great Falls Clinic Surgery Center Tour, 1509 29th Street South, 2:00 pm
Opportunities, Inc. Board of Directors, 905 First Ave. North, 4:00 pm

Praises House Vote to Make Permanent Repeal

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, (R) today praised House passage of the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2003 (H.R. as a victory for Montana farmers, ranchers and small business owners. “Dying,” Rehberg said, “should never be a taxable event.”
“The death tax doesn’t need to be temporarily repealed – it needs to be buried for all time,” Rehberg said. “The effects of the death tax results in nothing less than the killing of the American dream.”

With Rehberg’s vote, the House today approved HR-8, 264–163. The legislation, cosponsored by Rehberg, permanently repeals the death tax, sometimes called the estate tax, making it easier for families to pass along the family house, business, or farm to their children.

“Eliminating the death tax will give farmers, ranchers, and small business owners more peace of mind, knowing their families will not have to sell the business just to pay the government.” Rehberg said. “We want the next generation of farmers, ranchers and small business owners to keep what their parents and grandparents have worked so hard to earn. That’s what being free is all about. That’s the American dream.”

Rehberg called on the Senate to “do the right thing and bury the death tax… permanently” by passing H.R. 8.

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R-Montana) today announced the House Resources Committee will conduct a forest management field hearing in Seeley Lake, Montana. Rehberg, a Member of the Committee, requested the hearing, scheduled for July 2, 2003.

“With wildfire season at hand, I’m pleased Montana will host this important hearing to get at the heart of the need for better management of Montana’s forests,” Rehberg said. “Our state is home to more than 17 million acres of national forests, and it’s time to get handle on controlling and eliminating the catastrophic fires, insect, and disease infestations suffered in recent years.”

The hearing, entitled “Management Challenges Across Montana’s National Forests,” will include participation by Members of the Committee, as well as testimony by local officials and forest land management experts.

“Congressman Rehberg has worked tirelessly on behalf of Montana’s natural resources during his tenure in the House,” Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) said. “In fact, his efforts were instrumental in passing the Healthy Forests Restoration Act just a few short weeks ago.”

“I can’t think of a better place to discuss the need for better management in our National Forests,” Pombo continued. “We have a responsibility to improve outdated regulations, use new technologies, and increase the science behind our policies. I look forward to spending some time in Montana with Denny to continue this important work.”

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today voted for and the House approved an amendment to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.

“This amendment is simple: it gives Congress the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States,” Rehberg, cosponsor of the measure, said. “They can protest. They can even denounce our brave soldiers. But I won’t have anyone burning the flag our veterans fought and died to protect.”

The amendment approved by Rehberg and the House states: “The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.”

“I love this country and I’m proud of the stars and stripes. People in France and elsewhere may trample our flag, but here at home, we ought to at least show it respect.”