Congressman Denny Rehberg

BOZEMAN, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has cleared the way for a $3,008,400 grant to develop special needs housing for the elderly in Bozeman. The amount will fund construction of the planned Bozeman ElderHousing Development.

“We’re excited about this important project and the benefits it will provide seniors in Bozeman once the site is completed,” Rehberg said. “Considering the shortage of supportive housing for our seniors, this is great news, both for Bozeman and for the state.”

The funds will be used for the new construction of 36 units for the elderly, plus a resident manager’s unit. Although the building will be designed to accommodate the needs of seniors who are able to live independently, it will include a number of community based supportive services, such as recreation, social activities, shared meals and other attendant care activities.

Last year, Rehberg was able to secure $500,000 for the Bozeman Galavan, which provides transit service for the elderly and disabled in Bozeman. That funding was designed to assist Galavan in purchasing or building a facility for storage of transit vehicles in a 12-stall building with one office.

Also secures $59,000 for Eagle Mount in Omnibus Appropriations bill

BILLINGS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced he has secured $441,000 for Montana State University-Billings for a healthcare degree and certificate training program. The amount is included in the omnibus spending measure filed today.

“In light of our healthcare professional shortage, this is great news both for MSU-B and for the state,” Rehberg said.

The funds will allow the university to begin a program to train and certify surgical and radiological technicians, nurses aids, home health aids, medical record technicians, and other medical professionals. Earlier this year, MSU-Billings asked Rehberg to garner Congressional support for the project and to secure funding.

“We have terrific people at MSU-Billings, they have worked hard in planning this program, and I’m just delighted to have been able to help them secure funding,” Rehberg said.

Rehberg also secured $59,000 for Eagle Mount, a statewide non-profit service provider for children with disabilities. Eagle Mount provides social and vocational activities designed to help disabled children transition into the adult world.

“I’m proud of the work Eagle Mount has accomplished with these kids, and pleased with the tremendous reputation these professionals have established across the state,” Rehberg said.

WASHINGTON, DC - Joining his colleagues on the House Transportation Committee, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today hailed introduction of a new six-year highway plan that provides nearly $2.2 billion in new road construction for Montana.

“No longer will we have to talk about how narrow, how rough, or how decrepit the roads are in Montana. With a record $299 million in highway construction and maintenance for next year alone, we can now say, ‘where do we start, and when do we begin’,” Rehberg said. “With 70 thousand miles of roads across Montana, I have more road miles than any other Congressional district; that is why I’m on House Transportation Committee, that is why I’ve helped craft this legislation.”

As an example, Rehberg cited a bridge along a two-lane stretch of U.S. Highway 2 near Havre that was destroyed by a truck accident early Tuesday. “That bridge is more than sixty years old, and illustrates the need for infrastructure to meet today’s transportation demands,” Rehberg said

“The legislation we drafted translates into more than 102,000 good paying jobs for Montana over the life of the program,” Rehberg said, “In addition to new highways across the state, that money will go to fix, widen, and improve the Montana roads you and I travel on every day.”

“This is huge for Montana. Denny has been a tremendous champion for improving highways and creating high-paying jobs,” Cary Hegreberg, Executive Director of the Montana Contractors’ Association, said. “This new highway bill will provide the resources to address critical roads and bridges.”

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today predicted swift Senate passage of legislation approved last week by the House which improves benefits for veterans, and sets policies, programs, and funding levels for the nation’s military.

“As we honor America’s servicemen and women for their heroic sacrifice in defense of our freedom, let us pledge to them our unwavering support, both at home and on the battlefield,” Rehberg said. “This legislation approved by the House will go a long way toward delivering that support.”

Highlights of the authorization bill include:
· Concurrent Receipt for Military Retirees: Currently, disabled veterans’ retirement benefits are offset by the amount of disability coverage that they are eligible to receive. This bill provides full concurrent receipt of benefits for the most severely disabled veterans.
· “Freedom to Train”: The Defense Authorization contains commonsense environmental reforms allowing our troops to properly train for operations in the ongoing war on terror.
· Personnel Benefits: A pay raise and important new benefits for military personnel and their families, including:
· A 4.15 percent average increase in base pay for our men and women in uniform.
· A reduction in the average amount of housing expenses paid by service members, leading to the elimination of the out-of-pocket expense.
· Extension of special pay and bonuses for active duty personnel.
· An increase in the family separation allowance for service members with dependents, worldwide, from $100 per month to $250 per month.

The Defense Authorization passed the House Friday by a vote of 362-40. Rehberg predicted Senate passage of the measure over the next ten days. It will then be sent to President Bush for his signature and enactment into law.

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, Friday voted for and the House passed legislation designed to address personnel shortfalls for fire departments. Rehberg also called on the House to pass a measure that would extend financial assistance to families of firefighters killed in the line of duty.

“Firefighting in particular is one of the most hazardous and physically demanding occupations,” Rehberg said. “We have an obligation to resolve the personnel shortfalls that endanger our communities, as well as care for the families of the hometown heroes who make the ultimate sacrifice.”

The “SAFER” Firefighters measure authorizes the U.S. Fire Administration to award $7.6 billion over seven years in annual grants to career and volunteer fire departments on the basis of need. The program, approved as part of the Department of Defense spending bill Friday, includes funding for Recruitment and Retention Grants to enhance the number of volunteer firefighters.

“Similar to the federally funded COPS program, this legislation will allow fire departments to apply for and secure the resources necessary for 24-hour staffing, thereby increasing public safety and improving response time in our communities,” Rehberg said.

Also today, Rehberg sponsored a bill that will extend benefits to families of fallen firefighters and other first responders. The Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act (HR. 919) is a response to a recent Department of Homeland Security report showing overexertion or stress, resulting in heart attack or stroke, as the leading cause of death among firefighters on duty. The bill extends federal benefits to public safety officers, including firefighters, police officers and other first responders, who die of heart attack or stroke in the line of duty.

“More than three hundred firefighters have died on duty due to stress or overexertion since 1996. In many of these cases, their deaths were clearly triggered by the rigors of the job, but their families received no benefits.” Rehberg said. “The Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act corrects that deficiency in the law.”

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today paid tribute to both veterans and the troops serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom by helping the House pass the National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation sets policies, programs, and funding levels for the nation’s military.

“America’s servicemen and women have served our country with heroic sacrifice in defense of human freedom, and for that they deserve our unwavering support, both at home and on the battlefield,” Rehberg said. “The legislation we passed today will go a long way toward delivering that support.”

Highlights of the authorization bill include:

Concurrent Receipt for Military Retirees: Currently, disabled veterans’ retirement benefits are offset by the amount of disability coverage that they are eligible to receive. This bill provides full concurrent receipt of benefits for the most severely disabled veterans.

“Freedom to Train”: The Defense Authorization contains commonsense environmental reforms allowing our troops to properly train for operations in the ongoing war on terror.

Personnel Benefits: A pay raise and important new benefits for military personnel and their families, including:
* A 4.15 percent average increase in base pay for our men and women in uniform.
* A reduction in the average amount of housing expenses paid by service members, leading to the elimination of the out-of-pocket expense.
* Extension of special pay and bonuses for active duty personnel.
* An increase in the family separation allowance for service members with dependents, worldwide, from $100 per month to $250 per month.

The Defense Authorization passed the House today by a vote of 362-40, clearing the way for Senate passage next week. It will then be sent to President Bush for his signature and enactment into law.

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today praised today’s positive employment news, citing recent tax relief and economic growth legislation, and praising families and small businesses for low unemployment figures. Jobless claims fell to 348,000 for the week ending November 1, 2003, the lowest level of claims since January 2001.

“The economy is showing widespread evidence of improvement,” Rehberg said. “Coupled with last week’s news the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) this summer enjoyed the highest rate increase (7.2%) since the beginning of 1984, this is more compelling evidence of widespread economic improvement, thanks to the effectiveness of the Jobs and Growth Tax Act we passed earlier this year.”

Today’s report shows that in six of the last seven weeks, claims have been below 400,000 – a benchmark number widely accepted as an indicator of an economy that is creating jobs.

“The series of tax relief packages that we passed was part of a long term strategy to get this economy healthy again,” Rehberg said. ”Government doesn’t create jobs, people do. The real credit belongs to the faith and hard work of American families and small businesses.”

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today predicted swift passage of a bill that includes more than $17 million he requested for Montana water projects. The funds are included in the final version of the Energy and Water Appropriations measure, scheduled for a House vote this month.

“After making my initial requests earlier this year for the bill that began in the House, Conrad [Burns] did a terrific job with the Senate version of the legislation,” Rehberg said. “While I’m certainly happy with the end result, I’ve already begun working on next year’s requests, and am encouraged by the prospects for additional funding.”

The bill includes:
· $7.5 million of the $14.5 million Rehberg requested for the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System;
· $7 million of the $12.5 million requested by Rehberg for the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery;
· $6 million of the $7 million requested for MSE Western Environmental Technology Office in Butte;
· $3 million to assist the communities of Conrad, Laurel, Belgrade, Drummond, Wisdom, Melstone, and Manhattan with planning and continuation of municipal water projects, and;
· $915,000 of the $1 million Rehberg requested for the Rocky Boy’s/North Central Rural Water System.

“The hatchery project is a dream come true for anglers and conservationists alike, and is part of a long term strategy to increase Walleye numbers and revitalize Pallid Sturgeon populations,” Rehberg said. ”As for the water projects, each of these communities deserves nothing less than the goal of these important projects – safe and dependable drinking water supplies.”