Congressman Denny Rehberg

September 30, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - The House Forests & Forest Health Subcommittee held a hearing on measures by Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, to promote commercial uses for forest biomass, and to provide benefits for aerial firefighters who suffer death or disability in the line of duty. Rehberg said the government should do more to manage healthy forests by encouraging businesses and communities to turn forest waste into heat and fuel.

“Imagine taking fallen timber and other hazardous fuels out of the forest and putting it to a good cause. That’s what Montanans are doing, and that’s the type of activity my bill promotes,” Rehberg, a member of the House Resources Committee, said. “For example, Darby school district’s ‘Fuels For Schools’ program has helped cut their fuel oil heating budget in half, thanks to their biomass co-generation facility that produces heat from forest waste.”

Rehberg’s legislation authorizes the Agriculture and Interior Secretaries to make grants to improve the commercial value of forest biomass for electric energy, useful heat, transportation fuels, petroleum-based product substitutes, and other purposes. Grants would be awarded to biomass facilities that use biomass as a raw material to produce fuel, as well as to fund research toward the development of new or improved uses for biomass.

“It’s an idea that’s moving forward in the Bitterroot Valley, with other communities such as Thompson Falls and Lewistown looking into it,” Rehberg said. “My bill is a means of encouraging businesses and communities to turn a potential wildfire tragedy into an asset by using forest waste products to produce energy.”

The committee also examined the Rehberg-cosponsored “Aerial Firefighter Relief Act,” which would provide death and disability benefits for the families of federally-contracted aerial firefighters who suffer death or disability in the line of duty. The measure classifies aerial firefighters as “public safety officers” for the purposes of qualifying for Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB).

September 28, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. House of Representatives today unanimously approved legislation by Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, to extend expiring federal water contracts with the City of Helena and other southwest Montana water users. Rehberg’s measure will extend the current water contracts until environmental reviews can be completed allowing the Bureau of Reclamation and water users to negotiate new, long-term contracts.

“I’m obviously pleased the House passed it so quickly after I introduced it. At the beginning of the month, about 40 producers back in Montana told me they needed this legislation. In just 21 days, we were able to get it introduced, hold a hearing, get the measure voted out of the Resources Committee, and today get it approved by the U.S. House of Representatives,” Rehberg said. “Today’s unanimous, bipartisan vote was the culmination of carefully-built relationships on both sides of the aisle. Republicans and Democrats alike supported my effort in the House, and I believe Republicans and Democrats will support this bill in the Senate if we are able to get a vote scheduled there.”

For the past for decades, the water use contracts have supplied drinking water to 30 percent of Helena, as well as water for irrigation to producers in the Helena Valley, Toston, and East Bench Irrigation Districts, and the Clark Canyon Water Supply Company.

“It was very clear…that Congressman Rehberg had a good grasp of the issue and the water user’s concerns,” said Helena Attorney John Bloomquist (406-431-7082), who represents the water users, and testified at the September 9 hearing. “[H]e explained the need for the legislation very clearly to the committee.”

Current law requires the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to do an extensive review before new contracts are put in place, but a delay in initiating the renewal process has put the contracts in danger of expiring prior to renewal. Rehberg’s measure will extend the water use contracts at least two years beyond the deadline, or until new long term contracts with the BOR can be executed.

“I’m optimistic we’ll get the extension we need, providing the extra time the federal government needs to satisfy its requirement to collect all the technical reviews needed before initiating the new contracts,” Rehberg, a member of the House Resources Committee, said.

September 21, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today urged House leaders to allow the inclusion of agricultural disaster assistance in the Homeland Security spending bill. “Grappling with… insidious drought” for many years, “our country’s farmers and ranchers need financial assistance,” Rehberg said in a letter to House Appropriations Chairman Bill Young (R-FL) and the Committee’s ranking Member, David Obey (D-WI).

“Across the country, farmers and ranchers have been suffering a slow demise from natural disasters, including more than half a decade of drought in states like Montana,” Rehberg, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, explained. “In their version of the Homeland Security spending bill, the Senate has included money to aid suffering producers. We’re asking House leaders to leave that money in as they negotiate a final bill with the Senate.”

“In order to assist these producers, we urge you to retain the $2.9 billion that the Senate included in its version of the Homeland Security appropriations bill,” Rehberg, joined by a handful of Congressmen from neighboring states, wrote. “The programs that the Senate included in their version of the Homeland Security appropriations bill have been used to help producers with past natural disasters and can be implemented in a timely manner to maximize assistance to farmers and ranchers.”

“We encourage your inclusion of the agricultural assistance provisions in the Homeland Security appropriations conference report and look forward to working with you on this matter.”

LETTER ATTACHED:

September 21, 2004

The Honorable Bill Young The Honorable David Obey
Chairman Ranking Member
Committee on Appropriations Committee on Appropriations
H-218 Captiol 1016 Longworth
Washington, DC Washington, DC

Dear Chairman Young and Ranking Member Obey:

As you prepare for conference committee discussions about the Homeland Security appropriations bill, we strongly encourage you to retain the Senate provisions establishing an agricultural disaster assistance program for crop and livestock producers in the final version of the bill. We understand the importance of funding the work of the Department of Homeland Security, and believe that this legislation should be considered with all haste.

Across the country, producers have been coping with a variety of natural disasters. Farmers and ranchers in the Midwest and Plains states have been grappling with a drought for many years. In some areas, this insidious drought has been going on for five years. In other parts of the Plains states, an abundance of water has negatively affected this year’s crops. Meanwhile, producers in other areas have experienced damaging frost this summer. Our country’s farmers and ranchers need financial assistance as they face these challenges.

In order to assist these producers, we urge you to retain the $2.9 billion that the Senate included in its version of the Homeland Security appropriations bill. This funding is targeted to those who are in need and have suffered weather-related losses. The programs that the Senate included in their version of the Homeland Security appropriations bill have been used to help producers with past natural disasters and can be implemented in a timely manner to maximize assistance to farmers and ranchers.

We encourage your inclusion of the agricultural assistance provisions in the Homeland Security appropriations conference report and look forward to working with you on this matter.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg
Member of Congress

September 17, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today secured a commitment from the U.S. Department of the Interior to recognize Rehberg’s redrawn map which excludes private property within the boundaries of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.

“Clearly one-fourth of this Monument is state and private property that should not have been included in the first place,” Rehberg said. “Now the map will show what is the Monument and what is not.”

In 2001, about 81,000 acres of privately-owned land gobbled up with the creation the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. Boundaries for the Monument were set in an executive order signed by then-President Bill Clinton in the final hours of his administration, although “no landowner or lawmaker ever saw a map of the Breaks area prior to its designation as a Monument,” Rehberg said.

“The president, through [then-Interior] Secretary Babbitt – in the eleventh hour of the last administration – should not have just thrown a dart and taken a line and drawn it around private property,” Rehberg said. “Today’s announcement is a consensus that this was done very poorly and that the ends could not justify the means.”

Last year, a citizen delegation delivered to Rehberg a petition signed by more than 3,300 Montanans in support of Rehberg’s legislative effort to withdraw the privately-owned land swallowed up by the Monument. Rehberg presented legislation redrawing the boundaries to exclude private and state-owned property.

“Today’s designation by the Department of the Interior is a compromise position; I didn’t get everything I wanted. There are still some issues that we want to address,” Rehberg cautioned. “I still have an issue with the sale of property automatically becoming a part of the Monument” without “input from the legislative process, which was created to provide checks and balances” with the Executive Branch.

“This is the best we can do at this point,” Rehberg said. “And from this point forward the map that’s used for management purposes will be our map.”

September 15, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - The House Resources Committee today approved legislation by Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, to extend expiring federal water contracts with the City of Helena and other southwest Montana water users. Rehberg’s measure will extend the current water contracts until environmental reviews can be completed allowing the Bureau of Reclamation and water users to negotiate new, long-term contracts.
“About 40 producers and officials I met with earlier this month told me their 40-year water district agreements are about to expire, and they asked me to intervene to prevent disruptions in service,” Rehberg explained. “Last week I introduced emergency legislation to keep the contracts in place until the Bureau of Reclamation can complete the environmental assessment process. Two days later, at my request, the Committee conducted a hearing that brought in all the parties involved and, together, we made the case for passing this emergency legislation before the end of the year.”

“Today’s bipartisan vote demonstrates the importance of building relationships on both sides of the aisle,” Rehberg said. “Both Republicans and Democrats will support this legislation when we bring it to the House floor.”

The contracts supply 30 percent of Helena drinking water, as well as producers in the Helena Valley, Toston, and East Bench Irrigation Districts.

“It was very clear…that Congressman Rehberg had a good grasp of the issue and the water user’s concerns,” said Helena Attorney John Bloomquist (406-431-7082), who represents the water users, and testified at the September 9 hearing. “[H]e explained the need for the legislation very clearly to the committee.”

Rehberg’s measure will extend the water use contracts at least two years beyond the deadline, or until new long term contracts with the Bureau of Reclamation can be executed.

“I’m pleased with…the Committee’s willingness to expedite this critical legislation before year end,” Rehberg said. “I’m optimistic we’ll get the extension we need, providing the extra time the federal government needs to satisfy its requirement to collect all the technical reviews needed before initiating the new contracts.”

September 15, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), again urged Japan’s trade minister to immediately resume beef trade with the U.S. In a September 14 letter to Yoshiyuki Kamei, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Rehberg called on Japan to accept U.S. testing standards and drop its objections to beef purchases from the U.S.

“The United States has the safest food supply, Montana has the best beef, and Japan’s consumers want our products,” Rehberg commented. “With our beef testing standards, Japan has every reason to pick up where they left off and purchase beef again from the U.S.”

Japan halted beef purchases from the U.S. after a single discovery, last December, of a cow with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). Japan has called on the U.S. to test all cattle. The U.S. has maintained it is impractical to test cattle younger than 30 months, where the risk is extremely small.

“Since the discovery of the BSE infected animal in Alberta, Canada over 15 months ago, the U.S. has implemented additional testing and public safety precautions to continue to ensure only the safest product reaches our consumers,” Rehberg wrote. “We remain very confident in our ability to provide the safest and highest quality beef in the world.”

“As a cattle rancher and the former Lieutenant Governor of Montana, a state which relies on almost $1 billion from the cattle industry,” Rehberg commented. “I know for a fact our thorough testing procedures have resulted in nothing less than sustained consumer confidence and market stability, both at home and abroad.”

In his letter, Rehberg pledged his assistance and continued support of “close cooperation” of the two governments “to quickly resume our trading” partnership. “I pledge to work with you in any manner possible in this effort,” Rehberg wrote. “Simply put, it’s time to reach an agreement.”

Letter Below:

September 14, 2004

The Honorable Yoshiyuki Kamei
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, Japan
100-8950

Dear Minister Kamei:

Last December, the entire beef industry suffered a setback with the announcement of a confirmed case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States (U.S.). Until this single case, Japan and the United States benefited from beef trade and for both Japanese consumers and American producers, it is very important we resume beef sales as quickly as possible.

Since the discovery of the BSE infected animal in Alberta, Canada over 15 months ago, the U.S. has implemented additional testing and public safety precautions to continue to ensure only the safest product reaches our consumers. I am very encouraged by the ongoing negotiations taking place between Japan and the United States and encourage you to work diligently to resolve any remaining differences. We remain very confident in our ability to provide the safest and highest quality beef in the world.

In my home state of Montana, our beef industry is worth over $760 million to our economy annually. In order to eliminate any economic uncertainty and to stabilize our markets, it is very important to Montana producers that beef trade with Japan is resumed immediately. Simply put, it’s time to reach an agreement.

In the interest of the entire beef industry, I will continue to support the close cooperation of our governments to quickly resume our trading relationship. 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.

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

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg
Member of Congress

September 10, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - The House Resources Committee pledged support after a hearing on legislation by Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, to extend expiring federal water contracts with the City of Helena and other southwest Montana water users. Legislation introduced by Rehberg this week will extend the current water contracts until environmental reviews can be completed allowing the Bureau of Reclamation and water users to negotiate new, long-term contracts.
“We were notified last week that these 40-year agreements will soon expire, and I met in Twin Bridges with about 40 producers and officials concerned that their water districts face disruptions in service,” Rehberg explained. “They asked me to introduce emergency legislation to keep the contracts in place until the Bureau of Reclamation can complete the environmental assessment process. I introduced the bill Tuesday, talked to Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert, got the hearing scheduled, brought in all the parties involved to testify and, together, we made the case for passing this emergency legislation before the end of the year.”

“It illustrates the importance of building relationships on both sides of the aisle,” Rehberg said. “Republicans and Democrats on the Committee said they’ll work with me on this, so I think we’ll get this done soon.”

The contracts supply 30 percent of Helena drinking water, as well as producers in the Helena Valley, Toston, and East Bench Irrigation Districts.

Helena Attorney John Bloomquist (406-431-7082), who represents the water users, testified at Thursday’s hearing: “I think the hearing went very well. It was very clear at the hearing that Congressman Rehberg had a good grasp of the issue and the water user’s concerns, and he explained the need for the legislation very clearly to the committee.”

Rehberg’s measure will extend the water use contracts at least two years beyond the deadline, or until new long term contracts with the Bureau of Reclamation can be executed.

“I’m pleased with…the Committee’s willingness to expedite this critical legislation before year end,” Rehberg said. “I’m optimistic we’ll get the extension we need, providing the extra time the federal government needs to satisfy its requirement to collect all the technical reviews needed before initiating the new contracts.”

September 3, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to call off it’s plans to eliminate the Lake Manager position at Fort Peck Lake with the retirement of current manager Roy Snyder at the end of September. Rehberg objected to the Corps’ plan to merge the duties of Fort Peck Lake Manager into an existing position at this time.

“I am very concerned at the Corps’ decision to take those essential duties that Roy performed and merge them into the existing Power Plant Manager’s role. This will undoubtedly strain the already stretched personnel resources at Fort Peck. I question whether this will help the condition at Fort Peck - a situation that is already compromised because of the extreme issues facing that facility,” wrote Rehberg, in a letter to Brigadier General William Grisoli, Commander and Division Engineer of the Northwest Division.

Rehberg, a member of the House Resources Committee, noted a number of important issues facing the Corps in regards to Fort Peck Lake:

“In this instance, the Fort Peck facility already faces such daunting challenges as extreme and prolonged drought, endangered species mitigation and management, misplaced and insufficient federal funding, and on-going cabin site privatization efforts. With all of these controversial and challenging projects, Fort Peck is not a project that can afford to have its personnel resources stretched any further.”

Along with the letter, Rehberg is also calling for public meetings to discuss the possible changes with the surrounding communities.

# # #

ORIGINAL LETTER:

September 3, 2004

Brigadier General William Grisoli
Commander and Division Engineer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Northwestern Division
P.O. Box 2870
Portland, Oregon 97208

Dear General Grisoli:

I was disappointed to hear of the impending retirement of Roy Snyder, the Lake Manager at Fort Peck Dam in Montana. Despite facing uphill battles on drought, endangered species issues, and other obstacles to effective dam management, Roy has served the community well during his tenure. Clearly, Roy played a pivotal role and I wish him the very best in the future.

I am very concerned at the Corps’ decision to take those essential duties that Roy performed and merge them into the existing Power Plant Manager’s role. This will undoubtedly strain the already stretched personnel resources at Fort Peck. I question whether this will help the condition at Fort Peck - a situation that is already compromised because of the extreme issues facing that facility.

Even under the best of circumstances, the decision to eliminate the key position at a major federal project is questionable. In this instance, the Fort Peck facility already faces such daunting challenges as extreme and prolonged drought, endangered species mitigation and management, misplaced and insufficient federal funding, and on-going cabin site privatization efforts. With all of these controversial and challenging projects, Fort Peck is not a project that can afford to have its personnel resources stretched any further. I implore you to re-evaluate this decision and fill the position of Lake Manager. It is the only way to ensure that the situation at Fort Peck doesn’t go from bad to worse.

I look forward to hearing your response and meeting the new Lake Manager at Fort Peck.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg
Montana’s Congressman

cc: Colonel Jeffrey Bedey, Commander and District Engineer, Omaha District
Governor Judy Martz
Senator Max Baucus
Senator Conrad Burns

September 2, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - Less than a month after urging federal officials to rethink its position, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today announced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has agreed to restore nearly all the money it had scheduled to cut from the HUD’s housing program for the poor.

“This is great news for the nearly 400 working families in Montana that likely would have suffered from these program cuts,” Rehberg said. “Montana took advantage of HUD’s appeals process, I got involved by urging federal officials to support Montana’s case, and I’m happy to report the process worked in favor of the people of Montana.”

As a cost-cutting move, HUD earlier this year informed local agencies it would freeze its Section 8 Housing Voucher payment calculations to an adjusted amount based on 2003 figures. The program, which helps families gain access to safe and affordable housing, provides voucher assistance to more than 3,500 low-income Montana families each year.

In an August 9 letter to Deborah Hernandez, Director of HUD’s Office of Housing Voucher Programs, Rehberg said the rising cost of living in Montana “was not taken into account and subsequently the program was under funded.” Rehberg urged the agency to restore adequate funding for the program.

“It was never a question of whether or not HUD had the money,” explained Rehberg. “Their green eyeshade folks counted the change and thought they could freeze the Section 8 program. But they underestimated the impact of high energy costs and other basic expenses in our communities.”

HUD officials today informed Rehberg that nearly $580,000 will be restored to the Montana Department of Commerce, while more than $129,000 will be sent to the Missoula Housing Authority, as a result of the appeals process.

“It turns out our local housing agencies had done everything they could to keep voucher amounts in line with local housing costs,” Rehberg said. “Montana did its part, and I think we demonstrated that well enough that HUD official recognized their own need to bring the voucher amounts up to today costs.”

# # #

Original Letter Attached

August 6, 2004

Ms. Deborah Hernandez

Director of Office of Housing Voucher Programs

Department of Housing and Urban Development

451 7th Street S.W.

Room 4232

Washington, D.C. 20410

Ms. Hernandez;

The Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program has been helping families in Montana to have access to safe and affordable housing for many years. This program gives voucher assistance to more than 3,500 very low-income families living across Montana.

In Montana, the cost of housing can be difficult for some families to afford. Rents are increasing due to rising utility, insurance, and property tax costs. In fact, utility costs have increased an average of $23.37 this year alone.

In the Housing and Urban Development FY04 budget request for the Housing Choice Vouchers Program, the impact of these high fixed costs was not taken into account and subsequently the program was under funded. The result of this inadequate funding of the Section 8 program will be the removal of 250 to 400 hard working families from the Section 8 assistance program in Montana beginning as early as October of 2004.

The Montana Department of Commerce Housing Division has requested a restoration of funding from HUD for current rent levels to make up the difference for FY04. I respectfully request your swift and thoughtful consideration of this appeal.

I am very concerned for the hardworking families that face an uncertain future should this program be reduced in Montana. The ramifications of these cuts will be felt throughout Montana’s communities. Please contact my Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-3211 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg

Member of Congress

September 1, 2004

HAMILTON, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today toured Darby school district’s “Fuels For Schools” program, calling it a success.

“Out of the tragedies of the 2000 fires, there are some really positive things happening in Darby, Montana. I’m pretty proud of the people of Montana, they’ve taken a problem and turned it into an asset,” said Rehberg, after a tour of the school’s biomass co-generation facility that utilizes forest waste products to produce heat energy, effectively cutting the district’s fuel oil heating budget in half.

“They’re taking wood out of the forest that would have been burned there causing an environmental problem, and putting it to a good cause. It’s an idea that’s moving forward, with one in place in Victor, and other communities such as Thompson Falls and Lewistown looking into it,” said Rehberg a member of the House Resources Committee.

The alternative fuels project was funded by a $600,000 grant from the Forest Service in early 2003, and the go-generation facility has been in operation for about a year. The program has been developed in conjunction with the Forest Service, Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development, and CTA Architects Engineers. Using wood chips, the energy efficient biomass burners burn at 1,800 degrees, and nearly 20 times cleaner than the average wood stove.

“The House of Representatives has consistently passed energy bills encouraging this type of alternative energy, but the bills wind up stuck in the Senate due to extreme environmentalists who are holding up the opportunity to make these kinds of technologies widespread. I’m trying to highlight the more positive things happening around the state, and my hat goes off to the people on this project,” Rehberg said.

Along with an efficient use of otherwise forest waste product, part of the goal is to provide a local market for wood chips made from small-diameter timber, which is often cost-prohibitive for land managers and land owners to harvest, thus increasing the fire danger.