Congressman Denny Rehberg

February 22, 2005

BILLINGS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is encouraging the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), and Secretary Gale Norton, to continue working closely with the Department of Agriculture, and the states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming to improve the health of Yellowstone National Park’s bison and elk populations. Rehberg expressed his concern in maintaining Montana’s brucellosis-free status in the middle of “a wildlife health crisis.”

In a letter to Secretary Norton, Rehberg called on the Secretary’s recent visit to Yellowstone to remind the DOI of the “duty to maintain and improve wildlife health . . . in the middle of a wildlife health crisis.”

“If the problem of brucellosis continues to worsen, there could be a devastating financial and environmental impact on the area. In Wyoming, the cattle industry is burdened with an expensive testing protocol due to a domestic outbreak of brucellosis. Naturally, I’m concerned about protecting Montana’s brucellosis-free status for the cattle industry, but also concerned about protecting the state’s abundant wildlife populations,” Rehberg wrote.

A January briefing by the National Park Service estimated that up to half of the park’s 4,200 bison may be infected with brucellosis, while approximately 12,500 of the park’s elk may have the disease.

“I realize solving this important issue requires the combined efforts of many: the Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, and various wildlife and agricultural interests. I would like to encourage the Department of Interior to continue working diligently on this important issue, and work in cooperation with all the interested parties. By relying on each other’s expertise and strengths we can make progress in eradicating this disease,” wrote Rehberg.

Rehberg, a Billings-area rancher, says state and federal agencies, and local landowners and producers have worked together in the past to create an aura of cooperation in supporting both the park’s wildlife, and the livelihoods of the surrounding ranchers.

— Letter Below —

February 22, 2005

Secretary Gale A. Norton

United States Department of the Interior

1849 C Street, NW

Washington, DC 20240

Dear Secretary Norton,

Thank you for taking the time to visit Yellowstone National Park, I hope the snowmobile tour was enjoyable. The economies of several small Montana communities rely on Yellowstone tourists, especially the revenue generated from snowmobile tourism during the winter months.

As you traveled through the area, I’m sure you noticed the abundance of wildlife. For many, the opportunity to see these animals up close is the thrill of a lifetime. In order to preserve and protect these populations for future generations, it is our duty to maintain and improve wildlife health. However, we are in the middle of a wildlife health crisis with large numbers of elk and bison in the Greater Yellowstone Area ecosystem testing positive for brucellosis.

If the problem of brucellosis continues to worsen, there could be a devastating financial and environmental impact on the area. In Wyoming, the cattle industry is burdened with an expensive testing protocol due to a domestic outbreak of brucellosis. Naturally, I’m concerned about protecting Montana’s brucellosis-free status for the cattle industry, but also concerned about protecting the state’s abundant wildlife populations.

I realize solving this important issue requires the combined efforts of many: Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, the states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, and various wildlife and agricultural interests. I would like to encourage the Department of the Interior to continue working diligently on this important issue, and work in cooperation with all the interested parties. By relying on each other’s expertise and strengths we can make progress in eradicating this disease.

I thank you for your time and attention to this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg

February 15, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - House leaders have named Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, to three Appropriations Subcommittees, including Energy and Water Development, Military Quality of Life, and Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs.

The Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development oversees spending for the Department of Energy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

“I’ll be able to have a direct impact on federal programs associated with the Missouri River and Ft. Peck Lake,” Rehberg said, “as well as important Montana water projects, such the St. Mary diversion, Ft. Peck and Dry Prairie Regional Water System, and Rocky Boys and North Central Regional Water System.”

The Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life oversees spending on programs involving Veterans Affairs, National Guard, and military facilities, housing, and health programs.

“Not only do we need to protect Malmstrom Air Force Base, we need to upgrade its facilities and establish a new Malmstrom mission,” Rehberg commented.

The Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs oversees spending for the State Department and Agency for International Development, as well as U.S. international assistance and the Foreign Military Finance Program.

“We need to provide adequate oversight on foreign aid, while making sure we get some accountability for our voluntary contributions to international organizations like the UN and its programs,” Rehberg said.

February 11, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is inviting young Montanans to apply for the U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Page Program for the two summer sessions running from June 13 through July 1, and from July 11 through July 29.

“The Congressional Page program provides young Montanans with a unique opportunity to interact with members of Congress and to experience democracy at work in the very heart of the Capitol,” said Rehberg. “It’s a wonderful opportunity and I strongly encourage those interested in our process of government to contact my office for an application.”

The Congressional Page program has been around in some form since 1827. There are over half-a-dozen different types of pages serving in various functions, such as delivering documents and messages to members of congress, answering calls for leadership, and providing assistance to members on the House Floor.

Applicants for the summer page program must be entering either their junior or senior year in high school and maintain a B (3.0 GPA) average or better. However, those applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement may have their application reviewed by the Page Board for consideration. An application form would include an official transcript, a 50-100 word essay on their interest in becoming a Congressional Page, resume’ of extra-curricular activities, and three letters of recommendation.

Applications can be mailed out, or picked up at Rehberg’s Billings District Office at 1201 Grand Avenue, Suite 1. For more information, contact Linda Price in the Billings office at 888-232-2626. Completed application forms must be turned in by March 15.

February 10, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today voted for and the House approved a measure to enhance our border security. The bill addresses border security recommendations by the 9/11 Commission that were hastily omitted from the “Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act,” signed into law December 17.

“This is the important piece that was missing from last year’s intelligence reform bill,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said. “The measure closes the security loopholes exploited on 9/11, enacting tough security standards for the issuance of driver’s licenses, reorganizing the asylum system abused by terrorists, fortifying our borders, and putting the teeth back into our neglected deportation laws.”

The legislation tightens procedures for non-citizen entry into, and movements and activities within, the United States. The bill also enables state governments to bolster standards for the security and integrity of drivers’ licenses. Also included is a provision directed at reforming the asylum process, plus language that provides for the construction of physical barriers where appropriate to protect U.S. borders.

“I urge the Senate to pass this bill. As a state with one of the largest international borders, Montana needs all of these provisions. We want to see that driver’s licenses and other identification cards cannot be used to access Montana’s critical infrastructure,” Rehberg said. “We also need to begin exploring biometric screening of individuals who cannot otherwise satisfactorily demonstrate citizenship or lawful immigration status. Our bill allows state and federal authorities to use the technology that’s out there to clamp down on the type of unlawful activity of movements that made 9/11 possible.”

February 8, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - In a follow-up to a conversation with President Bush last week aboard Air Force One, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), again urged Japan to resume beef trade with the U.S. In a February 7 letter to Ryozo Kato, Japanese Ambassador to the U.S., Rehberg called on Japan to accept U.S. testing standards and invited Kato to visit Montana.

“We spent a couple of hours going over the need to keep beef markets stable by delaying plans to reopen the Canadian border, and by getting trade resumed with Japan and South Korea,” Rehberg commented. “We provide the safest and highest quality beef in the world, and there is absolutely no reason to wait any longer.”

Japan halted beef purchases from the U.S. after the December 2003 discovery 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.

“Over the past two years, the U.S. has imposed additional testing and public safety precautions to continue to ensure only the safest product reaches our consumers.” Rehberg wrote. “I am very encouraged by the ongoing negotiations taking place between Japan and the United States and remain optimistic we can quickly resolve any remaining differences to resume our trading relationship.”

In his letter, Rehberg invited Ambassador Kato to “visit Montana for a firsthand tour of our ranches and beef industry. Such a tour would demonstrate the safety of our beef supply,” Rehberg wrote.

Letter Attached

February 8, 2005

Ambassador Ryozo Kato

Embassy of Japan

2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW

Washington D.C. 20008

Dear Ambassador Kato:

As you may know, the United States provides the safest and highest quality beef in the world. Prior to the announcement of a confirmed case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States (U.S.) in December 2004, Japan and the U.S. greatly benefited from our beef trade. In the interest of both Japanese consumers and American producers, it is crucial we resume beef sales as quickly as possible.

Over the past two years, the U.S. has imposed 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 remain optimistic we can quickly resolve any remaining differences to resume our trading relationship.

In the interest of the entire beef industry, I would like to extend an invitation to you and appropriate members of your staff to visit Montana for a firsthand tour of our ranches and beef industry. Such a tour would demonstrate the safety of our beef supply. I would be happy to make all the necessary arrangements for such a visit.

As a member of Congress who also happens to be a rancher, I pledge to work with you in any manner possible our efforts to resume trade. 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

February 2, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, this morning delivered the following remarks before the U.S. House of Representatives:

“I would like to call attention to one of my favorite cities in America: Bozeman, MT.

“Nestled in the scenic Bridger mountain range, Bozeman draws visitors from around the world for its first class outdoor recreation activities. Yet it is more than a gateway to Montana’s natural splendor; it is a dynamic center of commerce.

“A recent study by the American Cities Business Journals named Bozeman as the best small-business market in the United States among cities with fewer than 100,000 people. This comes as no surprise, since Bozeman has first-rate public schools, has become a center of science and technology, and is home to Montana State University.

“Bozeman is the kind of community where parents can let their kids play in the neighborhood, and where people still wave and say hello when you pass them on the street. The experts have now discovered what many of us in Montana already knew: Bozeman is a place with everything a business needs to succeed. I congratulate the city of Bozeman for becoming the best small business market in the country.”