Congressman Denny Rehberg

MISSOULA, MT. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced the formation of “EnterpriseMontana,” a new private-public trade initiative that will help promote and develop overseas markets for Montana businesses.
 
“We need to expand our thinking when it comes to promoting Montana businesses.  There are markets across the globe that are well-suited for the products the state’s small and large businesses create — our latest trade mission to Europe confirmed that,” said Rehberg, who, in July, led several Montana businesses on a trade mission to Germany, Spain, and Ireland which will result in $20 million in contracts and agreements for Montana businesses over the next 36 months. 

Organized in conjunction with the Montana World Trade Center, the Montana Chamber of Commerce, and other Montana business leaders, EnterpriseMontana, (modeled after Enterprise Ireland), is a private-public initiative that will work with Montana business and educational institutions to support research, commercialization, production, and export of high-value products and services to worldwide markets.  It will consist of member organizations that partner together to promote:

-Joint ventures such as trade missions and trade shows

-Entrepreneurship training

-Identification and development of new market opportunities

-Attracting investment opportunities to Montana

-Access to investment and venture capital

-Mentoring networks

-Cross-cultural business education

-Networking functions

Sheila Stearns, Montana Commissioner of Higher Education, Arnie Sherman, Montana World Trade Center Executive Director, and Webb Brown, Montana Chamber of Commerce President-CEO, were among the officials who joined Rehberg in making the announcement at a press conference at Inland Northwest Space Alliance in Missoula. 

“The global business community is aware of the quality of Montana’s products, in both workmanship and design, and is enthusiastic about exploring business opportunities with the Treasure State,” said Rehberg.  “EnterpriseMontana was born out of a need to capitalize on this interest, and, working with the education community, I’m excited the ‘enterprise’ will lead to real economic opportunity for Montana.”

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BILLINGS, MT. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reconsider its rejection of Montana’s request for federal assistance following the early April storm damage that knocked down power lines and caused severe damage in northeastern Montana. 

“This area was hard hit by the April storm.  The damages have caused a considerable hardship for families and businesses,” said Rehberg.  “When you look at the type of disaster assistance that FEMA has approved in the past, you see a number of similarities between those circumstances and the ones resulting from Montana’s late winter storm.  I want to make sure the agency has done all they can to provide assistance.”

Rehberg addressed a letter stating his concerns to Michael Brown, Under Secretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response, which comes under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  The agency denied Montana’s request for assistance after the intense storm caused approximately $1.2 million in damage to power transmission lines owned by three electric cooperatives:  McCone Electric, Big Flat Electric, and Hill County Electric.  In addition, the state requested funding assistance for Blaine, Phillips, Garfield, McCone, and Prairie counties, as well as for the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.

 FEMA denied the state’s request in early June, and the agency also rejected the state’s appeal in August.  Rehberg has asked FEMA to clarify and reconsider the decision:

“After comparing two previously approved Presidential declaration requests made by the state of Montana, I find many similarities between these requests … Consequently, there is a fair amount of confusion as to the criteria that must be met in order for a presidential declaration request to meet the necessary standards for approval.  Given the above information, I am concerned that the denial of this request may set a dangerous precedent for assessing future presidential declaration requests.”

Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Northwest Energy Caucus, also noted that rising energy costs are adding additional hardships at this time. 

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Letter Attached:

August 26, 2005 

Michael D. Brown

Under Secretary Emergency Preparedness and Response

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

500 C Street, SW

Washington, DC 20472 

Dear Under Secretary Brown:

As you know, on April 9-10, 2005 Montana suffered severe winter/spring storms that resulted in approximately $1.2 million in damages to three of our electric cooperatives – McCone Electric Cooperative, Big Flat Electric Cooperative, and Hill County Electric Cooperative.

In response to the damages suffered by the cooperatives, Montana’s Governor requested federal funding assistance for Blaine, Phillips, Garfield, McCone, and Prairie Counties, as well as the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.  Governor Schweitzer also requested statewide Hazard Mitigation.  These requests were denied by FEMA on June 10, 2005.

On June 24, 2005 Governor Schweitzer’s office filed an appeal with FEMA that was denied on August 8, 2005 by your office. 

After reviewing the situation, I am writing to urge you to clarify and reconsider your decision that the “damage was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments,” and that “the required response appears to be well within the combined capabilities of the State and affected local governments.”    

After comparing two previously approved Presidential declaration requests made by the state of Montana (FEMA-1350-DR-MT and FEMA-1377-DR-MT), I find many similarities between these requests.  The above mentioned declaration requests also dealt with the issue of damages incurred by Rural Electric Cooperatives.  In these cases, FEMA approved the requests.  Additionally, I have been informed that other states have had similar requests approved.  Consequently, there is a fair amount of confusion as to the criteria that must be met in order for a presidential declaration request to meet the necessary standards for approval. 

Given the above information, I am concerned that the denial of this request may set a dangerous precedent for assessing future presidential declaration requests.  Should FEMA not reverse its previous denial decision, it will ultimately be the ratepayers of McCone Electric Cooperative, Big Flat Electric Cooperative, and Hill County Electric Cooperative that shoulder the costs of making the necessary repairs.  With the rising costs of wholesale electricity these additional costs would be just another in a series of hardships now being faced by many rural Montanans.  

Again, I respectfully encourage you to clarify and reconsider your recent decision, and I look forward to hearing from you regarding this matter soon.

Sincerely,  

DENNY REHBERG

Montana’s Congressman 

cc:  Governor Brian Schweitzer

       Gary Wiens, Montana Rural Electric Cooperatives’ Association

       Dan McGowan, Administrator, Montana Disaster and Emergency Services

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Montana Air National Guard Unit to Stay in Great Falls  
 
GREAT FALLS, MT. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, released the following statement regarding the Base Realignment and Closures Commission (BRAC) decision to retain the Montana Air National Guard 120th Fighter Wing flying mission in Great Falls: 

“The commission clearly listened to the case we laid out before them.  Early on, I had a sense that Commissioner Jim Hansen and the others I met with had finally begun to see the big picture, in that the flying mission at MANG is vital, not just to Great Falls, but to the entire nation.  I think the commissioners realized that in the end.”

 – Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg

The following is a list of actions Rehberg undertook to help save Malmstrom and MANG during the base realignment and closure process:

June 2003 - Created Montana Advisory Committee for Base Realignment and Closures (MACBRAC), featuring prominent business, public, and military officials charged with exploring avenues for highlighting and extending Malmstrom’s mission to the BRAC Committee.
Throughout - Conducted series of MACBRAC strategic planning meetings to gain advice on where and how to make an impact in the BRAC process for Montana.
Aug 2004 - Conducted outreach meeting for the nine affected missile counties to make them aware of the MAFB closing impact.
April 2005 - Led contingent to Peterson AFB (Space Command) to meet with Gen. Lance Lord where Rehberg presented Gen. Lord with a copy of the Opportunity Assessment study of Malmstrom Air Force Base (conducted by Advanced Systems and Concepts ) with Great Falls Mayor Randy Gray and other civic leaders.
May 2005  - Met with Lt. Gen. Woods and Maj. Gen. Fletcher, Air Force Programs planners in Washington D.C.
May 2005 - Sent correspondence to U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, asking for clarification of MANG’s future as well as for a breakdown of the personnel lost and maintained under the proposed realignment of MANG.
June 2005 - Sent staff to Portland BRAC hearing and, through staff, submitted written remarks.
July 2005 – Hosted a meeting with Great Falls civic leaders, Airport Authority, BRAC Commissioner James Hansen, Lt. Gen. Woods, and Maj. Gen. Fletcher.
August 25, 2005 – Sent correspondence to BRAC Commission Chairman Anthony Principi, and BRAC Commissioner James Hansen thanking them for setting aside time for Denny and the Great Falls contingent, and urging a vote to maintain the 120th Fighter Wing in Great Falls.

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 WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today announced three Montana fire departments have been awarded federal grants totaling more than half-a-million dollars for new fire fighting equipment and operations and safety programs as part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP).
 
“I have taken a special interest in the needs and concerns of Montana’s volunteer and community fire departments, and I’m obviously pleased to see their dedicated men and women receive this additional support from the federal government,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

The latest grant award announcement includes funding for the Shelby, Harrison, and Park City fire departments, and comes on top of the July release of $3.5 million in grant funding for 37 Montana fire and public safety departments.

“I came to Congress five years ago determined to help Montana’s fire services acquire grants. The first thing I did was join the Fire Caucus. A short while later, we began hosting, across the state, seminars on how to apply for these grants,” Rehberg said, explaining his work initiating and sponsoring numerous training sessions statewide, helping local public safety officials compete for and secure grants from the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program.

The latest grant recipients include:
-Park City Rural Fire District $106,970 Operations and Safety
-City of Shelby Volunteer Fire Dept. $229,900 Vehicle Acquisition
-HPNS (Harrison) Volunteer Fire Dept. $197,132 Vehicle Acquisition

The AFGP awards one-year grants directly to fire departments to support the nation’s firefighters and the services they deliver. In FY 2005, Congress appropriated $650 million in direct assistance to firefighters to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, and to establish or expand fire prevention programs. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) administers the program, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

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WASHINGTON, DC - While calling the nation’s six-year highway bill a success for Montana, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, said he will continue to work on funding important projects for Montana in the yearly transportation budget as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, including the construction of an additional I-15 access for Great Falls International Airport. 
 
“After working on the highway bill for over two years, I feel we accomplished a great deal for Montana – repairing the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier, reconstructing Marysville road, paving Highway 323 in Ekalaka, the 93 bypass in Kalispell – just some of the examples, and all these projects mean safer and more efficient travel for Montanans,” said Rehberg.  “But there are a number of important projects still on the table, like constructing another I-15 airport access for Great Falls.  As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and together with Senator Burns, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, we’ll continue to work on trying to get more funding for Montana’s roadways.”

The nation’s $286.4 billion transportation bill includes $321 million in funding for 34 special projects in Montana.  Rehberg worked on the bill for two years as a member of the House Transportation Committee.  At the beginning of the 109th Congress, Rehberg accepted an appointment to the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which funds transportation projects on a yearly basis in the Transportation, Treasury and HUD budget bill. 

“Great Falls International Airport is a critical link in our nation’s defense.  There are three military forces that deploy from there.  It’s a busy place with only one interstate access, which can hinder our nation’s defense, as well as the opportunity for the airport to expand,” said Rehberg.  “Adding additional interstate access is my top transportation priority in this upcoming budget.”

The Northside Interstate Access appropriations request is a $2.5 million proposal for an interchange that will link the cargo quadrant of the airfield to the interstate and, in the long term, the rail yard.  The connection of the airport to the rail yard and interstate is critical to optimize future economic development for Great Falls.

Rehberg wrote a letter of support for the project to Rep. Joe Knollenberg, Chairman of the Transportation, Treasury and Housing Subcommittee on Appropriations.  The House is expected to approve the Transportation, Treasury, and HUD budget bill following the August recess.

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BILLINGS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today announced grants totaling more than $3.5 million have been awarded to 37 Montana fire departments, including grants of more than $250,000 to the Baxendale Volunteer Fire Department, near Helena, and the Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department, in Great Falls.  The awards, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will help fund equipment and general operations, and provide enhanced firefighter safety for the departments.
 
“Having taken a special interest in the needs and concerns of Montana’s volunteer and community fire departments, I’m obviously delighted to see this funding awarded to so many fire departments across Montana,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said. “Each of these are competitive grants, representing a federal investment in the work of the men and women who serve and protect communities like Stevensville, Wolf Point, and Helena.”

Totaling $3,552,383, the funding announced today includes $334,400 to the Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department for general operations and firefighter safety enhancement, and $268,850 to the Baxendale Volunteer Fire department toward the purchase of a firefighting vehicle.

“I came to Congress five years ago determined to help Montana’s fire services acquire grants. The first thing I did was join the Fire Caucus. A short while later, we began hosting, across the state, seminars with FEMA on how to apply for these grants,” Rehberg said, explaining his work initiating and sponsoring numerous training sessions statewide, helping local public safety officials compete for and secure grants from the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program.

The remaining awards, below, include grants to fund operations and firefighter safety, training, equipment, vehicles, and modifications to fire stations and facilities. They include grants of: 

$232,750 to the West End Volunteer Fire District (De Borgia) for vehicle acquisition

$229,065 to the Ashland Volunteer Fire Department (Ashland) for vehicle acquisition

$224,675 to the Joliet Volunteer Fire Departmen (Joliet) for vehicle acquisition

$213,750 to the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department (Butte) for vehicle acquisition

$188,100 to the East Valley Fire District (East Helena) for vehicle acquisition

$166,250 to the Cascade Farmer Rancher Rural Vol. Fire Dept. (Cascade) for vehicle acquisition

$142,500 to the Augusta Volunteer Ambulance (Augusta) for vehicle acquisition

$125,685 to the Wisdom Volunteer Fire Department (Wisdom) for vehicle acquisition

$98,183 to the Lakeside Volunteer Fire Department (East Helena) for operations and safety

$93,338 to the Lewis and Clark County Volunteer Fire Department (Helena) for vehicle acquisition

$91,200 to the Dixon Rural Volunteer Fire Department (Dixon) for vehicle acquisition

$85,500 to the Park County Rural Fire District #1 (Livingston) for operations and safety

$84,431 to the South Kalispell Volunteer Fire Department (Kalispell) for operations and safety

$79,325 to the Lambert Fire District (Lambert) for vehicle acquisition

$75,752 to the Corvallis Rural Fire District (Corvallis) for operations and safety

$73,464 to the Richey Ambulance Service (Richey) for vehicle acquisition

$70,690 to the Floral Park Volunteer Fire Department (Butte) for operations and safety

$64,941 to the East Missoula Rural Fire Department (Missoula) for operations and safety

$64,600 to the Stevensville Rural Fire Department (Stevensville) for operations and safety

$60,438 to the Wolf Point Volunteer Fire Department (Wolf Point) for operations and safety

$60,420 to the Willow Creek Rural Fire District (Willow Creek) for operations and safety

$54,359 to the Victor Volunteer Rural Fire District (Victor) for operations and safety

$49,203 to the Town of Browning Volunteer Fire Dept. (Browning) for operations and safety

$47,262 to the St. Ignatius Volunteer Fire District (St. Ignatius) for operations and safety

$39,188 to the Winifred Rural Fire Department (Winifred) for operations and safety

$38,589 to the Dawson County Rural Fire District (Glendive) for operations and safety

$34,960 to the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department (Ronan) for operations and safety

$28,690 to the McCone County Volunteer Fire Department (Circle) for operations and safety

$27,712 to the City of Libby Fire Department (Libby) for operations and safety

$22,895 to the Columbus Rural Fire District#3 (Columbus) for operations and safety

$22,876 to the Vaughn Volunteer Fire Department (Vaughn) for operations and safety

$21,504 to the Martinsdale Fire Fee Area (Martinsdale) for operations and safety

$18,574 to the Polson City and Rural Fire Department (Polson) for operations and safety

$13,799 to the Ruby Valley Ambulance (Sheridan) for operations and safety

$4,465 to the Petroleum County Ambulance (Winnett) for operations and safety

The Assistance for Fire Fighters Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (a division of FEMA), assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the nation. Successful applicants must demonstrate financial need and articulate the benefits to be derived from the grant funds.

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is asking the U.S. Department of Education to help mitigate the displacement of students at Helena’s C.L. Anderson Middle School, hit by structural damage from a July 25 earthquake in Southwestern Montana.

“My primary concern is for the well being of the displaced students whose education may be disrupted,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said in a letter Tuesday to Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. “Please do whatever is necessary to mitigate the effects of this displacement and to assist the local school board in obtaining the necessary resources to quickly remedy this situation.”

The temblor, which measured 5.6 on the Richter scale, was centered 13 miles northeast of Dillon, Mont., about 90 miles from Helena.

“The damage has forced local school officials to close an 18-room wing of the school with just a few weeks until the scheduled beginning of the school year,” Rehberg said. “The structural damage could involve a lengthy repair process, during which time the students will have to be accommodated in temporary locations.” 

LETTER BELOW

August 16, 2005
 

Margaret Spellings
Secretary
Department of Education
Suite 7W301
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington DC, 20202

Dear Secretary Spellings;

I am writing to inform you of a developing situation in Helena, Montana, and to request any available assistance from the Department of Education.

Recently, an earthquake centered in southern Montana caused significant structural damage to C.R. Anderson Middle School in Helena, Montana.  The damage has forced local school officials to close an 18-room wing of the school with just a few weeks until the scheduled beginning of the school year.  These 18 classrooms – contained in an addition to the building that was built in 1965 – currently house approximately one third of the entire school population.

The structural damage could involve a lengthy repair process, during which time the students will have to be accommodated in temporary locations.

My primary concern is for the well being of the displaced students whose education may be disrupted.  Please do whatever is necessary to mitigate the effects of this displacement and to assist the local school board in obtaining the necessary resources to quickly remedy this situation.

Sincerely,
 

Denny Rehberg
Member of Congress

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BILLINGS, MT — Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, will lead a group of off-road recreationists on a trail-ride in support of the Red Lodge community as it endures the closure of the Beartooth Scenic By-Way for repairs.  The “Ride to the Slide” takes place Saturday, August 20, at 10:00 a.m., with registration beginning at 7:00 a.m.

“We decided to set up this event to show our support for the Red Lodge community, and to highlight the outdoor recreation opportunities around the area,” said Rehberg.  “It’s also a chance for those who share a love for Montana’s outdoor resources to get together in support of their sport.”

Rehberg will lead the group on an OHV ride up Hellroaring Road to an overview area where the group can view the repairs to the Beartooth Scenic By-Way.  The All-American Road was closed after extensive mudslide damage in mid-May, dealing a blow to the tourist economy of Red Lodge.  In June, Rehberg lead the effort to secure a House Resolution (H.Res. 309) calling on the federal government to make funds available for immediate repair of the highway.  Rehberg’s effort led to the inclusion of $22 million in the recently signed Highway Bill to complete the Beartooth repairs.

The event is co-sponsored by the Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce, and organized by Citizens for Balanced Use (CBU) and Families for Outdoor Recreation (FFOR), two groups that support preserving many of the state’s off-road trails.  Additional assistance is provided by MSU-Billings, and the Red Lodge Police and Carbon County Sheriff’s Departments, while members of the Teamsters Local 190 have volunteered to assist with the Saturday evening barbeque.

Ride to the Slide Event Schedule:
Friday, August 19
Afternoon and Evening Registration

Saturday, August 20
7:00 – 9:00 a.m. — Final Registration
10:00 a.m. – Rehberg, OHV groups depart
6:00 p.m. – Barbeque
Sunday, August 21
2:00 p.m. — Final Raffle Awards 

Contacts:Denise Parsons, Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce – 406.446.1718
Ed Melcher, FFOR – 406.651.9244
Carl Siroky, CBU – 406.698.2327

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 HELENA – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced grants totaling more than $90,000 for a pair of Montana non-profit organizations dedicated to aiding jobs and housing.

“In many ways, these grant awards represent federal recognition of the work of each of these organizations at work in a number of communities across the state,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said.

The grants include a $50,000 technical assistance award for the Montana Homeownership Network in Great Falls, which provides counseling and mortgage programs to low-income residents and families.  The funds announced today will allow the organization to build a comprehensive data collection and reporting system, allowing the non-profit to better address community development and the capital needs of low income families in the area.

Also included is a $43,530 technical assistance award for the Montana Community Development Corporation (MCDC) in Missoula, which provides business loans to sustain rural communities in Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders, and South Lake Counties.  The funds announced today will allow the non-profit organization to update its computer systems and website, develop marketing materials for distribution and measure community development impact through training.

The grants announced today are provided by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

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BILLINGS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded more than $4.3 million in Transportation grants for three Montana airfields. 

“Air travel has become an increasingly important means of transportation and commerce for Montana’s communities, and these grants will help fund significant infrastructure improvements, “ said Rehberg.

The DOT will distribute the grants through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  The money will go toward a number of projects — the grants include:

-Yellowstone County  — $3,342,038 for snow removal equipment, taxiway and terminal building improvements at Billings Logan International Airport.

-Deer Lodge — $683,334 to lengthen the runway at the Deer Lodge Airport.

-Roosevelt County — $333,334 for the construction of a wildlife perimeter fence to prevent wildlife incursions with airplanes at Wolf Point International Airport.

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