Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, DC - With the help of Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, the House of Representatives passed the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act (TESRA).  Rehberg, who cosponsored the legislation, called the measure a long-overdue incentive to save threatened and endangered species.

“I’ve come to learn of my time in Congress, that people support reform, as long as it doesn’t change anything. The difficulty with the Endangered Species Act is it is failing endangered species,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations committee.  “Anytime you start getting t-shirts, and bumper stickers, and jokes about a law, you know you’ve got a problem.”           

“I brought along a shovel today, because the biggest joke in Montana is ‘shoot, shovel, and shut-up,’” Rehberg said as he raised a shovel in his hand on the House floor. 

“The problem is, there are those that want to protect species.  They don’t want them to become extinct.  They want to do the right thing,” Rehberg said.  “But this Congress, many years ago, created a disincentive to do the right thing, rather than an incentive.  If you learn anything about public administration or government – when you create a disincentive, usually you’re pretty successful.”

According to data compiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, less than one percent of the roughly 1300 species listed have recovered since ESA was first enacted more than 30 years ago. Only six percent of all listed species are classified as “improving.” TESRA fixes the law’s long-outstanding problems by: 

·        focusing on species recovery

·        providing incentives

·        increasing openness and accountability

·        strengthening scientific standards

·        creating bigger roles for state and local governments

·        protecting private property owners, and

·        eliminating dysfunctional critical habitat designations         

“We are not saving the species.  We need to – we need to get off the dime.  We need to finally solve this issue.  Everybody recognizes it’s broke,” Rehberg said.  “We can no longer use the excuse that it’s just ‘not exactly what we want.’  It’s time to end the joke of ‘shoot, shovel, and shut-up.’”           

“I want to thank Chairman Pombo for giving us an opportunity to vote on a reform package that does what we need to do, and that’s save the species of this country,” Rehberg said.

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has added a key legislative provision to encourage the building of a new coal-to-liquid-fuels (CTLF) refinery, possibly in Montana.  During yesterday’s Energy and Commerce markup on the second Energy Bill, Rehberg partnered with Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL) to include an amendment that redefines “refineries” to include CTLF, so that any new incentives for the construction of refineries includes this clean, efficient alternative source of fuel based on this abundant domestic resource.

“I’m serious about making coal-to-liquids happen. I’m sick and tired of the U.S. buying its energy from other countries.  It’s time to buy American, and there’s no better place to start buying American than in Montana. That’s why I’m committed to doing everything I can to see that Montana is fully prepared to compete for the next generation of energy production.  It’s probably now time for the state of Montana to begin putting together its own energy plan, much like we’ve done on the federal level, and I’m committed to working with state officials to do just that.  Which means we need to look at not only increasing the number of refineries in this country, but also at expanding the types of refineries,” Rehberg, a House Appropriations Committee member, said. “One type we need to encourage is coal-to-liquid-fuels refineries, which can produce cleaner-burning, sulfur-free transportation fuel using an abundant domestic energy resource.”

Earlier this week, Rehberg met a second time with representatives of a South African firm interested in building a CTLF refinery in the U.S., possibly Montana.  The refinery would employ more than 2,000 people, representatives of South African oil, gas and chemicals group Sasol, Ltd.  Sasol currently operates the world’s only commercial coal-to-liquids refinery, in Secunda, South Africa.  The language Rehberg and Shimkus included in the new Energy bill will make it easier for companies like Sasol to do business in Montana.

”The language we added will give any of these new facilities that are built in Montana the same access to streamlined permitting,” Rehberg explained. “Montana has the coal, we’ve got the manpower, we’re ready to see a coal-to-liquids facility built in our state.  The expanded refinery tax incentives we included in the second Energy Bill will certainly encourage that.”

Rehberg today met with Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman urging his support of the CTLF concept.  Bodman told Rehberg he studied the CTLF process as a student in college.

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman Denny Rehberg has told White House drug czar John Walters the administration should remain committed to fighting methamphetamine abuse on the local, as well as the federal, level.  Rehberg assailed proposed cuts to HIDTA (the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program) and the Byrne Justice Assistance Program during House consideration.

“My point in being critical of the administration is that I so strongly believe that success begins at the local level. Money for enforcement and prevention is better spent at the local level; these funds should not be siphoned off by the federal government,” Rehberg explained.  “Fortunately we have a speaker who understands this.  Denny Hastert was working on this long before he became Speaker of the House.”

Rehberg and Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy, met in Rehberg’s Washington office Tuesday afternoon, at Rehberg’s request, in order to discuss the fight against methamphetamine abuse.

“What we’ve seen from the administration is a dangerous movement to federalize this fight.  They’ve proposed cutting funding for the Byrne and HIDTA programs that are crucial to frontline communities like those in Montana that are fighting methamphetamine abuse,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said.

The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program enhances and coordinates drug control efforts among local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies. The program provides agencies with coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of the United States.  The Byrne Justice Assistance Program provides millions of dollars to crime prevention initiatives. The program funds hundreds of anti-drug task forces throughout the country.

“I’m proud of what Montana has done with these federal grants.  I was also proud to tell the drug czar about the Siebel family donations and the Montana Meth Project,” Rehberg said.  “I hope our efforts in Montana will be used as a model for other states.”

In March, Rehberg, before a joint session of the Montana legislature, announced a five-point action plan to help combat methamphetamine abuse in Montana, including directing efforts in Congress to ensure prosecutors and law enforcement have effective tools and training, require federal forfeiture funds to be used for meth waste cleanup, foster ant-drug education programs, equip hospitals and clinics for effective drug-abuse treatment, and urge Canada to join in the fight against meth.

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, called for an investigation into the actions of a W.R. Grace medical plan administrator that sent letters to Libby asbestos victims, telling them they may not really be sick.  In a letter to U.S. Health & Human Service Secretary Mike Leavitt, Rehberg called the action “insensitive” and “a slap in the face to a community already reeling from the effects of asbestos exposure.”

“I was deeply disappointed to learn that HNA/Triveras, W.R. Grace and Company’s medical administrator, informed most of the 870 people under its medical plan for Libby, Montana, that they no longer have asbestos-related diseases,” Rehberg told Leavitt.  “On behalf of my constituents in the Libby community, I urge you to become fully and personally engaged in this issue and to launch a full-scale investigation into HNA’s actions.  It’s time to do what is right by the people of Libby and make the health of that community a top priority of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.”

In the 1990’s, officials began associating serious health problems in the Libby community with exposure to vermiculite ore, found to be contaminated with tremolite asbestos.  For nearly sixty years, a mine near Libby – most recently operated by W.R. Grace and Company – had produced most of the world’s supply of vermiculite ore.  The tremolite contamination left hundreds dead or sickened from asbestos exposure, prompting an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) superfund cleanup and legal action that placed surviving victims in the care of a medical administrator, HNA/Triveras, appointed by Grace. 

“I have been contacted by numerous constituents from the Libby area who are frightened, angry and frustrated. W.R. Grace and Company’s medical plan has a solemn obligation to assist these good people whose only ‘crime’ was to work for W.R Grace, be a family member of someone who worked at W.R. Grace, or live in that beautiful mountain community where toxic materials from W.R. Grace were spread,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, wrote. 

LETTER:

September 28, 2006

Mike Leavitt, Secretary

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

200 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20201
 

Dear Secretary Leavitt:
I was deeply disappointed to learn that HNA/Triveras, W.R. Grace and Company’s medical administrator, informed most of the 870 people under its medical plan for Libby, Montana that they no longer have asbestos-related diseases.  This insensitive action on the part of HNA is a slap in the face to a community already reeling from the effects of asbestos exposure. 

I have been contacted by numerous constituents from the Libby area who are frightened, angry and frustrated. W.R. Grace and Company’s medical plan has a solemn obligation to assist these good people whose only “crime” was to work for W.R Grace, be a family member of someone who worked at W.R. Grace, or live in that beautiful mountain community where toxic materials from W.R. Grace were spread. 

On behalf of my constituents in the Libby community, I urge you to become fully and personally engaged in this issue and to launch a full-scale investigation into HNA’s actions.  It’s time to do what is right by the people of Libby and make the health of that community a top priority of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and I look forward to hearing from you soon. 
Sincerely,
DENNY REHBERG

Montana’s Congressman

DRR/twd
Cc:       Lincoln County Commissioners
            Dr. Brad Black, Center for Asbestos Related Disease
            Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services
            Dr. Jay Flynn, Health Network of America (HNA)

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today called on the administration to designate reopening beef trade with Japan as a top priority.

“The U.S. cattle and beef industries are losing $100 million each month that Japan remains closed to beef,” the letter stated. “The beef industry is a pivotal economic component of many rural communities, and we know the U.S. has the safest food supply in the world. Nevertheless, since December 2003 the U.S. meat industry has lost 10,000 jobs, mostly attributable to lost export markets.”

Japan halted beef purchases from the U.S. after the December 2003 discovery of a cow with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations committee, says improved testing and public safety precautions imposed by the U.S. since 2003 ensure only the safest product reaches consumers.

“In the 20 months since an initial case of BSE was diagnosed in the U.S., USDA has implemented new, scientifically sound BSE controls and substantially expanded its surveillance program,” the letter to the President stated. “Numerous members of your Cabinet have discussed the need to resume beef trade with senior Japanese officials and we know that you have personally discussed this matter with Japan’s Prime Minister Koizumi. Yet despite all of these notable efforts, Japan remains closed to U.S. beef.”

Montana, among other states, has suffered from Japan’s refusal to import U.S. beef. 

“Mr. President, we again commend your Administration’s efforts and your leadership on reopening many important markets to U.S. beef exports,” the letter stated. “Given the importance of this matter to our constituents, we will consider action on measures to address this in the remaining weeks of this Congressional secession.”

Letter:

The Honorable George W. Bush

President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington, DC  20500

Dear President Bush:

We appreciate your Administration’s diligent efforts to reopen the Japanese market to U.S. beef exports including your personal intervention.  The Japanese maintenance of this embargo is causing significant economic damage to cattle producers, beef processors, and rural communities, and threatens to cause permanent losses to many of our constituents.  The U.S. cattle and beef industries are losing $100 million each month that Japan remains closed to U.S. beef.   We are writing to urge you to make restoring market access for U.S. beef to Japan your highest economic priority with Japan.

In the 20 months since an initial case of BSE was diagnosed in the U.S., USDA has implemented new, scientifically sound BSE controls and substantially expanded its surveillance program.  These new actions complement other BSE controls dating back to 1989.  Numerous members of your Cabinet have discussed the need to resume beef trade with senior Japanese officials and we know that you have personally discussed this matter with Japan’s Prime Minister Koizumi.  Yet despite all of these notable efforts, Japan remains closed to U.S. beef. 

The beef industry is a pivotal economic component of many rural communities, and we know the U.S. has the safest food supply in the world.  Nevertheless, since December 2003 the U.S. meat industry has lost 10,000 jobs, mostly attributable to lost export markets.  That is why we must do all we can to ensure stability in the market and trade based on internationally accepted scientific principles, which includes resuming trade with Japan as soon as possible.  Making the resumption of trade your highest economic priority with Japan will send a clear signal of the importance of resolving this bilateral economic issue. 

Mr. President, we again commend your Administration’s efforts and your leadership on reopening many important markets to U.S. beef exports.  As your team continues to restore market access for beef around the world, we urge you to make the restoration of U.S. beef trade with Japan your highest economic priority with Japan.  Given the importance of this matter to our constituents, we will consider action on measures to address this in the remaining weeks of this Congressional session. 

Thank you in advance for your immediate consideration of this request.

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WASHINGTON, DC - Pointing to a history of unintended regulatory consequences and ineffectiveness, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today called on Congress to reform the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA).  Rehberg announced his support for the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005 (TESRA).

“Over the past three decades, the Endangered Species Act has become a model of incompetence, ineptitude, and ineffectiveness,” Rehberg, a Billings rancher, said.  “The ESA has not only failed to deliver on its promises, it may actually be responsible for hastening the demise of some of the threatened species it purports to protect.”

Landowners have long complained that ESA has helped create an adversarial relationship between government regulators and private property owners, on whose lands 90% of endangered species in the U.S. have habitat.  Reverse incentives in the law have encouraged some to destroy species habitat in an effort to avoid the regulatory liability that accompanies the discovery of an endangered species on private property

“We call it the law of unintended consequences. ESA was well intentioned, but poorly enacted,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said.  “Over the years, the unintended consequences that have accompanied each discovery of an endangered species have forced families, farmers, and ranchers to forfeit their land or business or both, with no recompense.”

According to data compiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, less than one percent of the roughly 1300 species listed have recovered since ESA was first enacted more than 30 years ago. Only six percent of all listed species are classified as “improving.”  TESRA fixes the law’s long-outstanding problems by: 

·        focusing on species recovery

·        providing incentives

·        increasing openness and accountability

·        strengthening scientific standards

·        creating bigger roles for state and local governments

·        protecting private property owners, and

·        eliminating dysfunctional critical habitat designations

“It will likely take years to fix the problems created by the ESA, but our children and our environment will be better for our having begun that process today,” Rehberg explained.

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, announced today the Montana Veterans Foundation has been awarded a $312,000 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grant to provide for a 12-bed transitional housing unit in Helena for homeless veterans, and to increase the overall quality of veterans services.

“This award to the Montana Veterans Foundation will help them shelter more homeless veterans in need of a place to reside temporarily,” said Rehberg, a member of the Military Quality of Life Appropriations Subcommittee. “This funding will also help to ensure that more veterans find assistance when in search of shelter.”

The Montana Veterans Foundation will use the funding to acquire and renovate a building at 1112 Leslie in Helena.

“I strongly support the work of the Montana Veterans Foundation and the assistance they provide to the homeless veterans in our state,” Rehberg said. “I am pleased to announce their receipt of this generous award.”

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, announced today two $300,000 technical assistance awards for the Montana Community Development Corporation (MCDC) and the Sovereign Leasing and Financing, Inc. Awarded by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the funding will enable to the two recipients to enhance its efforts in serving the rural communities of Montana.

“Both the MCDC and Sovereign Leasing and Financing, Inc., work very hard to serve low-income communities in our state,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations committee. “I applaud their hard work and dedication, and both deserve this funding as recognition of their efforts.”

MCDC provides business loans to sustain rural communities surrounding Missoula. The funding announced today will allow the non-profit organization to update its computer system and website, and help train employees with the new software.

Sovereign Leasing and Financial, Inc., located in Ronan, provides economic development and financial products to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes’ businesses. Sovereign will use the funding to add equity to its capital structure to leverage debt and to provide technical assistance.

“This is about jobs and giving a helping had to those who need it,” Rehberg said. “I strongly support the work of MCDC and Sovereign.”

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has told House and Senate leaders a predicted surge in energy prices after Hurricane Katrina necessitates a proportional increase in the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).  Rehberg urged leaders shepherding the Labor, HHS (Health & Human Services), and Education Appropriations bill to nearly increase LIHEAP to $4 billion, nearly doubling it for the coming year.

“As the nation faces an unprecedented and unexpected surge in home energy prices due in part to the devastating tragedy of hurricane Katrina, it is critical that the level of funding provided for this program be revisited in light of the new circumstances,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations committee, said.

In his letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor HHS (Health & Human Services), and Education, Rehberg – joined by several dozen colleagues – cited a report this month estimating energy expenditures in the U.S. will reach levels as high as 18 percent more than 2004 levels.  The report, by the Department of Energy, predicts per-household expenditures for fuels this winter to increase 71 percent for natural gas, 17 percent for electricity, 31 percent for heating oil, and 40 percent for propane, compared to last winter.

“We’re talking about Montana families, already strapped for cash, taking a major hit in their pocketbooks from a tragedy that occurred hundreds of miles away,” Rehberg explained. “We’re asking the managers of this spending bill to apply some common-sense and increase federal energy assistance in an effort to help low-income families and individuals who will have no where else to turn.”

A strong proponent of the federal LIHEAP program, Rehberg, earlier this year, backed a successful House effort to increase authorized spending amounts for the program.  Last year, Rehberg called for both an increase in the program and a one-time $600 million boost in emergency funding for LIHEAP.

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today wrote a letter to Secretary Mike Johanns at the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking about the status of the mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rules. Aware that implementation is a year away, Rehberg is concerned about the timeframe in which the industry will have to adjust to the new statutes.

“Few issues in recent years have created as much discussion as COOL and Congress continues to debate the issue,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, wrote in his letter. “This program will require segments of the industry to adjust their business practices and it is very important that they are given sufficient lead time to make the necessary changes.”

The 2002 Farm Bill established the COOL program. Congress, two years ago, extended the implementation date in order for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to have adequate time to write the mandatory rules for the program that will impact the industry and producers as little as possible. 

“With the final implementation date a little over a year away, I am writing to you asking about the status of the mandatory COOL rules,” Rehberg wrote. “By law, everyone will have to comply with COOL next fall and it is extremely important these rules are finalized as quickly as possible.” 

Letter: 
September 14, 2005

Secretary Mike Johanns

United States Department of Agriculture

200 Administration Building

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C.  20250
 

Dear Secretary Johanns:

As you know, the 2002 Farm Bill created a mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) program.  Few issues in recent years have created as much discussion as COOL and Congress continues to debate the issue.  Two years ago, Congress extended the enactment date to September 30, 2006 to give the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ample to time to write the rules in such a manner that would provide the least impact to industry and producers.

With the final implementation date a little over a year away, I am writing to you asking about the status of the mandatory COOL rules.  This program will require segments of the industry to adjust their business practices and it is very important that they are given sufficient lead time to make the necessary changes.  By law, everyone will have to comply with COOL next fall and it is extremely important these rules are finalized as quickly as possible.

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

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg

Montana’s Congressman

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