Congressman Denny Rehberg

 WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has undeliverable money for 249 Montanans. The money, from federal income tax refunds returned to IRS as “undeliverable” by the Postal Service, include checks totaling over $167,000.

“These checks were undeliverable due to recipients’ address changes or illegible returned addresses on the paper-filed returns,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “This money belongs in the pockets of hard-working, Montana taxpayers, not in Uncle Sam’s bank account. I want to ensure that all of the 249 recipients have their money returned to them promptly.”

According to the IRS, the checks are from the 2004 individual federal income tax returns.  For Montanans, the average refund check is about $672.  The IRS is providing an online link for taxpayers seeking their refund check. Click the “Where’s My Refund” link on www.irs.gov.  For taxpayers without Internet access, the IRS encourages taxpayers to call the toll-free number (800) TAX-FORM.

“I urge any Montanan who believes they have not received their return to contact the IRS immediately, either by phone or Internet,” Rehberg said. “I want the proper individuals and families to receive the refund they have been anticipating,” Rehberg said. “Refunds are very important to taxpayers. They count on the refunds to purchase new household items, such as a washer or dryer, or to simply pay bills.” 

Rehberg also said Montanans may contact his office toll free at (888) 232-2626 if they have any questions.

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, co-introduced legislation armed with trade sanctions designed to press Japan to lift its 22-month-old ban on U.S. beef.  Rehberg and Rep. John Salazar (D-Colorado), introduced the Trade Accountability Act, which directs the U.S. Treasury Department to impose tariffs on Japanese products in an amount equal to the $2.7 billion annual loss endured by U.S. beef producers from Japan’s U.S. beef embargo.

“The tired excuse of ensuring consumer safety is a fig leaf behind which Japan can no longer hide,” Rehberg, a Billings rancher, said. “With so many new U.S. food and animal safety and testing standards put in place since 2003, our beef is arguably the safest in the world.”

Noting that U.S. beef easily meets WTO (World Trade Organization) health standards – thanks to upgraded U.S. safety protocols put in place since the one and only discovery of a U.S. animal with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) – the Salazar-Rehberg bill finds no justification for Japan to continue its trade barrier against U.S. beef.

“Simply put, there is no longer any reason for Japan to continue its ban on U.S. beef,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee member, said.

The measure calls for Japan to lift its unwarranted ban by December 15.  If the ban is not lifted, the legislation directs the Treasury Department to impose additional tariffs on selected articles grown, produced or manufactured in Japan in an amount equal to the $2.7 billion annual loss suffered by the U.S. beef industry.  Other countries are waiting for Japan to act before lifting similar bans.

“Japan is the bully that’s keeping many of its smaller neighbors from buying U.S. beef,” Rehberg explained.  “Fortunately, that’s beginning to change as evidenced by last week’s announcement Thailand will lift its ban. As the Thai government now recognizes, we provide the safest and highest quality beef in the world – reason enough to reestablish U.S. beef imports.”

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WASHINGTON, DC - While the Agriculture Appropriations Conference Committee is currently meeting to discuss the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today sent a letter urging the conferees to continue fully funding the red meat portion of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program.

“Unfortunately, most consumers believe that if a product carries a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection and grade designation sticker, that product is of U.S. origin,” wrote Rehberg in the letter addressed to the Conference Committee’s chairmen and ranking members. “This is simply misleading and untrue.”

Congress passed the COOL program in the 2002 Farm Bill. However, funding for the program was stripped in the House version of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill earlier this year.

“Some have argued COOL will lead to huge costs for producers of meat and meat products, and result in trade retaliation,” wrote Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations committee. “However, it is too early to make these predictions because the USDA has not released final rules. We are in the middle of a process that needs to be completed.”

“There’s a label on nearly every product on the shelves in stores today telling consumers where the product comes from,” Rehberg said. “A label on red meat shouldn’t be any different. Consumers deserve to know where their food comes from.”  

Letter Attached

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October 24, 2005

Dear Chairmen Bennett and Bonilla, and Ranking Members Kohl and DeLauro:

As the conference committee meets to discuss the 2006 Agriculture Appropriation Bill, we urge you to preserve funding for the red meats portion of the Country of Origin Labeling program (COOL) that Congress passed in the 2002 Farm Bill.

For many years, there has been broad support in Congress for COOL, however, funding was stripped in the House version of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill.  Some have argued COOL will lead to huge costs for producers of meat and meat products, and result in trade retaliation.  However, it is too early to make these predictions because the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not released final rules.  We are in the middle of a process that needs to be completed.  The public has been given opportunities to comment at public listening sessions that were held throughout the country and during the official comment period for proposed rules.  The public is currently involved, and stripping away the funding to implement the program at this point would halt the rules writing process, yet it would not change the law.  Producers, packers and retailers will still be accountable for COOL on September 30, 2006 regardless of USDA funding.  We should not stop a process that is underway at USDA.

American consumers also support COOL.  We know where our clothes, cars, electronics and toys come from, and they have the right to know where their food originates.    Unfortunately, most consumers believe that if a product carries a USDA inspection and grade designation sticker, that product is of U.S. origin.  This is simply misleading and untrue.  Numerous surveys and consumer studies have indicated American consumers overwhelmingly support mandatory labeling and are willing to pay a premium for that information. COOL is also supported by over 130 agriculture and consumer organizations.  In short, COOL has broad support.

We respectfully request that COOL remains fully funded and appreciate your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg

Montana’s Congressman

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WASHINGTON, DC - Addressing the national concern over the need to improve U.S. border protection, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today called for the creation of a corps of citizen volunteers to work as sworn law enforcement officers working in cooperation with state and local law enforcement officials.  Rehberg endorsed legislation that would create the Border Protection Corps.

“What happened in Sweetgrass over the weekend was a great example of the important work federal border officials are doing, and I commend them; they are, however, out numbered, and they need help in securing hundreds of miles of border, north and south,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said.  “When I announced my border protection initiative earlier this year, I promised to support efforts to beef up our border security.  Part of what I had in mind is the legislation I’m cosponsoring today, the Border Protection Corps Act of 2005.

The measure would create the Border Protection Corps, comprising citizen volunteers working as sworn law enforcement officers under the authority of border state governors.  Deputized volunteers would assist and work under the direction of state and local law enforcement officials. Foreign nationals entering the United States illegally who are taken into custody by the Border Protection Corps or by state or local law enforcement would be turned over to federal law enforcement authorities.

“One of the federal government’s most important functions is to protect our borders and points of entry.  A nation that doesn’t control its own borders doesn’t control its own destiny,” Rehberg explained.  “With Montana alone sharing more than 500 porous miles of border with Canada, our U.S. borders to the north and to the south pose a big problem, and we need numbers to combat that problem. By empowering local citizen volunteers to help take part in the task of patrolling our borders, this legislation fits the problem, and it comes at the right time as far as support among my colleagues.

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 WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today praised the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for halting the plans to close over 700 Farm Service Agency Offices (FSA), including six of the 49 FSA offices in Montana.

“I’m glad USDA officials came to their senses and reversed its plans to close these FSA offices,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations committee said. “I am not sure if they ever had a plan or a clue of the impact these closures would have on the rural communities these offices serve in Montana.”

In an effort to cut costs, the USDA announced the closures and consolidations earlier this month, citing the FSA’s need to eliminate inefficiencies. Currently, there are 2,351 FSA offices nationwide. The six FSA offices in Montana subject to closures were located in Ravalli, Meagher, Park, Treasure, Sweetgrass and Sanders counties.

“We have farmers and ranchers in rural Montana that depend on these offices,” Rehberg, a Billings rancher, said. “USDA is finally realizing that it needs to stop and listen to rural America before shutting down all these FSA offices.”

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today said a $1.9 million job training grant has been awarded to Montana State University (MSU) in Billings.

“This is such great news for MSU-B, not only because it’s such a great institution, but also because MSU-B is so important both to the community and to the state,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations committee said. “Wth roughly 400 community colleges across the nation competing for these funds, it was a highly competitive process, which makes this announcement even more special.”

The grant announced today, to MSU-Billings’ College of Technology, is being awarded under a U.S. Department of Labor program, the President’s Community Based Job Training Initiative.  The program is design to encourage and enhance job training efforts among community colleges.

“I’m proud of the University and the positive impact they’ve had on the students and the community, and I congratulate MSU-B for this remarkable achievement,” Rehberg, a Billings rancher, said.

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 WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today hailed House passage of a measure that keeps gun-control activists from holding firearms manufacturers responsible for the actions of violent criminals.  With Rehberg’s vote, the House today approved the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

“Making firearms makers liable for the acts of criminals is great for people who like to sue, but a disaster for average citizens who have the right to keep and bear arms,” Rehberg, a Billings rancher and cosponsor of the legislation, said. “Let’s be honest, these lawsuits have been part of just another sneaky scheme to end our Second Amendment rights.”

Over the past seven years, anti-gun activists have filed more than three dozen unsuccessful, costly lawsuits against firearms makers in an effort to drive the manufacturers and dealers out of business by linking gun makers to violent criminals.  Montana is home to 83 firearms manufacturers and 1251 firearms dealers. Surveys, meanwhile, indicate more than 60 percent of Montana households have firearms.

“This is just another example of radical activists abusing the judiciary and tying up the courts with frivolous lawsuits designed to slowly bleed-to-death a law-abiding industry – in this case, firearms manufacturers,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, explained. “What’s next, litigation against the makers of knives? It needs to end here.”

The measure protects firearms and ammunition manufacturers, distributors, and dealers from civil liability for the misuse of their products by others. Montana is one of 38 states already having enacted similar, state legislation to prevent such lawsuits against firearms makers.

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Urges state and federal investigation into gasoline price-gouging 
 
WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today renewed his call for a 30-day moratorium on state gas-taxes and for an investigation into petroleum price-gouging. Rehberg is a member of the House Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee.

“With a projected surplus, there’s no reason why we can’t see general revenue funds backfill the cost of temporarily suspending Montana’s $.27-per-gallon gasoline tax,” Rehberg said, noting widespread support from local leaders for his gasoline tax holiday proposal. “With the cost of gas hovering near $3 a gallon in some places, we owe it to consumers – families and small businesses – to help them weather this price spike, by controlling the government’s thirst for their tax dollars.”

Rehberg also called on local and federal investigators to look in to allegations of price-gouging, noting the energy bill recently approved by Congress empowers the Federal Trade Commission to launch such investigations. Rehberg also today renewed his support for legislation the House is scheduled to debate tomorrow that would streamline the building of new refineries, ensuring steady gasoline supplies to avoid price spikes.

“I’ve consistently supported rational legislation allowing investigators to prosecute possible price-gougers, taking advantage of consumers during supply shortages,” Rehberg, who helped draft the energy bill, said. “We’re also voting tomorrow on a second energy plan that will further strengthen the hand of investigators seeking to go after possible price-gougers, whether oil companies, refiners, suppliers, or service stations.”

Rehberg, who is behind proposed federal legislation to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, last month urged Governor Brian Schweitzer to follow suit at the state level.

“As a former state legislator and Lieutenant Governor, I am fully aware of Montana’s legal requirement to the state highway trust fund and the need for a state match to receive federal funds. However, Montana currently finds itself with a budget surplus that could be used to provide immediate relief from high fuel prices to our residents without jeopardizing future transportation funding,” Rehberg wrote on September 8. “Montanans need and deserve a break from the high cost of fuel.  Suspending the state fuel taxes and reimbursing the highway fund with general revenue funds will provide Montanans this much needed break.”

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WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, announced today the city of Hardin has been awarded a $1.33 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) for road construction and improvements for the city’s industrial park.  The approximately 800-acre industrial area is home to a new Montana Dakota Utilities generation facility, scheduled for completion in January.

“This is good news for the city of Hardin, and all of eastern Montana.  Improvements to the city’s industrial park are expected to attract more economic development, leading to good-paying jobs,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

The grant award, totaling $1,335,830, is expected to create 70 new jobs, and potentially attract more than $188 million in private sector investments, according to the Department of Commerce.  The grant is administered under the DOC’s Economic Development Administration.

“This is wonderful news, and I want to thank Denny and all of Montana’s congressional delegation for their help,” said Hardin Mayor Ron Adams.  “We want to get started with construction right away.  The industrial park needs a good road to handle the coal shipments to MDU’s new facility,” Adams said, adding that there are proposals for additional facilities at the park, such as an ethanol plant and possibly a detention center.

“I commend the Hardin community, and their city officials, for their hard work and dedication to developing the area’s economy.  It’s good for all of Montana, and I’m pleased to be a part of recognizing their efforts at the federal level,” Rehberg said.

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