Congressman Denny Rehberg

  WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is pressing the Bush Administration for full funding of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. 

“PILT is an essential funding program for Montana communities and counties,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said. “There is a great deal of federal land in Montana taken off the counties’ tax roles, and that affects the counties’ ability to pay for important services - such as law enforcement, education, and healthcare.”

Rehberg, and other members of the Congressional Western Caucus, sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget’s Director, Josh Bolton, expressing concern the “PILT program has been funded at an average of only 60-percent of the authorized level, which has resulted in public land states losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars needed by local government,” the letter stated. 

“We remain unable to understand why this administration’s budget recommendations have proposed hundreds of millions of dollars for additional federal land acquisition each year, while at the same time the PILT requests have remained flat,” the Congressional Western Caucus wrote.

“The problem is that Congress is not fully-funding the program as it should, and this is leaving our county governments short-changed while the federal government continues to gobble up more land they can’t even afford to maintain,” Rehberg said.

Since local governments are unable to tax property values or products derived from federal lands, the PILT program is designed to provide federal compensation to counties and local governments to offset losses in tax revenues.  Fiscal year 2005 federal PILT program payments to the counties in Montana totaled over $17.18 million.

# # #

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is predicting the House of Representatives will pass a major immigration reform bill before the first of the year to deal with the nation’s growing illegal immigration population. 

“Before Christmas, we intend to have a package, “ Rehberg said.  “We’ve got to close the border to illegal aliens.  We cannot continue to allow people whose first act is to come into America illegally, and then to take advantage of our tax-payer funded social services intended for American citizens.”

Rehberg’s comments came prior to President Bush’s scheduled speech today at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, where the President talked about increasing border security as part of a comprehensive Immigration Reform package.

“We’re working in the House right now on a plan that will increase the resources on the border, crack down on those who employ illegal aliens, and make sure that people in this country illegally are caught, and deported.  It’s time to get tough,” said Rehberg.

Other measures being studied by Congress include opening new border patrol offices, authorizing state and local officials to enforce immigration laws, reducing identification fraud, and improving workplace enforcement.

# # #

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, said today it’s time to “buy American” in order to bring stability to rising energy prices.

“It’s time for us to turn to our domestic sources for energy production.  We have the resources, and the technology to develop those resources.  It’s time to end our dependence on foreign sources of energy,” said Rehberg, who, as a member of the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, recently helped secure more than $43 million in development projects for Montana.

“I can see why people are upset, I’m upset, as well,” said Rehberg, in response to the rise in fuel prices.  “I have supported, every step of the way, an energy policy that will allow us to buy American.  There are people standing in the way of America becoming energy independent.  It’s time to say ‘enough is enough.’  It’s time to buy American.”

Rehberg has supported creating a comprehensive national energy policy since coming to Congress in 2001.  He helped craft the Energy Policy Act of 2005, (HR 6), which was signed into law August 8, 2005, and created incentives to effectively develop domestic energy in environmentally sensitive ways, develop alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar, and to encourage national energy conservation. 

Recently, Rehberg examined new technology in coal gasification at a plant in Alabama, and has been in close contact with members of a South African organization exploring the idea of creating a coal gasification plant in Montana.  Montana has the 6th largest coal reserves in the world.

“We should begin to immediately use the tools provided by the energy legislation and set our country on a path of energy independence,” Rehberg said.

###

BILLINGS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, announced today Montana’s Essential Air Service (EAS) will be fully funded next year.  Rehberg hailed final House passage of the Fiscal Year 2006 Transportation spending bill, which includes $110 million for Montana’s eight EAS destinations.  Rehberg, who helped draft the measure, is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

“It’s been a long road to where we ended up, with Montana’s Essential Air Service getting fully funded,” Rehberg explained. “We began the year with a crazy bureaucrat scheme to make Montana cities pay for their EAS service – a political maneuver which I opposed successfully, behind the scenes and in committee.  After fighting EAS opponents every step of the way, we can finally claim victory for another year.”

Montana has eight EAS points, seven of which – Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, and Wolf Point – are served by Big Sky airlines, with its code-sharing agreements and a connecting hub in Billings.  Sky West airlines provides seasonal service to Montana’s eighth EAS point, West Yellowstone.

“Every year, it seems, we have to fight tooth and nail just see that the federal government keeps its promise to our rural communities.  Fortunately, every year I’m able to bring more of my colleagues our point of view, that we expect our federal government to pay for certain essential services, such as highways, passenger rail service, and, in this case, air service to communities in rural states like Montana,” Rehberg pointed out.  “While I’m a fiscal conservative and we do everything we can to balance the budget and try to stretch tax dollars as far as possible, there are just certain things that we subsidize that are absolutely critical. One of those is essential air service.  It’s absolutely critical for the people of eastern Montana to have essential air service, so I intend to continue seeing that EAS is adequately funded.”

Congress authorized the EAS program to guarantee a minimum level of air carrier service to small communities. The Transportation Department subsidizes air service to approximately 38 rural communities in the continental U.S.

“This year, I was able to use my seat on the Appropriations Committee to help successfully protect Montana from the Administration’s matching local fund requirements.  You can bet next year the Administration will come up with a new funding formula plan, and I’ll oppose it as well,” Rehberg said.  “The point is, as long as I continue to serve as Montana’s Congressman, I intend to see that funding for Montana’s essential air service remains secure.”

# # #

Montana Essential Air Service Wins Full Funding in Final Transportation Spending Bill 
 
BILLINGS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, announced today Montana’s Essential Air Service (EAS) will be fully funded next year.  Rehberg hailed final House passage of the Fiscal Year 2006 Transportation spending bill, which includes $110 million for Montana’s eight EAS destinations.  Rehberg, who helped draft the measure, is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

“It’s been a long road to where we ended up, with Montana’s Essential Air Service getting fully funded,” Rehberg explained. “We began the year with a crazy bureaucrat scheme to make Montana cities pay for their EAS service – a political maneuver which I opposed successfully, behind the scenes and in committee.  After fighting EAS opponents every step of the way, we can finally claim victory for another year.”

Montana has eight EAS points, seven of which – Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, and Wolf Point – are served by Big Sky airlines, with its code-sharing agreements and a connecting hub in Billings.  Sky West airlines provides seasonal service to Montana’s eighth EAS point, West Yellowstone.

“Every year, it seems, we have to fight tooth and nail just see that the federal government keeps its promise to our rural communities.  Fortunately, every year I’m able to bring more of my colleagues our point of view, that we expect our federal government to pay for certain essential services, such as highways, passenger rail service, and, in this case, air service to communities in rural states like Montana,” Rehberg pointed out.  “While I’m a fiscal conservative and we do everything we can to balance the budget and try to stretch tax dollars as far as possible, there are just certain things that we subsidize that are absolutely critical. One of those is essential air service.  It’s absolutely critical for the people of eastern Montana to have essential air service, so I intend to continue seeing that EAS is adequately funded.”

Congress authorized the EAS program to guarantee a minimum level of air carrier service to small communities. The Transportation Department subsidizes air service to approximately 38 rural communities in the continental U.S.

“This year, I was able to use my seat on the Appropriations Committee to help successfully protect Montana from the Administration’s matching local fund requirements.  You can bet next year the Administration will come up with a new funding formula plan, and I’ll oppose it as well,” Rehberg said.  “The point is, as long as I continue to serve as Montana’s Congressman, I intend to see that funding for Montana’s essential air service remains secure.” # # #

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today hailed final House passage of the Fiscal Year 2006 Transportation, Treasury and HUD Appropriations bill.  Rehberg, who helped draft the measure, is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  The legislation contains funding for a variety of crucial Montana projects.

“This is really about helping people while at the same time improving Montana’s economy; each will benefit from these important projects,” Rehberg said. “As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’m fortunate to have a seat at the head table when it comes to funding Montana projects. Although we all have to work within overall budgetary constraints, my goal has been to come up with a little more for Montana in these spending bills.”

Montana projects in the measure include:

·        3,000,000 for a six county, Fort Peck Reservoir fishing access road project to provide all-weather, safe, public access to Fort Peck Lake.

·        2,800,000 to Billings Logan airport, including 1.8 million to replace Logan’s Terminal Air Traffic Control Facilities and 1 million to make tarmac and taxiway improvements.

·        2,500,000 for a Billings Public Bus Transfer and Parking Facility at the Billings medical corridor, a 10-block area comprised of two hospitals, 16 specialty clinics and other health-related offices and services. Located just north of Billings’ central business district, the corridor employs over 6,000 workers and generates approximately 2.5 million visitations per year. Within the next five years, Billings Clinic and others plan additional development in the area.  Improvements in transportation infrastructure will be necessary to ensure accessibility and safety for patient, employees, and visitors traveling to and from as well as within the medical corridor.

·        1,400,000 for improvements to a segment of U.S. Highway 87 to allow improved public access to the value-added agricultural business park being developed in north Great Falls.  The funds will help the city complete the full slate of improvements, including reconstruction of a 3,700 foot segment of the two-lane highway to four lanes, as well as deceleration and acceleration lanes for large trucks.

·        500,000 for the Missoula-based Montana Food Bank Network to improve its building.  The funds will allow the food bank to address the need for higher ceilings, a proper loading dock and adequate refrigerated and frozen space.

·        400,000 to continue work on Highway 323, from Alzada to Ekalaka.

·        350,000 to build a Pablo bus facility and purchase six buses to provide transportation to the elderly, disabled, low-income and the general public throughout the entire Flathead Reservation.

·        300,000 for renovation of the former Garfield Elementary School in Billings, allowing the Child and Family Intervention Center (CFIC) to provide expanded services to Native American children and families and other needy Billings residents to meet their growing educational, social and housing needs.

·        300,000 for the construction of a Lewistown bus facility to store and shelter the area’s five transit provider vehicles in a centralized location.  The provider presently rents space to store and shelter vehicles.

·        250,000 for the Rocky Boy Housing Authority to move existing houses from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, to the Rocky Boy Reservation.  These houses would otherwise be destroyed to make room for the new housing projects at Malmstrom.  The project will provide quality housing for Rocky Boy families for approximately $30,000 per unit, rather than over $100,000 for new construction.  The houses will be rehabilitated and provided with new foundations and water and sewer infrastructure will be built by the Rocky Boy Housing Authority.  An additional benefit of this project is that the tribe will be able to provide jobs and construction training opportunities for tribe members.

·        200,000 for St. Vincent Healthcare of Billings to provide funding for unique specialized aging services equipment required for the Center for Healthy Aging, to be constructed in northwest Billings and positioned to serve the senior populations of eastern Montana and northern Wyoming.  The Center for Healthy Aging (CHA) will provide a wide range of medical services for senior citizens, including a seniors-focused medical clinic, geriatric assessments, rehabilitation programs and preventative medicine options.

·        100,000 for the Applied Technology Center (ATC) at Montana State University–Northern in Havre.  The funds will be used to better equip the center with effective instrumentation, test equipment, data loggers and trainers.  The ATC enhances technical education and applied research capabilities related to alternative energy research, engine emissions and mobile power efficiencies.  Agriculturalists, the public, business and industry, and government agencies will benefit via stimulated regional growth and economic development.

·        40,000 to construct a pedestrian bridge over Lolo Creek at Travelers’ Rest State Park in Lolo, Montana.  Travelers’ Rest was used as a campsite by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in September 1805 and again in June and July 1806.  Archeological evidence discovered in 2002 positioned Travelers’ Rest as the only verified Lewis and Clark campsite in the country.

# # #

 WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced Congress has approved $350,000 for the Missoula County Public Safety Operations and Training Center. The funds are included in the FY 2006 Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Rehberg is a member of the House appropriations Committee.

“This is such a coup, not only for Missoula County, but for much of Western Montana as well,” Rehberg, who received the County’s request for the funding earlier this year, said. “The project is designed to exemplify the state-of-the-art operational goals and principles that federal officials designed in the wake of the 9/11 disaster.”

The $350,000 will provide the initial funds toward planning and building the $13.3 million Missoula County Public Safety Operations and Training Center. When completed, the new facility will house the Missoula County Sheriff’s and Police Departments, as well as the county’s Office of Emergency Services and its Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  In addition, the complex will headquarter a new regional law enforcement and public safety-training center.  Missoula County has committed $4,000,000 in funding for this project and has committed land next to the county detention facility for the site.

“I think it’s absolutely marvelous that we have such good representatives in Congress, and Missoula County thanks him,” County Commissioner Barbara Evans said.

In August, Rehberg toured the site with local officials and saw first-hand the need for a new center.

“A modern complex will place Missoula County on the cutting edge of comprehensive law enforcement management,” Rehberg explained.  “That’s something all Montanans can be proud of.”

###

Joins legislation to correct date, announces new measure to halt misbranding 
 
WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today unveiled a Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (M-COOL) Initiative to address the urgent need for U.S. meat labeling.  The Rehberg initiative includes a measure introduced today calling for a September 30, 2006, M-COOL implementation, as well as legislation soon to follow that will tighten federal use of beef grade labeling.

“With this initiative, I’m working on several fronts to fight efforts to delay and defeat mandatory Country of Origin Labeling,” Rehberg, a Billings rancher, said.  “We’re asking, ‘What are we buying and where does it come from?’ Don’t consumers deserve to know?”

Rehberg’s M-COOL Initiative includes co-sponsoring a bill introduced today that mandates a straight COOL implementation deadline of September 30, 2006.  In addition, Rehberg said he will introduce a measure that halts the use of a USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) grade stamp on meat originating outside the U.S.

“Consumers who go to the store to buy meat that has a USDA stamp of approval are being misled into thinking their main course was made in the U.S.A.,” Rehberg explained.  “It’s time to buy American. That’s exactly what mandatory Country of Origin Labeling will allow us to do.”

Rehberg’s measure would amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to ensure that beef graded by the Agriculture Secretary be labeled “in a manner that identifies whether the beef is imported or domestic.”

# # #

WASHINGTON, DC - After co-sponsoring a resolution (H.Con.Res. 268) reaffirming U.S. stewardship of the Internet, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, hailed today’s UN decision to reverse course and back away from its proposal to seize control of the Internet.

“This is a victory for freedom. The Internet was founded on the principles of freedom – freedom of speech and from taxes – and we need to keep it free,” Rehberg, a House Appropriations Committee member explained.  “Our resolution sent a strong message to the United Nations: Keep your hands off the Internet.”

The House resolution, which called for day-to-day operations of the Internet to be maintained in the United States, came on the eve of the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunisia, debating who should control the Internet.  Summitt participants from around the world came to an agreement today that the Internet should remain under U.S. stewardship, namely ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) the entity which administers the global network.

“Everyone knows the Internet dates back to the network’s beginnings as a link between the U.S. military and academic research,” Rehberg said. “The minute we allow the Internet to come under the tight grip of the U.N., Internet users across the globe will be put at risk of multiple networks, global taxation, and all kinds of speech restrictions, not to mention the loss of a secure and stable online environment. Nobody I know wants to go there.”

# # #

WASHINGTON, DC - In the wake of yesterday’s announced dismissal of Amtrak president David Gunn, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is urging Amtrak’s Chairman to seek a successor who will fight to continue Montana’s Empire Builder passenger rail service.
 
“I understand and support the need for reform within Amtrak, I ask that while considering a replacement for Mr. Gunn, please keep in mind that the next leader of Amtrak needs to have an appreciation for Amtrak’s role as a vital transportation provider for the entire country,” Rehberg said in a letter to David M. Laney, Chairman of the Board of Amtrak’s parent company, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.

Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, has successfully fought efforts in the House to cut Amtrak service across Montana’s Hi-line.  On June 29, Rehberg led an effort in the House to successfully turn back language inserted in the Transportation spending bill that would have gutted Amtrak and ended passenger rail service across rural Montana.  That day, Rehberg pressed a pair of amendments having the combined effect of restoring funding for Amtrak, while at the same time sustaining Empire Builder service. With Rehberg leading the debate, the House approved both amendments; both Amtrak funding and Empire Builder service were put back in the measure, which was later approved by the House.

“As you well know, in recent years, the long distance rail service provided by Amtrak, including the Empire Builder that crosses Montana, has been threatened.  These trains provide an important transportation service to thousands of Americans,” Rehberg wrote.  “As you begin the process of selecting a new leader for Amtrak, I urge you to give strong consideration to candidates that understand the importance of long-distance rail transportation and the need to sustain this type of service into the future.”

Letter:

November 9, 2005 

Mr. David M. Laney, Esq.
Chairman of the Board
National Railroad Passenger Corporation Board of Directors
60 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, DC  20002

Dear Mr. Laney: 

I recently read of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation Board of Directors’ decision to terminate Mr. David Gunn’s employment as President and CEO of Amtrak.  While I understand and support the need for reform within Amtrak, I ask that while considering a replacement for Mr. Gunn, please keep in mind that the next leader of Amtrak needs to have an appreciation for Amtrak’s role as a vital transportation provider for the entire country. 

As you well know, in recent years, the long distance rail service provided by Amtrak, including the Empire Builder that crosses Montana, has been threatened.  These trains provide an important transportation service to thousands of Americans.  As you begin the process of selecting a new leader for Amtrak, I urge you to give strong consideration to candidates that understand the importance of long-distance rail transportation and the need to sustain this type of service into the future.

Thank you for considering my request.  Amtrak fills a vitally important transportation role throughout our country.  I look forward to your choice of a strong advocate for continued, quality cross-country service.  

Sincerely
 

Denny Rehberg

Montana’s Congressman

# # #

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman Denny Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, today announced the list of Montana projects included in the FY 2006 Science, State, Justice & Commerce spending approved by a joint congressional committee.  Specific Montana projects totaled over $8 Million.

“This is another victory for Montana’s economy, which will benefit from this federal investment,” Rehberg said. “While my goal has been to try and squeeze a little more into these spending bills for Montana, nevertheless, it’s important to work within the overall budgetary constraints.”

Rehberg was able to include several Montana-specific projects in this year’s bill, including $500,000 that will allow the Missoula-based Montana World Trade Center to launch EnterpriseMontana.

“I’m especially proud of the EnterpriseMontana funding, which I fought to get included in this legislation,” Rehberg said. “Our last trade mission to Europe confirmed that we can use the EnterpriseMontana model to promote Montana businesses into global markets well-suited for the type of products and services that Montana’s small and large businesses have to offer. We discovered pretty quickly the global business community is aware of and enthusiastic about the quality of Montana’s products. EnterpriseMontana was created to capitalize on that enthusiasm and help create economic opportunity for Montana.”

Montana-specific projects added to the measure include:    

•     MSU Compact Laser Sensors $1,250,000

•     MSU Spaceflight Health Monitoring Technology $1,250,000

•     Statewide Communications Network $1,000,000

•     Montana Technology and Innovation Partnership—Billings $600,000

•     Montana Department of Administration, economic development $500,000

•     Montana World Trade Center $500,000

•     Montana Supreme Court’s Case and Document Management System $430,000

•     Applied Technology Center at MSU Northern $400,000

•     Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Bi-State Safety Project $300,000

•     Court Assessment Program’s Family and Youth Drug Courts in Montana $270,000

•     Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Technology Upgrade $250,000

•     Family Tree Center – Billings $250,000

•     Technology Venture Center $250,000

•     InvestNet/Technology Venture Center Partnership $200,000

•     Methamphetamine Treatment Demonstration Project, MT $200,000

•     Missoula County & City Public Safety Operations Technology & Equipment $200,000

•     Montana Safe Schools Project $200,000

# # #