Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Conrad Burns and Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg, both members of their respective house’s Appropriations Committees and their subcommittees on Energy and Water Development, announced the list of Montana projects they included in the FY 2006 spending bill that passed out of conference today.  Specific Montana projects totaled over $43 Million.

“This bill is a huge win for Montana.  Overall, it represents a serious federal investment in the everyday lives of Montanans.  The funding for water projects in particular is absolutely vital to many rural Montana communities,” Rehberg said. “You always want to try and squeeze a little more into these bills for Montana but it’s important to work within the overall budgetary constraints.  As Montana’s only members of the committee that determines these federal spending priorities, Conrad and I have a seat at the head table when it comes to funding Montana projects.  Working together, Conrad and I have Montana’s back as these spending bills wind their way through Capitol Hill.”

“There’s a good chunk of funding in there for Dry Prairie and North Central water projects,” said Burns.  “We’ve also got some starter money coming for St. Mary’s canal as well as some energy research projects that will utilize Montana’s resources as their backbone, and the fuel cell research and coal-to-liquids projects will allow us to meet our energy needs and still become more energy independent.  Specifically on the St. Mary’s canal, we all agree there is much work to be done.  It will be a long process to get this waterway repaired.  The folks in the St. Mary Rehabilitation Working Group have put in countless hours with users, and State and Federal groups to find a long-term solution and I thank them for their invaluable help.”

Clint Jacob, coordinator of the Dry Prairie Rural Water Project said, “We are elated about the level of the FY 2006 appropriation and deeply grateful for our Montana Congressional Delegation. It is especially helpful to have both Senator Burns and Representative Rehberg on the Energy and Water Appropriations Committee - the source of our funding. We extend our thanks to all on behalf of present and future water users in northeast Montana.”

The Energy and Water Appropriations Bill will now go back to both the House and Senate floors for approval.  Following their passage, they will go on to the President for his signature.

Rehberg and Burns were able to include several Montana-specific projects in this year’s bill.  Montana will also be receiving a portion of funds for nation-wide programs detailed separately below.

Montana specific projects in Energy and Water Appropriations include:

Fort Peck / NE Mont - Dry Prairie/Fort Peck Project Construction   $16,000,000

MSU-Bozeman HiTEC (High Temp. Electrochem. Cntr.) Fuel Cell Dev. $8,000,000

Bozeman - MSU - ZERT (Zero Emissions Research Technology) $6,000,000

Butte  - MSE - WETO (Western Environmental Technology Office) $5,000,000

State - Rural Montana Water Program * $5,000,000

State - Palladium Research Center - Fuel Cell research $2,500,000

Yellowstone Valley - Clean coal to diesel technology  $2,000,000

Butte - MSE - Load Control System Reliability $2,000,000

Hi-Line - St. Mary’s  Canal Rehabilitation Planning $500,000

Yellowstone Valley - Yellowstone River Study $400,000

*Communities able to compete for the 5 million in Rural Water funding include:  Livingston, Missoula, Meagher County, Stevensville, Wisdom, and Sheridan

National projects Montana will receive a share of in Energy and Water Appropriations include:

State      RAMS - Rehabilitation of Abandoned Mine Sites (MSE)      $1,000,000

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WASHINGTON, DC - At a Capitol Hill news conference, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), and California Congressman Mike Thompson (D) today called for an independent investigation of chemical and biological weapons testing conducted on American service members. Rehberg and Thompson today introduced the “Veterans Right to Know Act,” creating a commission to investigate chemical and biological warfare testing carried out in the 60’s and 70’s.

“This is about openness, honesty and forthrightness in government; above all, it’s about doing the right thing and uncovering the truth. Truth is what these brave veterans have asked for and truth is what they deserve,” Rehberg said.

“Throughout the 60’s and 70’s our government exposed thousands of servicemen and women to harmful chemical and biological agents.  Today, these veterans have the right to know what they were exposed to so that they can receive the healthcare they need and deserve,” Thompson said.  “This legislation will establish an independent investigation to uncover which tests took place, what agents were used and which veterans were exposed.”

Between 1962 and 1974, the Department of Defense (DoD) conducted a number of weapons tests on unknowing military personnel, using chemical and biological agents, such as Vx nerve gas, Sarin Nerve Gas and E. Coli.  A Government Accountability Office report (GAO-04-410) issued in May of 2004 concluded that a substantial number of veterans remain unaware that tests were conducted on them.

The “Veterans Right to Know Act,” would create a 10-member, bipartisan Commission (modeled after the 911 Commission) to investigate chemical or biological warfare tests carried out under Project 112/SHAD.  The commission would be required to report to Congress and the President 36 months after it is established.  The commission would work with the Veterans’ Administration to inform those who were exposed to testing.  If veterans have symptoms associated with the tests they would be eligible for proper medical treatment and any potential service related disability compensation.

The bill has been endorsed by, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Military Officers Association of America, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Blinded Veterans of America.

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Rehberg meets with U.S. Trade Representative Portman over Japan beef ban 
 
WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, pledged not to withdraw a bill leveling tariffs on Japan until the Japanese government lifts their “ridiculous embargo” against safe U.S. beef.  Rehberg and Rep. John Salazar (D-Colorado) last week introduced legislation to impose tariffs on Japanese products if Japan fails to lift its 22-month-old trade barrier by December 15.

“While I’m glad Japan’s Food Safety Commission has agreed to recognize that U.S. beef is perfectly safe, we’re not ready to pull our bill until Japan ends this ridiculous embargo against our government, our beef and our producers,” Rehberg, a Billings rancher, explained. “They’re on the dime. They know they’ve run out of excuses, now that the safety issue has jumped through all the hoops with their own Food Safety Commission.  As I’ve urged their officials numerous times this last year-and-a-half, it’s time for Japan to lift the ban.”

Noting that U.S. beef today easily meets WTO (World Trade Organization) health standards, Rehberg and Rep. John Salazar (D-Colorado) last week introduced the Trade Accountability Act. The legislation 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, unless Japan lifts its ban by December 15.

“I met with [U.S. Trade Representative] Rob Portman, who was upbeat in his belief that Japan will open its border to cattle by December 15.  But he recognizes why I introduced my legislation to keep the pressure on Japan,” said Rehberg, a House Appropriations Committee member.

“Japan is finally beginning to realize what we’ve said all along: the U.S. has the highest food and safety standards in the world, especially when it comes to beef.  It’s tested. It’s proven. It’s now time for Japan to open the border.”

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