Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today applauded the job of Montana’s firefighters during the busy fire season, emphasizing the important role federal funding plays in providing them with the critical equipment and resources they need to be effective.
“Montanans have experienced one of the worst fire seasons in the nation,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Our local fire crews have done an excellent job of being prepared and battling everything Mother Nature has thrown at them. However, this season has been a reminder that more needs to be done. It’s critical we continue to provide additional funds for fire suppression and continue to work to manage Montana’s forests properly.”

In the recently passed 2008 Interior Appropriations bill, the House included $2.78 billion for the National Fire Plan. The National Fire Plan funds both the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management fire programs.

In 2006, Montana received $255,090 in Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants and $5,594,549 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants.

“Frivolous lawsuits and endless appeals have tied the hands of our public land managers and we’re left with thousands upon thousands of acres of dry and dead timber that is ready to burn,” said Rehberg. “Until Congress is able to pass legislation that will ensure this timber gets off the forest in a timely manner and public land managers are able to work on hazardous fuel reduction projects we are going to continue to see devastating fires that endanger human lives and property.”

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today applauded Montana’s strong economy crediting it to tax relief and other economic initiatives put into place in the past several years.
“Unemployment in Montana has constantly been at or below 3%,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “This is evidence that the tax relief Congress has provided over the years is working. However, we can always do more. I’ll continue to work to maintain an environment where businesses can grow and provide good paying jobs, and to ensure that the American people aren’t unfairly burdened by increased taxes.”

Currently, manufacturing output in Montana outpaces the national average. Additionally, tax relief such as increasing the child tax credit, income tax reductions and marriage penalty tax elimination are keeping more money in the pockets of Montana taxpayers. Unfortunately, this year’s Democrat budget proposes to let these provisions expire.

“I will continue to oppose plans to eliminate important tax relief for the American people,” said Rehberg. “Montanans have a right to demand value for their hard earned tax dollars and I’m working to give them that.”

Beyond continuing essential tax relief, Rehberg is working to ensure higher grain prices and stable cattle prices which will allow farmers to expand their operations as well as create value-added opportunities for Montana ag producers. Additionally, he’s working with the House Republican Energy Working Group to develop Montana’s energy and natural resources reserves and create additional Montana jobs.

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has awarded Montana’s reservations more than $1.1 million in grants for advancements in their law enforcement.
“These grants are essential to improving the law enforcement capabilities on Montana’s reservations,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “This will help provide a more secure future for families in Indian Country.”

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) will make grants totaling nearly $15 million through the Tribal Resources Grant Program (TRGP). TRGP grants fund such items as basic equipment, crime fighting technology systems, and training.

Montana Grant Award:

· $400,000 for the Fort Peck Tribes

· $398,901 for the Crow Tribe

· $199,985 for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

· $199,800 for the Chippewa Cree Tribe

BILLINGS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is inviting area residents to share their comments during a series of public listening sessions to be held in three west-central Montana communities, August 30-31.

“I visit each of Montana’s 56 counties every congressional term so I can hear directly from Montanans. I encourage everyone to join me to discuss the important issues facing Montana and the nation,” said Rehberg, a Montana rancher and member of the House Appropriations Committee. “These public listening sessions are geared toward exchanging ideas and gathering input that I take to Washington D.C. I’m looking forward to my visits.”

Rehberg will be hosting listening sessions in Big Timber and Livingston on Thursday, August 30, and in White Sulphur Springs on Friday, August 31. Rehberg has conducted fourteen public listening sessions in Montana since mid-April.

Thursday, August 30

Big Timber – 10:00 a.m.

Sweet Grass County Courthouse, 200 West First Avenue

Livingston – 2:00 p.m.

Park County Courthouse Community Room,
414 East Callender Street

Friday, August 31

White Sulphur Springs – 2:00 p.m.

City Hall, 105 West Hampton

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, encouraged students planning for college to take full advantage of the assistance available to them through the federal government. Rehberg is a member of the House Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and will take up the Higher Education Act reauthorization when Congress reconvenes after the August recess.
“I’m looking for opportunities to increase Pell grants, make college loans more affordable, and to make education assistance programs more flexible for students,” said Rehberg, who supported legislation that would increase the maximum yearly Pell grant award from $4,310 to $4,700. Currently, 16,564 Montana students depend on Pell grant assistance.

Rehberg said he will focus on the rising costs of college tuition during debate on the Higher Education Act reauthorization.

“It’s not enough just to award more financial assistance to students and then stand by and watch as universities turn around and raise tuition rates at three times the rate of inflation,” Rehberg said. “Whether its college or vocational training, we need to find a way to make a quality higher education more affordable.”

This year, Rehberg sponsored legislation to increase education funding for students located on or near an Indian reservation or military base. He also sponsored legislation that would extend a critical tax provision which allows taxpayers to deduct post-secondary education expenses from their annual adjusted gross income.

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today thanked the hundreds of donors and volunteers who helped his office collect approximately 350 lbs. of items on Monday, (Aug. 6), for care packages which will be distributed to the American forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“This was a wonderful show of support for our troops by the Billings community, and I want to thank everyone who donated their time and their resources,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “This sends a heart-warming message to the men and women in uniform that our thoughts and prayers are with them in their service to this great nation.”

Joined by volunteers of the Eugene Sara Detachment of the Marine Corps League, who wrote over 150 thank you cards, and hundreds of Billings area residents, Rehberg’s staff collected items and wrote cards that will be distributed abroad by the Montana Supporting Soldiers organization, a group that was founded three years ago to send packages and mail to American military men and women serving overseas. Based in Helena, the group has about 300 “adopted” soldiers, and is now operating in 11 states.

“I’m very thankful to Congressman Rehberg and the Billings community for continuing to support our military,” said Liann Meyer, President and founder of Montana Supporting Soldiers. “I can tell you first-hand they appreciate the support we show them,” said Meyer, who added it will take about two weeks for the packages to be delivered to the troops in Iraq.

“I’ve visited our troops in Iraq on a couple of different occasions and knowing they have support back home means the world to them,” said Rehberg.

Items for the troops can still be donated at Rehberg’s Billings District Office, at 1201 Grand Avenue, or by contacting Montana Supporting Soldiers at http://www.mtsupportingsoldiers.com/.

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, criticized a decision by Democrat members of the House Rules Committee to block his amendment to the House Energy bill. Rehberg’s amendment would have created a federal loan program for future Coal-to-Liquids (CTL) projects creating a greater opportunity for them to succeed.
“The energy bill that passed the House on Saturday only covers part of the whole picture in terms of a comprehensive energy plan,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “I was disappointed to see that critical energy alternatives such as CTL were not included. My amendment would have changed that. Unfortunately, the Democratic leadership prevented me from including it. I’ll continue to fight for these much-needed provisions in future House legislation.”

Though Montana has the largest recoverable coal reserves in the United States, it ranks only sixth in coal production. Rehberg’s amendment seeks to reduce the financial risk for those looking to invest in CTL production by authorizing the Secretary of Energy to enter into a standby loan agreement with these investors to make a direct loan to the project in the event of market volatility. The loan agreements would be limited to 10 qualifying CTL projects.

“Montana has the coal, we’ve got the manpower, we’re ready to see a coal-to-liquids facility built in our state,” said Rehberg. “However, we have yet to provide enough incentives to encourage the construction of a single facility within the United States. This is an issue that needs to be addressed now. It’s time to dedicate ourselves to a secure energy future by promoting a wide variety of domestic sources.”

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, this week joined House colleagues in approving critical legislation that would allow for the creation of an interstate forest fire fighting compact between states in the Great Plains Region of the U.S.
“The dozens of forest fires burning across Montana are a constant reminder of the need for efficient firefighting tools,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “By working with surrounding states to combine resources, we can better ensure that fires are contained as quickly as possible. This compact will be a great resource for our firefighters.”

The purpose of this compact is to promote effective prevention and control of forest fires in the Great Plains region of the United States by the maintenance of adequate forest fire fighting services. These type of agreements facilitate agencies working together to expedite requests, equipment, and payments between participating agencies. All interstate compacts must be approved by Congress in accordance with the Constitution.

Montana currently participates in the Northwest Wildland Fire Protection Agreement which includes Alaska, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and the Northwest and Yukon territories.

“Folks in Montana want to see every resource available in terms of protecting their homes from devastating fires,” said Rehberg. “This deal will allow us to borrow the resources of surrounding states and put them to use inside Montana.”

Twelve large fires and 70,205 acres are currently burning in Montana.

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, this week joined House colleagues in supporting critical legislation that authorizes funding for several Montana water infrastructure and key habitat restoration projects.
“Montana’s lakes and rivers are essential to providing clean drinking water, irrigation, economic development, and recreation across the state,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “And this bill authorizes federal assistance to ensure they are being properly maintained for the benefit of all Montanans.”

The Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) provides funds for water restoration, mitigation, and recovery plans across the U.S. Today, the House passed the House and Senate conference report to the legislation which will now be sent to the President.

“Clean water is truly a backbone of development for Montana’s rural communities,” said Rehberg. “As the sole member of the Montana delegation on the Appropriations Committee, I’ll continue to make sure Montana’s needs have a seat at the table in terms of federal funding.”

Highlights of the WRDA Bill:

· Authorizes $153 million for necessary environmental studies, an emergency response plan, technical, planning and design assistance, and rehabilitation and construction of the St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works in consultation with the Fort Belknap and Blackfeet tribes.

· Includes language authorizing the Bureau of Reclamation to work with the Corp of Engineers to plan and construct a fish passage at Intake Diversion Dam on the Yellowstone River. This project will open up 238 miles of critical habitat for the pallid sturgeon in the Upper Missouri River Basin.

· Authorizes $30 million for restoration projects along the Yellowstone River to benefit the ecosystem and recreational opportunities.

· Authorizes $5 million to carry out ecosystem restoration, flood damage reduction, and recreation components of the Clark Fork River Revitalization Project in Missoula, Montana.

· Establishes the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee to assist the Secretary of Interior in conducting studies of the Missouri River and tributaries and determining actions required to mitigate losses of aquatic habitat, recover federally listed endangered species, and restore the ecosystem.

·

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana Senator Max Baucus and Congressman Denny Rehberg today applauded House passage of a provision, that was included by Baucus and Rehberg, which would release $9.6 million for the completion of construction of Highway 323 and allow for the Montana Department of Transportation (MTDOT) to finish the project by 2008. The provision is part of compromise legislation that is identical to a companion Senate bill.

Baucus, chairman of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was the lead author of the 2005-passed highway construction bill, which set aside more than $2.3 billion for Montana. Earlier this year, Baucus and Rehberg sent a letter to the Conferees requesting the change (Letter Attached).

“Folks in Alzada and Ekalaka have waited too long to see Highway 323 paved,” said Baucus, who is also the chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee. “I wasn’t going to sit back while these funds were threatened because these dollars represent safer roads and more good-paying jobs for Eastern Montana.”

“323 is a big piece of the puzzle in terms of providing a convenient connection between Ekalaka and Alzada,” said Rehberg. “Bad weather and extreme conditions can take a toll on Montana’s roads and paving the final stretch is a great service for those who travel it everyday.”

The SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2007 includes a provision, requested by the Montana DOT, to allow the state to borrow against other federally funded transportation projects so that the full $9.6 million, which was designated in the 2005 SAFETEA-LU Transportation Bill for Highway 323, could be available all at once in order to complete construction in an expedited manner.

The road extends roughly 71 miles, with approximately 20 miles remaining unpaved. The funds will be used to help complete the remaining unpaved portion. Highway 323 is a critical component of the region’s economy and is the primary agricultural corridor for Carter County, Montana.

“These funds will help improve the quality of the road and make it more usable for Montanans,” said Rehberg. “Senator Baucus and I look forward to the completion of Highway 323 by Montana DOT.”

Letter:

June 28, 2007

The Honorable Barbara Boxer

Chairwoman

Committee on Environment and Public Works

456 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable James Oberstar

Chairman

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairwoman Boxer and Chairman Oberstar;

We are writing to respectfully request a technical correction to amend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (”SAFETEA-LU”).

During consideration of SAFETEA-LU, Montana was fortunate to receive an earmark to advance work on Montana Secondary 323, for the purpose of paving from Ekalaka to Alzada, Montana. Secondary Road 323 connects the communities of Ekalaka in the north to Alzada in the south. The road extends roughly 71 miles, with approximately 20 miles remaining unpaved. Secondary Highway 323 is a critical component of the region’s economy. It is the primary agricultural corridor for Carter County, Montana.

This project was funded at a level of $9.6 million and was listed in Section 1701 as project #1322.

We were recently informed by the Montana Department of Transportation that this project will not be completed until the final allocation of federal funds in FY09. The reason stated is that due to statutory constraints placed on all House projects, they will not be able to borrow against Senate projects to adequately advance development of the project.

This situation is unique because the state of Montana received only one High Priority Project (HPP) in the House section of the bill.

This means that a partially completed road will be allowed to remain unfinished, against the will of Congress, until FY09, when the costs will be prohibitively increased. Getting this road finished is a top priority of the Congressional delegation as well as the State of Montana.

Please include an appropriate technical correction to project #1322 in the Conference Report of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (”SAFETEA-LU”).

Sincerely,

Max Baucus Denny Rehberg
U.S. Senator Member of Congress