Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, recently secured $500,000 in funding for the Hamilton Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Interior Appropriations bill.  The funding comes as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) State and Tribal Assistance Grant Program (STAG), which will be matched with local and state funds to help Hamilton complete the project.

“It’s critical the city of Hamilton has the resources necessary to keep its wastewater facility up-to-date and to allow for expansion,” said Rehberg, the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation on the Appropriations Committee.  “This is a project that will have a direct, positive impact on the public health of the town’s residents.”

The funds will be used for construction of a second Diffused Air Flotation Thickener (DAFT) to improve solids removal, a vacuum drying bed, an aerated static pile composting facility, as well as to replace two pumps, provide a standby generator at the old lift station, and pay for engineering and construction management.

“We truly appreciate Congressman Rehberg’s support of this critical infrastructure upgrade to our wastewater facilities,” said Hamilton Mayor Jessica Randazzo.  “We certainly can’t get it done without his help in securing funding.”

Rehberg plans to visit the Hamilton Wastewater Treatment Plant next week.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today issued the following statement in response to the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the D.C. Gun Ban:

“Today the Supreme Court upheld what Montanans have known all along: the D.C. gun ban just doesn’t pass constitutional muster.  The right to own a firearm is a fundamental part of the Bill of Rights and I’m glad to see the nation’s highest court agrees.  Now, I urge D.C. officials to immediately enact reasonable standards that respect the rights of gun owners.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today secured $100,000 in funding for Sidney Health Center in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.

“It’s critical we ensure Montana’s hospitals continue to provide the best quality healthcare to folks across the state,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.  “And focusing on the needs of our rural hospitals is an important part of that effort.  These funds will help provide Sidney with the resources necessary to continue to provide quality care.”

Sidney Health Center is in the process of upgrading and enhancing essential medical care for rural northeast Montana. The funds will be used to integrate new digital radiology equipment, laboratory equipment and other diagnostic equipment within an electronic medical record.

“We’re extremely pleased with the continued support of Congressman Rehberg for the Sidney Health Center,” said Rick Haraldson, CEO of Sidney Health Center.  “In northeastern Montana, we have an aging population that is struggling to deal with the high cost of healthcare travel and these funds will ensure we can continue to provide improved medical care closer to home.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, this week successfully fought to restore funding for community law enforcement grants in several pieces of House legislation.

“As a father of three, I understand the importance of doing everything possible to keep our communities safe,” said Rehberg, the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation on the Appropriations Committee.  “Unfortunately, many of the programs Montana’s law enforcement agencies rely on took severe funding hits last year.  But, I worked with my colleagues and made it clear these cuts were unacceptable, and we were able to provide a boost in funding to those programs this week.”

Yesterday, Rehberg successfully fought to increase funding for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program to $550 million in the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill which passed out of the House Appropriations Committee.  The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states and local governments to improve their criminal justice system by supporting activities that help prevent and control crime.  Last year, the program’s funding was cut by 67%, dropping the annual funding for Montana agencies from $2.1 million to $700,000 and devastating the state’s drug task forces.

Additionally, the bill included $627 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, a $40 million increase from last year.  The COPS programs provides grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to help in hiring additional police officers.

To ensure the long-term future of the JAG program, Rehberg also joined his House colleagues in passing legislation to reauthorize funding for the JAG program through 2012.  H.R. 3546 authorizes the program to be funded at up to $1.095 billion annually.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today secured $650,000 in funding for Missoula area hospitals in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.

“It’s critical we ensure Montana’s hospitals continue to provide the best quality healthcare to folks across the state,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.  “And focusing on the needs of the Garden City is an important part of that effort.  These funds will help provide Missoula with the resources necessary to continue to provide quality care.”

The bill includes $500,000 for Community Medical Center for the replacement of outdated life equipment.  Additionally, the funds will provide for the purchase of a new digital mammography unit, state-of-the-art infant warmers, and installation of an infant and child security system.

“We are honored that Congressman Rehberg recognizes the leadership role Community Medical Center plays in providing high risk obstetric and neonatal services to the mothers and babies of Western Montana,” Steve Carlson, CEO of Community Medical Center.  “This funding and the Congressman’s support is critical to ensure that this mission remains strong and continues to serve a growing population of Montanans in the region.”

The bill also includes $150,000 for St. Patrick Hospital for construction of a new mental health care unit within the hospital’s emergency department.  The new mental health unit will include: 3 mental health/substance abuse rooms, nurses’ station, utility rooms and a security office, storage rooms for restraints and other equipment, a “sally port garage” with automatic doors that close to prevent flight by patients who might injure themselves or others at the facility, a state-of-the-art camera monitoring system for security purposes, and a supervisor station at the emergency department for mental health cases.

“We’re extremely grateful for Congressman Rehberg’s continued support of St. Patrick Hospital,” Jeff Fee, CEO of St. Patrick Hospital.  “These funds will help us expand our facilities and improve our ability to provide this much-needed service to the Missoula community.”

Rehberg plans to tour the St. Patrick Hospital Mental Health Facility early next week.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, this week successfully included language in the Homeland Security Appropriations bill directing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to quickly implement screening at Montana’s seven Essential Air Service (EAS) airports.  Rehberg is the only member of the Montana delegation on the Appropriations Committee.

“Over the past several months, I’ve received repeated assurances from TSA that, as soon as Montana’s EAS is up and running, federal screening will be in place,” said Rehberg.  “However, it’s essential we take every step to ensure they will live up to this commitment.  This language reiterates that message.”

Rehberg’s language states that  “the Committee is aware of seven airports in Montana that were federalized in early 2008, after the 2009 budget was submitted, which currently have no screeners in place but have submitted applications to participate in the Screening Partnership Program. The Committee directs TSA to accept and approve those applications and quickly implement screening at these airports.”

In an April meeting with Mo McGowan, TSA Assistant Administrator at the Office of Security Operations, Rehberg requested and received assurances that, if provided a 30-day notice of the resumption of service, TSA would have security screening capabilities in place on time.

“TSA screening will be a huge step in improving the safety of the passengers and the airport employees,” said Rehberg.  “And as I continue to work with the Department of Transportation to get Montana’s EAS flights off the ground again, I’m going to make TSA hold up its end of the bargain.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, this week secured $700,000 in funding for the Benefis Health System in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill.

“It’s critical we ensure Montana’s hospitals continue to provide the best quality healthcare to folks across the state,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.  “And focusing on the needs of the Great Falls community is an important part of that effort.  These funds will ensure Benefis has the necessary resources to continue to provide quality care.”

The funding will be used to construct a new Cardiology Suite, to be located on the second floor of the new Benefis Patient Tower.  The suite will house catheritization labs, operating rooms, outpatient diagnostics, pre and post procedure rooms, and a patient education center, as part of the Benefis Heart and Vascular Institute.

“We really appreciate Congressman Rehberg’s work to secure these dollars for our Heart and Vascular Institute,” said John Goodnow, CEO of Benefis Health System.  “These funds will help us respond to a critical need in our region, as we deliver the best heart and vascular care available anywhere – right here at home in Northcentral Montana.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, recently signed onto a bipartisan petition, sponsored by Representative Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA), vowing to support measures to increase U.S. oil production as means of lowering gas prices.  The petition simply reads “I will vote to increase U.S. oil production to lower gas prices for Americans” and is currently signed by 183 members of Congress.

“With gasoline at over $4 a gallon, Montanans need relief at the pump,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “And whether it’s in the ANWR of Alaska, the outer continental shelf, or in Eastern Montana, we have the domestic oil supply to quickly address the problem.  In turn, this short-term relief will give us the opportunity to work on alternative fuel technology and energy efficiency programs, things that will take time and will shape how we think about energy in the future.  So I’m proud to join my House colleagues in sending a strong, clear message to our leadership that we need to enact policies to increase production and we need to do it now.”

This month, a Zogby Poll was released showing that 74 percent of Americans now support drilling offshore for our American oil and 59 percent of Americans support drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

“Americans are demanding answers to our nation’s energy crisis,” said Rehberg.  “I’m happy to stand by their side in saying more domestic oil production is a good start.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today secured $282,700 in funding for the Great Falls Police Department in the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill.

“As a father of three, I understand the importance of doing everything possible to keep our communities safe,” said Rehberg, the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation on the Appropriations Committee.  “It’s critical Congress continues to invest in our local law enforcement to ensure our streets are protected.  These funds are a big boost for the Great Falls area.”

The Great Falls Police Department has partnered with the Great Falls Homeland Air Security Wing, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Immigration Naturalization Service, Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Fish Wildlife and Parks and Federal State Probation and Parole Departments in the continuation of the development of the NW Regional Outdoor Firearms Training Facility.  This facility is designed to give these and other agencies a realistic hands-on training environment that is conducive to protecting our nation, its borders and its resources.

The funds will be used to continue Phase II of the projects construction which includes the installation of drainage, cement, gravel, lighting, fencing, range tower construction, trainee weather cover and security cameras.

“We would like to thank Congressman Rehberg for all his hard work to support the Great Falls Police Department,” said Great Falls Police Captain Tim Shanks. “Upgrading the Great Falls Firearms Training Facility will be a wonderful addition to regional training of federal, state and local law enforcement.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today secured $350,000 in funding for Roundup Memorial Hospital in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.

“It’s critical we ensure Montana’s hospitals continue to provide the best quality healthcare to folks across the state,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.  “And focusing on the needs of our rural hospitals is an important part of that effort.  These funds will help provide Roundup with the necessary resources to serve the local community.”

The funding will be used on a wide variety of construction/renovation projects including upgrades to the waiting room, making the restrooms wheelchair accessible, and updating the heating/air conditioning units.

“The Roundup hospital has been around since the 70’s and is in serious need of repair,” said Lee Rhodes, CEO of Roundup Memorial Hospital.  “These funds will help us improve patient confidentiality as well as the overall service we’re able to offer.  We’re extremely grateful for the Congressman’s help on this project.”

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