Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman Denny Rehberg issued the following statement on the President’s 2010 State of the Union Address to a Joint Session of Congress.

“ America must look forward not backward, but we also must remember the lessons of the past.  Last year, we saw reckless deficit spending with no tangible benefit to the taxpayers.  While unemployment reached double digits, government spending increased 66% - in a single year.  Clearly, we can’t spend our way into prosperity.

“Last year, I called for ‘bipartisan restraint.’  We must balance the budget by cutting spending, not raising taxes.  Without Congressional action, Americans will face the largest tax increase in our history.  It will further harm our economy and cost real jobs.  There’s never a good time to raise taxes, but I can’t think of a worse time than now.

“It’s time for Congress to abandon its pursuit of job-killing policies.  Whether it’s cap and tax legislation or a government takeover of health care we can’t continue to saddle small businesses with the burden of special interest priorities.  It’s time for a real economic stimulus that empowers small businesses and families.

“Finally, we must not turn our back to the real threat of terrorism.  Recent events have demonstrated the need to increase our national vigilance in order to protect our lives and our way of life.”

Rehberg, Capito, Altmire, Holden, Salazar and Shimkus Lead Effort to Provide Voice for Coal in House

WASHINGTON – As energy issues remain at the forefront of the national political debate, a coalition of coal-state members of Congress announced today that they have teamed-up to form the Congressional Coal Caucus. 

Calling coal “America’s most abundant and affordable energy resource,” the bipartisan group of congressmen and women note that coal provides nearly 50% of America’s energy supply and generates more than 130,000 coal-mining jobs.  They’ve pledged to use their new caucus to provide a voice for coal communities in Congress.

“Coal is a critical component to our nation’s energy future,” said Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.  “Whether it’s on a cap-and-trade bill or on clean coal technology, this caucus will give coal-states a forum to highlight their priorities and present a unified voice.  I’m proud to join my colleagues in forming this caucus and I look forward to our work together.”

“As a Congress, it is vitally important that we continue to support the development of clean coal technologies,” Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., said. “I am proud to help launch this caucus, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to help enact policies that will maximize America’s coal resources.”

Members joining Altmire and Capito in forming the coal caucus include Reps. Tim Holden (D-PA), Denny Rehberg (R-MT), John Salazar (D-CO) and John Shimkus (R-IL).  Together the new coalition will promote awareness of American coal along with the new technologies currently on the horizon that can help make coal use cleaner and safer.

The six initial caucus members are also circulating a Dear Colleague inviting other members of Congress to join them.  

“The Coal Caucus gives coal states like Pennsylvania a strong voice in Congress to encourage the use of coal as an affordable, reliable and increasingly clean source of energy,” said Rep. Tim Holden, D-Pa.  “I am proud to be a part of this effort to promote economically and environmentally sound mining, reclamation and consumption practices including clean coal technologies on Capitol Hill.”

“America needs an all-of-the-above energy plan that increases domestic supplies, lowers costs and makes us less dependent on foreign sources of energy,” said Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont.  “While many in Washington may think that energy comes from the wall outlet, Montanans have been in the energy production business long enough to understand the vital role coal plays in our country and our economy.  As a caucus, we’ll focus on developing cleaner and more efficient ways to use America’s vast stores of coal, and by doing so, help create good-paying jobs and affordable energy for American families.”

“Coal is a vital resource in Colorado and throughout the nation, and will continue to play a role in helping meet our nation’s energy needs.  Coal provides jobs in my district and nearly all of our energy is derived from coal.  I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Coal Caucus,” said Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo.   

 “With the current debates over energy policy as well as the environment, it is more important than ever that coal interests be represented in Congress,” said Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill.  “We can move much faster toward energy independence by taking advantage of the enormous supply of coal that exists in my district and elsewhere in the nation. To ignore an abundant source of low-cost energy in our own country is absurd.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, sent a letter to the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Water and Power requesting action on the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act, which he sponsored.  On September 22 of last year, that Subcommittee held a legislative hearing, although since then no action has been taken.

“This is an important piece of legislation, and I’ll keep fighting until it’s signed by the President,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Native American Caucus.  “I’ve worked with the Crow to address the concerns that were brought up at last year’s hearing, and it’s only fair to give this bill a chance to be heard at the full committee level.”

Rehberg’s legislation authorizes the federal component of a comprehensive settlement of the reserved water rights claimed by the Crow.  The bill approves the Crow Tribe Water Rights Compact reached between the tribe and other non-federal parties quantifying water rights and authorizing economic development projects.

The Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission was established by the Montana legislature in 1979 to resolve water compacts between the state and tribes.   The Commission and the Crow Tribe negotiated the Crow Tribe-Montana Compact in 1999.  The Montana Legislature ratified a Compact that same year.

“This water settlement is extremely important to the Crow Tribe and to the State of Montana,” said Cedric Black Eagle, Chairman of the Crow Tribe.  “We are deeply appreciative of Representative Rehberg’s efforts to keep this legislation moving as quickly as possible through the legislative process.”

LETTER:

Dear Chairwoman Napolitano and Ranking Member McClintock:  

I am writing to request your consideration of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2009 (H.R. 3563), which was heard by the Subcommittee on September 22, 2009.  Since that time, the parties to the compact have worked to address concerns raised during the hearing and in subsequent meetings with administration staff.  As such, I urge your action to move this bill through the committee process.

This legislation ratifies the water rights compact between the Crow Tribe and the State of Montana, which was agreed upon in 1999.  H.R. 3563 would help rehabilitate and improve the Crow Irrigation Project, and create jobs and lasting infrastructure for future generations.  Members of the Crow Tribe have long awaited a final resolution, and I urge your action to ensure this bill moves forward in a timely manner.

I respectfully request this bill be brought before the Subcommittee for markup at the earliest available date and referred to the full Committee on Natural Resources for its consideration.  Thank you for your attention to this matter, and please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, met with officials from the State Department and the Agency for International Development this week to continue fighting to streamline the process for Haitian orphans waiting to be adopted by families in Montana and elsewhere in the Untied States. Approximately 40 Haitian children are already in the process of being adopted, and Rehberg is requesting federal assistance in clearing the final hurdles and arranging safe passage out of the earthquake-torn country.

“These orphans are not only going to be American citizens, but Montanans as well, and I’m working with the State Department and USAID to help ensure their safety,” said Rehberg, a member of the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. “There is understandably fear and frustration on part of the families who want to get their children home. I’m asking the State Department to speed up the paperwork, and that USAID use its resources to unite these orphans with their adoptive parents.”

Rehberg met this week with Ambassador Craig Kelly, of the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, and Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator Designate with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Rehberg noted there are around 140 humanitarian flights into Haiti on a daily basis, and is asking the agencies to look into the possibility of using those departing planes as an emergency means of transportation to the U.S. for the orphans. In a letter to Dr. Shah, Rehberg also asked the organization to do whatever is necessary to see that these parents have access to USAID flights into Haiti to assist in the rescue.

WASHIGNTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, this week met with Representative Jason C. Yuan, the Taiwanese ambassador to the United States, to discuss the export of American beef to Taiwan.  Earlier this month, Taiwan placed restrictions on the importation of American beef despite years of extensive negotiations, which had resulted in the opening of the market to American beef in 2009.

“I asked Representative Yuan why Taiwan has erected new trade barriers for U.S. beef, despite the fact the World Organization for Animal Health and millions of satisfied global consumers know that Montana beef is safe,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.  “While these new restrictions eliminate only a small percentage of our exports, Taiwanese leaders must understand that for our ag community, profits are measured in pennies, and the smallest hit can have major economic ramifications.”

The Taiwanese ceased all beef trade with the U.S. in 2005 after a second cow was diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease.  After three years of negotiations, the U.S. and Taiwan signed a new science-based beef trade protocol last October allowing for the importation of beef from cattle under thirty months of age provided that specific tissues were removed.  The Protocol also requires Taiwan and the United States to begin talks six-months hence regarding the further expansion of beef trade to include cattle over thirty months of age. 

Earlier this month, the Taiwanese parliament amended their Food Sanitation Act to ban the importation of offal, ground beef and other assorted beef parts from countries that have had a confirmed case of BSE in the last ten years.  This decision was in direct conflict with the Protocol signed in October, and has caused consternation among lawmakers and cattle producers who rightly see beef trade as an essential component of U.S.-Taiwanese trade relations.

“Montana Farm Bureau appreciates Congressman Rehberg working on trade issues related to beef exports,” Said Nancy Schlepp, the National Affairs Director for the Montana Farm Bureau Federation.  “The Taiwanese have always been great trading partners and we look forward to expanding our beef trade with them.  We provide a safe, quality product that all Montanans and Americans are proud to eat and to export, we hope that Taiwan understands our sincerity to work on this important issue.”

“Montana’s beef is the best in the world,” said Rehberg.  “To try and lock it out of a market on the basis of junk science and misinformation is not acceptable.  I am glad that Representative Yuan took the time to meet with me and discuss this critical issue, but I will continue to impress upon the Taiwanese government how important beef is to the American market and to our future trade relationship.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today sent a response to Senator Jon Tester (MT) regarding his request for a meeting to discuss his wilderness bill. Senator Tester sent a letter to Rehberg late last week asking the Congressman to meet him in his Senate office in Washington, DC to discuss the issue. Rehberg recently completed 22 public meetings in Montana on the subject of Senator Tester’s wilderness bill.

“While it’s clear that some fortunate interest groups have been very involved in writing this bill from the beginning, my goal is to include all Montanans who are impacted by this legislation,” said Rehberg, a member of the Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus. “Each of my twenty-two meetings has been open to the public. I certainly don’t see a reason why a meeting with Senator Tester should be any different.” Rehberg asked Senator Tester to meet with him in Montana, rather than in his Washington, D.C. office, and that the meeting be open to the public and the press.

In his letter, Rehberg also asked Senator Tester to join him in posting the individual comments Senator Tester heard from Montanans at his “open house” meetings on his website. “As Montana’s representatives to the U.S. Congress, we have the honorable distinction of setting for ourselves a higher standard of openness and transparency,” wrote Rehberg in his letter.

Finally, Rehberg noted that all of Senator Tester’s “open house” meetings took place after his bill had been written and introduced. Since Senator Tester’s most recent meeting was more than two months ago, Rehberg asked to see the most recent working draft of his wilderness bill that contained any changes resulting from the input he received at those meetings.

“I think Montanans would like to see how their ideas are being implemented in the bill,” said Rehberg. “Seeing what progress has already been made would certainly make our meeting more productive since we could avoid concerns that have already been addressed.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has cosponsored a bill that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from enforcing a change to its definition of “air pollution” in the Clean Air Act to include greenhouse gasses. The regulation of greenhouse gasses, which includes carbon dioxide and water vapor, is also the subject of controversial and unpopular cap-and-tax legislation currently stalled in the U.S. Senate.

“This decision means the federal government now has the authority to regulate everything from carbon dioxide to water vapor,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Every breath we take, every word we utter is now subject to EPA regulations. The American people need room to breathe so I’ve sponsored HR 391 to do just that. I hope my colleagues will join me because the hot air that comes out of the U.S. House would qualify us as a superfund site.”

Rehberg, who has consistently supported reasonable efforts to reduce man’s impact on the environment, has also condemned efforts to hamstring the U.S. economy with an energy tax on carbon emissions.

H.R. 391 would actively exclude carbon dioxide, water vapor and other so-called greenhouse gasses from the definition of the term “air pollutant” in the Clean Air Act.

“This is an effort to pour cement into the gears of an economic recovery,” said Rehberg. “Worse, it’s an end-around on the American people. The EPA works for us, not the other way around.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, joined House colleagues in passing legislation to accelerate the tax benefit for charitable cash contributions made for the benefit of the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Rehberg is an original cosponsor of this legislation. Similar legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.

“If we can make it a little easier to help those in dire need of assistance in Haiti, Congress has an obligation to act,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. “This bill is a small fix that can have big ramifications for families that may want to give now, even when they are struggling themselves.”

This bill permits taxpayers to treat charitable contributions of cash made between January 11 and March 1, 2010 to be counted as if they were made in 2009. This gives taxpayers the opportunity to accelerate the tax benefit by claiming the charitable deduction on their 2009 returns. The bill is similar to a provision enacted in the aftermath of the 2005 Indian Ocean tsunami.

“Jan and I continue to pray for the people of Haiti,” said Rehberg. “Like so many Montanans, I’m ready to help in any way that I can.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today issued the following statement following the election of Scott Brown from Massachusetts to the United States Senate.

“I’ve held 42 public listening sessions in Montana in the last year, and Senator-elect Brown’s election underlined the writing already on the wall. Montanans want workable solutions. They don’t want to replace an insurance bureaucracy with an even bigger government bureaucracy. It’s time to start over and do this right. We have better alternatives, and are eager to work in a bipartisan fashion toward true health care reform.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, sponsored a resolution to honor the three Navy SEALs who successfully completed a mission to capture the believed mastermind of the 2004 murder of four U.S. security contractors. The three officers are facing a court-martial after the suspected terrorist, Ahmed Hasim Abed, accused them of punching him during his capture.

“The trial of these brave soldiers is not only unwarranted, but is a slap in the face to real American heroes,” said Rehberg, a member of the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. “Terrorists are instructed to make abuse allegations when captured to disrupt their prosecution. This case sends a terrible message to those we ask to risk their lives to fight terrorism. It’s important to affirm our commitment to our military.”

The resolution, (H.Res. 988), “recognizes the exemplary service, devotion to country, and selfless sacrifice” of petty officers Matthew McCabe, Jonathan Keefe, and Julio Huertas in the capture of Abed, and pledges continued support to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Abed is accused of leading numerous attacks against U.S. and coalition forces, including the brutal killing of four Blackwater guards in Fallujah, whose bodies were mutilated and put on public display.

In court rulings this month, Huertas and Keefe were granted the right to face their accuser in court, and their trial was moved overseas to a U.S. military base in Iraq. McCabe’s defense team has said they don’t need to question the detainee, and McCabe’s trial is scheduled to be held in Virginia.

The three Navy SEALs have not only received support from members of Congress but more than 200,000 people have joined a Facebook page to show their support. Rehberg has used his Facebook page to urge others to join their support group.