Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is opposing a move to have wilderness study areas managed as de facto wilderness through bypassing current law that gives authority to designate wilderness areas to Congress.

“It seems some in the House have forgotten why they are in Congress,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “The Wilderness Act clearly requires Congress to designate new wilderness, yet some are trying to bypass the law, the will of the American people, and the checks and balances of the Constitution to reward their special interest group friends.”

Rehberg joined a large group of House Members including Doc Hastings (WA) and Rob Bishop (UT) in sending a letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell opposing the request.  The letter is a direct response to an effort within the House Committee on Natural Resources to have the Forest Service issue new guidelines to manage Recommended Wilderness Areas as de facto Wilderness Areas.  The move would place severe limitations on public access, restrict job-creating and energy-producing activities, and decrease the ability to respond to fires and emergencies.

Citing the Wilderness Act, the group wrote, “The law is crystal clear that the power to designate wilderness rests squarely and solely with the Congress.  It is a baseless, twisted reading of the law to suggest that Congress intended to allow an agency to administratively declare an area as recommended for wilderness designation and then to manage that area exactly as if Congress had taken action to make such a designation.”
 
“This is a rather blatant attempt to bypass laws and the public process and pursue an extremist agenda without any regard for what the American people want,” said Rehberg.

LETTER:

Dear Chief Tidwell:

We write to ensure that you uphold the clear statutory language of the Wilderness Act of 1964.  Recently, several of our colleagues wrote to encourage you to manage Recommended Wilderness Areas as de facto Wilderness Areas.  We strongly object to their misinterpretation of the law and their willing suggestion that your agency usurp Congressional authority.

The Wilderness Act states: “… there is herby established a National Wilderness Preservation System to be composed of federally owned areas designated by the Congress as wilderness areas …”.  The law is crystal clear that the power to designate wilderness rests squarely and solely with the Congress.  It is a baseless, twisted reading of the law to suggest that Congress intended to allow an agency to administratively declare an area as recommended for wilderness designation and then to manage that area exactly as if Congress had taken action to make such a designation.

Designating an area as wilderness imposes the most restrictive land use policies that can be taken.  As you well know, it places severe limitations on public access to public lands, prohibits motorized and mechanized recreation, severely restricts job-creating and energy producing activities, responsible timber management, and decreases capabilities to respond to fires and emergencies as roads, trails, structures and other facilities are banned.  Wilderness designations are not actions that should be taken lightly, which is why the Act was specific in restricting the ability to make designations to Congress so as to ensure a careful, public, and deliberative process.  This is the proper approach.  The Congressional process allows for local stakeholder involvement and makes certain that those impacted have a true voice through the representative branch of government.  While not perfect, this process allows local citizens, many of whom have livelihoods dependent upon activities potentially affected by the public lands in question, to have their voices heard.  This should not be wiped away by the stroke of a pen by a non-elected official acting outside this open, public process and against the unambiguous intent of the Wilderness Act.

Lastly, we are compelled to note that the lead signatories of the letter to you serve as the Chairmen of the full Natural Resources Committee and the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.  It is within the authority of these two Chairmen to act to move wilderness designation legislation, an yet they write asking that you exercise authority that is rightly that of Congress.  They cite an enormous amount of potential wilderness acreage to be designated or under consideration by Congress, but neither the House Committee nor the full House of Representatives has acted to consider legislation approaching anywhere close to that amount of land.  Only two conclusions can be drawn from their seeking you to act when they do not, either they are unwilling to advance such wilderness designations or they know they don’t have the votes to accomplish it.  Whichever the reason, lack of interest or lack of ability to succeed, this is even further justification for the agency to reject their request and to fully abide by the Act by not managing Recommended Wilderness Areas as de facto Wilderness Areas.

A copy of this letter will be sent to the directors of other land management agencies within the government to share a similar message and reminder of the clear worlds of the Wilderness Act.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today released the following statement responding to President Obama’s decision to allow limited offshore energy exploration in the United States.  Rehberg, who supported an end to the Congressional Moratorium in 2008, has long supported an all-of-the-above energy solution that lowers energy prices by: 1) increasing domestic production of traditional energy sources; 2) improving energy efficiency; 3) investing in alternatives like wind, solar, biomass etc; and 4) inventing new technology.

“It’s encouraging to hear the President finally acknowledge what I’ve been saying for years: domestic production of energy is an effective way to create jobs while reducing overdependence on foreign energy.  A strong energy industry is exactly the kind of long-term economic stimulus we need.  If this policy is good for the country along the southern Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and part of Alaska, why not the Pacific, North Atlantic and entire Gulf shore too?”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has scheduled a listening session in Phillips County – his forty-third such public event this Congress.  The event will be held at the County Courthouse in Malta on Tuesday, April 6 at 3 pm.  It is open to the public.

“When it comes to major votes on everything from health care reform to cap and tax, bailouts and so-called stimulus bills, I think there’s a direct correlation between how a representative votes and how much time they’ve spent listening to the people they represent.  After hearing what Montanans had to say about these important issues, I can’t imagine voting differently than I have.”

Schedules Stops in Billings, Laurel, Livingston & Bozeman

BILLINGS, MT – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, will be talking jobs in four Montana cities over the next two days. On Wednesday, February 17 he will be in Billings and Laurel, and on Thursday, February 18 he will visit Livingston and Bozeman. At each stop, he will be meeting with local businesses and organizations to discuss the creation of new jobs.

“It’s been more than a year since the ‘so-called’ stimulus was signed into law, and unemployment remains the most pressing barrier to economic recovery,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, who supported a true stimulus that was timely, targeted, temporary and transparent. “Montanans understand that jobs don’t come from Washington, D.C. They come from the hard work of small businesses, which is why it’s so important for elected officials to put boots on the ground and learn directly from the horse’s mouth exactly what will stimulate job growth.”

Rehberg’s tour will include:

Wednesday, February 17

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Montana Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise Award ceremony at Wyo-Ben, Inc. (Billings)
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Tour of the Northern Hotel Project (Billings)
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Visit Beartooth Harley (Billings)
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Tour Cenex Refinery (Laurel)

Thursday, February 18

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Tour of Printing for Less (Livingston)
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Visit Mystery Ranch (Bozeman)
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Visit the Bozeman Job Service and Workforce Center (Bozeman)

For press inquiries, please contact Tom Schultz:
tom.schultz@mail.house.gov, (406) 543-9550

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, 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.”

Complete Letter Below:

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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, has joined the Natural Gas Caucus, a bipartisan effort to increase the job-creating use of environmentally-friendly natural gas and help move America toward energy independence.  The House Natural Gas Caucus will promote awareness of the advances in the natural gas industry and better educate members on the abundant, low-emission energy source.

“Natural gas is one of Montana’s many energy options that plays an important part in our economy,” said Rehberg a member of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee.  “It’s a clean, abundant, energy source and responsible development of natural gas is a critical part of a balanced energy plan that will create jobs and help make America less dependent on foreign oil.”

Advancements in technologies have helped unlock new natural gas reserves, vastly increasing America’s domestic supply.  Due to increasing demand for use in buses and fleet vehicles, natural gas accounts for 25% of power production in the country.

“The natural gas industry in Montana accounts for hundreds of good-paying, family-supporting jobs, and Montana received over $5.5 million in natural gas royalties last year, which directly benefits local communities.” said Rehberg.  “I’m proud to join my House colleagues in a bipartisan effort to help champion a cleaner, more energy independent America while creating millions of new American jobs.

You’ve probably seen the slick, negative ads on TV, claiming that I voted against the “American Clean Energy and Security Act” because of contributions from “big oil and energy interests.” These accusations are dishonest and false. They are designed to confuse you and disparage me. The legislation these ads endorse is bad for America and even worse for Montana.

The ad doesn’t tell you that I joined 212 Members of Congress, including 44 Democrats, in voting against this legislation. The ad doesn’t tell you that not a single Representative, Republican or Democrat, from Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota or South Dakota voted for this bill. And the ad doesn’t tell you that Senator Max Baucus voted against similar legislation in the Senate when it came before his committee.

In addition to those important facts, which were conveniently left out, there are a few other things you need to know about this attack ad.

First, it’s important to understand who’s behind these ads. Although the ad claims to be funded by the Montana Conservation Voters, this campaign is actually part of a massive multi-state effort orchestrated by the Washington, D.C.-based League of Conservation Voters (LCV).

Since 2000, LCV has spent more than $6.8 million peddling influence among elected officials. They’ve also spent untold millions on “issue ads” like this one, including approximately $150,000 to run these ads in Montana. If you’re wondering why you can’t see the actor’s face, it’s because LCV is also running the very same ad in other states against five other Members of Congress. They just swap out the name.

Second, we need to clarify what legislation we’re talking about. The ad refers to the “American Clean Energy and Security Act,” but this legislation is more commonly known as the “Cap and Trade Bill” or the “Cap and Tax Bill.” It’s a bill that will impose enormous costs and hidden taxes on oil, gas and coal energy production. While these traditional energy sources remain an integral part of our energy supply, I support the comprehensive use of our vast energy resources and all other options to achieve true energy independence for America. This means an “all-of-the-above” energy plan that includes oil, natural gas, coal, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and nuclear energy.

Cap and Tax is particularly bad for Montana and other rural Western states. At a time when our economy is hemorrhaging jobs, the non-partisan Heritage Foundation warns that Cap and Tax will cost more than 8,600 jobs in Montana alone. In places like Sidney or Colstrip, real Montanans work real jobs that depend on traditional sources of energy. Montanans sit on a huge stockpile of energy – including oil – and we are ready and willing to meet a growing national demand. That’s why I’m proud to support oil and coal production in Montana.

I also support the development of alternative energy sources, but not through a government-controlled Cap & Tax program that distorts the market and increases costs on an already overburdened and struggling economy.

In 2005 I helped pass The Energy Policy Act, which included support for ethanol and other clean fuels, new federal standards for increased energy efficiency, permanent tax incentives for wind and solar energy production and increased production of domestic energy to reduce our reliance on unstable foreign sources of oil. It also created cash incentives for the development of new technologies including the first economically feasible 100 miles-per-gallon vehicle.

I’ve also used my influence on the Appropriations Committee to provide funding for the Center for Zero Emissions Technology (ZERT), at Montana State University. Clean coal, carbon sequestration and increased wind energy production are just some of the ways that Montanans are making themselves a part of the solution.

Instead of working toward common sense solutions, Cap and Tax will actually increase the cost of energy by thousands of dollars for Montana families. More than 60 percent of our energy comes from coal, which will also be impacted negatively by Cap & Tax. Even Montana’s ag producers will pay more for their fertilizers. This means fewer dollars in your pocket at the end of the day.

This legislation, combined with the other taxes, deficit spending, and debts that are being recklessly forced on taxpayers through health care bills, stimulus bills, bank bailouts, auto company bailouts and budget increases, are threatening America’s jobs and our children’s futures.

A 30-second attack ad written by a suit on Madison Avenue in New York City and paid for by a Washington, D.C. special interest group won’t drive the debate for what’s good for Montana. We can support clean energy and reduce pollution without Washington D.C. raising our taxes and our energy bills. Let’s do what’s right not only for Montana, but for the environment and for America. And let’s do it honestly.