Congressman Denny Rehberg

BILLINGS, MT – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, was praised this week for his efforts in Missoula to create jobs and advance the local and statewide economy through foreign trade efforts. He also heard concerns from the Montana Food Bank Network, which has seen increased demand amid economic struggles around the state.

“While the consequences of the economic struggles in Missoula are easy to see, it’s encouraging to know that there are hard working people eager to role up their sleeves and fight to create the markets that will create the jobs that will pull us out of this hole,” said Rehberg. “In Missoula, I saw both sides of that coin, and I’ll always fight to do whatever I can to help.”

“Denny’s long-standing support and promotion of international trade is key for Montana’s continued economic success,” said Webb Brown, the President and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce. “We will continue to work with him on Taking Montana to the World. Montana has a terrific opportunity to improve our economy by aggressively pursuing international trade. Functions like this trade luncheon can show Montana business the way.”

“At a time when the economy is hurting, people really start to seek out the critical needs of their communities,” said Peggy Grimes, the Executive Director of the Montana Food Bank Network. “We’ve seen a 61 percent increase in visits to emergency food programs in the last year alone, but the community has really circled the wagons, and the generosity of Montanans has been amazing. Denny’s visit meant a lot to all of us. I really think we had a productive visit, both to discuss pending federal legislation and to demonstrate the expansion to our facility that he was so instrumental in supporting. Denny was able to see the exciting work we’re doing here in Missoula and across Montana first hand.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today joined House Republican colleagues in unveiling America Speaking Out.  By providing an online forum for Montanans to voice their opinions in setting priorities for a national agenda, this initiative mirrors the public input that Rehberg has solicited at 44 public listening sessions and through online social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

“Montanans are sick and tired of the vote-first-ask-questions-later approach to lawmaking that Speaker Pelosi has adopted.  It’s a recipe for bad laws, and worse, it’s a sign of an unresponsive government that serves its own interests before the interests of the people.  That’s why I hosted 44 public listening sessions.  That’s why I asked for 30 days to come back to Montana and listen before any vote on a health care bill.  That’s why, on a daily basis, I interact with thousands of Montanans on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.  It’s time Washington, D.C. listens to the people.  We want to know what you think.  And that’s what America Speaking Out is all about.”

America Speaking Out is the first legislative website of its kind.  Using modern online tools, it empowers users to submit their own ideas or weigh in on the ideas of others.  It creates a one-of-a-kind pipeline to Washington, D.C. that will help make Congress look a lot more like Montana.  Montanans can access America Speaking Out online at http://www.americaspeakingout.com.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has been recognized for promoting “the principles of liberty and the strength of the Constitution,” by the American Conservative Union (ACU), the nation’s oldest and largest conservative grassroots organization.  Rehberg was named an “ACU Conservative” with a 92% percent rating in 2009 based on 25 votes covering government bailouts, wasteful spending, taxes, and health care reform.  Rehberg has a 90% lifetime rating with the ACU.

“I voted with Montanans who believe that government isn’t the solution to all our problems and that government is most effective when it empowers individuals with freedom and opportunity,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Liberty Caucus.  “It’s these ideals, shaped by the input from Montanans at 44 listening sessions that shape my voting record.”

The American Conservative Union was founded in 1964 as a grassroots organization promoting traditional values, a market economy, a strong national defense, and the doctrines of the Constitution.  The ACU has published an annual rating of Congress since 1971 based on 25 votes each in the House and Senate.  Key issues in the first session of the 111th Congress included the financial industry bailouts, stimulus spending, energy policy, federal abortion funding, and health care reform.  Rehberg is the only member of the Montana delegation to vote against every bailout and the $1 trillion so-called stimulus package.

“This award is a reflection of Representative Denny Rehberg’s consistent support of conservative principles on a wide range of issues of concern to grass roots conservatives in 2009,” said David A. Keene, Chairman of the American Conservative Union.  “At a challenging time when the fundamental principles on which the American system of government are being challenged, Representative Denny Rehberg stands with those who are trying to preserve those principles.”

WASHIGNTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has co-sponsored a resolution encouraging Japan to end its six-year ban on beef imports from the United States.  Japan enacted the ban following the discovery of a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, in a Canadian-born dairy cow in Washington State. 

Before the trade restrictions were implemented, Japan was the largest market for U.S. beef with exports valued at $1.4 billion in 2003.  Since the barriers were enacted, exports have dropped to less than 15% of their previous value.

“Montana’s beef is the best in the world,” said Rehberg.  “More than that, it’s absolutely safe.  To lock our beef out of a market based on junk science, misinformation and fear mongering is not acceptable, and Congress needs to make that absolutely clear.”

The resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the trade barriers have no benefit to either country, and that the claims perpetuating the ban are not based on sound science.  The resolution also states that Japan should expand importation of both bone-in and boneless beef from the United States. 

“It’s time to tear down unjustified trade barriers that threaten a staple of Montana’s economy,” said Rehberg.  “Montana produces the world’s best beef, but our ranchers can only compete in a global marketplace if we protect them from these unfair trade practices.”

Rehberg remains committed to reopening the Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean export markets to beef trade.  This bill strengthens that commitment and re-enforces his strong support of Montana’s beef industry.

WASHINGTON, DC – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, sent a letter to the US Department of Agriculture urging them to step up enforcement of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), in order to ensure that American consumers have reliable and consistent information to determine the origin of the food that they serve to their families.

“We’ve fought long and hard for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling,” said Rehberg, a fifth-generation rancher from Billings. “If distributors of foreign products can circumvent the intent of the law with misleading labels that meet the letter of the law but not the spirit, I’m afraid our efforts will have been in vain.  Labels that are intended to deceive, rather than inform, have no place on our shelves.”

In the letter, Rehberg wrote that while COOL is designed to provide the industry with flexibility, it’s purpose is to provide consumers with accurate information regarding a product’s origin.  The use of advertising gimmicks and unreadable labels meant to deceive consumers counteracts this purpose.  Rehberg believes that stronger enforcement of the statute will benefit consumers and producers alike.

Distributors of foreign products, while following the letter of the law, are using misleading labels that clearly violate the spirit and intent of the law.

LETTER:

Dear Administrator Pegg:

Since I came to Congress in 2001, I have been a strong advocate for mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL).  Like many proponents of COOL, I fought a long, difficult battle to ensure that agricultural products were accurately labeled for the benefit of consumers and producers alike.  Unfortunately, it has been brought to my attention that some retailers are engaging in unfair and misleading labeling practices in an attempt to mask a product’s true country of origin.

The USDA’s final rule implementing country of origin labeling includes the following guideline:

“In order to provide the industry with as much flexibility as possible, this rule does not contain specific requirements as to the exact placement or size of the country of origin or method of production (wild and/or farm-raised) declaration. However, such declarations must be legible and conspicuous, and allow consumers to find the country(ies) of origin and method of production, as applicable, easily and read them without strain when making their purchases…”

The country of origin labels are supposed to inform consumers, but several Montanans have brought me examples of labels that are intended to deceive them.  These labels include the mandatory country of origin information listing the beef as a product of the U.S.A., Canada and Australia but provide it in an almost unreadable type face.

As a longtime supporter of COOL, I urge USDA to step up enforcement to ensure that country of origin labels comply with the law.  While flexibility is important, it should not come at the expense of providing the consumer with accurate information regarding a product’s origin.  We must find a way to administer these guidelines so that American consumers have a reliable and consistent way of determining a product’s origin. 

My allies and I fought too hard for country of origin labeling to allow our producers and consumers to be deceived by slick advertising gimmicks that mask a product’s true origins.

I look forward to working with you to implement and enforce labeling regulations so that my constituents can know where the food that they serve to their families was produced.  Please don’t hesitate to contact my office if you have any further questions on the matter.

WASINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today issued the following statement following Australia’s March 9 decision to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment on beef imported from the United States and other countries.  This process will take a minimum of two years, effectively continuing a six-year ban on the importation of U.S. beef.

“Our free trade agreement with Australia gives them access to U.S. markets, but we are playing on an uneven field because of trumped up safety concerns.  Montana’s beef is as safe as it is delicious, and Australians deserve the option to enjoy our beef as much as our ranchers deserve the opportunity to sell it Down Under.”

In 2001, Australia stopped importing beef from countries that had a confirmed case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as “Mad Cow disease.”  This provision impacted the United States in 2003 following the confirmation of a case of BSE in Mabton, Washington.  Prior to that, the U.S. exported 34 tons of beef to Australia per year.  Australia exports an average of 280,000 tons of beef per year to the U.S.

Australia initially lifted the ban on imports on March 1, 2010 following a threat from beef exporters to file a dispute.

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.”

DILLON, MT – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, released the following statement following reports that Taiwan has once again restricted the importation of American beef. After years of extensive negotiations, the ban on U.S beef was completely lifted in 2009.

“Montanans know that our beef is safe. More importantly, the Taiwanese government knows that our beef is safe. It’s time to tear down unjustified trade barriers that threaten a staple of Montana’s economy. I will work with the Taiwanese government, on behalf of Montana producers, to open this market once and for all.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $134,000 in funding for the Montana World Trade Center and the Montana Growth through Trade Program. The funding was included in the House Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

“The Montana World Trade Center is a valuable resource for local businesses trying to sell their goods in foreign markets,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. “Those markets mean jobs in Montana. These funds will help ensure the Trade Center can continue its crucial trade mission to expand the global market for Montana products and services and strengthen our state’s economy.”

The funding will help the Montana World Trade Center develop Montana companies that can compete through global trade and export. The center will be important for start-up technology business and will provide assistance that will help existing and emerging technology-based businesses succeed and grow.

“The funds that Congressman Rehberg has secured for the Montana World Trade Center will provide critically needed support for Montana’s export companies,” stated Arnie Sherman the Executive Director of the Montana World Trade Center. “Denny has again demonstrated his commitment to helping Montana businesses expand globally during this difficult economic period.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, released the following statement in response to the announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending its brucellosis regulations concerning interstate movement of cattle by changing Montana’s classification from Class A to Class Free. In order for a state to attain and keep its Class Free status, all cattle herds within that state must remain free of Brucella abortus for a period of 12 consecutive months. The last brucellosis-affected cattle herd in Montana was detected in May 2008.

“This is great news for Montana livestock producers, who are a crucial component of our economy. This status gives Montana a clean bill of health, and it’s up to the state and federal government to find a way to keep it that way. We know where brucellosis contamination is coming from, and there’s no reason it should rear its head again. I’ll keep doing my part to protect the livelihoods of Montana ranchers, while at the same time fighting to open markets around the world for the best beef in America.”