Congressman Denny Rehberg

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, today announced that his Washington, D.C.-based Scheduler Madeleine Coleman was chosen as Montana’s 2010 Cherry Blossom Princess. Coleman has worked for Rehberg since May of last year. Her Princess duties will occur in Washington, D.C. during the week of April 4.

“I can’t think of anyone better suited to represent Montana as our Cherry Blossom Princess,” said Rehberg. “As my scheduler, she’s tackled a pretty big job with the grace and poise that will help her do a fantastic job representing our state.”

Each Spring, Cherry Blossom Princesses from every state and territory come to the nation’s capital to commemorate the 1912 gift of Japanese cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo to the city of Washington. The two-week festival involves an array of activities and cultural events, including the crowning of a Cherry Blossom Queen, who is chosen by chance from the assembled princesses.

Madeleine, from Belgrade, Montana, is daughter of Martin and Jennifer Coleman. She attended Manhattan Christian High School in Churchill, Montana. After graduating from Denison University with a degree in Economics, she joined Rehberg’s staff in May of 2009. She is active in her sorority, Pi Beta Phi, and served on the Denison University Community Rights and Standards Board.

“I love Montana, and I’m so excited to bring a little bit of ‘The Last Best Place’ to D.C.,” Madeleine says.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced the nomination of twenty-five Montana students for appointments to America’s service academies for 2010. Although some students may already be in various stages of the acceptance process, a congressional nomination is necessary for students to be admitted to one of the five service academies.

“These accomplished young men and women represent a bright hope for our future, and are truly leaders in so many ways,” said Rehberg, a member of the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. “Montanans can take pride in knowing that our best and brightest are willing to serve their nation, and I’m honored to nominate them to the Military Academies.”

Rehberg appoints and works with a volunteer Academy Review Board consisting of military and civilian personnel to ensure that Montana students are afforded the maximum opportunity to receive one of the highly sought after nominations. Each candidate for nomination is interviewed by the Board and scored according to academic performance, leadership qualities, and community involvement.

Students may receive multiple nominations based on their academy preferences. There are five U.S. Service Academies: Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO; Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT; Merchant Marines Academy, Kings Point, NY; Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; and U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY. Entrance to the Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination.

Following is a list of those candidates who have received nominations:

Seth Adams, MSU-Bozeman (Bozeman): West Point
Christopher Allen, Billings Senior: Air Force
Bentley Alsup, Missoula Sentinel: Air Force, Naval, West Point
Dustin Beck, New Mexico Military Institute (Whitefish): Merchant Marine
Daniel Becker, Billings Senior, Naval
McKay Blackford, Missoula Hellgate: Naval
Thomas Bonogofsky, Belfry: Merchant Marine
Andrew Bovard, Missoula Loyola: Merchant Marine, West Point
Dillon Burke, Missoula Hellgate: Naval, West Point
Jesse Burroughs, Lavina: Naval
Samantha Clement, Carroll College (Great Falls): Naval
Ashley Crowe, MSU-Billings (Billings): Air Force
Jason Dark, New Mexico Military Institute (Missoula Big Sky): Air Force
Seth Donahue, Kalispell Flathead: Air Force
Brice Grotbo, Shelby: West Point
Stefan Hickethier, Great Falls Central: West Point
Kevin Jagoda, Helena High: Air Force
John Joern, Whitefish: Air Force, Naval
Scott Kelleher, Shelby: Air Force
Emily Kreyenhagen, Frenchtown: Naval
Kevin O’Brien, Billings Central: Naval
Taylor Purchio, Billings Central: Air Force
Kasey Smith, Billings Senior: Air Force, Merchant Marine
Haley Sobrero, Columbus: Naval
Jacob Washer, Whitefish: Merchant Marine

BILLINGS, MT. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is inviting area residents to share their thoughts during a series of public listening sessions to be held in Madison and Broadwater Counties on Tuesday, November 24, and in Powell and Deer Lodge Counties on Wednesday, November 25.

“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 has held eighteen public listening sessions around the state since the beginning of summer.

Congressman Denny Rehberg Public Listening Sessions

Tuesday, November 24

Ennis – 10:00 a.m.
Madison Valley Rural Fire Station #1
537 U.S. Hwy. 287

Townsend – 2:30 p.m.
Broadwater County High School, Community Room
201 N. Spruce

Wednesday, November 25

Deer Lodge – 10:30 a.m.
William K. Kohrs Memorial Library, Meeting Room
501 Missouri Avenue

 Anaconda – 1:30 p.m.
Community Service Center, Conference Room #1
118 East 7th Street

WASHINTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced funding in the final Department of Interior Appropriations Bill which will now go to President Obama for his signature. Rehberg is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

“With the vast expanses of federally controlled land in Montana, these funds are a necessary and significant part of preserving our state’s heritage,” said Rehberg. “Montanans want to protect our state for our children and grandchildren. That’s why I worked across party lines with Montana’s Senators and President Obama to find common ground to secure funding for these projects.”

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Rehberg has worked over the last year to include these projects in the final bill. The final bill lists his name as a sponsor for each of these projects, which were carefully scrutinized by Rehberg and his staff and supported by folks all across Montana. Unfortunately, the same care was not applied to the rest of the bill which was written by the House majority. Consequently, Rehberg voted against the final legislation because it included reckless and unsustainable spending increases that he simply could not support. Rehberg’s vote was part of an effort to return the bill to the Appropriations Committee in order to reduce the overall levels of spending to an amount he could support.

The projects Rehberg secured are listed below:

City of Bozeman Main Street Historical District Restoration - $150,000
“We greatly appreciate Representative Rehberg’s work on this. The historic buildings on three sides of the explosion were significantly damaged in the explosion, but not destroyed. I know those owners are struggling to come up with the resources to save those historic sites, which will benefit the community by restoring jobs.” - Chris Kukulski, City Manager , Bozeman

Bozeman’s historic downtown has served as its center of economic activity since the city was first established. The historic core is a hub for retail, dining, banking, and professional services.

On March 5, 2009, a natural gas line explosion in Bozeman’s historic downtown. The explosion and subsequent fire destroyed four historic buildings, and significantly damaged three others. All buildings were in the Bozeman Main Street Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Plant Biotechnology Research With MSU - $1 million

“We are delighted to be working with an institution as fine as Montana State University and we applaud Congressman Rehberg’s vital efforts for important university research that will benefit the agriculture economy in Montana. Denny is a true champion of research funding and all it can do for agriculture, energy security and a cleaner healthier environment.” - Dorin Schumacher, President of the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research (CPBR)

CPBR funds university research and technology transfer for environmentally friendly industries. Working with the Montana State University, it will improve existing technology and develop new ones ranging from “green” chemicals and industrial manufacturing processes to environmental remediation. This, in turn, helps build agricultural and environmentally friendly industries and develop a workforce of the future that will reduce greenhouse gases and create new, high-paying “green” jobs in Montana and throughout the nation.

CPBR supports research that private companies tend to avoid as a result of high-risks and long-term outlays.

Water Research Foundation, Based in Missoula - $1.7 million

“We’re particularly appreciative of Congressman Rehberg for his responsible and responsive efforts to fund this project. This funding will be leveraged five times over by private contributions, and the real beneficiaries of the Water Research Foundation’s efforts are the rural areas and small utilities that are so prominent in Montana. They need the research and data the most, and can least afford to do it on their own.” - Arvid ‘Butch’ Hiller, Vice President and General Manager of Mountain Water Company in Missoula

The Water Research Foundation, based in Missoula, helps local water companies and districts supply safe, affordable drinking water to consumers nation-wide. Its work focuses on applied research for cost effective technologies to enhance drinking water technologies. It’s the largest drinking water research foundation in the world, and has sponsored research world-wide to make drinking water clean, affordable and available to the public.

Em-Kayan County Water & Sewer Infrastructure Improvement – $290,600

“We want to thank Congressman Rehberg for his hard work on this important project. This funding will replace the leaking pipes and antiquated control system. We’re suffering a lot of leakage problems, which causes contamination risks for the people of Em-Kayan, and this funding will help us modernize our systems.” - Gene Tracy President of the Em-Kayan Sewer Water District and President of the Homeowners Association

The Em-Kayan community water system, which consists of three springs, two wells, five steel storage tanks and a water distribution system including fire hydrants, was constructed in the 1960’s. Although it has been expanded several times to meet increases in demand, it now requires improvements that are beyond the financial capabilities of the District alone.

These funds will help with the installation of a new PVC water main to prevent water system contamination and better conserve Montana’s resources, the installation of 62 water meters to improve accounting and conservation, 5 new hydrants to meet fire safety requirements, and installation of a new control system to replace the existing maintenance intensive system.

Various Conservation Easements – $12 million

“We appreciate Congressman Rehberg’s support of these projects. Landowner demand for easements on the Rocky Mountain Front grew by 30,000 acres this year. These United States Fish & Wildlife Service easements support the viability of local ranches and communities in which they reside. The Blackfoot Bureau of Land Management project represents the largest remaining public portion of the larger Blackfoot Community Project, which, when complete, will conserve more than 100,000 acres in diverse public and private ownership and will help maintain a rural way of life for that community.” - Bebe Crouse, Director of Communications, The Montana Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.

“Thanks to Representative Rehberg, this critical funding will complete this project and preserve the Meeteetse Spires’ spectacular scenery, conserve important wildlife habitat and expand recreational access. We applaud Rep. Rehberg for his leadership and commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the people – and wildlife – of Montana.” - Gates Watson, director of The Conservation Fund’s Montana Office

President Obama included requests for several Conservation Easements in his budget and Rehberg submitted them to the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. They included land acquisitions for Meeteetse Spires ($1.5 million), Blackfoot Challenge-Nora Gulch ($1 million), Rocky Mountain Front ($3.75 million), Blackfoot River Special Recreation Management Area ($4.5 million) and GYA-Cooke City Mining claims ($2 million).

Conservation easements are voluntarily conveyed, partial legal interests in land. Since the 1975 passage of The Montana Open-Space Land and Voluntary Conservation Easement Act over 300,000 acres have been protected with conservation easements. They comprise ecological, open space, recreational and historic areas and can include wildlife habitat, natural and undisturbed ecosystems, wildlife and scenic river corridors, threatened or endangered species, recreational resources, pro­ductive agricultural land, educational resources and historic sites or structures.

Each easement is different because each parcel of land is unique, and each easement is designed in consultation with the landowner. All land uses not specifically given up in the easement deed remain with the landowner.

HELENA, MT. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, announced the Montana Board of Housing has been awarded $170,297 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for housing assistance in Montana. The grant supports a wide variety of counseling services for Montana homebuyers, homeowners, low-to-moderate income renters, and the homeless.

“The economy, with the national unemployment rate at a 26-year high, has placed a strain on many families’ budgets. That’s why it’s critically important to have services available to help families keep a roof over their heads,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “This grant will help families and individuals make better, more informed choices when it comes to home-buying, homeownership, and renting.”

The main goal of HUD’s Housing Counseling Program is to improve financial literacy, expand homeownership opportunities, and preserve homeownership. Counselors provide guidance and information to help families improve their housing conditions, modify or refinance loans, resolve mortgage delinquency and foreclosure, avoid inflated appraisals, unaffordable repayment terms and other conditions that can result in a loss of equity, increased debt, or foreclosure.

The Montana Board of Housing administers the program through the help of local organizations, like NeighborWorks Montana, according to Board of Housing Home Ownership Program Manager, Nancy Leifer. “NeighborWorks Montana and all of its partners have outstanding outreach and education programs,” Leifer said. “They play a vital part in helping to achieve quality, affordable housing in Montana.”

The District IX Human Resource Development Council, of Gallatin County, also received a grant of $44,472 from HUD for housing counseling.

WASHINTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced funding in the final Agriculture Appropriations Bill which will now go to President Obama for his signature. Rehberg is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

“Agriculture remains Montana’s largest and most important industry,” said Rehberg. “As a rancher, I understand the challenges facing Montana’s producers and I’m proud to fight for their interests in Congress.”

The projects are listed below:

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) $2,800,000 Butte - Silver Bow County

The National Committee for Appropriate Technology is a national nonprofit organization located in Butte. It has more than 30 years of experience in helping people learn more about technologies and practices that save energy and resources in the home, farm workplace and community.

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) provides information, educational resources and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers across the U.S., with a special focus on sustainable ag technologies, farm energy, and information on marketing and adding value to farm products. In Montana last year, ranchers and farmers from 72 communities submitted 3,091 individual requests for technical assistance and downloaded 44,896 publications off the ATTRA website. Funding for this project will be spent on salaries for staff who provide in-person educational presentations at state, regional and national meetings as well as other related costs.

“The National Committee for Appropriate Technology was delighted to learn that the House Agriculture Appropriations Committee has provided funding for our Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas Project (ATTRA),” said Kathleen Hadley, the organization’s Executive Director. “The staff and board of NCAT are grateful to Congressman Rehberg, who worked hard to help obtain funding for our national program.”

Animal Biosciences Facility (MSU) $3,654,000, Bozeman - Gallatin County

The construction of an Animal Biosciences Research Facility will benefit Montana’s livestock industry. This state-of-the-art facility will help improve economic and environmental sustainability in the production of safe, high quality and consistent beef products. Rehberg secured $2.192 million for this project last year.

“I appreciate the support of Congressman Rehberg and his effort toward ag research and education, in particular the range-livestock industry,” said Jeff Jacobsen, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station. “The federal building monies bring us that much closer to construction of the USDA ARS building which will be ‘catching up’ to the MSU academic building currently being built through private donations. This partnership will create untold developments for the Montana seedstock industry and the livestock industry in general.”

Barley for Rural Development $547,000 Bozeman - Gallatin County

Funding for Barley for Rural Development supports research directed at improving malt, feed, biofuel, and food barley varieties for growers and value added end-users in rural communities in Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota. As U.S. barley production declines, development research creates new technologies for increasing yields and improving the quality of the barley crop thus, enhancing competitiveness and improving profitability.

“Wheat and barley production systems in Montana, Idaho and North Dakota are changing more rapidly than ever before, said professor Tom Blake from Montana State University. “Thanks to the support of Representatives Rehberg (MT) and Simpson (ID), the ‘Barley for Rural Development’ project enables researchers in these three key barley producing states to develop and release new barley varieties for food, malt, livestock feed and for straw-based ethanol production. These new varieties improve barley growers’ profitability and help maintain barley’s position in American agriculture.”

Brucellosis Vaccine $305,000, Bozeman - Gallatin County

The presence of Brucellosis in the wildlife of Yellowstone National Park poses a continuous threat to livestock production in the states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Recent outbreaks of brucellosis and the loss of Montana’s brucellosis-free status underscore the need for an effective brucellosis vaccine. This appropriation will have a tremendously positive impact on Montana’s cattle and tourism industries by funding MSU Bozeman’s efforts to find a brucellosis vaccine that protects both wildlife and cattle.

“Vaccine development takes time and we have made good advancements in creating new vaccines with stronger efficacy than currently available ones,” said Jacobsen. “Better tools for disease management in wildlife, and livestock and humans will be the result.”

Sustainable Beef Supply $682,000, Bozeman - Gallatin County

The Montana Beef Network (MBN) helps Montana beef producers improve best-practices for raising and marketing their products. MBN also ages and source verifies calves from birth until harvest to ensure quality and increase profitability. This integrated approach to quality management helps Montana’s producers grow a sustainable beef supply to increase income for the individual and the State.

“Connecting ranch and livestock management practices to the entire meat supply chain with the customer, the consumer, in mind creates a modern and dynamic network,” said Jeff Jacobsen, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station. “Stewardship practices, quality assurance, biosecurity, animal ID, food security and other food system issues are researched, tested and outreach is provided tailored to each ranch.”

Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee $650,000, Helena - Lewis and Clark County (MT/ID/WY)

The Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee conducts brucellosis prevention, surveillance, control and herd management in Montana and the Greater Yellowstone Area. These activities mitigate the danger that brucellosis poses to Montana’s beef industry by detecting the disease in wildlife and preventing its spread to cattle. Working with state and federal jurisdictions, the ultimate objective of the GYIBC is to use sound science and factual information to eliminate transmission risks and eradicate the disease for healthy wildlife and livestock. The program officially began in 1995 with a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture and the Governors of Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.

“Brucellosis funding in the greater Yellowstone area is vital as we work on the control and eventual eradication of this disease,” said Christian Mackay, with the Montana Department of Livestock. “We welcome these resources. They help fund our ongoing efforts, and demonstrate that Congress wants to be part of the solution.”

Other Montana Projects receiving funding include:

Tri-State (MT, ID, WY) Predator Control, Aphis $926,000
Invasive Plant Management at MSU $270,000
Upper Clark Fork Watershed, Watershed Restoration Coalition $200,000

August Schedule Now Includes Listening Sessions in 18 Counties

BILLINGS, MT – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has announced two additional listening sessions in Montana to be held this week in Bozeman and Hamilton. Rehberg has already scheduled sixteen listening sessions across Montana, but was able to schedule two more in Western Montana at the last minute.

“The 14 listening sessions I’ve held so far this August have been incredibly helpful for me,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “It’s important to listen as much as you talk because while Montanans are concerned about health care, they also care about everything from federal spending to cap and tax legislation. It’s my job to bring their concerns back to Washington, D.C. with me.”

Rehberg has scheduled eighteen listening sessions in August, more than any other Montana official and among the most in the United States. The sessions are a part of his commitment to visit each of Montana’s 56 counties. Rehberg added listening sessions in two additional counties for Thursday and Friday:

A Gallatin County Listening Session on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 9:00 am at the MSU Strand Union Building, Ballroom A in Bozeman.

A Ravalli County Listening Session on Friday, August 21, 2009 at 1:00 pm at the Hamilton Performing Arts Center, 327 Fairgrounds Road, in Hamilton.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $3 Million for the Center for Zero Emissions Research & Technology. The funding was included in the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

“New technology and energy innovations are vital to securing America’s energy future,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. “Montana has an abundance of natural and renewable energy resources, and funding projects like ZERT helps establish the state as a leader in energy research. This will lead to high-paying jobs and help boost Montana’s economy.”

In a coal producing state like Montana, the ability to monitor and validate deep geological carbon dioxide sequestration from coal is extremely important. New technologies hold great promise to significantly reduce emissions from fossil fuels, but the engineering, economic, and environmental viability of these zero emission fossil energy technologies must be confirmed.

“The continued funding resulting from Congressman Rehberg’s support for the Zero Emissions Research and Technology Center (ZERT) will allow us to continue development of key tools that benefit the carbon sequestration program,” said Lee Spangler, Director of the Energy Research Institute and ZERT at Montana State University. “This includes development and testing of new detection technologies, improved simulation models, and biologically based methods of plugging leaky wells. It also helps Montana State continue a leadership role in carbon sequestration.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $133,000 for Montana State University’s Technology Based Economic Development Center. The funding was included in the House Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

“Developing the technology of tomorrow will provide good jobs in Montana today,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. “In a global market R & D is a matter of economic survival and these funds will help keep Montana on the cutting edge.”

The Technology Based Economic Development Center provides a broad array of support services to high technology businesses. The business development center will support development of new businesses and high-paying jobs, and will help retain well-educated students in the state of Montana.

“MSU sincerely appreciates the funding Congressman Rehberg has designated in the Financial Services Appropriations Bill for The High Technology Assistance Program at Montana State University,” said Tom McCoy, Ph.D. and Vice President for Research at Montana State University. “This funding will assist in providing access to the Montana Micro-fabrication Facility, a user facility that houses expensive specialized equipment that is used by not only university researchers but also by employees of high-tech small businesses in Montana. This equipment is used to produce materials and devices for use in high technology applications such as optoelectronics, pharmaceuticals, genomics and alternative energy development.”