Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, DC – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today posted a list of verbal and written comments he heard from Montanans during the 22 public meetings he held regarding Sen. Jon Tester’s Wilderness bill. The comments are posted in the “Transparency Center” portion of Rehberg’s congressional website. Last week, Rehberg promised to take this action in a letter to Senator Tester and asked the Senator to join him in doing so in order to maximize transparency in the legislative process.

“I heard from hundreds of Montanans, each with their own ideas and opinions,” said Rehberg, “While ideas will vary in merit, each deserves to at least be heard and considered in a public forum. That’s what I’m trying to do – put them all in the bucket and see which ones end up floating.”

Rehberg has laid out a number of these comments as examples of what he’d like to see changed in the underlying legislation. One proposal, addressing an overriding concern heard in 22 listening sessions, is the notion of a wilderness ‘phase-in’ that would time the creation of new wilderness to the active management of other lands. This solution would alleviate the concern that as soon as the bill becomes law, the wilderness designations are immediate, while there is no assurance that stewardship components would not be infinitely delayed by litigation.

Rehberg, who relayed multiple suggestions in real-time to the public and the press during the course of his listening tour, has gathered a wide array of additional ideas for changes to the legislation including boundary line concerns from farmers and ranchers, preservation of recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, and maintaining the ability to accurately inventory natural resources like molybdenum.

“There’s no silver bullet here,” warned Rehberg. “There are a lot of very good ideas that should each be considered on their own merit. While I appreciate the buy-in from the partnerships that helped draft the bill, this legislation affects all Montanans who deserve the right to be heard. In addition to some other fixes, an incremental phase-in would help ensure logging isn’t bogged down by lawsuits after new wilderness areas are designated.”

Comments can be found online at http://rehberg.house.gov

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, 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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $200,000 for The Rocky Mountain Development Council (RMDC) to address a significant shortage of quality, affordable housing in Helena, MT. The funding was included in the House Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

“The American dream of home ownership faces serious challenges in today’s economy,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “A recent UM report on the cost of housing in Montana confirms the critical need for more affordable units, and the Caird Iron Works projects will bring much needed housing relief for low-income people in the Helena area.”

The Caird Iron Works Redevelopment is a proposed multi-phase effort of RMDC, Inc. The project will reclaim property known as the Caird site, the home of an old iron foundry, and redevelop the 2.4 acre Brownfield tract of land. This project will eliminate the environmental contaminants on the site, and redevelop the parcel to provide 60 affordable housing units located with access to schools, work, and transportation facilities.

“We are very grateful for Congressman Rehberg’s help in securing this funding,” said Rocky Mountain Development Council Executive Director Gene Leuwer. “These funds are critical to our next affordable housing project in Helena.”

“RMDC and the community are still working through how best to redevelop the old Caird Iron Works property,” said Jeff Miller, RMDC Community Development Director. “These funds will be an essential component of the acquisition and construction dollars necessary to deliver another quality affordable housing project. Congressman Rehberg understands the importance of affordable housing to our community and has assisted us a great deal with our previous housing projects including the recently completed Eagles Manor III project”.

Congressman’s Position on House Appropriations Committee Results in Funding for Montana Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $1.75 million in funding for the necessary expansion of the Fort Harrison Troop Medical Clinic. Located in Helena, the facility provides medical, surgical and mental health care to veteran’s from around the state. The funding was included in the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

“The men and women of Montana’s National Guard deserve top-rate medical facilities that protect their privacy and uphold their rights as patients,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “The existing facility at Fort Harrison is just too small to meet the increased demand caused by new health screening requirements. I’m glad I was able to assist with funding this project so we can get our solders the quality care they deserve as quickly as possible.”

The Fort Harrison Troop Medical Facility, constructed in 1995, no longer has adequate space to handle the increased patient volume that results from required Periodic Health Assessments. Patients and staff have experienced severe overcrowding of waiting areas, exam areas, laboratory space and administrative spaces which has, in turn, compromised soldier privacy and compliance with HIPAA requirements.

“The potential for additional space in the Fort Harrison Troop Medical Clinic will facilitate a more efficient medical and dental process for the Soldiers of the Montana Army National Guard,” said Colonel Patty Wood, Deputy Commander Montana Medical Detachment. “The additional room will also ensure Soldier confidentiality and protection of their private health information. A larger facility will ultimately increase our productivity to ensure our Soldiers spend less time in medical stations and more time on training.”

Testifies Before House Joint Subcommittee Water and Power/National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, testified today about the growing Western Pine Beetle infestation in Montana and throughout the west.

“Lately, massive infestations of western pine beetles have left their mark on more than the trees,” said Rehberg in his testimony. “Like a teenager with a paintball gun in an art museum, splotches of rust orange and mucus yellow began to corrupt the tapestry of our majestic forests. It started small, a few trees peppered in a forest of millions, but eventually entire mountainsides turned yellow with the infestation. Visitors were forgiven for thinking that they were just seeing the annual lifecycle of a deciduous forest, but the locals knew that something was very wrong.”

In his testimony, Rehberg explained the exponential growth of the pine beetle in Montana, particularly highlighting the problem between Helena and Butte. He also pointed to the successful forest management strategies employed near the ghost town of Garnet, Montana east of Missoula where the local Bureau of Land Management partnered with the Pyramid Mountain Lumber Company to remove up to 60 percent of the standing trees in the 320-plus-acre area.

Rehberg is no stranger to healthy forest management on federal lands. On May 5, he discussed the beetle problem when he testified against the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. He has also introduced legislation, Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement (FLAME) Act which would allow responsible management of impacted forests for the creation of energy.

“The view and perspective for what is happening and how it should be fixed looks very different to an out-of-state bureaucrat flying overhead at 30,000 feet,” testified Rehberg. “When it comes to forest management, one size fits all solutions can often times cause more problems than they solve. We’ve got boots on the ground, and in the forests of Montana ready to do what is necessary to restore our forests to a healthy, green state.”

Complete Testimony Included Below:

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House Appropriations Committee Passes FY2010 Funding Bill with $2,492,000 in Funding for Montana Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced almost $2.5 million in funding for projects throughout the state, including $60,000 for East Helena Community Policing Hiring Efforts. Funding was included by the House Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee for Fiscal Year 2010.

“Montanans enjoy a unique quality of life, and one of the best ways to help preserve that is by helping to keep our families safe and our communities free from crime,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “As the community of East Helena continues to grow, the dedicated police force there has identified a critical need for an additional officer. I’m proud to support this request.”

Funds will be used to hire a fifth full time Police Officer for the City of East Helena. As populations grows in East Helena, so too is the crime rate. The current police force is overextended, which results in officer fatigue which leads to a high rate of turnover. That, ultimately, undermines the ability of the police force to do it’s job for the people of East Helena.

“From the beginning I felt that Congressman Rehberg knows how the small agencies in Montana are struggling to provide adequate police protection with limited resources,” said Dale Aschim, East Helena’s Chief of Police. “This would be a shot in the arm for the East Helena Police Department and its citizens of East Helena.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced he introduced legislation to promote the development of infrastructure that will make domestically produced ethanol a viable alternative to oil imported from countries like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.  The E-85 Investment Act increases the available tax credit for refueling stations that offer fuel that is at least 85 percent ethanol.

“Every year as gas prices go up, we’re reminded of our dangerous addiction to foreign oil,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.  “We’ve got more than enough energy right in our own back yard to end this cycle, but we need to develop the infrastructure to do it.  This legislation creates an incentive for petroleum marketers to build much-needed facilities for E-85 fuel. This, in turn, gives the consumer more choices to fit their needs.”

Gas prices in Montana have increased by more than 25 cents in some places in the last month as Montanans hit the road for summer travel.  Ethanol can be produced in great quantities domestically, increasing fuel supplies and keeping prices low.

One of the biggest hurdles for the widespread implementation of ethanol is the lack of infrastructure including fueling stations.  The E-85 Investment Act increases the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property tax credit to 75 percent, increasing the incentive for the creation of additional pumps.

“For two years, I drove thousands of miles throughout Montana in a Flex Fuel vehicle that could burn ethanol,” said Rehberg.  “In all that time, I almost never had the opportunity to use ethanol because there just weren’t enough filling stations that gave me the option.  We need to fix that so we can make America energy independent.”

Currently, Montana has 545 public gas stations, and only four E-85 filling stations.  Of those, only two are open to the public.  E-85 stations are located at:

• Malmstrom AFB
• Helena - The EZ Stop
• West Yellowstone – Yellowstone National Park at Gateway Community
• West Yellowstone – Econo-Mart Phillips 66

WASHINGTON D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, released the following statement in remembrance of Jerome Anderson.  Involved in the Montana political scene since the 1940’s, Anderson was a decorated WWII veteran, former member of the Montana House, and a respected state policy advocate.  He passed away on March 29, 2009.

“Montana lost one of our greatest treasures this week with the passing of Jerome Anderson.  Jerome spent his life in service to his country and his state.  As a younger man, he served his country as a Marine fighter pilot in World War II and his state in the Montana State Legislature.  Perhaps the greatest testament to his character is the respect he earned not only from his political allies, but from his rivals as well.  Today, our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Rita and the rest of his family.”