Congressman Denny Rehberg

Town Hall Meetings Set For Toole, Glacier, Flathead, Lake, Mineral, Ravalli & Missoula Counties

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has scheduled seven Listening Sessions across Western Montana for the July 4 District Work Period.  This continues his open-door policy of holding open meetings where anyone can come and Rehberg takes comments and questions from all comers.

“Government transparency is only useful if it’s coupled with accountability,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “It’s easy to sit behind a desk in Washington and wait for the phone to ring, and that’s what some of my colleagues have decided to do.  But I made a commitment years ago to visit each of Montana’s 56 counties each Congress, to listen and learn what the people I represent think about where our country is headed.  In turn, my actions were framed by the input I received from thousands of Montanans who attended the listening sessions I’ve already held.  That’s why I voted against Obama’s takeover of health care and against every single bailout including the biggest bailout of them all, the ‘so-called’ stimulus. ”

Rehberg scheduled the following Listening Sessions between July 5 and July 9, 2010:

Toole County—Shelby
Monday, July 5, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Shelby Civic Center
669 Park Avenue

Glacier County—Cut Bank
Monday, July 5, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Joe Meagher Civic Center
800 East Railroad Street

Flathead County—Kalispell
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 10 AM
FVCC Arts and Technology, Room 139
777 Grandview Drive

Lake County—Polson
Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Lake County Courthouse
106 4th Avenue

Mineral County—Superior
Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Superior High School
410 Arizona Avenue

Ravalli County—Hamilton
Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 2 PM
Marcus Daily Hospital
1200 Westwood Drive

Missoula County—Missoula
Friday, July 9, 2010 at 10 AM
Continuing Education Center
32 Campus Drive

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 Congressman Denny Rehberg’s regular constituent outreach program, known as Traveling Office Hours, will have three of his Montana staff members covering a total of more than 1,800 miles this week.

“Montana is aptly named Big Sky Country, with vast landscapes and diverse geography,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “As Montana’s Congressman, it’s crucial that I know the thoughts and concerns of my constituents – from every corner of the state – and my Traveling Office Hours program is one way to help them connect with me.”

Rehberg’s six field representatives conduct approximately 10 to 15 Traveling Office Hours throughout the state on a monthly basis. This week, Rehberg field representatives conducted office hours in the following locations: Plains, Ronan, Polson, Havre, Malta, Glasgow, Scobey, Plentywood and Wolf Point.

“I have four district offices in Montana, and my door is always open, but, as a life-long Montanan, I understand that it’s not always easy to get around in this state,” said Rehberg, who regularly drives hundreds of miles each weekend to personally meet with constituents, local government officials, and industry representatives. “I rely on input from Montanans when making decisions in Washington. I’ll continue to do whatever it takes to make sure folks have a way to communicate with my office, no matter the distance.”

Rehberg’s four district offices are located in Billings, Helena, Great Falls, and Missoula.

KALISPELL - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has been released from Kalispell Regional Medical Center and is traveling back to his home in Billings, Montana.

“Jan and I are very grateful for the overwhelming support and prayers we’ve received from around the country. I also want to thank the excellent staff and administrators at Kalispell Regional Medical Center for the outstanding care I received. While it’s good to be heading home, my thoughts and prayers remain with Dustin, Kristin, Greg, Kathy and their families.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $491,000 for Geothermal Development in Hot Springs Valley. The funding was included in the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

“This funding represents an investment in an ‘All of the Above’ energy solution, which is the balanced approach I support to meet the America’s energy needs,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. “Research is imperative in developing alternative energy sources, and I’m proud to support a project that leads to jobs in Northwest Montana.”

Hydrologists believe that a water source at the Lake County hot springs may be hot enough deep in the earth for geothermal power production. Geothermal energy is power extracted from heat stored in the earth. It’s an important, renewable source of energy that can be produced domestically. While cost-effective and environmentally friendly, it can only be tapped in very specific locations, which makes it important to locate hot spots.

“The Hot Springs area in Lake County, Montana is a proven source for geothermal. Shallow wells indicate that the source goes deeper,” said Kenneth Sugden, General Manager for Flathead Electric Cooperative. “This project will allow Flathead Electric to continue drilling in shallow wells to verify the potential source of development. Geothermal power is a valuable source of distributed, renewable power for the area.”

Kalispell Woman Among 327 Surviving WASPs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has sponsored legislation to award the Women Air Service Pilots (WASPs) of World War II the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor the United States Congress can bestow.

“The Women Air Service Pilots deserve our recognition as patriots and trailblazers,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Today, women can serve in every branch of the United States Armed Forces, thanks in large part to the groundbreaking service of these pilots.”

Women Air Service Pilots were the first women in history to fly America’s military aircraft. They volunteered to serve their country at a time of great need, sometimes paying their own way through the Army Air Corps’ military flight training program. They flew more than 60 million miles in every type of aircraft on every type of mission except direct combat missions, and 38 of them lost their lives serving their country.

“It’s time for a grateful nation to honor the amazing women who in one swing struck a blow for both liberty and equality,” said Rehberg.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today released the full text from his address to a Joint Session of the Montana State Legislature.  Rehberg, a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, served in the Montana Legislature for three terms beginning in 1984.

The speech is available for download at http://www.house.gov/rehberg/Rehberg_Address2009.pdf and included below.

The text of the speech, except for the excerpts distributed yesterday, is embargoed until the speech is delivered at around 2 pm, Friday, March 13, 2009.

Read the rest of this entry »

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, signed a letter to President-Elect Obama urging the continued production of the F-22A Raptor. The Raptor is a critical component of the U.S. Strike Force, and components are manufactured in Kalispell and Helena.

“It’s easy to take for granted that our men and women in combat zones have little to fear from enemy aircraft,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “For years, the United States has employed cutting-edge technology to establish air supremacy, and we cannot become complacent. The F-22 is an important part of the bigger national security picture, and its continued production is good for Montana.”

Sonju Industries in Kalispell and Summit Aeronautics Group in Helena make parts for the F-22. Together, they employ 33 Montanans directly and 70 indirectly. According to the National Defense Authorization Act, the President must certify his intention to either cancel or continue F-22 production by March 1, 2009.

“Denny’s strong efforts to encourage the development of a technology sector in Helena and throughout the state has resulted in the creation of many new, high-paying jobs,” said Tom Hoffman the CEO of Summit Aeronautics Group. “All of us here at Summit appreciate his support for the extension of the F-22 program. It makes a big difference for a lot of Montanans.”

“I’m proud that Montana companies are playing a lead roll in securing our air superiority in the next decade,” said Rehberg. “Now is not the time to deny our armed forces the resources they need.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced that Accessible Space, Inc., a non-profit in Kalispell, would receive a $3,519,000 capital advance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the construction of 22 one-bedroom units for low-income elderly residences.  In addition, they will receive $219,000 over three years to subsidize the initial cost of rent.

“This is welcome news for the Kalispell community,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees funding for HUD.  “Montana’s low-income seniors can be among the most vulnerable, especially with increasing costs of energy and housing.  This funding is an important step toward a long-term solution.”

Four of the units will be fully accessible with roll-in showers and kitchens for those residents with disabilities. Special amenities include a community room, laundry room and patio area to encourage socializing for the residents and their families and friends. The project will employ Energy Star rated furnaces, thermostats and appliances.

In addition to funding the construction and rehabilitation of projects to create apartments, HUD Section 202 grants will subsidize rents for three years so that residents will pay only 30 percent of their adjusted incomes as rent.  To be eligible for the assistance a household must be classified as “very low- income,” which means an income less than 50 percent of the area median.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg met with Paul Rana, Vice Chairman of the Greater Woods Bay Sewer Committee (GWBSC), in Washington D.C.  Rehberg and Rana discussed funding for the Greater Woods Bay Sewer Project.

            “As a member of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee and the only member of the Montana delegation on the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight for Montana priorities like the Greater Woods Bay Sewer Project,” said Rehberg.  “This is an important project both for the health of local residents and the preservation of the water ecosystems of Flathead Lake.”

            The Greater Woods Bay Planning Area (GWBPA) consists of Woods Bay, Sheaver’s Creek, Ridgewood, Yenne Point, Orchard Land, and other nearby neighborhoods in northern Lake County.  The multi-phase $22 million wastewater infrastructure and improvement plan will address the growing problem of aging, failing, and non-compliant residential septic and drain field treatment systems which could threaten municipal and Flathead Lake water quality.  Congress approved $260,000 for preliminary engineering work in fiscal year 2008.

            “I just wanted to personally thank Congressman Rehberg for his support of this important project,” said Rana of his meeting with Rehberg. “We are trying to install sewers in a 3.5 mile stretch of lakefront at Flathead Lake in order to keep the lake clean, provide healthy drinking water and maintain the ecosystem by replacing an antiquated septic system.”

# # #