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, has contacted the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator, John Pistole, urging a decision on the application of three Montana airports to participate in the Screening Partnership Program (SPP). This program allows small airports to contract with private security screeners instead of TSA officials in order to save money and improve service. Airports in Butte, Kalispell and West Yellowstone have been waiting for Homeland Security approval for too long. The Missoula airport has also applied to join SPP, though their application is more recent.

“Sometimes it takes a little nudge to get the federal government moving on something they should be doing on their own,” said Rehberg, a member of the House General Aviation Caucus. “In this case, these airports have been waiting for far too long to know whether or not they’ve been approved. A favorable decision to allow these airports to employ private security screeners will save money and create private sector jobs. Frankly, it’s time for Homeland Security to make a decision.”

In 2004, the TSA established a program to allow small airports to employ private security screeners instead of TSA officials if the Department of Homeland Security deemed it more cost effective to do so. This program was based on a pilot program started in 2001.

Since then, 17 airports and one heliport have been approved to join the program including seven EAS airports in Montana.

Four other Montana airports – Missoula, Butte, Kalispell, West Yellowstone – have submitted requests to join the Screening Partnership Program, but none of these airports has received a final decision. Butte has been waiting since Spring 2009 and West Yellowstone and Kalispell have been waiting since Fall 2009.

“The Flathead Municipal Airport Authority, following a considerable amount of due diligence, submitted an application to participate in the SPP program in October 2009,” said Glacier Park International Airport Director Cindi Martin. “The Authority firmly believes that this program will meet our customer service and security staffing needs - now and in the future. But because of lengthy and unexplained delays on TSA’s part, we are unable to move forward. We thank Denny for his attention to this matter, and we hope that TSA will finally address this issue.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, sent a letter today to Richard King, President and CEO of the Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation, asking him to weigh in on Smurfit-Stone’s bankruptcy proceedings to ensure the Missoula mill can be reopened for business. The facility was shut down by Smurfit-Stone as a result of ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

“Missoula has a great facility that’s sitting idle and in need of a new mission,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “I want to ensure this facility is used in a way that best helps Montana’s loggers, drivers and millworkers. This is about getting Montanans back to work as quickly as possible.”

The Chapter 11 Bankruptcy of Smurfit-Stone, which resulted in the closure of its Missoula mill, has also resulted in supply chain disruptions with statewide impacts.

The letter is below:

Mr. Richard C. King
President and Chief Executive Officer
Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation
1121 East Broadway
Missoula, Montana 59802

Re: Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation Bankruptcy Proceeding #09-10235 (BLS)

Dear Mr. King:

I’m writing to thank you for your active oversight of the above referenced bankruptcy proceeding. As you know, the proper disposition of Smurfit-Stone’s Missoula facility is critical to the local economy and the entire state. As a result, I believe it’s important that the plant remain open as a paper mill or is converted to an appropriate alternative use.

The University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research says that, as a result of Smurfit-Stone’s closure, 1,700 jobs worth more than $40 million annually have been lost. In addition to the devastating economic loss, the direct impact to private landowners, resource managers and Montana’s manufacturing and professional logging community is tremendous.

Montana annually produces approximately 2.5 million tons of residual wood fiber. Smurfit-Stone utilized about 80% of this material. Not only has a key link in the wood products chain been broken, but transportation costs have increased with longer haul distances. With each mill closure, Montana loses more and more professionally trained wood workers and log haulers.

I urge your continued diligence as the bankruptcy court proceedings enter their final phase. I also encourage you to weigh in on an outcome that retains jobs and ensures the economic viability of Missoula and the surrounding communities.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

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 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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today released the following statement following news that Smurfit-Stone was closing its Missoula plant at the end of the year.

“Behind the ‘417 Jobs Lost’ headline, there are 417 families that are now facing a difficult Christmas season and uncertainty about where their next paycheck will come from. I’m ready to do whatever I can to provide assistance to all those impacted by this closure, and to avoid similar closures from happening in the future.”

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.

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.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $300,000 for the Northern Rockies Educational Services efforts to improve technology integration in K-12 classrooms in Montana.  The funding was included in the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

“Better technology in our schools means a better education for our kids,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.  “I’m working to ensure Montana’s students have the same access to modern technology as kids who live in urban states like California.  We’ve got the best teachers in the country, this funding will help ensure we’ve also got the best resources to keep Montana competitive when it comes to public education.”

Taking Technology to the Classroom (TTC) is a collaborative statewide project to help Montana K-12 teachers better integrate technology into their classroom and obtain an “Area of Special Permissive Competency” notation on their teaching certificate from the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

“We would like to thank Congressman Rehberg for his support of the Taking Technology to the Classroom project,” said Liz Cunningham, the President and CEO of T.E.S.T. in Missoula.  “This project will benefit education by preparing Montana teachers with effective 21st Century Technology Skills to enhance learning in their classrooms and impact student achievement.  The success of the Montana Taking Technology to the Classroom project will serve as a model for other states.”