Congressman Denny Rehberg

Public meetings scheduled for Yellowstone, Carbon, Rosebud & Prairie Counties

WASHINGTON, D.C. -– Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has scheduled four more Listening Sessions in Montana.  This continues his open-door policy of holding open meetings where anyone can attend 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 are framed by the input I receive from thousands of Montanans who attend the listening sessions.  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 24 and July 25, 2010:

Yellowstone County—Billings
Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 12 PM
MSU-Billings Student Union, Lewis and Clark Room
1500 University Drive

Carbon County—Red Lodge
Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 3 PM
New Roosevelt Middle School
413 South Oaks

Rosebud County—Forsyth
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 1 PM
Fair Office Conference Room
513 North 16th Street

Prairie County—Terry
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 3:30 PM
Badlands Café and Scoop Shoppe
205 S. Logan  Avenue

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki and Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Steve L. Muro urging them to re-evaluate the methodology used to establish new National Veterans Cemeteries.  Montana does not currently have a national cemetery even though it’s home to one of the highest per capita veterans populations in the country.  The Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery (YCVC), a state veterans cemetery, has consistently been passed over for national designation as a result of urban-centric standards that don’t work in rural states like Montana.

“While Montana has four state veterans cemeteries, the fact that we’re consistently denied a national cemetery because of our rural nature is unacceptable,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “A veteran’s service is no less honorable because they choose to live in a rural state instead of a large city.  Montana’s veterans deserve a national cemetery.  We know western states are underserved, but so far the VA just isn’t getting the message.”

Last year, Rehberg introduced legislation directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine if certain areas of the country are insufficiently served by the national cemeteries in their regions.  H.R. 1114 would instruct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a process to consider factors such as the number of vets in an area, how far they must travel to the nearest national cemetery, the availability of public transportation, the average cost of transport and other information. Currently, the VA requires a new national cemetery if a veteran population of 170,000 or more isn’t served by a national cemetery within a 75-mile radius.

The Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration maintains 128 national cemeteries in 39 states (and Washington, D.C.). There are no active national cemeteries in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho or North Dakota. American Veterans and their spouses are afforded the honor of being buried at national and state cemeteries.

“This letter complements my legislation in drawing attention to this critical issue for Montana vets,” said Rehberg.  “They fought valiantly for all of us, the least I can do is fight for them in Congress.”

Read the letter below:

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BILLINGS, MT - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is hosting an informational meeting for Montana students interested in attending a U.S. Military Academy, or joining an armed forces ROTC program . Academy Day will take place Saturday, April 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Billings Armed Forces Reserve Center, 2917 Gabel Road.

“Service in America’s Armed Forces is one of the most honored callings a young man or woman can answer,” said Rehberg, a member of the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. “It’s a privilege for me to recommend dedicated Montanans to the service academies, but the entrance requirements are challenging and competitive. Academy Day can help better prepare a possible candidate.”

Representatives from the academies (Naval, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines), along with representatives of the Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC programs will be on hand to make presentations and answer questions. Interested high school and middle school students are encouraged to attend, along with the student’s parents and school guidance counselors. No pre-registration is required.

Along with other requirements, admittance to military academies, (except the Coast Guard), requires a nomination from a U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator. 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.

Interested students are asked to submit their nomination application to Rehberg’s office by November 1. For more information, contact Linda Price in Rehberg’s Billings District Office, toll free at 1-888-232-2626 .

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, sent a letter to the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Water and Power requesting action on the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act, which he sponsored.  On September 22 of last year, that Subcommittee held a legislative hearing, although since then no action has been taken.

“This is an important piece of legislation, and I’ll keep fighting until it’s signed by the President,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Native American Caucus.  “I’ve worked with the Crow to address the concerns that were brought up at last year’s hearing, and it’s only fair to give this bill a chance to be heard at the full committee level.”

Rehberg’s legislation authorizes the federal component of a comprehensive settlement of the reserved water rights claimed by the Crow.  The bill approves the Crow Tribe Water Rights Compact reached between the tribe and other non-federal parties quantifying water rights and authorizing economic development projects.

The Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission was established by the Montana legislature in 1979 to resolve water compacts between the state and tribes.   The Commission and the Crow Tribe negotiated the Crow Tribe-Montana Compact in 1999.  The Montana Legislature ratified a Compact that same year.

“This water settlement is extremely important to the Crow Tribe and to the State of Montana,” said Cedric Black Eagle, Chairman of the Crow Tribe.  “We are deeply appreciative of Representative Rehberg’s efforts to keep this legislation moving as quickly as possible through the legislative process.”

LETTER:

Dear Chairwoman Napolitano and Ranking Member McClintock:  

I am writing to request your consideration of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2009 (H.R. 3563), which was heard by the Subcommittee on September 22, 2009.  Since that time, the parties to the compact have worked to address concerns raised during the hearing and in subsequent meetings with administration staff.  As such, I urge your action to move this bill through the committee process.

This legislation ratifies the water rights compact between the Crow Tribe and the State of Montana, which was agreed upon in 1999.  H.R. 3563 would help rehabilitate and improve the Crow Irrigation Project, and create jobs and lasting infrastructure for future generations.  Members of the Crow Tribe have long awaited a final resolution, and I urge your action to ensure this bill moves forward in a timely manner.

I respectfully request this bill be brought before the Subcommittee for markup at the earliest available date and referred to the full Committee on Natural Resources for its consideration.  Thank you for your attention to this matter, and please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, went to bat on behalf of Billings American Legion Post 4 to host the 2011 and 2012 regional baseball tournaments. Rehberg, a lifelong Billings resident, wrote a letter of support to the national organization.

“Hosting this tournament in Billings would boost the local economy, sustain jobs and give residents the opportunity to partake in America’s pastime,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Billings has a long tradition of great baseball, and the new Dehler Park, in downtown Billings, offers a perfect venue for a regional tournament.”

American Legion Post 4 will present its bid, along with letters of support from Rehberg and others, this month. The bids will be awarded on May 5, 2010. This is the first time Legion Baseball has opened the bidding process to all states within a region for the right to host the tournament for a two-year period. Previously, the regional tournaments were rotated among each state on a yearly basis and Legion programs within the state would compete for the right to host. Montana is part of the Northwest region, which also includes Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

“The people of Billings have a well-deserved reputation for rolling out the red carpet for our visitors,” said Rehberg. “I whole-heartedly support the tournament bid, and look forward to catching some American Legion tournament baseball real soon.”

“Billings American Legion Baseball is thrilled with Congressman Rehberg’s support of our bid to host the 2011 and 2012 Northwest Regional tournament,” said Jeff Ballard, Chairman, Billings American Legion Baseball. “Congressman Rehberg exemplifies the support that we receive from the Billings community and shows why Billings would be an excellent choice to host the tournament for 2 years.”

LETTER:

To Whom It May Concern:

It’s a privilege to offer my support to Billings American Legion Baseball and its bid to host the 2011-2012 Northwest Regional Tournament.

As Montana’s Congressman and a lifelong resident of Billings, I can attest to the many contributions Billings could offer as a host city to the Northwest Regional Tournament. In November 2006, voters passed a bond to replace Billings’ former baseball venue, Cobb Field, which hosted the local minor league team since its first season in 1948.

Located in close proximity to downtown Billings, the new Dehler Field offers easy access to dining, lodging and entertainment venues, in addition to being a great place to watch a baseball game. Since opening in 2008, it has quickly gained widespread support from baseball fans across Montana, and I’m confident it would make a great host to the tournament.

I’m proud to support Billings American Legion Baseball and its bid to host the Northwest Regional Tournament. Thank you for offering them every consideration, and please don’t hesitate to contact my office if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today sent a letter to Governor Brian Schweitzer requesting a declaration of emergency for counties and reservations adversely impacted by record-cold temperatures across the state. Rehberg, who has been in close contact with stakeholders throughout Montana as well as representatives from the Department of Agriculture (USDA), said in his letter that a formal declaration of emergency was necessary for federal relief measures to get underway.

“While we can’t yet quantify the specific damage done to the sugar beet and potato crops, every producer, county commissioner and agriculture organization I’ve talked with has agreed that there will be serious damage,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and a rancher. “I’ve got the USDA standing by, but before they can do anything, they need a formal declaration from the Governor.”

In an early morning conference call this morning, Rehberg’s office was told that there are at least 19 counties and four Indian Reservations that are adversely impacted by the cold weather. The Indian Reservations impacted include: Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Fort Peck and Flathead. The counties include; Beaverhead, Big Horn, Broadwater, Carbon, Choteau, Custer, Dawson, Gallatin, Lake, Madison, Powell, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Stillwater, Treasure, and Yellowstone. More counties may be added to the list before the damage is fully assessed.

A similar action was recently taken with the on-going declaration of disaster for drought related conditions in Glacier and Teton counties.

Letter:

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today released the following statement following reports of serious damage to crops after record-cold weather across Montana.

“Recently, I’ve heard some pretty dire stories out of Montana.  Many of these producers already have first-hand experience with how long it takes bureaucracies to provide relief, and we don’t want to get pinned behind the 8-ball by waiting too long.  In the upcoming days, I’ll continue to work with affected counties and ranches to assess the damage quickly in order to determine if a declaration of emergency is justified.”

This isn’t the first time producers in Southeast Montana have faced a disaster situation.  When drought conditions caused a reduced harvest in 2008, many Montana producers counted on insurance money from the Group Risk Plan (GRP) for the premiums they paid.  They were told, instead, that they will not receive payments until 2010, if at all.  In a letter to the USDA, Rehberg asked them to provide producers the payments that they need.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today participated in a legislative hearing held by the Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power to discuss Rehberg’s bill, H.R. 3563, the “Crow Tribe Water Settlements Act of 2009.”  Testifying on behalf of the bill were The Honorable Cedric Black Eagle, Chairman of the Crow Tribe and Crow Agency, and Mr. Chris Tweeten, Chairman of the Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission.  The hearing moves the bill one step closer to final passage in the House.

“Montanans understand the importance of water and the importance of Native American issues in a way that the federal government doesn’t always grasp,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Native American Caucus.  “I requested a hearing on this bill because it’s the right thing to do for the Crow Tribe.  I’ll keep working across the aisle get this bill passed and signed into law.”

Rehberg’s legislation authorizes the federal component of a comprehensive settlement of the Federal Indian reserved water rights claims of the Crow Tribe in Montana. The bill has two major components. First, it approves the Crow Tribe Water Rights Compact reached between the tribe and other non-federal parties quantifying the Tribe’s water rights. Second, it authorizes economic development projects.

The Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission was established by the Montana legislature in 1979 for purposes of concluding compacts for the equitable division and apportionment of waters between the State and its peoples and the Indian Tribes claiming reserved water rights within the State.   The Commission and the Crow Tribe negotiated the Crow Tribe-Montana Compact in 1999.  Montana’s state legislature ratified a Compact that same year.

The Crow Tribe has a membership of approximately 11,000 people, 7,900 of which live on the Crow Indian Reservation located in Big Horn County in south-central Montana.

“This is a great day for the Crow Tribe,” said Chairman Black Eagle.  “It is yet another significant step toward vindication of our water rights. Congressman Rehberg has been a staunch friend and supporter of the tribe and we would not be where we are without him. We look forward to his assistance in obtaining final enactment of this bill, which is important not just for the Crow Tribe but for the entire State of Montana.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, contacted both the USDA Risk Management Association and the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) expressing concerns that the Group Risk Plan (GRP) has failed to fairly repay Montana producers from losses incurred due to droughts in 2008.  The GRP is a pilot program backed by the USDA Risk Management Agency.

“For some federal bureaucrats sitting behind a desk in Washington, D.C., this problem will be seen as a simple question of statistics and number crunching,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “For any of Montana’s ag producers in Dawson, Richland, McCone, Roosevelt or Sheridan Counties, this is literally a matter of survival and it’s my job to bring that sense of urgency to Washington, D.C.”

When drought conditions caused a reduced harvest in 2008, many Montana producers counted on insurance money from the GRP for the premiums they paid.  They were told, instead, that they will not receive payments until 2010, if at all.  The program uses data collected by the National Ag Statistics Service, which depends on written surveys of harvested land, but fails to account for land which is not even harvested because of drought conditions.  In a letter to the USDA, Rehberg challenged this methodology as failing to reflect true the loss in a county.  Rehberg asked USDA to provide producers the payments that they need, but are not receiving.

“This needs to get corrected quickly,” said Rehberg.  “These folks invested their money in good faith and have every right to be upset when the government does not uphold its end of the deal.”

Letter:

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Congressman’s Position on House Appropriations Committee Results in over $8 Million in Funding for Montana Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $8.387 million in agricultural funding for projects throughout the state, including $4.641 million for three separate efforts at Montana State University – Bozeman.  Funding includes $3.654 million for the Animal Bioscience Facility, $305,000 for the development of a Brucellosis Vaccine and $682,000 for research into Sustainable Beef Supply.  The funding was included in the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

“There are some very exciting projects at Montana State University that will have tremendous benefits for Montana’s number one economic sector,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “The state-of-the-art Animal Bioscience Complex at Montana State University will propel Montana to the forefront of technological advancement in agriculture, while work on a Brucellosis Vaccine and Sustainable Beef Supply continues to keep our products safe and marketable.”

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.”

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.”

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 Jacobsen.  “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.”