Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today introduced the bipartisan Rural Community Flood Protection Act with Rep. David Wu (D-OR). This legislation would require the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a levee system evaluation and certification for both federally and non-federally authorized levees upon the request of a non-federal entity. The Corps of Engineers suspended its certifications after liability concerns following Hurricane Katrina, leaving several Montana communities to either come up with tens of thousands of dollars for private certifications or face expensive flood insurance requirements.

“Rural communities have always depended on the Corps of Engineers for the certification of their levees, and it’s wrong to pull the rug out from under them,” said Rehberg, a member of the Congressional Levee Caucus. “It makes no sense to force thousands of tiny rural communities to secure certification on their own when the Corps can do it for much cheaper and with much more efficiency. This is about doing the right thing, both for rural families and for cost savings.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in the process of digitally re-mapping various parts of the country, including parts of Montana. As a result, many levees need to be recertified to provide a set level of protection. Without this certification, FEMA’s new maps will show that no levee exists, requiring homeowners to purchase flood insurance and possibly prohibiting them from building on their property. Earlier this year, during a House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Rehberg questioned the Corps of Engineers about their unwillingness to resume certifications, and whether they were sufficiently authorized to certify levees.

This legislation would give the Corp of Engineers explicit authority to resume its certification of levees. It also includes a cost-sharing provision that lifts the burden of expense off of the local communities and property owners. The Corps would be directed to cap the non-federal cost-share requirements for certifications it provides.

“Giving the Corps of Engineers the authority to do these certifications is a big step,” said Sandy Mares, the Administrative Commissioner of the West Great Falls Flood Control and Drainage District. “The cost-sharing provisions of Denny’s bill are a life-preserver for the small rural levee districts in Montana, and we can’t thank him enough for his work.”

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.”

BILLINGS, MT – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced an additional fifteen listening sessions in counties stretching from Sheridan County to Beaverhead County in early August. Rehberg’s America Speaking Out Listening Tour continues across the four corners of Montana, where he invites anyone who wants to come and takes all questions and comments. He will cover nearly 2,500 miles.

“Driving across Montana each weekend is one of the best parts of this job,” said Rehberg, who visits all 56 counties each Congress. “While a lot of my colleagues would rather spend their time in D.C., I need the face-to-face interaction with Montanans to represent them the way they deserve. There’s just no substitute for the unfiltered opinions you get at these listening sessions, which is why I have had so many. ”

Rehberg scheduled 15 listening sessions between July 31 and August 7:

Custer County Listening Session — Miles City
Saturday, July 31, 2010 at 1 PM
Miles City Community College Room #317
2715 Dickinson Road

Wibaux County Listing Session — Wibaux
Saturday, July 31, 2010 at 4 PM
Wibaux County Courtroom
203 South Wibaux

Daniels County Listening Session — Scobey
Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 1 PM
Museum Visitors Center
720 2nd Avenue West

Sheridan County Listening Session — Plentywood
Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 3:30 PM
Sheridan County Courthouse
100 West Laurel Avenue

Roosevelt County Listening Session — Wolf Point
Monday, August 2, 2010 at 10 AM
Senior Center Community Services Building
124 Custer Avenue

Richland County Listening Session — Sidney
Monday, August 2, 2010 at 2 PM
Community Services Building
1291 West Holly Street

Musselshell County Listening Session — Roundup
Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 10 AM
Roundup Memorial Hospital, Conference Room
1201 3rd Street West

Judith Basin County Listening Session — Stanford
Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 2 PM
County Courthouse
31 1st Avenue

Park County Listening Session — Livingston
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 10 AM
Park County Courthouse
414 East Challender Street

Gallatin County Listening Session — Bozeman
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 1 PM
Bozeman City Hall
121 North Rouse

Madison County Listening Session — Ennis
Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 10 AM
Madison Rural Valley Fire Station, Fire Station 1
537 US HWY 287

Beaverhead County Listening Session — Dillon
Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 2 PM
University of Montana — Western
710 South Atlantic

Jefferson County Listening Session — Boulder
Friday, August 6, 2010 at 10 AM
Jefferson County Courthouse
201 Centennial

Lewis and Clark County Listening Session — Helena
Friday, August 6, 2010 at 1 PM
Lewis and Clark Library
120 South Last Chance Gulch

Lincoln County Listening Session — Libby
Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 1 PM
Libby City Hall
952 East Spruce Street

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today released the following statement in support of increased access to Yellowstone National Park for snowmobiles. Today, the National Park Service announced a new draft plan for winter management.

“Montana snowmobilers continue to face uncertainty and unjustified hurdles restricting access to the Park. Opponents of snowmobiles have turned to judicial wrangling and the never-ending rulemaking process to completely end access to our national parks. Meanwhile, the local economy around the Park is suffering. While these obstructionist groups always trumpet the economic benefits of public lands, they are also doing everything they can to choke those benefits out of existence. It’s time for a long-term solution to fix this mess once and for all.”

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,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has joined with House colleagues from both parties in urging the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Labor to protect programs that meet the unique needs of rural schools. The letter relates to the pending reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind. Eighty-five-percent of Montana’s schools are classified as either rural or frontier.

“Rural interests have really taken a back seat lately, and when it comes to education, Montana’s students can’t afford to be at the back of the bus,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Rural Education Caucus. “Everyone knows about the challenges faced by inner city schools, but the unique challenges affecting rural districts are less well known, but just as important. Unfortunately, the Obama Blueprint for education is a one-size-fits-all plan that doesn’t address the needs of rural schools.”

The letter expresses support for the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP), and asks the government not to force rural school districts into a situation where they are competing for funding against urban schools with more resources. The letter also expresses concerns about the urban-based “turnaround models” recommended by President Obama’s Blueprint.

Under the turnaround models, schools that do not live up to the Obama Administration’s benchmarks would be forced to fire principals, teachers and staff in order to continue receiving federal funding. The turnaround models do not account for the inability of many rural schools to recruit and hire new educators.

“Rural states aren’t asking for any special favors or advantages,” said Rehberg. “I’ve talked to educators from across Montana, and they just want a level playing field and a chance to compete fairly.”

“With the reauthorization of ESEA, we have a chance to change America’s education system for the better,” said Dave Puyear, Executive Director of the Montana Rural Education Association. “If we miss that chance, it will be five years before we are able to fix our mistakes. I thank Rep. Rehberg for supporting rural educators and giving voice to our concerns. Our chance to protect Montana’s kids is now, and I hope the bill will consider rural and urban students as equals.”

The letter is included below:

Dear Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Kline:

As Members representing rural districts, we would like to offer our comments on the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the issues facing rural education. Your attention to these concerns is greatly appreciated.

SUPPORT THE RURAL EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM
We would like to express our strong support for the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP), an important tool that provides funding to rural districts for a wide variety of purposes including hiring new teachers, providing professional development opportunities, and bringing new technology to the classroom.

REAP is specifically designed to help level the playing field for small and high-poverty rural school systems. In many of these districts, federal formula programs do not produce enough resources to carry out the purposes of the grant. In addition, small and rural school districts are often forced to forgo federal education dollars because they lack the personnel and the resources to apply for competitive grants. REAP enables school districts to undertake significant reform by allowing them to combine their funding and by providing them with necessary additional funds.

We are deeply concerned that the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget proposal would allow the Secretary of Education to set aside an unspecified amount of REAP dollars to fund competitive grant initiatives. We strongly encourage the Committee to reject redesigning any component of REAP to provide for competitive grants. In addition, we strongly oppose any changes that allow the Secretary to set aside funding for national rural activities because the program is already facing more demand than it can meet. We, however, support changes to REAP which would allow federal funds to be even more closely targeted to rural, in-need districts.

PRESERVE FORMULA FUNDING
We are concerned by the Administration’s proposal to shift all or portions of program funding, including Title I allocations and REAP funding, to competitive grants and the impact this will have on rural education.

To begin funding these federal programs through competitive grants will lead to greater inequality of federal aid. The districts with more administrative resources are the ones who will be able to apply for competitive grants and the districts without the administrative capacity will be left behind. We ask that you maintain formula funding to ensure rural schools have equal access to much needed federal funding.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Also at issue are the current School Improvement Grant (SIG) intervention models authorized under the Race-to-the-Top (RTTT) competition and highlighted in the Administration’s Blueprint for Reform. We are deeply concerned that limiting turnaround models to four – three of which lack a strong basis in research – unfairly hampers the efforts of rural communities to invest in turnaround.

As mentioned earlier, rural schools lack the capacities of their urban and suburban counterparts and are often at a distinct disadvantage in recruiting and retaining highly qualified and effective personnel. For these reasons, we ask that additional research-based turnaround models be permitted that would allow rural communities the flexibility they need to address school improvement adequately.

In closing, the policies of the last ESEA did not sufficiently account for the vast differences in school districts throughout the country, making it incredibly difficult for smaller school configurations with limited resources to meet the demands required under the law, particularly as they relate to highly qualified teachers and Supplemental Education Services (SES). During this reauthorization, we encourage you to look at those areas of the law that have failed our rural schools and communities, and ask that you promote policies to support rural schools and enable them to overcome the unique challenges they face.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to working with you on this critical reauthorization.

Sincerely,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today released the following statement following today’s report that Montana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment increased to 7.3 percent in June from 7.2 percent in May. Last June, Montana’s unemployment was 6.2 percent. Despite record-level spending on a “so-called” Stimulus, Montana has not seen a reduction in its unemployment since September, 2006.

“Unfortunately, Congress appears intent on killing job creation with a steady onslaught of new taxes, complex federal regulations and a fog of uncertainty that has paralyzed new hiring by small businesses. As I travel around the state, I hear time and again that Washington, D.C. is not only failing to encourage job growth, but it’s actually making things worse and delaying an economic recovery.”

Rehberg recently conducted an email survey of Montanans about job creation. A full 70 percent of more than 3,500 responses indicated that our economy was worse today than when the “so-called” Stimulus passed. 57 percent thought that the “so-called” Stimulus actually hurt the economy while only 18 percent thought it helped. And the vast majority of people surveyed thought that the better path to economic prosperity is smaller government, lower taxes and fewer federal regulations.

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

WASHIGNTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, this week introduced an amendment to the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Bill that would have blocked funding for the enforcement of a particularly ominous new reporting requirement for American small businesses.  The provision – which will require companies to start issuing 1099 tax forms to all vendors  from whom they purchase more than $600 in goods and services – was intended to increase tax revenues to pay for the  health care benefits that don’t even begin until 2012 or later.  Currently, businesses  typically issue 1099 forms only to independent contractors and freelancers receive them each year from their clients.

“Before we even get to the mountains of health care-related paperwork that small businesses are  facing, this tax provision requires Montana small businesses to track every penny they spend over $600 in the course of a year,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriation Subcommittee.  “For example, if a company spends $600 on miscellaneous supplies from the local supermarket, they’ll now be required to submit a tax form reporting that expenditure to the IRS.  That’s time that you could be using building your business and creating jobs.”

A recent poll conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce indicated that 68% of small business owners say the government’s regulations hurt the economy and job creation.  Rehberg, who has long fought to reduce required government paperwork, has also co-sponsored H.R. 5141, the “Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act,” which repeals the burdensome new 1099 provision in the Health Care Bill.

“Congressman Rehberg’s effort to halt this egregious tax grab perfectly captures the frustration that Montana’s small business owners have been voicing,” said Riley Johnson, the Montana State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business. “They know this new health care law, with provisions like this, will bury them in paperwork and force them to spend even more money on tax compliance.  Those new costs mean less investment in their business and fewer jobs – the exact opposite of the kind of policies small businesses need to create jobs and jump start our economy.  We look forward to working with pro-small business members like Congressman Rehberg to repeal the 1099 reporting provision once and for all.”

Rehberg’s Amendment would have prevented any funds from being used to implement this provision.  It failed on a strictly party-line vote.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today offered an amendment during the initial stages of next year’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Bill reducing the cost to the taxpayer by $13 billion.

“While talking about spending freezes next year, House Democrats are blowing up the spending this year to compensate,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Humans Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee.  “This slight of hand is at best ineffective and at worst completely dishonest and cynical.  This freeze is empty rhetoric because it won’t actually reduce spending, or even hold it steady.  Montanans expect better.  My amendment essentially implements the spending freeze a year early – locking last year’s funding level in place.”

The national debt has grown to more than $13 trillion, which is more than $42,000 for every man, woman and child in America.  Despite not passing a budget for the coming year, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee has requested $176 billion for next year.  That figure was $163 billion this year.  Rehberg’s Amendment reduces the 2011 funding figure to the 2010 level.

“I’ve joined Republicans in forgoing earmarks this year, promising it was the first step toward true comprehensive spending reform,” said Rehberg.  “My amendment gave my Democratic colleagues a chance to actually put taxpayers money where their mouths are, and they said no.  When it comes to fiscal reform, the distinction couldn’t be more clear.”