Congressman Denny Rehberg

E-Update -- June 2006

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Topics in this Edition:

From The Photo Gallery:
Chester Listening Session

Center for Immigration Studies

H.R. 5451



Current Immigration Measures:

H.R. 4437 - House Bill, Dec 05

S. 2611 - Senate Bill, May 06

Illegal Immigration
Bill to Exclude Illegal Immigrants From Census Count
Denny introduced legislation, (H.R. 5451, The Fair and Accurate Representation Act of 2006), that would exclude illegal immigrants from being counted for the purpose of determining the amount of seats each state receives in the U.S. House. "Counting illegal immigrants as part of the population skews Congressional representation and that’s a fact that can’t be argued," said Rehberg. “An added House seat for Montana means another opportunity for Western values and ideals to be voiced in Congress.”  According to the Center for Immigration Studies, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi and Montana all would’ve gained seats after the 2000 census if illegal immigrants weren’t counted. Montana lost a congressional seat in 1990 as a result of this practice. “The issue is fairness and it’s not right that those breaking the law to enter this country have such a profound impact on our electoral system.” 
(More)

Burns, Rehberg Rail Against Social Security Benefits for Illegal Immigrants
Denny and U.S. Senator Conrad Burns said they oppose any attempt to allow the almost 12 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the U.S. to collect Social Security benefits even if a job was obtained using forged or stolen documents.  A Senate amendment that would’ve restricted access to Social Security for illegal immigrants was blocked by a vote of 50-49.  Burns was the only Montana Senator that voted to restrict illegal immigrant access to Social Security.  "Congress should be fighting to protect the retirement security of the millions and millions of hardworking Americans that reside here legally, not rewarding people that make their first act on American soil an illegal one,” Denny said.   (More)



Going-to-the-Sun Road



Federal Highway Administration

$3 Million Secured for Going to the Sun Road
Denny secured $3 million in funding for critical repairs to Glacier Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road in the 2007 Transportation, Treasury and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. “This funding represents a down payment.  I’ll be working to increase the amount whenever the opportunity exists,” he said.  Of 39 public lands projects funded in the bill, the $3 million for Going-to-the-Sun is the third-largest. “In a tight budget environment, to come up with the third-largest of nearly 40 projects, represents a clear victory for Montana.”  Denny has been working to find ways to fund the project after a $50 million earmark in last year’s highway bill was found to be invalid by the Federal Highway Administration because of drafting errors.  Rehberg is still fighting for the original funding to be delivered through separate legislation.  “I know there are lots of folks in Montana that want to see this project come to fruition and I’m committed to getting it done for them," he said.   (More)

Department of Homeland Security

DHS Grants and MT Contacts

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Rehberg Boosts Border Security With Homeland Security Grant for Montana
“Montana’s expansive border with Canada creates a unique situation in which we must boost border security.  This funding will help us shore up Montana’s border against illegal activity,” Denny said, in announcing a $7.9 million Homeland Security grant for Montana. The bulk of the funding comes from two separate programs within the Homeland Security Grant Program. $4.49 million comes from the State Homeland Security Program, which provides assistance to states to prevent, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. $3.26 million is directed from the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, which supports such prevention activities as information sharing, target hardening, threat recognition, and interdiction efforts. “The northern border can’t be ignored in this equation and I’m working to ensure it isn’t,” added Rehberg.   (More)

Department of Interior

House Appropriations Committee

Land Sales Proposal Struck Down by House
Denny voted to block the sale of public lands, including up to 14,000 acres in Montana, by not including, in the 2007 Interior Appropriations bill, a Bush Administration plan that called for the land sales. The House overwhelmingly voted against selling public lands as part of the $25.9 billion 2007 Interior Appropriations bill. “I’ve said all along the sale of these lands to fund government operations isn’t a sensible plan and I’m glad to see many of my colleagues agree. This represents a real victory for Montana’s many sportsmen and women that enjoy our public lands,” said Rehberg   (More)



BLM - Montana


Museum of the Plains Indian

House Measure Protects Plains Indian Museum
The Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning will stay open for at least another year as the U.S. House of Representatives included language in the 2007 Interior Appropriations Bill urging the Interior Department to stop pursuing closures or sales of three Indian museums. “First, we convinced the President to abandon a plan to curtail funding for the museums and actually managed an INCREASE in funding, (from $1.14 million in 2006, to $1.16 million for 2007). Now, the House has explicitly said closing these museums isn’t a good idea,” said Rehberg, who formed a bipartisan coalition to help keep the museums open. The Museum of the Plains Indian attracts over 15,000 tourists annually and houses a collection of over 1,500 local Blackfeet artifacts.   (More)





H.R. 4200

Forest Clean-up Legislation Passes
Denny’s House colleagues passed H.R. 4200, the Forest Recovery and Research Act, which streamlines timber removal and salvage projects on federal lands damaged by catastrophic storms or wildfires.  Rehberg was a sponsor of the legislation when it was introduced earlier this year. “Bureaucratic red tape forces federal agencies to wait years in some cases before beginning cleanup efforts. This practice doesn’t make sense and poses a threat to the environment and to rural economies,” Denny said. The bill’s aim is to streamline a burdensome recovery process that results in environmental and economic inefficiencies. “Current regulations have to be changed in ways that don’t threaten environmental quality, but allow us to have healthy national forests.”   (More)

Other Topics

Effort Helps Protect Tamarack Contract, Bitterroot Valley Jobs

House Passes Rehberg's Fort Peck Water Bill

$21.2 Million in Energy and Water Projects for Montana

Pressing for Amtrak Funding

$3.2 Million Montana Housing Grant

In The News:
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Contact Information:
Billings: 1201 Grand Avenue, Suite #1, Billings, MT 59102 - Toll Free: 1-888-232-2626
Great Falls: 105 Smelter Ave. NE, Suite #116, Great Falls, MT 59404 - Phone: (406) 454-1066
Helena: 950 North Montana Avenue, Helena, MT 59601 - Phone: (406) 443-7878
Missoula: 218 East Main, Suite B, Missoula, MT 59802 - Phone: (406) 543-9550
Washington: 516 Cannon HOB, Washington DC 20515 - Phone: (202) 225-3211
On the Web: http://www.house.gov/rehberg

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US House of Representatives - Congressman Denny Rehberg