WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided not to regulate the use of lead fishing tackle.  The EPA had been giving serious consideration to expanding it’s regulatory authority to include lead sinkers.  Last year, Rehberg cosponsored legislation introduced by Congressman Paul Broun (GA-10) to prevent the EPA from taking this action in the first place.  Rehberg’s legislation would also prevent the EPA from regulating lead ammunition, something they have yet to decide against doing.

“While it appears that the EPA was finally forced to make the right decision, what’s got Montana sportsmen and women concerned is that it took them this long.  Frankly, this idea should have been laughed out of the room, and we should never have wasted scare tax dollars exploring the possibility of onerous new EPA regulations on fishing tackle.  No wonder folks are worried that soon there will not be any part of our lives that the EPA doesn’t want to regulate, control or change.  We won today, but we’re going to keep fighting until the EPA also decides against regulating ammunition.” Continue reading →

Lummis calls on Senator Tester to support a comprehensive tracking of Equal Access to Justice Act payments and claims.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) issued the following statement after Senator Jon Tester’s (D-MT) introduction of S.2042, legislation to track and report on tax-payer subsidies for lawsuits against the government:

“The fact that Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) payments has operated under a cloak of secrecy for the last 17 years is widely accepted to be a problem.  Users of
EAJA, including veterans, seniors and environmental organizations, collectively
agree this program should be subject to tracking and reporting requirements.  So
I find it odd that Sen. Tester would introduce a bill to track only half of EAJA
payments. Continue reading →

Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, contacted Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell urging the Forest Service to quickly draft another travel plan for Gallatin National Forest that takes into account all historical data regarding motorized vehicle use. Because it was missing critical, but readily available information, the latest plan was rejected by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  The interim plan currently in effect severely restricts the use of snowmobiles in Gallatin Forest.  The snowmobile industry is responsible for more than 20 million dollars in economic activity every winter in the Gallatin Forest.

“Government bungling by the Obama Administration is costing jobs and creating lasting economic damage to the people living around Gallatin National Forest,” said Rehberg.  “These public lands are meant for public enjoyment, and as another winter passes without an adequate use plan, the public is being closed out of their land.” Continue reading →