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Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today joined members of the House of Representatives in voting to pass H.R. 2578, the Conservation and Economic Growth Act.  The legislation incorporates 14 separate pieces of legislation designed to improve public lands and bolster economic activity, including two which Rehberg has cosponsored.  Each of these pieces of legislation received a hearing and committee consideration prior to coming to the floor.  The bills Rehberg cosponsored are H.R. 2578, the Grazing Improvement Act and H.R. 1505, the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act.  Both enjoy wide support in Montana.

“This bill, which is absolutely necessary to secure our borders against illegal immigrants, drug dealers, human traffickers and terrorists, is much more carefully crafted than what the Senate passed in 2009," said Rehberg, who co-chairs the Congressional Northern Border Caucus.  "I call on our Senators to stop playing partisan games with national security and support this effort like they have in the past.”

Over the course of the last year, H.R. 1505 has drawn opposition from many groups that didn’t exist until recently.  The makeup of these groups has been the subject of some investigative journalism.

Drawing the Line– Flathead Beacon
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/drawing_the_line/25147/
Montana Outdoors Group Actually Stealth Democratic Attack Dog – Washington Examiner
http://washingtonexaminer.com/2011/11/montana-outdoors-group-actually-stealth-democratic-attack-dog/41525

Interestingly, none of these groups weighed in when the Senate passed language to do what H.R. 1505 does, but without any restrictions or limitations.  Both of Montana’s Senators supported that language in 2009.

On the other hand, H.R. 1505 enjoys strong support from a long list of Montana groups with long histories that will still be around after the November election.

Mary Ann Murray, Jordan, MT, Montana Area Director of Women Involved in Farm Economics added this:

“It would be a shame if election year politics got in the way of good policy like H.R. 1505. This bill is about securing our borders and keeping our families safe from terrorism.  Securing our borders should be the number one priority of the US Government, it is their responsibility. Opposing it would be irresponsible, and opposing it for purely political reasons would be almost treasonous. We’d like to thank Denny Rehberg for supporting this important legislation.”

John Falen, president of Public Lands Council which is the national organization dedicated to representing public lands ranchers:

“We fully support Congressman Rehberg’s principled stance on H.R. 1505, the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act. His leadership on this issue represents the kind of statesmanship our country needs. The border situation in Montana where illegal crossers are more likely to be hardened criminals or terrorists is different from along our southern border, where it’s more likely to be migrant workers.  In both cases, this issue affects us all.

“We appreciate the Congressman’s recognition that the present situation represents a serious national security gap—and that for ranchers along and near the border, the dangers and the costs are a thousand-fold. Anyone who coins this as some kind of ‘federal land grab’ or an environmentally damaging bill is simply out of touch with the realities on the border, or is purposefully misleading the public. Waterlines are broken daily, fences are destroyed, trash is rampant—and a rancher takes his own life in his hands just trying to fix it all and stay in business. Not long ago, a good-Samaritan rancher in Arizona lost his life trying to help a stranded illegal immigrant,” Falen said. “We appreciate Congressman Rehberg for standing for what is right.”

Among The Other Supporters:
Ted Denning, retired Deputy Chief from the Havre sector of the U.S. Border Patrol
http://www.havredailynews.com/cms/news/story-279412.html

Law Enforcement
National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers
National Border Patrol Council
Local 2544 of the National Border Patrol Council – Tucson, AZ
National Association of Police Organizations

Outdoor Recreation
Motorcycle Industry Council
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access
BlueRibbon Coalition
Off-Road Business Association
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association
United Four Wheel Drive Association
Specialty Equipment Market Association
Specialty Vehicle Institute of America

Agriculture
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Public Lands Council
California Cattlemen’s Association
American Sheep Industry Association
Association of National Grasslands
Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association
Montana Wool Growers Association
Montana Association of State Grazing Districts
Montana Public Lands Council
Montana Stockgrowers Association
North Dakota Stockmen's Association
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
Washington Cattlemen’s Association

Conservation
Stewards of the Sequoia
Save the Trails