Senator Conrad Burns’ Montana eNewsLetter Friday, May 27, 2005 version 4, edition 84

Aviation Capacity and Congestion Hearing

On Thursday, I held my first hearing as Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, focusing on aviation capacity and congestion challenges and future demand. Since Congress passed the Airline Deregulation Act in 1978, air travel has become an essential form of transportation for much of the nation. The Federal Aviation Administration has predicted there will be one billion passengers in our skies by 2015, and as the industry of air travel continues to grow, we need to focus on the increased demand and our ability to handle it. It is important we understand how congested traffic in hub airports will affect access to states like Montana that rely on connector service. This was an extremely valuable discussion, and I was pleased to be joined by several key members of the aviation community to add their two-cents to what will turn into a huge problem if we don’t address it now.

Drought Funding for Jefferson, Madison, Silver Bow and Wibaux Counties

I am pleased to announce that four Montana counties will receive $149,000 in Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funds for drought through the USDA Farm Service Agency. Jefferson, Madison, Silver Bow and Wibaux counties will receive funding through ECP to assist producers with cost-share assistance to provide emergency water in pastures where the previously adequate water source has failed. In Montana we have seen multiple years of drought, and the recent moisture certainly can’t change the tide of what has been such a long-term problem. I know this will be a real help for these counties that have been suffering from drought for so long, and I am glad to get this great news.

Give Myers An Up or Down Vote

After this week’s debate surrounding judicial nominations, I was disappointed to hear that the compromise established left William G. Myers III, nominee to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, hanging in the lurch. As such, I will remain vocal in my belief that he deserves an up or down vote. It’s my opinion that if the compromise brokers say Judges Owen and Brown meet the criteria, then Myers should fit the bill as well. Mr. Myers is a distinguished attorney who is a nationally-recognized expert in the area of natural resources and land use law, and giving him a vote is the right thing to do. He is a man of strong character who would reestablish balance into the Ninth Circuit, and I am committed to making sure he gets the vote he deserves.

Delay BRAC Implementation

I joined Senate colleagues this week to move legislation forward that would delay the implementation of BRAC. Our country is facing some big challenges right now, and it does not make sense to move forward with these sweeping changes, which will undoubtedly put a huge strain on our forces serving at home and abroad. For the overall safety of our nation I feel there are several things we must ensure before we proceed with the BRAC process, and I feel this legislation will do just that. The bill would postpone moving BRAC forward until:

* Complete analysis and consideration of the recommendations of the Commission on Review of Overseas Military Structure
* The return from deployment of substantially all (as determined by the Secretary of Defense) major combat units and assets of the Armed Forces in Iraq
* The completion of the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR)
* The development and implementation by the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security of the National Maritime Security Strategy
* The completion and implementation of Secretary of Defense’s Homeland Defense and Civil Support Directive

After looking at the facts here, it seems like common-sense to hold off on BRAC implementation. I will continue working with my colleagues to make sure we don’t move forward in a process that may damage our military structure in the long run.

Working to Save Montana Air National Guard

This week I sent a formal invitation to the Chairman of the Base Realignment And Closure Commission (BRAC), Mr. Anthony Principi to come to Montana to review in person the facilities and infrastructure available to military personel, and urge him to consider keeping the F-16 flying mission with the Montana Air National Guard. Since the BRAC news broke, I’ve said the Department of Defense’s logic was flawed in this decision. Now that the Pentagon has made its recommendations, our only recourse is to convince the members of the BRAC Commission that our birds are better left right here in Montana, and that our training and flying capabilities should be expanded, not gutted. Secretary Principi visited Helena, and the Fort Harrison facilities in October, 2002 and saw first-hand the exceptional quality of our National Guard installation there. He needs to see our Air Guard and our Malmstrom [Air Force Base] facilities as well so he can make an educated decision on this very important issue.

The Highway Bill

Otherwise known as the “Highway bill,” the Transportation Equity Act passed through the Senate last week and includes a $295 billion, six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs. It also included an amendment of mine that authorizes $5 million to provide grants to commercial driver training schools and for financial assistance for entry-level drivers. Over the next ten years, the U.S. needs to increase the number of truck drivers by 539,000 per year to meet our projected economic growth and fill the shoes of drivers that retire. With entry level training courses running as much as $4,000, my amendment will make getting a good job easier by giving folks the resources they need to get trained and get trucking. As a complete package, the Highway Bill is a jobs bill, plain and simple. By authorizing critical funding for highway programs, we keep people working on our nation’s infrastructure. We have a lot of territory to cover in Montana, and this bill will do a great deal to maintain and improve the overall quality and safety of our highways. As a priority for our country, I am pleased to see its passage and I will be working with my colleagues in the Senate and the House over the next few weeks to make sure that Montana’s needs are met and that we get this bill to the president for his signature. The Senate version of the Highway bill will now be reconciled with the House version before a final bill is passed by both chambers and sent to the president to be signed into law.

Supreme Court Upholds Beef Checkoff

The Supreme Court ruled this week that the beef checkoff is constitutional, which will allow the program to continue building consumer support for Montana’s beef products. The beef checkoff has been resoundingly successful in promoting consumer interest in beef, and I am happy to learn of the Court’s decision. The 6-3 decision overturns a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit that found the federal Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 in violation of the First Amendment. Cattlemen support the checkoff—a January 2005 independent research indicates that a significant 73 percent of beef producers support the current $1-per-head beef checkoff program. It has helped grow consumer demand for beef more than 25 percent since 1998 and has increased the prices that producers receive for their cattle.

Planes, Trains and Appropriations

Last weekend I was joined by Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri on a ride from Whitefish to Cutbank on Amtrak’s Empire Builder, and then an aerial view of the St. Mary’s Canal and Fort Peck Reservoir. Senator Bond and I are both members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Bond is Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds Amtrak. I can’t overstate how important this rail line is to Montana. Whitefish is the biggest station between Seattle and Minneapolis, and brings hundreds of visitors to the Flathead Valley, not to mention the passenger traffic both in state and cross state. We spoke with folks passing through, and local business owners who rely on the traffic. I asked Senator Bond to come ride the line personally so he could get a first-hand look at the important role Amtrak plays in Montana, and for our nation. Following our trip on the Empire Builder, Senator Bond and I talked about the need for repair along the St. Mary’s Canal, and discussed the battle between upstream and downstream Missouri River states. After viewing Fort Peck Reservoir from the air, we both agreed to keep working toward a long-term compromise on the flows of the "Mighty Mo."

Bush Administration’s Final Roadless Rule

As Chairman of the Senate’s Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations, I support the Bush Administration’s Final Roadless Rule. Their decision to allow the local communities, tribes, and states to address the concerns raised under the 2001 Clinton Administration Roadless rule is just common sense. The comments that the final rule will “immediately” open all roadless areas to logging just aren’t true, and I don’t expect all roadless areas to be opened for development. I want the people of Montana who work, play, and live near the national forests to help make the decision how these lands should be managed. Almost 40 percent of Montana’s national forests, or 6.4 million acres, are roadless areas. Since 2000, we’ve seen catastrophic wildfires burn over 2 million acres of our national forests and homes on adjacent private lands. Now we can see the devastation caused by insect and disease epidemics in our forests. The Final Rule asks the state governors to work with local governments, tribes, and members of the public to determine what changes should be made in roadless area management. The governors will have 18 months to gather state input and petition the Secretary of Agriculture for a management change in some or all of the roadless areas in their state. A federal decision, with public involvement, will then be completed for each state proposal. The governors can base their petitions to change the roadless area management on public health and safety, reducing wildfire risks to communities, enhance wildlife habitat, and maintain infrastructure and access to private property.

Medicaid Commission

I recently received word that Secretary of Health and Human Services Leavitt has established a commission to identify the reforms necessary to ensure the future of America’s Medicaid program. It will serve the Secretary by advising ways to modernize the program so it can provide high-quality health care to its beneficiaries in a financially sustainable manner. The Medicaid Commission must submit two reports to Secretary Leavitt. The first, due September 1, 2005, will outline recommendations for Medicaid to achieve $10 billion in savings during the next five years as well as ways to begin meaningful long-term enhancements that can better serve beneficiaries. The commission, for its first report, also will consider potential performance goals for Medicaid. The second report, due December 31, 2006, will provide recommendations to help ensure the long-term sustainability of Medicaid. The proposals will address key issues such as:

* How to expand coverage to more Americans while still being fiscally responsible;
* Ways to provide long-term care to those who need it;
* A review of eligibility, benefits design, and delivery; and
* Improved quality of care, choice and beneficiary satisfaction.

The Medicaid program was established to provide our most vulnerable citizens the health care services they may not otherwise have been able to afford. I’m glad to see Secretary Leavitt acting on this issue, and I’d like to offer him my full support in finding ways to ensure this program’s security into the future.

The Higher Education Affordability, Access and Opportunity Act

Recent estimates by the Department of Labor suggest that approximately 80 percent of all new job opportunities in the next 10 years will require some level of postsecondary education or training. With that in mind, I’m pleased to tell you that I joined the bipartisan fight to ensure America’s long-term competitiveness in the global economy by cosponsoring the Higher Education Affordability, Access and Opportunity Act of 2004. This act will help higher education institutions develop curriculums that are more closely linked to the workforce in demand, improve the self-sufficiency of that workforce and provide parents and students with greater access to educational opportunities. Even though Montana has an exceptional education system, we need to be constantly aware of the tools necessary for our students to become more productive members of the workforce. I’m happy to offer this bill my support, as it will offer our students and educational institutions a better ability to tailor themselves to the world we’ll be facing tomorrow. For specific information on the content of this bill, please visit the press release section of my website by going to: http://burns.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Home.

Montana Timber and Forest Products Industry Situation, 2004

I want to thank the University of Montana’s Forest Industry Research and Bureau of Business and Economic Research for the May 2005 report on the Montana’s Timber and Forest Products Industry Situation. The report highlights some significant changes in Montana’s timber industry over the last 30 years. Today, Montana forests on private, state, and federal lands are growing at a rate 2 billion board feet of timber per year. In the late 1980’s the timber harvest in Montana was 1.2 billion board feet and now its 700 million board feet. The reduction is primarily due to the 70 percent decline in National forest timber harvest. The report shows Montana’s wood products industry is now dominated by small operations, while large operations have dropped from 36 to 18. Another change is the size of the timber harvested. In 1988, 20 percent of the trees harvested were greater than 23 inches in diameter and today it’s just four percent. In 1988, half of the timber harvested was less than 17 inches in diameter; today it’s nearly 80 percent. With millions of acres of federal timber lands needing hazardous fuel reduction, we now have a wood products industry that is geared to harvest these small diameter trees and reduce the fire risk on our federal lands. The report also points out that in order to make sure we have a viable wood products industry, we need to increase the timber harvest in Montana at least 100 million board feet. We lost the Owens and Hurst mill this year, and we have several others on the brink of closure. We don’t want to end up like Colorado, where the Forest Service put up several hazardous fuels reduction timber sales and no one bid on them. In Montana, we also have a critical need to reduce the federal land wildfire risk and if we lose our wood products industry, we will end using taxpayer’s money to reduce the wildfire risk anyway.

Montana Council for Exceptional Children

I’d like to congratulate the Montana Council for Exceptional Children for their tireless efforts in supporting the excellence of our Special Education professionals. Their conference last month, “30 Years of Special Education: Advocacy, Education, and Service,” underscored the commitment each of Montana’s Special Education personnel bring to their work with children on an everyday basis. With the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, now is a perfect time to recognize the great strides we have made and to honor the pioneers in the field as we chart the future. At the conference, attendees heard from numerous people who have dedicated their careers to providing high quality special education services to children and families across the state of Montana. These pioneers were providing special education services to children in Montana even before it was mandated in 1975, and I’d like to take a moment to recognize Mike Fredrickson, Tim Harris, Pat Boyer and Dr. Ray Beck for their dedication. Like everyone at this year’s conference, I remain committed to ensuring that all children with disabilities have access to free and appropriate public education, both in Montana and across the nation. If you’d like more information on the Montana Council for Exceptional Children, visit their website by going to: http://www.mtcec.org/.

Military Service Academy Nominations

Each year I look forward to another round of nominations for bright, young Montana students wanting to attend our U.S. Service Academies. As a former Marine, and now as your United States Senator, I enjoy the opportunity to assist those future American leaders who want to attend a U.S. Service Academy. If you are, or know of, a young man or woman interested in a top-of-the-line education and a commission to the United States Armed Forces, please contact my Academy Advisor, Lisa Wheeler, at (406) 723-3277 or (800) 344-1513. The deadline is November 1st for the following years entering class. For more information, visit my website by going to: http://www.senate.gov/~burns/index.cfm?.FuseAction=Academies.Home.

Come Home Montana

I’d like to point out the Come Home Montana Project, a great resource for anyone considering moving to Montana or anyone who wants more information about our state. The Come Home Montana Project believes in the importance of retaining, regaining and attracting talented, creative individuals to Montana. To aid in your quest home, the Come Home Montana Project has created a website where you can find community specific information that will assist you in making sound decisions in determining which community provides the best fit for your vision of the future. It’s a fantastic resource, and gives people the ability to raise their families in the kind of environment that only Montana can offer. I encourage each and every one of you to give it a look. To access the Come Home Montana website, point your web browser to: http://www.comehomemontana.org.

American Stars of Teaching

This fall the U.S. Department of Education plans to honor classroom teachers and the teaching profession by recognizing the 2005 American Stars in Teaching. The Department is seeking information about teachers who are improving student achievement, using innovative strategies, and making a difference in the lives of their students. Teachers across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored. One teacher or team from each state will be recognized for the outstanding job they are doing in the classroom. To assist them in this effort, please nominate a teacher who you believe is an American Star in Teaching. Nomination forms are available at: http://www.ed.gov/teacherinitiative.