Rehberg Announces $5.5 Million for Great Falls Customs Air Facility

Rehberg Announces $5.5 Million for Great Falls Customs Air Facility

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced he secured $5.5 million for the Montana Customs Northern Border air branch in Great Falls in the 2007 Homeland Appropriations bill. Last year, Rehberg secured the first-ever funds for the air branch to help begin its construction.

"Montana shares an expansive border with Canada so funding this customs air branch is a critical priority, both for the federal government and for our state," said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. "This funding will help us shore up Montana's border against illegal activity."

The funding is part of the $32.1 billion Homeland Security spending bill that includes almost $20 billion for border protection and immigration enforcement - a $1.6 billion increase over last year's bill. The bill also provides $4.2 billion, a $485 million increase over the previous bill, for port security and cargo inspection.
"Securing Montana' 546-miles long border with Canada is a daunting task and I'm making clear to Congress that illegal activity takes places on both the northern and southern borders of the U.S.," said Rehberg. "Ensuring Montana's residents and infrastructure are as safe as they can be from terrorist attack is obviously a top priority of mine."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mt00_rehberg/051106_GFCustomsAir.html