{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"MT\" and year = 2023 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-colleagues-work-protect-medicare", "Zinke, Colleagues Work to Protect Medicare", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Zinke sent a letter along with several other lawmakers to House and Senate leadership urging Congressional action to prevent the impending 3.37% cut in Medicare reimbursement to physicians.\n\nThis potential 3.37% reduction comes after three years of consecutive cuts to Medicare services. If Congress does not act this year, Medicare payments will have been cut by almost 10% in four years, which is simply unsustainable for our nation's medical groups, physicians, and other health care providers. If these Medicare cuts are not prevented, medical groups and integrated systems of care especially in Montana will be forced to eliminate services, furlough staff, implement hiring freezes, and delay population health initiatives. Congress must ensure that Medicare providers continue to have the necessary financial support to care for our nation\u2019s seniors who rely on Medicare.\n\n\u201cI have had many, manyhealth care professionals speak to me regarding reimbursement rates from Medicare and they are worried about the situation at hand,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cThey have seen cuts for the past four years and they are no longer able to sustain their clinics. On the other side of the coin, rising costs and decreasing payments mean that not only the Medicare providers suffer but the patients do too. Top-shelf health care for Montanan\u2019s senior\u2019s and taking care of small businesses are both things I\u2019ve committed to and want to be sure leadership is aware of this situation so we can find a fix.\u201d\n\nRead the letter below or at this link.\n\nDear Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and Leader Jeffries: We write today as a bipartisan group of lawmakers urging you to act quickly to prevent a 3.37% cut to Medicare reimbursement payments that will occur on January 1, 2024. We in Congress must continue our partnership with the physician and provider community to ensure that Medicare patients continue to have access to quality care. Physicians and other healthcare providers, who are confronting inflationary pressures and workforce shortages, need Congress to prevent this cut, which will add significant burdens to the healthcare infrastructure and the communities they serve.\n\nThis potential 3.37% reduction comes after three years of consecutive cuts to Medicare services.\n\nIf Congress does not act this year, Medicare payments will have been cut by almost 10% in four years, which is simply unsustainable for our nation's medical groups, physicians, and other health care providers. In fact, we have heard from physician and other provider organizations that due to these past cuts and the potential for additional Medicare cuts, medical groups and integrated systems of care have and will continue to eliminate services. This includes implementing hiring freezes, delaying system improvements and the implementation of care model changes such as transitioning to value-based care systems.\n\nThe effects of these cuts will be exacerbated in rural and underserved areas, which continue to\n\nface significant healthcare access challenges. Medicare physicians and other providers do not\n\nreceive inflationary updates in the Medicare program, which is partially why eliminating these potential cuts is so crucial. We as policymakers must ensure that physicians and other providers who treat Medicare patients continue to have the necessary financial support to care for our nation's seniors. We appreciate your attention to this critical issue and look forward to working together to ensure these cuts are prevented.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-votes-lower-health-care-costs-increase-price-transparency-montanans", "Zinke Votes to Lower Health Care Costs, Increase Price Transparency for Montanans", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statement after voting in support of the H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act which passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 320-71. H.R. 5378 is reform-oriented legislation designed to lower the cost of health care and increase price transparency for patients in Montana and across the nation.\n\n\u201cBiden\u2019s inflation already has Montanans reaching deep into their pockets to pay for everything across the board \u2013 the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act takes a little weight off their shoulders to make sure healthcare doesn\u2019t fall in the budget cuts,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cIt expands access to affordable generic drugs and invests into rural healthcare centers to ensure you can sustain the Montana way of life without having to sacrifice proximity to quality care. I hope the Senate doesn\u2019t drag their feet per usual and passes this legislation expeditiously.\u201d\n\nHow the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act helps patients:\n\nIncreases Price Transparency Throughout the Health Care System for Patients\n\nEmpowers patients and employers to shop for health care and make informed health care decisions by providing timely and accurate information about the cost of care, treatment, and services\n\nMakes health care price information public by ensuring hospitals, insurance companies, labs, imaging providers, and ambulatory surgical centers publicly list the prices they charge patients\n\nLowers costs for patients and employers by requiring health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to disclose negotiated drug rebates and discounts, revealing the true costs of prescription drugs\n\nAddresses the Cost of Prescription Drugs\n\nLowers out-of-pocket costs for seniors who receive medication at a hospital-owned outpatient facility\n\nExpands access to more affordable generic drugs\n\nEquips employer health plans with the drug price information they need to get the best deal possible for their employees\n\nSupports Patients, Health Care Workers, Community Health Centers, and Hospitals\n\nSupporting Community Health Centers, which are crucial for patients in rural and underserved areas\n\nSupporting training programs for new doctors in communities\n\nPreserving Medicaid for hospitals that take care of uninsured and low-income patients\n\nExtending funding for research to find better treatments and a cure for diabetes, which affects more than 37 million Americans", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/va-meets-zinkes-demands-delays-rollout-unaffordable-ambulance-rule", "VA Meets Zinke\u2019s Demands, Delays Rollout of Unaffordable Ambulance Rule", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013 On November 28, Congressman Ryan Zinke was informed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) delayed the enactment of their proposed air ambulance reimbursement ruling until 2025 in response to Zinke\u2019s continued scrutiny over the costly and potentially deadly consequences. The rule previously set to be enacted February 2024 would dramatically cut the amount the VA pays for air and specialty ambulance services for veterans by reverting to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement rates based off data from more than 20 years ago. The proposal, while not a front-page issue, has been met with opposition from local and national veteran service organizations and emergency services. Several rural communities adopted similar reimbursement rates and have lost all ambulatory service as a result.\n\nZinke has fought the detrimental policy since February 2023 and has worked to combat the ruling by sending bipartisan letters to VA Secretary Dennis McDonough, attending budget hearings with the Secretary and co-leading a bill which would ensure the VA completes several due-diligence requirements before pursuing a change that could reduce reimbursement rates for emergency transportation.\n\n\u201cAlthough it didn\u2019t come without a fight, the VA finally made the right move here,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cMontana\u2019s veterans shouldn\u2019t have to sacrifice where they want to be because of paper-pushing bureaucrats. While this isn\u2019t the end-game result we need, it is progress and gives us more time to protect our veterans and the rural healthcare providers who take care of them before this act does any more damage.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nWhile Rep. Zinke opposed the VA rule from its finalization in February, there was the promise of negotiated contracts with VA to exempt vendors from reimbursement on the CMS schedule.\n\nIn a March budget hearing, VA Secretary Denis McDonough promised Rep. Zinke that he would work with him on ensuring fair, negotiated contracts. Until this week, there has been no substantive communication with VA.\n\nIn June, Rep. Zinke led a letter to Secretary McDonough, alongside 12 Members of Congress, asking basic questions about the rule and asking for a delay in the effective date. The VA has not responded.\n\nThe next month, it was discovered that non-VA directed 911 emergency air and ground ambulance transports would automatically be reimbursed on the CMS schedule because they are ineligible to be negotiated via contract due to lack of VA statutory authority.\n\nIn response, Rep. Zinke introduced a bipartisan amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill that would defund the rule change. While Rep. Zinke testified in support of the amendment, it was not ruled in order by the House Rules Committee.\n\nOn July 28th, Rep. Zinke led a bipartisan group of thirty Members of Congress in another letter to Secretary McDonough asking him to delay the effective date of the finalized VA rule until Congress passes legislation authorizing the VA to contract emergency ambulance services. That letter has also gone unanswered, despite multiple follow-ups by staff.\n\nIn September,Zinke Co-Led a Bill Countering VA\u2019s Outdated Emergency Transportation Rule.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-sends-letter-concern-president-bodnar", "Zinke Sends Letter of Concern to President Bodnar", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Congressman Ryan Zinke alongside the Select Committee on the CCP Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT), today sent a letter to the President of the University of Montana (UMT), Seth Bodnar, with concern about UMT's promotion of a summer 2024 study trip to China that is hosted and funded by the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF).\n\nThe lawmakers write, \"CUSEF is not a benign entity interested in the objective education of Montanans\u2014it is an organ of the CCP\u2019s approach to influence operations, including those intended to shape Americans\u2019 views toward the CCP-controlled People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) government. The organization operates within a broader strategy of united front work, whose purpose \u201c\u2026is to control, mobilize, and otherwise make use of individuals outside the party to achieve [CCP] objectives.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers continue, \"CUSEF is guided by officials in the Chinese People\u2019s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a key united front forum designed to advance CCP objectives in and beyond the PRC.5 The founder and longtime chair of CUSEF, Tung Chee-hwa, was the vice chair of the CPPCC and clearly aligns with CCP interests. Since the 1980s, Tung served as a proxy for the CCP in Hong Kong, where as the first chief executive he pushed for the kind of draconian national security legislation we see today.\"\n\nOther institutions, like the University of Texas, have rejected funds from the CUSEF for these reasons.\n\nIn the interest of protecting students and the integrity of UMT\u2019s programs, the lawmakers urge UMT to terminate any ties with CUSEF and commit to a rigorous vetting process for foreign partnerships going forward.\n\n---\n\nDear Mr. Bodnar,\n\nWe write to urge your university and its affiliated schools to reject any study abroad program funding and other support from entities closely aligned with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). As underscored by the work of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the CCP, which one of us chairs, we are increasingly concerned by CCP-affiliated entities\u2019 malign influence campaigns and exploitation of academia. Neither Montana students nor your university should be unwitting partners in efforts that advance CCP objectives to the detriment of America\u2019s national security.\n\nThe University of Montana (UMT) Alexander Blewett III School of Law and its affiliated Max Baucus Institute (Baucus Institute) are promoting a summer 2024 study trip to China that is hosted and funded by the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF). In the announcement on the UMT law school\u2019s Baucus Institute webpage, prospective recruits are informed that expenses are \u201cVery few! Thanks to the generosity of CUSEF, nearly all expenses are covered, including lodging, travel insurance, breakfasts at hotels, and group meals.\u201d\n\nCUSEF is not a benign entity interested in the objective education of Montanans\u2014it is an organ of the CCP\u2019s approach to influence operations, including those intended to shape Americans\u2019 views toward the CCP-controlled People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) government. The organization operates within a broader strategy of united front work, whose purpose \u201c\u2026is to control, mobilize, and otherwise make use of individuals outside the party to achieve [CCP] objectives.\u201d\n\nCUSEF is guided by officials in the Chinese People\u2019s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a key united front forum designed to advance CCP objectives in and beyond the PRC. The founder and longtime chair of CUSEF, Tung Chee-hwa, was the vice chair of the CPPCC and clearly aligns with CCP interests. Since the 1980s, Tung served as a proxy for the CCP in Hong Kong, where as the first chief executive he pushed for the kind of draconian national security legislation we see today.\n\nConcerns surrounding CUSEF\u2019s presence in the United States are well documented. Under U.S. law, foreign entities undertaking activities in the United States related to the political or public interests, policies, or relations of a foreign government or a foreign political party are required to be transparent about their operations. Firms representing CUSEF have filed with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) on numerous occasions. In 2021, the now-Director of the Central Intelligence Agency William Burns agreed with a statement by Senate Select Committee on Intelligence leadership that \u201c\u2026Beijing uses nominally private civic organizations like the China-U.S. Exchange Foundation to sway public opinion and build influence.\u201d\n\nNotably, other institutions of higher education that CUSEF has courted, including the University of Texas at Austin, have rejected accepting any funds from this CCP affiliate in prior years after learning of its nature. Heightened vigilance is warranted today across the country: the U.S. intelligence community\u2019s unclassified assessment delivered to Congress this year notes that Beijing has ramped up efforts to build influence at the state and local levels.\n\nIn the interest of protecting students and the integrity of UMT\u2019s programs, we urge you to terminate any ties with CUSEF and commit to a rigorous vetting process for foreign partnerships going forward. Such a vetting process should exclude organizations like CUSEF that exist to promote the CCP\u2019s narratives and interests\u2014which have proven antithetical to academic freedom and free exchange\u2014and to help the CCP identify foreigners who the party could exploit.\n\nWe are confident that your academic community can achieve the university\u2019s stated aim to make a lasting impact on the common good, including by contributing positively to our nation\u2019s understanding of the PRC and the CCP. We encourage you to ensure such efforts are not undermined by association with entities weaponized as a tool of the CCP. Thank you for your consideration of this issue.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-zinke-rep-rosendale-and-sen-daines-send-letter-urging-delay-wolverine-esa", "Rep. Zinke, Rep. Rosendale, and Sen Daines send a letter urging delay in wolverine ESA determination", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01), along with Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) and Senator Steve Daines (MT) sent a letter on Friday to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Montana District Court to delay a final decision by 120 days for the North American Wolverine's listing in the Federal Registry.\n\nThe letter reads:\u201cAny decision about placing or removing a species on the ESA must be based on updated population data, not potential climate effects on a portion of the habitat.\"\n\n\u201cOnce again, the Biden administration is trying to control Montana and I won\u2019t stand for it.\u201d said Rep. Zinke \u201cJust like with the grizzly I believe Montana knows better than D.C. bureaucrats how to manage our wildlife and habitat. This overreach by the Biden admin is not based on science it\u2019s based on their agenda to control our land, water, wildlife, and way of life,\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-introduces-fill-lake-act", "Zinke Introduces Fill the Lake Act", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced the Fill the Lake Act. The legislation would require the Department of Interior to maintain a minimum pool level on Flathead Lake of 2892\u2019 MSL (mean sea level) and a maximum of 2893\u2019 MSL from June 15th to September 15th of each calendar year. If enacted, the Fill the Lake Act would prevent a repeat of the 2023 season when regulators allowed the lake to drop almost two feet below full pool.\n\nDuring the spring 2023, the Flathead Lake ecosystem experienced a rapid runoff of snow melt. This was exacerbated by the slow-working bureaucracy of the unelected officials of the technical management team (TMT) that advises the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on the Columbia River System and the lack of a finalized and enforceable drought management plan. The result was water levels as much as 22 inches to 2 feet below full pool in areas. This created hazardous conditions for boaters, cut off maritime evacuation routes, and was a massive economic blow to the communities and businesses surrounding Flathead Lake that rely on the lake for the recreation economy, agriculture, and in some cases for evacuation from wildfires.\n\n\u201cThis is a made in Montana solution. Fill the lake is a one-page bill - and it should be - it\u2019s not a difficult concept,\u201d said Congressman Zinke. \u201cHungry Horse Reservoir exists for the management of water downstream, and that means Flathead Lake. Unfortunately, the delays and bureaucracy created by the Department of the Interior and the technical management team made a bad situation even worse. This bill takes out the ambiguity and forces the Department and its unelected bureaucrats to do their most basic job so that Montanans don\u2019t suffer from their mistakes again. I\u2019m grateful to the county commissioners, Senator Greg Hertz and the many engaged business owners and residents who kept me and my team informed every step of the way. This bill really is a community effort.\u201d\n\nState Senator Greg Hertz said, \u201cThe Congressman and his team have been involved in this issue from the first voice of concern and I couldn\u2019t be more thankful. He\u2019s been vital to ensuring our local economy doesn\u2019t suffer at the hand of poor management decisions at the federal level.\u201d\n\nFlathead County Commissioner Randy Brodehl said, \u201cThe Fill the Lake Act he\u2019s introduced addresses issues we faced this summer across the board with just one bill. Zinke understands what this means for our way of life in Montana and has fought for our state the whole way through.\u201d\n\nLake County Commissioner Gale Decker said, \u201cAt a local level, we rely on the lake for fundamental operations to keep our people safe. It\u2019s an access point for our water cannons during wildfire season and serves as an emergency evacuation route when locals need out. Our lake levels need to be consistent which is why I fully support Zinke\u2019s Fill the Lake Act.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nKPAX Woods Bay marinas, businesses discuss low Flathead Lake water levels (7/13/2023)\n\nKPAX Cabin owners forced to adjust to record low Flathead Lake levels (7/14/2023)\n\nKPAX Low Flathead Lake levels could impact farmers' bottom lines (7/13/2023)\n\nDaily Inter Lake Flathead Lake's low water level prompts disaster declaration request (7/30/2023)\n\nDaily Inter Lake Diminished Flathead Lake leaves some residents crying mismanagement (8/12/2023)\n\nFlathead Beacon Low Water Levels Threaten Crop Yields; Tester Latest Official to Seek Federal Intervention(7/7/2023)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-secures-dozens-montana-priorities-fy24-interior-funding-bill", "Zinke Secures Dozens of Montana Priorities in FY24 Interior Funding Bill", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cI told Montanans that I would use the power of the purse to get rid of bad policy and fund investments in public lands and that\u2019s exactly what this bill does,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cIt claws back regulations that are making gas, heating and electricity more expensive, gives local stakeholders a voice in federal land management, and finally delists the grizzly bear.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former Secretary of the Interior and lifelong Montanan, I know this bill allows the department the ability to do the job they are supposed to do \u2013 but it does not allow Biden to peddle his green agenda with taxpayer dollars meant for responsible, logical conservation and energy development. This is a huge win for Montana, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up this bill and get it signed into law as soon as possible.\u201d\n\nMontana priorities in the bill include:\n\nDelisting the Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bear.\n\nBlocks Glacier National Park from using funds to implement a vehicle rationing system and prioritizes the adoption of a functional shuttle system for visitors.\n\nMaintaining full funding for Tribal programs.\n\nEnding sue, settle and seal, preventing radical environmental groups from getting secret payouts from the Department funding their nonstop cycle of frivolous litigation.\n\nDefunding WOTUS.\n\nFull funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT).\n\nDefunding DOI\u2019s Interagency Bison Working Group.\n\nBlocking the introduction of Bison on the CMR Wildlife refuge.\n\nBlocking the Biden Administration\u2019s ban on lead ammunition and tackle on wildlife refuges.\n\nDefunding EPA rules that would result in the early shutdown of Colstrip and raise energy costs for Montanans.\n\nIncreasing funding for wildland firefighters.\n\nCut spending without putting the burden on tribes.\n\nProhibiting funds for listing gray wolves on the ESA.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-introduces-bill-expel-palestinians-united-states", "Zinke Introduces Bill to Expel Palestinians from the United States", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Latest News\n\nWashington, D.C. - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced that he requested $102,554,449 of federal funding for 19 projects in Western Montana to improve infrastructure, boost affordable housing construction, improve water dependability, disaster preparedness, and law enforcement and first responders\u2019 capabilities.\n\nSEELEY LAKE, MT \u2013 Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke traveled to Bozeman and Seeley Lake to deliver ceremonial checks celebrating more than $11.1 million in federal funding for critical water infrastructure and law enforcement projects in Missoula, Gallatin, and Beaverhead Counties. The funding is part of the over $35 million he secured in fiscal year 2026 as a part of the appropriations process.\n\nDEER LODGE, MT \u2013 Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke traveled to Philipsburg and Deer Lodge to deliver ceremonial checks celebrating the more than $2.3 million in federal funding for public safety and water infrastructure projects in Granite and Powell counties. The funding is part of the more than $35 million he secured for Montana communities in fiscal year 2026 through the appropriations process.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-energy-and-water-development-fy24-spending-bill", "House Passes Energy and Water Development FY24 Spending Bill", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, the United States House of Representatives approved the Energy and Water appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024 which authorizes spending to more than $57 billion in Energy and Water programs including the Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers water projects. This is the fifth individual appropriations bill House Republicans have passed, the Senate has failed to pick up one.\n\nCongressman Zinke released the following statement following the passage of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:\n\n\u201cIf you ask any Montanan, they\u2019ll tell you that whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting. This bill was written with those Montanans in frontside focus, it authorizes more than a hundred million toward rural water projects and redirects the Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 time away from Biden\u2019s culture and climate wars. There\u2019s no time for them to sit in training about CRT and DEI. They need to be taking care of business that Montanans need tended to continue their way of life.\u201d\n\nTopline Points:\n\nRead the bill text summary here.\n\nWater\n\nMaintains House Republicans commitment to private property by terminating Waters of the United States\n\nFully Funds the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act activities at $210.2 million to help our 353 state dams and allocates $132.8 million\n\nAllocates $132.8 million for rural water projects\n\nEnergy\n\nAuthorizes $23.9 billion for National Nuclear Security\n\nProhibits Department of Energy from issuing onerous energy conservation standards.\n\nAuthorizes $19.1 billion for modernization of the nation\u2019s Nuclear Stockpile\n\nConservative Principles\n\nProhibits the use of funds to promote Critical Race Theory\n\nEliminates unrelated climate change activities in the Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, including electric vehicles and climate cops\n\nRescinds 5.58 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-votes-support-israel-against-terrorism", "Zinke Votes to Support Israel Against Terrorism", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -Yesterday, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted for H. Res. 771 - Standing with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists.\n\n\u201cThe attack against our ally follows a pattern of weakness by President Biden and a radical and dangerous shift by the Democrat party,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cWhile Democrat\u2019s continue calling for a ceasefire and lead pro-Hamas protests in Capitol buildings, House Republicans will support Israel as they stand toe-to-toe with the same evil that has taken the lives of thousands of innocent people, including Americans. I\u2019ve looked this evil in the eye and spent a great part of my life fighting it. Standing on the wrong side of history on this is un-American.\u201d\n\nBackground:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-votes-no-continuing-resolution", "Zinke Votes No on Continuing Resolution", "2023-09-30", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHIGNTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman and member of the House Appropriations Committee Ryan Zinke voted no to H.R. 5860 - Continuing Appropriations Act.\n\n\u201cJoe Biden\u2019s policies are bankrupting our country and pushing down insane regulations and policy. I am unwilling to continue the status quo,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cAs a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am adamant that we need to continue the appropriations process, pass the 8 remaining government funding bills, and get back to the business of the House. We have already passed 4 individual bills accounting for 73% of the discretionary budget to fund our border, fund national defense, and take care of our veterans. There is no reason the Senate hasn\u2019t taken them up.\n\n\u201cThe continuing resolution voted on today extends Biden\u2019s reckless policies and spending. Even with a shutdown pending, I can\u2019t justify voting for them when Montanans sent me here to take care of this mess.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nYesterday, Zinke voted for H.R. 5525, the Spending Reduction and Border Security Act which would have extended government funding through October 31, 2023, reduced non-Defense, non-Veterans Affairs spending by 8%, and implemented a number of border security measures to end the Biden Administration created border crisis\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-votes-keep-government-open-secure-border-reduce-spending", "Congressman Zinke Votes to Keep Government Open, Secure the Border, Reduce Spending", "2023-09-29", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted for H.R. 5525, the Spending Reduction and Border Security Actwhich would have extended government funding through October 31, 2023, reduced non-Defense, non-Veterans Affairs spending by 8%, and implemented a number of border security measures to end the Biden Administration created border crisis. This emergency funding bill would have allowed Congress additional time to pass the remaining eight spending bills from the House Floor and onto the Senate. The bill failed 198-232. Twenty-one Republicans voted with Democrats to defeat the bill.\n\nIf passed, this bill would have enhanced border security by resuming construction of the border wall, reinstated Migrant Protection Protocols, ended the relocation of migrants to the Interior of the country, provided funding for additional Border Patrol agents, and fixed the widely abused U.S. asylum system.\n\nThe House has now advanced four of the 12 individual spending bills Congress must pass before midnight on September 30th to avoid a government shutdown, however, the Democrat-led Senate has failed to pass a single bill.\n\n\u201cThe Spending Reduction and Border Security Act would have done exactly those two things and avoid a government shutdown.\u201d said Zinke. \u201cWhen a quarter million illegal immigrants are coming across our border each month and cartels are trafficking drugs and children, every state becomes a border state. Kids are dying in Butte of fentanyl poisoning trafficked from Mexico. Our law enforcement officers are being poisoned when they report for emergencies. If you\u2019re a lawmaker who claims to support spending cuts and border security, there is no reason to vote against this bill.\u201d\n\nSince Biden assumed office, more than a million illegal immigrants, including more than 100 individuals on the terror watch list, have been pouring across our southern border. In August, more than 232,000 individuals were caught illegally crossing the border \u2013 the highest number ever in the history of our nation. While Democrats and the White House have done nothing to curb the crisis caused by their failed policies, House Republicans have taken repeated action to authorize new border security measures and increase funding for Homeland Security.\n\nThe bill included the following border security provisions:\n\nEnd catch and release and prioritizes the deportation of criminal illegal aliens\n\nCodify the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as Remain in Mexico that require migrants to wait in Mexico for their hearing date rather than be released in the USA\n\nCodify the Asylum Cooperative Agreements the Trump Administration signed with third countries requiring migrants to seek asylum in the first country they encounter, rather than abusing our system\n\nBan the U.S. government from clothing, sheltering and caring for illegal migrants\n\nRequire the border wall system be completed and aerial and fiberoptic survailance technology be expanded\n\nAuthorize and funds additional Border Patrol and ICE agents to the highest force level on record\n\nFunding levels in the bill:\n\nIncrease funding for National Security and Homeland Security\n\nMaintain full funding for Veterans Affairs\n\nReduce spending by 8-percent across the board in all other areas\n\nGive Congress a month to finish passing the 12 appropriations bills required to fund the government\n\nBackground:\n\nThis is the latest action Zinke\u2019s taken to reverse Biden\u2019s disastrous border policies and ensure every dollar appropriated by the government is working for Montanans, not against them.\n\nCongressman Zinke Takes the Lead on Securing the Northern Border\n\nHouse funding bill aims to 'remove the woke' at DHS and restart border wall construction\n\nZinke among the first to support Homeland Security Secretary impeachment\n\nCongressman Zinke Votes to Secure Our Nation\u2019s Border\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-announces-support-pay-our-troops-legislation", "Congressman Zinke Announces Support for Pay Our Troops Legislation", "2023-09-28", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013 Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced his support for H.R.5641, the Pay Our Troops Act. Under current law, if there is a government shutdown, those serving in our Armed Forces would not receive a paycheck after September 30th. This legislation was introduced recently by Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA), a former Navy helicopter pilot.\n\nH.R.5641 would make available the necessary funding from the Department of Treasury to provide pay for the military, including the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as civilian employees and contractors of the Department of Defense whose responsibilities are determined by the Secretary of Defense to contribute to the mission execution, well-being, and readiness of the Armed Forces.\n\n\u201cI can tell you from a former commander\u2019s perspective, you never mess with a soldier\u2019s paycheck,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cFor a troop just starting off their career, missing a paycheck can mean missing a rent or car payment, a utility bill, gas, or groceries. Many are new or single parents; neither they nor their families should suffer because of funding disputes in Congress.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-votes-pass-three-government-funding-bills-avoid-government-shutdown", "Zinke Votes to Pass Three Government Funding Bills to Avoid Government Shutdown", "2023-09-28", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman and member of the House Appropriations Committee Ryan Zinke announced the advancement of three individual spending bills: House AppropriationsDefense (H.R. 4365); Homeland Security (H.R. 4367); and State and Foreign Operations (H.R. 4665); off of the House Floor and to the Senate. The House has now sent four of the 12 individual spending bills Congress is aiming to pass to avoid a lapse in government funding before the fiscal year ending midnight on September 30th,, however, the Democrat-led Senate has failed to pass a single bill.\n\nThese appropriations bills will accompany the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act the House passed in July.\n\nCongressman Zinke Released the following statement on the bills\u2019 passage:\n\n\u201cI came here to do two things, curve the spending and remove the woke. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, my colleagues and I did the hard work for nine months to restore regular order to the way the government is funded. We found waste, fraud and abuse, we cut unnecessary spending to save the taxpayer, looked for strategic investments in things that matter, and we defunded and blocked the worst of the Biden Administration\u2019s policies that are driving up the costs of gas and groceries.\n\n\u201cThe spending bills we passed tonight will help us secure the border and stop the invasion of illegal immigrants and deadly drugs into our country,will give our troops a long overdue pay raise and strengthen national security.\n\n\u201cThese three bills and the Veterans Affairs funding bill that passed in July fund more than 70% of the federal government are now in the Senate\u2019s court. The Senate still has not passed a single appropriations bill 48-hours before a lapse in funding. I urge Montana\u2019s senators to break the logjam and take them up to avoid at least a partial government shutdown.\u201d\n\nHomeland Security:\n\nRead the bill text here.\n\nFunds Border wall. Increases funding by $2.104 billion for construction of physical wall along the southwest border.\n\nForces Secretary Mayorkas to adhere to the law and allocate funds to build physical barriers within 120 days.\n\nReduces Mayorkas\u2019 salary to $1 due to dereliction of duty.\n\nFunds an additional 1,795 Border Patrol agents at the Northern and Southern borders. Provides $496 million for 22,000 Border Patrol Agents, the highest level ever funded.\n\nBlocks funding for the relocation of aliens to Montana and other interior areas.\n\nBlocks funding for nonprofits to house and care for illegal aliens.\n\nBans vaccine mandates for DHS personnel.\n\nIncreases border security technology at $228 million ($26 million above the Administration\u2019s request) including Autonomous Surveillance Towers and Tactical Aerostats which are force multipliers for Border Patrol that the Biden Admin grounded last year.\n\nProhibits funding for \u201cgender affirming\u201d care for illegal immigrants in ICE detention.\n\nDeports dangerous criminals by providing $9.79 billion for ICE, $1.3 billion over FY23 level, $1.4 billion over the Administration\u2019s budget request.\n\nDefense:\n\nRead the bill text here.\n\nIncreases National Defense funding by 3% to counter the rising threats from China, Iran, and Russia.\n\nIncludes no new funding to Ukraine.\n\nCounters China by providing over $9 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which bolsters U.S. military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region and doubles funding for International Security Cooperation Programs for Taiwan ($108 million).\n\nInvests $1.16 billion in counternarcotics, opioids and fentanyl operations to prevent the invasion of the deadly substances.\n\nProhibits funding for sex changes, drag queen story hour, and critical race theory.\n\nBlocks Biden\u2019s executive orders on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and cuts $114.7 million in DEI funding from Biden\u2019s budget request.\n\nRedirects $715 million from the Biden climate change plan to actual warfighting activity\n\nIncludes an increase in basic pay for all military personnel (5.2% across the board) and a historic pay increase for junior enlisted servicemembers of an average of 30%.\n\nInvests in the modernization of the nuclear triad: the B-21 Raider, the Columbia Class Submarine, and Sentinel.\n\nEnhances oversight of prior funding to Ukraine.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-announces-historic-collaboration-between-montana-and-spokane", "Congressman Zinke Announces Historic Collaboration between the Montana and Spokane VA healthcare networks to Support Libby Veterans Stand Down", "2023-09-22", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(LIBBY, MT) - Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke is proud to announce that for the first time ever the Montana Veterans Affairs (MTVA) will join the Spokane Veterans Affairs in hosting the 23rd annual Libby Veterans Stand Down in Lincoln County, MT. The event will take place on September 30th and October 1st, resources will support hundreds of veterans in Northwest Montana and statewide.\n\nStand Downs are typically one- to three-day events during which VA staff, veteran service organizations, and volunteers provide food, clothing, and health screenings to homeless, low-income, and at-risk Veterans. In addition, Veterans also receive referrals for health care, housing solutions, employment, substance use treatment, mental health counseling, and other essential services. This year's collaboration between veterans\u2019 groups \u2013 particularly the participation of MTVA - will significantly enhance the event's impact. Due to Lincoln County, MT, being in the Spokane region for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Libby Stand Down has historically only been serviced by the Spokane VA. This year\u2019s Stand Down marks the first visit of the MTVA to Libby in efforts to ensure Montana\u2019s veterans will receive comprehensive support regardless of where they reside within the state.\n\n\u201cMontana is one small town with really long roads, and the long-term success of the Stand Downs in Montana reflects that small-town feeling and the respect we have for our veterans,\u201d said Congressman Zinke. \u201cI\u2019m happy to announce MTVA\u2019s participation in the Libby Stand Down this year. As a nation, we have not lived up to our promise to veterans. As veterans, we are not victims. Many of the people who helped organize this event are veterans or family of a veteran and they recognize how important it is that we continue the brotherhood we developed on the battlefield once we transition into civilian life.\u201d\n\nCinnamon Davis who oversees community outreach for the Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry Stand Down worked with Congressman Zinke\u2019s office to coordinate support for the upcoming event.\n\nDavis said, \u201cI want to thank Congressman Zinke and his staff for working with the Montana VA and the Spokane VA this year 2023 to make it happen that both Montana VA and the Spokane VA will have resource providers at the 23rd Annual Libby Stand Down. This is the first time we will have Montana coming and supporting the local veterans. It will be wonderful to have both the VA's on-site helping the NW Montana Veterans Stand Down and food pantry do this once-a-year outreach for all veterans. I sincerely appreciate your assistance. See you in Libby Montana on September 30th and October 1st 2023.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-co-leads-bill-countering-vas-outdated-emergency-transportation-rule", "Zinke Co-Leads Bill Countering VA\u2019s Outdated Emergency Transportation Rule", "2023-09-21", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - This week, Western Montana Congressman and combat veteran Ryan Zinke joined House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (IL-12) in introducing H.R. 5530, the VA Emergency Transportation Access Act. The bill is a response to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rule \u201cChanges in Rates VA Pays for Special Modes of Transportation\u201d (88 Fed. Reg. 10032) which dramatically lowers ground and air ambulance reimbursement rates. The rule would become effective February 2024.\n\nThe VA rule changes reimbursement amounts for ambulance services and reverts to the outdated Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) schedule based on 1998 data for air transport and 2002 data for ground transport. If allowed to go into effect as planned, the availability of ground and air ambulances for veterans would be seriously threatened. Small, and mostly rural, operators would not be able to financially function and would be forced to either shut down completely or stop offering services to the VA. In July, Granite County, Montana, lost their only ambulance provider due to the infeasibility of operating with the CMS reimbursement rates.\n\nH.R. 5530 would ensure the VA completes several due-diligence requirements before pursuing a change that could reduce reimbursement rates for emergency transportation. Additionally, this bill would ensure that future rates properly reflect the cost of emergency transportation.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s simple we made a promise that if you are willing to die for your country, your country will take care of you. Our veterans were there when we needed them the most, and now it is our job to be there for them when they need us,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cOperating off 25 year-old data for life-saving measures when we have the resources to do better is inexcusable. In rural areas, especially in Montana, emergency transportation can be the difference between life and death, and we should address this issue with that urgency before another provider loses out like what we saw in Granite County.\u201d\n\nStatements of Support\n\n\u201cRepresentative Zinke has been the House leader on this issue since the VA published its bone-headed Final Rule on Emergency Air Transportation Reimbursement Rates last February. Leading the House in offering amendments to the FY24 MILCON-VA Appropriations Act to stop this unsupportable and drastic reduction in reimbursement rates and working with House Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Bost to offer this crucial legislation, Rep. Zinke has fought hard and quick to protect access to emergency health services for Montana and other States rural veterans. Bravo Zulu, Rep. Zinke. Bravo Zulu,\u201dCo-Chair of the National Military and Veterans Alliance Bob Carey.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Rep. Zinke for intervening on behalf of our nation\u2019s Veterans to ensure Veterans have access to ambulance services. We routinely provide EMS response to Veterans, and if the VA is allowed to slash ambulance reimbursement rates, it will make it very difficult to continue services. Veterans deserve top tier ambulance response, and we stand with Rep Zinke in making sure the VA works with our nation\u2019s ambulance providers,\u201d General Manager for Great Falls Emergency Services in Great Falls, Montana Justin Grohs.\n\n\u201cJWV has continuously expressed serious concerns about The Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 rule set to go into effect in February 2024. If implemented without change, VA\u2019s reimbursement rate for emergency air ambulance services would be dramatically cut and millions of Veterans will lose access to life-saving emergency transportation. VA must delay putting the new reimbursement rates in place in February 2024. This bill addresses the issue directly and protects care and services for Veterans,\u201d Jewish War Veterans National Executive Director Ken Greenberg.\n\n\u201cThis timely proposal of the VA Emergency Transportation Access Act rightfully institutes accountability of the Department of Veterans Affairs and continuity for our nation\u2019s veterans to receive the emergency care they need, when they need it most \u2013 without arbitrary reimbursement rate changes that leave veterans footing outrageous emergency transportation service bills and diminished access to emergency services. The H.R. 5530 is a step toward a more transparent, more veteran-focused VA healthcare system. The American Legion and our 1.6 million dues-paying members applaud the leadership of Congressman Zinke and Chairman Bost in introducing the VA Emergency Transportation Access Act.\u201d American Legion Executive Director for Government Affairs, Chanin Nuntavong.\n\n\"As the Manager of Missoula Emergency Services, and president of the Montana Ambulance Association, we are very pleased to get the support of Representative Ryan Zinke to help our Veterans in Montana continue to have access to ambulance transports (both air and ground) which is critical to meet their health care needs. Ambulance services across Montana are struggling with below-cost reimbursements, we have had some close their doors this year. The current direction the VA is taking will no doubt have a negative impact on all ambulance providers in Montana. Thank you Representative Zinke for all you do for our veterans and ambulance providers in Montana,\u201d Missoula Emergency Services Manager Don Whalen.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Rep. Zinke for his leadership in cosponsoring vital legislation to preserve access to air medical transport services for Veterans, especially those living in rural areas. Air medical transport is a lifeline for millions of Veterans, and this bill will ensure that they continue to have access to the emergency care they need, when and where they need it,\u201d CEO of Air Methods JaeLynn Williams.\n\n\"As a not-for-profit provider serving the rural areas of Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, Life Flight Network understands the strain this payment change would have on the ability of air and ground ambulance providers to maintain adequate service in rural areas. This rule from the VA must be delayed so that industry and government stakeholders can work together on a viable, long-term solution that protects access for our veterans to these critical life-saving services. We applaud the efforts of Rep. Zinke and VA Committee Chairman Bost in addressing this important issue,\u201dCEO of Life Flight Network Ben Clayton.\n\n\"Medicare reimburses ground ambulance services below the cost of providing vital medical care and transport services. The VA Emergency Transportation Access Act by Congressman Zinke and Chairman Bost would create a process for establishing reimbursement that would help ensure future access to often lifesaving emergency 9-1-1 ambulance services for veterans and entire communities,\" Randy Strozyk, President, American Ambulance Association.\n\n\u201cEvery day, our members demonstrate the impact of specialty transport for patients in their time of need. Supporting veterans\u2019 access to this vital service is critical to preserve the healthcare safety net for veterans around the country.\n\nWe applaud Congressman Zinke and Congressman Bost for their efforts to introduce H.R.5530 - the VA Emergency Transportation Access Act - to protect emergency transport access for our nation's veterans. AAMS remains committed to working with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Members of Congress, and veterans\u2019 organizations to find a solution that improves access and guarantees care for veterans nationwide,\u201d Jana Williams, President & CEO of the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS).\n\nThe bill includes:\n\nA review of the impact a change in rates would have on veterans\u2019 access to care.\n\nConsultation with industry experts, CMS, VA subject matter experts, and Veterans Service Organizations.\n\nDeveloping a formal process of updating the rates that protects or expands veterans\u2019 current access to emergency transportation.\n\nBackground\n\nWhile Rep. Zinke opposed the VA rule from its finalization in February, there was the promise of negotiated contracts with VA to exempt vendors from reimbursement on the CMS schedule.\n\nIn a March budget hearing, VA Secretary Denis McDonough promised Rep. Zinke that he would work with him on ensuring fair, negotiated contracts. Until this week, there has been no substantive communication with VA.\n\nIn June, Rep. Zinke led a letter to Secretary McDonough, alongside 12 Members of Congress, asking basic questions about the rule and asking for a delay in the effective date. The VA has not responded.\n\nThe next month, it was discovered that non-VA directed 911 emergency air and ground ambulance transports would automatically be reimbursed on the CMS schedule because they are ineligible to be negotiated via contract due to lack of VA statutory authority.\n\nIn response, Rep. Zinke introduced a bipartisan amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill that would defund the rule change. While Rep. Zinke testified in support of the amendment, it was not ruled in order by the House Rules Committee.\n\nOn July 28th, Rep. Zinke led a bipartisan group of thirty Members of Congress in another letter to Secretary McDonough asking him to delay the effective date of the finalized VA rule until Congress passes legislation authorizing the VA to contract emergency ambulance services. That letter has also gone unanswered, despite multiple follow-ups by staff.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-applauds-aircraft-upgrades-great-falls-national-guard-base", "Zinke Applauds Aircraft Upgrades for Great Falls National Guard Base", "2023-09-14", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke today applauded the planned aircraft upgrades at the 120th Airlift Wing at Great Falls Air National Guard Base. The U.S. Air Force and Director of the Air National Guard (DANG) today announcedGreat Falls had been selected as a preferred location for new C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.\n\n\u201cMontana\u2019s strategic role in our national defense cannot be understated and our military footprint is one of the strongest in the country thanks in large part to the professionalism and dedication of the force,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cI commend General Hronek and his base for keeping Great Falls a priority investment location and a model of how to run an effective operation.\u201d\n\nThe complete list of preferred locations are 103rd Airlift Wing (Hartford, CT); 120th Airlift Wing (Great Falls, MT); 133rd Airlift Wing (Minneapolis, MN); and 182nd Airlift Wing (Peoria, IL).\n\nA total of eight C-130J aircraft will be used to recapitalize the aging C-130H fleet at each location.\n\nThis significant series upgrade will require new flight qualification for pilots and loadmasters transitioning airframes. Any excess in manpower due to this shift will be repurposed through the Air National Guard corporate process and will vary by location.\n\nThe Air National Guard will analyze each unit to determine the bed down sequencing timelines.\n\nThe Department of the Air Force will now conduct an environmental impact analysis at each location, which are expected to be completed in fiscal year 2025 before a final decision is made.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-reacts-bidens-so-called-mining-plan", "Zinke Reacts to Biden\u2019s So-Called Mining Plan", "2023-09-13", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013 Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke and domestic mining stakeholders released the following statements in response to problematic recommendations by the Department of the Interior\u2019s (DOI) Interagency Working Group (IWG) on mining. Problematic proposals in the report include an 8% royalty rate, the failure to address permitting timelines and the dirt tax.\n\nCongressman Zinke said, \u201cOnce again, the Biden Administration has failed Montana, failed Indian Country and failed the American People. These new mining recommendations drafted by environmental zealots will set the industry back and will weaken our country\u2019s supply chain and defense system. Our dependence on China for critical minerals is a disgrace. Instead of making this a priority, the Biden Administration is working to eliminate American jobs and devastate communities around the country.\u201d\n\nPresident and CEO of the National Mining Association Rich Nolan said, \u201cIt\u2019s clear that when it comes to the global minerals game, the U.S. is critically outmatched\u2014by our geopolitical rivals and allies alike, and the administration acknowledges this. Unfortunately, if the Biden-Harris administration\u2019s stated objective is to secure our nation\u2019s domestic mineral supply chains while supporting responsible mining, the recommendations contained in this report don\u2019t do anything to advance the ball. In fact, most of the recommendations made by the IWG reveal a fundamental lack of understanding of our industry and the laws that govern it and will throw insurmountable obstacles in the way of responsible domestic projects and would-be investment.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-leads-bi-partisan-letter-va-secretary-protect-life-saving-emergency", "Zinke Leads Bi-Partisan Letter to VA Secretary to Protect Life-Saving Emergency Ambulance Service for Veterans", "2023-07-28", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and a bipartisan group of thirty Members of Congress sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough asking him to delay the effective date of a finalized VA rule \u201cChanges in Rates VA Pays for Special Modes of Transportation\u201d (88 Fed. Reg. 10032) until Congress passes legislation authorizing the VA to contract emergency ambulance services.\n\nRead the letter here.\n\nThe VA rule changes reimbursement amounts for ambulance services and reverts to the outdated Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) schedule. The CMS schedule is based on 1998 data for air transport and 2002 data for ground transport. If allowed to go into effect in February 2024 as planned, the availability of ground and air ambulances for veterans would be serious threatened. Small, and mostly rural, operators would not be able to financially function and would be forced to either shut down completely or stop offering services to the VA. Last week, Granite County, Montana, lost their only ambulance provider due to infeasibility of operating with the CMS reimbursement rates.\n\nThe members said, \u201cThe availability of air and ground ambulance transport is of critical importance to our constituents and any changes to reimbursement must not affect access to life-saving emergency care for veterans and citizens at large.\u201d\n\nRep. Zinke opposed the VA rule from its finalization in February, there was the promise of negotiated contracts with VA to exempt vendors from reimbursement on the CMS schedule. However, it has since been discovered that non-VA directed 911 emergency air and ground ambulance transports will automatically be reimbursed on the CMS schedule because they are ineligible to be negotiated via contract due to lack of VA statutory authority. Zinke and a bipartisan group in the House and Senate are exploring authorizing legislation to fix this loophole. Rep. Zinke sent a letter to Secretary McDonough in June following up about the lack of negotiations but has yet to receive a reply.\n\nToday\u2019s letter asks the Secretary to delay the effective date of the rule (February 2024) until Congress can coordinate with VA to develop and pass legislation to authorize the Secretary to negotiate contracts for 911 calls.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-military-construction-veterans-affairs-fy24-funding-bill", "House Passes Military Construction & Veterans Affairs FY24 Funding Bill", "2023-07-27", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, the United States House of Representatives approved the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024 which authorizes spending to more than $317 billion toward Veterans Affairs and military construction. The bill maintains House Republicans commitment to veterans by fully funding veterans\u2019 health care programs, benefits, and Veteran programs, including the electronic health record modernization initiative.\n\nThe legislation includes three of Congressman Zinke\u2019s requests that directly impact Montana military members and veterans. The bill allocates more than $10 million for funding for Malmstrom Air Force Base to cover construction costs of the new fire station. Additionally, the bill includes language directed by Rep. Zinke to strengthen the Air Force\u2019s ground to air data link communications system, which the Chinese spy balloon exposed gaps in capabilities. Additionally, Zinke was successful in gaining an additional $5 million for the construction of veteran homes such as the Southwest Montana Veterans Home in Butte. Zinke sought to preserve the VA\u2019s air ambulance services in this bill, however the rules committee ultimately determined that the amendment wasn\u2019t eligible for consideration within the bill; he is now seeking a solution through stand-alone authorizing legislation. (Note: See Zinke\u2019s testimony to the House Rules Committee)\n\n\u201cThe House Republicans passed a great bill to fully fund the Department of Veterans Affairs and make strategic investments in military construction at Malmstrom and elsewhere,\u201d said Zinke. \u201cThe bill also contains important policy victories which keep woke culture out of the VA so the department can focus on treating our warriors, not indoctrinating them.\u201d\n\nZinke\u2019s major wins for Montana include:\n\n$10 million to Malmstrom Air Force Base for construction on the new fire station bay and storage area construction.\n\nAdditional $5 million to construction grants for projects like the Southwest Montana Veterans\u2019 Home.\n\nDirects the DOD to update data link infrastructure to increase readiness for instances like the one related to the Chinese spy balloon.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-supports-governor-gianfortes-request-drought-disaster", "Congressman Zinke Supports Governor Gianforte\u2019s Request for Drought Disaster Declaration in Western and North-Central Montana", "2023-07-25", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statement of support following Governor Gianforte\u2019s request to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify areas in Western and North-Central Montana impacted by severe drought conditions as natural disaster areas. Due to abnormally low snowpack combined with dry conditions and little rainfall, Western Montana\u2019s livestock, crop, and eco-tourism industries are experiencing added strain.\n\n\u201cThe crisis around Flathead Lake is a natural disaster made exponentially worse by the manmade disaster of poor leadership at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cGovernor Gianforte, Senator Daines and I have been pressing federal bureaucrats for over a month to address the crisis at Flathead Lake. Had Reclamation exercised their authority to make an emergency release of water in June, we would not be at the situation we are at now with lake levels dropping so low that ag intakes are inoperable.\u201d\n\nZinke continued, \u201cWestern Montana beyond the Flathead Lake community, Toole and Sheridan Counties require immediate relief and are at the mercy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to recognize and designate a drought disaster area. I fully support the Governor\u2019s formal request for an emergency declaration so Montana producers and growers can begin to receive assistance.\u201d\n\nRep. Zinke has emphasized the need of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to reject the Technical Management Team\u2019s recommendation (TMT) and exercise their authority to release water from the Hungry Horse Dam to mitigate dropping pool levels at Flathead Lake.\n\nBackground:\n\nJune 29:Zinke, Daines Urged the Bureau of Reclamation to Increase Flow form Hungry Horse, Prevent Catastrophic Impacts on Flathead Lake.\n\nJune 29: Zinke had phone conversations with USBR Commissioner Touton.\n\nJune 30 Zinke had phone conversations with USBR Boise Regional Director Jennifer Carrington.\n\nJuly 1:Flathead county commissioners sent a letter to USBR to stabilize the lake.\n\nJuly 6:Governor Gianforte pressed USBR to stabilize the lake.\n\nJuly 8: Zinke continues to push \u2018Fill the Lake\u2019 during visit to Flathead County.\n\nJuly13:Governor Gianforte formally submitted an SOR to the TMT to stabilize the lake.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-zinke-testifies-front-house-rules-committee-amendment-protect-life", "VIDEO: Zinke Testifies in front of House Rules Committee on Amendment to Protect Life-Saving Healthcare for Veterans", "2023-07-25", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced an amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024 to protect Montana veterans\u2019 access to life flights and a variety of ambulance services. Zinke introduced this amendment after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) finalized a rule that would reimburse air ambulances at a rate equal to that of the 1998 Medicare reimbursement rate. This would cause drastic cuts and make it financially impossible for air ambulances to operate. Zinke\u2019s amendment would stop this rule from going into effect and force the VA to continue operating under the established reimbursement rates.\n\nIf the amendment achieves passage through House Rules, it will be considered for a vote on the House Floor this week and sent to the U.S. Senate for a vote. Zinke\u2019s amendment is bipartisan and has the backing of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wounded Warrior Project, the National Military & Veterans Alliance, and other veteran service organizations.\n\nA video of the testimony is linked here.\n\nA transcript of his testimony to the House Rules Committee is below.\n\nThank you, Mr. Chairman, member of the committee.\n\nI rise to speak on an important issue, the Zinke amendment 49, which really stops a very, very bad rule, and if not stopped, it will gut air ambulance services across Montana and rural states. And believe me if this rule is not stopped it means people are going to die and veterans are going to lose their lives.\n\nLet me explain a little bit about Montana. The Chairman has been out there, and I invite all members to, but Montana\u2019s same sizes from here to Chicago plus 2 miles. Montana\u2019s population is just a little over 1 million.\n\nI was just in Bozeman. I met with the CEO of the hospital, and she reminded me that not every hospital even has the same services, so in distances across Montana when you were two hours away from the hospital, and maybe you do hit that deer or that bison. But that is going to mean if someone comes along, and if they have cell phone coverage, you\u2019re hours away. Your only lifesaving measure is air ambulance services and that isn\u2019t just Montana, but across the West and places that are more desolate like Indian territory, your chances of getting to a hospital in time are remote without the services.\n\nThis amendment is obviously supported by Veteran groups like the VFW and American legion. Let me give you a little background of why we\u2019re here: in February, the VA finalized a rule that reduces the reimbursement, a rate and it goes back to a 1998 reimbursement schedule. 1998, what are you doing a 1998? I was in Bosnia. That was a few years ago. So, they did this rule without contacting stakeholders or industry leaders. So, what does this rule do? It would reduce reimbursement rate by 80%. There isn\u2019t an air ambulance service that can operate with that type of reduction.\n\nSo, also remember we had the secretary of the VA here in Committee, he was asked about this very point. He said he would work with us, that the solution was contracts, that the VA would go forward, and they would contract air services and recognize you can\u2019t reduce by 80%.\n\nSo, what happened? Nothing.\n\nI lead a letter of 10 members to question why, and what happened? Nothing. Cricket. Previous letters all reached the same conclusion - nothing happened. It seems like some cases the only time people listen is when the power of the purse is applied.\n\nSo, recently, last week, we found that the industry sources through sources is the 911 are no longer reimbursed by any contract vehicles. It all would go down to the reimbursable rates of 1998 and considering that most calls are 911, it\u2019s a big deal. Not to mention we have to transport patients between hospital because not every hospital has across the spectrum care.\n\nSo, if we don\u2019t stop implementation the rule here it will go in effect, we will eliminate most of the air ambulance services across Montana. You will close bases, especially Indian territory.\n\nSo, CBO so we went through the course, and we want to follow rules and go by CBO, so what\u2019s the problem? The problem is this: the rule is not an effect yet, it is in February. They have technical difficulties applying CBO because the law, the PACT Act, hasn\u2019t determined whether or not this is discretionary, non-discretionary, and which fund. The HHS has not upgraded the schedule for ambulance services as they said they would do, and in law they were required to do, but haven\u2019t. You have a schedule that hasn\u2019t been redone, a PACT Act that hasn\u2019t determined and we can\u2019t get a CBO score, but this is what we\u2019ve all promised in this committee. We promised that we would keep the VA whole.\n\nRemember, we looked at the VA the deal, we looked at defense and we would keep VA whole. It doesn\u2019t involve additional spending. This involves the continued spending as it as it was until we get a solution, which is probably contracted or enforce the VA to do with their supposed to do. So with that, this is an important issue across Montana. I\u2019m sure my colleague from the East side recognizes that. But this is not just Montana \u2013 it is across the West. So, with that, I ask your favorable of approval to right this wrong on a very important issue in Montana.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-legislation-defund-block-glacier-park-vehicle-reservation-system", "Zinke Legislation to Defund, Block Glacier Park Vehicle Reservation System Advances to House Floor", "2023-07-21", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013 This week, the House Appropriations Committee approved Congressman Ryan Zinke\u2019s legislation to defund and block the vehicle reservation system at Glacier National Park (GNP). The amendment was added to the FY24 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies funding bill and will advance to a vote on the House Floor in September.\n\nThis is the most recent step of the already months-long process to remove the reservation system which started last year when Zinke began listening sessions with local residents and business owners. The process continued this April when Zinke called on the National Park Service (NPS) to open an investigation into the details of the Booz Allen contract managing recreation.gov and calling on the NPS to abandon the vehicle reservation system.\n\nZinke has since met with GNP Superintendent Dave Roemer several times to find alternatives to balance public access to the park experience with park preservation by implementing trail density technology systems, public transportation options, and pulling back time of day restrictions for locals without a vehicle reservation.\n\nTimeline:\n\nMarch 3 \u2013 Zinke raises concern on reservation system.\n\nApril 6 \u2013 bombshell report by the Wall Street Journal detailing a $140 million contract with a defense contractor to run recreation.gov.\n\nApril 11 \u2013 Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer.\n\nApril 11 \u2013 Zinke meets with Glacier-area elected officials and business stakeholders.\n\nApril 11 \u2013 Zinke calls for investigation into recreation.gov.\n\nMay 10 \u2013 Zinke introduces bill to improve collaboration between parks, gateway communities.\n\nJuly 6 \u2013 Zinke revisits Glacier Park to meet with Superintendent Roemer.\n\nJuly 19 \u2013 House Appropriations vote to pass language defunding and blocking the reservation system.\n\nIn addition to defunding and blocking the reservation system,, Zinke was able to secure more than a dozen policy victories for Montana in the Interior appropriations bill, to include:\n\nDelisting the Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bear.\n\nEnding sue, settle and seal.\n\nRestricting funds for WOTUS.\n\nFull funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT).\n\nDefunding DOI\u2019s Interagency Bison Working Group.\n\nBlocking the introduction of Bison on the CMR Wildlife refuge.\n\nBlocking the Biden Administration\u2019s ban on lead ammunition and Tackle on wildlife refuges.\n\nDefunding EPA rules that would result in the early shutdown of Colstrip and raise energy costs for Montanans.\n\nIncreasing funding for Wildland firefighters.\n\nCut spending without putting the burden on tribes.\n\nProhibiting funds for listing gray wolves on the ESA.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-amendment-delist-grizzlies-around-yellowstone-advances-house-floor", "Zinke Amendment to Delist Grizzlies Around Yellowstone Advances to House Floor", "2023-07-20", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee approved by a voice vote Congressman Ryan Zinke\u2019s amendment to delist the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) Grizzly from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and return to the 2017 Department of the Interior rule. The amendment was added to the FY24 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies funding bill and will advance to a vote on the House Floor in September.\n\nIn February, Rep. Zinke and Congresswoman Harriet Hagemann (R-WY) introduced the Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2023. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Steve Daines (MT) and both of Idaho\u2019s Senators. The bill requires the DOI to reinstate the 2017 final rule removing grizzlies in the GYE from the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife within 180 days of enactment. The 2017 rule was issued by then-Secretary Ryan Zinke.\n\nIn February, Zinke said, \u201cInstead of moving the goal line, we should be celebrating the win \u2013 the Endangered Species Act worked for grizzly bears in the GYE. As a Congressman, I am demanding the same thing I did as Secretary - If we are managing based on science, there must be an offramp for wildlife on the list once their goal is reached. Montana and Wyoming share more than a border, we share wildlife, ecosystems, and the shared responsibility to manage it properly. Congresswoman Hageman is a champion for wildlife management, and I am excited to work closely with her and members in both chambers on this critical piece to ensure they make the right choice for Montana.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the delisting grizzly bears amendment, Zinke was able to secure more than a dozen policy victories for Montana in the Interior appropriations bill, to include:\n\nRestricted funds for Glacier Park\u2019s vehicle reservation system.\n\nEnding sue, settle, and seal.\n\nRestricting funds for WOTUS.\n\nFull funding for Payment in Liu of Taxes (PILT)\n\nDefunded DOI\u2019s Interagency Bison Working Group.\n\nBlocked the introduction of Bison on the CMR Wildlife refuge.\n\nBlocked the Biden Administration\u2019s ban on lead ammunition and Tackle on wildlife refuges.\n\nDefunded EPA rules that would result in the early shutdown of Colstrip and raise energy costs for Montanans.\n\nIncreased funding for Wildland firefighters.\n\nCut spending without putting the burden on tribes.\n\nProhibited funds for listing gray wolves on the ESA.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-community-funding-requests-advance-house-floor", "Zinke Community Funding Requests Advance to House Floor", "2023-07-20", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee approved Congressman Ryan Zinke\u2019s Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) community funding requests to advance to a vote on the House Floor in September. Pending passage on the House Floor, the requests will be considered for inclusion in the joint funding package to be approved by the Senate, then signed by the President.\n\nThe bill includes six of Rep. Zinke\u2019s Community Project Funding requests to bring more than $31.5 million in funding directly to Montana communities.\n\nBelow is the list of Rep. Zinke\u2019s THUD Appropriations requests included in the bill.\n\nCommunity Project Funding Requests:\n\n$20,000,000 for the Blackfeet Nation Tribal Center Project\n\n$1,000,000 for the Beaverhead County Bridge Rehabilitation Project.\n\n$1,000,000 for the Ravalli County Ricketts Road Improvement Project.\n\n$3,315,000 for the Kalispell Two Mile Drainage Improvement Project.\n\n$5,000,000 for the Yellowstone National Park Bridge Consolidation Project.\n\n$833,123 for the Relocation of Powell County\u2019s New Central Maintenance Facility.\n\nCommunity Project Funding does not increase federal spending, the funding is allocated from previously authorized grant accounts. Allowing elected Members of Congress to direct grant funding brings accountability and transparency to a process that would otherwise be decided by unelected officials in the federal government.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-zinke-rips-bureau-reclamation-refusing-stabilize-flathead-lake", "Rep. Zinke Rips Bureau of Reclamation for Refusing to Stabilize Flathead Lake", "2023-07-14", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - BREAKING:Today, the technical management team (TMT) that advises the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on the Columbia River System has denied the request by Gov. Gianforte, Sen. Daines and Congressman Zinke to stabilize Flathead Lake levels.\n\nCongressman Zinke released the following statement following the Bureau of Reclamation\u2019s refusal:\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s be clear, the Commissioner of Reclamation has the authority to make the executive decision and does not need to bow to the unelected bureaucrats at the TMT who care more about fish than people. USBR does not lack authority. The only thing they lack is leadership.\n\n\u201cHad Reclamation acted nearly 4 weeks ago when Senator Daines and I first raised this issue, and lake levels were about 8-inches below full pool, the damage would have been mitigated and the situation far less dire.\n\n\u201cIt is obvious Congress must use the power of the purse to demand Federal authorities prioritize multiple use to include recreation, economic impact, and public safety.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nJune 29:Zinke, Daines Urged the Bureau of Reclamation to Increase Flow form Hungry Horse, Prevent Catastrophic Impacts on Flathead Lake.\n\nJune 29: Zinke had phone conversations with USBR Commissioner Touton.\n\nJune 30 Zinke had phone conversations with USBR Boise Regional Director Jennifer Carrington.\n\nJuly 1:Flathead county commissioners sent a letter to USBR to stabilize the lake.\n\nJuly 6:Governor Gianforte pressed USBR to stabilize the lake.\n\nJuly 8: Zinke continues to push \u2018Fill the Lake\u2019 during visit to Flathead County.\n\nJuly13:Governor Gianforte formally submitted an SOR to the TMT to stabilize the lake.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-zinkes-appropriations-requests-progress-full-committee-markup", "Rep. Zinke\u2019s Appropriations Requests Progress to Full Committee Markup", "2023-07-12", "2023", "2023-07", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, the Office of Congressman Ryan Zinke announces the passage of the House Appropriations Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) subcommittee bill for consideration before the entire House Appropriations Committee.\n\nThe bill includes six of Rep. Zinke\u2019s Community Project Funding requests to bring more than $31.5 million in funding directly to Montana communities. Rep. Zinke\u2019s requests will now appear before the full House Appropriations Committee before passage onto the House Floor and be included in the joint funding package approved by the House and Senate, then signed by the President.\n\nCommunity Project Funding does not increase federal spending, the funding is allocated from previously authorized grant accounts. Allowing elected Members of Congress to direct grant funding brings accountability and transparency to a process that would otherwise be decided by unelected officials in the federal government.\n\nBelow is the list of Rep. Zinke\u2019s THUD Appropriations requests included in the bill.\n\nCommunity Project Funding Requests:\n\n$20,000,000 for the Blackfeet Nation Tribal Center Project.\n\n$5,000,000 for the Yellowstone National Park Bridge Consolidation Project.\n\n$3,315,000 for the Kalispell Two Mile Drainage Improvement Project.\n\n$1,000,000 for the Beaverhead County Bridge Rehabilitation Project.\n\n$1,000,000 for the Ravalli County Ricketts Road Improvement Project.\n\n$833,123 for the relocation of Powell County's New Central Maintenance Facility.\n\nA summary of the bill is available here.\n\nBill text is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-daines-urge-bureau-reclamation-increase-flow-form-hungry-horse-prevent", "Zinke, Daines Urge Bureau of Reclamation to Increase Flow form Hungry Horse, Prevent Catastrophic Impacts on Flathead Lake", "2023-06-29", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke urged Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton to increase the release of water from Hungry Horse Reservoir to stabilize water levels in Flathead Lake ahead of the lake reaching historically low pool levels. Due to a rapid runoff and laws requiring the minimum flow at the SKQ Dam, the lake is expected to be 18-inches below full pool by mid-July.\n\nRead the letter to Commissioner Touton here.\n\nThis 18-inch drop has the potential to create extremely adverse environmental, economic and safety ramifications for the greater Flathead Lake community. The lower water level will result in decreased tourism and create damage to docks and infrastructure surrounding Flathead Lake, as well as create a public safety emergency with submerged hazards blocking previously navigable waterways.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s too much at stake economically, environmentally, and for public safety for the federal government to ignore this oncoming crisis,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cLuckily, Reclamation has the authority, and precedence has been set, to increase flow from Hungry Horse Reservoir to stabilize Flathead Lake levels. I\u2019m urging the commissioner to use that authority and take action now to prevent irreversible damage to the greater Flathead Lake community.\u201d\n\nAdditional Background:\n\nThe current June streamflow volume forecast is at 40% of average and July is at 36% of average.\n\nThe SKQ Dam project decreased the lake outflow to minimum streamflow for the lower Flathead River at the beginning of June. However, due to the low inflow into Flathead Lake, the elevation is beginning to drop and is expected to continue to drop until approximately mid-July.\n\nWithout substantial precipitation or an increase in streamflow, the lowest level is anticipated to be near 18 inches or 1.5 feet below full pool.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-announces-more-30-million-grants-cskt", "Congressman Zinke Announces More than $30 Million in Grants to CSKT", "2023-06-14", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Office of Congressman Ryan Zinke announces the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) as a grant recipient of the Federal Highway Administration\u2019s (FHWA) National Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) program. The CSKT were awarded $30,567,037 to support the rehabilitation of US93 from Dublin Gulch Road to Gunlock Road which includes construction of a multi-span bridge over Ninepipes Reservoir, implementation of traffic safety improvements, development of wildlife collision reduction infrastructure, roadway reconstruction, and development of a shared-use path.\n\nGrant Details\n\nOrganization: National Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects\n\nRecipient: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes\n\nProject: US93 Dublin Gulch Road to Gunlock Road\n\nAmount: $30,567,037\n\nBackground:\n\nThe NSFLTP provides funding for the construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of nationally significant projects within, adjacent to, or accessing Federal and tribal lands. This Program provides an opportunity to address significant challenges across the nation for transportation facilities that serve Federal and tribal lands.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-votes-protect-second-amendment-rights", "Congressman Zinke Votes to Protect Second Amendment Rights", "2023-06-13", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted for H.J. Res. 44, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) that would nullify the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives\u2019 (ATF) pistol brace rule the Biden Administration finalized in January 2023.\n\n\u201cBiden and radical democrats in the House are taking every action possible to turn law-abiding Montana gun owners into felons \u2013 and I won\u2019t stand for it. The latest attempt from the Biden Administration to erode our Second Amendment right falls right in line with the rest of their anti-Montana agenda,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cI was sent to D.C. to protect our Montana values and way of life against government overreach and unconstitutional regulations. I proudly cosponsored the legislation to overturn the Biden pistol brace ban and I hope my colleagues in the Senate, including Montana\u2019s two U.S. Senators, side with Montana.\u201d\n\nThe ATF\u2019s new rule is a pocket ban on the use of a stabilizing brace with a pistol, arguing that the device turns the legal pistol into a short-barreled rifle. The 40 million law-abiding Americans with a brace must now register on a government list or dispose of their firearms. If they don\u2019t comply with this unconstitutional rule, they will become felons, face 10 years in prison and large fines.\n\nBackground:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-zinke-and-colleagues-send-letter-va-secretary-regarding-change-ambulance", "Rep. Zinke and colleagues send letter to VA Secretary regarding change in ambulance reimbursement", "2023-06-13", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Rep. Zinke and colleagues send letter to VA Secretary regarding change in ambulance reimbursement", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-zinke-colleagues-demand-cbp-expand-return-pre-pandemic-ports-entry-hours", "Rep. Zinke, Colleagues Demand CBP to Expand, Return to Pre-Pandemic Ports of Entry Hours", "2023-06-09", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke requested the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Executive Assistant Commissioner Pete Flores to expand hours of operation at ports of entry in Montana and other northern states to, at a minimum, match the operating hours with their adjacent Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) ports. Zinke and his colleagues also asked CBP to provide a response within 30 days from receiving the letter.\n\n\u201cAll three branches of the United States government have acknowledged that the pandemic is over \u2013 so why is the CBP not returning to pre-pandemic business?\u201d Zinke said. \u201cMontana\u2019s ports expand access both sides of the border rely on. With mix-matched times, we\u2019re fumbling the ball and creating unneeded confusion for Montanans. Whether they are carrying out business that drives our economy or just visiting family - they deserve consistency. I\u2019ve got colleagues on both sides of the isle and in both chambers ready to give CBP the staff and resources needed to whip our ports back into pre-pandemic shape.\u201d\n\nZinke continued, \u201cAccess across the border is important for our economy and our sense of community. Towns like Eureka, Columbia Falls and Babb have many cross-border families and business owners. Having reliable, continuous access ensures folks can see their family and run their businesses.\u201d\n\nJoining Congressman Zinke in the letter to CBP are Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), James Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jon Tester (D-MT), John Hoeven (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), and U.S. Congressmen Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), and Matt Rosendale (R-MT).\n\nClick here to read the letter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-votes-secure-our-nations-border", "Congressman Zinke Votes to Secure Our Nation\u2019s Border", "2023-06-01", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted to secure our nation\u2019s borders through the passage of House Republican's H.R. 2: the Secure the Border Act. The passage of H.R. 2 comes the day before the expiration of Title 42, an existing authority that allows the President to expel individuals illegally crossing the border for the duration of COVID-19. The passed legislation directs border wall construction, invests in security technology, and increases border personnel, and mends the asylum system where Biden has abused it.\n\nCongressman Zinke released the following statement following House Republicans taking the lead in securing our borders:\n\n\u201cMontanans and America know that the border is a mess. Every state is a border state \u2013 including Montana. We see it in our streets with sex trafficking, child trafficking, and drug trafficking. It is time to finish the Southern wall. It is time to secure our border. It is time to support our agents who put themselves on the line every day.\u201d\n\nTo regain operational control of the U.S. international borders and keep the United States safe through the following means:\n\nResume construction of the border wall halted by President Biden\n\nBolster border patrol by requiring the hiring of 22,000 officers and providing retention bonuses.\n\nEnding COVID-19 vaccine requirements for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees.\n\nUpgrade technology along U.S. borders.\n\nAuthorizes grants to local police who can aid in the federal government's mission to secure the border.\n\nThis legislation also puts an end to the Biden administration\u2019s catch-and-release policies, clarifies and strengthens the asylum process to deter meritless asylum seekers, and fix our asylum system where the Biden administration has abused it.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nIn latest reported numbers, in March 2023 Border Patrol encountered 191,899 migrants at the Southwest Border. Of these, 12,374 are unaccompanied children who are vulnerable to human traffickers and coyotes.\n\nHalfway through FY2023, 1,233,067 migrants have been encountered by Border Patrol at the Southwest Border, of these 70,016 are unaccompanied children.\n\nOn the Northern Border, there have already 3,830 encounters in only half of FY2023, which is already 71% larger than the FY2022 encounter number of 2,238.\n\nNationwide, halfway through FY2023, 264,000 lbs. of drugs have been seized by CBP. That includes 13,900 lbs. of fentanyl, 75,600 lbs. of methamphetamine, and 75,600 lbs. of cocaine.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-leads-navy-seals-bipartisan-group-veterans-improve-mental-healthcare", "Zinke Leads Navy SEALS & Bipartisan Group of Veterans to Improve Mental Healthcare for Vets", "2023-06-01", "2023", "2023-06", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON) \u2013 Congressmen Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Congressman Donald Davis (D-NC), along with twelve additional colleagues including every Navy SEAL in Congress, introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs is granting veterans access to life-saving mental health care in their local communities. The legislation streamlines veteran\u2019s community-based care by allowing expedited residential healthcare referrals when the local VA is at capacity. The bill also requires yearly tracking of referrals to be reported to Congress, and requires any alterations the VA may seek to make to community care standards be made by Congress, not the department.\n\n\u201cThe very program created to take care of our veterans should be the last obstacle standing in their way, unfortunately that has become the reality with the VA \u2013 especially when it comes to mental health,\u201d said retired Navy SEAL Commander Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-01). \u201cVeterans deserve the best, quickest, and most updated version of healthcare we can give them and expanding access to community-based mental healthcare does exactly that. Intervention at the point of crisis is mission critical to saving lives. The longer veterans have to wait in line to heal their mental and emotional scars, the more their lives are at risk.\"\n\nAir Force veteran and Congressman Donald Davis (D-NC) said: \u201cOur veterans deserve nothing less than the highest standard of health care. It is the least we can do to repay their sacrifices forthis great nation. On behalf of the nearly 50,000 veterans in North Carolina\u2019s First Congressional District, I am proud to support the Protecting Veteran Community Care Act, legislation that amends landmark reforms to veterans\u2019 health care, including mental health treatment. It is simply unacceptable to lose more than 20 veterans daily to suicide. This bill will further veteran access standards and no longer depend on VA access standards, bringing down costly wait times. No veteran should have to put their health on the line to access lifesaving mental health care. \"\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s veterans deserve ample and timely access to mental healthcare. After returning home, many veterans still carry the weight of their service with them in their day-to-day lives, and face long wait times to utilize VA resources,\u201d said U.S. Navy SEAL veteran Dan Crenshaw (R-TX). \u201cI\u2019m proud to cosponsor Congressman Zinke\u2019s bipartisan bill to expedite healthcare options and ensure our veterans get the medical attention they need, when they need it.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a disabled combat veteran and a Representative for a large veteran community, I understand the challenges our military members face when they return from service \u2014 it\u2019s not always physical or visible,\u201d said Congressman Luttrell (R-TX). \u201cWhen I speak with veterans in my district, they always express concerns for broader access and diverse forms of treatments for mental healthcare. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor this legislation that will provide much deserved swifter and higher quality care for veterans.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe VA continues to fall short on their commitment to provide timely care, forcing veterans into unacceptable waiting periods and unreliable appointment scheduling,\u201d said U.S. Navy SEAL veteran Eli Crane (AZ-02). \u201cWith many of our veterans living in rural areas, expanding access to favorable healthcare choices often means the difference between life and death. As a veteran myself, I\u2019m proud to sign onto this bill, which would counteract the agency\u2019s backsliding and ensure our vets aren\u2019t isolated by senseless restrictions.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who has lost many friends to the unseen wounds of war, my number one priority in Congress is preventing veteran suicide. The Protecting Veteran Community Care Act will ensure our veterans in rural communities have access to the mental health care they need, and I fully support it,\u201d Congressman Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) said.\n\nSenator Daines, who introduced a companion bill in the Senate, said the bill will expand healthcare access for veterans in remote places across Montana.\n\n\u201cThe VA\u2019s mission is to \u2018care for those who have served in our nation\u2019s military,\u2019 that means ensuring our brave Montana veterans have access to the highest quality of care no matter where they live,\u201d said U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) I will always work to protect Montana veterans\u2019 access to health care in communities across Montana.\u201d\n\nThe \u201cProtecting Veteran Community Care Act\u201d strengthens the existing community care program, limits the VA\u2019s ability to restrict access to care in the community, and requires the VA to track relevant community care data and provide those statistics to Congress.\n\nSpecifically, this legislation would:\n\nAmend the MISSION Act to specifically include inpatient mental health standards.\n\nAdds clarity to veteran eligibility for care in the community.\n\nRequires the VA to track and present to Congress data on how veterans are requesting and using community care, along with what services community care funds are paying for.\n\nRequires passage of a Joint Resolution in both chambers of Congress to modify community care eligibility.\n\nRead the one-pager HERE.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe 2018 VA MISSION Act was a landmark piece of legislation that overhauled the VA Choice Program to provide veterans with improved access to healthcare. Unfortunately, the VA has failed to live up to its obligation to provide timely care. Veterans are still facing unacceptably long waiting periods and frequently rescheduled appointments. The VA continues to fall short on the complete and proper implementation of the MISSION Act. This has resulted in the need forCongress to strengthen existing authorities to ensure that the VA isn\u2019t restricting care in the community for veterans who need it most.\n\nCurrent House cosponsors: Reps. Donald Davis (D-NC), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Michelle Steel (R-CA), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Chip Roy (R-TX), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) Kevin Hern (R-OK)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-votes-against-suspending-debt-ceiling", "Congressman Zinke Votes Against Suspending Debt Ceiling", "2023-05-31", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted against H.R.: 3746: The Fiscal Responsibility Act, which would\u2019ve suspended the debt ceiling until 2025. The bill passed the House and is now before the Senate for consideration.\n\nCongressman Zinke said:\n\n\u201cThe bill was not all bad. It contained modest but needed work on permit reforms and negotiated spending reductions. The problem is that it is just not enough for Montana. We are faced with adding $4 trillion in debt. More has to be done to cut the budget and grow the economy. Article I of the Constitution is clear - no money shall be withdrawn from the treasury but in Consequence of Appropriations made by law. I strongly believe we need to get back to that fundamental constitutional power.\n\nI commend Speaker McCarthy for his work in passing the Limit, Save, Grow Act and forcing the White House to finally negotiate. with Republicans. I look forward to my work on the Appropriations Committee to reduce spending and pull back government over-regulation that is driving inflation and debt.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-r-mt-peltola-d-ak-and-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bill-expand-access", "Zinke\u00a0(R-MT), Peltola (D-AK) and\u00a0Colleagues\u00a0Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Public Lands and Improve\u00a0Collaboration Between Feds and Gateway Communities", "2023-05-10", "2023", "2023-05", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Photos of Zinke\u2019s recent visit with YNP Superintendent can be accessed here.\n\nToday, a bipartisan group led by Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Mary Peltola (D-AK) and eight of their colleagues introduced the bipartisan Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act. The goal of the legislation is to increase public access to National Parks and Forests and improve collaboration between Federal agencies and gateway communities. This is companion bill to legislation introduced by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Angus King (I-ME) in February. Details of the bill are below.\n\nThe outdoor recreation economy is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy accounting for $887 billion in consumer activity and supported 7.6 million jobs. As a result of this growth, National Parks, public recreation lands, and the gateway communities that support them have experienced increased visitation benefits such as increased economic activity and also difficulties such as housing shortages, infrastructure strain, and conflict between local and federal officials. This bill will help gateway communities and Federal agencies better coordinate to address the challenges, identify opportunities and provide the necessary tools to develop and pursue solutions.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful that more Americans are getting outside to enjoy a trail or river, but the increased visitation unfortunately causes some growing pains. The Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act seeks to solve some of these problems by bringing federal and local stakeholders to the table to collaborate on access and opportunities,\u201d said Rep. Zinke. \u201cAdditionally, the bill solves the longtime issue of unrealized potential in capturing real-time data on trail density and encouraging visitation to nearby, less traveled trails. If hikers see a trail is crowded and have the option to hike a different route that is low traffic, that helps alleviate congestion and resource strain, and also allows land managers to welcome more members of the public without restricting access to parks. It\u2019s a win-win.\u201d\n\n\u201cNational parks are important to Alaska and are deeply connected to local economies,\u201d said Representative Peltola. \u201cThis legislation will provide additional opportunities for local communities to benefit from and engage in decision-making about their local park economies. It will also encourage more people to visit our national parks as digital passes become more and more a norm in everyday life. I am happy to co-lead this bill \u2014 and hope it will help to lift up the communities that support America\u2019s national parks.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica has first-class national parks and public lands, recognized the world over. And while this has been a blessing to share, it has also placed unique challenges on the folks who live and work in our gateway communities,\u201d said Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04). \u201cBy increasing local collaboration and transparency, we can better support the needs of these communities so they can continue to boost local economies and preserve our public lands for generations to come. The Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act will do just that.\u201d\n\nThe bill:\n\nCreates a digital America the Beautiful National Parks and public lands pass so visitors can seamlessly access public lands.\n\nEstablishes a pilot program to provide visitation data for recreation lands and at high congestion promote visitation to nearby lesser known, lesser visited recreation sites.\n\nRequires the public land management agencies to collaborate with local stakeholders to address gateway communities\u2019 economic needs, particularly housing shortages, and infrastructural deficiencies, related to increasing visitation.\n\nRequires the NPS to consult local communities before restricting access to parks.\n\nStatements of support:\n\n\u201cPublic lands throughout the country are incredibly important for providing Americans with opportunities to recreate, including fishing. The recreational fishing industry is grateful to Rep. Zinke for his leadership on the Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act. Recreational fishing opportunities can be found in nearly every national park, forest and wildlife refuge, and modernizing visitation data at these facilities will allow both land managers and the public to better ensure quality fishing experiences.\u201d \u2013 Glenn Hughes, President of the American Sportfishing Association\n\n\u201cThe Flathead County Commissioners thank Congressman Zinke for reintroducing the Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act. The act will offer useful and needed tools for our communities located near and around the entrance to Glacier National Park. We appreciate his work on behalf of Flathead County.\u201d \u2013 Flathead County Commissioner Randy Brodehl\n\n\"As we continue to see a record number of visitors to our national parks and public lands, programs which efficiently streamline the park processes and invest in enhanced visitation data models will allow us to better understand where outdoor resources are needed. We commend Congressman Zinke for taking up the mantle on this bill in the House to help protect gateway communities and local economies.\" \u2013 Kent Ebersole, President, Outdoor Industry Association\n\nBackground:\n\nOther House members listed as an original co-sponsor are John Curtis (UT-03), Doug Lamalfa(CA-01), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Mike Lawler (NY-27), Burgess Owens (UT-4).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-ryan-zinke-votes-limit-save-grow-act", "Congressman Ryan Zinke Votes for the Limit, Save, Grow Act", "2023-04-26", "2023", "2023-04", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act which aims to limit federal spending, save taxpayer dollars, and grow the economy.\n\n\u201cThe people of Montana sent me to Congress to fix the mess \u2013 not add to it. The Democrats\u2019 plan to raise the debt ceiling without looking into the issue that caused us to hit the limit is the definition of fiscal irresponsibility,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cWith nothing but lies coming from Democrats in all three branches, House Republicans crafted a long-term solution to curb reckless spending, save taxpayer dollars, reinforce Social Security and Medicare programs, and decrease our dependance on potential adversaries. Anyone who understands a hard day\u2019s work would vote to pass this bill.\u201d\n\nDue to the swell of government spending over the last three years the debt limit will soon be reached, and Congress is forced to lift the debt ceiling to prevent a default and downgrading of U.S. credit. House Republicans are demanding that government spending be reduced and savings found elsewhere so that we are not in this situation every year, and instead can start reducing the deficit and paying down the debt. President Biden and Chuck Schumer have not put forth a plan other than raise the debt limit and spend more until we reach the limit again.\n\nThis act, sometimes described in the media as a debt ceiling plan, addresses the looming Democrat-created debt crisis by capping future spending, recouping unspent COVID funding, repealing market distorting green tax credits, cutting regulations, and implementing pro-growth policies like a work requirement and energy permitting reform.\n\nAn outline of the Bill is below:\n\nLimit future spending by returning discretionary spending to pre-pandemic levels while maintaining a strong national defense and protecting Medicare and Social Security\n\nReduces excessive government spending by setting FY24 discretionary spending at FY22 levels (estimated $131 billion in immediate savings)\n\nCaps growth of discretionary spending at 1% per year for the next ten years while maintaining current funding for national defense, veterans, and national security (estimated $3.6 trillion savings over ten years)\n\nProtects funding of our national defense and makes no cuts to Medicare or Social Security\n\nSave taxpayer money\n\nClaws back unobligated COVID funds (roughly $50 billion in immediate savings)\n\nDefunds the Democrats\u2019 massive expansion of the IRS (estimated $71 billion in immediate savings)\n\nRepeals federal spending on Green New Deal tax credits (at least $271 billion in savings)\n\nProhibits the illegal Biden student loan bailout (estimated $465 billion in savings)\n\nGrow the economy and workforce by increasing American energy production, reducing federal regulatory burdens, and instituting reasonable work requirements for able-bodied citizens who receive federal benefits\n\nIncludes the REINS Act to require Congressional approval of any federal regulation that has an economic effect of at least $100 million, spurring economic growth and reducing the burden on small businesses and families\n\nInstitutes reasonable, Clinton-era work requirements on SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid to lift people out of poverty, grow the workforce, and reduce federal entitlement spending (estimated $120 billion in savings)\n\nAdjusts the age of existing SNAP work requirements from 18-49 (current law) to 18-55 (maintaining current law exemptions for parents, pregnant women, students, and those with disabilities)\n\n19-55 year-olds on Medicaid will be required to work, volunteer, or enroll in a work training program for at least 80 hours per month (with the same SNAP exemptions)\n\nEliminates gimmicks that states exploit to exempt TANF recipients from work requirements under current law\n\nIncludes the Lower Energy Costs Act to increase domestic energy production and exportation, reduce regulatory burdens, and reform permitting across all sectors of the economy (including $20 billion in immediate savings by repealing the Green New Bank)\n\nThe Limit, Save Grow Act is widely supported by conservative stakeholders and groups including: Advancing American Freedom; America First Policy Institute; Associated Builders and tors (ABC); American Commitment; Americans for Limited Government; Americans for Prosperity; Citizens for Renewing America; Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE); tee for a Responsible Federal Budget; Committee to Unleash Prosperity; Competitive enterprise Institute (CEI); Conservatives for Property Rights; Council for Citizens Against Government Waste; CPAC; ForAmerica; Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA);", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/cedar-hunt-st-ignatius-high-wins-2023-congressional-art-competition-western", "Cedar Hunt of St. Ignatius High Wins 2023 Congressional Art Competition for Western Montana", "2023-04-17", "2023", "2023-04", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(MISSOULA, MT) - Today Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced Ms. Cedar Hunt of St. Ignatius\u2019 piece titled Girl on Horse as the winner of the Congressional Art Competition for Montana\u2019s First Congressional District. The St. Ignatius High Schooler\u2019s art will be displayed in the halls of the United States Congress for the next year along with the top entries in each district around the country. The Congressional Art Competition is a tradition that has been reoccurring since 1982, however Hunt\u2019s submission is the first winner unique to Montana\u2019s newly drawn western district.\n\nIn her submission, Hunt noted that Girl on Horse is a 3D plume feather woman riding her appaloosa in a field of lavender with a background of mission old ledger papers. Ledger paper is an art form that traces back to the late 1800\u2019s and is used in art displaying the early lives of Native Americans.\n\n\u201cMontana is home to a robust art community and cultivating that talent begins with recognizing it early on,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cI was incredibly impressed with the work our students brought to the table - it made choosing a winner a difficult task. Cedar\u2019s piece on ledger paper was a great ode to the roots of Montana and our state should be proud of the talent working its way up through our youth. Congratulations on a job well done to Cedar and each of the other entries \u2013 you\u2019ve made Montana proud.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-requests-funding-15-western-montana-projects", "Congressman Zinke Requests Funding for 15 Western Montana Projects", "2023-04-13", "2023", "2023-04", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, DC) Congressman Ryan Zinke today announced he has requested federal funding for 15 projects in Western Montana to improve infrastructure, economic development, and law enforcement capabilities. The projects are located in Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Flathead (2), Glacier (3), Lake, Madison, Mineral, Missoula, Park, Powell, Ravalli and Lewis and Clark Counties. The projects are posted on Congressman Zinke\u2019s website for public inspection here and the list is below.\n\n\u201cI personally toured many of the project sites proposed and my staff and I spent weeks vetting each one to ensure they are an appropriate use of taxpayer funding. I am proud to put my name behind these projects,\u201d said Congressman Zinke. \u201cEvery one of these projects will make a big difference in the community and help Western Montana meet the challenges faced with increasing residency and aging infrastructure and services.\u201d\n\nThe requests were made through the U.S. House of Representatives Community Project Funding policy which allows Members of the House to propose up to 15 local projects to receive funding from eligible grant programs. All projects must meet the published grant requirements and pass a series of legislative hurdles. Every project must be approved by the House Appropriations Committee, which Zinke is a member, the full House of Representatives and be included in the joint funding package approved by the House and Senate and signed by the President. Community Project Funding does not increase federal spending, the funding is allocated from previously authorized grant accounts. Allowing elected Members of Congress to direct grant funding brings accountability and transparency to a process that would otherwise be decided by unelected officials in the federal government.\n\nProposed projects include:\n\nAnaconda-Deer Lodge County, $200,000 - Access to broadband for Anaconda-Deer Lodge\n\nAnaconda-Deer Lodge is a consolidated County-City government, population 9,491, which currently has zero access to broadband infrastructure. This funding would provide for the installation of two strands of dedicated fibers for 1-10Gig Lit Service in a Ring Topology from the central location to each of the County's nine different sites. This will provide a high level of internet resiliency, and harden county election security and greatly improve emergency services and communications.\n\nBeaverhead County, $1,032,788 - Replace a 99-year-old bridge\n\nThe funding would replace a failing 99-year-old bridge that is on an important emergency services, school bus, and commodity transportation route. At more than 5,570 square miles, Beaverhead County is larger than the state of Connecticut and responsible for 1,300 miles of county roads, and 132 bridges. Fifty-nine percent of the land in the county is Federally owned, therefore the county is only able to secure property tax income on 41% of the county. The structural integrity of the bridge is in jeopardy, and renovating this bridge is the top priority of the County, however due to budget constraints they do not have the funds necessary to cover the project on their own. The State of Montana is also prioritizing this project as their top ranked commitment for MCEP funding.\n\nBlackfeet Reservation, $30,000,000 - Blackfeet Nation Tribal Center Project\n\nFunding would support the Blackfeet Nation in building a multi-use Tribal Center dedicated to improving socioeconomic outcomes for at-risk Youths and assisting the senior population. With more than 37% of the Blackfeet people living at or below the poverty line, the Blackfeet Nation is one of the poorest and most rural tribal nations in the United States, and economic development faces many hurdles. In 2022 the Tribal Business Council declared a State of Emergency due to the opioid epidemic, predominantly because of the flood of fentanyl on to the reservation. The multi-use Center would be focused on improving outcomes for all people with a focus on at-risk youths and seniors. The Center will allow youths to have a safe, drug-free, and stable place to spend time after school and during the summer months, space and resources to complete homework, a job training and services center, classes and services for seniors, and provide a technology lab with reliable broadband access for the Blackfeet.\n\nLewis and Clark County, $4,000,000 - Training new physician assistants to foster rural development\n\nOne of the challenges rural areas face for economic development is reliable access to health care and medical professionals. Additionally, a rural clinic or hospital often serves as the economic anchor for rural counties. Nearly every county in Montana is fully designated as a Primary Health Professions Shortage area by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and many of Montana\u2019s rural counties do not have a physician. In these counties, physician assistants (PAs) are regularly the most-highly trained medical professional in the county. Carroll College would use this funding to establish educational classroom and lab spaces for a new PA Program to address the healthcare workforce shortage in the western region, specifically targeting training for rural PAs. Currently, Montana has only one PA program statewide, and Carroll College \u2019s program would provide another 34 seats per year beginning with the first cohort in fall 2025.\n\nFlathead County, $1,315,000 - Emergency services radio tower\n\nTo improve coverage and higher quality transmission for law enforcement radio traffic, Flathead Co. is requesting two 800 MHz Simulcast Remote sites with 4 FDMA trunked channels and appropriate RF plumbing and antenna systems to Flathead County 911\u2019s Public Safety Radio System. Each site would utilize a GTR ESS 6-pack rack connected to one TX antenna, one RX antenna and a Tower Top Amplifier (TTA).\n\nFlathead County, $3,315,000 - Two Mile Drainage Improvement Project in Kalispell\n\nThis project extends stormwater infrastructure, reconstructs the road, and adds a sidewalk to connect existing infrastructure. This section of roadway was initially built as a county road. With housing developments extending beyond and annexing into the municipal limits, this section has yet to be improved, creating challenges in stormwater treatment and conveyance and pedestrian pathway travel from multi-family housing sections into the areas of developed infrastructure. This interface between county and municipal subdivisions leads to a hazardous roadway for pedestrians with significant traffic volumes. This project is an area of concern brought forward by the community during housing development projects and the concerns related to Two Mile Road being built to county standards versus a municipal cross section. Improvement for this stretch has been identified within the neighboring community, reflected as an identified project in our transportation plan, and noted for stormwater improvement needs within the conveyance system.\n\nGlacier County, $1,017,000 - 911 Center and Radio Equipment for law enforcement\n\nThe Glacier County Sheriff\u2019s Office and Detention Center works with federal, Tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the area. They hold Federal detainees as well as detainees from surrounding towns. The Sheriff\u2019s Office works daily with Blackfeet Tribal Law Enforcement Services to provide Law Enforcement for the County and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, which recently declared a State of Emergency due to the worsening fentanyl crisis. The current 911 emergency system for the region is powered by personal computers and borrowed equipment. Vehicle and handheld radios used by the Sheriff\u2019s Office are nearly twenty years old and outdated. The requested funds are planned to be allocated to: 2 Dispatch Center consoles ($650,000.00); 2 Base Radios ($29,000) 20 Vehicle and 26 Handheld radios ($338,000.00).\n\nGlacier County, $410,045 - Patrol Vehicles and detainee safety enhancements for law enforcement\n\nThe Glacier County Sheriff\u2019s Office and Detention Center works with federal, Tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the area. They hold Federal detainees as well as detainees from the City of Cut Bank. The Sheriff\u2019s Office works daily with Blackfeet Tribal Law Enforcement Services to provide Law Enforcement for the County and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, which recently declared a State of Emergency due to the worsening fentanyl crisis. At the detention center, aging and faulty electronic lock technology has forced the use of physical keys and has negatively impacted response time to detainee medical emergencies. At the county level, the Sheriff\u2019s office has been forced to patrol the 3,037 square mile jurisdiction with aging vehicles over rough terrain. The requested funds are planned to be allocated to: Electronic Security Door System ($130,882.00); Police-equipped 4x4 patrol cruisers ($279,163.52).\n\nLake County, $300,000 - Law Enforcement Vehicles and Security Upgrade Project\n\nThe Lake County facility currently maintains felony authority over both Indian and Non-Indian offenders throughout the County, as well as misdemeanor authority for non-Indian offenders. Lake County is feeling the brunt of the opioid crisis \u2013 particularly with the abundance of fentanyl trafficking along highway 93, the main artery running north to south across the county. Lake County's detention facility is severely under-sized and over-crowded with a substantial, and growing, number of drug-related offenses. This requires both additional pre-detention screening and an increased need to move prisoners to other facilities in the state due to the lack of capacity. The requested funds would be allocated to procure: a) two fully-outfitted police cruisers and b) one Full Body Security Scanning System.\n\nMadison County, $1,450,000 - Nursing Home Revitalization & Modernization Project\n\nMadison County has developed a unique model for caring for the county's senior population, setting up a nonprofit organization which runs nursing homes and provides meals and other services to local residents. The county has already allocated funding and additional federal funds would help the county purchase 71 new beds to replace beds acquired in the 1970s, repave parking lots, bring ambulance and pedestrian egress entryways and corridors up to ADA standard, renovate kitchens to expand meal capacity, renovate exterior recreation and exercise spaces, and build and equip a technology lab with accessible computers, monitors and televisions for residents.\n\nMineral County, $1,000,000 - Rebuild the Saltese trestle bridge and provide public utilities, rural access and economic activity\n\nFunding for this project will facilitate a local nonprofit organization of volunteers to rebuild and rehab the Saltese trestle bridge located in Mineral. The bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure hosting four critical public utility easements for power and fiber optic connectivity and is a major thoroughfare for residents and economic driver for winter tourism. The bridge, however, is in structural decay with large pieces of concrete often falling away from the bridge. Mineral County has been described as having persistent poverty and being a hotbed of unemployment. 90% of the land ownership here is Federal or State lands therefore limiting the ability for the county to collect revenue on much of the land. Rebuilding the bridge will ensure long-term economic viability for the county and stable connectivity and power for residents and businesses.\n\nMissoula County, $20,000,000 - Establish a world class forestry center for the timber industry at the University of Montana\n\nThis funding would be added to more than $25,000,000 of private funding to build a forestry school and job training facility in western Montana. Of the nation's leading mass timber producers, two of them are in Montana\u2019s First Congressional District. This project can help establish mass timber production as a major economic driver in Montana. Doing so will dramatically increase demands at local mills and produce a jolt to many rural economies across western Montana.\n\nPark County, $9,500,000 - Save $3.5M to rebuild a single bridge instead of two\n\nThe 2022 flood on the Yellowstone River was a once-in-500-years catastrophic event which destroyed highways, bridges, and other infrastructure in Yellowstone National Park and Park County, MT. The flood destroyed a utilities transmission line across the river and delayed a project to build a pedestrian bridge. Stuck in their bureaucratic ways, two Federal agencies authorized the construction of two separate structures across the river, one for pedestrian access (WFLAP) and one for utilities (FEMA) for a total of $13,500,000; however, the total cost for construction of one combined pedestrian/utility bridge over the Yellowstone is estimated at $9,500,000. This funding would be used to combine the two bridges to become one pedestrian bridge that carries utility lines, thus saving taxpayers $3.5 million.\n\nPowell County, $833,123 - New Central Maintenance Facility\n\nFunding this project will help to recapture an important community space and support services to critical infrastructure. Located near the I-90/I-15 interchange and between Yellowstone and Glacier National Park, Powell County is host to a primary transportation corridor through Western Montana and the County needs to have a shop to maintain this critical infrastructure. Currently, basic County maintenance protocols are a significant challenge due to having to shuffle vehicles and a lack of workspace. This creates additional maintenance cost and a more hazardous work environment.\n\nRavalli County, $1,000,000 - Repair Ricketts Road to improve safety and economic activity", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-calls-investigation-recreationgov-contract-glacier-national-park", "Zinke Calls for Investigation into Recreation.gov Contract & Glacier National Park Reservation System", "2023-04-11", "2023", "2023-04", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(COLUMBIA FALLS, MT) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke called on the National Park Service to open an investigation into the details of the Booz Allen contract managing recreation.gov and calling on the National Park Service (NPS) to abandon the vehicle reservation system planned to soon go into effect at Glacier National Park. Zinke issued a letter to NPS and other agencies\u2019 leadership following the April 6th bombshell report by the Wall Street Journal detailing a $140 million contract with a defense contractor to run recreation.gov. Earlier today Zinke hosted separate meetings with the Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer and a group of Glacier-area elected officials and business stakeholders in Columbia Falls. (photos available in links)\n\nZinke wrote: \u201cDuring your recent appearance before the House Committee on Appropriations I raised the issue of Glacier National Park rationing access to the park and shutting out locals via a poorly conceived and executed vehicle reservation system. You committed to me that you would look for a solution and consider rolling back this policy that is deeply unpopular with local residents, small businesses and visitors\u2026In light of the recent WSJ report, and the fact that the Glacier National Park reservation system is housed on recreation.gov, I am calling for a full investigation of both the Booz-Allen contract (dating back to the original contract and subsequent renewals), and the decision-making process to implement the Glacier Park reservation system\u2026 I am also calling on you to abandon the Glacier National Park reservation system until a full investigation has been completed and the findings reported to my office.\u201d\n\nIn addition, Congressman Zinke requested the following information from the National Park Service:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-demands-answers-doi-officials-appropriations-hearing", "Congressman Zinke Demands Answers from DOI Officials at Appropriations Hearing", "2023-03-29", "2023", "2023-03", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke questioned senior officials at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Parks Service (NPS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) at the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing.\n\nNational Parks Service:\n\nCongressman Zinke pressed the Director of NPS Charles Sams on park rationing, specifically at Glacier National Park so locals aren\u2019t locked out of their community\u2019s park due to ticketing and time restraints. As Secretary, Zinke was the principal architect of the Great American Outdoors Act which was the largest investment in the history of our nation\u2019s outdoor spaces.\n\nWatch the clip of Rep. Zinke questioning the NPS here.\n\nU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:\n\nRep. Zinke also questioned Director of USFWS Martha Williams on the delay to delist grizzly bears in the GYE as an endangered species when we should be celebrating a win and offboarding the species from the list.\n\nIn February, Rep. Zinke introduced a bill to delist the GYE grizzly from the Endangered Species List with Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman. The bill requires the DOI to reinstate the 2017 final rule removing grizzlies in the GYE from the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife within 180 days of enactment. The 2017 rule was issued by then-Secretary Ryan Zinke.\n\nWatch the clip of Rep. Zinke questioning the USFWS here.\n\nBLM:\n\nRep. Zinke followed up his hearing yesterday with DOI Secretary Deb Haaland by pressing the Director of BLM Tracy Stone-Manning on refusing to permit the mining of critical minerals in the United States. Secretary Haaland or Director Stone-Manning claimed ignorance to the fact their policies are tightening China\u2019s stronghold on critical minerals, and both claimed they are not aware of China\u2019s status as the world\u2019s number one polluter.\n\nA 2017 report by the U.S. Geological Survey found the U.S. is dependent on China and Russia for 23 of the minerals that are most-needed to sustain our national defense and economy and are used in manufacturing everything from batteries and computer chips to equipment used by our military. The report shows a troubling trend of foreign dependency, which Biden\u2019s DOI contributed to by shutting down mining of a critical minerals in Minnesota.\n\nWatch the clip of Rep. Zinke questioning the BLM here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-votes-lower-energy-costs-montana", "Congressman Zinke Votes to Lower Energy Costs for Montana", "2023-03-29", "2023", "2023-03", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted in support of H.R. 1 \u2013 the Lower Energy Costs Act. This legislation was the top priority for House Republicans in the 118th Congress.\n\nThe Lowering Energy Costs Act focuses on spurring responsible development of domestic energy and mineral resources, eliminating burdensome permitting requirements, creating jobs, and securing our supply chains and energy infrastructure. This is an integral piece of legislation to Rep. Zinke\u2019s work on energy and climate solutions that reverse the damage done by President Biden\u2019s agenda from day one to shut down our energy production and make us reliant on China.\n\n\u201cA little over two years ago, America wasn\u2019t just energy independent - America was energy dominant. We gave Biden a blueprint for a clean, safe, efficient, and inexpensive energy policy and economy that benefitted from it. He threw it in the garbage and Montanans have paid for it though high electricity bills and price gouges at the fuel pump since,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cH.R. 1 puts logic back into energy policy. We shouldn\u2019t be fist-bumping over oil deals with war criminals, Chinese Communists or terrorists when we have what we need under our boots.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nJanuary 2021 \u2013 Biden revokes the Keystone XL pipeline permit\n\nJanuary 2021 \u2013 Biden blocks federal oil and gas leases\n\nJanuary 2022 \u2013 Biden revokes Alaska NPRA lease sale\n\nFebruary 2022 \u2013 Biden begs Saudis for oil\n\nMarch 2022 \u2013 Biden releases first batch of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve\n\nJune 2022 \u2013 Gas prices hit an all-time national high average at $5 per gallon\n\nJune 2022 \u2013 Gas prices in Montana hit an all-time average high at $4.97 per gallon of gasoline - $5.91 for diesel", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-grills-bidens-interior-secretary-haaland", "Congressman Zinke Grills Biden\u2019s Interior Secretary Haaland", "2023-03-28", "2023", "2023-03", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Zinke Grills Biden\u2019s Interior Secretary Haaland for Propping up China for Critical Minerals\n\n(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke questioned President Biden\u2019s current Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland on her budget request for FY24 at the House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee. At the hearing, Congressman Zinke grilled Secretary Haaland on the administration\u2019s policy to shut down mining in the United States, while propping up China for critical minerals.\n\nA 2017 report by the U.S. Geological Survey found the U.S. is dependent on China and Russia for 23 of the minerals that are most-needed to sustain our national defense and economy and are used in manufacturing everything from batteries and computer chips to equipment used by our military. The report shows a troubling trend of foreign dependency.\n\nSecretary Haaland was unable to answer basic questions about critical mineral deposits, dependency and her own actions to kill American mineral production.\n\nWatch Rep. Zinke\u2019s questioning from the hearing here.\n\nZINKE: Are you aware that China produces more emissions than any other country on the planet?\n\nHAALAND: I probably read that somewhere.\n\nZINKE: Are you aware that China produces 90% of plastic from four rivers?\n\nHAALAND: I\u2019ll take that to be true.\n\nZINKE: Are you aware that by multiple studies, that in order to satisfy the present requirement of EV and critical minerals, it would take an increase of 2,000% in minerals needed in the next twenty years?\n\nHAALAND: Thank you for that information.\n\nZINKE: Are you aware that Northern Minnesota is home to those critical minerals?\n\nHAALAND: I am not sure.\n\nZINKE: Can you pick any place in the United States that you\u2019ve identified to fast-track so we are not vulnerable to China and Russia both In defense and EV?\n\nHAALAND: We are working on identifying those critical minerals.\n\nZINKE: You would agree that not having the critical minerals identified and produced in this country is a security problem and prevents us from moving ahead on multiple issues, and makes us vulnerable to China?\n\nHAALAND: Energy independence is a priority to President Biden.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-slams-biden-killing-american-energy", "Congressman Zinke Slams Biden for Killing American Energy", "2023-03-13", "2023", "2023-03", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statement on President Biden\u2019s Alaskan Willow Project approval decision. President Biden continued his war on American energy by only approving 3/5 pads for drilling. Disapproving two pads comes as no surprise after the President campaigned on killing domestic production causing Americans to rely on adversaries for energy.\n\n\u201cMake no mistake, the approval of three pads is not a victory - it\u2019s a kick in the pants,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cBy only approving three, Biden is doing the absolute bare minimum while still promising regulatory harassment. The President is heading into an uphill election year and desperate to say he supports American energy but doesn\u2019t have the grit to stand up to the radical environmentalists who pull the strings behind the scenes. The Trump Administration handed Joe Biden a long-term, viable American energy solution, all they had to do was keep current course and speed. Complete failure.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nIn 2016 ConocoPhillips drilled exploratory wells and found significant pay.\n\n2017 Secretary Zinke signed a Secretarial Order to reopen Alaska\u2019s National Petroleum. Reserve (an area specifically set aside by Congress for exactly this purpose) and the Coastal Plain to oil and gas development.\n\n2018, ConocoPhillips formally submitted a proposal for development to Secretary Zinke.\n\nIn 2020 the project was approved after two years of regulatory review.\n\nSince 2021 the project has been wrapped up in legal review and revision. It now awaits a ROD with the Administration.\n\nAbout\n\nWillow would create more than 1,500 full and part time jobs in energy, construction, transportation, and other support industries.\n\nThe project has significant geologic potential to support 250 wells over 30 years.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-co-sponsors-parents-bill-rights-act", "Congressman Zinke Co-Sponsors Parents Bill of Rights Act", "2023-03-09", "2023", "2023-03", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C) \u2013 Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced his co-sponsorship of H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act. The legislation provides legal protections for parents to know what their kids are being taught and clear guidelines for school systems to follow so our children\u2019s education is accurate, relevant and transparent.\n\n\u201cParents have rights and it\u2019s necessary that any school that receives federal funding recognizes and respects those rights,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cSchools are becoming focused on indoctrination rather than core curriculum. I promised Montana parents I would be a strong advocate for them and introduce a Parents\u2019 Bill of Rights. Today, I am proud to announce another promise kept and cosponsor the Parents' Bill of Rights to put parents back in the driver\u2019s seat of their children\u2019s education.\u201d\n\nThe Parents Bill of Rights Act is built on five key pillars:\n\nParents have the right to know what their children are being taught.\n\nParents have the right to be heard.\n\nParents have the right to see a school\u2019s budget and spending.\n\nParents have the right to protect their child\u2019s privacy.\n\nParents have the right to be updated on any violent activity at school.\n\nThe text for the Parents Bill of Rights Act is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-votes-nullify-wotus-ruling-urges-senate", "Congressman Zinke Votes to Nullify WOTUS Ruling \u2013 Urges Senate", "2023-03-09", "2023", "2023-03", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted to nullify the rule titled Revised Definition of \"Waters of the United States,\" which was submitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on January 18, 2023. The rule specifies which bodies of water fall under the scope of the Clean Water Act and are thereby under federal jurisdiction. The 2023 rule replaced a 2020 rule that included a narrower definition of waters of the United States.\n\n\u201cThe last thing Montanans need is the government telling them how to manage their mud puddles,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cWOTUS is one of the largest, most egregious overreaches on private property rights we will ever see, and every action to repeal and defund it must be taken immediately. Most people in D.C. have no clue where the Yellowstone River begins and ends \u2013 much less have the grasp ways it impacts private property. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to support the will of Congress in voting to protect America\u2019s farmers, ranchers and property owners by rescinding the EPA\u2019s ambiguous WOTUS ruling. Nobody knows how to manage Montana water like Montanans.\u201d\n\nFarmer from Conrad and Montana Farm Bureau President Cyndi Johnson said, \u201cMFBF has been battling back bad WOTUS rules that far exceed the EPA\u2019s statutory authority since 2015. Despite the concerns voiced from out in the country, the EPA came out with yet another version of the rule, subjecting farmers to complicated and overreaching regulations. We sincerely appreciate Representative Zinke\u2019s efforts to stop the implementation of this latest rule. He understands that farmers and ranchers want clean water and deserve clear rules. His support of HJ Res 27 shows that he stands with Montana farmers and ranchers.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nUnder federal law, Congress can implement the Congressional Review Act (CRA) which allows a newly elected Congress to vote to overturn recent major rules and regulations implemented by the Administration. If the House passes a CRA resolution, the Senate is required to take it up. In the Senate, a CRA does not require a 60-vote threshold \u2013 only a simple majority. With two Democrats out indefinitely for health reasons they do not have the majority, leaving only one Democrat required to vote with Republicans to send the CRA to the President\u2019s desk.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/montana-tribes-testify-house-appropriations-subcommittee", "Montana Tribes Testify Before House Appropriations Subcommittee", "2023-03-08", "2023", "2023-03", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke served as interim Chairman of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies subcommittee hearing for American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Day. During that session, the Committee heard testimony from representatives from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT), the Blackfeet Nation, Fort Belknap Indian Community, and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation.\n\n\u201cOver the years, I have had the privilege to work alongside Montana\u2019s great tribal nations as a state senator, congressman, secretary of the interior, and now again as a congressman. Keeping an open and productive dialogue and government to government relationship between the tribes and Congress is key to our joint success,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cI fight for our nations every day in Congress, but today\u2019s hearing is important because it gives tribes a platform to inform other members of Congress about their priorities. Hearing directly from the front line is always the most impactful message, and I look forward to continuing our great partnership.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is first time since the pandemic that the Appropriations Committee has heard direct testimony from Tribal leaders. We appreciate Congressman Zinke\u2019s and the Committee\u2019s leadership in taking the time to listen to our needs once again,\u201d \u2013 Hon. Carole Lankford, Tribal Council, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.\n\n\u201cThe Tribes appreciate very much that the House Appropriations Committee takes two days to listen to Tribal leaders to learn about our needs, including public safety, health care, and social services. These are all areas of critical importance to Tribes. We look forward to working with Congress to address these needs and appreciate Congressman Zinke\u2019s leadership on these important issues,\u201d \u2013 Chairman Floyd G. Azure, Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-introduces-bill-delist-gye-grizzly-bears-endangered-species", "Congressman Zinke Introduces Bill to Delist GYE Grizzly Bears as Endangered Species", "2023-02-28", "2023", "2023-02", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke and Wyoming Congresswoman Harriett Hageman introduced the Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2023. The bill requires the DOI to reinstate the 2017 final rule removing grizzlies in the GYE from the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife within 180 days of enactment. The 2017 rule was issued by then-Secretary Ryan Zinke.\n\n\u201cInstead of moving the goal line, we should be celebrating the win \u2013 the Endangered Spices Act worked for grizzly bears in the GYE,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cAs a Congressman, I am demanding the same thing I did as Secretary - If we are managing based on science, there must be an offramp for wildlife on the list once their goal is reached. Montana and Wyoming share more than a border, we share wildlife, ecosystems, and the shared responsibility to manage it properly. Congresswoman Hageman is a champion for wildlife management, and I am excited to work closely with her and members in both chambers on this critical piece to ensure they make the right choice for Montana.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-takes-lead-securing-northern-border", "Congressman Zinke Takes the Lead on Securing the Northern Border", "2023-02-28", "2023", "2023-02", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013 Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke led 28 members in launching the Northern Border Security Caucus with Co-Chairman Pennsylvania Congressman Mark Kelly. The coalition consists of representatives of districts along the U.S. \u2013 Canada border sounding the alarm on the lack of resources for agents protecting the world\u2019s longest international border.\n\nThe rollout included a letter to Secretary Mayorkas calling for immediate aide to troops experiencing overwhelming apprehension numbers and no additional assistance coming from DHS.\n\n\u201cThe first thing bad guys do is go where the good guys aren\u2019t. Right now, all our good guys are dealing with Biden\u2019s crisis on the Southwest border leaving the north unprotected and vulnerable to criminals, cartels, and terrorists,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cBy establishing this caucus, we will provide critical oversight and expose the truth to the American people about the nationwide crisis this administration has willingly caused.\u201d\n\nBackground:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressional-art-competition-open-western-montana-high-school-students", "Congressional Art Competition Open to Western Montana High School Students", "2023-02-16", "2023", "2023-02", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke invites high school students in Montana\u2019s 1st Congressional District to participate in the 2023 Congressional Art Competition. The longtime tradition started in 1982 and has since allowed Montana\u2019s young artists the chance to showcase their talents in our nation\u2019s Capitol building. Complete guidelines for entry can be found on house.gov. The deadline to submit artwork to Zinke\u2019s office is Tuesday, April 11, 2023.\n\n\u201cWestern Montana is home to a robust art community and cultivating that talent begins with recognizing it early on\u201d Zinke said. \u201cOur students create amazing works of art and I look forward to giving Montana\u2019s young artists an opportunity to display their work on a national stage.\u201d\n\nSubmissions should reflect Montana\u2019s history and culture and will be judged by a board of advisors made of established local artists. The board will select one piece to be entered in the nationwide contest and be displayed in the halls of Congress for the year. Two other pieces will be recognized and will be displayed in Rep. Zinke\u2019s offices in Washington, D.C., and Missoula.\n\nThe following is a summary of the Congressional Art Competition rules:\n\nArtwork entered in the contest may be up to 26 inches by 26 inches, may be up to 4 inches in depth, and not weigh more than 15 pounds. All art sent to the Congressman\u2019s office must be framed and still within the required specifications.\n\nAccepted mediums include:\n\nPaintings - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor\n\nDrawings - including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)\n\nCollages - must be two dimensional\n\nPrints - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints\n\nMixed Media - use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.\n\nComputer-generated art\n\nPhotography\n\nSubmissions should be sent to:\n\nThe Office of Congressman Ryan Zinke\n\n2901 W. Broadway Street\n\nSuite 200\n\nMissoula, MT 59808\n\nAll entries must be original in concept, design and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo or image (including a painting, graphic, or advertisement) that was created by someone other than the student is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing).\n\nStudents from the following counties are eligible to submit to Congressman Zinke\u2019s office: Lincoln, Flathead, Glacier, Lake, Missoula, Sanders, Mineral, Ravalli, Beaverhead, Madison, Granite, Powell, Gallatin, Silver Bow, Deer Lodge, and parts of Pondera County. Students from other counties are encouraged to contact Rep. Rosendale\u2019s office.\n\nThe deadline to submit artwork to Zinke\u2019s office is Tuesday, April 11, 2023; winners will be announced later in the week. Students and educators interested can view the program\u2019s mandatory guidelines and student release forms on Congressman Zinke\u2019s website and contact Julie.perchy@mail.house.gov with any unanswered questions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/montana-veterans-encouraged-apply-2-year-paid-fellowship-congressman-zinkes", "Montana Veterans Encouraged to Apply for 2-Year Paid Fellowship at Congressman Zinke\u2019s Missoula Office", "2023-02-16", "2023", "2023-02", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(MISSOULA, MT) - Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke of Montana\u2019s 1st Congressional District is seeking a veteran to fill a 2-year paid position based in Missoula, Montana. The position will work with military and veteran constituents to handle a veterans-related portfolio and act as a facilitator between constituents and federal, state, and local agencies. Candidates eligible and interested can apply here.\n\nThe individual will be part of the Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program established by the House of Representatives to provide employment opportunities for recent members of the armed forces to serve within a Representative\u2019s office.\n\nTo apply, veterans must meet the following requirements:\n\nHonorably discharged, released from active duty within the last six years.\n\nTerminal pay grades at or below E-5,O-3,or W-2. Veterans promoted to the pay grades of E-6, O-4, and W-3 within 6-months of separation from active duty are eligible, granted they meet ALL other eligibility requirements.\n\nVeterans who are in receipt of a 20-year or Temporary Early Retirement Authorization (TERA) retirement are not eligible for the program.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-reacts-president-bidens-state-union-address", "Congressman Zinke Reacts to President Biden\u2019s State of the Union Address", "2023-02-08", "2023", "2023-02", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013 Today, Western Montana Congressman Zinke released the following statement following President Joe Biden\u2019s State of the Union address.\n\n\u201cMontanans deserved to hear a lot more from President Biden at the State of the Union, but unfortunately this is exactly what we have come to expect. He did everything but admit our country is worse off than it was before he took office. And the things he did admit were worse, he blamed on other people.\n\nLeadership matters, Mr. President. The issues Montanans are facing are fixable \u2013 but we need the President to listen to and be willing to work with us, rather than cast half the country aside as political opponents.\u201d\n\nOn Energy, Congressman Zinke said: \u201cThe only campaign promise Joe Biden is keeping is his promise to kill the American energy sector. His single accomplishment comes at the cost of our jobs, our paychecks, and our national security. For decades, Montana helped power our economy and with reliable, affordable and efficient energy sources, and we used Crow clean coal to help our allies in Europe and Asia meet their needs without asking our adversaries for energy. We sought to partner with Canada for the Keystone XL pipeline which would carry Canadian and Montana oil sands, but he killed that too. It\u2019s near impossible due to the strangulation of the Biden regulatory agenda. He kills American Energy only to beg dictators, war criminals and communist regimes for their oil. He says it\u2019s in the interest of climate change but ignores the fact that the USA has the cleanest and safest record on the planet.\u201d\n\nOn national security, Zinke said: \u201cI initially thought it was incompetence by the Biden Administration but now I know it\u2019s a willful decision for Biden to cozy up to China. There is no excuse that the Commander in Chief bent a knee to China while they collected sensitive intelligence over our heads at Malmstrom Air Force Base \u2013 one of the largest ballistic missile defense systems on the globe. Thankfully, the Billings Gazette forced the Pentagon and White House to admit what Montanans could see with their own eyes: a clear provocation and invasion of our sovereignty, and a do-nothing president watching by. This comes at no surprise after the shameful way he directed the USA flee from Afghanistan and which no doubt led to Putin\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.\u201d\n\nOn border security, Zinke said: \u201cTwo years later and Biden still refuses to admit that we have an invasion at our borders. One ride-along with Black Feet law enforcement will expose the truth. Biden\u2019s open border policies allow criminals to prey on Montana and kill our loved ones with Chinese fentanyl smuggled by the Mexican cartels. Montana seized twice as much fentanyl \u2013 155,000 dosage units \u2013 in the first three quarters of 2022 than they did in the last four years combined. Our state has the longest stretch of Northern border than any other, and Border Patrol doesn\u2019t have the manpower to sustain operations because northern border agents are still surged to the crisis down south.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nBiden didn\u2019t address the fact:\n\nMontanans are paying:\n\n36% more in rent\n\n58% more for used vehicles\n\n43% more for groceries\n\n107% more for gasoline\n\nEvery state is now a border state, even Montana.\n\nHis decisions constantly place our national security at risk.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-zinke-we-need-protect-social-security", "ICYMI - Zinke: We Need to Protect Social Security", "2023-02-08", "2023", "2023-02", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Zinke Fact Checks Biden and Senate Democrats\u2019 lies on Cutting Social Security and Medicare\n\n(WASHINGTON, D.C) - During the State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden told Montanans that Republicans are attempting to cut Medicare and Social Security, a lie that has been repeated by Senate Democrats. Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke joined CNN\u2019s This Morning with Kaitlyn Collins to correct the President\u2019s blatant lies.\n\nRep. Zinke: There was some blatant mistruths. That the Republicans, for instance, would terminate Social Security or Medicare.\n\nCollins: He said some Republicans want to sunset Social Security, Medicare. That is true that Rick Scott did propose that last summer. I know what we've said now.\n\nRep. Zinke: Terminating and sunsetting would be saying that we want to end it, or not honor the protections and the benefit. That's not true. Speaker McCarthy had a conversation with Biden. He had a conversation with our caucus. That's off the table. The President knew it, McCarthy knew it, and the caucus knew it - and I think now the American public knows it too.\n\nCollins: Regardless of the debt ceiling though, are you open to making changes to Social Security and Medicare? Because I was looking at some comments you've made recently. You said Congress needs to open up both sides talking about mandatory spending, discretionary spending. You said there are some entitlements that have outlived their lifestyle that no longer produce results. Are those two of those?\n\nRep. Zinke: I think when you look at it, everything should be reviewed. But when you put 72% of the budget and you lock it in the safe and say we're not going to look at it. Look, when you look at discretionary funding, military; I think there's room for savings in the military too.\n\nCollins: And that could happen with his debt ceiling you think \u2013 cuts to defense spending?\n\nRep. Zinke: I think everything should be looked at and reviewed. Some programs, for instance, you can't pay people not to work. And a lot of the COVID still is happening where people aren't engaged in the workforce. As the President said, work is honorable. We should all strive to make sure we have a healthy economy, and that healthy economy is people working. So why they're not working? There's a lot probably a lot of reasons. But, we can join together and make sure America is prosperous and working is part of it. We want to make sure the Social Security system itself is viable and healthy.\n\nCollins: So, you are open to changes?\n\nRep. Zinke: I'm open to review and sitting down in an honest dialogue because we need to protect Social Security.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-reacts-usfws-delisting-grizzly-bears-esa-protections", "Congressman Zinke Reacts to The USFWS Delisting Grizzly Bears from ESA Protections", "2023-02-03", "2023", "2023-02", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke reacted to the completion of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\u2019s initial review of three petitions received to remove Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for grizzly bears in the lower 48 States.\n\n\u201cThe time to delist the grizzly is long overdue. As Secretary I followed the science and guidance of wildlife experts and delisted the Greater Yellowstone Grizzly only to have it overturned by a radical activist judge,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cI will be working with the Montana and neighboring delegations to introduce legislation to delist the bear and restore state management to our wildlife.\u201d\n\nThe Service found that petitions from Montana and Wyoming present substantial information indicating the grizzly bear in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) may qualify as their own distinct population segment and may warrant removal from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife.\n\nThe Service will now initiate a comprehensive status review of the grizzly bear in the NCDE and GYE based on the best available scientific and commercial data available to inform a 12-month finding. If the 12-month finding results in proposing one or more DPSs for delisting, the Service will consider those in the context of the ongoing recovery for the rest of the population in the larger listed entity, and any proposed rule would have additional public notice and comment.\n\nBackground:\n\nIn 2017, as Secretary of the Interior, Zinke delisted the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear from ESA protections.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-votes-end-covid-19-restrictions", "Congressman Zinke Votes to End COVID-19 Restrictions", "2023-02-02", "2023", "2023-02", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - This week, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted for five bills that declare an end to the three-year Coronavirus pandemic, restore individual vaccinee decisions and reinstate federal workforce systems that reflect America\u2019s needs.\n\n\u201cThe only \u2018unprecedented times\u2019 Americans have faced the past two years is the Biden Administration\u2019s failed attempt at socialism and gross abuses of federal power,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cThis week, I upheld another promise I made to the people of Montana and voted to rein in the federal government\u2019s \u201cemergency\u201d powers and restore the rights stripped by the Administration\u2019s unconstitutional overreach.\u201d\n\nCongressman Zinke voted yes to:\n\nH.R. 382 - Pandemic is Over Act.\n\nH.J. Res. 7 - Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020.\n\nTerminates the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on the date of enactment and forces the Biden administration to be transparent with the American people if he needs further authority.\n\nH.R. 497 - Freedom for Health Care Workers Act.\n\nEliminates the federal vaccine mandate for frontline healthcare workers and prevents CMS from enacting similar rules which directly impacted healthcare shortages in rural and underserved communities across Montana.\n\nH.R. 139 - SHOW UP Act of 2023.\n\nRepublicans introduced this Act to prevent the Biden administration from cementing pandemic-era telework policies until it proves the efficacy of remote work.\n\nH. Con. Res. 9 - Denouncing the horrors of socialism.\n\nThis denounces socialism in all forms and calls out the radical socialist ideals that have terrorized nations and continually failed where implemented.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-announces-109-million-transportation-funding", "Congressman Zinke Announces $10.9 Million in Transportation Funding", "2023-01-31", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced the allocation of almost $11 million in funding for transportation projects in Glacier, Flathead, Lake and Missoula Counties. The funding is distributed from the U.S. Department of Transportation via the Safe Streets for All program (DOT SS4A).\n\n\u201cSafety and security should always be the top concerns of elected officials whether it\u2019s national security from foreign threats or the safety of our streets right here at home. I applaud the local leadership for recognizing the both the need and funding opportunity to improve safety within our own communities,\u201d said Congressman Zinke. \u201cI\u2019m eager to get to work as a member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Transportation and Housing to ensure Montana\u2019s projects are not overseen and that our district\u2019s unique needs and priorities are met.\u201d\n\nGrant details are below:\n\nRecipient: Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation\n\nAmount: $797,105\n\nPurpose: The award will be used by the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation to develop a comprehensive safety action plan. Blackfeet Safe Streets and Roads for All: A Community Safe Systems Approach to Improve the Safety, Health, Economy, and Environment of the Blackfeet Nation\n\nRecipient: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes\n\nAmount: $368,000\n\nPurpose: The award will be used by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to develop a comprehensive safety action plan.\n\nRecipient: City of Kalispell\n\nAmount: $520,000\n\nPurpose: The award will be used by the City of Kalispell to develop a comprehensive safety action plan.\n\nRecipient: City of Missoula\n\nAmount: $9,311,254.08\n\nPurpose: The City of Missoula, Montana, seeks to enhance safety, improve accessibility, and provide equitable transportation along a corridor that serves both City and County residents. The project will implement multiple safety improvements on a 2-mile segment along South Ave. and a 0.25-mile segment along Clements Road. The crash rates for the two project locations are more than 8 to 10 times higher than the County average. Both streets are minor arterials, and the project area connects a rural Missoula County neighborhood to the center of the City by way of a 156-acre regional park and a large hospital and medical campus. The project will build separated bicycle lanes and sidewalks, as well as extend and widen the existing shared-use path to better serve the schools, regional park, and other facilities. The project will improve safety and increase accessibility for transit riders by establishing well-designed, ADA-compliant bus stops that are connected to the sidewalk network. The project will create Complete Streets connections for all users from the destinations along the corridor to services like grocery, retail, restaurants, shopping malls, parks, schools, and other services just east of the project area.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-receives-appropriations-subcommittee-assignments", "Congressman Zinke Receives Appropriations\u00a0Subcommittee\u00a0Assignments", "2023-01-30", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced his subcommittee assignments on the House Appropriations Committee. Congressman Zinke will serve on the Military Construction, Veteran Affairs and Related Agencies, Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies subcommittees.\n\n\u201cThese subcommittees are exactly the right fit to address some of the biggest challenges we face across Western Montana - primarily the housing squeeze, infrastructure, public lands access and use, and care for our veterans, \u201d said Rep. Zinke. \u201cI look forward to working with stakeholders from across the district to make sure Montana priorities and projects are represented.\u201d\n\nInterior, Environment and Related Agencies\n\nThe subcommittee has funding and oversight jurisdiction over issues related to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, The U.S. Forest Service, Indian Health Service, Smithsonian institutions and other national museums and history preserves. The subcommittee is responsible for allocating funding to important government programs and activities such as forest management, wildfire fighting, national parks, and energy development. Similarly, the committee can use its powers to check harmful regulations and rules such as Water of the U.S.\n\nMilitary Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies\n\nThe subcommittee has oversight jurisdiction and oversees funding for construction and alignment of military installations and the Department of Veterans Affairs, making it a key committee for ensuring Malmstrom Air Force Base and National Guard and Reserve facilities, as well as VA facilities and programs are properly funded.\n\nTransportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies\n\nThe subcommittee has oversight and funding jurisdiction over the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Transportation, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, transportation safety boards, and other agencies. All of which provides Montanans relief from the housing squeeze in western Montana and updated roads, bridges and railways to help Montanans get themselves, crops, materials and supplies where they need to go expeditiously and safely.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Billings Gazette The Billings Gazette- National sales tax a non-starter for Zinke, Daines, Tester\n\nTwo weeks ago, Congressman Zinke was appointed by the House Steering Committee to serve on the House Appropriations Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-ryan-zinke-announces-more-1-million-dollars-federal-funding", "Congressman Ryan Zinke Announces More than $1 Million Dollars in Federal Funding for Lincoln County Youth Programs", "2023-01-26", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced more than $1 million dollars in federal grant funding to the Kootenai Valley Head Start based in Lincoln County, Montana. The funding is derived from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) CH-Head Start Projects program.\n\nThe 28 member staff at the Kootenai Valley Head Start plans to use the five-year continuation grant toward funding programs supporting 96 children ages spanning in ages three, four and five living in and around Libby and Troy. The Kootenai Valley Head Start\u2019s goal is to prepare their students for their next level of education and give their social, emotional and family dynamics a boosted foundation to help overcome generational poverty that places many students in vulnerable positions including food and heat insecurities.\n\nGrant Details:\n\nRecipient: Kootenai Valley Head Start\n\nProgram Title: CH-Head Start Projects\n\nAward Amount: $1,032,861\n\nCongressman Zinke released the following statement regarding the HHS grant toward Lincoln County.\n\n\u201cRaising a family is hard, no matter where you live but in rural communities there are unique challenges. Head start is an important program for kids and parents across Montana, especially in communities like Libby and Troy where childcare and early childhood education services are not as readily available,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cThe Kootenai Valley Head Start program gives kids a safe and healthy learning environment around kids their own age and their work hasn\u2019t gone unnoticed. I look forward to working them in the future and am eager to see the positive impact their staff will do with this award.\u201d\n\nThe Kootenai Head Start Program Director Peggy Rayome said the grant is monumental in keeping the Lincoln County program heading in the right direction.\n\nRayome said, \u201cAs the director of Kootenai Valley Head Start, I am excited to be receiving this funding. These funds will ensure that our program will continue to have a positive influence for change by providing a safe learning environment for children and families. Last but not least, we strive to establish the foundation for creating a successful future for these children we serve.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-ryan-zinke-announces-more-2-million-health-grants-lincoln-county", "Congressman Ryan Zinke Announces More Than $2 Million in\u00a0Health\u00a0Grants to Lincoln County", "2023-01-25", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013 Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced more than $2 million in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Lincoln County Community Health Center headquartered in Libby, Montana, which serves more than 7,500 unduplicated annual patients. The funding is distributed through the H80 - Health Center Cluster program and will aid the nearly 70 professionals in Montana\u2019s First Congressional District who provide medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and behavioral services to the state\u2019s Northwest region. The funding will further the center\u2019s mission of building strong, healthy communities through access to quality, affordable patient-centered care.\n\nGrant details:\n\nRecipient: Lincoln County Community Health Center\n\nProgram title: H80 \u2013 Health Center Cluster\n\nAward: $2,140,335\n\n\u201cRural health has unique challenges and delivering quality and affordable medical care in reasonable proximity to home or by telemedicine is a big priority for my office,\u201d said Zinke. \u201cHaving updated, staffed and capable medical centers closer to home, rather than driving hundreds of miles to Kalispell, Missoula or Billings is critically important for the health and mental wellness of our neighbors. Whether it\u2019s addiction medicine, mental health, pediatrics, physical therapy or emergency medicine, the ability for one to see a doctor who they know and trust - and who is close to home - no doubt improves patient outcomes and strengthens families. I applaud the team at Lincoln County Community Health Center for their work to secure this funding and thank them for their work keeping Montanans well.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-ryan-zinke-announces-217500-hhs-grant-montana-state-university", "Congressman Ryan Zinke Announces a $217,500 HHS Grant to Montana State University", "2023-01-13", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke announced Montana State University will receive a federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The purpose of the grant is to support the university\u2019s work identifying heterogenous neuronal responses to HSV-1 infection with drop-based microfluidics.\n\nCongressman Zinke said, \u201cMontana State University is a leading research institution, is one of the best overall universities in the nation, and will continue to sit at the top of the ranks thanks to grants like this. I look forward to continuing working with MSU, UM, Tech, Northern and Montana\u2019s other higher education institutions to continue building our research and development capabilities. Go Cats!\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-ryan-zinke-announces-85000-nea-grants-western-montana", "Congressman Ryan Zinke Announces $85,000 in NEA Grants to Western Montana", "2023-01-13", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Office of Congressman Zinke announces this year\u2019s National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) federal grant recipients. The NEA awards grants toward organizations to support the art community and is open to applicants across the country. This is the first of two grant announcements for the fiscal year and Montana\u2019s First Congressional District is home to five groups who received a combined total of $85,000.\n\nRecipients in Montana\u2019s First Congressional District are:\n\nEquinox Theatre Company: $10,000\n\nPurpose: To support staffing for a theater art in prison program.\n\nGlacier Symphony and Chorale, Inc.: $10,000\n\nPurpose: To support a series of educational chamber concert tours in rural communities and tribal lands of Montana.\n\nMissoula Writing Collaborative: $35,000\n\nPurpose: To support creative writing residencies for students.\n\nUniversity of Montana: $20,000\n\nPurpose: To support Montana Repertory Theatre's development, world premiere production, and tour of a new play by Kendra Mylnechuk Potter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-ryan-zinke-votes-historic-house-rules-package-defund-irs", "Congressman Ryan Zinke Votes\u00a0for\u00a0Historic House Rules Package & to Defund the IRS", "2023-01-13", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke of Montana\u2019s First Congressional District cast his first two legislative votes after being sworn into the 118th Congress early Saturday morning. The first vote was on the rules package which governs how the House operates for the 118th Congress. It is widely considered the most conservative package in decades and restores a number of fiscal and procedural safeguards that had been gutted in recent years. The second vote was to defund the 87,000 IRS agents authorized in the 2022 \u201cInflation Reduction Act.\u201d\n\nOn the Rules Package\n\n\u201cThis rules package does exactly what I promised Montanans I\u2019d do; restore trust and transparency in government and hold bad actors accountable,\u201d said Zinke. \u201cWe are getting rid of fiscally irresponsible omnibus bills, we\u2019re getting rid of 1,000 page bills spanning multiple subjects, we\u2019re requiring bills be available for at least 72 hours before any votes are cast, and we\u2019re starting two committees to investigate the weaponization of the federal government and hold China accountable. This is what change looks like under the unified Republican House majority.\u201d\n\nThe Rules Package:\n\nRequires the text of legislation to be made available at least 72 hours prior to a vote in the House.\n\nEnsures that bills coming to the Floor follow new single-subject and germaneness rules and protocols to protect Members from voting on bloated legislative vehicles.\n\nEnds proxy voting in the House and remote proceedings in committees.\n\nReplaces the current PAYGO requirements with CUTGO provisions that prohibit legislation from coming to the floor that has the net effect of increasing mandatory spending within a five- or ten-year budget window without equal or greater offsets.\n\nRestores fiscal accountability by eliminating the Gephardt Rule that allowed for an automatic suspension of the debt ceiling upon adoption of a budget resolution.\n\nRestores the Holman Rule that adds another layer of accountability for the federal bureaucracy by allowing amendments that reduce the salary of specific federal employees or programs.\n\nRequires a three-fifths majority vote in the House on any legislation that increases tax rates.\n\nEstablishes a Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the\n\nUnited States and the Chinese Communist Party.\n\nEstablishes a Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.\n\nModifies the directive of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic to focus its work on covid origins, the federal government's role in gain-of-function research, and other consequential matters related to the pandemic.\n\nEnsures there are no prohibitions against using gender-specific language such as \"father\" or \"mother\" on the House floor or in committee.\n\nProvides for the consideration of several single subject rule bills during the first two session weeks, allowing the House Rules Committee time to organize.\n\nDefunding 87,000 IRS agents\n\n\u201cDefunding the 87,000 IRS troopers was one of my top campaign promises and today I\u2019m fulfilling that promise to Montana,\u201d said Zinke. \u201cIf the Biden Administration and his rubber stamp in the Senate was serious about growing the middle class, they wouldn\u2019t send 87,000 armed troopers to audit bank accounts after somebody bought a set of snow tires. Instead, the senate would defund the troopers and work with the House to pass meaningful legislation to help grow the economy. The House is the only firewall against the assault of progressive policies from the Biden Administration.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-votes-protect-americas-strategic-petroleum-reserve-china", "Congressman Zinke Votes To Protect America\u2019s Strategic Petroleum Reserve From China", "2023-01-13", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke co-sponsored the Protecting America\u2019s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) From China Act introduced by Representative McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). This vote places restricting measures on the Secretary of Energy from selling products from the SPR to any entity owned, under the control or influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or to any other entity that intends to export to China.\n\nThis action protects Americans from bad actors around the world who have negative intentions for our country\u2019s economic prosperity, are lax on environmental regulations that cause harm on our natural resources and are positioning themselves at a threatening angle to our national security.\n\nCongressman Zinke released this statement following his vote:\n\n\u201cIt is inexcusable of the Biden administration to sell off an ounce of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to anyone other than the American people, much less the Chinese Communist Party,\u201d said Zinke. \u201cThe simple answer to providing relief to Americans and jobs to Montanans is to take the handcuffs off American energy producers and get back to doing business here where it is safer for our land, places us in a better strategic position for national security and puts money back into the American economy. Instead, Biden would rather fist bump over crooked deals with Middle Eastern terrorists, Chinese communists, and shady characters in South America.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nStarting in 2021, the Biden administration began its war on American energy causing a loss of thousands of jobs, record-breaking inflation and placed America in a vulnerable position by forcing us to rely on energy sources outside our borders. Now, Americans are paying more to fuel their cars, heat their homes and put food on the table. Meanwhile, the executive branch still has no effective plan to bring relief leaving it up to the Republican House majority to correct their mistakes.\n\nTIMELINE:\n\nJanuary 2021 \u2013 Biden revokes the Keystone XL pipeline permit\n\nJanuary 2021 \u2013 Biden blocks federal oil and gas leases\n\nJanuary 2022 \u2013 Biden revokes Alaska NPRA lease sale\n\nFebruary 2022 \u2013 Biden begs Saudis for oil\n\nMarch 2022 \u2013 Biden releases first batch of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve\n\nJune 2022 \u2013 Gas prices hit an all-time national high average at $5 per gallon\n\nJune 2022 \u2013 Gas prices in Montana hit an all-time average high at $4.97 per gallon of gasoline - $5.91 for diesel\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/montana-congressman-ryan-zinke-appointed-house-appropriations-committee", "Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke Appointed to House Appropriations Committee", "2023-01-13", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke was appointed to the influential House Committee on Appropriations, the committee has authorization over funding \u2013 and defunding \u2013 the federal government. The committee is vital to the House upholding its constitutional power of the purse and ensuring the spending by agencies follows the will of the People, rather than the discretion of unelected bureaucrats. Positions on the committee are highly competitive and members typically are appointed after two or three terms in the House. Zinke brings with him seniority from his previous tenure in the House and his expertise as a former U.S. Secretary of the Interior.\n\n\u201cIt is an honor to work alongside Chairwoman Granger and the rest of the Appropriations Committee to implement serious and necessary change in spending and federal bureaucracy. Two long years of Democrat rule has created a mountain of work that must be addressed immediately. On top of that list is defunding the worst of the worst, funding mission-critical government functions, and reining in excessive spending,\u201d said Congressman Zinke. \u201cA Republican-led appropriations committee is where excessive spending stops. Our wagons are circled and we\u2019re on solid ground to defend Montana against the administration\u2019s blatant overreach through harmful policies like Waters of the United States and unconstitutional gun grabs. My voice on this committee will be loud, clear, unwavering and will represent Montana\u2019s values. Our constituents, especially the hard-working farmers, ranchers, foresters and landowners can look forward to continuing to feed fuel, clothe and shelter the rest of the world without infringement by the federal government.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/ryan-zinke-officially-sworn-congressman-western-montana", "Ryan Zinke Officially Sworn-In as Congressman for Western Montana", "2023-01-10", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, in the United States Capitol, Ryan Zinke of Montana\u2019s First Congressional District was sworn into the 118th Congress. Zinke previously served as Montana\u2019s at-large (statewide) Congressman from January 2015-March 2017. Constituents and members of the press can follow updates from Congressman Zinke at www.Zinke.House.gov, on Facebook, and on Twitter,\n\n\u201cWe face serious issues \u2013 an invasion at the southwest border, hyperinflation, rampant government spending and overreach, rising Chinese aggression, a resurgent Waters of the Unites States, and a looming recession \u2013 all of which have been caused by or neglected by single-party rule in Washington. That ends today with a unified Republican Majority,\u201d said Congressman Ryan Zinke. \u201cThe House is now the only firewall that can protect Montana from unbridled D.C. progressive policies. I plan to use my position on behalf of the people of western Montana to say \u2018no\u2019 to excessive government spending and regulations, to restore sanity and balance in D.C., to fix what is fixable, to fight for our way of life and defend our Montana values. May God bless America and the great State of Montana.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nZinke plans to build on previous work on behalf of opening access to and improving management of public lands as Montana\u2019s Congressman and U.S. Secretary of the Interior. As secretary, Zinke restored local voices in federal land management decisions, conserved migration corridors for big game, expanded access for hunting and fishing on public lands, took aggressive steps toward wildfire mitigation, led the plan that made the U.S. energy independent, and was a principal architect behind the Great American Outdoors Act.\n\nZinke\u2019s priorities for the 118th Congress include: cutting federal spending and restoring regular order for budgeting; hardening the southwest border and stopping the incentives that encourage illegal immigration; crafting a Farm Bill that will put Montana producers and growers on a level playing field and protect our food and energy security; and shaping policies that work for Montana to balance out the previous two years of one-party rule in Washington, D.C.\n\nAbout:\n\nRyan Zinke is the congressman for Montana\u2019s first congressional district covering 16 counties that roughly follow the continental divide. His swearing-in marks the first time in nearly 30-years that Montana had two representatives in the House. Prior to his election to the House, Zinke served as the 52nd Secretary of the Interior, was twice elected as Montana\u2019s at-large Congressman, and served as a State Senator. Before his public service, Zinke served 23 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL officer, retiring at the rank of commander. He is born and raised and still lives in Whitefish. He and his wife have three adult children and two granddaughters.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/118th-united-states-congress-convenes", "118th United States Congress Convenes", "2023-01-03", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The First Session of the 118th United States Congress commenced on January 3rd, 2023 with Members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives in attendance.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"], ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/newest-members-congress", "Newest Members of Congress", "2023-01-03", "2023", "2023-01", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Ryan K. Zinke", "Z000018", "zinke.house.gov", "zinke", "https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nJanuary 3, 2023\n\nThe 118th class of new Members stands ready for the new Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:08:17Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 67, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "MT", "p2": "2023"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=MT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 67, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=MT&year=2023&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=MT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 67, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MT&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=MT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "MT", "label": "MT", "count": 67, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=MT&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 67, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=MT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": null, "next_url": null, "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 88.96435494534671, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}