{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["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"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-zinke-rips-bureau-reclamation-refusing-stabilize-flathead-lake"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.811736961826682, "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"}