url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinkes-national-parks-and-public-access-bill-heads-presidents-desk,Congressman Zinke’s National Parks and Public Access Bill Heads to the President's Desk,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,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 announced that the Senate has passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. The EXPLORE Act is a comprehensive, bicameral legislation package that includes Zinke’s bipartisan Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act introduced with Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola in May 2023. The bill passed the House in April and will now go to the President’s desk for his signature.

“The Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act just passed by the Senate brings federal and local stakeholders to the table to collaborate on access and opportunities,” said Rep. Zinke. “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’s a win-win. I am looking forward to this bill being signed into law before peak park season next year.”

The Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act increases public access to National Parks and Forests and improves collaboration between Federal agencies and gateway communities. This is a companion bill to legislation introduced by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Angus King (I-ME) in February 2023. Details of the bill are below.

The Bill:

Createsa digital America the Beautiful National Parks and public lands pass so visitors can seamlessly access public lands.

Establishes a pilot program to provide visitation data for recreation lands and at high congestion promote visitation to nearby lesser known, lesser visited recreation sites.

Requires the public land management agencies to collaborate with local stakeholders to address gateway communities’ economic needs, particularly housing shortages, and infrastructural deficiencies, related to increasing visitation.

Requires the NPS to consult local communities before restricting access to parks.

Zinke delivered a speech on the House Floor in support of the EXPLORE Act, watch an excerpt here.

Read the full text of the bill here

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-co-leads-bipartisan-legislation-address-housing-costs-and-train-0,Zinke Co-leads Bipartisan Legislation to Address Housing Costs and Train Skilled Workers,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,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 introduced legislation along with Arizona Congressman Juan Ciscomani, Washington Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez, and North Carolina Congressman Don Davis to address the housing workforce shortage in an effort to increase housing supply and lower costs. The Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural and Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools (CONSTRUCTS) Act would create a new grant program through the Department of Labor, to train and support the skilled laborers required for the construction of homes. The funds will go to trade schools, community colleges, and other eligible programs, as well as outreach programs partnered with local businesses. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senator Jackie Rosen of Nevada.

Housing costs hit an all-time high in 2024. Overreaching regulation, supply and worker shortage, and a lack of critical infrastructure contribute to rising costs that perpetuate America’s housing crisis, leaving millions of Americans without access to safe and affordable homes. Montana specifically was recently ranked as the least affordable housing market in America by the National Association of Realtors.

“Owning a home is a part of the American dream that has become out of reach for too many in our country and especially in Montana,” said Congressman Zinke. “Skilled labor shortages are affecting every industry. In the housing market, it is leading to fewer homes being built, which drives up the cost of the homes already on the market. This legislation will support programs that train much-needed laborers which will benefit both the students who will learn skills that can earn them a stable income and the economy. I want to thank Congressman Ciscomani, Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez, and Congressman Davis for their work on this important legislation.”

“In southern Arizona, and across the United States, there is a critical need for additional housing,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “However, the current shortage of skilled workers is driving construction costs higher and causing project delays, limiting supply and leading to even higher home prices. This bill will expand access to construction training programs at community colleges, junior colleges, and trade schools to bolster the workforce of skilled construction workers, support high-demand, well-paying jobs for students, and increase the supply of housing units in order to make housing more affordable for everyone.”

“By investing in construction education and related skills training programs, Congress can create a robust talent pipeline,” said Congressman Don Davis. “We must leave no stone unturned as we develop the workforce of tomorrow.”

“With the residential construction industry suffering a severe labor shortage that is delaying home building projects and raising housing costs, we commend Rep. Ryan Zinke for taking a leading role to make housing more affordable for Montanans and all Americans,” said Eugene Graf, CEO of Bozeman based E.G. Construction, former President of the Montana Building Industry Association, and National Association of Home Builders member. “The bipartisan CONSTRUCTS Act championed by Rep. Zinke will provide meaningful investments in our nation’s education system to encourage students to pursue careers in the residential construction trades. This legislation is an important step to make housing more affordable for citizens of Montana and across the nation.”

“NAHB commends Reps. Juan Ciscomani, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Ryan Zinke and Don Davis for introducing the CONSTRUCTS Act, companion legislation to the Senate bill introduced earlier this year,” said Carl Harris, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders. “With the housing industry facing a severe labor shortage that is exacerbating the housing affordability crisis through higher home building costs and construction delays, the bipartisan and bicameral CONSTRUCTS Act will strengthen America’s workforce pipeline by creating a new grant program to fund residential housing construction education and skills training programs at our nation’s community college and trade schools.”

Background:

Congressman Zinke has been proposing legislation, as well as fighting regulation and bureaucracy over housing issues since coming back to Congress in 2022. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Zinke included a pilot program to address rapidly inflating rental costs in rural communities in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Act for Fiscal Year 2025. Earlier this year he cosponsored The HELPER Act, which would establish a new home loan program to assist police officers, first responders, teachers and other public servants in buying their first homes. Zinke also protected over $3 million dollars in Montana affordable housing funds that were scheduled to be clawed back by the Department of Housing and Urban Development by grilling Secretary Adrianne Todman in an Appropriations hearing and working relentlessly until the funds were returned.

***",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-announces-over-31-million-dollars-transportation-grants,Congressman Zinke Announces over $31 Million dollars in Transportation Grants for Bridge and Airport Projects Across Western Montana,2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,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 over $28.4 million in funding for bridge replacement in Bigfork, Montana. The new bridge will have an expanded deck width, be built on a redundant girder system, and use geogrid reinforcement to improve seismic resiliency. Sportsman Bridge was constructed in 1955 and currently does not meet standards for traffic volume in the area.

The Congressman also announced two grants for airports in Kalispell and Missoula. The Missoula Montana Airport will be using the $875,000 for a revenue guarantee and associated marketing plan to recruit, initiate, and support year-round service to Chicago, expanding service to the airport. Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell will be using the $2.5 million in funds to expand terminals and modernize gates and ticket areas, hold rooms, checkpoint lanes, utilities upgrades, and building envelope upgrades to improve efficiency, capacity, and accessibility.

“Montana has been ignored for decades on our infrastructure. When counties don’t have working bridges, roads, airports, or sewer systems, they can’t promote growth in their economies,” said Congressman Zinke. “I am happy to be able to announce that with these grants we were able to get the Federal Government to pay attention to the needs of Montana.”

Grant details are below:

Recipient: Montana Department of Transportation

Amount: $28,462,652

Purpose: The project will replace the existing two-lane bridge with a more resilient two-lane bridge to maintain and improve access over the Flathead River in northwest Montana on Montana Highway 82 in Flathead County. Constructed in 1955, the existing bridge exhibits poor deck condition and its deck width does not meet current standards for accommodating future traffic volume growth. The structure also ranks high as a candidate for seismic retrofit as it is a two-girder non-redundant bridge that lies between two faults of the Mission Fault System. The new bridge will have an expanded deck width, be built on a redundant girder system, and use geogrid reinforcement to improve seismic resiliency. An additional 1.7 feet of freeboard and embankment protectors to route deck drainage will improve climate resiliency. Wider shoulders will allow drivers to pull out of travel lanes in emergency situations, allowing emergency responders to avoid vehicles parked on the shoulder.

Recipient: Glacier Park International Airport

Amount: $2,500,000

Purpose: This award funds a portion of the terminal expansion and modernization project including gates and ticket areas, hold rooms, checkpoint lanes, utilities upgrades, and building envelope upgrades to improve efficiency, capacity, and accessibility.

Recipient: Missoula Montana Airport

Amount: $875,000

Purpose: Revenue guarantee and associated marketing plan to recruit, initiate, and support year-round service to Chicago (ORD).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-secures-victory-veterans-va-scraps-plan-gut-air-ambulance-service,"Zinke secures victory for veterans, VA scraps plan to gut air ambulance service in Montana",2024-09-09,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(WASHINGTON, DC) Ceding to Congressman Ryan Zinke’s relentless oversight and demands, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has delayed implementation of their proposed rule that would essentially eliminate any availability for affordable air and ground ambulance services for veterans. In 2020 the VA proposed cutting the reimbursement rate for ground and air ambulance services by as much as 90%, using market data from 1998 for air ambulance services and 2002 for ground ambulance services. Had it gone into effect as proposed, the new rule would have caused drastic cuts and make it financially impossible for air ambulances to operate. In Montana, similar cuts have gone into effect in rural counties, causing Granite County to lose ambulance service altogether.

Zinke has used his position on the MILCON-VA subcommittee on Appropriations to delay implementation of this rule for nearly two years. His efforts include leading multiple oversight letters to VA Secretary Denis McDonough seeking a delay in the effective date of the rule, introducing legislation to combat the rule, introducing an amendment to the FY24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill and testifying before the Rules Committee to protect veterans’ access to life flights and a variety of ambulance services, all leading to the delay of the initial enactment originally meant to go into effect in February of 2024.

The VA’s further delay until 2029 will allow a new appraisal of market data and will heavily mitigate the disastrous effects of the original rule.

Even without this delay, Zinke-drafted language included in the House-passed FY25 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill would have defunded reimbursement changes set to take effect in 2025.

Zinke statement:

“In rural areas, healthcare is hard to access, we need to be expanding options for veterans, not limiting them.” Zinke said. “This delay in the enactment will allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to update the outdated data and keep lifesaving air and ground ambulance services available for Montanans. I am glad the VA came to its senses on this one and stopped a rule that would have been disastrous for veterans.”

Statements of Support:

“The Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV) applauds the Congressional efforts of Rep. Zinke, SVAC Chairman Tester, HVAC Chairman Bost, SVAC Ranking Member Moran, and others in delaying the effective day of the rule until February 2029,” Jewish War Veterans National Executive Director Ken Greenberg said. “JWV has led the fight in the VSO community on the VA’s proposed rule (RIN 2900-AP89, Change in Rates VA Pays for Special Modes of Transportation) that cuts the VA reimbursement rate for emergency air medical services to below the costs of the services themselves. For the last two years, JWV has been vocal that “as published, the rule would put more than 2.7 million rural veterans in our country who are enrolled in the VHA, and 4.8 million rural veterans overall, at risk of losing life-saving emergency air transportation.”

“From the very start of the VA’s ill-fated effort to effectively deny rural American veterans timely access to air ambulance services – by imposing untenably low reimbursement rates on those air ambulance service providers – Rep. Zinke’s been at the forefront of protecting Montana’s and America’s veterans’ access to timely air ambulance services,” The National Defense Committee said. “This welcome announcement by the VA to delay implementation of this poorly designed regulation would not have happened but for the aggressive Congressional oversight by Rep. Zinke, Rep. Bost of Illinois, and others to force the VA to backdown. National Defense Committee looks forward to working with Rep. Zinke to get the VA to refine this inherently faulty proposal, and we thank him for his steadfast commitment.”

Background:

On February 16, 2023, The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published in the Federal Register a final rule to amend its beneficiary travel regulations to establish a new payment methodology for special modes of transportation available through the VA beneficiary travel program. The preamble of that final rule stated the effective date was February 16, 2024.

While 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.

In a March 2023 budget hearing, VA Secretary Denis McDonough promised Rep. Zinke that he would work with him on ensuring fair, negotiated contracts.

In June of 2023, 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 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.

In 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.

On 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.

VA published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2023, a final rule to delay the effective date for the rule from February 16, 2024, to February 16, 2025.

This rulemaking further delays the effective date of February 16, 2025, to February 16, 2029.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-introduces-veteran-prescription-safety-improvement-act,Congressman Zinke introduces the Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act,2024-07-25,2024,2024-07,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced the Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act, alongside House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06).

“For far too long Washington DC has treated veterans like victims at best, and addicts at worst. Rather than continue the stigmatization of veterans, the VA should be monitoring providers, prescribers, and pharmacies to ensure their practices are not causing adverse health outcomes,” said Congressman Zinke. “This bill closes some technical loopholes and puts community care providers and contractors on the same playing field as VA-employed providers for scrutiny. I’m grateful to have the Chairman’s support in strengthening this aspect of the MISSION Act.”

“Prescription Drug Monitoring Program’s play a vitally important role in tracking controlled substance prescriptions to prevent drug abuse, overdoses, and misuse. However, current legal barriers limit the partnership between VA providers and states, and in return, prevent VA providers from accessing the data they need to track prescriptions for opioids and other medications. This hinders the ability to improve patient care, make safe medication recommendations for veterans, and ultimately save veteran lives,” said Chairman Bost. “I want to thank my colleague and fellow veteran, Rep. Zinke, for leading the Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act, to improve VA’s coordination with state PDMP agencies to keep veteran patients safe and healthy. It goes without saying that every veteran and their family should have the peace of mind in knowing that the medication recommendations they are receiving are safe, informed, and aimed at preventing prescription drug abuse and overdose.”

“The Tomah VA facility in the Third District of Wisconsin is no stranger to veterans struggling with prescription drug misuse,” said Congressman Van Orden. This is an issue that has been brushed under the rug for far too long and that stops now. I am proud to join my colleague Rep. Zinke in introducing this thoughtful legislation.”

The Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act would make several adjustments to the management of prescription data. It would expand the authority VA providers have to access states’ Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) not only when issuing prescriptions but also whenever it is clinically necessary, which would improve diagnosis and treatment.

This bill would also amend the definition of ‘covered patients’ by eliminating the exemption for those in hospice or palliative care, ensuring they are not excluded from PDMP checks. Furthermore, it would clarify that ‘licensed healthcare providers’ include both VA employees and contractors, thereby ensuring that all have the authority and protection to perform PDMP queries. Additionally, it would allow VA to disclose patient information to PDMPs as needed, supporting comprehensive use of PDMP data to enhance patient care.

Lastly, this bill would require the VA Undersecretary for Health to issue formal guidance to all licensed healthcare providers and pharmacy staff on best practices for conducting state PDMP queries and it would require an annual training on these best practices, ensuring consistent and informed use of PDMPs to enhance patient safety and care coordination.

Organizational support: American Legion, America’s Warrior Partnership, Wounded Warrior Project

Read more about the bill HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-secures-montana-priorities-fy25-interior-appropriations-bill,Zinke Secures Montana Priorities in FY25 Interior Appropriations Bill,2024-07-24,2024,2024-07,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Western Congressman Ryan Zinke voted in favor of H.R. 8998 - the House Department of Interior Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act . The bill passed the House by a vote of 210-205, this is the fifth appropriations bill to pass the House floor for fiscal year 2025. Zinke is a member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies subcommittee and took a leading role in crafting the funding bill.

“I 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’s exactly what this bill does,” Congressman Ryan Zinke said. “It 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.”

“As a former Secretary of the Interior and a lifelong Montanan, I have a unique perspective on the Department of the Interior. I am confident that this bill allows the department to do their job but removes the woke policies placed by the Biden-Harris administration. This is a huge win for Montanans.”

Some Montana priorities in the bill include:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-natural-resources-subcommittee-advances-zinkes-indian-water-compact,House Natural Resources Subcommittee advances Zinke’s Indian water compact bills for consideration by whole committee,2024-07-23,2024,2024-07,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today the House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a hearing on various water rights bills including Congressman Zinke’s bills H.R. 8791 “Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024” and H.R. 8953 “Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2024”.

The Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024 will achieve a fair and final settlement of claims to water rights in the State of Montana for the Fort Belknap Indian Community. Senator Daines and Senator Tester have sponsored a similar bill in the Senate.

Among other things, the bill includes:

$300 million to rehabilitate the St. Mary Canal and Dodson South Canal, part of the federal Milk River Project, for non-tribal water users in northcentral Montana

$250 million for an upstream wastewater treatment facility on the Blackfeet Reservation

$416 million to rehabilitate, modernize, and expand the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) Fort Belknap Indian Irrigation Project and to restore and develop irrigation systems.

The Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2024 makes cost-free adjustments to the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 to make sure the Tribe has the needed flexibility to complete critical energy development projects.

Among other things, the bill includes:

Providing flexibility for water projects

Bolstering energy development

No additional costs or changes to water rights

“President Stiffarm and the entire team with the FBIC has worked closely with my staff and I for over a year to make this legislation possible which meets long-overdue treaty obligations and delivers clean and reliable water to the great nation,” said Congressman Zinke. ""The settlement honors long time commitments to the tribes while also meeting the needs of Montana’s ag producers, private property owners, and other stakeholders along the hi-line. I am also grateful for the Crow Tribe for working with me and my staff as well to amend their excising Water Rights Settlement to provide much needed energy development.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/bill-honor-montana-world-war-ii-hero-charlie-dowd-heads-presidents-desk,Bill to Honor Montana World War II Hero Charlie Dowd Heads to President's Desk for Signature,2024-07-22,2024,2024-07,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today the US House of Representatives passed Congressman Ryan Zinke's bill to rename the Butte Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic after Montana Pearl Harbor hero, U.S. Navy Radioman Charlie Dowd. The companion legislation sponsored by Montana Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines passed the Senate in May, which means it is headed to President Biden's desk for signature. The bill passed under suspension, with unanimous consent of the House.

The community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veteran Affairs in Butte, Montana will soon be known as the ""Charlie Dowd Department of Veteran Affairs Clinic”.

Charlie Dowd enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January 1941 and served as a radioman at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During the infamous attack on December 7, 1941, damaging 21 ships and claiming the lives of 2,400 Americans. Charlie, in a t-shirt and trousers sprinted from the barracks to the armory, where he climbed to the roof to fire at the Japanese enemy aircraft, namely low-flying torpedo bombers. Through his act of bravery and continued service in the Navy in both the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, he garnered the nickname of “Devil Dog Dowd”, by his shipmates for his unwavering willingness to volunteer for the most dangerous mission assignments.

After Charlie received an honorable discharge from the Navy along with seven Bronze Star Medals, he became a respected member of the Anaconda, Montana community. He was known for his advocacy for his fellow veterans, was dedicated to preserving the memory of the events of World War II and was an active member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and loved speaking for civic groups and museums across Montana. Additionally, Charlie had an active role in the community as both a sportsman and Outdoor Writer for the Anaconda Leader newspaper.

“Radioman Dowd is a true example of a man who loved his community and his country and lived every day to serve both. Listening to Dowd recount his experiences from Pearl Harbor and the South Pacific and watching him tap on the table to the Morse Code he sent as a radioman will always be one of my most meaningful visits and lasting memories,” Congressman Ryan Zinke said. “Renaming the clinic after this American and community Hero will serve as a reminder of the life of service and commitment to patriotism Charlie Dowd lived that we can all look up to. I urge President Biden to sign this bill into law immediately.”

“Charlie Dowd was a Montana hero who fought with outstanding bravery in World War II and dedicated his life to advocating for veterans,” said Senator Steve Daines. “I applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for passing S. 2385, which will continue Charlie Dowd’s legacy as a patriot and defender of freedom by renaming the VA facility in his honor.”

“Charlie Dowd’s extraordinary courage at Pearl Harbor and exemplary service is what makes America the greatest country on earth,”said Senator Tester, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Charlie was one of Montana’s very best, and naming the new Butte VA Clinic in his honor ensures his legacy and that of the entire Greatest Generation is never forgotten. It’s a fitting honor for a clinic that serves thousands of Butte-Silver Bow veterans, and I urge the President to sign our bill into law without delay.”

Renaming the Butte VA clinic will ensure that Charlie Dowd's legacy of bravery and lifelong commitment to his country, fellow veterans, and community lives on forever.

After Dowd’s passing in March 2023, Zinke honored Dowd in the Congressional Record. Read the issue here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinkes-proposal-fix-affordable-housing-program-advances-house,Zinke’s proposal to fix affordable housing program advances in the House,2024-07-10,2024,2024-07,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Appropriations Committee passed the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025 out of Full Committee Markup. The bill includes more than $20 million in funding for Western Montana infrastructure projects and legislative language to fix a loophole in rental housing assistance grants that has cost Montanans millions. The next step for the bill is a vote on the House floor which is scheduled for the last week of July.

Housing Crisis

To address rental housing assistance for low income residents, the bill includes a Zinke proposed pilot program to address rapidly inflating rental costs in rural communities. Specifically, this program appropriates $7,000,000 within HUD’s Community Development “Pro-Housing” account to create a program for “research on rapidly increasing rents in lower-population density, non-coastal states, and proposing promising solutions.”

The problem this aims to solve: Rental assistance funding is set on a statewide formula; however, Western Montana is currently experiencing inflated rental rates in rural, low-income communities. This is due to several factors including summer tourism season putting additional burdens on already tight rental markets for additional staff housing and seasonal residents, the lack of infrastructure to support additional housing (like water systems that Zinke is requesting funding for in this bill), and the high costs for new construction.

As seasonal rates spike, the ability for Montana Housing Authorities (MHA) to assist renters diminishes, so they are forced to bank funding in non-peak months. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), however rescinds the funds not used in off-peak times, and leaves Montana at risk. This year alone, more than $3 million has been pulled back from Montana accounts and Congressman Zinke prevented another $2.5 million in recissions. In response to this, Zinke’s office worked with MHA and HUD officials to create a pilot program that would give more flexibility to states that have rural areas experiencing a rental shortage and sky high rents compared to the rest of the state.

“The housing crisis is real, and Montanans who are already struggling with paying for basic needs can’t keep up,” Congressman Zinke said. “Montana Housing Authority contacted me about their funds being swept due to bureaucratic missteps and the lack of flexibility in the program that made it unworkable for rural America. We were able to preserve the funding and now, working together, we were able to advance this pilot program to give rural Montana more flexibility in administering the program. Families are struggling with rising costs for gas, groceries, and specifically rent. This won’t solve all the problems, but hopefully it alleviates a piece of it.”

Community Project Funding

Also included in the bill are eight of Rep. Zinke’s Community Project Funding requests to bring more than $20 million in funding directly to Montana communities.

Rep. Zinke’s requests will now come before the House Floor for a vote and then hopefully included in the joint funding package approved by the House and Senate, then signed by the President.

Community Project Funding Requests:

$10,000,000 for Seeley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant

$5,000,000 for Ravalli County Wastewater Treatment Plant

$820,318 for Rural Airport Reconstruction and Emergency Services Expansion

$977,500 for Repaving Marten Creek Road

$1,000,000 for Flathead County North Fork Road Guardrails

$1,000,000 for Groff Lane Bridge Replacement

$1,000,000 for Old Corvallis Road Repair

$700,000 for Troy Library and Opportunity Center

A summary of the bill is available here.

Bill text is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:24:45Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-daines-tester-rosendale-call-department-interior-and-bureau-reclamation,"Zinke, Daines, Tester, Rosendale call on the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation to provide funding for the St. Mary catastrophe",2024-06-28,2024,2024-06,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 (MT-01), U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), and Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation Camille Touton calling for the authorization of federal funds to replace the St. Mary’s siphons that failed on June 17, 2024.

The letter reads in part:

“For over 100 years, the St. Mary Canal and Conveyance Works has augmented the Milk River Basin water supply. Originally built by the Bureau of Reclamation to provide irrigation water, this system has evolved into a multi-use project that supports municipalities, recreation, and wildlife habitats. The St. Mary Canal provides over 60% of the water supply for the Milk River Project in an average year and more than 80% during dry years. This water supports over 120,000 acres of farmland, which is crucial for the region's agricultural productivity. Additionally, the canal supplies water to approximately 18,000 municipal users.

Without immediate remediation and replacement of the siphons, the region faces severe economic and environmental impacts. These include significant agricultural losses, negatively affecting farm incomes and employment in agriculture-related industries. The local economy, heavily dependent on a stable water supply, will suffer, impacting businesses and overall economic stability.”

Read the full letter HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-senator-padilla-introduce-bipartisan-wildlife-movement,"Congressman Zinke, Senator Padilla introduce the bipartisan Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act",2024-06-24,2024,2024-06,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT) and Democrat Congressman Don Beyer (VA) introducedThe Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the companion bill in the Senate. Zinke made the announcement at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation headquarters in Missoula, MT, where he was joined by representatives from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Boone and Crocket Club, Mule Deer Foundation and the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association. In 2018, Secretary Zinke signed Secretarial Order 3362 “Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors” which committed federal and state agencies to collaborate and ensure the health and longevity of big game migration corridors and identify critical wintering habitat.

This legislation will build off Secretarial Order 3362 by codifying Zinke’s Wildlife Movement and Migration Corridor Grant Program. This grant will provide funding to eligible entities for conservation work in support of big game wildlife migration corridors and habitat connectivity. It will codify SO 3362 as well as the Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program and USDA’s Migratory Big Game Initiative.

Big game species defined in the legislation as native species of large mammals, including deer, elk, pronghorn, wild sheep, and moose, for which State and Tribal wildlife agencies have established regulated means and methods of take- rely on migration corridors for winter and summer range habitat. These corridors can cross swaths of both public and private land with obstacles such as fencing, highways, subdivisions, and other development which can block wildlife movement and lead to drastic downturns in big game herd populations.

The bill would:

1. Create the Wildlife Movement and Migration Corridor Grant Program

2. Establish the State and Tribal Migration Research Program

3. Add migration corridors and seasonal habitat conservation efforts as eligible for financial assistance under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

4. Direct United States Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units to map big game corridors and movement areas

Read the full text of the bill here.

Image

More photos from the press conference can be found here.

“Wildlife follow the path that has been bred and programmed into them over generations with no understanding of the distinctions between private and public or federal and state land. That’s why collaboration and partnerships are so important when managing migratory species such as Pronghorn, big horn, and Mule Deer,” said Congressman Zinke. “It has been five years since I signed S.O. 3362 and a lot of quality conservation work has been done to promote big game habitat in that time, and now is the time to solidify the intent and purpose of the program to promote public-private partnerships in conservation and focus on migratory big game. I thank Representative Beyer, Senator Padilla, for joining me in this critical effort.”

“With one in five migratory species facing the threat of extinction, recognizing connectivity corridors can help us understand biodiversity loss and better protect the migration patterns of iconic American species, like the Pronghorn,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “Our Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act would provide the necessary grants and technical assistance to enhance wildlife connectivity and enable the collection and analysis of data on wildlife movement areas. Additionally, this bill would support the U.S. Geological Service mapping efforts that track wildlife movement to accurately identify active corridors and migration patterns. I thank my colleagues and conservation leaders who worked with us to craft this important bill and urge my colleagues to support it as we seek to protect our wildlife diversity by ensuring that species can move freely across landscapes and access vital resources.”

“Wildlife across the country face additional barriers to their migration, threatening the vibrant biodiversity of our nation and putting human lives at risk,” said Senator Padilla. “From the sprawling urban wilderness of Griffith Park to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to the Atlantic Flyway, protecting wildlife corridors is a crucial bipartisan priority, and I am glad to work across the aisle to better conserve, restore, and enhance habitat connectivity and migration routes across the nation.”

Statements of Support:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-responds-biden-launching-columbia-river-task-force-remove,Congressman Zinke responds to Biden launching Columbia River Task Force to remove Snake River dams,2024-06-18,2024,2024-06,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) - Today the Biden Administration announced that the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has launched the Columbia River Task Force to implement Biden’s long promised plan to remove dams on the Snake River system that supply western Montana with affordable and reliable electricity. These dams provide between 60-70% of the electricity in the Pacific Northwest. Hydropower is the most abundant, affordable, and cleanest source of energy available in Montana, heavily relied upon for baseload power.

“President Biden’s new “task force” prioritizes fish over people and once again puts radical environmental lawyers in the driver’s seat to run over rural Montana,” said Congressman Zinke. “Hydropower is the only net-zero energy we have in Montana and ripping that out to appease the zealots in Seattle and Silicon Valley is bad for the environment, bad for the economy and bad for our energy security. I’ve worked closely with Montana’s rural electric co-ops and my colleagues in Congress to introduce legislation to stop this idiotic plan from going forward and it’s well past time the Senate steps up to the plate and protects our water, electricity, and livelihoods.”

Congressman Zinke has been a champion in ensuring the Snake River Dams remain intact. Zinke has cosponsored seven bills to prevent dam removal and save clean energy in Montana.

The Abandoning Inconsistent and Rash Environmental Solutions (ACRES) Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04),and Matt Rosendale (MT-02).

Supporting organizations: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Prohibits the breaching of federally operated dams if such breach would result in the replacement energy resource occupying additional acreage of more than 5 percent.

Bill text here.

The Breaking Irresponsible Energy and Commercial Habits (BREACH) Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04),and Matt Rosendale (MT-02).

Supporting organizations: Public Power Council, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Prohibits the breaching of federally operated dams if such a breach would result in an increase in carbon emission by more than 10 percent, would make the body of water impacted by the breach less navigable for commercial interests, and would result in an increase of at least 10 percent of the price of products shipped via the body of water.

Bill text here.

The Ratepayer Funding Alternative Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Supporting organizations: Public Power Council, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Directs DOE to develop fish and wildlife program funding alternatives to mitigate the cost to BPA ratepayers and report to Congress within 6 months of enactment on what alternative funding options are available.

Bill text here.

The Pinniped Predator Deterrence Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Supporting organizations: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Requires and authorizes USACE to acquire technology that uses acoustic sound technology to deter pinniped predators above and below the Bonneville Dam.

Bill text here.

The QUERIES Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Supporting organizations: Public Power Council, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress an updated report on the roles, responsibilities, and practices of the Council on Environmental Quality.

Bill text here.

Resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that hydropower is a vital component to an all-of-the-above approach to energy development which is critical to U.S. national security

Cosponsors: Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04),

Supporting organizations: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Resolution text here.

Resolution expressing disapproval of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative entered into by the Biden Administration

Cosponsors: Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Matt Rosendale (MT-02).

Supporting organizations: Cowlitz PUD, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Resolution text here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-introduces-legislation-fort-belknap-indian-community-water-rights,Zinke Introduces Legislation for the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement,2024-06-18,2024,2024-06,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 introduced, The Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024 to provide a solution for the settlement of water rights in the Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC). The bill will achieve a fair and final settlement of claims to water rights in the State of Montana for the Fort Belknap Indian Community. Senator Daines and Senator Tester have sponsored a similar bill in the senate.

Among other things, the bill includes:

$300 million to rehabilitate the St. Mary Canal and Dodson South Canal, part of the federal Milk River Project, for non-tribal water users in northcentral Montana

$250 million for an upstream wastewater treatment facility

$416 million to rehabilitate, modernize, and expand the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) Fort Belknap Indian Irrigation Project and to restore and develop irrigation systems.

“President Stiffarm and the entire team with the FBIC has worked diligently with me and my staff for over a year to make this legislation possible which meets long-overdue treaty obligations and delivers clean and reliable water to the great nation,” said Congressman Zinke. ""The settlement honors commitments to the tribes while also meeting the needs of Montana’s ag producers, private property owners, and other stakeholders along the hi-line.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-daines-rosendale-call-out-va-eliminating-essential-healthcare-workers,"Zinke, Daines, Rosendale Call Out VA for Eliminating Essential Healthcare Workers",2024-06-17,2024,2024-06,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 (MT-01), U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), and Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) highlighting the recent elimination of 10,000 frontline jobs that serve clinical needs for veterans’ healthcare, such as psychologists and clinical social workers. These eliminations directly contradict claims from the VA that frontline positions of this nature would be free from cuts.

The letter reads in part:

“Too many people in Washington, including some of our colleagues in the U.S. Congress with direct influence over policies impacting veterans, will make empty promises about fighting for veteran care and will use this report as an opportunity to call for more spending and more legislation that will only add to the bureaucratic nightmare at the VA. The reality is, it is the lack of proper oversight and the brazen willingness of the VA to violate congressional intent and prioritize issues that have zero impact on improving patient outcomes for veterans that has led to such disdain with the quality of VA care.”

Read Senator Daines Press Release HERE

Read the full letter HERE",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/montana-congressman-ryan-zinke-appointed-house-foreign-affairs-committee,Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke Appointed to House Foreign Affairs Committee,2024-06-04,2024,2024-06,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 House Foreign Affairs Committee. Zinke brings with him military and diplomatic experience from his 23-year career as a U.S. Navy SEAL officer, coupled with time serving as the 52nd Secretary of the Interior, overseeing the Federal relationship with our territories and Freely Associated States. Congressman Zinke will vacate his position on the Science, Space and Technology Committee and remain on the Appropriations Committee and the Joint China Commission.

“I am honored to answer the call to work alongside Chairman McCaul and the rest of the Foreign Affairs Committee to do the increasingly necessary work to keep Americans and our allies safe at a time when every corner of the globe is at or on the precipice of conflict,” said Congressman Zinke. “Under the rudderless direction of the Biden Administration, our enemies don’t fear us, and our allies don’t trust us. Our territories and compact states feel neglected with China breathing down their neck, and the Administration has presented absolutely no actionable plan for Ukraine. I look forward to holding the line and holding the Biden Administration accountable.”

“I’m pleased to welcome Rep. Ryan Zinke to the House Foreign Affairs Committee,” said Chairman McCaul “With his long tenure in the U.S. military, where he served as a U.S. Navy SEAL for more than 20 years, Rep. Zinke will bring valuable experience and knowledge to the committee.”

Ryan Zinke served 23 years as a U.S Navy SEAL Officer including as the Deputy Commander of Joint Special Operations in Iraq and as the Naval Special Warfare liaison to NATO during normalization of military relations with the post-Soviet European states. As Secretary of the Interior, Zinke was the principle Federal official overseeing the U.S. governments relationship with our Pacific territories (Guam and American Samoa) and the Freely Associated States of Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia - all of which are on the front lines of rising Chinese aggression in the region.

The House Foreign Affairs Full Committee has jurisdiction over legislation and oversight relating to: foreign assistance, national security developments affecting foreign policy, strategic planning and agreements, war powers, treaties, executive agreements and the deployment and use of the United States Armed Forces, peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and the enforcement of UN or other international sanction, arms control and disarmament, the United States Agency for International Development, the Arm Control Act, the Foreign Assistance Act, international law, promotion of democracy, international law enforcement, Broadcasting Board of Governors, embassy security, public diplomacy, the peace corps, and all other matter not specifically assigned to a subcommittee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-office-schedules-mobile-office-hours-across-western-montana,Zinke Office Schedules Mobile Office Hours Across Western Montana,2024-06-04,2024,2024-06,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, The Office of Congressman Ryan Zinke announced June dates for in-person mobile office hours in rural areas of Montana’s First Congressional District to assist constituents with a variety of government related issues.

Mobile office hours are open to Montanans needing assistance from Zinke’s staff on issues with a federal nexus such as disputes with a federal agency, grant applications, and permitting. Zinke’s staff may also be able to assist constituents with issues related to obtaining or expediting passports and visas, veterans’ affairs, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, Social Security, the IRS and other Federal agencies.

Constituents are encouraged to schedule an appointment by email. Those without appointments will be seen on a first-come-first-served basis.

Find your county’s scheduled mobile office hours and contact below:

*Office Hours listed alphabetically by county

Anaconda-Deer Lodge

When: Tuesday, June 25th 10:00am – 12:00pm

Where: Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Courthouse, 800 Main St, Anaconda, MT 59711

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Beaverhead County

When: Friday, June 14th 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Where: Beaverhead County Courthouse, 2 South Pacific Street, Dillon, MT 59725

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Butte Silver bow

When: Thursday, June 13th 12:00am – 2:00pm

Where: Butte-Silver Bow Archives, 17 W Quartz St, Butte, MT 59701

Who: McKenna Gregg, mckenna.gregg@mail.house.gov

Glacier County

When: Thursday, June 27th 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Where: Cut Bank Chamber of Commerce, 725 E Main St, Cut Bank, MT 59427

Who: Steve Howke, steve.howke@mail.house.gov

Granite County

When: Friday, June 21st 10:00 – 12:00am

Where: Granite County Courthouse, 220 N Sansome Street, Philipsburg, MT 59858

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Lake County

When: Wednesday, June 19th 2:00 – 4:00pm

Where: Lake County Courthouse, 106 4th Ave E., Polson, MT 59860

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Lincoln County

When: Tuesday, June 25th 10:00 – 12:00am

Where: North Lincoln County Annex, 66121 MT-37, Eureka, MT 59917

Who: Steve Howke, steve.howke@mail.house.gov

When: Tuesday, June 25th 2:00 – 4:00pm

Where: Lincoln County Courthouse, 512 California Ave, Libby, MT 59923

Who: Steve Howke, steve.howke@mail.house.gov

Madison County

When: Thursday, June 6th 10:00 – 12:00am

Where: Madison County Library, 210 E Main,Ennis, MT 59729

Who: McKenna Gregg, mckenna.gregg@mail.house.gov

Mineral County

When: Thursday, June 20th 10:00 – 12:00am

Where: Mineral County Courthouse, 300 River Street, Superior, MT 59872

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Missoula County

When: Monday, June 17th 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Where: Seeley Lake Community Hall, 3248 MT HWY 83 N, Seeley Lake, MT 59868

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Pondera County

When: Thursday, June 27th10:00 – 12:00am

Where: One Stop, 518 Teton Ave., Valier, MT 59486

Who: Steve Howke, steve.howke@mail.house.gov

Powell County

When: Tuesday, June 25th 1:00 – 3:00pm

Where: Powell County Courthouse, 409 Missouri Ave, Deer Lodge, MT 59722

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Ravalli County

When: Wednesday, June 19th 9:00 – 11:00am

Where: Ravalli County Courthouse, 215 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Sanders County

When: Wednesday, June 26th 1:00 – 3:00pm

Where: Sanders County Courthouse, 1111 W Main St, Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Who: Steve Howke, steve.howke@mail.house.gov",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:11:47Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/breaking-zinke-saves-much-3-million-montana-affordable-housing-funds-being,Breaking: Zinke Saves as much as $3 Million in Montana Affordable Housing Funds from being swiped by the feds,2024-05-30,2024,2024-05,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(BOZEMAN, MT) Today, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) informed Congressman Ryan Zinke and the Montana Housing Authorities (MHA) that the federal agency will halt the planned claw back of federal funds from these programs. In April, Zinke was informed that HUD rescinded $4.5 million from the MHA reserve accounts, putting roughly 576 Montana families’ access to housing assistance at risk. Zinke questioned the acting HUD secretary in a committee hearing on May 2, and with the support of MHA, HUD launched an investigation and ultimately decided to halt further planned claw backs.

“We are grateful for Congressman Zinke and his staff, for the time and hard work put in to protect Montanans who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Patti Webster, CEO of HomeFront. “Without his tough questioning in the hearing and relentless follow-up, HUD would have taken several million dollars from Montana Housing Authorities’ reserve accounts, making the housing crisis even worse. Along with many Housing Authorities across Montana, we are still working closely with Congressman Zinke to develop and pilot programs to address the most pressing issues with HUD, to allow for full flexibility in the use of those funds to assist the families in our local communities, and to stop the overreach of the continued offsets”

“Montanans are feeling the pressure right now due to high inflation for gas, groceries, and rent. Even a family of 3 with two good jobs can’t make ends meet in this housing crisis,” said Congressman Zinke. “Rent is through the roof, building new units is more expensive than ever, and the availability of open units is extremely limited. Now is not the time for the administration to swipe money from struggling Montanans trying to make ends meet. I’m glad the officials at HUD were willing to work with us and halt any further swipes of funding and I’m working hard to make sure Montana gets our money back. I appreciate the Montanan Housing Authorities for bringing it to my attention and working with my staff to make sure we recoup those funds for the benefit of Montanans.”

In a House Appropriations Transportation Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee hearing, Congressman Zinke grilled acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman on $4.5 million HUD diverted from the Montana Housing Authorities (MHA) reserves. The reserves are used by MHA for financial assistance for renters in Montana who are currently grappling with an extreme affordability and availability issue thanks to decades-high inflation and skyrocketing housing costs in Montana. According to the MHA, rescinding the reserves cost roughly 576 Montana families access to housing assistance. Zinke urged the administration to remedy the issue immediately so existing contracts can continue to move forward, and the MHA can resume regular business of providing relief.

Earlier this month, Zinke cosponsored H.R. 3170, the bipartisan Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act. The HELPER Act establishes a new home loan program under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to make homeownership more accessible to K-12 school teachers, first responders, law enforcement officers, and other essential public servants by eliminating some of the barriers for first-time homebuyers including high down payments and monthly mortgage insurance premiums.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:01:11Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-nominates-15-western-montana-projects-federal-funding-totaling-47108583,"Zinke Nominates 15 Western Montana Projects for Federal Funding totaling $47,108,583",2024-05-24,2024,2024-05,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke announced that he requested federal funding for 15 projects in Western Montana to improve infrastructure, economic development, and law enforcement capabilities. The requests were submitted to the House Appropriations Committee of which he is a member. The projects would benefit communities in the following counties: Beaverhead (2), Flathead, Gallatin, Lake (3), Lincoln (2), Missoula, Mineral (3), Powell, Ravalli (3), and Sanders (3). The projects are posted on Congressman Zinke’s website for public inspection here and the list is below.

“Rural Montana’s infrastructure and public service needs are different than those of Miami or Phoenix, and taking advantage of my position on the Appropriations Committee allows me to make sure our tax dollars are spent on projects that support our taxpayers,” said Congressman Zinke. “We’ve identified and nominated great projects like a wastewater system in Seeley Lake that will help revitalize the town and bring back jobs, and a five-county law enforcement project that will deliver state of the art equipment to our sheriffs and allow them all to coordinate with the same comms and gear should a multi-county situation emerge. I am thankful to the county commissioners, mayors and sheriffs who have been working with my office for months to identify projects that would have the biggest impacts.”

The submissions were made through the U.S. House of Representatives Community Project Funding requests which allows Congress to direct appropriations from specific grant accounts to eligible projects. 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, of 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. In Fiscal Year 2024, Zinke successfully secured $35 million in funding for Western Montana.

Proposed projects include:

*Projects listed by county in alphabetical order

Beaverhead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, and Sanders County, $2,123,500 - Law Enforcement Equipment for 5 Rural Counties

To reduce cost to the taxpayer and promote equipment continuity in the event of a multi-county response to an incident, Mineral, Lake, Beaverhead, Lincoln, and Sanders counties have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to purchase much needed vehicles and equipment in bulk for bolstered law enforcement and public safety. The crisis at the southern border has turned every state into a border state – including Montana. Five rural counties with a combined population of less than 80,000 are experiencing exponential increases in human trafficking, drug trafficking, overdoses, and crime, directly related to the border crisis. These five counties have formed a joint purchasing agreement to purchase desperately needed equipment and vehicles in bulk to save tens- to hundreds of thousands of dollars per county. The funding will purchase patrol vehicles, body scanners, radios and telecom equipment, rifles, vests, and fund safety upgrades.

Beaverhead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, and Sanders County, $322,000 - Enhanced Law Enforcement Capability for 5 Rural Counties

This request helps modernize Western Montana law enforcement giving them increased communication capacity and interoperability between counties, in addition to modern inmate transportation. This request would fund the purchase of 24 patrol radios, 6 patrol vehicle radio repeaters, and 2 upfitted transport vehicles.

Flathead County, $1,936,170 - North Fork Road Guardrails

The significance of the North Fork Road cannot be overstated. It provides crucial access for residents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations along the Canadian border, year-round recreational activities, and timber industry operations. It also serves as the route for approximately 150,000 annual visitors to Glacier National Park that access the park through the Camas and Polebridge entrances. The North Fork Road plays a pivotal role in the economic and recreational vitality of the region. Despite its significance, the North Fork Road poses safety concerns. Composed of a mostly gravel surface and winding in nature, it has numerous roadside hazards, including sections of roadway with steep side slopes descending to the river below. The existing guardrail along this section of road have surpassed their service life and due to their poor condition, have reduced ability to function as intended. The project will add or replace guardrail to improve safety along 3.71 miles of roadway.

Gallatin County, $906,660 - Sheriff’s Office Rapid DNA Capabilities and Patrol Vehicles

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Department and Belgrade Police Department have formed an MOU to combine their purchasing power and coordinate complementary technology. This funding request will fund the purchase of all necessary equipment, software, warranties, consumables, and technical DNA support for the county sheriff's office and all other municipal law enforcement agencies. This comprehensive Rapid DNA program will be open to all law enforcement agencies within the county, and hopefully beyond. The state crime lab is facing an overwhelming number of DNA evidence items awaiting processing. To manage this caseload, they have created strict guidelines prioritizing certain crimes and limiting the number of DNA samples that can be processed. To help ease the burden on the state crime lab and enable them to focus on more complex and high-priority cases, the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office will be able to process DNA samples that can lead to immediate investigative leads. Additionally, the Belgrade Police Department will acquire fully outfitted patrol sport utility cruisers to enhance the safety of the citizens of Belgrade. Belgrade is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Western Montana and budgets are stretched thin across city government to support that growth.

Lake County, $1,604,500 - CSKT Invasive Species Inspection Station

Watercraft inspection stations are Montana’s front line of defense to prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). The Tribes and their partners have been working diligently since 2017 to prevent the mussels from entering the Flathead Basin and the Columbia River Basin. The mussels have devastating impacts on the ecosystems and cost our country millions each year in damage and maintenance. The Tribes and their partners have been working diligently since 2017 to prevent the mussels from entering the Flathead Basin and the Columbia River Basin. The CSKT operates the Ravalli station. It is the only station in Montana to operate 24 hours per day, 7 days a week during boating season. The station does not have permanent infrastructure and it lacks adequate protection from the weather, running water, restrooms, and electricity. The tribe would like to develop a stable and permanent AIS watercraft inspection station in Ravalli to safely inspect watercraft and ensure that Montana’s waterways are free from invasive species.

Lincoln County, $820,319 - Rural Airport Reconstruction and Emergency Services Expansion

The Troy Airport runway is in poor condition at-best, requiring extensive runway restoration and repair. This rural airport is vital to search and rescue, wildland firefighting efforts and medical flights within Northwest Montana. With the wildland fire trend in NW Montana, the need for a central location for deploying firefighting aircrafts and for a well-maintained runway is essential and cannot be overstated. The Troy Airport is situated close to many forested regions that are susceptible to wildland fire allowing for quick response time to extinguish fires before they spread further. A poorly maintained runway can have significant negative effects on airport operations and safety including the delay of firefighting efforts. Additionally, the 797 residents of Troy rely on the airport for air ambulance service as the closest trauma center is located more than 2 hours away in Kalispell.

Lincoln County, $1,500,000 - Troy Library and Opportunity Center

This project will turn the Troy branch of the Lincoln County Library into the Troy Library and Opportunity Center (TLOC). Through partnership, collaboration, and community building, this needed community asset will reduce barriers in accessing services and resources and will improve the health, social, and economic outcomes, for the citizens of Troy, Bull River, Yak, and surrounding remote areas. The TLOC also serves as the local Job Service access point in the county as there is no official physical office in all of Lincoln County. This is vital to the economic health of the community and serves as the focal point for people in the area seeking employment. The TLOC also serves as a community broadband access location for an extremely remote community with limited or no internet access whatsoever providing the often-sole source of commerce-supporting access in the area. This project will make critical facility upgrades with multi use aspects providing valuable services space not just for the library, job service, and local business support services in the area but also safe and secure spaces for emergency service coordination events and law enforcement interviews and community meetings.

Missoula County, $1,400,000 - Lolo Wastewater Treatment Plant

The community of Lolo is deficient in the water supply requirements for having the largest well out of service and meeting the max day water demand for the system. The community currently operates a public water supply system through an RSID and requires an upgrade to Well No. 1 and Well No. 2, to increase the water supply for the community. The water rights exist, and the wells can easily be upgraded to increase their capacity. The project was bid last year, and the community didn’t have enough money to award the bid. The benefit is that the project is shovel-ready and already approved by DEQ to move forward as soon as funds are available for the community to use. The community is concerned about having enough water for the citizens, but particularly concerned during the summer months when the fire season is imminent. The lack of redundancy for the water system is a great concern for the community and upgrading these two wells would provide that necessary capacity and surety.

Missoula County, $18,000,000 - Seeley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant

The largest employer in Seeley Lake and one of the largest in Missoula County announced it was closing after 75 years in business citing it was “crippled” by labor shortages driven by a lack of affordable housing, inflation and lumber prices. The mill employed roughly 250 employees. The town of Seeley Lake is very rural and unable to build additional housing because it does not have a municipal water system to support additional housing and the existing septic system is at capacity and contaminating the groundwater. Building a water system will allow developers to invest in affordable, workforce housing to support reopening the mill and growing jobs and economic activity in the region.

Mineral County, $1,000,000 - Alberton Water Tower

Description: The funding would be used for the town of Alberton’s proposed water tank replacement which will add 200,000 gallons of drinking water storage to provide adequate water volume to satisfy maximum day demands. This project would benefit community health and safety by enhancing the potable water supply to the town of Alberton for domestic use and the addition of a second tank will allow for maintenance on the town’s water system without losing access to water. The project is on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan List, is shovel ready, and can meet the cost share requirements.

Powell County, $1,009,934 - Equipment for Volunteer Fire Departments

Powell County is larger than the entire state of Delaware, and large sections of the County are very remote. First responders are responsible for responding to more than 800 miles of county road, 90 miles of state highway, and 36 miles of Interstate. Volunteer departments respond to hundreds of interstate accidents every year in addition to countless search and rescue operations on millions of acres of rugged wilderness. This request would fund the acquisition of equipment for EMS, fire department and search and rescue operations. This will help both Granite and Powell Counties, as both Gold Creek and Drummond’s Valley Fire work together per a mutual aid agreement, which further extends the impact of this request.

Ravalli County, $1,008,000 - Bridge Replacement, Groff Lane

Ravalli County is one of the fastest growing counties in Montana. Groff Lane provides access to larger agricultural tracts in Ravalli County and a future potential public access. The narrow bridges need to be replaced to allow for safer passage and also to ensure that irrigation water delivery can continue to some larger agricultural water users in the Bitterroot Valley.

Ravalli County, $4,500,000 - Old Corvallis Road Repair

Old Corvallis Road serves as a crucial transportation artery in the greater Hamilton area, connecting the Corvallis community with essential services and employment opportunities in the City of Hamilton, notably a large pharmaceutical facility as well as a soon-to-be residential development that will consist of 140 units. The road suffers from poor pavement conditions and lacks dedicated non-motorized facilities, making walking hazardous. Traffic counts from 2023 reveal an average daily traffic of 2,705 vehicles with an anticipated increase of nearly 50% once the residential development is completed. Addressing these infrastructure challenges is crucial to ensuring safe and efficient travel along Old Corvallis Road.

Ravalli County, $10,000,000 - Wastewater Treatment Plant

Ravalli County is currently one of the most rapidly developing counties in Montana and one of the greatest in need of affordable housing. One of the greatest barriers to that is the lack of water and sewage treatment capacity. Until recently, Ravalli County residents have been forced to send their septage by truck to Missoula County for disposal and treatment. Recently this arrangement was terminated due to Missoula County’s own issues with sewage treatment capacity. Currently all septage from within Ravalli County is being transported and deposited on privately held lands. This is a concern both environmentally and economically due to the capacity barriers this process creates. Septic seepage levels are reaching a dangerous level and because of this the county is limited in new septic permits it can issue to build new homes and dwellings. This new facility if funded would protect drinking water, ease capacity restrictions inhibiting development, and protect environmental quality by keeping septic seepage and human waste out of critical groundwater siphons and the Bitterroot River.

Sanders County, $977,500 - Repaving Marten Creek Road

This project aims to rehabilitate and upgrade a surface transportation asset that if left unimproved threatens the mobility of people, delivery of services to residents, economic growth from tourism and vital national forest access. This project will improve the lifespan of Marten Creek Road, reduce future maintenance costs and allow more time, money and resources to be spent on other roads in the county. Sanders County proposes to hire a contractor to overlay 4.5 miles of Marten Creek Road with 2.5” thick asphalt 22’ wide.

*In the Ravalli County, $10,000,000 - Wastewater Treatment Plant section, a former version of this press release stated, ""Currently all sewage pumped from septic tanks in Ravalli County is being deposed of on National Forest lands."" and has been changed to ""Currently all septage from within Ravalli County is being transported and deposited on privately held lands.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:01:11Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-cosponsors-housing-act-support-police-officers-first-responders-and,"Zinke cosponsors housing act to support police officers, first responders and teachers",2024-05-23,2024,2024-05,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke cosponsored H.R. 3170, the bipartisan Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act. The HELPER Act establishes a new home loan program under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to make homeownership more accessible to K-12 school teachers, first responders, law enforcement officers, and other essential public servants by eliminating some of the barriers for first-time homebuyers including high down payments and monthly mortgage insurance premiums.

“In Montana the housing crisis is very real – both in terms of affordability and availability – and unfortunately our first responders, educators, and law enforcement officers are being priced out of the communities they serve,” said Congressman Zinke. “The available homes are overvalued and buyers suffer from record high interest rates and high construction costs for new homes due to inflation. Higher listing price means big down payments and big monthly payments on mortgage insurance for middle-class buyers on top of high interest and monthly payments. While we need a whole-scale change in leadership at the presidential level to get interest rates and inflation down, I’m proud to sponsor the HELPER Act to eliminate some barriers and get teachers, firefighters and police officers into the door of home ownership.”

“Bozeman Police Officers selflessly serve our community every day by performing essential, dangerous, and difficult tasks. They do it to ensure the highest quality of life possible for our community members, knowing they may not be able to afford a home due to the extremely high cost of living here,” said Bozeman Police Department Chief Jim Veltkamp. “The HELPER ACT would be a substantial step forward in making home ownership more affordable for them so they can continue serving this community. Thank you to Rep. Ryan Zinke for stepping forward to support this important bill.”

Montana is one of the worst states for overvalued homes with a median list price of $649,000 according to a recent analysis. Paired with record high inflation, first responders and educators are facing unprecedented financial challenges. The HELPER Act aims to make homeownership more accessible to these public servants who have dedicated their lives and careers to serving their fellow Montanans

The HELPER Act:

Creates a one-time-use home loan program through FHA for law enforcement officers, firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), paramedics, and pre-K through 12 teachers who are first-time homebuyers;

Eliminates a down payment requirement on a mortgage;

Removes a monthly mortgage insurance premium (MIP) requirement;

Requires an upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) to ensure the solvency of the program.

During a Congressional hearing on May 2, Congressman Zinke grilled HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman on diverting $4.5 million from Montana Housing Authority reserves. The reserves are used for financial assistance for renters in Montana who are currently grappling with an extreme affordability and availability issue thanks to decades-high inflation and skyrocketing housing costs in Montana. According to the MHA, rescinding the reserves cost roughly 576 Montana families access to housing assistance. Zinke urged the administration to remedy the issue immediately so existing contracts can continue to move forward, and the MHA can resume regular business of providing relief. Read more here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:01:11Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-cosponsors-seven-bills-prevent-dam-removal-save-clean-energy-western,"Zinke cosponsors seven bills to prevent dam removal, save clean energy for western Montana",2024-05-17,2024,2024-05,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 he has cosponsored seven bills to protect four dams in the Columbia River System that supply power to Northwest Montana.

“Removing the four Lower Snake River dams is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard, both environmentally and economically,” said Zinke. “Our dam systems are not just for a single species; they are multiuse systems that provide power, drought control, flood control, and recreation. These bills reinforce Congresses commitment to protecting the four lower Snake Rivers against radical environmentalists who care more about fish than people.”

The dams in question are part of the Columbia River System which includes, at its head, Hungry Horse Reservoir in Flathead County, Montana. Between 60-70% of electricity in the Pacific Northwest is supplied by the dams, and more than a third of Montanans receive electricity from the system, according to the federal agencies. Hydro-power is the most abundant, affordable and cleanest source of energy available in Montana, heavily relied upon for baseload power.

Zinke sponsored the following bills:

The Abandoning Inconsistent and Rash Environmental Solutions (ACRES) Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04),and Matt Rosendale (MT-02).

Supporting organizations: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Prohibits the breaching of federally operated dams if such breach would result in the replacement energy resource occupying additional acreage of more than 5 percent.

Bill text here.

The Breaking Irresponsible Energy and Commercial Habits (BREACH) Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04),and Matt Rosendale (MT-02).

Supporting organizations: Public Power Council, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Prohibits the breaching of federally operated dams if such a breach would result in an increase in carbon emission by more than 10 percent, would make the body of water impacted by the breach less navigable for commercial interests, and would result in an increase of at least 10 percent of the price of products shipped via the body of water.

Bill text here.

The Ratepayer Funding Alternative Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Supporting organizations: Public Power Council, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Directs DOE to develop fish and wildlife program funding alternatives to mitigate the cost to BPA ratepayers and report to Congress within 6 months of enactment on what alternative funding options are available.

Bill text here.

The Pinniped Predator Deterrence Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Supporting organizations: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: Requires and authorizes USACE to acquire technology that uses acoustic sound technology to deter pinniped predators above and below the Bonneville Dam.

Bill text here.

The QUERIES Act

Cosponsors: Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04).

Supporting organizations: Public Power Council, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Summary: To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress an updated report on the roles, responsibilities, and practices of the Council on Environmental Quality.

Bill text here.

Resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that hydropower is a vital component to an all-of-the-above approach to energy development which is critical to U.S. national security

Cosponsors: Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04),

Supporting organizations: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Resolution text here.

Resolution expressing disapproval of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative entered into by the Biden Administration

Cosponsors: Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Matt Rosendale (MT-02).

Supporting organizations: Cowlitz PUD, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Port of Benton, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.

Resolution text here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:12:30Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-daines-gianforte-and-rosendale-blast-biden-administration-killing-made,"Zinke, Daines, Gianforte, and Rosendale Blast Biden Administration for Killing Made in Montana Energy, Shutting Down Future Coal Production",2024-05-16,2024,2024-05,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Helena, MT - Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke, U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, and Congressman Matt Rosendale released the following statements after the Biden administration released a new Resource Management Plan Amendment prohibiting future coal leases in eastern Montana through 2038.

“This is another punitive targeted attack on Montana and will result in higher energy prices and lower energy security for Montanans,” said Zinke. “The United States has more coal than any other nation on Earth and the Crow Tribe relies on mining their clean coal and selling it around the world. We have the technology and expertise to mine it in a way that balances environmental stewardship and resource production. Coal provides jobs for thousands of Montanans and provides reliable energy to our power grid and can be sustainably mined for generations to come. Our goal should be expanding energy production in America, where we do it the cleanest, safest and the cheapest rather than bending the knee to environmental extremists.”

“Since Day One the Joe Biden administration has been on an anti-energy war path in an attempt to appease far-Left environmental groups,” said Daines. “Shutting down future coal production in eastern Montana will jeopardize our energy independence, raise costs for families and kill good-paying jobs.”

“Every action taken by the Biden administration is driving up the cost of affordable energy and threatening the reliability of our electrical grid. Affordable power generated by coal keeps the lights on in Montana and fuels manufacturing across the country and world. Today’s announcement is nothing more than a gift to China and our adversaries and a slap in face to hardworking Montanans. Instead of prioritizing the ideological agenda of the far left, President Biden should prioritize the needs of American consumers and workers,” said Gianforte.

“America lost more energy independence today due to a stroke of a pen by the Biden administration,” said Rosendale. “This decision whose sole intent is to appease climate extremists is an insult to the men, women, and children of Montana who depend on coal to power their homes, keep food on their table, and maintain our Montana way of life. BLM either does not understand or does not care that their unreliable green new deal energy sources are not feasible in places like Montana and pose real threats to our economy and national security.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:12:30Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-vasquez-team-another-bipartisan-public-lands-bill,"Zinke, Vasquez Team Up for Another Bipartisan Public Lands Bill",2024-05-08,2024,2024-05,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke along with New Mexico Democrat Congressman Gabe Vasquez announced the introduction of the bipartisan Wildlife Corridors on Working Lands Act, a bill designed to amend the 2024 Farm Bill to direct the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide more resources and incentives for farmers and ranchers to increase habitat connectivity and wildlife movement on working lands.

The Bill would:

Add wildlife corridors and connectivity as a priority resource concern for critical conservation areas within the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

Build on the Big Game Conservation Partnership in Wyoming.

Expand landowners adoption of practices that directly impact habitat connectivity.

Incentivization of virtual fencing models that can control livestock distribution.

Ramp up USDA research on virtual fencing.

Create a new section under “administrative requirements for conservation programs” encouraging wildlife migration corridors and connectivity.

Read the full text of the bill here.

“Some of our most iconic North American big game traverse thousands of miles on their migration routes every year. As Secretary I signed a secretarial order establishing a federal-state-private sector partnership to maintain wildlife access to corridors. This bill takes it a step further, working directly with farmers to protect migration corridors during migration seasons while respecting private property rights,” Rep. Zinke said. ""​We all know that animals go where animals want to go, and more often than not, that's dependent​ ​upon natural features like water, terrain and vegetation,​ ​rather than whether land is owned by the BLM, state, or private landowners. Farmers and ranchers are some of the best conservationists I know. Few are more reliant on a healthy landscape than our producers and growers. I appreciate Congressman Vasquez working with me again to prove that some issues are above red or blue, and are just red, white and blue.”

“Protecting and expanding wildlife corridors requires all of us to be at the table and that includes farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. The bipartisan Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act protects and expands the movement of wildlife while supporting the stewards of our working lands. We must find balance where both can thrive, and my bill does just that,” said Vasquez. “I thank Senator Heinrich and Representative Zinke for joining me in introducing this bill that will benefit New Mexicans and Montanans and will spur the healthy movement and migration of wildlife across the West.”

“Working lands provide key habitat for migratory fish and wildlife, including big game like elk and mule deer. USDA’s voluntary conservation programs need to work together to support farmers and ranchers who create and enhance this habitat, and the next Farm Bill is our opportunity to make that happen.” Becky Humphries, CEO at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership said. “The Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act removes unnecessary barriers to working lands stewardship. The TRCP thanks Senator Heinrich and Congressmen Zinke and Vasquez for their leadership on this bill and urges its inclusion in the Farm Bill.”

“Working lands are critical to ensuring the connectivity of wildlife habitat and migratory corridors. As hunters we rely on healthy, intact habitat in our pursuit of game species – which don’t recognize public or private land in their movement,” Kaden McArthur, Government Relations Manager, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers said. “We applaud Reps. Vasquez and Zinke for their leadership on the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act which will improve Farm Bill programs to better support these private land conservation efforts.”

“When wildlife can safely migrate across Montana and the nation’s landscapes, it’s good news for everyone,” Frank Szollosi, executive director of the Montana Wildlife Federation said. “This bipartisan solution is just common sense. Thank you to Representative Zinke and his colleagues for ensuring that voluntary Farm Bill conservation programs help farmers, ranchers, landowners, and wildlife thrive.”

""As stewards of working lands, ranchers and land managers commonly look for opportunities to improve habitat which is beneficial to wildlife and livestock,” Western Landowners Alliance said. “The Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act of 2024 creates opportunities for ranchers to enhance habitat and connectivity while improving their operation. The methods laid out in this Bill have proven to be highly successful in the pilot program. It's a trifecta in the win column for wildlife, conservation and ranching.""

Background:

Congressman Zinke has been a leading voice on this issue since his time as Secretary of the Interior. In 2018 he signed Secretarial Order 3362 which directed the Department of the Interior to work in close partnership with western states to enhance and improve the quality of big-game winter range and migration corridor habitat on Federal lands in a way that recognizes state authority to conserve and manage big-game species and respects private property rights. States like Wyoming used this order and worked closely with Secretary Zinke to prioritize the conservation of a mule deer migration corridor in southwest Wyoming.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:01:11Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-grills-hud-secretary-diverting-millions-montana-housing-authority,Zinke Grills HUD Secretary on Diverting Millions from Montana Housing Authority Reserves,2024-05-03,2024,2024-05,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week at a House Appropriations Transportation Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) Subcommittee hearing, Congressman Ryan Zinke grilled acting Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Adrianne Todman on the $4.5 million HUD diverted from the Montana Housing Authorities (MHA) reserves by the agency. The reserves are used for financial assistance for renters in Montana who are currently grappling with an extreme affordability and availability issue thanks to decades-high inflation and skyrocketing housing costs in Montana.

According to the MHA, rescinding the reserves cost roughly 576 Montana families access to housing assistance. Zinke urged the administration to remedy the issue immediately so existing contracts can continue to move forward, and the MHA can resume regular business of providing relief.

Patti Webster, CEO of MHA said, “We are asking that HUD to give Montana agencies their money back, to allow for full flexibility in using those funds to assist the families in our local communities, and to stop the overreach of the continued offsets.”

“Renters in Montana are feeling the pressure right now under Biden’s inflation. Costs for everything from gas and groceries to education and rent are through the roof, building new units is more expensive than ever, and the availability of open units is extremely limited. Now is not the time for the administration to swipe money from struggling Montanans trying to make ends meet,” said Rep. Zinke. “I appreciate the Montanan Housing Authority for bringing it to my attention and working with my staff to make sure we recoup those funds for the benefit of Montanans.”

Watch a clip from the hearing here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:01:11Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-blasts-biden-and-liberal-dark-money-groups-moving-illegal-aliens-montana,Zinke blasts Biden and liberal dark money groups moving illegal aliens into Montana,2024-05-02,2024,2024-05,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - According to the Flathead County Sherriff, a group of illegal immigrants from Venezuela contacted the sheriff’s office seeking accommodations on the evening of May 1. Like the some of the other 7.3 million illegal immigrants who passed through Joe Biden’s open southern border, they were given a plane ticket to New York before being transported to Kalispell. Unprompted by local law enforcement, the dark money nonprofit Valley Neighbors, picked up the illegal immigrants and provided hotel arrangements in Kalispell.

“The only way an illegal immigrant from South America ends up in Montana is if a “nonprofit” connected with the Biden Administration moves them there. They didn’t walk across to Babb,” said Rep. Zinke. “Montana law enforcement, schools, hospitals and safety nets are being stressed to their max because of the Biden border crisis. I’m in contact with local law enforcement, county commissioners and the Attorney General and will do anything in my power to protect Montanans. Government-funded orgs complaining about drug overdoses and human trafficking fail to recognize it’s their own fault when they are flying illegal immigrants tied in with cartels and coyotes. It’s a national security risk. It’s unacceptable and absolutely needs to end now.”

Flathead County Commissioner Randy Brodehl said, “This instance is not unique; it is a continuation of a trend that has increased in both frequency and intensity over the last two years. Flathead County does not have the recourses of large sanctuary cities and cannot sustain the volume of people coming in illegally. We cannot feed, house, or facilitate the transportation for these individuals. Why they are being sent to Kalispell at all is beyond me.”

Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said, “I think we’re being targeted. This is just one example of the increase Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has seen with individuals who have no residency status in the U.S.. My job, my priority, is the people of the community that I was elected to protect. We don’t have the budget to keep up with the needs that come along with the growing undocumented population, and we don’t have the resources to hold them accountable our laws. My worry is that our ability to protect the citizens of Flathead County will be limited by the strain of the undocumented population.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:01:11Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-rips-epa-appropriations-hearing-targeting-montana-energy,Zinke Rips EPA in Appropriations Hearing for Targeting Montana Energy,2024-04-30,2024,2024-04,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today in a House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies subcommittee hearing, Congressman Ryan Zinke pressed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan on the Biden Administration targeting Montana’s primary source of energy, Colstrip, with new power plant rules signed on April 25, 2024. The rules include a blitz of regulations designed – in the words of EPA administrator Michael Regan – to force accelerated retirements of the coal fleet.

“In every hearing with Biden Administration’s highest-level officials, I’ve asked if they were aware of specific policies that would drastically change the lives of almost every Montanan, and they don’t seem to care – if they know what their department is doing at all,"" said Rep. Zinke. “It’s shameful and disappointing that we have an administration chalk full of talking heads ran by radicals who don’t seem to understand how shutting down American energy hurts everyone outside of the beltway and helps our adversaries.”

In the hearing, Regan claimed Montana was not being targeted by the EPA’s new rule, despite Colstrip being cited as a location to be retired if the power plant cannot meet strenuous requirements in the required one-year adjustment period.

Regan continued by saying the EPA Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule will result in a 1% increase in rates for Montana. That is a national figure, increases will be higher regionally as the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on Colstrip’s compliance efforts will inevitably be passed along to consumers. This would only add to the $26,000 increase in cost to the average Montana family has paid due to inflation since 2021.

In the final rule package, Montana’s Colstrip is specifically targeted on pages 46 and 79:

Page 46: Of these, only two Electric utility steam generating unit (EGU)s at one facility (Colstrip) currently without the most effective particulate matter (PM) controls are projected to require installation of a fabric filter (FF), the costliest PM control upgrade option, to meet 0.010 lb/ million British thermal units of heat input (MMBtu.) The remaining nine EGUs projected by the EPA to require capital investments are estimated to require various levels of electrostatic precipitator (ESP) upgrades.

Page 79: EGUs without the most effective PM controls have not been able to demonstrate filterable particulate matter (fPM) rates comparable to the rest of the fleet. Specifically, the Colstrip facility, a 1,500 MW subbituminous-fired power plant located in Colstrip, Montana, operates the only two coal-fired EGUs in the country without the most modern PM controls (i.e., ESP or FF).

“Colstrip is also the only facility where the EPA estimates the current controls would be unable to meet a lower fPM limit.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:47:55Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-bestows-congressional-gold-medal-wwii-merchant-mariner-dr-maury-irvine,Zinke Bestows Congressional Gold Medal to WWII Merchant Mariner Dr. Maury Irvine,2024-04-25,2024,2024-04,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"BOZEMAN, MT - Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke had the distinct honor of bestowing the Congressional Gold Medal to Montana’s Dr. Maury Irvine of Bozeman. During World War II, nearly 250,000 civilian merchant mariners served as part of the U.S. military and delivered supplies and armed forces personnel by ship to foreign countries engulfed in the war. Between 1939 and 1945, 9,521 merchant mariners lost their lives — a higher proportion than those killed than in any military branch, according to the National World War II Museum.

“As the late Conrad Burns would say, not bad for a kid from Montana. Looking at Dr. Irvine is looking at an American hero,” said Rep. Zinke. “He’s spent a century in a constant commitment to making America a better place, and he has. Being a Merchant Mariner requires dedication, resilience, and readiness – and at the time Maury served it required more. Since surviving one of the most dangerous missions in WWII, Maury has proceeded to be an example that anyone who stays resilient and ready can live an incredible life. It is my honor to recognize Dr. Maury Irvine with the Congressional Gold Medal.”

Access photos from the event here.

About the award:

Dr. Irvine received The Congressional Gold Medal, which is considered the most distinguished award that Congress bestows. Since 1776, this award, which initially was bestowed on military leaders, has also been given to such diverse individuals as Sir Winston Churchill and Bob Hope, George Washington and Robert Frost, Joe Louis, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

In 2020 Congress passed the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act to recognize the merchant mariners for their courage and contributions during the war.

During World War II, nearly 250,000 civilian merchant mariners served as part of the U.S. military and delivered supplies and armed forces personnel by ship to European countries engulfed in the war. Merchant Mariners were highly targeted by German submarines making the Atlantic crossing one of the most dangerous missions in the war. Between 1939 and 1945, 9,521 merchant mariners lost their lives — a higher proportion than those killed than in any military branch, according to the National World War II Museum.

About Dr. Irvine:

Maury was born in San Francisco on January 5th, 1924, before moving to Gold Camp Montana with his family. At that time Gold Camp was a small mining town, Maury rode a horse 5 miles every day to get to school. His family lost their ranch in Gold Camp during the Great Depression, and they were forced to move to Butte where he graduated from Butte High in 1941. Pearl Harbor and the start of WWII changed Maury’s life and inspired him to join the Navy, unfortunately, he was rejected due to his poor eyesight. Instead, he joined the Merchant Mariners and served as a Radio Officer until 1946.

Maury lived an impressive life after the war; returning home to attend Montana State College in Bozeman then Lehigh University for his PhD in Physics. At Montana State College he met the love of his life, Lois Lessley. They went steady for a while and on New Year’s Eve they eloped and got married by the justice of the peace at the Livingston jail.

Dr. Irvine played a tremendous role in developing versions of the early transistorized digital computer, allowing computers to be small enough to fit into airplanes. Maury is also credited with early development of the defense system of our nation’s ICBMs and discovering a star that now bears his name. After a long and successful career Maury retired and moved back to Bozeman. Lois would pass away there after 60 years of marriage. After his wife’s death Maury took up traveling, visiting over 52 nations globally, studying with the Dalai Lama, and still making time to volunteer at the Museum of the Rockies. He is now 100 years old and still lives on his own.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:47:55Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-statements-foreign-aid-votes,Zinke Statements on Foreign Aid Votes,2024-04-20,2024,2024-04,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 voted on separate supplemental funding requests for foreign aid, including H.R. 8034, H.R. 8035, H.R. 8036 and H.R. 8038, to address national security issues in Israel, Ukraine, and the Pacific. Zinke released the following statements regarding his votes.

H.R. 8034, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act – Zinke vote: No

“I’ve been to a lot of battles in my life, and I’ve never seen the President of the United States send aid to the enemy while allied troops are under fire. This bill included more than $9 billion for Biden’s USAID to send money to Gaza, and thereby sending it directly to the front lines of Hamas. No aid for Gaza until an unconditional surrender and release of hostages.”

H.R. 8035, the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act – Zinke vote: No

“Congress and Biden have sent billions and billions of taxpayer dollars to fund a war in Ukraine, and for what? I’ve asked everyone in a position of power in the Biden administration, and I can think of what the plan is in Ukraine, and nobody seems to know. I’m a believer in fighting for freedom and supporting our allies, but I am not a supporter of a blank check on the taxpayer’s dime. I can’t justify sending a blank check to Ukraine, especially when our own borders are being invaded every day, our police and schools are under financial stress, and Montanans can’t afford gas and groceries due to inflation.”

H.R. 8036, the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act – Zinke vote: Yes

“China is not our friend. They are a competitor at best, enemy at worst and I would say right now they are clearly our adversary. With weak leadership in the White House, they see the opportunity so many of our adversaries are capitalizing on. The United States territories and compact states extend deep into the Pacific and are on the front lines of a conflict with China. The U.S. cannot afford to cede territory in the Pacific because the next stop is right here on mainland soil.”

H.R. 8038, the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act – Zinke vote: Yes

“Under Reagan and Trump, we had peace through strength. Under Biden we have war through weakness. We’re seeing a new axis of evil between Russia, China and Iran and the United States absolutely needs to be ahead of the game and stop President Biden bowing to war criminals, dictators and terrorist regimes.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:47:55Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-denounces-blm-land-grab,Congressman Zinke Denounces BLM Land Grab,2024-04-18,2024,2024-04,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 in opposition to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final Conservation and Landscape Health rule.

“Once again, the Biden Administration is ignoring the multiple use mandate on BLM lands in favor of radical environmentalists funding their political operation and controlling western lands,” said Rep. Zinke. “Conservation has always been an end goal of the BLM’s mandate and is already a focus for all those who utilize our public lands. The enactment of “conservation leases” is about control and is a direct threat to communities that create jobs, fund their schools, and build their livelihoods on grazing, mining, energy production and outdoor recreation. I will be submitting a rider on the FY25 Interior appropriations bill blocking this rule until a new administration is in control.”

Background:

The Bureau of Land Management’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule is a radical shift in the way the agency approaches land management which has been in place for over 50 years.

This rule includes “Restoration and Mitigation” leases, previously named “conservation leases” which subvert the multiple use mandate established by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 threatening access to federal lands for purposes such as grazing, mining, timber production, energy production, and outdoor recreation.

This rule expands designations of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern effectively locking up lands across the West.

Rep Zinke previously co-sponsored H.R. 3397 which requires BLM to withdraw the rule and included that language as a rider in the FY24 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:47:55Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/interior-secretary-haaland-not-aware-her-department-suing-minor-league,Interior Secretary Haaland is “not aware” her department is suing a minor league baseball team,2024-04-17,2024,2024-04,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC - Today, former Secretary of the Interior and current Congressman Ryan Zinke questioned current Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland in a House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing about the Department’s predatory litigation against the Range Riders, Kalispell’s Pioneer League baseball team.

Last year, the DOI solicitor’s office sent a letter to the Glacier Range Riders alleging the team’s logo violated trademark rights belonging to the National Park Service (NPS) and that the team’s use of the logo would cause “harm or damage to the NPS,” despite the U.S. Patent office’s two rulings deciding the team was not in violation.

In the hearing where Secretary Haaland had just asked for a funding increase in the 2025 Interior Appropriations budget, Haaland said she was “not aware of anything with the Range Riders” or the predatory lawsuit her department led that could cost a local business more than $500,000 to defend themselves.

“The Interior Department suing a family-owned minor league baseball team is the worst case of federal overreach and predatory litigation by the government I have ever seen,” said Rep. Zinke. “This is why people outside the beltway don’t trust the bureaucrats inside the beltway. I can tell you that if I was Secretary and this came across my desk, I’d fire the lawyer who thought it was a good use of tax dollars. Now a small business is forced to spend half a million dollars defending themselves against a frivolous and predatory lawsuit that has no merit and has been thrown out twice by the Patent and Trademark Office. The Secretary either has no idea what’s going on in her own department or is allowing the abuse to happen. Either way, not good.”

Watch the hearing here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:47:55Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-secures-nearly-six-million-grants-northwest-montana,Congressman Zinke Secures Nearly Six Million in Grants to Northwest Montana Community Projects,2024-04-09,2024,2024-04,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Funding provides more than $3 million toward emergency services and $3 million toward infrastructure

KALISPELL, MT –Yesterday, Congressman Ryan Zinke joined stakeholders from Lake, Glacier and Flathead Counties and Kalispell City Officials for ceremonial check presentations to celebrate the nearly $6 million in grant funding to support five separate public safety and infrastructure projects.

“Projects like this take the government back down to its most basic role: protecting our people and providing sound infrastructure,” said Rep. Zinke. “With the rate of growth we’re seeing across western Montana, I am focused on shoring up our roads, bridges, safety systems and emergency services. Most importantly, getting our county sheriffs the resources they need as the effects of the border crisis reach us here in Montana.”

On the Flathead County Project:

$1,315,000 for the Flathead County Emergency Service Radio Tower

To improve coverage and higher quality transmission for law enforcement radio traffic, Flathead Co. requested funding for two 800 MHz Simulcast Remote sites with 4 FDMA trunked channels and appropriate RF plumbing and antenna systems to Flathead County 911’s Public Safety Radio System. Each site will utilize a GTR ESS 6-pack rack connected to one TX antenna, one RX antenna and a Tower Top Amplifier (TTA).

Pam Holmquist, Flathead County Commissioner said, “Gratitude knows no bounds for Congressman Ryan Zinke's unwavering dedication in securing crucial funding for our 911 dispatchers' technology upgrades. His tireless effort empowered our first responders with the tools they need to save lives efficiently and effectively. Thank you, Ryan, for prioritizing public safety and ensuring our communities remain safe and resilient.”

On the Lake County Project:

$300,000 - Law Enforcement Vehicles and Security Upgrade Project

The 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 – 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 will be allocated to procure: a) two fully-outfitted police cruisers and b) one Full Body Security Scanning System.

On the Glacier County Projects

$500,000 - 911 Center and Radio Equipment for law enforcement

The Glacier County Sheriff’s 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’s 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’s Office are nearly twenty years old and outdated. The requested funds are planned to be allocated to: 2 Dispatch Center consoles, Base Radios, 20 Vehicle and 26 Handheld radios.

$410,000 - Patrol Vehicles and detainee safety enhancements for law enforcement

The Glacier County Sheriff’s 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’s 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’s 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, and Police-equipped 4x4 patrol cruisers.

Tom Seifert, Glacier County Undersheriff said, “I just want to take a little time to express my gratitude to Congressman Ryan Zinke. I have worked as a Law Enforcement Officer for Glacier County for 22 years. In those 22 years, I cannot remember a time when we had a representative show up, listen to our needs and do their best to help us. Usually people pass through, make promises and leave. It’s fantastic to know we have a representative working for our state who actually wants to help. I can’t express my gratitude enough. In my opinion, the needs of Montana’s people should be first and foremost on the minds of our representatives. With Ryan Zinke, that certainly seems to be the case. It’s been a pleasure working with Congressman Ryan Zinke and I hope to continue working on the needs of our people with you guys long into the future.""

On the City of Kalispell Project:

$3,315,000 for the Kalispell Two Mile Drainage Improvement Project

According to city officials, this 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.

Mark Johnson, Kalispell Mayor said, “I am more than thankful for the continued assistance we receive from Congressman Zinke in Kalispell. The allocation of Department of Transportation funds in the funding bill will improve drainage infrastructure and access and pedestrian safety on a section of Two Mile Drive. The growth we have seen over the past 4 years has strained our limited resources and having someone like Congressman Zinke in our corner has been a godsend.”

Additional photos from the check presentation in Kalispell can be downloaded here.

All projects made their requests to Zinke’s office 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. Both projects were approved by the House Appropriations Committee, of which Zinke is a member, the full House of Representatives and included in the joint funding package approved by the House and Senate and signed by the President. A full list of Zinke’s projects that were funded can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:47:55Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinkes-bipartisan-gateway-communities-and-recreation-enhancement-act-passes,Zinke’s Bipartisan Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act Passes House Floor,2024-04-09,2024,2024-04,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 the passage of H.R. 6492, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, a comprehensive, bicameral legislation package that includes Zinke’s bipartisan Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act introduced with Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola in May 2023.

The Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act increases public access to National Parks and Forests and improves 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 2023. Details of the bill are below.

The Bill:

Creates a digital America the Beautiful National Parks and public lands pass so visitors can seamlessly access public lands.

Establishes a pilot program to provide visitation data for recreation lands and at high congestion promote visitation to nearby lesser known, lesser visited recreation sites.

Requires the public land management agencies to collaborate with local stakeholders to address gateway communities’ economic needs, particularly housing shortages, and infrastructural deficiencies, related to increasing visitation.

Requires the NPS to consult local communities before restricting access to parks.

“It’s 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,” said Rep. Zinke. “Additionally, 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’s a win-win.”

Rep. Peltola, said, “National parks are important to Alaska and are deeply connected to local economies. This 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 — and hope it will help to lift up the communities that support America’s national parks.”

Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee Rep. Bruce Westerman said, “The inclusion of the Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act in the EXPLORE Act will promote responsible outdoor recreation management by allowing partnerships between local communities and the federal government to support our gateway communities. As the representative for part of Yellowstone National Park, one of the most popular and frequented parks in the country, Congressman Zinke knows firsthand how important this type of public-private partnership is for the state of Montana and states across the West. I thank him for his efforts and look forward to working alongside him to help pass the EXPLORE Act into law.”

Before the legislation passed, Zinke delivered a speech on the House Floor in support of the EXPLORE Act, watch an excerpt here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:47:55Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-announces-2024-congressional-art-competition,Zinke Announces 2024 Congressional Art Competition,2024-04-08,2024,2024-04,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 invited high school students in Montana’s 1st Congressional District to participate in the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. The tradition started in 1982 and has since allowed Montana’s young artists the chance to showcase their talents in our nation’s Capital building. Submissions should highlight Montana’s history, heritage and culture. Complete guidelines for entry can be found on CongressionalInstitute.org The deadline to submit artwork to Zinke’s office is Tuesday, May 1, 2024.

“Western Montana is home to a robust art community and cultivating that talent begins with recognizing it early on” Zinke said. “Our students create amazing works of art and I look forward to giving Montana’s young artists an opportunity to display their work on a national stage.”

The following is a summary of the Congressional Art Competition rules:

Artwork 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’s office must be framed and still within the required specifications. Students may also submit their art electronically, but if they are chosen, they must submit a framed piece to the office by May 8th.

Accepted mediums include:

Paintings - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor, etc.

Drawings - including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)

Collages - must be two dimensional

Prints - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints

Mixed Media - use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.

Computer-generated art

Photography

Submissions should be sent to:

The Office of Congressman Ryan Zinke

923 South Main Street

Kalispell, MT 59901

All 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).

Students from the following counties are eligible to submit to Congressman Zinke’s 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’s office.

The deadline to submit artwork to Zinke’s office is Wednesday, May 1, 2024; winners will be announced later in the week. Students and educators interested can view the program’s rules and regulations and student release forms on Congressman Zinke’s website and contact Julie.perchy@mail.house.gov with any unanswered questions.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:47:55Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-secures-million-dollar-grant-ravalli-county,Congressman Zinke Secures Million Dollar Grant for Ravalli County,2024-04-04,2024,2024-04,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"HAMILTON, MT - Today, western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke joined Ravalli County Commissioners and local stakeholders for a ceremonial check presentation to celebrate the awarding of a one-million-dollar grant to fund repairs to Rickets Road, also known as Old Highway 93, in the Bitterroot Valley.

This project will make improvements to 2.55 miles of Ricketts Road which has not been resurfaced in 25 years. Repairs and improvements will address significant roadway decay and install drainage and irrigation culverts under the road to prevent further damage and flooding. Ravalli County features a central valley surrounded by steep mountainous Wilderness Areas, limiting the available roadways for a rapidly growing rural county. Ricketts Rd. provides one of the few critical alternative travel routes from US Highway 93 for local residents, commerce, and emergency services. Residents in the community and local businesses have expressed their concerns regarding increases in traffic and safety.

“Infrastructure is not merely an expense, it’s an investment and the way the Bitterroot Valley is growing in population and commerce we need to be making more of those investments like in Ricketts Road,” said Rep. Zinke. “The Bitterroot is growing at one of the fastest paces in all of Montana and the stress on the infrastructure is obvious. What was once a sleepy county road is now a major thoroughfare carrying literal tons of goods and hundreds of cars a day – All on nearly 30-year-old pavement. I appreciate County Commissioners Chilcot and Huls for bringing this project to my attention and working with my team to secure the necessary funding.”

Greg Chilcot, Ravalli County Commissioner said, “Many thanks to Congressman Zinke for bringing these requests full circle. Our County is a great place to live, and we appreciate Congressman Zinke for helping us keep it that way.”

Ravalli County made the request to Zinke’s office 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 was approved by the House Appropriations Committee, of which Zinke is a member, the full House of Representatives and included in the joint funding package approved by the House and Senate and signed by the President. A full list of Zinke’s projects that were funded can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:47:55Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-secures-million-dollar-grant-beaverhead-county,Congressman Zinke Secures Million Dollar Grant for Beaverhead County,2024-04-03,2024,2024-04,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"DILLON, MT - Today, western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke joined Beaverhead County Commissioners and local stakeholders for a ceremonial check presentation to celebrate the award of a one-million dollar grant to fund the building of a new bridge just north of Dillon.

The funding will go toward replacing a failing 99-year-old bridge that is a main artery for the county. The bridge is on an important emergency service, school bus, and commodity transportation route. According to county officials, the structural integrity of the bridge has been in jeopardy for years and required additional supports to maintain access. Renovating this bridge is the County’s top infrastructure priority.

“Infrastructure is not merely an expense, it’s an investment and repairing the 99-year-old bridge outside Dillon has been long overdue,” said Rep. Zinke. “Maintaining reliable infrastructure like roads and bridges is a basic function of government. I appreciate the County Commissioners for bringing this project to my attention and working with my team to secure the necessary funding to ensure kids can get to school and goods can get to market.”

Mike McGinley, Beaverhead County Commissioner said, “Getting funding for projects takes more than just snapping your fingers to make it happen. We’ve been working with Zinke and his team for nearly a year to make sure our community made the priority list and he’s delivered, and it’s appreciated.”

Beaverhead County made the request to Zinke’s office 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 was approved by the House Appropriations Committee, which Zinke is a member, the full House of Representatives and included in the joint funding package approved by the House and Senate and signed by the President. A full list of Zinke’s projects that were funded can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:47:55Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinke-secures-million-dollar-grant-madison-county,Congressman Zinke Secures Million Dollar Grant to Madison County,2024-04-03,2024,2024-04,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ENNIS, MT - Today, western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke joined Madison County Commissioners and local stakeholders for a ceremonial check presentation to celebrate the award of a $1,088,000 grant to fund the modernization of two county-owned nursing home facilities in Ennis and Sheridan.

The grant will fund replacements for 71 news beds that were originally 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.

“The cost of living keeps increasing under Biden and keeping Montana families together is getting tough. It’s even more difficult for seniors in rural communities like Ennis and Sheridan, which is exactly why I was happy to work with the Madison County Commissioners and the team at the senior living facilities to secure this important grant funding,” said Rep. Zinke. “I had the privilege of growing up at my grandmother’s kitchen table. She told me stories of being a one-room schoolhouse teacher on the prairie and of granddad building the Fort Peck Dam. Kids need to hear their family stories, the stories of Montana, and that’s just not possible when grandparents have to move hours away to find a place to call home. There’s a lot of wasteful government spending coming out of Washington, but this funding is an example of good government and your tax dollars at work.”

Dan Allhands, Chairman, Madison County Commissioners said, “The Madison County Nursing Homes Foundation, in support of the Tobacco Root Mountains Care Center in Sheridan, Montana, and the Madison Valley Manor in Ennis, Montana, is overwhelmed with gratitude for the more than million-dollar funding opportunity, which was included in the Agriculture Appropriation Bill. These funds will directly impact and improve the lives of our community members, our residents and their families, staff, management, and volunteers. Funds will also be used to renovate and improve our facilities and allow us to finally purchase new electric beds and equipment.""

Madison County made the request to Zinke’s office 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 was approved by the House Appropriations Committee, of which Zinke is a member, the full House of Representatives and included in the joint funding package approved by the House and Senate and signed by the President. A full list of Zinke’s projects that were funded can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:47:55Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-leads-22-members-letter-calling-secretary-mayorkas-secure-border,Zinke Leads 22 Members in Letter Calling for Secretary Mayorkas to Secure the Border,2024-03-25,2024,2024-03,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Today, Co-Chair of the Northern Border Security Caucus and Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke led a letter signed by 22 Members of Congress to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas concerning the unprecedented surge in apprehensions along the Northern border.

This letter continues Zinke’s previous efforts to secure our borders including, sending an initial letter to Mayorkas calling attention to similar concerns in February 2023, introducing a bill requiring Mayorkas to implement a northern border security plan, as well as bringing Chairman of the Coalition of Large Tribes Marvin Weatherwax as his guest to the State of the Union to highlight how fentanyl coming in from the border has impacted Tribal communities. Zinke’s record on securing our borders includes votes to impeach Mayorkas, and for two of the most comprehensive border bills in the history of the United States, the Secure the Border Act and the House Homeland Appropriations Act.

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “We, once again, write to express our serious concern about the unprecedented surge in apprehensions along our Northern Border. Since October 1, 2023, the Northern Border has seen a record number of illegal immigrants and drug seizures, most notably fentanyl, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). While the crisis at the Southwest Border continues to intensify and unfold into an unprecedented disaster, local communities and Border Patrol agents along the Northern Border are feeling the strain as you continue to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to abandon its duty of protecting our sovereign borders.”

The lawmakers continued, “According to CBP data, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, Border Patrol agents apprehended 10,021aliens illegally crossing the border between ports of entry, including 2,229 apprehensions in thefirst four months alone. In the first four months of FY 2024, through January 2024, the BorderPatrol has already apprehended 4,772 subjects along the Northern Border, a 114% increase fromthe first four months of FY 2023. This 114% increase in apprehensions is unsustainable andsymptomatic of your broader failure to secure the border.”

Read the entire letter to Secretary Mayorkas here.

Background:

New York Post Northern states see highest record of border crossings as migrants take advantage of lax laws to get into Canada

CBS News What's behind the record number of illegal crossings at the U.S.-Canada border?

NBC Montana Illegal migrants crossing northern border at 'record-breaking' rate, patrol agent says

U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations Encounters by Area of Responsibility and Component

Fox News NY sheriff sounds alarm as migrants cross northern border in record numbers: 'None of this is humane'",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:32:04Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-bipartisan-bill-disapproving-bidens-planned-carbon-tax-passes-house,Zinke Bipartisan Bill Disapproving of Biden’s Planned Carbon Tax Passes House Floor,2024-03-21,2024,2024-03,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Today, the House of Representatives passed Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke’s bipartisan resolution H. Con. Res. 86, expressing Congressional disapproval of President Biden’s planned carbon tax. The Resolution passed the House Floor with a final vote of 222-196.

According to the Energy Administration Information, if enacted, a carbon tax would cause:

Loss of more than 1.4 million jobs.

A total income loss of more than $40,000 for a family of four.

An aggregate gross domestic product loss of more than $3.9 trillion.

Increases in household electricity expenditures of 12% to 124%.

The impact would be far reaching beyond energy prices, there would also be downstream impacts to agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and construction industries, leading to potentially catastrophic increases in the costs of goods and groceries.

“Nobody produces energy more efficiently or cleaner than right here in the United States,” said Congressman Zinke. “When I was Secretary we had the biggest production year on record and it was also the best safety year and we lowered emissions. So, the answer is not to punish domestic energy producers or Montana farmers, manufacturers, and consumers, which is exactly what a carbon tax does. The answer is to allow the private sector to continually innovate to make energy more sustainable and efficient while lowering costs and improving safety. There’s no reason Montanans should be paying more because Biden is bowing to eco-green zealots and paying invoices to communists, terrorists and shady businessmen overseas to get what we have here at home.”

Zinke continued: “A carbon tax is bad for the economy. It’s bad for national security. It’s bad for the environment.

Economy – “If Biden implements a carbon tax, blue collar job losses are expected to top a million. And the impact on inflation will be even worse. Americans are already paying more for groceries than at any point in the last 30 years. A carbon tax would increase energy costs that would be passed on to consumers of goods and groceries when Americans are already struggling to stretch their paychecks under Bidenomics. The carbon tax is a regressive tax that hits seniors and families on fixed incomes the hardest.”

National security – “A carbon tax will make it more expensive to produce energy on our own shores and waters, and thus will increase our reliance on foreign energy sources. Under Trump we became the largest exporter of energy in the world. We used energy for diplomacy and national security. Our allies who rely on the USA for affordable and reliable fuel sources will be forced to buy from adversaries like China, Russia and Iran, completely undercutting our influence in the world and putting U.S. security at risk.”

Environment – “When the US slashes production, which will happen as a result of a carbon tax and Biden’s agenda, producers overseas who operate under little to no environmental regulations ramp up. This increases emissions, increases spills, and completely negates any negligible emissions reductions in the USA.”

Indiana Congressman Greg Pence said, “It’s one disastrous plan after another from the Biden Administration. Jamming down a Carbon Tax to fund a left-wing extremist energy plan will do nothing but continue to hurt Hoosier families already suffering from policies meant to destroy American Energy Independence and make us more reliant on China.”

Alabama Congressman Gary Palmer said, “Nearly 20 million Americans are behind on utility bills because of the high energy costs and inflation levels currently facing our nation. These high energy costs are a direct result from President Biden’s policies. If the Democrats had their way, they would tax every part of our lives. Instead of helping our environment, A carbon tax would do nothing but further increase high energy costs, putting even greater strain on American families already struggling to make ends meet. I appreciate Representative Zinke’s leadership on this commonsense resolution.”

Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw said, “I want the American people to be able to afford the energy they need to heat and cool their homes, to have lower prices at the gas pump, and reduced costs at the grocery store so they can buy food. Instead, Biden wants to wreck our economic and energy security by implementing a carbon tax that will increase costs on everything we use and purchase to sustain our lives.”

Pennsylvania Congressman Scott Perry said, “Between President Biden’s economic policies and energy policies, American Citizens and residents of south central Pennsylvania can barely afford their groceries, gas, and electricity. A carbon tax – like the one Governor Shapiro wants to impose on the Commonwealth – does nothing except unnecessarily drive up the costs of necessities and incentivize energy producers to do business elsewhere.”

Executive Director of Montana Petroleum Association Alan Olson said, “It's very clear that the economy is in tough shape, and a carbon tax would be an added cost on consumers’ bottom line that is already breaking inflationary records. With Biden’s carbon tax in place, the public will pay more at the pump, over the counter and when they pay their utility bills. Zinke’s resolution is spot on – Biden’s carbon tax plan is bad for Montanans and Montana business.”

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions President Heather Reams said, “America’s global leadership in emissions reduction should be rewarded. Not only is implementing a carbon tax punitive for American industry, workers and families, it unfairly benefits our economic competitors which rely on dirtier energy production. CRES has never supported a carbon tax and thanks Representative Zinke for leading this resolution.”

Zinke is joined by U.S. Congressmen Steve Scalise (LA-01), Scott Perry (PA-10), Mike Bost (IL-12), Andrew Clyde (GA-09), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Andrew Ogles (TN-05), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Mary Miller (IL-15), Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Eli Crane (AZ-01), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Greg Pence (IN-06), Gary Palmer (AL-06), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Erin Houchin (IN-09) in sponsoring the resolution.

Prior to the vote, Zinke delivered a speech on the House Floor in opposition of Biden’s planned Carbon Tax which would kill the American economy. Watch the floor speechhere or read the remarks below.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to President Biden's planned carbon tax which would, quite frankly, kill the American economy.

Now, nobody can dispute that America produces cleaner energy than our adversaries or allies. That's not in dispute. When I was Secretary of Interior, I came into office and we were producing 8.3 million barrels a day and declining. After two years of President Trump, we're the world's largest exporter of energy. And oh, by the way, we reduced emissions.

We had the record in safety, because nobody produces energy more cost effective or cleaner than we do. So, the answer is not to punish American producers, or Americans for having a resource and using them wisely.

There are three absolutes on the carbon tax. First of all, the environment. Undisputed, it is better to produce energy in this country under reasonable regulations, than to watch it be produced overseas with no regulation. That is not in dispute.

Secondly, manufacturing economy, my good friend from Oregon, reminds us that hundreds perhaps have saved on their electric bills. I can tell you millions have not. When I was secretary gas was about two bucks a gallon. I think it's a little over that. If anyone looked at their last year's heating bills, or around the kitchen table at Thanksgiving, I think we paid a price. On our economy, what drives manufacturing? First is labor. We're not going to be competitive, paying wages that China or India can pay. Secondly, resources. The cost of steel is about the same and South Korea, as it is in Pittsburgh, where America has the edge are two things innovation, and energy. And today's energy is going to be different than tomorrow's energy needs. Data Storage, robotics, all require more and more energy. And that energy is not going to come from pixie dust and hope.

The third absolute is national security. This is an area I'm familiar with. I've lost a lot of friends and colleagues overseas, primarily fighting for other people's oil and energy. I think it's immoral to send our troops overseas and fight for a resource we have here. A carbon tax makes America less competitive. It forces families to pay more for groceries when they’re struggling. And then also on our allies who now depend on low-cost American energy.

Now we're going to do a transition to where? EV and China land. Does anyone realize that 85% of the critical minerals that power EV, lithium, nickel processing are all in China. So, the very idea that we would make ourselves less competitive and give the advantage to our adversaries. Who's going to produce energy? If it's not us, who will? I can make a list. Perhaps Iran, perhaps Venezuela, perhaps Russia. So, we either produce energy in this country under our regulations, for the environment, for national security, to run our country, or we seed, we retreat.

This carbon tax is a terrible, terrible idea. And Mr. Speaker, I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:32:04Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-statement-montana-timber-businesses-closing,Zinke Statement on Montana Timber Businesses Closing,2024-03-21,2024,2024-03,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – This weekRoseburg Forest Products announced it will be shutting down its Missoula particle board plant in mid-May. This comes less than a week after Pyramid Lumber, Seeley Lake’s largest employer and one of the oldest family-owned lumber mills in Western Montana, announced it will close its doors soon due to economic pressures.

Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statement:

“The announcement from Roseburg is another devastating blow to western Montana’s rich timber heritage and the greater community. Within a week, two of Montana’s legacy forestry businesses announced their closures due to difficult economic headwinds caused by the Biden Administration. Rising cost of manufacturing, energy, housing, inflation, and labor shortages are all compounded by the fact that the federal forests that supply raw materials are being completely mismanaged and board feet reduced to levels that make operations unsustainable. With no materials close by, they are forced to supply logs from farther away; the farther raw materials have to travel the more expensive they become. I fear we will see more announcements like these as mom-and-pop businesses that supplied to Pyramid and Rosebud feel the downstream effects. I will continue to push for common sense forest management reforms and urge the Senate to pick up the House approved tax cuts and other legislation to fight inflation. My heart goes out to all the workers who are impacted, and my office is preparing a list of area businesses in similar industries that are hiring.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:32:04Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-votes-protect-montana-data-privacy-chinese-communist-party,Zinke Votes to Protect Montana Data Privacy From the Chinese Communist Party,2024-03-13,2024,2024-03,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(WASHINGTON) Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statement after voting in support of legislation to prevent foreign adversaries from owning social media companies in the United States. This bipartisan legislation passed the House by a vote of 352 to 65.

“Today I voted to ban the Chinese Communist Party from owning and operating TikTok in the United States,” Zinke said. “The bill does not shut down TikTok. It simply and rightfully forces the CCP-controlled parent company to divest. Already American companies have put in bids to buy the platform. It is clear the CCP is not a friend and certainly not trustworthy. I don’t think the Chinese should own our land or our kids’ data.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:32:04Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinkes-request-bring-nearly-35-million-directly-western-montana-signed-law,Zinke’s Request to Bring Nearly $35 Million Directly to Western Montana Signed into Law,2024-03-11,2024,2024-03,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 released the following statement after the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act into law. The bill includes Zinke’s request for almost $35 million directly to 12 separate Western Montana infrastructure, rural development, and public safety projects.

The bill text and explanatory statements released are FY24 funding measures for the Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS); Energy and Water Development; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies (MILCON/VA); and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD).

“I am proud to have fought for Montana and our needed critical infrastructure projects. We have places where our bridges are falling apart, roads need improvements and our law enforcement deserves better equipment,” Zinke said. “I am particularly proud to have worked with the Blackfeet Nation to meet the tribe where the Indian Health Service has failed and deliver a youth center in Browning where kids and seniors will have a safe haven that honors the great Blackfeet culture.”

Last Thursday, Zinke welcomed Marvin Weatherwax as his State of the Union (SOTU) guest. Weatherwax is a former Chairman of and member of the Blackfeet Nation’s Tribal Business Council, current chairman of the Coalition of Large Tribes, and is a Democrat in the Montana State House.

Zinke’s Community Project Funding Requests:

$20,000,000 for the Blackfeet Nation Tribal Center Project - THUD

$1,000,000 for the Beaverhead County Bridge Rehabilitation Project - THUD

$1,000,000 for the Ravalli County Ricketts Road Improvement Project - THUD

$3,315,000 for the Kalispell Two Mile Drainage Improvement Project - THUD

$833,123 for the Powell County Relocation New Central Maintenance Facility - THUD

$150,000 for Anaconda-Deer Lodge Access to Broadband - AG

$1,315,000 for the Flathead County Emergency Service Radio Tower - CJS

$500,000 for the Glacier County 911 Center and Radio Equipment for Law Enforcement - CJS

$410,000 for the Glacier County Patrol Vehicles and Detainee Safety Enhancement - CJS

$300,000 for the Lake County Law Enforcement Vehicles and Security Upgrade Project - CJS

$1,088,000 for the Madison County Nursing Home Revitalization & Modernization - AG

$5,000,000 for Park County to Rebuild a Bridge - THUD

Read more about each community project funding request here.

Marvin Weatherwax, former Blackfeet Tribal Council Chairman and current Chairman of the Coalition of Large Tribes said, “Congressman Zinke has demonstrated a commitment to the Blackfeet Nation which quite frankly has outpaced Indian Health Service and their trust responsibility in providing healthcare. Not only did Congressman Zinke listen- he took action. The Blackfeet Nation was able to host U.S. House members in Browning, MT during North American Indian Days in July. The three Representatives were U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz.; U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.; U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont. They respected our government, our process and listened to our concerns about the lies and failures of Indian Health Service and they committed to working with us to solve it. Now we have the opportunity to build a youth center where the youth can gather, be physically active and more importantly where they can be safe. This is a positive. Too often media about tribes is negative. But today is good because it shows what good things can happen when we truly work together.”

Pam Holmquist, Flathead County Commissioner said, “Gratitude knows no bounds for Congressman Ryan Zinke's unwavering dedication in securing crucial funding for our 911 dispatchers' technology upgrades. His tireless effort empowered our first responders with the tools they need to save lives efficiently and effectively. Thank you, Ryan, for prioritizing public safety and ensuring our communities remain safe and resilient.”

Mark Johnson, Kalispell Mayor said, “I am more than thankful for the continued assistance we receive from Congressman Zinke in Kalispell. The allocation of Department of Transportation funds in the funding bill will improve drainage infrastructure and access and pedestrian safety on a section of Two Mile Drive. The growth we have seen over the past 4 years has strained our limited resources and having someone like Congressman Zinke in our corner has been a godsend.”

Tom Seifert, Glacier County Undersheriff said, “I just want to take a little time to express my gratitude to Congressman Ryan Zinke. I have worked as a Law Enforcement Officer for Glacier County for 22 years. In those 22 years, I cannot remember a time when we had a representative show up, listen to our needs and do their best to help us. Usually people pass through, make promises and leave. It’s fantastic to know we have a representative working for our state who actually wants to help. I can’t express my gratitude enough. In my opinion, the needs of Montana’s people should be first and foremost on the minds of our representatives. With Ryan Zinke, that certainly seems to be the case. It’s been a pleasure working with Congressman Ryan Zinke and I hope to continue working on the needs of our people with you guys long into the future.""

Mike McGinley, Beaverhead County Commissioner said, “Getting funding for projects takes more than just snapping your fingers to make it happen. We’ve been working with Zinke and his team for nearly a year to make sure our community made the priority list and he’s delivered, and it’s appreciated.”

Greg Chilcot, Ravalli County Commissioner said, “Many thanks to Congressman Zinke for bringing these requests full circle. Our County is a great place to live, and we appreciate Congressman Zinke for helping us keep it that way.”

Dan Allhands, Chairman, Madison County Commissioners said, “The Madison County Nursing Homes Foundation, in support of the Tobacco Root Mountains Care Center in Sheridan, Montana, and the Madison Valley Manor in Ennis, Montana, is overwhelmed with gratitude for the $1.088M funding opportunity, which was included in the Agriculture Appropriation Bill. These funds will directly impact and improve the lives of our community members, our residents and their families, staff, management, and volunteers. Funds will also be used to renovate and improve our facilities and allow us to finally purchase new electric beds and equipment.""

Background:

The 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.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:32:04Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-zinkes-statement-state-union-under-president-biden,Congressman Zinke’s Statement on the State of the Union under President Biden,2024-03-07,2024,2024-03,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"“This cycle of inaction, arrogance and incompetence from the Senate and White House must end if we are to save our country.”

(WASHINGTON, DC) Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statement on the State of the Union under President Joe Biden.

“The state of the union is in peril. Under President Biden, cartels are targeting Indian country, the world is at war all around us, criminal illegal aliens fill our jails from Kalispell to Billings, inflation remains through the roof, and the American Dream is just a dream to many young people hoping to own a home and build a life. Why? Because the arrogance of the Biden administration, and the fact they believe they know better than you how you should live your life or run your business.

“While the Democrat-controlled Senate enables Biden’s agenda, the Republican House has been the only firewall to stop the worst of the worst. I’ve proudly voted for H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, to end the border crisis, which the Senate has failed to even vote on. I voted to cut billions of dollars in wasteful spending that the Senate ignored. And, I proudly voted for and the House passed permitting reform and the Lower Energy Costs Act. Again inaction in the Senate. This cycle of inaction, arrogance and incompetence from the Senate and White House must end if we are to save our country.”

Zinke welcomed Marvin Weatherwax as his SOTU guest. Weatherwax is a former Chairman of and member of the Blackfeet Nation Tribal Business Council, current chairman of the Coalition of Large Tribes, and is a Democrat in the Montana State House.

Zinke said, “I am honored to have Chairman Marvin Weatherwax of the great Blackfeet Nation as my guest. He and I know the truth that Biden refuses to acknowledge. Because of Biden’s policies, the crisis he created at the Southwest Border has turned into a crisis in Indian Country. Montanans are dying, overdosing and disappearing at the hands of Mexican cartels. Our next generation is left without parents and direction. And all of it is preventable if Biden would just fix the crisis he created. I’m proudly working with the Chairman and the Blackfeet Nation to address the fentanyl crisis in Indian Country and provide a safe and drugfree space for tribal kids to spend time after school.”

“As a member of the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council and Chairman of the Coalition of Large Tribes, I share Rep. Zinke’s concerns about the border and fentanyl that is devastating my home on the Blackfeet Nation and Tribes across the country,"" Chairman Weatherwax said. ""The Blackfeet share 70 miles of border with Canada where our border patrol is completely understaffed and underfunded. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Border Patrol have blocked resources for us to be able to take care of the issue, and meanwhile the DOJ is nowhere to be found. Zinke has been a fighter in Congress for the Blackfeet Nation during our struggle against the Fentanyl coming through Biden’s open borders.”

Zinke was able to secure $20 million in funding for a new Tribal Youth Center for the Blackfeet in this week’s Consolidated Appropriations Act. As Secretary of the Interior overseeing the Bureau of Indian Affairs, he established the Joint Task Force on Opioids in Indian Country which resulted in successful sting operations on reservations nationwide, and he laid the groundwork for the first ever federal task force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Both the Opioid Task Force and the MMIW taskforce, Operation Lady Justice, were discontinued by the Biden Administration and the Biden Administration has failed to allocate more than $20 million in congressionally appropriated funding dedicated to MMIW cold cases.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:32:04Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-zinke-priorities-consolidated-appropriations-act,House Passes Zinke Priorities in the Consolidated Appropriations Act,2024-03-06,2024,2024-03,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"The joint funding package includes 12 of Zinke’s Community Project Funding requests to bring more than $31.5 million in funding directly to Montana communities.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act which provides FY2024 funding for nearly half the federal government and includes more than $31 million in direct funding for western Montana infrastructure, rural development, and public safety projects. The bill combines funding for the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Justice, and other agencies. In addition to providing basic program funding, the package also includes Zinke’s provisions regarding Montana-focused policy changes, increases national security and veteran spending, and makes targeted spending cuts to President Biden’s agenda.

As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, Zinke was able to help author the appropriations bills in committee and secured several pieces of bill language to hold the administration accountable, put a check on Biden policies that could cut down public access to public lands, and ensure Tribal firefighters are compensated fairly.

The bill text and explanatory statements released are FY24 funding measures for the Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS); Energy and Water Development; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies (MILCON/VA); and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD).

The joint funding package includes 12 Zinke Community Project Funding requests to bring more than $31.5 million in funding directly to Montana communities.

Zinke’s Community Project Funding Requests:

$20,000,000 for the Blackfeet Nation Tribal Center Project - THUD

$1,000,000 for the Beaverhead County Bridge Rehabilitation Project - THUD

$1,000,000 for the Ravalli County Ricketts Road Improvement Project - THUD

$3,315,000 for the Kalispell Two Mile Drainage Improvement Project - THUD

$833,123 for the Powell County Relocation New Central Maintenance Facility - THUD

$200,000 for Anaconda-Deer Lodge Access to Broadband - AG

$1,315,000 for the Flathead County Emergency Service Radio Tower - CJS

$500,000 for the Glacier County 911 Center and Radio Equipment for Law Enforcement - CJS

$410,000 for the Glacier County Patrol Vehicles and Detainee Safety Enhancement - CJS

$300,000 for the Lake County Law Enforcement Vehicles and Security Upgrade Project - CJS

$1,088,000 for the Madison County Nursing Home Revitalization & Modernization - AG

$5,000,000 for Park County to Rebuild a Bridge - THUD

Read more about each community project funding request here.

“The bill is far from perfect but I think this is an example of not letting perfect be the enemy of basic competency. Congress’ job is to fund the government and serve the American people, this bill does that,” said Rep Zinke. “The bill also includes a lot of local wins for Montana including dedicating resources to fight radical environmentalists locking down our forests and funding for more than $31 million in direct project funding for infrastructure, public safety and rural development. Tomorrow Congress needs to get to work on next year’s appropriations bills and hopefully under a Republican Senate and White House we will be able to deliver significant cuts to the Biden spending and policy agenda.”

Marvin Weatherwax, former Blackfeet Tribal Council Chairman and current Chairman of the Coalition of Large Tribes said,“Congressman Zinke has demonstrated a commitment to the Blackfeet Nation which quite frankly has outpaced Indian Health Service and their trust responsibility in providing healthcare. Not only did Congressman Zinke listen- he took action. The Blackfeet Nation was able to host U.S. House members in Browning, MT during North American Indian Days in July. The three Representatives were U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz.; U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.; U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont. They respected our government, our process and listened to our concerns about the lies and failures of Indian Health Service and they committed to working with us to solve it. Now we have the opportunity to build a youth center where the youth can gather, be physically active and more importantly where they can be safe. This is a positive. Too often media about tribes is negative. But today is good because it shows what good things can happen when we truly work together.”

Mark Johnson, Kalispell Mayor said, “I am more than thankful for the continued assistance we receive from Congressman Zinke in Kalispell. The allocation of Department of Transportation funds in the funding bill will improve drainage infrastructure and access and pedestrian safety on a section of Two Mile Drive. The growth we have seen over the past 4 years has strained our limited resources and having someone like Congressman Zinke in our corner has been a godsend.”

Tom Seifert, Glacier County Undersheriff said, “I just want to take a little time to express my gratitude to Congressman Ryan Zinke. I have worked as a Law Enforcement Officer for Glacier County for 22 years. In those 22 years, I cannot remember a time when we had a representative show up, listen to our needs and do their best to help us. Usually people pass through, make promises and leave. It’s fantastic to know we have a representative working for our state who actually wants to help. I can’t express my gratitude enough. In my opinion, the needs of Montana’s people should be first and foremost on the minds of our representatives. With Ryan Zinke, that certainly seems to be the case. It’s been a pleasure working with Congressman Ryan Zinke and I hope to continue working on the needs of our people with you guys long into the future.""

Mike McGinley, Beaverhead County Commissioner said, “Getting funding for projects takes more than just snapping your fingers to make it happen. We’ve been working with Zinke and his team for nearly a year to make sure our community made the priority list and he’s delivered, and it’s appreciated.”

Greg Chilcot, Ravalli County Commissioner said, “Many thanks to Congressman Zinke for bringing these requests full circle. Our County is a great place to live, and we appreciate Congressman Zinke for helping us keep it that way.”

Dan Allhands, Chairman, Madison County Commissioners said, “The Madison County Nursing Homes Foundation, in support of the Tobacco Root Mountains Care Center in Sheridan, Montana, and the Madison Valley Manor in Ennis, Montana, is overwhelmed with gratitude for the $1.088M funding opportunity, which was included in the Agriculture Appropriation Bill. These funds will directly impact and improve the lives of our community members, our residents and their families, staff, management, and volunteers. Funds will also be used to renovate and improve our facilities and allow us to finally purchase new electric beds and equipment.""

Zinke’s policy riders

As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, in addition to helping set funding amounts at the programmatic level and secure funding for western Montana projects, Zinke was able to secure bill language directing departments to submit specific information to Congress or directing specific policy actions. Below is a highlight of some of the language Zinke secured.

Interior, Environment and Related Agencies

In the Interior appropriations, Zinke was able to secure bill language on a number of Montana-specific priorities including:

Requirement that the Department of the Interior to submit a report to Congress regarding their plans for the reintroduction of bison to the CMR National Wildlife Refuge – something the State of Montana and local ranchers vehemently oppose.

American Bison.-The Committees direct the Department to provide a comprehensive briefing within 90 days of enactment of this Act detailing plans regarding the possible introduction of bison to the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and actions related to Secretarial Order 3410, including consultations with the State of Montana and Tribal governments. The briefing should also highlight the implications for elk and other wildlife, grazing lands, and the safety of the general public.

Requirement that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) develop a plan to solve the problem of pay gaps between Tribal and non-Tribal firefighters on federal fires. The problem was created with the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act

Tribal Firefighter Compensation.—The Committee recognizes that disparities in salaries and benefits for BIA firefighters, Tribal firefighters, and other Federal firefighters may result in difficulty recruiting and retaining Tribal firefighting personnel. The Committee directs BIA to examine this issue and provide a report to the Committee, after consultation with Tribes, on potential solutions and costs within 120 days of enactment of this Act.

Directing the National Park Service to brief Congress on alternatives to vehicle reservation systems to improve public access to National Parks

Glacier National Park.-The Committees are concerned about the potential impacts the Service's vehicle reservation system at Glacier National Park may have. The Service is directed to brief the Committees no later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act on what alternative approaches to visitor management could be used that prioritize and enhance opportunities for local residents and communities to access the park.

Zinke’s continued efforts and repeated visits to Glacier National Park (GNP) regarding the vehicle reservation system resulted in GNP rolling back widespread mandatory reservation times. However, despite the park continually stating that the reservation system is not restrictive, park visitors were unable to access tickets when they sold out in minutes last week. Zinke’s report language in the bill requires the park to explore alternative options that would expand access to the park and adjacent federal recreation lands. Zinke has been a longtime advocate for meeting growing visitation demands, encouraging the Service explore additional parking options outside the park, developing an improved shuttle system, and connecting trails within the park.

Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies

Directing the Department of Justice to prioritize hiring attorneys experienced in and dedicated to timber litigation in Region 1

U.S. Forest Service Litigation.-The agreement encourages the Department to provide dedicated resources for litigation regarding national forest restoration projects of the U.S. Forest Service. The agreement further encourages the Department to prioritize efforts based on regions of the U.S. Forest Service with high volumes of litigation and to draw from litigators with experience with national forest restoration projects.

Energy and Water Development Related Agencies

Report language for the Bureau of Reclamation related to the affordability of the Milk River Project

Secured funding for western Montana water projects

Milk River Project $1.925 million

Hungry Horse Project $700,000

Lower Marias $1.762 million

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies

Fully funds the Department of Veterans Affairs, veteran healthcare and mental health services

Restores the Second Amendment rights of Veterans who have been victimized by the Biden Administration’s unconstitutional “red flag” laws

Allocates $10.3 million for an Air Force Fire Station Bay at Malmstrom",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:32:04Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-leads-bipartisan-group-members-demanding-answers-why-biden,Zinke Leads Bipartisan Group of Members Demanding Answers why Biden Administration Failed to Allocate $19M in Appropriated Funds to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women,2024-03-06,2024,2024-03,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Yesterday, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke led a bipartisan group of colleagues including Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola (AK-01) and Republican Reps. Harriet Hageman (WY-01), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6), and Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-4) in sending a letter to Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland demanding answers as to why the Department failed to obligate nearly $19 million in appropriated funding to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Of the $30 million appropriated for FY23 to assist Tribal Law Enforcement Departments on cold case investigations focused on MMIW, only $6 million had been disbursed to law enforcement and an additional $5 million was spent on administrative “startup” costs.

“Indian Country deserves better than the lip service and inaction given to them by Secretary Haaland and President Biden,” said Congressman Zinke. “One of the final projects I worked on as Secretary was standing up Operation Lady Justice, a first of its kind joint task force to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. The Biden Administration has used it as a political prop to get good press, and rather than allocating the money appropriated by Congress to address the crisis and get the resources in the hands of investigators and law enforcement, the funds have gone unused. The Biden Administration may have forgotten these women and girls but we have not. We demand answers. Now.”

“Indigenous communities in Arizona and across the United States deserve to feel safe and supported. I am proud to join this bipartisan effort urging the DOI to direct important funds to tribal law enforcement offices as soon as possible so they can work to bring missing persons home.” said Congressman Ciscomani.

“For decades, our native communities have suffered and mourned over the thousands of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) whose criminal investigations have never been closed,” said Congresswomen Hageman. “In FY 2023 Congress appropriated millions of dollars to assist tribal law enforcement in bringing these families closure, yet to date nearly $19 million has not been distributed, and little of the money that has been expended has gone directly to the tribal law enforcement agencies that spearhead these investigations. As the Indian and Insular Affairs subcommittee chair, I urge Secretary Harland to immediately begin providing these funds to help our tribal families receive closure and ensure justice is served.”

On the DOI’s website, Haaland is quoted saying, “The Missing and Murdered Indigenous peoples crisis is centuries in the making and will take a focused effort and time to unravel the many threads that contribute to the alarming rates of these cases. But I believe we are at an inflection point. We have a President and a government that is prioritizing this. And we can’t turn back.""

However, the almost $19 million unused funds that could go toward the 4,200 missing and murdered cases that have gone unsolved according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) website, that also falls under Haaland’s jurisdiction. The Biden/Haaland Administration’s decision to only use a fraction of the money brings into question why the administration is using MMIW as a talking point, but has lacked any substantive effort to help the heavily-impacted demographic.

Rep. Zinke has been on the forefront of raising awareness and dedicating federal resources to the MMIW crisis. In 2015, he introduced a resolution declaring May 5th as MMIW Day. Then, as Secretary, Zinke established the Task Force on MMIW known as Operation Lady Justice which sought to address the MMIW crisis throughout the country by opening cold cases involving Native Americans to bring justice and closure to families of the missing.

Full letter text below:

I am writing to you with a concern that money appropriated from the FY 2023 Appropriations to

the Department of Interior, Bureau of lndian Affairs (BIA), Office of Justice Service (OJS) for

Tribal Law Enforcement to assist with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP)

investigations is not being funded appropriately.

In FY 2023, Congress increased and appropriated $30 million to assist Tribal Law Enforcement

Departments on cold case investigations, needed equipment, and additional officers to assist with

this crisis. In the past couple of years since receiving this MMIP funding, to date, only $6 million

has been expended, leaving close to $19 million unobligated. It is imperative that this funding

reach those tribal law enforcement departments with the greatest need so they can effectively

investigate these unsolved crimes by utilizing software platforms focusing on data linking ability

which will provide a comprehensive view of missing persons identities and their whereabout in

real time.

According to the National Crime Information Center, in 2016, there were 5,712 reports of

missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, through the US Department of

Justice's federal missing persons database. In 2021, a report by the U.S. Department of Interior’s

OJS indicated that approximately 1,500 American Indian and Alaska Native missing persons

have been entered into the National Crime Info1mation Center (NCIC) throughout the U.S, and

approximately 2,700 cases of Murder and Nonnegligent Homicide Offense have also been

reported to the Federal Government's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. In total, BIA

estimates there are 4,200 missing and murdered cases that have gone unsolved. Both reports

highlight that MMIP numbers are still staggering for Native people.

Tribal law enforcement are the first responders and often are the lead investigators on missing

person cases, not the BIA or the FBI. Accordingly, Tribal law enforcement should be receiving

most of this funding to hire additional tribal investigators to address these types of cases and to

purchase equipment needed at the local level to aid in these investigations. Currently, the MMIP

funding is only being expended for staff and equipment for the BIA OJS, leaving Tribes and

Tribal law enforcement without any additional resources at the local level to aid them in

investigating or searching for missing persons. Only funding BIA staff in offices hundreds of

miles away from some reservations is not effectively combatting this crisis and is

counterintuitive and was not Congress's intent.

I encourage you to immediately expedite the disbursement of all remaining funds to include

tribal law enforcement programs in the execution of this funding as soon as possible.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:32:04Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-introduces-bipartisan-public-lands-public-hands-act,Zinke Introduces the Bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act,2024-02-19,2024,2024-02,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(BOZEMAN, MT) Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke announced the introduction of the bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act at a roundtable discussion in Bozeman with representatives from Montana’s leading outdoor recreation, sportsmen and conservation organizations. Zinke partnered with Democrat Congressman Gabe Vasquez from New Mexico on the legislation.

The Public Lands in Public Hands Act follows Zinke’s commitment to maintaining public access to public land by banning the sale or transfer of most public lands managed by the Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest service except under specific conditions and where required under previous laws. The bill also requires Congressional approval for disposals of publicly accessible federal land tracts over 300 acres and for public land tracts over 5 acres if accessible via a public waterway. This provision alone would protect public access to nearly 30 million acres of public lands depended upon by outdoorsmen of all types across Montana.

In Montana, and across the West, public lands are an integral piece of our way of life. Both the Forest Service (USFS) and The Department of the Interior (DOI) have authorities to transfer or sell public land, the most commonly used being the Bureau of Land Management. While most parcels listed for disposal are small and inaccessible, making them good candidates for targeted sale, numerous disposal tracts are publicly accessible and important for recreation. The Public Lands in Public Hands Act would increase Congressional scrutiny over land tracts listed for disposal while protecting smaller transfers that increase public access.

“In Montana public lands are our way of life. It’s not just Yellowstone and Glacier, it’s also the BLM and Forest Service areas where a kid fills their first tag, a lake in the Beartooths that is the perfect picnic spot, and the trail just down the road that helps you clear your head after a long workday,” Rep. Ryan Zinke said. “Public lands must remain public, and the federal government has a responsibility to manage and ensure access to those lands. As Secretary I prioritized opening up land-locked parcels of public lands and expanding hunting and fishing opportunities on federal lands. The Public Lands in Public Hands Act is the next step in ensuring our public lands are publicly accessible for future generations. I’m grateful for the collaboration of Montana’s leading recreation, sportsmen and conservation organizations and appreciate Congressman Vasquez’s bipartisan teamwork on the bill. It’s good to know things can still get done in DC beyond political party lines.”

“I am a proud lifelong advocate for preserving New Mexico’s public lands, improving equitable access to the outdoors and creating good-paying jobs,” Rep. Vasquez said. “I am glad to partner with Rep. Zinke on this legislation in Congress. We both know that ensuring access to our public lands crosses party lines.”

Leading Montana and National outdoor recreation, sportsmen and conservation organizations collaborated on and support the legislation including: Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Boone & Crockett Club, Congressional Sportsmen Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wild Sheep Foundation, Trout Unlimited, Montana Guides and Outfitters Association, Revelyst (VISTA Outdoor), Backcountry Horsemen’s Association, and others.

Clayton Elliot, Trout Unlimited Conservation and Government Affairs Director said, “Montana’s public lands and waterways are an intrinsic part of our way of life. As an avid angler, I’m especially grateful to Congressman Zinke for introducing legislation, the Public Lands in Public Hands Act, that will safeguard our cold-water resources, wild trout fisheries, and ensure public access to us all, now and into the future.”

Diane Bristol, Vice President, People, Culture & Community at Revelyst - Outdoor Performance said, “Public access is an absolute necessity to maintain our nation's fishing and hunting heritage and contributes to a thriving community of conservation-minded outdoors people. Access to public lands also supports a vibrant outdoor industry that generates approximately $1.1 trillion in economic output. The Public Lands in Public Hands Act is reflective of collaborative, long-term thinking.”

Kyle Weaver, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation President said, “Core to our mission, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a staunch advocate for public lands. We support Representative Zinke’s Public Lands in Public Hands Act to keep Interior and Forest Service lands in federal public ownership, open to hunting and multiple-use for all Americans.”

Joel Webster, VP of western conservation with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership said, “Smaller parcels of public land can offer great hunting and fishing, and modern GPS technology commonly found in smartphone applications has made accessible tracts readily available to America’s outdoor enthusiasts. Unfortunately, high-value public land tracts are sometimes targeted for sale, and TRCP appreciates the leadership of Representatives Zinke and Vasquez to prevent the sale of important parcels by introducing the Public Lands in Public Hands Act.”

Patrick Berry, President and CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers said, “Core to the BHA mission is the sanctity of public lands and waters, resources cherished by hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts, and valued as an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage. Without publicly accessible places to recreate, many Americans who share a love for hunting and fishing would be excluded from the opportunity to pursue their passion. We thank Reps. Zinke and Vasquez for introducing the Public Lands in Public Hands Act which would help to ensure our hunting and angling traditions can continue for future generations.”

Read the bill text here.

Access photos and graphics from the event here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:21:00Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-introduces-bipartisan-flowers-fallen-heroes-act,Zinke Introduces Bipartisan Flowers for Fallen Heroes Act,2024-02-14,2024,2024-02,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 bipartisan legislation named The Flowers for Fallen Heroes Act with Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) and Congressman Donald G. Davis (NC-01) which allows those wishing to lay flowers on the graves of fallen heroes who are interred at American military cemeteries overseas to do so through the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) jurisdiction. The bill mandates the creation of a user-friendly website and payment system that accepts credit cards for payment, finds reasonably priced vendors in proximity to the gravesites, urges the ABMC to market the program, and requires the ABMC to submit a yearly report to Congress on its progress.

The ABMC had traditionally facilitated the purchase and placement of flowers on American servicemembers graves overseas, however a recent decision was made by the ABMC, a federal commission, to end that service. This bill would formally create the flower program and ensure the long-term availability of the service to loved ones and those who honor our veterans.

“We’re talking about troops that have laid their lives down on the other side of the world so we can live in freedom here in the United States,” said Zinke. “There’s no way to fully repay those folks for their sacrifices, but we can help their families honor them with a few simple changes here at home. I am proud to lead this bipartisan group of lawmakers to modernize the ABMC program, thank them for their support and look forward to seeing the program in action.”

“Our servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country earned the gratitude and recognition of all Americans, regardless of where the servicemembers are buried,” said Thompson. “The Flowers for Fallen Heroes Act will make it easier for Americans to order flowers for the graves of our fallen servicemembers buried in Europe. Proud to work on this important bipartisan bill with my Republican colleague Rep. Ryan Zinke.”

The Bill:

1. Formally authorizes the ABMC’s flower ordering program.

2. Mandates the creation of a user-friendly website and telephone ordering system that accepts credit cards for payment so customers can find cost-effective and convenient flowers for gravesites.

3. Requires the ABMC to submit yearly reports to Congress.

Current Co-sponsors: Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), David G. Valadao (R-CA-22), Donald G. Davis (D-NC-01), Michael Waltz (R-FL-06), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-02), Trent Kelly (R-MS-01), Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), Stephanie I. Bice (R-OK-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Richard McCormick (R-GA-06), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Michael Guest (R-MS-03), James R. Baird (R-IN-04), Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ-02), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND-AL), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05), Alexander X. Mooney (R-WV-02), Neal P. Dunn (R-FL-02), Andy Barr (R-KY-06), Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), Nancy Mace (R-SC-01), Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Keith Self (R-TX-03), Cory Mills (R-FL-07), Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11), John H. Rutherford (R-FL-05), Ken Calvert (R-CA-41), Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), Andrew S. Clyde (R-GA-09), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA-02), Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R-NJ-07), Pete Stauber (R-MN-08), John R. Moolenaar (R-MI-02), Michael Lawler (R-NY-17)

Organizational support: The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Honor Flight Network, American WWII Orphans Network, America’s Warrior Partnership, Navy SEAL Foundation, Blue Star Families, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.

Background: The ABMC was established by an Act of Congress in 1928. Its mission is to be a guardian of America’s overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials and honor the service, achievements, and sacrifices of U.S. Armed Forces who fought on foreign soil. They operate 26 American military cemeteries and 31 federal memorials located in 17 foreign countries. In 2015, the ABMC ended the Flower Fund program, leaving those with relatives or friends interred in American military cemeteries on foreign soil to navigate the flower securing and laying process on their own.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:21:00Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-staff-schedules-mobile-office-hours-across-western-montana,Zinke Staff Schedules Mobile Office Hours Across Western Montana,2024-02-08,2024,2024-02,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"The Office of Congressman Ryan Zinke today announced the launch of in-person mobile office hours in Montana’s First Congressional District to aide constituents with a variety of government related issues.

Mobile office hours are open to Montanans needing assistance from Zinke’s staff on issues with a federal nexus such as disputes with a federal agency, grant applications, and permitting. Zinke’s staff may also be able to assist constituents with issues related to obtaining or expediting passports and visas, veterans’ affairs, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, Social Security, the IRS and other Federal agencies.

Constituents are encouraged to schedule an appointment by email. Those without appointments will be seen on a first-come-first-served basis.

Find your county’s scheduled mobile office hours and contact below:

Anaconda-Deer Lodge

When: Thursday, February 22, 2:00-4:00pm

Where: Anaconda-Deer Lodge Courthouse, Anaconda

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Beaverhead County

When: Friday, February 23, 10:00am-12:00pm

Where: Beaverhead County Courthouse, Dillon

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Gallatin County

When: Wednesday, February 28, 10:00am-12:00pm

Where: W Yellowstone

Who: McKenna Gregg, mckenna.gregg@mail.house.gov

Glacier County

When: Tuesday, March 5, 1:00-3:00pm

Where: Cut Bank Chamber Conference Room, Cut Bank

Who: Steve Howke, steve.howke@mail.house.gov

Granite County

When: Thursday, February 22, 10:00am-12:00pm

Where: Granite County Courthouse, Philipsburg

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Lake County

When: Wednesday, February 28, 11:00am-1:00pm

Where: Lake County Courthouse, Polson

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Lincoln County

When: Tuesday, February 27, 12:00-2:00pm

Where: NorthLincoln County Courthouse, Libby

Who: Steve Howke, steve.howke@mail.house.gov

When: Thursday, February 29, 10:00am-12:00pm

Where: Lincoln County Annex, Eureka

Who: Steve Howke, steve.howke@mail.house.gov

Madison County

When: Thursday, February 21, 10:00am-12:00pm

Where: Ennis Library, Ennis

Who: McKenna Gregg, mckenna.gregg@mail.house.gov

Mineral County

When: Tuesday, February 27, 10:00am-12:00pm

Where: Mineral County Courthouse, Superior

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov, & Sonny Capece, sonny.capece@mail.house.gov

Missoula County

When: Wednesday, February 28, 3:30-5:30pm

Where: Seeley Lake Community Center, Seely Lake

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Pondera County

When: Tuesday, March 5, 10:00am-12:00pm

Where: Pondera County Courthouse, Conrad

Who: Steve Howke, steve.howke@mail.house.gov

Powell County

When: Friday, March 1, 10:00am-12:00pm

Where: Powell County Courthouse, Deer Lodge

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Ravalli County

When: Friday, February 23, 3:00-5:00pm

Where: Ravalli County Courthouse, Hamilton

Who: Jack Curren, jack.curren@mail.house.gov

Sanders County

When: Wednesday, February 28, 12:00-2:00pm

Where: Sanders County Courthouse, Thompson Falls

Who: Steve Howke, steve.howke@mail.house.gov

Butte-Silver Bow County

When: Tuesday, February 27, 12:00-2:00pm

Where: Butte-Silver Bow County Courthouse, Butte

Who: McKenna Gregg, mckenna.gregg@mail.house.gov",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:21:00Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-votes-impeach-homeland-secretary-mayorkas-delivers-speech-house-floor,"Zinke Votes to Impeach Homeland Secretary Mayorkas, Delivers Speech on House Floor",2024-02-07,2024,2024-02,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Yesterday, Congressman and Co-Chair of the Northern Border Security Caucus Ryan Zinke voted in favor of impeaching Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law in enforcing border policy and a breach of public trust. The measure failed by a tie vote.

Prior to voting, Zinke delivered a speech on the House Floor holding Mayorkas accountable for the increase recent arrests, fentanyl busts, and human trafficking incidents that have occurred in the three Montana counties bordering Canada and the rest of the country.

Watch the floor speech here or read the remarks below.

Prepared remarks:

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House resolution 863 - the Impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas.

You know, Montana is about the same size as from here to Chicago plus two miles, it’s a long, long border. The few border people we have are generally deployed down south.

My friend and gentleman from New York said, what evidence do we offer? What evidence of negligence, what evidence of wrongdoing?

I'd say it's easy to find.

It's found in every street, every city, every county, every state across this nation. The evidence is found in every fentanyl pill, and death. The evidence is found in every woman that's raped along our border. The evidence is found in every child trafficking case. It is in every city including Billings, Missoula, Chicago, and Washington D.C.. It's found in every instance of children being sex trafficked. And I could go on.

The evidence of negligence is the willful and blind turning to this horror that we have in our Southern border. Our Northern border wall, which is not discussed a lot, is wide open.

This country doesn't have a border and in Montana this administration can't even prevent a balloon.

The evidence is clear, compelling, and not in dispute. The lack of action and blind willingness to do nothing is deserving of no less than impeachment.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back.

Background:

The Biden/Mayorkas Administration’s open border policies enforced by the President’s executive orders has created the largest border crisis in the history of the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has recorded 8.7 million illegal immigrants crossing the border since Biden and Mayorkas took office; In December alone, more than three times the population of Montana illegally crossed the border into the United States and CBP seized enough fentanyl for roughly 260 million lethal doses.

Last February, in one of his first acts back in Congress, Zinke signed on to legislationthat called for the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas.

Last June, Zinke voted for H.R. 2– the most comprehensive border security bill in decades.

U.S. agents recorded nearly 250,000illegal apprehensions along the southern border in December 2023.

Customs and Border Protection statistics show nearly 500 people on the terrorist watch list were apprehended at the northern border from October 2022 to September.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:21:00Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-votes-600-billion-bipartisan-tax-cuts-package,Zinke Votes for $600 Billion Bipartisan Tax Cuts Package,2024-02-01,2024,2024-02,Republican,House,MT,Ryan K. Zinke,Z000018,zinke.house.gov,zinke,https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Ryan Zinke voted for H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. The $600 billion-dollar bipartisan tax cuts package consists of three main pillars: culling COVID-era spending, incentivizing more American research and development, and inflation-adjusted Child-Tax Credits for working families.

To help small- and medium-sized businesses hit by decades-high interest rates, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act boosts interest expense deductions, giving job creators the tools to help meet payroll and expand their operations. This alone is estimated to create 867,000 new jobs and $58 billion in additional take-home pay for American workers.

“Right now, Montanans of all walks of life are feeling the pressure of Bidenomics – especially those working families and small business owners,” Zinke said. “My tax policy is simple – lower taxes, less government, more growth. This legislation fits the bill. This tax-cut package is a win-win for small businesses who need the worker, and the worker who needs the cash to keep themselves afloat in the terrible Biden economy.”

Read the bill here.

Section by Section:

Locks in Pro-Growth GOP Tax Policies and Boosts Competitiveness with China

Research & Development (R&D) expensing so businesses of all sizes can immediately deduct the cost of their U.S. R&D investments instead of over 5 years – supporting innovation and growth here at home.

Interest deductibility to help small- and medium-sized businesses meet payroll and grow particularly at a time of high interest rates.

100% expensing for business investment in U.S. facilities, equipment, and machines.

End double taxation on businesses and workers operating in both the U.S. and Taiwan

Supports Main Street Businesses and Rebuilding American Communities

Disaster tax relief for communities affected by recent events, including hurricanes, wildfires, and the Ohio rail disaster.

Increase small business expensing to $1.29 million – a $290,000 increase above the level enacted in GOP tax reform in 2017.

Cut red tape for small businesses by adjusting the reporting threshold for subcontract labor from $600 to $1,000 – the first update since the 1950s.

Increase access to housing with bipartisan provisions to increase state tax credit allocations and provide more flexibility on bond financing requirements.

Eliminates Fraud and Waste by Cutting Off Funding for COVID-Era Spending Program

Save taxpayer dollars by accelerating the deadline for filing backdated claims under the employee retention credit – a program hit by major cost overruns and rampant fraud.

Maintains a Child Tax Credit Structure that Rewards Work

Support middle-class families struggling with high prices by adding an inflation adjustment to the $2,000 child tax credit topline amount starting in 2024.

Eliminate penalty for large families to ensure child tax credit work incentives apply equally to families with multiple children.

Flexibility for parents to use a current- or prior-year income calculation in 2024 and 2025.

Retain GOP tax reform’s structure for refundability with incremental increases to the refundable portion through 2025 – at the same time, the topline credit amount will be increasing with the new inflation adjustment.

Reject extreme policies advocated by far-left groups that would eliminate existing work requirements or allow the IRS to send out recurring checks – reducing by 92 percent the cost of the child tax credit changes compared to the $120 billion-per-year policy that Democrats enacted for 2021.

Builds on the Economic Successes of the 2017 GOP Tax Reform

Avoid the 1 million jobs economist say will be lost if R&D expensing, interest deductibility, 100% expensing, and other pro-growth GOP tax policies are not extended.

Lock in over $600 billion in proven pro-growth, pro-America GOP tax policies with these three key provisions.

Puts the Economy on Track to Return to Prior Economic Strength Starting in 2025

In the two years immediately following passage of the 2017 GOP tax reform, GDP growth was a full percentage point higher than the previous 10-year average and economists’ estimates – resulting in more jobs and opportunity.

Unemployment was at the lowest rate in 50 years, including all-time lows for African American and Hispanic workers, and those without a high-school degree – alongside the lowest poverty rate in a half century.

Wages grew at a rate 4.9 percent higher than inflation – the fastest two-year growth in real wages in 20 years.

Household income rose by $5,000 – a bigger increase in just two years than in the prior eight years combined under the Obama-Biden Administration.

After three years of the Biden Administration’s crippling price increases, shrinking pocketbooks, and lower economic opportunity, GOP tax policies will help American workers and families get back on their feet.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T20:21:00Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-introduces-bill-rename-butte-va-clinic-honor-montana-pearl-harbor-hero,Zinke Introduces Bill to Rename Butte VA Clinic to Honor Montana Pearl Harbor Hero,2024-01-30,2024,2024-01,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 introduced a bill to rename the Butte Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in honor of Montana Pearl Harbor hero, U.S. Navy Radioman Charlie Dowd.

At just 17 years old when he fought against the attack at Pearl Harbor, rather than take cover under enemy attack, Dowd ran to the armory and took a position on the roof of a nearby building to fire some of the first American shots of the day. Wearing only his tee shirt and boxer shorts and began a counter assault against the Japanese. The attack ultimately claimed the lives of 2,403 American servicemembers, of which 14 were Montanans. Dowd ultimately served four years and 10 months in the Navy going to battle across the Pacific Theater. He earned two Bronze Stars and numerous other commendations.

After the war, he continued his service as an educator, reporter, sportsman, veterans advocate, and active member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

“Radioman Dowd is a true example of a guy who loves his community and his country and lived every day to serve both. Listening to Dowd recount his experiences from Pearl Harbor and the South Pacific and watching him tap on the table to the Morse Code he sent as a radioman will always be one of my most meaningful visits and lasting memories,” Zinke said. “Renaming the clinic after this American Hero will serve as a reminder of the life of service and commitment to patriotism Charlie Dowd lived that we can all look up to.”

After Dowd’s passing in March 2023, Zinke honored Dowd in the Congressional Record. Read the issue here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T23:46:48Z
https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-introduces-resolution-condemning-bidens-carbon-tax-plan,Zinke Introduces Resolution Condemning Biden’s Carbon Tax Plan,2024-01-25,2024,2024-01,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 introduced a resolutionexpressing Congressional disapproval of President Biden’s planned carbon tax. The Resolution cites the negative impacts that would come with implementing a carbon tax. If enacted, a carbon tax would exacerbate the increasing energy costs consumers pay to power their vehicles, homes and businesses. There would also be downstream impacts to manufacturing, transportation and construction industries, as well as increases in the costs of food and goods. Additionally, it would further cement China’s role in manufacturing “green” technologies to meet Biden’s climate agenda.

“Nobody does energy cleaner, better, safer and cheaper than we do it here in the United States,” Zinke said. “A carbon tax is harder on everyone from the energy producer to farmers to the American consumer already digging to the bottom of their pockets trying to afford Biden’s inflation. American energy producers are constantly innovating and making production both more efficient and with fewer emissions. There’s no reason we should be bowing to eco-green zealots and paying invoices to communists, terrorists and shady businessmen overseas when we have proof that we can do it better here at home.”

Co-sponsors:

Steve Scalise (LA-01), Scott Perry (PA-10), Mike Bost (IL-12), Andrew Clyde (GA-09), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Scott Perry (PA-10), Andrew Ogles (TN-05), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Mary Miller (IL-15), Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Claudia Tenney (NY-24)",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T23:46:48Z