Us Representative Ryan Zinke (MT-1)
Recent News About Us Representative Ryan Zinke (MT-1)
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Zinke secures victory as VA delays ambulance service cuts impacting Montana veterans
Ceding to Congressman Ryan Zinke’s oversight and demands, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has delayed the implementation of a proposed rule that would have significantly reduced affordable air and ground ambulance services for veterans. In 2020, the VA suggested cutting reimbursement rates for these services by up to 90%, using outdated market data from 1998 for air ambulances and 2002 for ground ambulances. The proposed changes would have made it financially unfeasible for air ambulances to operate, particularly affecting rural areas like Granite County in Montana,...
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Congressman Zinke introduces Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act
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).
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Zinke supports Montana priorities with FY25 interior appropriations act passage
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, marking the fifth appropriations bill to pass the House floor for fiscal year 2025. Zinke, a member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies subcommittee, played a leading role in crafting the funding bill.
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House subcommittee advances Zinke’s Indian water compact bills
Today, the House Natural Resources Committee's 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."
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Bill honoring WWII hero Charlie Dowd heads to President Biden's desk
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, meaning it is headed to President Biden's desk for signature. The bill passed under suspension, with unanimous consent of the House.
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House advances bill addressing affordable housing crisis in rural Montana
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 address 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, scheduled for the last week of July.
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Montana lawmakers urge federal funding for St. Mary siphons replacement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - 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) have jointly sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation Camille Touton. The letter calls for the authorization of federal funds to replace the St. Mary’s siphons that failed on June 17, 2024.
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Zinke introduces bipartisan act focused on wildlife movement
Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT) and Democrat Congressman Don Beyer (VA) introduced the Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act today. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the companion bill in the Senate. The announcement was made at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation headquarters in Missoula, MT, with representatives from various conservation organizations present.
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Congressman Zinke opposes Biden's Columbia River Task Force plan
Today, the Biden Administration announced that the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has launched the Columbia River Task Force to implement President Biden’s plan to remove dams on the Snake River system. These dams supply western Montana with a significant portion of its electricity, providing between 60-70% of the power in the Pacific Northwest. Hydropower is a critical energy source in Montana, known for being abundant, affordable, and clean.
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Zinke introduces legislation for Fort Belknap Indian Community water rights settlement
Today, Congressman Zinke introduced The Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024 to address water rights settlement for the Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC). The bill aims to resolve claims to water rights in Montana for the FBIC. Senator Daines and Senator Tester have sponsored a similar bill in the Senate.
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Lawmakers criticize VA over elimination of essential healthcare positions
Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01), U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), and Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) have addressed a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding the recent elimination of 10,000 frontline jobs essential for veterans' healthcare, including roles such as psychologists and clinical social workers. These job cuts appear to contradict prior assurances from the VA that such frontline positions would not be affected.
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Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke appointed to House Foreign Affairs Committee
Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke has been appointed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Zinke brings military and diplomatic experience from his 23-year career as a U.S. Navy SEAL officer, along with his tenure as the 52nd Secretary of the Interior, where he oversaw federal relationships with U.S. territories and Freely Associated States. He will vacate his position on the Science, Space and Technology Committee but will remain on the Appropriations Committee and the Joint China Commission.
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Zinke halts $3 million federal fund clawback affecting Montana affordable housing
On May 30, 2024, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) informed Congressman Ryan Zinke and the Montana Housing Authorities (MHA) that it will halt the planned clawback of federal funds from these programs. In April, Zinke was notified that HUD rescinded $4.5 million from MHA reserve accounts, jeopardizing housing assistance for approximately 576 Montana families. Following a committee hearing on May 2 where Zinke questioned the acting HUD secretary, and with support from MHA, HUD initiated an investigation and ultimately decided to stop further planned...
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Zinke nominates 15 Western Montana projects for federal funding totaling $47M
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke announced that he requested federal funding for 15 projects in Western Montana aimed at improving infrastructure, economic development, and law enforcement capabilities. The requests were submitted to the House Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member. The proposed projects span across Beaverhead (2), Flathead, Gallatin, Lake (3), Lincoln (2), Missoula, Mineral (3), Powell, Ravalli (3), and Sanders (3) counties.
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Zinke backs act aiding housing affordability for essential workers
On May 23, 2024, Congressman Ryan Zinke announced his cosponsorship of H.R. 3170, the bipartisan Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act. The HELPER Act aims to establish a new home loan program under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to facilitate homeownership for K-12 school teachers, first responders, law enforcement officers, and other essential public servants by removing barriers such as high down payments and monthly mortgage insurance premiums.
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Montana leaders criticize Biden administration's ban on future coal leases
Helena, MT - Congressman Ryan Zinke, U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, and Congressman Matt Rosendale issued statements today in response to the Biden administration's new Resource Management Plan Amendment. The amendment prohibits future coal leases in eastern Montana through 2038.
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Zinke and Vasquez introduce bipartisan Wildlife Corridors on Working Lands Act
Montana Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke and New Mexico Democrat Congressman Gabe Vasquez have announced the introduction of the bipartisan Wildlife Corridors on Working Lands Act. This bill aims to amend the 2024 Farm Bill to instruct the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide more resources and incentives for farmers and ranchers. The goal is to increase habitat connectivity and wildlife movement on working lands.
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Zinke Grills HUD Secretary on Diverting Millions from Montana Housing Authority Reserves
Congressman Ryan Zinke raised concerns this week at a House Appropriations Transportation Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing regarding the diversion of $4.5 million from the Montana Housing Authorities (MHA) reserves by the HUD. The reserves are crucial for providing financial assistance to renters in Montana facing affordability challenges due to inflation and housing costs.Patti Webster, CEO of MHA, emphasized the importance of returning the funds to Montana agencies, stating, “We are asking that HUD to give Montana agencies their...
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Zinke Criticizes Biden and Dark Money Groups for Moving Illegal Immigrants into Montana
Rep. Zinke criticized the Biden Administration and dark money groups for moving illegal immigrants into Montana, stating, "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."Flathead County Commissioner Randy Brodehl expressed concern over the increasing trend of illegal immigrants being moved into the county, noting that they lack the resources to accommodate such a large influx of people.Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino raised alarm over the strain that the growing...
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Zinke Criticizes EPA for Impact on Montana Energy Sector
WASHINGTON, D.C. - During a House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies subcommittee hearing, Congressman Ryan Zinke voiced strong criticism towards the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for what he perceives as targeting Montana's energy sector. Zinke expressed his concerns regarding the Biden Administration's approach, stating, “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...