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Sunday, December 22, 2024

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Zinke introduces bipartisan bill to tackle skilled worker shortage in housing

Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke has introduced a bipartisan bill to address the shortage of skilled workers in the housing sector.

By Glacier Country News | Dec 17, 2024

Local Government

Zinke criticizes USPS plan impacting rural mail service

Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke from Western Montana joined forces with Congresswoman Harriet Hagaman of Wyoming and seven other congressional members to address concerns about proposed changes by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

By Glacier Country News | Nov 22, 2024

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Zinke announces over $31 million in grants for Western Montana infrastructure projects

By Glacier Country News | Oct 29, 2024

Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke announced significant funding for infrastructure projects in Western Montana.

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Missoula announces fall leaf collection schedule starting November 5

By Glacier Country News | Oct 25, 2024

The City of Missoula's Street Maintenance & Operations Division will commence its annual leaf collection program on November 5, with plans to conclude by November 29.

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Zinke secures victory as VA delays ambulance service cuts impacting Montana veterans

By Glacier Country News | Sep 9, 2024

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 In 2020, the VA suggested cutting reimbursement rates for these services by up to 90%, using outdated market data from 1998 for air ambulances and 2002 for ground ambulances.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

By Glacier Country News | Jul 25, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | Jul 24, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | Jul 23, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | Jul 22, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | Jul 10, 2024

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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Local Government

Montana lawmakers urge federal funding for St. Mary siphons replacement

By Glacier Country News | Jun 28, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | Jun 24, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | Jun 18, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | Jun 18, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | Jun 17, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | Jun 4, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | May 30, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | May 24, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | May 23, 2024

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

By Glacier Country News | May 16, 2024

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.