Economy

Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced the Fill the Lake Act. The legislation would require the Department of Interior to maintain a minimum pool level on Flathead Lake of 2892’ MSL (mean sea level) and a maximum of 2893’ MSL from June 15th to September 15th of each calendar year. If enacted, the Fill the Lake Act would prevent a repeat of the 2023 season when regulators allowed the lake to drop almost two feet below full pool.

Today, the United States House of Representatives approved the Energy and Water appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024 which authorizes spending to more than $57 billion in Energy and Water programs including the Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers water projects. This is the fifth individual appropriations bill House Republicans have passed, the Senate has failed to pick up one.

“Joe Biden’s policies are bankrupting our country and pushing down insane regulations and policy. I am unwilling to continue the status quo,” Zinke said. “As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am adamant that we need to continue the appropriations process, pass the 8 remaining government funding bills, and get back to the business of the House. We have already passed 4 individual bills accounting for 73% of the discretionary budget to fund our border, fund national defense, and take care of our veterans. There is no reason the Senate hasn’t taken them up.

Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted for H.R. 5525, the Spending Reduction and Border Security Act which would have extended government funding through October 31, 2023, reduced non-Defense, non-Veterans Affairs spending by 8%, and implemented a number of border security measures to end the Biden Administration created border crisis. This emergency funding bill would have allowed Congress additional time to pass the remaining eight spending bills from the House Floor and onto the Senate. The bill failed 198-232. Twenty-one Republicans voted with Democrats to defeat the bill.

Today, Western Montana Congressman and member of the House Appropriations Committee Ryan Zinke announced the advancement of three individual spending bills: House AppropriationsDefense (H.R. 4365); Homeland Security (H.R. 4367); and State and Foreign Operations (H.R. 4665); off of the House Floor and to the Senate. The House has now sent four of the 12 individual spending bills Congress is aiming to pass to avoid a lapse in government funding before the fiscal year ending midnight on September 30th,, however, the Democrat-led Senate has failed to pass a single bill.

Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced his support for H.R.5641, the Pay Our Troops Act. Under current law, if there is a government shutdown, those serving in our Armed Forces would not receive a paycheck after September 30th. This legislation was introduced recently by Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA), a former Navy helicopter pilot.