Veterans

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Zinke Celebrates Butte VA Clinic Renaming in Honor of RFC Charlie Dowd

May 23, 2025

(Butte, MT.) Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke attended the renaming ceremony for the Butte Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinic, which is now officially named the “Charlie Dowd Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.” Congressman Zinke introduced the

Issues:CongressVeterans

Congressman Zinke introduces the Veteran Prescription Safety Improvement Act

July 25, 2024

Press Release

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).

Issues:CongressHealthVeterans

Bill to Honor Montana World War II Hero Charlie Dowd Heads to President's Desk for Signature

July 22, 2024

Press Release

Washington, D.C.

Issues:CongressHealthVeterans

Zinke, Daines, Rosendale Call Out VA for Eliminating Essential Healthcare Workers

June 17, 2024

Press Release

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.

Issues:CongressHealthVeterans

LTE: Zinke is committed to health care providers, veterans

June 7, 2024

In The News

Missoulian

Rep. Ryan Zinke has been in constant communication with Missoula Emergency Services since the Department of Veterans Affairs rule “Changes in Rates VA Pays for Special Modes of Transportation” came out in February 2023.

Issues:HealthVeterans

Zinke Bestows Congressional Gold Medal to WWII Merchant Mariner Dr. Maury Irvine

April 25, 2024

Press Release

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.

Issues:Veterans

LTE: Zinke Has Expanded VA Care for Those Who Need it Most

April 5, 2024

In The News

Flathead Beacon

Across the country, care for veterans is an afterthought. This is especially true in rural states like Montana where veterans may live hundreds of miles away from the nearest Veterans Affairs location. Oftentimes, veterans face long wait times and frequently rescheduled appointments. This is unacceptable care for the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms!

Issues:CongressHealthVeterans

Zinke Introduces Bipartisan Flowers for Fallen Heroes Act

February 14, 2024

Press Release

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.

Issues:CongressVeterans

Zinke Introduces Bill to Rename Butte VA Clinic to Honor Montana Pearl Harbor Hero

January 30, 2024

Press Release

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.

Issues:CongressVeterans

VA Meets Zinke’s Demands, Delays Rollout of Unaffordable Ambulance Rule

December 4, 2023

Press Release

On November 28, Congressman Ryan Zinke was informed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) delayed the enactment of their proposed air ambulance reimbursement ruling until 2025 in response to Zinke’s continued scrutiny over the costly and potentially deadly consequences. The rule previously set to be enacted February 2024 would dramatically cut the amount the VA pays for air and specialty ambulance services for veterans by reverting to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement rates based off data from more than 20 years ago. The proposal, while not a front-page issue, has been met with opposition from local and national veteran service organizations and emergency services. Several rural communities adopted similar reimbursement rates and have lost all ambulatory service as a result.

Issues:Veterans

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