Ryan Zinke Officially Sworn-In as Congressman for Western Montana

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, in the United States Capitol, Ryan Zinke of Montana’s First Congressional District was sworn into the 118th Congress. Zinke previously served as Montana’s at-large (statewide) Congressman from January 2015-March 2017. Constituents and members of the press can follow updates from Congressman Zinke at www.Zinke.House.gov, on Facebook, and on Twitter, 

“We face serious issues – an invasion at the southwest border, hyperinflation, rampant government spending and overreach, rising Chinese aggression, a resurgent Waters of the Unites States, and a looming recession – all of which have been caused by or neglected by single-party rule in Washington. That ends today with a unified Republican Majority,” said Congressman Ryan Zinke. “The House is now the only firewall that can protect Montana from unbridled D.C. progressive policies. I plan to use my position on behalf of the people of western Montana to say ‘no’ to excessive government spending and regulations, to restore sanity and balance in D.C., to fix what is fixable, to fight for our way of life and defend our Montana values. May God bless America and the great State of Montana.” 

Background: 
Zinke plans to build on previous work on behalf of opening access to and improving management of public lands as Montana’s Congressman and U.S. Secretary of the Interior. As secretary, Zinke restored local voices in federal land management decisions, conserved migration corridors for big game, expanded access for hunting and fishing on public lands, took aggressive steps toward wildfire mitigation, led the plan that made the U.S. energy independent, and was a principal architect behind the Great American Outdoors Act. 
Zinke’s priorities for the 118th Congress include: cutting federal spending and restoring regular order for budgeting; hardening the southwest border and stopping the incentives that encourage illegal immigration; crafting a Farm Bill that will put Montana producers and growers on a level playing field and protect our food and energy security; and shaping policies that work for Montana to balance out the previous two years of one-party rule in Washington, D.C.

About: 
Ryan Zinke is the congressman for Montana’s first congressional district covering 16 counties that roughly follow the continental divide. His swearing-in marks the first time in nearly 30-years that Montana had two representatives in the House. Prior to his election to the House, Zinke served as the 52nd Secretary of the Interior, was twice elected as Montana’s at-large Congressman, and served as a State Senator. Before his public service, Zinke served 23 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL officer, retiring at the rank of commander. He is born and raised and still lives in Whitefish. He and his wife have three adult children and two granddaughters. 

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