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Today, Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-01) and a bipartisan group of thirty Members of Congress sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough asking him to delay the effective date of a finalized VA rule “Changes in Rates VA Pays for Special Modes of Transportation” (88 Fed. Reg. 10032) until Congress passes legislation authorizing the VA to contract emergency ambulance services.

Today, the United States House of Representatives approved the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024 which authorizes spending to more than $317 billion toward Veterans Affairs and military construction. The bill maintains House Republicans commitment to veterans by fully funding veterans’ health care programs, benefits, and Veteran programs, including the electronic health record modernization initiative.

Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statement of support following Governor Gianforte’s request to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify areas in Western and North-Central Montana impacted by severe drought conditions as natural disaster areas. Due to abnormally low snowpack combined with dry conditions and little rainfall, Western Montana’s livestock, crop, and eco-tourism industries are experiencing added strain.

Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced an amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024 to protect Montana veterans’ access to life flights and a variety of ambulance services. Zinke introduced this amendment after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) finalized a rule that would reimburse air ambulances at a rate equal to that of the 1998 Medicare reimbursement rate. This would cause drastic cuts and make it financially impossible for air ambulances to operate. Zinke’s amendment would stop this rule from going into effect and force the VA to continue operating under the established reimbursement rates.

This week, the House Appropriations Committee approved Congressman Ryan Zinke’s legislation to defund and block the vehicle reservation system at Glacier National Park (GNP). The amendment was added to the FY24 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies funding bill and will advance to a vote on the House Floor in September.

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee approved Congressman Ryan Zinke’s Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) community funding requests to advance to a vote on the House Floor in September. Pending passage on the House Floor, the requests will be considered for inclusion in the joint funding package to be approved by the Senate, then signed by the President.

Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee approved by a voice vote Congressman Ryan Zinke’s amendment to delist the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) Grizzly from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and return to the 2017 Department of the Interior rule. The amendment was added to the FY24 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies funding bill and will advance to a vote on the House Floor in September.