Last week, the FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Act passed the House of Representatives. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Rep. Zinke helped craft the bill, and secured $4.8 million in rural infrastructure funding as well as multiple policy priorities for Montana ag producers. The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote.

"I’ve made it a priority to stand up for rural America and the people who keep this country fed,” said Zinke. “The funding in this bill will upgrade basic infrastructure in places like Columbia Falls, Libby, and Ronan and strengthen emergency communications. And I've made sure it cracks down on foreign ownership of American farmland and strengthens food safety protections because food security is national security. Montana Farmers and Ranchers produce a gold star product, and my job is to make sure they have the infrastructure, funding, and administration policy to back them.”

Congressman Zinke’s Community Project Funding requests included in the bill:

• Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, $187,500 – Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Emergency Comms 
• Flathead County, $2,325,000 – City of Columbia Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Phase 1 
• Lake County, $69,000 - Charlo Volunteer Fire Department 
• Lake County, $259,612 – Lake County Office of Emergency Management Communication Tower Replacements 
• Lincoln County, $1,000,000 – City of Libby Water Filtration Phase 1
• Lake County, $1,000,000 – Ronan Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade Phase 1

Ag priorities included in the bill:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Provides $1.16 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to protect American agriculture from foreign pests and diseases, including High-Path Avian Influenza, New World Screwworm, and other foreign plant and animal threats. This funding supports rapid response capabilities and strengthens protections for American producers and food supply chains.

Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land
Strengthens oversight of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land by improving tracking systems and adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for reviews of agricultural land transactions involving foreign adversaries such as China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. This increases transparency and helps safeguard American farmland and food security.

Pulse Crop Health Initiative
Provides an additional $500,000 for research into the health and nutritional benefits of pulse crops, including dry peas, lentils, chickpeas, and dry beans. Montana is one of the nation’s leading pulse crop producers, and this research supports market development and producer competitiveness.

Precision Livestock Management Research
Maintains funding for precision livestock management research focused on maximizing rangeland resources for beef cattle and sheep production while maintaining vegetation diversity, healthy soils, and resilient plant communities. This research is particularly important for western rangelands during fall and winter grazing seasons.

Semi-Arid West Soil Health Research
Maintains funding for soil health research across integrated cropland and rangeland systems in the semi-arid West. Research will integrate emerging sensor technologies and modeling tools to help producers better assess and manage soils while supporting public lands and livestock production.

Barley Pest Initiative
Increases funding for the Barley Pest Initiative to support research addressing major threats to sustainable and profitable barley production and utilization. Montana is one of the top barley-producing states in the country, and this research helps protect yields and strengthen agricultural markets.

Food Safety and Inspection Service
Increases resources for the Food Safety and Inspection Service to support frontline meat and poultry inspectors and strengthen state inspection programs. This helps maintain food safety standards while supporting livestock producers and meat processing operations.

Farm Service Agency Staffing
Increases overall funding for Farm Service Agency staffing, including county office staff, helping improve service delivery and support for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.

Read the full text of the bill here.

Read the press release here.

On May 29, Congressman Zinke honored two Flathead Valley institutions, the Brash Rodeo and the Glacier Range Riders, recognizing each organization with a Congressional Record entered into the official record of the United States Congress. The honors celebrated the lasting impact both organizations have had on Montana’s western heritage, local economy, and community traditions.

For years, the Brash Rodeo has carried forward Montana’s deep ranching and rodeo traditions, bringing together competitors and spectators from across the region and the world to celebrate the western way of life. Located at Majestic Valley Arena beside the historic Blue Moon Nite Club, the rodeo has become a gathering place for Montanans and visitors alike, showcasing events that reflect the grit and skills of working ranch families across the West.

Likewise, the Glacier Range Riders have become a major source of community pride in the Flathead, drawing thousands of fans to professional baseball while supporting local businesses, tourism, and family entertainment throughout the valley. Since their founding in 2021, the Range Riders and Glacier Bank Park have quickly established themselves as cornerstones of summer in Northwest Montana, bringing America’s pastime back to the Flathead and creating a venue where families and neighbors can come together.

Congressman Zinke presented the Congressional Records during ceremonies honoring each organization and their contributions to Montana culture and community life. Zinke also threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the Range Riders game. 

Congressional Record honoring the Glacier Range Riders and photos:

“From the name of the team to the stadium, even the logo has a history. The Glacier Range Riders’ logo reflects the rich cultural heritage of Montana and pays homage to the Native American traditions that remain an important part of our state’s identity. The arrowhead design honors the history of the region while serving as a symbol of strength, perseverance, and community. Like the game of baseball itself, the logo brings people together to celebrate Montana’s history and create new memories for future generations.

More than a baseball team, the Glacier Range Riders have created a place where families can gather, veterans can be honored, and lasting memories can be made. Each summer, friends and neighbors come together at the ballpark to enjoy America’s pastime, celebrate their community, and share experiences that span generations. In an age when opportunities to bring people together are increasingly important, the Range Riders have created a venue that strengthens community ties and shows the very best of Montana. Throughout the summer months, thousands gather to watch the Range Riders, making a trip to the ballpark, another memorable part of the Flathead Valley experience.

Beyond the game itself, the Glacier Range Riders have had a meaningful impact on the local economy and community. The organization has helped attract visitors to Northwest Montana, supported local businesses, and created opportunities for young athletes to engage in the sport. The team’s success demonstrates that professional sports can thrive in Montana while remaining closely connected to the people and communities they represent.”

View more photos from the event here and the full Congressional Record here.

Congressional Record honoring the Brash Rodeo and photos:

“Located in the Flathead Valley at the Majestic Valley Arena beside the historic Blue Moon Nite Club, the Brash Rodeo is deeply rooted in the community. For generations, the Blue Moon has brought people together through hospitality and entertainment, while the Brash Rodeo carries forward Montana’s western traditions in the arena just outside its doors. Together, they have become gathering places where families, friends, and visitors create lasting memories and experience the spirit of Montana.

The competitors who enter the arena represent a proud legacy of hard work, discipline, and perseverance, while the rodeo itself serves as a reminder of the skills that once defined daily life across the frontier. The Brash Rodeo helps preserve these traditions and share them with future generations. Within multiple events, teams of father-daughter duos compete, showcasing not only their skills on horseback but a deeply rooted family bond and tradition. These events and the Brash Rodeo.”

View more photos from the event here and the full Congressional Record here.

Read the full press release here.

On May 19, Rep. Zinke celebrated the official relaunch of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) flower program, allowing the families of fallen troops and all Americans to once again send floral arrangements to the graves of American service members buried overseas.

The program had been discontinued in 2015, creating significant challenges for Americans seeking to honor fallen loved ones at overseas cemeteries managed by the ABMC. Following bipartisan efforts led by Rep. Zinke and partners in both the House and Senate, the program has now officially resumed after more than 11 years.

“This started when a few concerned families of veterans walked into my office asking why Americans could no longer easily honor their fallen heroes overseas,” said Rep. Zinke. “Our servicemen and women made the ultimate sacrifice defending freedom far from home, and they deserve to be remembered and honored by the country they served. I’m proud we were able to work across the aisle to help bring this important program back.”

In 2024, Zinke introduced the bipartisan Flowers for Fallen Heroes Act to formally authorize and modernize the flower ordering program. The legislation sought to create a user-friendly website and ordering system allowing Americans to conveniently purchase flowers for gravesites overseas using standard payment methods.

The renewed effort received broad bipartisan support in Congress, including companion legislation in the Senate led by Senators Maggie Hassan and Marsha Blackburn. The recently enacted FY2026 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill included language directing the agency to restart the initiative. 

The relaunched program is now available to the public through the ABMC’s official flower ordering website. 

To place an order, visit: ABMC Flower Program.

Read the press release here.

On May 12, the Office of Congressman Zinke announced more than $25 million in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to support critical infrastructure upgrades at six Montana airports. These investments will enhance safety, extend the useful life of airport facilities, and improve operations for pilots and passengers across the state.

“Infrastructure is a taxpayer investment not merely an expense," said Zinke. "These critical investments will help maintain and improve aging and overlooked infrastructure and ensure the air transportation across our state can keep operating safely and efficiently. As a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation my job is to ensure Montana infrastructure is funded and these projects are worthy of investment.

The funding will support runway, taxiway, apron, lighting, drainage, and access road improvements in Hamilton, Deer Lodge, Missoula, West Yellowstone, Polson, and Bozeman.

Grant Details

Agency: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Airport Improvement Program (AIP)

Ravalli County Airport (Hamilton, MT)
Amount: $218,471
Project: This project reseals approximately 5,200 feet of Runway 16/34 pavement, 14,120 feet of taxiway and taxilane pavement, and 43,193 square yards of apron pavement. These improvements are designed to extend the useful life of existing airfield infrastructure, reduce long-term maintenance costs, and maintain safe operating conditions for general aviation users.

Deer Lodge–City-County Airport (Deer Lodge, MT)
Amount: $13,477,194
Project: This comprehensive airfield modernization project includes construction of a new 2,840-foot Taxiway A and a new 400-foot Taxilane B to improve airfield access and compliance with current standards. It also includes extension of Runway 13/31 by 1,200 feet, rehabilitation of 5,800 feet of existing runway pavement, reconstruction of runway lighting, and replacement of navigational aids including wind cone, segmented circle, and rotating beacon. Additional work includes installation of an AWOS III P(T) weather system, drainage improvements, expansion of the general aviation apron by 4,570 square yards, and installation of runway end identifier lights and precision approach path indicators to enhance safety and situational awareness for pilots.

Missoula Montana Airport (Missoula, MT)
Amount: $3,395,019
Project: This project rehabilitates approximately 9,500 feet of Taxiway A and reconstructs Taxiway H signage and pavement. It also includes resurfacing and sealing of Taxiway H segments to reduce foreign object debris and maintain pavement integrity, extending the useful life of critical airfield infrastructure. 

Yellowstone Airport (West Yellowstone, MT)
Amount: $650,966
Project: This project rehabilitates approximately 2,725 feet of the terminal airport access road, improving surface conditions and extending the service life of a key access corridor supporting airport operations.

Polson Airport (Polson, MT)
Amount: $119,000
Project: This project constructs approximately 11,920 feet of perimeter fencing and 10 access gates to enhance airport security and bring the facility into compliance with current federal aviation safety standards. 

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (Bozeman, MT)
Amount: $7,559,396
Project: This project extends Taxiway B by approximately 7,100 feet to improve airfield capacity and operational efficiency. The work supports continued growth in aviation demand and ensures compliance with current FAA design standards for safe aircraft movement.

Read the press release here.

• Montana Ag Priorities and Over $4.8 Million in Zinke Requested Rural Infrastructure Funding Passes the House in the FY27 Ag Appropriations Bill
• $17.5 Million in Zinke’s Infrastructure Requests and Many More Montana Priorities Head to the Floor for a Vote
• Zinke Honors The Glacier Range Riders and Brash Rodeo with Congressional Records
• Zinke Celebrates Relaunch of ABMC Flower Program Honoring Fallen Service Members

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