CATCHING UP WITH CONGRESSMAN Ryan Zinke Congressman Ryan Zinke is a fifth-generation Montanan who represents Montana’s First Congressional District, which includes 16 counties in western Montana, as well as the cities of Bozeman, Butte, Missoula and Kalispell. He was first elected to Congress in 2014 and served as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior between two noncontiguous terms. Congressman Zinke has established a strong record of accomplishments in areas such as energy, conservation, tribal matters and military issues. Now in his third term, he is a member of the House Committee on Appropriations. His legislative agenda focuses on restoring accountability to federal spending, promoting American energy dominance and strengthening national security at our borders and beyond. We recently sat down with Congressman Zinke and discussed his service, leadership, Montana values and the issues he is focusing on in Washington. The following are excerpts from our conversation. What inspired you to pursue public service? Public service wasn’t something I woke up one morning and decided to do — it was something I grew into. I was raised in Montana, and in a place like this, you learn early that you look out for your neighbors. If a fence is down, you help fix it. If someone’s in trouble, you don’t ask whose job it is — you step up. That mindset stuck with me. 12 MONTANA AUTO DEALER
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