Ryan Zinke Announces FEAR Act as First Piece of Legislation

August 17, 2022
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For Immediate Release
August 17, 2022
Contact [email protected] 
 
 

Ryan Zinke Announces FEAR Act as First Piece of Legislation 

The 10-point Federal Employees Accountability and Reduction Act would put the fear of accountability in the hearts of bad actors and root out corrupt government employees, returning power to the people
(WHITEFISH, MT) Today, the Honorable Ryan Zinke, Republican nominee for Montana’s western congressional district and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and former Montana Congressman, announced his intent to introduce the 10-point Federal Employees Accountability and Reduction (FEAR) Act as his first piece of legislation should he be elected again by the people of Montana. The framework legislation would target the career bureaucratic class in Washington, D.C., and other major regional areas and bad actors at all levels, while empowering local decision making and serving the taxpayer. This legislation would stop the gravy train for reckless, ineffective, and criminal bureaucrats who bilk taxpayers without putting the will of the American people at the forefront of their work.  
 
Specifically, the 10-point FEAR Act would:
  1. Create a clear pathway to remove government employees for cause
  2. Cap the number of years a person can work for the federal government (non-military, non-law enforcement)
  3. Cap government salaries so no government employee, like Dr. Anthony Fauci, can make more than the President of the United States
  4. Eliminate preferred hiring practices for non-veteran government employees and eliminate expedited agency-to-agency hiring which allows managers to fill jobs with their unqualified friends
  5. Prevent political appointees from “burrowing in” to career government employee positions
  6. Require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to electronically post salaries and titles of all political appointees every quarter
  7. Create a pathway to downsize the federal government through attrition, defunding, and repealing recent actions to expand the IRS and DOJ
  8. Create an automatic trigger law stripping current and former federal government employees of their benefits if they are convicted of violent or federal crimes or any crimes they are able to commit because of access to victims or information from their employment
  9. Require certain federal agencies to relocate out of the Washington, D.C. metro area and closer to the customers they serve
  10. Require the General Services Administration (GSA) to sell unused office buildings in certain oversaturated urban centers like Washington, DC, Denver and San Francisco
Statement from former Secretary Zinke:
“There’s nothing a bad government employee fears more than losing their free ride. I’ve been in the belly of the Washington beast and I personally saw how difficult it was to fire or even take disciplinary actions against federal employees who abuse their position of trust without it being sidelined by complacent cronies, process appeals, or lawsuits. It has to stop.
 
“This is about making government accountable to the American people and making sure their hard-earned taxpayer dollars aren’t squandered on inefficient or irresponsible bureaucrats who don’t have We The People’s best interest at heart. I was successful in firing or reprimanding more than two dozen employees guilty of sexual harassment, abuse of power or intimidation, but the fact that it was a fight is absurd, and there were so many more who should have been removed for offenses like abuse of power, insubordination or general incompetence but were protected by the web of paperwork, bureaucracy and cronyism that the agency’s lawyers wouldn’t pursue it.
 
“I also know for a fact that the federal government is too big and unelected bureaucrats are too powerful. As a whole Washington, DC, is concerned with one thing above all else, how to keep its pet projects and special interest funding going. No more. This legislation would force the government to downsize via attrition and would defund and repeal recent expansions of the IRS, DOJ and other agencies.” 
Background
  • Senator Steve Daines has been working for years to address the issue of convicted felons receiving federal pensions. He introduced the “Denying Pensions to Convicted Child Molesters Act,” but his efforts are blocked by Democrats beholden to white collar government unions. (See additional background)
  • In 2017 then-Secretary Ryan Zinke introduced a budget plan to eliminate roughly 4,000 employees from the Department of the Interior through attrition and was sharply criticized by DC media and deep state insiders.
  • As Secretary, Zinke fired or removed two dozen employees for sexual harassment, discrimination or other inappropriate behavior as government employees
  • In 2017, then-Secretary Zinke announced the Bureau of Land Management would move HQ out of DC to a western state with significant BLM managed lands. In 2019, BLM HQ was moved to Grand Junction, CO, located in Mesa County which is 62% federal land. The move was cheered by westerners who live with the BLM in their communities.
  • In 2018, Zinke announced the U.S. Geological Survey would relocate much of its mineral labs and scientists to Golden, CO.
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Letter to the editor: Zinke understands preserving personal liberty

August 10, 2022
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The Missoulian

Brian Schweitzer oozes contempt for his fellow citizens. To him everyone who dedicated their lives to defending our country is just a closet socialist.

Democrats hate the term socialist because it exposes their authoritarian goals. In the 20th century, the effort to obtain those goals led to the murder of millions at the hands of their government. Veterans like myself and Ryan Zinke joined the military of a nation that, regardless of party, understood the need to preserve personal liberty and constrain the vice of collectivism and pursuit of absolute power so many in government seek to obtain. We took the oath to defend the Constitution and serve a government that, at one time, knew it needed our rough hands if it was to preserve the God-given individual rights of humanity.

Brian Schweitzer…not so much. He mocks those he believes are beneath him. He claims, “Hey, actually we’re all socialists!” Does he mean Lenin-Stalinist Communism? Pol Pot? Mao? Hitler’s National Socialism? Or does he represent the new BLM/ANTIFA Democratic Party version?

The collectivists are always just one assassination away from utopia. I think I’ll keep my freedom instead. This veteran will be voting for Ryan Zinke.

Tracy Sharp,

Polson

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FORMER SECRETARY RYAN ZINKE CALLS ON BIDEN ADMIN TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REBUILD HIGHWAY 89 AND OTHER CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP STRANDED GARDINER RESIDENTS

June 14, 2022
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For Immediate Release

Contact: [email protected]

 

FORMER SECRETARY RYAN ZINKE CALLS ON BIDEN ADMIN TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REBUILD HIGHWAY 89 AND OTHER CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP STRANDED GARDINER RESIDENTS 

 

Nearly a thousand residents plus tourists trapped by destroyed roads and bridges after 100-year flood

(WHITEFISH, MT) Today, Ryan Zinke, former Montana Congressman and U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and current candidate for Montana’s First Congressional District, called on the Biden Administration to exercise emergency powers to provide a categorical exclusion and waive certain environmental regulations in order to quickly restore access to the town of Gardiner and other small communities isolated after an historic flood on the Yellowstone River earlier this week. 

 

Under the 2020 Council on Environmental Quality memo titled Emergencies and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Guidance and the original 1978 law, the Federal government has the authority to provide a NEPA categorical exclusion or waive certain aspects of other regulations such as the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and Historic Preservation Act in emergency situations. Currently about a thousand residents in the town of Gardiner and countless more residents and tourists in the surrounding area are trapped with limited food, fuel and medical supplies. 

 

“The devastation along the Yellowstone River is historic and so should be our nation’s response to this natural and emerging humanitarian disaster,” said Zinke. “As a former Secretary of the Interior, I know the Biden Administration has the authority to grant categorical exclusions and expedite or waive certain processes. This prudent action would allow an expedited reconstruction of highway 89 and quick construction of temporary bridges while new bridges are built. There is no amount of air lifts that will be adequate to serve the people of Gardiner and other small, isolated communities in the area. The Biden Administration must act now to save lives and prevent long term crisis.”

 

Zinke continued, “The Biden Administration’s Forest Service must also take immediate steps to reopen and maintain the Old Yellowstone Trail Road on the west side of the Yellowstone River through Yankee Jim Canyon so residents have a reliable emergency route now and when, God forbid, another disaster strikes. These roads and bridges have been in the area for generations and rebuilding them will not cause significant environmental impact. Anyone who tries to say otherwise is more concerned about the grizzly bear than the people of Park County.” 

 

“Lastly, I also call on the Congress to provide quick funding through the Great Outdoors Act, Land and Water Conservation Fund, and highway dollars to rebuild roads and bridges in Yellowstone National Park, as well as replace the destroyed employee housing,” said Zinke. 

 

Elsewhere in Montana, flooding has eroded sections of roads and flooded areas of Livingston, Red Lodge, Stillwater County and other areas. The Governor has declared a statewide disaster to assist with rescue and recovery efforts. 

 

Additional Background:

The 2020 memo states, “As agencies respond to situations involving immediate threats to human health or safety, or immediate threats to valuable natural resources, they must consider whether there is sufficient time to follow the procedures for environmental review established in the CEQ National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations, 40 CFRparts 1500-1508 (CEQ NEPA regulations),3 and their agency NEPA procedures.” (Link: emergencies-and-nepa-guidance-2020.pdf – National …https://ceq.doe.gov › docs › nepa-practice › emer…)

 

Under NEPA, Federal agencies, in consultation with CEQ, develop CEs for categories of agency actions that they have found do not have a significant impact on the environment.  Federal agencies’ CEs cover a broad range of actions, including administrative functions, operations and maintenance activities, research and information collection, emergency preparedness and response, and certain land management and infrastructure activities.

 

CEs, which are not exemptions from NEPA review, reduce paperwork and allow agencies to focus their resources on actions that may significantly affect the quality of the environment.

 

When establishing or revising a CE, Federal agencies publish their proposed CEs in the Federal Register for public comment. Following conclusion of the comment period, the agency evaluates the comments received. CEQ reviews an agency’s proposed CE for conformity with NEPA, completing its review within 30 days of receiving the final text. 

 

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Letter to the editor: Zinke is a supporter of life

June 01, 2022
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Missoulian

I am writing this letter in support of Ryan Zinke and his pro-life stance. There is a lot of mis-information out there and I want people to know the truth. Ryan carried the Fetal Homicide Bill for Montana Right to Life while he was a state senator. He also tried to get monies to support young single women who wanted to keep their babies so they could go to school or get child care support. Ryan Zinke was endorsed by Montana Right to Life while in the Montana Senate.

Ryan also has a 100 percent voting record with National Right to Life while he served in Congress. He stood up on the House floor of the U.S. Capital and was a proponent for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act which would have stopped abortions at 24 weeks of gestation. Ryan has been and will continue to be a supporter of life.

 

Gregg Trude, Montana Director, National Right to Life Board of Directors

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Ryan Zinke gets the endorsement of former President Donald Trump

May 24, 2022
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1st District Congressional candidate Ryan Zinke introduced the former President of the United States Donald Trump to endorse him late Monday evening.

“I remember when President Trump was President, we had two dollar gas, the border was secure, and he was fighting the swamp,” began Zinke. “There isn’t any better defender of American freedoms than President Donald J. Trump. And it’s my honor to introduce the 45th president United States, Donald J. Trump, sir.”

Trump began by emphasizing the importance of the upcoming Congressional election.

“I just want to talk to you for a few minutes about a critical primary election taking place in your state on Tuesday, June 7, that’s coming up right around the corner and absentee voting is already underway,” began President Trump. “The big day is June 7, and it’s very important. I’d like to ask each of you to get out and vote for Ryan. He’s a great friend of mine. He’s a great person with a great family, great everything. It’s Montana’s first Congressional district, as everyone knows, and he was my interior secretary, as you know, and he did an incredible job in terms of energy dominance and also energy independence, and we actually became dominant and increased our federal energy revenues.”

President Trump praised Zinke specifically for his work as Interior Secretary.

“He opened up acreage for the production of energy and all sorts of other things, including for people’s use,” said Trump. “Together, we built our national parks, forest infrastructure, and expanded access to public lands and we opened up millions and millions of acres for hunting and fishing. It was incredible what we did in a reasonably short period of time.”

The former president wrapped up with a glowing endorsement of Ryan Zinke.

“Ryan has my complete and total endorsement,” he said. “With his help and with everybody’s help, this country will be turned around. We’re going to get rid of crazy Nancy Pelosi’s political career once and for all. I just want to again remind you the absentee voting has already started so you could do that, but Election Day is June 7. I’ll be out to see you. I love that part of the world and I love your state, and please vote for Ryan Zinke, and we’ll see you all very soon.”

Zinke is one of five primary candidates for the Republican nomination for the new 1st District Congressional seat, along with Dr. Al Olszewski, Mary Todd, Mitch Heuer and Matt Jette.

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Zinke talks wildfire, forest management in Belgrade

May 24, 2022
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The Bozeman Daily Chronicle

With the days winding down to the June 7 primary, Republican congressional candidate Ryan Zinke made a stop in Belgrade Sunday to discuss forest management, wildfire and Montana’s place in the upcoming federal farm bill.

Zinke, the former congressman and interior secretary, brought Rep. Glenn Thompson, a Republican from Pennsylvania, to discuss the bill — the last version became law in 2018 under the Trump administration. A new one could appear in 2023.

The pair made a previous stop in Great Falls for a similar discussion focusing on agriculture.

“This is important because when you start building the farm bill, you want to be included in the House and foundation in the beginning,” Zinke said.

The pair held a roundtable discussion with representatives from various organizations and businesses connected to forestry and wildfire at aerial firefighting company Bridger Aerospace’s headquarters.

Participants included representatives from Bridger Aerospace, the Property and Environment Research Center, the Montana Wood Products Association, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Missoula-based Bashoor Land Management and Bozeman-based Wildfire Defense Systems.

Thompson, the ranking Republican member of the House Agriculture Committee, would play a role in shaping the bill, Zinke said.

Zinke said that Thompson could be the next chairman of that committee, which would depend on Republicans regaining the majority in the House.

The Pennsylvania congressman said he came to Montana at Zinke’s request for two reasons: To support the Republican congressional candidate and to include voices from Montana on agriculture and forest management issues.

Zinke said that he has always been an advocate of getting out quickly to deal with wildfires. He said that prescribed burns should be done in shoulder seasons that could help to put “out of control fires” to an end.

Better technology, better decisions on the frontlines of wildfires and an empowered frontline are solutions Zinke offered for dealing with fires.

Thompson said that bureaucratic barriers, regulations and lawsuits stand in the way of forest management.

Just over two weeks remain before the June 7 primary election.

Zinke is running for the Republican nomination for the newly-created western congressional district against Dr. Al Olszewski, Mary Todd, Matt Jette and Mitch Heuer.

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Montana Ag Network: Zinke hosts ag-focused forum in Great Falls

May 24, 2022
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KRTV

GREAT FALLS — Ryan Zinke, a candidate in the Republican primary for Montana’s first Congressional district, hosted a forum in Great Falls on Thursday, May 19, 2022.

He was joined by leaders from the agriculture community, including grain growers, pulse crop growers, fertilizer sellers, and producers of other ag products and services.

Topics discussed by attendees included agriculture, drought, and crop insurance.

U.S. House Agriculture Committee ranking member Glenn Thompson (R-PA) was scheduled to attend, but a flight delay prevented him from being at the forum.

Zinke, who was Montana’s sole U.S. Representative from 2015 to early 2017, also served as Secretary of the Interior under then-President Trump.

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Zinke a True Montana Conservative

May 24, 2022
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The Flathead Beacon

Recently, losing candidates and members of the media have been spreading false narratives that Ryan Zinke lives in California. I have known Ryan Zinke for close to 20 years. I first met Ryan when he returned from serving his country as a Navy SEAL and we became friends during his first congressional race in 2014. He lives here in Montana, in Whitefish, on the property that was his childhood home. He is as Montanan as they come and has dedicated his entire life in service to both our country and state. It troubles me to think that candidates and the media have resorted to peddling baseless lies to tarnish a great candidate and a great man. If candidates are willing to lie about Ryan Zinke’s record to get elected, what would stop them from lying and cheating once they’re in office? I would suggest that the voters of Western Montana do their due diligence and know the facts before they cast their ballots. The fact is that Ryan Zinke is a true Montana conservative and the right choice to represent us in Congress.

Bob Herron
Bigfork

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Letter to the editor: Zinke will defend our right to bear arms

May 24, 2022
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The Missoulian

Out of all of the freedoms we hold dear as Americans, the right to bear arms stands supreme. That’s why I’m supporting Ryan Zinke for Congress in Montana’s new Congressional district. As Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke fought tirelessly for the rights of sportsmen, hunters and gun owners. That’s why he’s endorsed by the NRA and was given an A+ rating. As a member of SEAL Team Six Ryan Zinke saw first-hand what happens in countries that have given up their gun rights. Montana’s way of life is under threat from the radical left in Washington and we need a true Montana conservative like Ryan Zinke to defend our rights in Congress.

Brian Reid,

Kalispell

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