Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01) announced his vote in favor of the Big Beautiful Bill Act, landmark legislation that he says delivers long-awaited reforms to federal tax policy, border security, entitlement programs, and land conservation—all while safeguarding Montana’s values and public lands.
Zinke hailed the bill as a “bold, decisive action” to restore fiscal sanity and defend the interests of hardworking Americans, especially Montanans. “Today I voted to end the tax on tips for Montana service workers, lower taxes on Social Security for Montana seniors, and deliver tax relief for ALL Montanans,” said Zinke. “The Big Beautiful Bill is what Montanans demanded—a return to putting America first.”
One of the bill’s most notable victories for Zinke was the removal of a controversial provision that would have allowed the sale of more than 450,000 acres of public land. “No more selling out our public lands,” Zinke said. “We protected what matters most to Montanans.”
The legislation includes permanent tax cuts for every American, ending federal taxes on tips and overtime pay, and slashing taxes on Social Security benefits. According to Zinke, the average Montana family will save approximately $1,400 per year, while middle-income earners nationwide are projected to receive over 15% in tax relief.
On the social safety net, the bill enforces stricter eligibility requirements for Medicaid and SNAP benefits, including an 80-hour-per-month work requirement for able-bodied adults between the ages of 19 and 64. The bill mandates biannual eligibility checks and removes an estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants from entitlement programs.
The legislation also seeks to reestablish Trump-era border policies by funding the construction and enhancement of over 2,300 miles of physical border barriers and increasing frontline enforcement personnel. It authorizes the hiring of 10,000 new ICE officers, 5,000 new Customs officers, and 3,000 additional Border Patrol agents.
Finally, the bill targets what Zinke described as “wasteful spending and woke mandates,” repealing green energy subsidies and eliminating federal support for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries for minors.
“The Big Beautiful Bill is about freedom, security, and putting more money back in the pockets of Americans,” Zinke said. “Montana wins, and so does the nation.”