{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"UT\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-joins-dave-ramsey-to-discuss-timeshare-transparency-act", "CURTIS JOINS DAVE RAMSEY TO DISCUSS TIMESHARE TRANSPARENCY ACT", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or the image above to watch the interview\n\nDuring the interview, the two highlighted years of consumer complaints and financial data showing the vast majority of timeshare buyers regret their purchases but are locked into long-term contracts with escalating fees and little to no ability to exit. Ramsey concluded the interview calling on his listeners to urge their Representatives and Senators to support the TTA.\n\nCurtis on the TTA:\n\nIt\u2019s pretty simple: first, you should know what you\u2019re buying\u2014there should be transparency; second, you should know if there\u2019s going to be radical changes to what you\u2019ve bought; and third, you should be able to change your mind within an agreed upon period of time. And then, let\u2019s face it, if 85% of the people regret getting into it, there needs to be some way for them to get out of it.\n\nOn the 14-day penalty-free cancellation period:\n\nRamsey: From my understanding, a 14-day penalty free cancelation period will cut their sales by 70%\u2014you\u2019ll probably put them out of business.\n\nCurtis: If any business is dependent upon getting people to do something they don\u2019t want to do, then they perhaps should go out of business. Now, my goal is not to put them out of business, my goal is just to make it so people can trust what they\u2019re getting into.\n\n. . .\n\nMany of the people that get into these are seniors\u2014they\u2019re away from their normal support structure when they get into these very, very high-pressure sales techniques, then they maybe make a bad decision, and then they don\u2019t have a window to change that decision. That\u2019s just wrong.\n\nOn the timeshare re-sale market:\n\nRamsey: There\u2019s no backing out, and there\u2019s no way to sell the stupid thing, because nobody wants to buy them. There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of them for sale on eBay for $1\n\nCurtis: Yes, and the reason is, they now come with the liability of these monthly or annually fees that are so exorbitant, far greater than any amount of money that you could spend to have a really great vacation\u2014that\u2019s why they\u2019re worthless.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/patriots-of-the-caribbean-lee-bill-authorizes-american-privateers-to-seize-cartel-assets-with-president-s-approval/6ed7fad5-5b91-47c0-aa8a-4b64ece3d16d", "Patriots of the Caribbean: Lee Bill Authorizes American Privateers to Seize Cartel Assets with President\u2019s Approval", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today that would allow private entities to stop drug cartel smuggling and violence. The Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act authorizes President Trump, as provided under the Constitution, to commission American operators under letters of marque to seize cartel property and persons on land or sea. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN) introduced the House version of the legislation.\n\n\u201cThe Constitution provides for Letters of Marque and Reprisal as a tool against the enemies of the United States,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee.\u201cCartels have replaced corsairs in the modern era, but we can still give private American citizens and their businesses a stake in the fight against these murderous foreign criminals. The Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act will revive this historic practice to defend our shores and seize cartel assets.\u201d\n\n\"They push millions of dollars in fentanyl into our country with no regard for American lives,\u201d said Congressman Tim Burchett. \u201cIt's time to get creative about how we face these threats. These cartels present a serious risk to our national security, and this bill would authorize President Trump to commission Americans to help defend our homeland.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nArticle I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution authorizes Congress to \u201cgrant Letters of Marque and Reprisal.\u201d Once a commonly used tool against piracy, letters of marque authorized private citizens to seize enemy vessels with their cargoes and crew. The Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act would give President Trump authority from Congress to allow private citizens and groups to join in defending the United States from cartels on land and sea.\n\nThe Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act:\n\nAuthorizes and commissions the President of the United States to issue letters of marque and reprisal, according to the judgment of the President, to employ all reasonably necessary means to seize outside the geographic boundaries of the United States and its territories the person and property of any cartel or conspirator of a cartel or cartel-linked organization.\n\nSpecifies that cartels or conspirators subject to letters of marque and reprisal must be responsible for an act of aggression against the United States.\n\nRequires the President to call for the posting of a security bond to ensure that the letter is executed according to its terms and conditions prior to issuing any letter of marque and reprisal.\n\nRead exclusive coverage from Breitbart News here.\n\nRead full text of the bill here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/senator-lee-condemns-eu-sanctioning-x-for-refusing-to-censor-americans/c3033ba0-2930-4e49-ba45-92c78d9eec3d", "Senator Lee Condemns EU Sanctioning X for Refusing to Censor Americans", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a resolution today condemning the European Union\u2019s recent decision to sanction the social media platform X for its refusal to censor American users\u2019 online speech. The massive $140 million fine is the latest in a string of radical free speech infringement by European governments, including prison sentences for writers and even viewers of social media posts deemed \u201cmisinformation\u201d or \u201chate speech.\u201d U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) cosponsored the resolution.\n\nThe resolution reads as follows:\n\n\u201cExpressing that any attempt by foreign entities to censor or penalize constitutionally protected speech of United States persons shall be opposed.\n\n\u201cWhereas freedom of speech is a fundamental, constitutional right of every United States person;\n\n\u201cWhereas freedom of speech is a hallmark of American exceptionalism;\n\n\"Whereas freedom of speech is necessary to ensure that truth can always be spoken, lies can always be exposed, and important questions can always be asked, and that the strong can always be challenged and the vulnerable can always be heard;\n\n\u201cWhereas no person is fit to govern the thoughts or beliefs of another;\n\n\u201cWhereas public forums, including social media platforms, give people the opportunity to exercise their right to free speech;\n\n\u201cWhereas undue foreign influence threatens the constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech;\n\n\u201cWhereas the Digital Services Act of the European Union requires large platforms to remove certain speech based on the incorrect assertion that politicians are entitled to govern the thoughts and beliefs of other persons;\n\n\u201cWhereas the European Union is attempting to force United States entities to use products and technology to censor and undermine free speech occurring in the United States;\n\n\u201cWhereas the European Union is threatening steep penalties under the Digital Services Act if United States entities do not implement the censorship regime required under the Act;\n\n\u201cWhereas, on August 12, 2024, the European Union threatened Elon Musk with penalties under the Digital Services Act for conducting an interview with President Trump on X, insinuating that the conversation between United States citizens on United States soil would produce \u2018\u2018harmful content\u2019\u2019 that would \u2018\u2018spillover\u2019\u2019 from the United States;\n\n\u201cWhereas, on December 5, 2025, the European Union announced a $140,000,000 fine against X under the Digital Services Act;\n\n\u201cWhereas the European Union is actively investigating and discouraging the use of Community Notes-style policies employed by social media companies to avoid censorship and institutional bias, instead pushing for aggressive content censorship models;\n\n\u201cWhereas the Digital Services Act authorizes fines of up to 6 percent of a company\u2019s global revenue for not complying with efforts to target speech by United States persons;\n\n\u201cWhereas the actions of the European Union under the Digital Services Act conflict with the sovereign duty of the United States Government to protect the constitutional rights of United States persons; and Whereas such actions by the European Union, if left unchecked, may cause a chilling effect on free speech in the United States: Now, therefore, be it\n\n\u201cResolved, That the Senate\u2014\n\n\u201c(1) reaffirms its commitment to protecting the commercial interests and free speech rights of United States persons;\n\n\u201c(2) recognizes that the Digital Services Act is incompatible with the free speech tradition of the United States and the commitments that technology companies have made to hosting a diversity of opinions;\n\n\u201c(3) disapproves of any attempt by a foreign entity to export censorship or limit the exercise of free speech by United States persons;\n\n\u201c(4) disapproves of any attempt by a foreign entity to levy fines or other penalties against United States persons participating in constitutionally protected activities;\n\n\u201c(5) disapproves of the attempts by the European Union to force United States entities to develop or use products and technology in ways that undermine free speech or foster censorship;\n\n\u201c(6) commits to oppose any implementation of disapproved activities; and\n\n\u201c(7) urges the Trump administration to ensure swift and firm rejoinders to any implementation of disapproved activities.\u201d\n\nAccess the full text of the resolution here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/bipartisan-defense-spending-passes-with-curtis-support", "BIPARTISAN DEFENSE SPENDING PASSES WITH CURTIS SUPPORT", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator John Curtis (R\u2011UT) today released the following statement after the Senate passed the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):\n\n\u201cI proudly supported the NDAA because it strengthens our military\u2019s readiness, invests in critical capabilities, and delivers real benefits to Utah\u2019s defense community,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cThis bill ensures our armed forces have the tools they need to defend our nation, and it protects and expands the missions that sustain good jobs here at home.\u201d\n\nThe legislation reflects the evolving security landscape and ensures the U.S. remains prepared to deter adversaries like China and Russia while reinforcing vital partnerships with allies, including Taiwan.\n\nUtah Priorities Secured in the FY26 NDAA\n\nReinforces Utah\u2019s role as a national defense hub by supporting missions tied to Hill Air Force Base, depot maintenance, and the state\u2019s defense industrial base\n\nProtects programs vital to Utah\u2019s aerospace and missile defense sectors, preserving jobs and maintaining Utah\u2019s position on the cutting edge of defense innovation\n\nImproves quality of life for Utah military families through pay raises, housing allowance transparency, and support for sustainable military service at home\n\nNational Defense Highlights", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-schiff-introduce-bill-to-protect-consumers-from-predatory-timeshare-practices", "CURTIS, SCHIFF INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM PREDATORY TIMESHARE PRACTICES", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Timeshare Pricing Transparency Act (TPT), bipartisan legislation to protect consumers from confusing contracts, hidden fees, and unclear exit options in the timeshare industry.\n\n\u201cOur bill is about honesty, transparency, and basic consumer rights,\u201d said Curtis. \u201cFamilies deserve to know exactly what financial decisions they are making without predatory sales tactics that rely upon deception and manipulative time constraints. This bill ensures that Americans have clear and honest information before committing to a timeshare.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans deserve to have all of the information they need upfront, before entering any timeshare commitment, including any potential surprise fees or contract terms,\u201d said Schiff. \u201cI\u2019m proud to partner with Senator Curtis to enhance consumer protections and ensure that Americans aren\u2019t saddled with hidden junk fees or are the victims of deceptive contracts.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor many older Americans, a timeshare purchase represents years of hard work and careful saving. Yet according to the FBI, timeshare fraud cost consumers more than $50 million in 2024. That\u2019s why this bill matters\u2014it restores basic fairness by requiring clear, itemized cost disclosures and a 14-day cancellation window, giving people the transparency and time they need to protect their hard-earned dollars,\u201d said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at AARP.\n\nClick here for a full letter of support from AARP.\n\nResources:\n\nBill text\n\nBill one-pager\n\nMillions of Americans purchase timeshares each year, often while on vacation or under high-pressure sales conditions. Too often, buyers later report that they were not fully informed about long-term financial obligations, escalating maintenance fees, or the difficulty of exiting ownership. These practices have led to a surge in consumer complaints\u2014with approximately 85% of timeshare owners regretting their purchase\u2014and financial hardship for families across the country.\n\nThe TPT establishes clear, commonsense disclosure requirements to ensure consumers understand exactly what they are purchasing. Under the bill, all timeshare agreements must:\n\nInclude a single document itemizing all acquisition and maintenance costs.\n\nMandate disclosure of modifiable fees and the notice requirements for such changes.\n\nProvide clear, documented options to exit ownership.\n\nGrant buyers a 14-day penalty-free cancellation period.\n\nAllow buyers time to privately review the timeshare agreement.\n\nThe legislation also empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce these protections and issue additional regulations as needed. Importantly, the bill preserves states\u2019 rights to enact and enforce stronger consumer protections in the timeshare marketplace.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-bill-protects-car-owners-from-data-harvesting", "Lee Bill Protects Car Owners from Data Harvesting", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today affording essential data privacy rights to vehicle owners across America. The Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act will give motor vehicle owners control over their personal data by outlawing its sale and collection by car manufacturers without drivers\u2019 consent, and barring data sharing with adversarial nations such as China. Congressman Eric Burlison (R-MO) introduced the House version of the bill.\n\n\u201cCarmakers are collecting and selling personal data from millions of American drivers,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cYour morning drive to work, your GPS location, and your driving habits could be sold to insurance companies, or even to international adversaries like China. Drivers deserve ownership of their data, so the Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act will enable them to see, delete, and opt out of having their privacy violated in the drive-through line.\u201d\n\n\"Auto manufacturers have quietly turned cars into data-harvesting machines,\u201d said Congressman Eric Burlison. \u201cDrivers are being tracked, and their personal information is monetized with little transparency or consent. Your data should never be treated as a corporate asset or an open target for bad actors.\u201d\n\nThe American Vehicle Owners Alliance endorsed the legislation:\n\n\u201cWe are excited about the reintroduction of the Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy (ADPA) Act, legislation aimed at ensuring that vehicle data remains with the vehicle owner, not the manufacturers. Motor vehicle fleet owners and operators provide a wide range of essential mobility services. Yet manufacturers are increasingly limiting access to vehicle-generated data, undermining the property rights of consumers and fleet operators alike. Vehicle owners must have access to and control over their vehicle-generated data, which is critical for privacy, safety, innovation, and fair market competition. This legislation represents a significant win for privacy, competition, and consumer choice. We look forward to working with Congress to protect American drivers.\u201d \u2013 Richard Ward, Executive Director, American Vehicle Owners Alliance\n\nThe Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act will protect drivers\u2019 privacy rights by:\n\nRequiring Informed Consent: Mandating that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) establish opt-in features for vehicle data collection.\n\nRestricting Data Sharing: Prohibiting OEMs from sharing, selling, or leasing collected customer data without explicit consent, with narrow exceptions required by law.\n\nProtecting National Security: Barring data sharing with adversarial nations.\n\nEnsuring Transparency: Directing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report to Congress on data collection practices.\n\nEmpowering Owners: Allowing vehicle owners access to their vehicle\u2019s data through technology-neutral standards.\n\nEnabling Data Deletion: Giving owners the right to delete their data after connecting to a vehicle.\n\nBalancing Interests: Protecting OEM confidential business information while safeguarding consumer rights.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-booker-reign-in-runaway-agriculture-waste-to-ensure-small-farmers-get-fair-share", "Lee, Booker Reign in Runaway Agriculture Waste to Ensure Small Farmers Get Fair Share", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to reign in government spending within the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) to reduce waste on ineffective projects and prevent big agriculture producers from monopolizing funding pools to ensure that small farmers have access to their fair share.\n\n\u201cBig Ag is hogging taxpayer dollars for their bloated, ineffective projects,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cThe EQIP program is meant to benefit small farmers too, but when bigger players monopolize grant pools, fewer farms get their fair share and taxpayers end up funding pointless projects. The EQIP Improvement Act will lower the payment cap for single projects to reduce runaway spending on money pits, give states flexibility to prioritize their critical farming initiatives, and slash spending on ineffective waste. Both farmers and taxpayers will be better off with these changes in place.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo make the EQIP Program more effective, this bill would re-focus support towards farmers that need it most by targeting funding to more producers and prioritizing conservation practices with significantly greater environmental benefits,\u201d said Senator Cory Booker. \u201cWith this bill, we will see more federal funding go toward providing vital financial support to our small family farmers and ranchers.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nThe EQIP Improvement Act will reduce the overall payment cap on EQIP contracts, reduce federal cost-sharing for practices that provide little or no environmental benefits, and eliminate a requirement that 50% of EQIP funding flow to livestock operators.\n\nTo make the Environmental Quality Incentive Program more effective, this bill would re-focus support towards farmers and ranchers who need it the most by targeting funding to more producers and prioritizing conservation practices with significantly greater environmental and water quality benefits. This bill will eliminate wasteful spending and give states more control over conservation efforts.\n\nCurrently, over $1.2 billion of EQIP funds are spent on infrastructure practices that often support the largest operations and produce relatively little environmental benefit. Adjusting the cost-share for those practices would have allowed USDA to reinvest $583 million into other practices between 2018 and 2024, or $97 million per year.\n\nUSDA currently turns away over half of the farmers seeking conservation assistance. The savings from this bill will ensure that more farmers and ranchers have access to the most beneficial practices covered by EQIP. Analysis of EQIP contracts shows that between 2018 and 2021, just 23% of all EQIP funding went towards conservation practices with the most significant environmental benefits.\n\nThe EQIP Improvement Act would:\n\nSupport More Farmers and Ranchers \u2013 The EQIP Improvement Act will reduce the overall five-year EQIP payment cap from $450,000 to $150,000 \u2013 which will free up EQIP funds to serve more farmers. The bill would also end an arbitrary requirement that 50 percent of EQIP funds \u2013 over $1.8 billion between 2017 and 2020 \u2013 flow to livestock operators. From 2017 through 2022 more than 222,000 contracts were turned away from EQIP due to a lack of funding. This has created an unfunded backlog for EQIP of more than $7.4 billion.\n\nPrioritize Most Effective Conservation Practices \u2013 According to USDA data, several EQIP conservation practices produce significantly more environmental benefits, including drinking water protection. These practices include cover crops, no-till, crop rotations, nutrient management, and streamside buffers. The EQIP Improvement Act would allow states to have greater flexibility in funding these practices by reducing payments to practices that have little benefit to the environment.\n\nReduce Spending on Least Effective Conservation Practices \u2013 According to USDA data, several costly and structural EQIP practices provide very little benefit to taxpayers or the environment. Between 2018 and 2024, taxpayers provided more than $1.2 billion to support these practices, which include cost-sharing for roads, fish ponds, stock ponds, dams, animal waste pits, pipelines, and land clearing. The bill would reduce maximum cost-sharing from 75 percent to 40 percent for these practices.\n\nRead full text of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-applauds-house-passage-of-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization-act", "CURTIS APPLAUDS HOUSE PASSAGE OF SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS REAUTHORIZATION ACT", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 bipartisan passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025, which will help counties with significant federal forest lands offset lost revenue and keep essential local services running. The House vote follows a letter from Senator Curtis and his colleagues to renew the program, and the Senate\u2019s unanimous passage of the bill.\n\n\u201cSecure Rural Schools is a promise kept to counties that educate kids, maintain roads, and protect public safety in the shadow of federal forests,\u201d said Curtis. \u201cI am grateful the House made this move with strong bipartisan support, and I look forward to the President signing the bill quickly so Utah\u2019s rural counties can depend on the stable, predictable funding they deserve.\u201d\n\nWhy This Matters for Utah\n\nUtah has large stretches of federally managed forest land that are exempt from local property taxes; SRS payments are a critical backstop that support:\n\nSchools and student services in rural districts with limited tax bases.\n\nRoad maintenance and infrastructure that connect communities and support local economies.\n\nPublic safety needs, including wildfire mitigation and emergency response.\n\nAfter the program\u2019s authorization lapsed in September 2023, many counties nationwide faced steep drops in expected payments, leading to school closures, delayed road and bridge maintenance, and reduced public safety services. The 2025 reauthorization restores certainty for those affected communities.\n\nBackground\n\nThe Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act was enacted in 2000, giving counties the option to receive SRS payments to support public services like road maintenance, infrastructure, education, wildfire mitigation, and other efforts to address public safety. Congress has consistently reauthorized these payments with overwhelming bipartisan support, with the most recent reauthorization expiring at the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.\n\nThe Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025:\n\nExtends the SRS program through fiscal year 2026.\n\nDirects the Department of the Treasury to issue SRS payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 within 45 days of enactment, minus any amounts already received through other federal revenue-sharing mechanisms.\n\nContinues the county election framework for allocating funds among eligible uses.\n\nSenator Curtis has consistently supported commonsense policies that strengthen rural economies, improve public lands management, and ensure local governments are not left holding the bag for federal land ownership.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-introduces-legislation-to-strengthen-western-energy-security", "CURTIS INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN WESTERN ENERGY SECURITY", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Western Refined Fuel Reserve (WRFR) Act, legislation to establish a dedicated reserve of refined fuels west of the Rocky Mountains. The bill is designed to protect Western communities, military readiness, and regional economies from fuel shortages during emergencies by ensuring secure, strategically-located storage of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.\n\n\u201cFamilies, first responders, farmers, truckers, and small businesses across the West depend on reliable access to refined fuels every day,\u201d said Curtis. \u201cRight now, our emergency tools are outdated for Western realities. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve stores crude oil\u2014not the fuels people actually use\u2014in a crisis, time lost to refining and transporting fuel can mean real hardship. This bill closes that gap and strengthens our region\u2019s resilience.\u201d\n\nClick here for bill text and here for a bill summary.\n\nThe bill:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/icymi-curtis-talks-algorithms-immigration-healthcare", "ICYMI: CURTIS TALKS ALGORITHMS, IMMIGRATION, HEALTHCARE", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or the image above to watch the interview\n\nOn the Algorithm Accountability Act:\n\nThe goal is to get [social media companies] to be accountable. A lot of what happens with social media is very, very good. My daughters will tell you, they like things showing up that they want to buy. That\u2019s not harmful necessarily, but it can be. If you make an automobile and have a bad product, we hold you liable. If you make a medicine and it\u2019s a bad product, we hold you liable. Why don\u2019t we have that same philosophy with our social media companies? Without that, there are no guardrails, right? There\u2019s nothing holding them back. We know some very, very bad things happen with these algorithms.\n\nOn immigration:\n\nGoing back to the Biden Administration, we were told it was compassionate to have an open border. It wasn\u2019t. And now what\u2019s happening in our cities also feels like it\u2019s not compassionate. . . . If I were mayor, the very first thing I would do is sit down with ICE and I\u2019d say, \u201cI want the bad guys out of my city, and I want my citizens to feel safe.\u201d Let\u2019s do that. . . . We\u2019ve got to get rid of the bad guys and be compassionate the same time. We can do it.\n\nOn current debate over Obamacare Enhanced Premium Tax Credits:\n\nThis is not really a serious effort just to extend them for three years\u2014something that has not been working, and was meant to be temporary from the beginning\u2014this is not a good vote. We know we need a minimum premium for people, even if it\u2019s a couple of bucks. We know we need a cap on income. This is not a serious effort. We know there\u2019s flaws with these and we\u2019re not willing to change those flaws, sadly. There are a lot of Republicans and Democrats talking about both two things: one, how do we actually lower the cost, not just of insurance, but of healthcare; and then what do we do in the interim while we\u2019re waiting to do that. Those are two questions that we\u2019re not having thoughtful conversation about.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-calls-on-epa-to-advance-trump-agenda-by-not-shifting-compliance-costs-to-refineries", "Lee Calls on EPA to Advance Trump Agenda by Not Shifting Compliance Costs to Refineries", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) led a letter today with colleagues from the Senate calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support President Trump\u2019s American energy dominance agenda by preventing unfair reallocation of compliance costs onto oil refineries in Utah and across the country. U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) signed their support.\n\nThe letter reads as follows:\n\n\u201cThank you for the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) work to clear the Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) backlog. The SRE program is essential to advancing President Trump\u2019s energy dominance agenda by ensuring that refiners are protected from burdensome regulations and that American families do not face government-driven price hikes.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our strong opposition to the proposal to reallocate exempted renewable volume obligations (RVO). Reallocating exempted volumes, whether at 100% or at 50%, poses a serious threat for smaller market and independent refiners that are ineligible for SREs but not large enough to absorb the dramatic increase in costs posed by the updated RVO and newly proposed reallocation costs. Reallocation costs would likely impose tens of millions of dollars of additional Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) compliance burdens on each refiner. This proposal is an existential threat to many refiners and will certainly result in price hikes for American families.\n\n\u201cFurthermore, Congress has not authorized the reallocation of exempted volumes. As the EPA itself conceded, \u201cthe statute does not specifically require EPA to redistribute exempted volumes,\u201d instead relying solely on its \u201cauthority under Chevron\u201d due to alleged ambiguity. As you know, the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision expressly overturned Chevron deference in 2024, completely removing the statutory justification for the proposal.\n\n\u201cEven so, Congress was unambiguous on several matters. First, the RVO \u201cshall\u2026be expressed in terms of a volume percentage of transportation fuel sold or introduced into commerce in the United States.\u201d The reallocation proposal manipulates the calculation by changing the denominator required by statute to artificially increase nonexempt refiner obligations. Second, Congress stipulated in the Clean Air Act that adjustments to the percentage must be made \u201cto prevent the imposition of redundant obligations.\u201d Nonexempt refiners are already subject to obligations. The proposal subjects nonexempt refiners to redundant obligations that the nonexempt refiners themselves did not incur.\n\n\u201cThe reallocation proposal is a relic of the Biden- and Chevron-era. It is contrary to President Trump\u2019s energy dominance and regulatory agenda, including his Executive Order \u201cDirecting the Repeal of Unlawful Regulations.\u201d Any regulation that relies on Chevron must be repealed or not implemented. We respectfully request that EPA not move forward with any proposal to reallocate exempted volumes.\n\n\u201cThank you for your attention to this matter and for your work to advance President Trump\u2019s agenda. We eagerly await your response.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nSenator Lee introduced legislation earlier this year to block the EPA from forcing refineries to shoulder forgiven fines from other refineries that do not meet the EPA\u2019s environmental standards. U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Fetterman (D-PA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), James Risch (R-ID) have cosponsored the legislation, which received endorsements from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and the American Energy Alliance.\n\nCurrently, the EPA requires refineries in the U.S. to include a minimum volume of renewable fuel (e.g., ethanol, biodiesel, etc.) in all fuel sold, or pay to make up for any level of noncompliance. Small refineries may be granted exemptions if complying would cause \u201cdisproportionate economic hardship.\u201d The EPA is currently considering whether to reallocate forgiven payments over to non-exempt refineries, forcing compliant producers to shoulder even more costs despite no authorization from the Clean Air Act to do so.\n\nThis is an antiquated Bush-era program that originated in a time when there were fears about an \u201caddiction to foreign oil\u201d and a looming cliff for domestic oil production, seeking to turn the industry toward biofuels. Despite those fears proving unfounded, the program escalates its requirements each period, with the most recent Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) being the highest ever proposed.\n\nBy the EPA\u2019s own calculation, the proposed rule would impose compliance costs of approximately $6.7 billion per year, while returning benefits of only $200 million per year. The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) estimates that compliance costs are closer to $70 billion. This is simply a handout for the biofuel and agriculture industries at the expense of American refineries and consumers, who will see prices at the pump increase if the EPA moves forward with its proposed rule and reallocation of exempted payments.\n\nSenator Lee\u2019s proposal would protect Americans from artificially high gas prices by blocking the EPA from forcing refineries to shoulder unfair fines.\n\nAccess the full text of the letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-demands-end-of-taxpayer-funded-abortions-for-congressional-staff", "Lee Demands End of Taxpayer-Funded Abortions for Congressional Staff", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) led a bicameral letter today with Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and a large coalition from both the House and Senate urging the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to stop administering taxpayer-funded health care plans that include elective abortion coverage for members of Congress and their staff.\n\nLegislation passed in 1984 makes subsidizing elective abortions with federal funds illegal. In violation of this law, nearly every health plan offered for Congressional employees includes coverage for elective abortions. The letter demands that health care options for Congress are brought into alignment with the law.\n\nThe letter reads as follows:\n\n\u201cWe urge you to stop the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from administering government contributions for Members of Congress and Congressional staff in connection with health insurance plans that cover elective abortion, in violation of the longstanding Smith (NJ) Amendment.\n\n\u201cSince 1984, the Smith Amendment to the Financial Services Appropriations bill has prohibited the use of appropriated funds \"to pay for an abortion, or the administrative expenses in connection with any health plan under the Federal employees health benefits program which provides any benefits or coverage for abortions,\" except in cases \"where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest\" (Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, Pub. L. 117-328, Div. D, Title VI, sec. 613, 614, December 29, 2022). This longstanding provision of law restricts OPM from administering government contributions in connection with any health plan for federal employees that covers elective abortion.\n\n\u201cHowever, OPM is currently subsidizing plans that cover elective abortion in clear violation of the Smith Amendment. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) limits Members of Congress and designated Congressional staff to purchasing health plans offered through an Exchange, under a current Obama-era rule in effect since plan year 2014 (5 CFR \u00a7 890.501(h), 78 FR 60653, October 2, 2013), OPM administers government contributions under 5 U.S. Code \u00a7 8906 for Members of Congress and Congressional staff enrolled in any Gold level health insurance plan offered through the District of Columbia's Health Exchange Small Business Health Options Program (DC SHOP)\u2014also known as DC Health Link\u2014including plans that cover elective abortion.\n\n\u201cIn its regulatory preamble (78 FR 60654, October 2, 2013) and on its Frequently Asked Questions webpage, OPM claims that these abortion subsidies are allowed by attributing the segregated costs of the elective abortion coverage and associated administrative expenses to the individual's contribution, rather than the taxpayers' contribution. OPM's use of this accounting gimmick to grant abortion subsidies to Congress is not provided for under Section 1303 of the ACA and is blatantly illegal under the Smith Amendment's strict requirement for a complete exclusion of elective abortion coverage for federal employees. By flouting the Smith Amendment, such subsidies also violate the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits the authorization of expenditures or obligations without an appropriation by law.\n\n\u201cTaxpayers, who contribute 72 to 75 percent of these health benefit premiums, do not want their hard-earned tax dollars to pay for abortions. The Smith Amendment does not allow Members of Congress and Congressional staff to operate under a different set of rules than other federal employees when it comes to taxpayer funding of abortion. For 2026, there are only two health plans offered through DC Health Link that do not cover abortion, CareFirst\u2019s BluePreferred PPO Gold and United Healthcare\u2019s Choice Plus Gold.\n\n\u201cTherefore, we request swift action by OPM to ensure that any health insurance subsidies for members of Congress or Congressional staff are in full compliance with the clear terms of the Smith Amendment. Any DC SHOP plan that covers elective abortion should not be eligible for a government contribution.\n\n\u201cThank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to working with you to ensure the health and safety of the American people.\u201d\n\nOther signers of the letter include U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and U.S. Representatives Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Eric Burlison (R-MO), Ben Cline (R-VA), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Michael Guest (R-MS), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Mark Messmer (R-IN), Mary Miller (R-IL), Barry Moore (R-AL), Keith Self (R-TX), Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), and Daniel Webster (R-FL).\n\nAccess the full text of the letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-blumenthal-introduce-bill-to-silence-new-robocalls", "CURTIS, BLUMENTHAL INTRODUCE BILL TO SILENCE NEW ROBOCALLS", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced the Quashing Unwanted and Interruptive Electronic Telecommunications (QUIET) Act, legislation that would require robocalls to notify consumers when artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in calls or messages.\n\n\u201cThe innovation that comes with using artificial intelligence has the potential to bring incredible amounts of good to our lives, with the understanding that bad actors will and can take advantage of that,\u201d said Curtis. \u201cAlmost all Americans have been affected by scams through robocalls and we must work to ensure that with new technology, we have new safeguards.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur bipartisan measure helps protect consumers from bad actors who use AI to scam Americans out of their hard-earned money,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cCriminals are increasingly using AI in robocalls and text messages to trick consumers\u2014stealing billions of dollars from their victims each year. Strong safeguards like those in our QUIET Act are necessary to crack down on fraudsters and give Americans the peace of mind they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cOlder adults should be able to answer the phone without fear of being scammed,\u201d said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at AARP. \u201cBut nearly half say they get scam calls almost every day, draining billions of dollars from people who can least afford it. The QUIET Act will crack down on criminals using AI to trick and defraud, giving older Americans stronger protections and greater peace of mind.\u201d\n\nResources:\n\nBill text\n\nOne-pager\n\nBackground:\n\nCriminals using robocalls and fraudulent text messages continue to steal billions each year from hardworking Americans, with older adults being disproportionately targeted and harmed. In 2024, U.S. consumers received nearly 53 billion robocalls-an average of 200 per adult. According to a 2025 AARP survey, 95% of adults age 50+ received scam or illegal robocalls in the past year, and two-in-five reported such calls occur daily or almost daily.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-rosen-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-lower-costs-of-medications-medical-devices", "Curtis, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Lower Costs of Medications, Medical Devices", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced a bill to help reduce the cost of prescription drugs and medical devices, prevent drug shortages, boost domestic production, and create more jobs. Their bipartisan Expanding Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs and Medical Devices Act will create a clear pathway for nonprofit drug and medical device manufacturers to receive tax-exempt status, to support this critical industry and bolster nonprofit manufacturer production so more Americans can have access to lower cost medicine.\n\n\u201cAs Nevadans continue being squeezed by rising costs, I\u2019m working to lower costs any way I can,\u201d said Senator Rosen. \u201cWhether it\u2019s access to cancer-treating medication or insulin pumps, this bipartisan bill would help reduce costs by bringing medications and devices to the market at a reasonable price, while creating jobs right here at home. I will never stop fighting to ensure Nevadans can access the affordable medical care they depend on.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo much of what is lost in our conversation about healthcare is the true cost associated with medications and medical devices,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cUtahns and their families look to Congress to help cut red tape and streamline innovation, and alongside Senator Rosen, this legislation will help secure the domestic supply chain and empower nonprofit manufacturers to improve our most vulnerable health care markets.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe appreciate the attention of Congress to the non-profit pharmaceutical model,\u201d said Ned McCoy, President and CEO of Civica Rx. \u201cThis helps advance our mission to address drug shortages and ensure fair drug prices for consumers.\u201d\n\n\u201cNonprofit pharmaceutical companies are tackling important public health needs and drug supply challenges\u2014such as drug shortages and high prices\u2014that aren\u2019t being effectively addressed by traditional companies,\u201d said Dan Liljenquist, Chief Strategy Officer at Intermountain Health. \u201cThis legislation will help additional companies deliver on their important nonprofit missions.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-introduces-untaxed-act-to-stop-united-nations-from-taxing-americans", "Lee Introduces UNtaxed Act to Stop United Nations from Taxing Americans", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the UNtaxed Act to block the United Nations (UN) from imposing taxes on American citizens or businesses. President Trump successfully postponed a vote on the UN\u2019s proposed global carbon tax scheme earlier this fall, and the UNtaxed Act will support the President\u2019s agenda in Congress to ensure Americans are never subject to taxes imposed by international bureaucrats. Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) introduced the House version of this bill.\n\n\u201cThe United Nations has come up with yet another way to take American tax dollars for their woke climate guilt,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cPresident Trump stood up to the UN to block their global carbon tax, and it\u2019s time for Congress to back him up and put America first. Americans are already the UN\u2019s biggest cash cow \u2013 we shouldn\u2019t be forced to pay for anything we don\u2019t agree with, period.\u201d\n\n\"The International Maritime Organization buckled under pressure from President Trump and Republicans who unapologetically stood up for American interests. However, this fight isn't over,\" said RSC Chairman August Pfluger. \"This legislation would kill their global carbon tax scheme permanently by depriving all US funding to any UN agency that attempts to impose a tax on the American people and ensuring Congress has a say in all taxes, fees, and penalties on American citizens or companies. America is the largest contributor to the UN, and we should not bankroll an organization that seeks to tax our people and undermine our economy. Unelected international bureaucrats will not dictate to the American people.\"\n\nBackground\n\nA subsection of the United Nations has been attempting to force a global carbon tax for the past several years. Earlier this fall, President Trump persuaded the UN to postpone their vote on this burdensome violation of American sovereignty. The UNtaxed Act supports President Trump\u2019s America first agenda with legislative force to keep foreign bureaucrats away from American tax dollars.\n\nThe UNtaxed Act would:\n\nPrevent the United Nations or any of its affiliated bodies, including specialized agencies and commissions, from imposing any taxes, tariffs, fees, or penalties on U.S. citizens or businesses or requiring that such levies be paid.\n\nPermits such measures to be implemented only if they are part of an existing agreement with the United States that has been ratified by the U.S. Senate.\n\nProhibit the appropriation or allocation of funds for contributions to the United Nations or any of its affiliated bodies if those funds would be used to impose or enforce a global carbon tax.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-bill-repeals-dc-s-safe-harbor-for-abortionists-and-transgender-surgeons-fleeing-law-enforcement", "Lee Bill Repeals DC\u2019s Safe Harbor for Abortionists and Transgender Surgeons Fleeing Law Enforcement", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today preventing abortionists and gender transition providers from evading law enforcement by fleeing across state lines to Washington D.C. after performing abortions and procedures in states where doing so is illegal. Rep. Andrew Clyde introduced the House version of the bill.\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s capital should not be a refuge for people who take the lives of children or wreck their bodies with illegal drugs\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cCriminals on the lam can escape to DC after performing abortions in states where they are illegal, because they know DC will let them get away with it. This bill will repeal DC\u2019s safe harbor for illegal abortionists and peddlers of drugs for transexual procedures, restoring the rule of law to Washington.\u201d\n\n\u201cBoth abortion and cross gender hormone drugs have serious, irreversible consequences,\u201d said Rep. Andrew Clyde. \u201cWe cannot allow the Left\u2019s woke ideology, under the guise of \u2018bodily autonomy,\u2019 to infiltrate our states through the shipping of these drugs with zero legal repercussions. Congress must use its constitutional authority over our nation\u2019s capital to hold D.C. providers liable for undermining state laws and to protect women, children, and the unborn.\u201d\n\nThe bill is endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, and Alliance Defending Freedom.\n\n\u201cSo-called Shield laws protect abortionists, not women. DC's shield law gives broad immunity to abortionists, shielding them from criminal, civil, and professional consequences even when they violate other state pro-life laws. This includes allowing DC abortionists to prescribe and ship dangerous abortion drugs to people living in pro-life states where they are not licensed. Thank you, Rep. Clyde, for working to protect babies and their mothers by introducing the D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act to repeal this extremely reckless law.\u201d \u2013 Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America\n\n\u201cFRC is grateful to Rep. Clyde and Sen. Lee for introducing the D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act. Those who harm women and children via abortion or gender transition procedures should not be shielded from the repercussions of violating the law. This bill puts the victims first and helps ensure they can get justice. Washington, D.C. cannot be allowed to shield abortionists and \u2018gender transition\u2019 providers from being investigated and, if necessary, prosecuted for trafficking dangerous drugs in violation of state laws. Eleven percent of users experience serious complications, such as hemorrhage and life-threatening infections, after taking the abortion pill. If a woman in a pro-life state receives drugs that will kill her child from D.C. via the mail, the abortionist must be held accountable. If a young person in a pro-family state receives cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers, which can cause blood clots, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, destabilization of certain psychiatric disorders, sterilization, and more, from D.C. via the mail, the provider must be held accountable. D.C. does not have a right to override state laws. States have a right to protect their citizens, and victims must be protected.\u201d \u2013 MaryBeth Waddell, Director of Federal Affairs, Family Research Council\n\n\u201cShield laws are an evil loophole created for abortion providers to free themselves from accountability. Not only do these harmful laws undermine state law, they leave women and children helpless and alone with dangerous drugs and no protections. Representative Clyde\u2019s D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act is a necessary step to hold abortion providers accountable for protecting women and children.\u201d \u2013 Penny Nance, CEO and President, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Rep. Andrew Clyde for introducing this bill to repeal the so-called shield laws in Washington, D.C. These unconstitutional \u2018shield laws\u2019 open the door for the illegal and illicit flow of dangerous abortion drugs into prolife states, harm women and their unborn children, and protect abortion drug traffickers from legal liability. We commend Rep. Clyde for his leadership to repeal these pernicious laws that undermine the unalienable right to life.\u201d \u2013 Matt Sharp, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom\n\nBackground\n\nThe City Council of Washington, D.C. has enacted a \u201cshield law\u201d that legally protects abortionists or prescribers of abortion medication and cross-gender hormones in states where such actions are prohibited. This law prohibits D.C. officials and law enforcement from assisting in out-of-state investigations or prosecutions, providing sanctuary for individuals that break other states\u2019 pro-life or anti-minor transition laws. It also allows individuals and providers to sue for damages if they are targeted by lawsuits originating from out-of-state. The city requires that any subpoena from another state requesting information or testimony must be accompanied by a sworn statement confirming it does not pertain to protected \u201cbodily autonomy\u201d matters before it can be enforced in D.C.\n\nThe D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act would:\n\nRepeal the D.C. Council\u2019s Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022\n\nRemove legal provisions shielding abortion providers and doctors who prescribe cross-sex hormones to minors in states where such medication and procedures are prohibited\n\nRead exclusive coverage by The Daily Caller here.\n\nRead full text of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/dont-tread-on-our-trax-curtis-lee-bill-gives-transit-environmental-review-back-to-states", "Don\u2019t Tread on Our TRAX:\u00a0Curtis, Lee\u00a0Bill Gives Transit Environmental Review Back to States", "2025-12-01", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis and Mike Lee introduced bipartisan legislation today to improve transit project timelines and quality by restoring the responsibility for environmental reviews back to state agencies from the federal government. The Streamline Transit Projects Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and endorsed by Utah Transit Authority, Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).\n\n\u201cUtah is growing\u2014and for good reason,\u201d said Senator John Curtis. \u201cPeople are drawn here by our strong economy, vibrant communities, and healthy environment. But with that growth comes challenges we must face head-on. The Streamline Transit Projects Act gives transit agencies the flexibility to meet local needs more efficiently. In Utah, that means we can move faster on projects that connect people, reduce traffic, and protect the environment we all treasure.\u201d\n\n\u201cUtah\u2019s transit projects will be better off without the federal government meddling in every decision and holding up construction,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cRight now, our local officials take responsibility for environmental reviews on highway construction \u2013 but are forced to use the federal government when it comes to transit. My Streamline Transit Projects Act will give this authority back to the states to make construction timelines faster and quality better. Don\u2019t tread on our TRAX!\u201d\n\n\u201cRight now, simple transit projects can get tied up in years of red tape. Arizonans shouldn\u2019t have to wait that long for basic upgrades,\u201d said Senator Mark Kelly. \u201cOur bill cuts needless delays for low-impact projects by letting qualified local agencies handle routine environmental work, so commuters see the benefits sooner.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation will give transit agencies new tools to more quickly deliver projects that meet local needs and improve the ridership experience,\u201d said Senator Reverend Warnock. \u201cBy delivering transit projects faster, we can continue to invest in a brighter, more connected future for all who call Georgia home.\u201d\n\n\u201cUtah Transit Authority (UTA) appreciates Senator Lee\u2019s leadership in introducing the Streamlining Transit Projects Act, which will help transit agencies like ours deliver critical infrastructure projects more efficiently while maintaining strong environmental standards. By modernizing the NEPA process, this legislation provides the flexibility needed to advance transit improvements that better serve our growing communities. We thank Senator Lee for his commitment to supporting public transportation and helping streamline the path to better service for Utahns.\u201d \u2013 Carlton Christensen, Chair of the UTA Board of Trustees\n\n\u201cAPTA strongly supports the bipartisan Streamline Transit Projects Act, and commends Senators Lee, Warnock, Curtis, and Kelly for their leadership in advancing a smart, commonsense solution that will strengthen mobility nationwide. This legislation brings long-overdue modal parity by providing public transit agencies with the same authority long afforded to our highway partners. Empowering transit agencies to approve their own categorical exclusions will cut red tape, speed project delivery, and help communities realize the benefits of better public transportation sooner. Public transit agencies have the skilled environmental professionals needed to do this work and it is long-past time to give them this opportunity.\u201d \u2013 Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, APTA.\n\nThe Streamline Transit Projects Act:\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation to enter into a memorandum of understanding with interested state transit agencies to assume responsibility under NEPA for one or more transit projects.\n\nRequires participating states to determine whether certain activities are included within classes of action identified by the Secretary that are categorically excluded from requirements for environmental assessments or environmental impact statements.\n\nAllows the Secretary to terminate the assignment of responsibilities if the transit agency is not adequately carrying them out.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/don-t-tread-on-our-trax-lee-bill-gives-transit-environmental-review-back-to-states", "Don\u2019t Tread on Our TRAX: Lee Bill Gives Transit Environmental Review Back to States", "2025-12-01", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced bipartisan legislation today to improve transit project timelines and quality by restoring the responsibility for environmental reviews back to state agencies from the federal government. The Streamline Transit Projects Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and endorsed by Utah Transit Authority, Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).\n\n\u201cUtah\u2019s transit projects will be better off without the federal government meddling in every decision and holding up construction,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cRight now, our local officials take responsibility for environmental reviews on highway construction \u2013 but are forced to use the federal government when it comes to transit. My Streamline Transit Projects Act will give this authority back to the states to make construction timelines faster and quality better. Don\u2019t tread on our TRAX!\u201d\n\n\u201cUtah is growing\u2014and for good reason,\u201d said Senator John Curtis. \u201cPeople are drawn here by our strong economy, vibrant communities, and healthy environment. But with that growth comes challenges we must face head-on. The Streamline Transit Projects Act gives transit agencies the flexibility to meet local needs more efficiently. In Utah, that means we can move faster on projects that connect people, reduce traffic, and protect the environment we all treasure.\u201d\n\n\u201cRight now, simple transit projects can get tied up in years of red tape. Arizonans shouldn\u2019t have to wait that long for basic upgrades,\u201d said Senator Mark Kelly. \u201cOur bill cuts needless delays for low-impact projects by letting qualified local agencies handle routine environmental work, so commuters see the benefits sooner.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation will give transit agencies new tools to more quickly deliver projects that meet local needs and improve the ridership experience,\u201d said Senator Reverend Warnock. \u201cBy delivering transit projects faster, we can continue to invest in a brighter, more connected future for all who call Georgia home.\u201d\n\n\u201cUtah Transit Authority (UTA) appreciates Senator Lee\u2019s leadership in introducing the Streamlining Transit Projects Act, which will help transit agencies like ours deliver critical infrastructure projects more efficiently while maintaining strong environmental standards. By modernizing the NEPA process, this legislation provides the flexibility needed to advance transit improvements that better serve our growing communities. We thank Senator Lee for his commitment to supporting public transportation and helping streamline the path to better service for Utahns.\u201d \u2013 Carlton Christensen, Chair of the UTA Board of Trustees\n\n\"APTA strongly supports the bipartisan Streamline Transit Projects Act, and commends Senators Lee, Warnock, Curtis, and Kelly for their leadership in advancing a smart, commonsense solution that will strengthen mobility nationwide. This legislation brings long-overdue modal parity by providing public transit agencies with the same authority long afforded to our highway partners. Empowering transit agencies to approve their own categorical exclusions will cut red tape, speed project delivery, and help communities realize the benefits of better public transportation sooner. Public transit agencies have the skilled environmental professionals needed to do this work and it is long-past time to give them this opportunity.\" \u2013 Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, APTA.\n\nThe Streamline Transit Projects Act:\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation to enter into a memorandum of understanding with interested state transit agencies to assume responsibility under NEPA for one or more transit projects.\n\nRequires participating states to determine whether certain activities are included within classes of action identified by the Secretary that are categorically excluded from requirements for environmental assessments or environmental impact statements.\n\nAllows the Secretary to terminate the assignment of responsibilities if the transit agency is not adequately carrying them out.\n\nRead exclusive coverage by Deseret News here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/pinterest-endorses-mike-lee-s-app-store-accountability-act-to-protect-kids-online", "Pinterest Endorses Mike Lee\u2019s App Store Accountability Act to Protect Kids Online", "2025-12-01", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today announced the endorsement by Pinterest for his App Store Accountability Act. The social media giant voiced support for Lee\u2019s protections for children online, including age verification requirements in app stores and tools for parents to protect their children from harmful content online.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad that Pinterest is stepping up to protect kids and put parents in charge by supporting the App Store Accountability Act,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cApp stores need reliable age verification, parental controls, and safeguards against exploitation demanded by concerned parents across America. With the help of Pinterest, we\u2019re one step closer to protecting children online.\u201d\n\n\u201cPinterest is proud to endorse the App Store Accountability Act. Parents need a single, privacy-preserving solution to verify their child\u2019s age and know they\u2019re safe online. Making the app store a one-stop shop for age verification ensures children are protected from the moment they start using a device. We urge Congress to pass this important law.\u201d \u2013 Bill Ready, CEO, Pinterest\n\nRepresentative John James (R-MI) introduced the companion bill in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cKids cannot consent \u2014 and any company that exposes them to addictive or adult material should be held accountable,\u201d said Rep. John James. \"The App Store Accountability Act holds Big Tech companies to the same standard as local corner stores. It safeguards the next generation by empowering parents and ensures that when it comes to protecting children, no one is above the law. I\u2019m grateful that Pinterest and more than 100 others are stepping up and joining this effort to put parents first, hold app stores accountable, and protect kids online.\u201d\n\nPinterest joins Meta, Instagram, and Snapchat in calling for stronger protections for children\u2019s online safety. The App Store Accountability Act empowers parents as decision-makers for their children\u2019s online safety and holds app stores responsible for providing safeguards. The legislation requires app stores and developers to require parental approval for app downloads and provide accurate age ratings for apps. The bill also prohibits any selling or sharing of sensitive data or any act that would restrict freedom of speech.\n\nSupport for increased parental empowerment online is widespread and bipartisan. Recent polling shows 88% of parents support requiring app stores to obtain parental approval for minors to download apps, and 68% agree that granting approval through app stores would be the easiest way to provide their consent. 101 advocate organizations for children\u2019s online safety endorsed the App Store Accountability Act in a letter of support led by the Digital Childhood Alliance. The letter can be read here.\n\nThe App Store Accountability Act empowers parents to protect their children online by:\n\nRequiring app stores to utilize privacy-protecting age verification methods, and link minor-owned accounts to a parental account\u2014allowing parents to give consent before the minor makes downloads or purchases.\n\nProviding a safe harbor for compliant app stores: Platforms can meet minimum standards by offering tools like secure age verification, parental oversight, and accurate app age ratings.\n\nRequiring transparency and oversight: Annual certifications and a complaint mechanism will ensure tools are effective and loopholes are closed.\n\nProhibiting data exploitation: The sale of age-related data collected for verification will be strictly prohibited.\n\nRead exclusive coverage by The Verge here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/senator-lee-named-taxpayers-friend-receives-a-grade-for-cutting-spending", "Senator Lee Named \u2018Taxpayers\u2019 Friend,\u2019 Receives \u201cA\u201d Grade for Cutting Spending", "2025-11-24", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has earned the top score from the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) in its latest NTU Rates Congress report, placing Senator Lee among the top 20 lawmakers in Congress working to protect taxpayers and reduce wasteful government spending. As a result of his \u201cA\u201d grade, Senator Lee was given the NTU\u2019s Taxpayers\u2019 Friend Award.\n\n\u201cCutting wasteful government spending and lowering their tax burden is both a priority and personal responsibility I have to the Utahns who sent me to Congress to fight for them,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cI thank the National Taxpayers Union for their great work, and for recognizing our victories for hardworking American families.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf we had a hundred more members like Senator Mike Lee in Congress, the nation would be on much more prosperous and solid financial footing,\u201d said Brandon Arnold, National Taxpayers Union Executive Vice President. \u201cWe\u2019re grateful to Senator Lee for always putting taxpayers first when voting.\u201d\n\nThe NTU Rates Congress scorecard is the nation\u2019s most comprehensive nonpartisan analysis of federal tax and spending votes. In this report, NTU evaluated 39 Senate votes and 130 House votes, assigning greater weight to those with the largest long-term effects on federal taxes, spending, debt, and regulation.\n\nAccording to NTU, members who earn an \u201cA\u201d rating consistently vote to:\n\nReduce wasteful or excessive federal spending\n\nOppose tax increases\n\nLimit regulatory burdens that hinder economic growth\n\nThe full report is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-and-merkley-work-to-codify-taiwan-six-assurances", "CURTIS AND MERKLEY WORK TO CODIFY TAIWAN SIX ASSURANCES", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Six Assurances to Taiwan Act, a bipartisan bill to formally codify the Six Assurances as foundational U.S. policy toward Taiwan, reinforce congressional oversight, and prevent any unilateral change in America\u2019s longstanding position without legislative review.\n\nThe Six Assurances, originally conveyed by the Reagan Administration to Taiwan, are six key foreign policy commitments that have underpinned the U.S.-Taiwan relationship for nearly half a century. This bill gives those assurances the full force of law for the first time and ensures that any attempt to change them must first be reviewed by Congress.\n\n\u201cThe Six Assurances have been a cornerstone of U.S.\u2013Taiwan policy since President Reagan first outlined them in 1982,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cMy bill simply codifies these longstanding commitments, so they carry the full weight of law. As Beijing escalates its pressure campaign, this is about clarity, deterrence, and showing Taiwan that America\u2019s support is principled, bipartisan, and enduring.\u201d\n\n\u201cRepublicans and Democrats agree that the United States must reinforce our long-standing support for Taiwan,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cOur bipartisan bill codifies a cornerstone of U.S. policy toward Taiwan\u2014ensuring no administration can back away from this commitment behind closed doors\u2014and sends the strong message that members of Congress from both sides of the aisle will not stand for any efforts that undermine this essential partnership.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Six Assurances, reaffirmed by both Republican and Democratic administrations, are as follows:\n\nThe U.S. has not agreed to set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan.\n\nThe U.S. has not agreed to consult with the PRC on arms sales to Taiwan.\n\nThe U.S. will not play a mediation role between Taiwan and the PRC.\n\nThe U.S. has not agreed to revise the Taiwan Relations Act.\n\nThe U.S. has not altered its position on the issue of Taiwan sovereignty.\n\nThe U.S. will not pressure Taiwan to enter into negotiations with the PRC.\n\nThe Six Assurances to Taiwan Act strengthens these principles by making them U.S. law and requiring:\n\nCongressional Notification and Review: Before any U.S. administration can take action to alter arms sales, revise longstanding policy, or pressure Taiwan into negotiations, it must notify Congress and provide a full justification.\n\nLegislative Oversight Period: No such action may proceed until Congress has had up to 60 days to review and potentially block it through a joint resolution of disapproval.\n\nStabilizing Policy Declaration: It reaffirms that maintaining the Six Assurances is in the national, economic, and security interest of the United States and contributes to peace in the Indo-Pacific.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/lee-introduces-automatic-flight-risk-status-for-non-citizen-criminals", "Lee Introduces Automatic Flight Risk Status for Non-Citizen Criminals", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Flight Risk Reduction Act today to prevent non-U.S. citizen criminal defendants from fleeing and failing to appear for trial. The announcement follows the arrest of a non-citizen rideshare driver who announced plans to flee to Peru following the alleged sexual assault of a university student in Salt Lake City this week.\n\n\u201cOur communities are unsafe when non-US citizens exploit loopholes to escape our justice system and continually break our laws,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cJust this week in Salt Lake, a suspected rapist told our police he plans to return to Peru after his assault of a local university student. Under President Biden, more than 150,000 illegal aliens skipped their criminal hearings in 2023. That is eight times the rate from before he took office. The Flight Risk Reduction Act ensures courts have the necessary power to detain non-citizen criminals before trial, unless they can prove they are not a flight risk.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).\n\n\u201cThe Flight Reduction Act is commonsense: Illegal alien and non-resident criminals are a flight risk, and they must be detained until trial,\u201d said Senator Jim Banks. \u201cReleasing them only puts our communities in danger. This bill is about protecting Americans and enforcing the law.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt should be common sense that an illegal alien facing federal charges poses a flight risk and a danger to the community and should never be released on bail,\u201d said Senator Marsha Blackburn. \u201cThe Flight Risk Reduction Act would prohibit judges from releasing illegal aliens on bail when pending trial and protect the safety of the American people.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen individuals commit certain crimes in the United States, there are guardrails in place in our justice system to determine if they need to remain in pre-trial detention in order to ensure the safety of the American public,\u201d said Senator Katie Britt. \u201cThe Flight Risk Reduction Act takes an important step in amending current law to ensure illegal aliens who have perpetrated serious crimes are detained so that we can continue protecting American citizens and ensure justice is served. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor this bill and look forward to its consideration by the Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation would alter current law to help ensure criminal defendants who are not U.S. citizens are held pending trial rather than being granted bail and potentially skipping bail or fleeing the country before facing justice for their crimes, and I\u2019m glad to support it,\u201d said Senator John Cornyn.\n\n\u201cWe need to put the safety of Americans first,\u201d said Senator Josh Hawley. \u201cIt\u2019s time to close the loopholes illegal aliens use to exploit our judicial system and get back on the street, which endangers Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to ensure that Pennsylvania communities are safe and that our justice system functions effectively,\u201d said Senator Dave McCormick. \u201cI\u2019m proud to cosponsor the Flight Risk Reduction Act because it requires proof that illegal immigrant defendants do not pose a flight risk or threat to the community to qualify for bail. This is common-sense legislation designed to protect public safety.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo often, non-citizen violent criminals vanish before they can be held accountable,\u201d said Senator Pete Ricketts. \u201cBy empowering judges, this bill will keep Americans safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cSecuring our border and keeping our nation safe requires clear, commonsense standards, and this legislation ensures that individuals who enter our country illegally can\u2019t evade the law by exploiting gaps in the system,\u201d said Senator Thom Tillis. \u201cStrengthening pre-trial detention rules is a responsible step that upholds the rule of law and protects our communities.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nCurrently, detention hearings are automatically triggered for certain cases to assess whether a criminal defendant might flee. This bill would add non-U.S. citizenship as an automatic trigger for such hearings.\n\nThe Flight Risk Reduction Act\n\nCategorizes non-citizen criminals as presumed flight risks\n\nRequires defendants to present evidence demonstrating they will not flee or harm others\n\nDeems family ties and employment as possible evidence of community connections, but not necessarily sufficient factors for release\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-kelly-introduce-algorithm-accountability-act", "CURTIS, KELLY INTRODUCE ALGORITHM ACCOUNTABILITY ACT", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Critical legislation to hold tech companies accountable for their part in harming and radicalizing Americans\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced legislation to modernize online protections and hold social media companies accountable for harms caused by content pushed by their algorithmic feeds. The bill, the Algorithm Accountability Act, amends Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 to impose a duty of care on the companies that utilize recommendation-based algorithms.\n\nThe duty of care requires platforms to responsibly design, train, test, deploy, operate, and maintain their recommendation-based algorithm to prevent foreseeable bodily injury or death. It also gives injured individuals a clear civil right of action to seek relief in federal court.\n\n\u201cSection 230 was written nearly 30 years ago for a very different internet,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cWhat began as a commonsense protection for a fledgling industry has grown into a blanket immunity shield for some of the most powerful companies on the planet\u2014companies that intentionally design algorithms that exploit user behavior, amplify dangerous content, and keep people online at any cost. Our bill will hold them accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many families have been hurt by social media algorithms designed with one goal: make money by getting people hooked,\u201d said Senator Kelly. \u201cOver and over again, these companies refuse to take responsibility when their platforms contribute to violence, crime, or self-harm. We\u2019re going to change that and finally allow Americans to hold companies accountable.\u201d\n\nResources:\n\nBill summary\n\nBill text\n\nSection-by-section\n\nIn a recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece, Curtis outlined the urgent need for accountability for the social media algorithms that contribute to radicalization and violence:\n\n\u201cThe idea behind the Algorithm Accountability Act is simple: If companies use algorithms to influence the reach of content, they should bear responsibility when those algorithms negligently cause harm. We hold automakers accountable when a design flaw causes an accident. We hold pharmaceutical companies accountable when their products cause injury. There is no reason Big Tech should be treated differently.\u201d\n\nRead the full opinion here.\n\nWhat they are saying:\n\n\u201cUtah has led the nation in passing laws to protect children from the harms of social media, but these challenges don\u2019t stop at state lines. We need a national standard for accountability. I fully support Senator Curtis\u2019 Algorithm Accountability Act. By establishing a duty of care for social media platforms, this bill will help protect families across the country from the deceptive and addictive algorithmic designs that put profit above people. It\u2019s time for Congress to act.\u201d \u2013 Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox.\n\n\u201cBig Tech has made billions off algorithms that hook our children and harm their mental health. This legislation will help us better protect kids while also upholding our sacred right to free speech. I commend Sen. Curtis for sponsoring a bill that puts families first, holds platforms accountable, and preserves states\u2019 sovereign rights.\u201d \u2013 Utah Attorney General Derek Brown.\n\n\u201cSenator Curtis\u2019 Algorithm Accountability Act is crucial for rebuilding public trust in social media platforms by establishing a clear standard of care for social media algorithms, ensuring that these platforms prioritize transparency and accountability. Utah has seen firsthand the harms caused by these companies, having initiated the nation\u2019s first lawsuits against them, and has led the way with pioneering laws to protect minors on social media. We must hold these companies accountable to create a safer online environment for all users.\u201d \u2013 Margaret Woolley Busse, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce.\n\n\u201cSocial media companies are making billions of dollars off of addictive algorithms that are proven to be harmful, especially to young people. At the Arizona\u2019s Attorney General\u2019s Office, we\u2019ve taken to steps to hold these companies accountable, like by suing Meta for knowingly damaging youth mental health with their algorithms and by calling out social media companies when they regularly facilitate crime\u2014 including the trafficking of drugs, sharing of child sexual abuse material, and facilitating of human trafficking. I\u2019m so glad to see Senator Kelly take a proactive step and introduce a stronger law that will hold big tech accountable for the devastating harm their purposefully addictive algorithms are causing.\u201d \u2013 Kris Mayes, Arizona Attorney General.\n\n\u201cParents are doing everything they can, but we can\u2019t compete with systems designed to know and influence our kids. The Algorithm Accountability Act brings long-overdue responsibility to platforms that have operated without it for far too long. Holding tech companies to a reasonable duty of care finally aligns their power with their responsibility. This legislation finally brings the accountability urgently needed for the algorithms that shape young people\u2019s lives and, too often, their deaths.\u201d \u2013 Amy Neville, The Alexander Neville Foundation.\n\n\u201cWhen an algorithm predicts a child\u2019s vulnerabilities and then pushes harmful content anyway, that is not an accident, it is a foreseeable design failure. Parents RISE! supports the Algorithm Accountability Act because companies must be responsible for the tools they create.\u201d \u2013 Julianna Arnold, Parents RISE!\n\n\u201cFor far too long we have known that social media companies are engaging our kids with algorithms that feed them shocking videos on gore, disordered eating, cutting and suicide to name just a few. These teens are NOT looking this information up, it is a design choice by these companies to keep kids online longer solely for profit. The Algorithm Accountability Act will go a long way in holding these companies legally responsible for these dangerous and deadly algorithmic design choices.\u201d \u2013 Kristin Bride, The Carson J. Bride Effect.\n\n\u201cAnnalee, was 18 when we lost her to suicide in 2020. What we discovered afterward was devastating: her social media algorithms repeatedly fed her pro-suicide, depression, and anxiety content, normalizing those ideas and surrounding her in a world we didn\u2019t know she was trapped inside. Parents are up against platforms that study our children more closely than we ever could and use that knowledge to keep them online, even when the content harms them. Annalee was a bright, kind, young woman who deserved protection\u2014not automated systems that exploited her struggles. The Algorithm Accountability Act is exactly the kind of legislation that will stop what happened to my daughter from happening to others, and I am thankful to Senator Kelly for taking this issue seriously.\u201d \u2013 Lori Schott, Annalee\u2019s mother.\n\n\u201cThis bill takes an essential step toward safeguarding children by establishing a duty of care in algorithmic design \u2014 an approach strongly supported by families across the country. In Count on Mothers\u2019 nationwide research, we found striking consensus on one issue: social media\u2019s design practices are harming children. Mothers voiced deep concern about the mental and physical toll of addictive, profit-driven algorithms, with 96% supporting federal action to hold platforms accountable. This bill\u2019s \u2018duty of care\u2019 provision and liability for foreseeable harm reflect what families nationwide have said they need\u2014meaningful accountability, enforceable safeguards, and design standards that protect children\u2019s wellbeing.\u201d \u2013 Jennifer Bransford, Founder of Count on Mothers", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/senator-lee-introduces-audit-of-america-s-gold-reserves", "Senator Lee Introduces Audit of America\u2019s Gold Reserves", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Gold Reserve Transparency Act today supporting President Trump\u2019s historic transparency agenda by mandating long overdue comprehensive audits of all gold reserves held by the U.S. federal government. A similar bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).\n\n\u201cFor over half a century, there has not been a comprehensive audit of America\u2019s gold reserves,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cAmericans should know whether their literal national treasure is safe and accurately accounted for. That means passing the Gold Reserve Transparency Act, opening Fort Knox, U.S. Mint Facilities, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to an audit, and then making the results public.\u201d\n\n\"I am delighted to see Sen. Lee's Gold Reserve Transparency Act introduced in the Senate. The Federal Reserve and Treasury should not be permitted to operate in secrecy, especially when it comes to the most important monetary asset on the planet, i.e. gold. Restoring trust as to America's goldholdings is more important than ever when foreign central banks are scrambling to stockpile gold at incredible rates.\" \u2013 Ron Paul, Former Congressman\n\n\u201cI applaud Senator Lee for introducing the Gold Reserves Transparency Act! It is high time we have full transparency about our government\u2019s financial status. This is a key step in that direction.\" \u2013 David McIntosh, President, Club for Growth\n\n\"Our nation\u2019s founders understood the need for a stable dollar that conveys accurate price signals and provides a dependable monetary standard. Ensuring that citizens have access to an honest measure of value is not only a moral imperative\u2014it\u2019s an acknowledgment that sound money provides the optimal foundation for maximizing prosperity in an economy based on free markets and free people. America\u2019s gold holdings are a bulwark for the monetary integrity of the U.S. dollar; they must be audited and verified.\" \u2013 Judy Shelton, Independent Institute\n\n\"America's gold hasn't had a credible, comprehensive audit in decades and taxpayers deserve to know the status of their gold holdings -- including whether it has been encumbered via leases, swaps, or other financial transactions. Senator Lee's bill also would increase the quality of the gold itself, given the majority of U.S. gold reserves are unacceptable on the global market due to their low purity levels.\" \u2013 Jp Cortez, Executive Director, Sound Money Defense League\n\n\"Even if a credible audit, inventory, assay, and accounting had been conducted decades ago, this should be an ongoing process. Audits are never a \u2018one and done' affair. The U.S. Government's poor stewardship of America's gold reserves wouldn't hold muster in the private sector and has undermined confidence.\" \u2013 Stefan Gleason, President and CEO, Money Metals Depository\n\n\"As the economy continues to slide into another Fed-created downturn, it\u2019s more important than ever we know our gold reserves are fully protected and accounted for. The Federal Reserve and Treasury have a long history of operating in secrecy. This bill brings us one step closer to accountability.\" \u2013 John McCardell, Executive Director, Campaign For Liberty\n\n\"From its beginning in 1999, the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee's objective has been to bring full disclosure and transparency to the involvement of governments with gold and the gold market. This legislation by Sen. Mike Lee goes directly to the public's right to know about its government, so we support it heartily.\" \u2013 Chris Powell, Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee\n\n\u201cGoldback Inc. supports the Gold Reserves Transparency Act because Americans deserve clear insight into the nation\u2019s gold holdings. An independent audit strengthens public trust in the foundation of gold. Transparency is essential to sound money, and this bill delivers needed clarity into the current monetary system.\u201d \u2013 Jeremy Cordon, President and CEO, Goldback, Inc.\n\n\u201cThe Sound Money Trade Association strongly endorses the Gold Reserves Transparency Act. Sound money depends on accountability, and taxpayers deserve to know the status, purity, and encumbrances of their national gold holdings. This legislation provides meaningful transparency and reaffirms that honest money is vital to a healthy, prosperous economy.\u201d \u2013 Kim Coleman, Chair, Sound Money Trade Association\n\n\u201cCitizens for Sound Money fully supports the Gold Reserve Transparency Act of 2025. For more than sixty years, the American people have been denied a complete and independent accounting of the nation\u2019s gold. This bill restores a basic principle of self-government. The public has the right to know the status, location, purity, and encumbrances of the gold that ultimately belongs to them. Transparency is not optional. It is the foundation of trust in any monetary system. A full audit of U.S. gold reserves will bring clarity into an area that has been obscured for too long, and it will strengthen the case for honest weights, honest accounting, and honest money. Citizens for Sound Money urges swift passage of this critical legislation.\u201d \u2013 Daniel Diaz, Executive Director, Citizens for Sound Money\n\n\"Phinance.Gold, inc. and the Phinance family of companies supports the passage of the Gold Reserve Transparency Act of 2025. Our Motto is: Real Money is Freedom. Gold is the real money of the American People. The Gold held in our reserves doesn't belong to any political party, or government agency, it belongs to the American people. The Government is only the custodian of these public funds and has a fiduciary responsibility to disclose the state of those funds to the American people. For more than sixty years, the American people have been denied a complete and independent accounting of the nation\u2019s gold. This bill restores a basic principle of self-government: that the Government only obtains its just powers from the consent of the people who are the true possessors of God given human rights and owners of their nation and its reserves. The public has the right to know the status, location, purity, and encumbrances of the gold that ultimately belongs to them. Transparency is not optional. It is the foundation of trust in any monetary system. A full audit of U.S. gold reserves will bring clarity into an area that has been obscured for too long, and it will strengthen the case for honest weights, honest accounting, and honest money. We urge swift passage of this critical legislation.\" \u2013 Benjamin Schaffer, General Counsel, Phinance\n\nBackground\n\nThe U.S. Treasury has long claimed that an audit of the nation\u2019s gold reserves is performed annually. However, the last known comprehensive audits of these reserves are believed to have occurred several decades ago. A full audit of our gold reserves is long overdue, given their critical role in America\u2019s financial and national security. President Trump has deemed an audit necessary to \u201cmake sure the gold is there\u201d in our federal reserves.\n\nThe Gold Reserve Transparency Act would mandate a comprehensive and independent audit of every facility housing gold owned by the federal government and a full accounting of all transactions involving America\u2019s gold occurring in the past 50 years. The findings of these investigations will be publicly published and reported by the Comptroller General to Congress and the Secretary of the Treasury.\n\nThe Gold Reserve Transparency Act would require:\n\nA complete audit and inventory of all gold reserves owned by the United States within nine months of enactment, followed by subsequent audits every five years conducted by an external third-party auditor.\n\nAn assessment of the adequacy of measures for ensuring the physical security of these reserves.\n\nA full accounting of any encumbrances related to these reserves, including those arising from leases, swaps, or similar transactions that have occurred in the past 50 years.\n\nA comprehensive account of all gold reserves in which the U.S. Government, including the Federal Reserve, has either a direct or indirect interest.\n\nA publicly available report by the Comptroller General to Congress and the Secretary of the Treasury within three months of completing the audit.\n\nRead exclusive coverage by Breitbart News here.\n\nRead bill text of the Gold Reserve Transparency Act here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-lujan-kim-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-develop-and-deploy-innovative-wildfire-prevention-technologies", "CURTIS, LUJ\u00c1N, KIM INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO DEVELOP AND DEPLOY INNOVATIVE WILDFIRE PREVENTION TECHNOLOGIES", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-Utah) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) introduced the Fire Innovation Unit Act, bipartisan legislation that establishes a deployment and demonstration pilot program for new and innovative wildfire prevention, detection, communication, response, and mitigation technologies. The Fire Innovation Unit Act requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to create a Fire Innovation Unit to coordinate among federal agencies to ensure that piloted wildfire technology is carefully evaluated, deployed, and scaled, including through public-private partnerships. U.S. Representative Young Kim (R-Calif.) leads companion legislation in the House.\n\n\u201cWildfires are growing more intense, and our response must grow smarter. The Fire Innovation Unit Act would give us the tools to develop and deploy cutting-edge technologies that can better protect our communities and first responders. Utahns understand the importance of preparation, stewardship, and innovation. This bill reflects all three. I\u2019m proud to be a part of this bipartisan effort to move from reactive to proactive wildfire management,\u201d said Senator Curtis.\n\n\u201cAs wildfires continue to wreak havoc on communities across New Mexico and the country, we must find innovative tools and technologies to combat the ever-changing threats posed by wildfires,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce my bipartisan Fire Innovation Unit Act, legislation that would allow us to develop and deploy innovative wildfire prevention and mitigation technologies. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this legislation passed and boost our wildfire prevention and mitigation capabilities.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many in our community know the devastation of wildfires firsthand, and our first responders are already stretched thin,\u201d said Rep. Young Kim. \u201cOur first responders deserve every tool possible to protect lives, property, and our communities. From early detection systems to AI-enabled modeling, innovative technologies can transform wildfire response. The Fire Innovation Unit Act creates a public-private partnership so proven technologies can get into the field faster.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to advance and invest in wildfire science, data, and technology to confront the megafire crisis,\u201d said Matt Weiner, Founder and CEO of Megafire Action. \u201cSenator Luj\u00e1n has long been a champion for the use of technology to prepare for, prevent, and recover from devastating wildfires. Megafire Action is proud to endorse both the Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act and the Fire Innovation Unit Act sponsored by Sen. Luj\u00e1n, Sen. Curtis, and Rep. Kim to leverage cutting edge technology to protect communities and lives and to recover in a smart and responsible way when disaster strikes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Association of Firetech Innovation (AFI) applauds the leadership of Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n and Senator John Curtis for introducing the Fire Innovation Unit Act. This legislation marks an important step toward accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies that enhance wildfire detection, prevention, and response. By establishing a pilot program, the bill will help ensure that frontline responders and communities at greatest risk have access to proven, life-saving tools,\u201d said Alexis Oberg, Association of Firetech Innovation.\n\nThis Fire Innovation Unit Act is based on an amendment Senator Luj\u00e1n successfully secured to the Fix Our Forests Act, which was reported favorably out of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/sens-curtis-schiff-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-create-first-ever-respiratory-protection-requirements-for-federal-firefighters", "SENS CURTIS, SCHIFF INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO CREATE FIRST-EVER RESPIRATORY PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL FIREFIGHTERS", "2025-11-17", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. John Curtis (R-Utah.) and Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the bipartisan Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act, legislation to create the first-ever respiratory protection standards for wildland firefighters. For decades, federal firefighters were prohibited from wearing respiratory protection despite a growing body of evidence warning about long-term health risks of wildfire smoke. This bill would ensure the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) take long overdue steps to protect the health of these heroes. This legislation is also co-sponsored by Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).\n\n\u201cOur wildland firefighters already face some of the most grueling, dangerous conditions imaginable. The least we can do is ensure access to materials that will protect them from the long-term health consequences of breathing toxic smoke. This bill ensures we bring common sense, science, and basic decency to how we equip our firefighters,\u201d said Senator Curtis.\n\n\u201cFirefighters are heroes, and it\u2019s critical that we do everything possible to ensure they\u2019re protected from the health risks associated with wildfires. I am proud to introduce this long-overdue bipartisan bill with my Senate colleagues to minimize the toxic exposures that firefighters face when they\u2019re bravely defending our communities and public lands. I\u2019m going to push for Congress to pass this commonsense proposal,\u201d said Senator Schiff.\n\n\u201cWildland firefighters deploy in the most extreme conditions to combat wildfires, preserve vital ecosystems, and save lives. These heroic men and women should not be forced to face long-term illness or premature death due to smoke exposure on the job. Our bill ensures that firefighters are given the critical protective equipment they need to stay healthy during the long, grueling hours on the front lines protecting us all,\u201d said Senator Padilla.\n\nFederal wildland firefighters often work 16-hour shifts in grueling conditions, inhaling toxic smoke. Despite this, federal wildland firefighters were prohibited from wearing respiratory protection despite evidence warning about health risks of wildfire smoke. Studies have shown exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to adverse health impacts, including more than a dozen kinds of cancer. The life expectancy of firefighters is 10 years less than the average adult due to lung damage.\n\nIn September 2025, USFS posted guidance acknowledging for the first time that respiratory protections can protect firefighters against harmful particles in wildfire smoke and reversing a decades-long rule that banned federal wildland firefighters from wearing respiratory protection while performing wildland firefighting activities. The legislation reinforces this action to ensure the agencies develop respiratory protections for firefighters.\n\nThe Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act specifically would:\n\nDirect USFS and DOI to work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to develop appropriate respiratory protections that take into account the unique needs of wildland firefighters.\n\nDirect USFS and DOI to provide protection to wildland firefighters and require its use when smoke exposure exceeds NIOSH and OSHA exposure limits.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, FireGen Collaborative, and former U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell.\n\n\u201cWe strongly support this legislation to modernize and standardize respiratory protection for wildland firefighters. As wildfire seasons grow longer and more dangerous, our federal wildland firefighters deserve safety standards that reflect the extreme conditions they face. Equally important is the bill\u2019s mandate to determine appropriate equipment and regularly review and update all relevant PPE standards. This ensures that respiratory protection keeps pace with evolving science, operational demands, and the realities of modern fire behavior. Wildland firefighters risk their lives to protect our communities. Establishing clear exposure parameters and reliable respiratory protection is the least we owe to those who stand between our nation and catastrophic fire,\u201d said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM).\n\n\u201cThe Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act represents a critical and long-overdue step toward protecting firefighters from prolonged smoke exposure during wildfire. The science is clear: structural and wildland firefighters are routinely exposed to dangerous levels of toxic compounds that far exceed permissible limits, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer has reclassified their occupational exposure as carcinogenic to humans. Senator Schiff and Senator Curtis\u2019 bill addresses the gap for all firefighters fighting wildfire regardless of landscape. From the wildland to the interface to community conflagration, firefighters have no respiratory protection as they cannot wear the typical SCBA worn during structural fires. By requiring appropriate respiratory protection aligned with NFPA 1984 standards through collaboration with NIOSH, OSHA, and the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, this Act can close the gap. As we face increasingly severe wildfire seasons, we cannot ask our firefighters to sacrifice their long-term health. This legislation honors their service by ensuring they have the tools to protect themselves while protecting our communities. I strongly support this bill and urge Congress to pass it swiftly,\u201d said Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, Former U.S. Fire Administrator.\n\n\u201cGrassroots Wildland Firefighters would like to thank Senators Schiff and Curtis for introducing legislation that recognizes real environmental hazards wildland firefighters face. For too long the physical health and wellbeing of these responders has been ignored by their own agencies. We enthusiastically endorse theHealthy Lungs for Heroes Act of 2025 and urge all committee members to support this bill. Wildland firefighters\u2019 lives literally depend on it,\u201d said Lucas Mayfield, President, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters.\n\n\u201cThe National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) commends Senators Schiff and Curtis for leading the introduction of the \u2018Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act\u2019, and thanks Senators Sheehy and Padilla for their critical support. With two-thirds of \ufb01re departments reporting insufficient wildland PPE, many \ufb01re\ufb01ghters face dangerous gaps in protection against escalating wild\ufb01res. This legislation is a vital step to help ensure every \ufb01re\ufb01ghter has the gear they need to stay safe while safeguarding our communities,\u201d said Jim Pauley, NFPA President and CEO.\n\n\u201cFireGen Collaborative strongly supports the Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act of 2025. As early career fire personnel, we understand the health disparities we face, and the importance of protecting our health to maintain our longevity and livelihoods. Yet, wildland firefighters face some of the most hazardous working conditions in public service, including chronic exposure to smoke and particulates. This legislation takes a crucial step to ensure that those who protect our communities are protected themselves, with strategies and evidence-based safety standards for protective equipment. We commend Congress for prioritizing the well-being of wildland firefighters and we urge swift passage of this critical measure,\u201d said Ryan Reed, Program Director, FireGeneration Collaborative", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-calls-for-lowering-political-temperature-reforming-social-media-algorithms-at-uvu-townhall", "CURTIS CALLS FOR LOWERING POLITICAL TEMPERATURE, REFORMING SOCIAL MEDIA ALGORITHMS AT UVU TOWNHALL", "2025-11-14", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Orem, Utah \u2013 At a CNN townhall at Utah Valley University, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) urged Americans to lower political tensions and introduced critical social media reforms. Reflecting on the recent shooting of Charlie Kirk and other high-profile attacks, Senator Curtis warned, \u201cIf it can happen here in Utah, it can happen anywhere,\u201d calling for the tempering of political tensions from both sides of the aisle.\n\nCurtis focused heavily on the role of social media in driving division and harm, describing how platforms have shifted from connecting friends to weaponizing algorithms for profit. He outlined bipartisan legislation he is working on with Senator Kelly to hold companies liable when their algorithms cause harm, while preserving free speech: \u201cAnybody can still post what they want\u2014but when a company chooses to amplify or suppress content, they should own the consequences.\u201d\n\nOn contentious issues like guns and immigration, Senator Curtis demonstrated how to model disagreement without division. He highlighted areas of common ground on gun violence, especially suicide prevention and safe storage, and expressed openness to nuanced tools that keep firearms out of the hands of those in crisis while protecting due process and constitutional rights.\n\nOn immigration, he reaffirmed Utah\u2019s long-standing \u201cUtah Compact\u201d principles: \u201cIt\u2019s a false narrative that we can\u2019t obey the rule of law and be compassionate at the same time. We can\u2014and we must\u2014keep families together and uphold our values.\u201d\n\nSenator Curtis closed by returning to the theme of trust and community over chaos:\n\n\u201cIf you wake up looking for the bad in people, you\u2019ll find it. If you wake up looking for the good, you\u2019ll find that too. . . My commitment is to keep looking for the good, to keep working across the aisle, and to do my part every day to bring this country together.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-statement-on-senate-vote-to-fund-government-end-shutdown", "CURTIS STATEMENT ON SENATE VOTE TO FUND GOVERNMENT, END SHUTDOWN", "2025-11-10", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Curtis (R-UT) voted to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and advance critical annual appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food and Drug Administration, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs. Following the Senate\u2019s action, Senator Curtis issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cI commend the Senate\u2019s action to end the shutdown that has cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars and negatively impacted the lives of millions of Americans. Utahns deserve far better from Washington.\n\n\u201cOver the past 51 years, Congress has managed to pass a proper budget only four times. That is completely unacceptable. It is time to reform the process and restore fiscal responsibility.\n\n\u201cI am committed to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to create a long-term solution that prevents either party from holding the government\u2014and the American people\u2014hostage again.\u201d\n\nAs part of the Military Construction portion of the bill, Senator Curtis secured $162.6 million for key military infrastructure projects in Utah, including:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-hosts-virtual-townhall-during-longest-government-shutdown-in-u-s-history", "CURTIS HOSTS VIRTUAL TOWNHALL DURING LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN U.S. HISTORY", "2025-11-07", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or the image above to watch the townhall\n\nCurtis outlined several of his top legislative efforts, including the Fix Our Forests Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at improving forest management and reducing wildfire risks. He also emphasized the need for increased bipartisan cooperation and reaffirmed his commitment to addressing national spending and reforming the federal budget process, pointing to his proposed legislation that would prevent future shutdowns.\n\nOn preventing future government shutdowns:\n\nQuestion: What can you do to meet budget deadlines in the future so temporarily funding the government isn\u2019t necessary? (Lisa, Ogden)\n\nCurtis: I have a bill that is brilliant, in my own opinion, and would solve all of this. . . My bill is remarkably simple: it simply says when you do an appropriation, it doesn\u2019t expire until you do the next appropriation, meaning that would always stay active. You can never go into a shutdown, and until there\u2019s enough pressure to do a new appropriation, that previous one stays in place.\n\nOn protecting the Senate Filibuster (60-vote threshold to pass legislation in the Senate):\n\nQuestion: What is your view on breaking the Senate filibuster to move forward on a [continuing resolution] and an end to the government shutdown? If against a break in the filibuster, what is the path forward you propose to end the shut down? (Todd, Provo)\n\nCurtis: A lot of [senators] feel strongly that we need to keep that 60 vote threshold, and I\u2019m one of them.\n\nOn ensuring SNAP benefits during the government shutdown:\n\nQuestion: Will you encourage the Trump Administration to use available funds to fully fund SNAP benefits for November? (Ella, Provo)\n\nCurtis: Yes, of course. I think we all will. The worry is, there are a number of questions about, are the funds adequate, how long will the funds go and where do these funds come from. And so, I know the courts were weighing in on what President Trump could use and what he couldn\u2019t use.\n\nI don\u2019t know anyone that does not want to do everything possible to make sure we\u2019re meeting those SNAP benefits, but at some point, as the shutdown goes on, we run out of those options as well, which is just one of the reasons why shutdowns are bad idea to begin with.\n\nOn the sustainability of Social Security:\n\nQuestion: When will the issues with Social Security be addressed? Do you see this happening before the trust fund is exhausted and benefits begin being automatically reduced? (Lynn, Cottonwood Heights)\n\nCurtis: In my maiden speech [in the senate], I talked about this and how we\u2019re really not being honest with the American people when people said we\u2019re not going to touch Social Security in the last election. Well, that\u2019s not true. In 2034, benefits will be cut by 25 percent. I\u2019ve made a commitment to lean into this.\n\nWe actually are scheduling three different social security roundtables between now and the end of the year, where we\u2019ll pull together some seniors, some young people and some business people in these three different groups, and we have a calculator that says, if we move the age, here\u2019s what happens; if we move the amount that we take for your paycheck, here\u2019s what happens.\n\nWe want to bring these people in and help them decide which levers we should pull to save Social Security. I also believe this is another false narrative that you can\u2019t save Social Security and\u2014at the same time\u2014not hurt people or endanger Social Security. But if we don\u2019t make changes for people who are in their 20s or 30s and their 40s now, it will break.\n\nOn public land management:\n\nQuestion: How can we protect our public lands from environmentalists\u2019 overreach, who want to lock up the land and keep anyone from being able to use it? (Stephen, Moab)\n\nCurtis: I believe it\u2019s a false narrative to say that we can\u2019t protect and preserve public lands and use them, recreate in them, and enjoy them. . . . I\u2019ve watched firsthand places like Emery County resolve these public lands issues in a way that accommodates both. We did one of the state\u2019s largest public land bills ever, and we brought in all the stakeholders, the ranchers, the extraction the environmentalists, the off-road enthusiasts, and we designated areas where it was appropriate to recreate, where it was appropriate to extract, where it was appropriate to preserve. And you know what we found? That there was enough room for all of it. . . .\n\nWhat happens, unfortunately, is we get into these executive orders that go around Congress, and when you go around Congress, you don\u2019t get consensus. And therefore, as the President comes in, you do this flip flopping back and forth between Republicans and Democrats. And really, the best answer to your question is to not let the executive branch do that, but put it into legislation. Because if it\u2019s in legislation, that means we had to find consensus between these different groups. And I\u2019m telling you; we can find consensus.\n\nOn tariffs:\n\nQuestion: Will Congress take back the power to create international tariffs if the Supreme Court rules against the president? How would that look? (Brooke, Draper)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/senator-mike-lee-leads-amicus-brief-urging-supreme-court-to-end-baseball-s-antitrust-exemption", "Senator Mike Lee Leads Amicus Brief Urging Supreme Court to End Baseball\u2019s Antitrust Exemption", "2025-11-07", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) announced today that he is leading an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn a century-old precedent that has long shielded professional baseball from the nation\u2019s antitrust laws. Senator Lee serves as Chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights and is joined on the amicus brief by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), the subcommittee\u2019s Ranking Member.\n\n\u201cFor too long, Major League Baseball has enjoyed an exemption from the competition laws that apply to every other professional sport and business in America,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cAs I\u2019ve said before, baseball understands best of all the benefits of competition. Sadly, our Supreme Court has historically balked at the opportunity to overturn a wrongly decided case, and subject professional baseball to the same competition laws as every other professional sport. It is time for America\u2019s pastime to be revitalized by the laws governing all American businesses.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor over a century, professional baseball has enjoyed a free pass to break the rules of fair competition because of a flawed Supreme Court ruling\u2014one that the Court itself has acknowledged was a mistake,\u201d said Senator Cory Booker. \u201cThe one-of-a-kind antitrust exemption gives leagues the power to artificially control salaries, ticket prices, team relocations, and more, harming players and baseball fans alike. It\u2019s time the Court fix this error and ensure that baseball, like every other sport, plays by the same rules of fair competition.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nIn 1922, the Supreme Court ruled that professional baseball was exempt from federal antitrust laws \u2014 a decision that has since been widely criticized as incorrectly decided. Although the Court has repeatedly acknowledged the ruling\u2019s flaws over the years, it has declined to take responsibility for reversing it, leaving Congress or future Courts to act.\n\nThis exemption has allowed Major League Baseball to suppress player wages, divide markets, and restrict competition in ways that other leagues such as the NFL and NBA are prohibited from doing. The persistence of this outdated judicial carveout continues to distort the free market and disadvantage players, teams, and fans alike.\n\nSenator Lee\u2019s bipartisan amicus brief calls upon the Supreme Court to end this anomaly and by applying America\u2019s antitrust laws uniformly across the professional sports industry. The brief argues that the Court has both the authority and the obligation to correct its past error and bring baseball into alignment with modern competition law.\n\nRead the full text of the amicus brief here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/lee-bill-deregulates-life-saving-transplants-for-americans-with-diabetes", "Lee Bill Deregulates Life-Saving Transplants for Americans with Diabetes", "2025-11-05", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today to cut nonsensical bureaucratic red tape preventing life-saving islet transplants for diabetic Americans. The Increase Support for Life-saving Endocrine Transplantation (ISLET) Act corrects a miscategorization of islets as drugs rather than organs \u2013 cutting through unnecessary regulations keeping critical surgeries out of reach. The legislation is sponsored by U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) and endorsed by Islets for US Collaborative, The Cure Alliance, and the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation.\n\n\u201cAmericans living with diabetes have been kept from life-saving research by nonsensical red tape from the federal government,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cOther countries treat islet transplantation as standard care, but a miscategorization in our law regulates islet as drugs rather than organs. My ISLET ACT fixes this bureaucratic mess to bring America up to speed and make critical care available to those with Type 1 diabetes.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the U.S. continues to lead the world in modern medicine, we should expand patient access to effective therapies rather than overregulating treatments,\u201d said Senator Ted Budd. \u201cI am proud to introduce this important legislation alongside Senator Lee to place islets under a less strict regulatory framework to expand access to proven treatment methods for Type 1 Diabetes,\u201d\n\n\u201cThis long-awaited legislation brings hope to patients with Type 1 diabetes across the United States. It will make a life-saving procedure accessible for those in desperate need, while also enabling further progress in the field and advancing the pursuit of a cure for diabetes. I wholeheartedly support the Islet Act of behalf of the Islets for US Collaborative representing scientific and medical leaders in the field from the leading US academic institutions.\u201d \u2013 Piotr Witkowski, M.D. Ph.D, Director, Pancreatic Islet and Pancreas Transplantation Program, Islets for US Collaborative\n\n\u201cIt is with the highest level of enthusiasm that I endorse the ISLET Act. Finally, Americans with diabetes will be able to benefit from islet transplantation, a treatment that has already been approved, available and reimbursable around the world. We now have a chance to join the rest of the developed world, where islet transplants are regulated similarly to organ transplants, making the treatment available also in the U.S. while further contributing to advancing the field worldwide.\u201d \u2013 Camillo Ricordi, MD, FNAI, The Cure Alliance\n\nThe ISLET Act:\n\nUpdates the current definition of organ in the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to include \u201chuman cadaveric islets.\u201d This would authorize HRSA and OPTN to regulate islets as organs.\n\nProhibits HHS from regulating pancreatic islets as drugs under the Food Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDCA).\n\nProhibits HHS from regulating pancreatic islets as biological products or Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular/Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps) under the Public Health Service Act (PHSA).\n\nRequires the Secretary of HHS to update all regulations within a year of enactment to reflect the previously mentioned changes.\n\nRequires the Secretary of HHS to submit a report to Congress on its progress within 6 months of the date of enactment.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/lee-introduces-safer-supervision-act-to-reduce-repeat-crime-and-waste", "Lee Introduces Safer Supervision Act to Reduce Repeat Crime and Waste", "2025-11-05", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Safer Supervision Act to improve efficiency of supervised release programs and reduce repeat crime and government waste. The bipartisan legislation restores Congress\u2019 original intent for law enforcement to focus on high-risk criminals to keep America\u2019s streets safe and for tax dollars to be spent where they are most effective. The Safer Supervision Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chris Coons (D-DE), James Lankford (R-OK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).\n\n\u201cProbation officers and judges know exactly which criminals are high-risk repeat offenders in need of monitoring through supervised release,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cBut when runaway government programs tie judges\u2019 hands and spread officers\u2019 time too thin, our streets become dangerous and the same people return to prison again and again. The bipartisan Safer Supervision Act allows our law enforcement to focus on the most dangerous criminals to reduce both repeated crime and government waste at the same time.\u201d\n\n\u201cSupervised release should be based on individual facts to help those who need it most integrate back into society,\u201d said Senator Kevin Cramer. \u201cOur bill ensures supervision is imposed on those who are at higher risk of recidivism and ensures our supervision system is not overburdened.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too long, our federal supervision system has failed to deliver real rehabilitation for those who served their time, harming former prisoners and the public as a whole,\u201d said Senator Chris Coons. \u201cAfter people complete their sentences, they deserve a fair chance to rebuild their lives. The Safer Supervision Act will help focus our resources where they're needed most, thereby improving public safety and giving all those under supervision an opportunity to succeed. I urge my colleagues and this administration to follow through on the promise of improving our justice and prison systems by taking up this bipartisan effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cOklahomans want a fair justice system that addresses violent crime and focuses on rehabilitation so individuals who are not a threat to public safety can get back to their families, jobs, and communities,\u201d said Senator James Lankford. \u201cI\u2019m glad to partner with my colleagues to make these commonsense adjustments to our nation\u2019s federal supervised release program. Supervised release is an important tool but should be tailored to the individual. We should continue to incentivize good behavior and give people second chances when they earn them.\u201d\n\n\u201cSupervised release should help people turn their lives around, not trap them in red tape,\u201d said Senator Thom Tillis. \u201cThis bill will ensure supervision is focused where it\u2019s needed most, give people a real opportunity to rebuild their lives, and allow probation officers to focus on keeping our communities safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation would return the supervision system to Congress\u2019 original intent,\u201d said Senator Roger Wicker. \u201cSupervised release should be extended based on individual circumstances to those integrating back into society. Such an approach would channel more resources to improving public safety, supporting rehabilitation, and reducing recidivism.\u201d\n\nThe bill has been endorsed by a wide range of conservative, law enforcement, and faith groups, including America First Policy Institute, Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Club for Growth, Right on Crime, Major Cities Chiefs Association, National District Attorneys Association, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, American Probation and Parole Association, REFORM Alliance, Unify.US, Americans for Prosperity, Faith and Freedom Coalition, Due Process Institute, Prison Fellowship, United States Conference of Mayors, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Futures Without Violence, Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, and others.\n\n\u201cThe Safer Supervision Act embodies CPAC\u2019s conservative principles of accountability and redemption,\u201d said Patrick Plein, Director of the Conservative Political Action Conference\u2019s Nolan Center for Justice. \u201cBy incentivizing positive behavior and providing a path for early termination of supervision for those who have proven themselves worthy, Congress can help probation officers focus on those who really are in need of intensive supervision. This targeted approach places resources where they belong, helping stop crimes before they happen, shielding families and neighborhoods from preventable victimization. Giving probation officers these tools for success improves public safety. Advancing this legislation will make our neighborhoods safer by ensuring proactive, targeted oversight where it is needed most.\u201d\n\n\"NDAA supports the Safer Supervision Act which emphasizes individualized assessments at the sentencing stage, leading to a more tailored and just application of supervised release,\u201d said Nelson Bunn, Executive Director of the National District Attorneys Association. \u201cAdditionally, the increased support for federal probation officers enables them to manage their caseloads more effectively and focus on the high-risk individuals who need close supervision. The Safer Supervision Act strikes the right balance of fairness, rehabilitation, and our unwavering commitment to public safety.\"\n\n\"I am proud to stand with Senator Lee, a true Constitutionalist, in standing up for freedom and public safety,\u201d said David McIntosh, President of Club for Growth. \u201cSenator Lee's SAFER Supervision Act will advance the cause of freedom, enhance safety for American families, and save money for American taxpayers. I applaud Senator Lee for continuing to lead the way.\u201d\n\n\u201cSupervised release should serve one clear purpose: to improve public safety,\u201d said Brett Tolman, Executive Director of Right On Crime and former U.S. Attorney. \u201cToday, hundreds of thousands of Americans remain under supervision long after demonstrating rehabilitation. This outdated system wastes taxpayer dollars and strains law enforcement resources. The Safer Supervision Act restores focus and balance\u2014prioritizing accountability, rehabilitation, and the safe reintegration of individuals into their communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe MCCA offers a strong endorsement of the Safer Supervision Act of 2025,\u201d said Chief Harold Medina of the Albuquerque Police Department, President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association. \u201cThe legislation strikes the proper balance of reform and public safety. The bill will ultimately ensure the supervised release system provides relief to non-violent offenders while holding repeat and violent offenders accountable. The MCCA thanks the bipartisan cosponsors for their leadership on this issue.\u201d\n\n\"The Safer Supervision Act is a commonsense, bipartisan reform that strengthens both public safety and the integrity of federal supervision. By restoring judicial discretion, incentivizing rehabilitation, and ensuring resources are focused where they\u2019re most needed, this legislation helps our system work smarter and fairer,\" said Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) National President Mathew Silverman. \"Just as importantly, it recognizes the vital role of Federal Probation and Pretrial Services Officers by addressing longstanding inequities and improving the support they need to manage growing caseloads. We applaud the bill sponsors for their leadership and commitment to safer, more effective supervision.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe SAFER Supervision Act aligns with APPA's National Standards for Community Supervision by recognizing what research and experience show \u2014 that supervision officers require manageable caseloads to reduce recidivism and keep communities safe,\u201d said American Probation and Parole Association Executive Director and CEO Veronica Cunningham. \u201cWhen caseloads are smaller, officers can concentrate on developing tailored individualized case plans that include evidence-based interventions and strategies to address underlying challenges. A widely accepted framework in community supervision, the Risk-Needs-Responsivity model, emphasizes individualized assessments as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach, relationship-based supervision, and directing resources where they are most needed. These principles enable officers to foster positive, supportive relationships, ultimately leading to better outcomes. This crucial legislation enables our federal probation officers to use the tools that research has proven to be effective and beneficial to those assigned to supervision and society as a whole.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnify.US strongly supports the Safer Supervision Act,\u201d said Timothy R. Head, President of Unify.US. \u201cThis conservative proposal updates and modernizes the federal probation system to improve community safety. The legislation was developed by conservative policymakers in the House and Senate in response to an unsustainable increase in the number of people sentenced to federal supervision after they have been incarcerated. If enacted, it would foster accountability, incentivize good behavior, and reduce the number of cases where supervision is no longer necessary. Making the justice system more effective without having to turn to increased spending is a hallmark of sound policy and good governance. Unify.US is proud to stand with the authors of this important proposal.\"\n\n\u201cThe Safer Supervision Act will ensure our justice system continues to hold people accountable while shifting focus to rehabilitation, community success, and breaking cycles of crime,\u201d said Jessica Jackson, Chief Advocacy and Operations Officer at REFORM Alliance. \u201cThe evidence-based policies in this legislation build upon supervision reform laws successfully implemented in red and blue states alike that make the system work better for everyone \u2013 people on supervision, supervision officers, crime survivors, our workforce, and the entire country. REFORM Alliance is proud to be a member of the Safer Supervision Coalition endorsing this bill and we applaud the authors for taking this important step toward making communities safer, saving taxpayer dollars and improving outcomes for people on supervised release.\u201d\n\n\u201cPrison Fellowship supports the Safer Supervision Act because it reflects our belief that every person has God-given dignity and the potential to change,\u201d said Heather Rice-Minus, President & CEO, Prison Fellowship. \u201cThis legislation strengthens accountability while advancing public safety, creating a system that restores lives, supports officers, and builds safer, more hopeful communities.\u201d\n\n\"The Safer Supervision Act is a responsible, data-driven approach to improving federal probation and supervised release,\u201d said Jason Pye, Vice President of Due Process Institute. \u201cToday, too many low-risk individuals are trapped in a cycle of technical violations that waste taxpayer dollars and distract officers from focusing on real threats to public safety. This bill strengthens accountability by targeting supervision resources where they are most needed. It also reduces unnecessary incarceration and encourages rehabilitation for those who want to work and contribute to society. By modernizing outdated practices and emphasizing evidence-based oversight, the Safer Supervision Act delivers smarter justice, supports victims, and keeps communities secure without growing government or compromising safety.\"\n\nBackground\n\nApproximately 110,000 individuals are currently serving federal supervised release, a form of supervision that follows incarceration. As the Supreme Court has explained, Congress designed the supervision system to be used \u201cfor those, and only those, who needed it.\u201d In practice, however, supervised release is now imposed in virtually every case, leading to a significantly overburdened system. Probation officers report lacking the time and resources to adequately supervise high-risk individuals as they reintegrate into society. To make matters worse, the supervision system often produces counterproductive effects for low-risk defendants, inhibiting their reintegration and increasing the likelihood of recidivism.\n\nThe Safer Supervision Act will better allocate resources for improved public safety, rehabilitation, and reintegration to reduce recidivism and better support law enforcement.\n\nThe Safer Supervision Act:\n\nImposes supervision based on individual case facts. Courts will be required to conduct an individualized assessment of the appropriateness of supervision and to state their reasons on the record. This will ensure supervision is imposed when warranted by the facts rather than being imposed automatically in every case.\n\nCreates positive incentives encouraging rehabilitation and good conduct. Current law allows individuals to seek early termination of supervision, but provides little guidance to courts on how to make that determination. This bill will create a rebuttable presumption in favor of early termination when the individual has served 50 percent of their term (or 2/3 for violent offenses), has shown good conduct and compliance, and when termination would not jeopardize public safety. This presumption would further ensure that limited supervision resources are being directed to the cases that warrant it, while also creating strong positive incentives for individuals to take necessary steps to rehabilitate and reintegrate. The bill will also remove an existing bar that prevents early termination from being requested before one year has been served.\n\nProvides courts with discretion on minor controlled substance possession violations. Although supervision can always be revoked for any violation of supervision conditions, revocation and reimprisonment is mandatory in certain circumstances, including for any possession of any controlled substance. The bill will create a narrow carveout giving courts discretion regarding reimprisonment or treatment/rehabilitation for minor misdemeanor possession offenses that do not involve intent to distribute.\n\nClarifies earned time credit use parameters. Existing law inadvertently punishes people who are not sentenced to supervised release by prohibiting them from using their earned time credits in the same way as others. The bill addresses this loophole and thus helps ensure resources are directed to the largest public safety threats.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-cantwell-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-supercharge-u-s-fusion-manufacturing", "CURTIS, CANTWELL INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO SUPERCHARGE U.S. FUSION MANUFACTURING", "2025-10-31", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today introduced the Fusion Advanced Manufacturing Parity Act, innovative bipartisan legislation to strengthen American competitiveness in fusion energy and secure domestic supply chains fusion components. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House by Reps. Carol Miller (R-WV), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Don Beyer (D-VA).\n\nThe bill enables critical fusion energy technologies to access the federal Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit (Section 45X) to include critical fusion energy technologies, providing a 25% production tax credit for qualifying components. By doing so, it aligns federal tax incentives with the realities of next-generation energy innovation and helps ensure that the United States lead the way in commercializing fusion energy.\n\n\u201cFusion energy represents the kind of bold, American innovation that built the West and can power our future,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cThis bill ensures we\u2019re not just competing in the fusion race, we\u2019re winning it by manufacturing these critical components here at home, creating good-paying jobs, and securing our energy independence for the next century.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe State of Washington is the world\u2019s leading hub for fusion energy, which could one day soon could provide vast amounts of the type of power we need to keep electricity prices down and increase America\u2019s economic competitiveness,\u201d said Senator Cantwell. \u201cProviding tax incentives for fusion components will help ensure that the fusion supply chain will also be manufactured and create jobs in the Pacific Northwest.\u201d\n\nKey Provisions of the Fusion Advanced Manufacturing Parity Act:\n\nExtends the 45X Tax Credit: Adds a 25% production tax credit for domestically manufactured fusion energy components.\n\nBroad Definition of Eligible Components: Covers a wide array of components that benefit the entire fusion industry including superconducting magnets, plasma vacuum vessels, high-voltage capacitors, fusion heating systems, and more.\n\nCritical Mineral Expansion: Updates the federal critical mineral list to include fusion-relevant materials such as deuterium, tritium, helium-3, lithium compounds, tungsten, and vanadium.\n\nFusion energy offers the promise of abundant, zero-carbon electricity. Commercializing this potential will require not only scientific breakthroughs, but also a robust domestic manufacturing base to build the advanced systems fusion requires.\n\nThe Fusion Advanced Manufacturing Parity Act is the latest in a series of bipartisan efforts to align U.S. energy policy with innovation and industrial leadership. By strengthening domestic supply chains and boosting private investment, the legislation helps ensure that fusion becomes a reality\u2014made in America, by Americans.\n\nThe bill is supported by leaders in the fusion industry, advanced manufacturing sectors, and national security experts who recognize the importance of energy independence and supply chain resilience in an increasingly competitive world.\n\nBill text can be found here. A one-pager can be found here.\n\nAdditional Reading:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-presses-tech-giants-on-algorithms", "CURTIS PRESSES TECH GIANTS ON ALGORITHMS", "2025-10-29", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or above to watch Curtis\u2019 line of questioning\n\nSenator Curtis underscored that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act was crafted to protect platforms acting in good faith as neutral hosts\u2014not to provide blanket immunity for business choices that can intensify harms on debate or potentially radicalize individuals. In a question to the panel, Curtis draws a distinction from the original intent of Section 230 protections and its modern application:\n\n\u201cWe all know that Section 230 was meant to protect platforms that acted in good faith,\u201d said Curtis. \u201cBut when an algorithm downranks speech or drives users towards extremism because it\u2019s good for engagement, is that really good faith moderation? And should Section 230 immunity apply when you as a company or industry make decisions that magnify certain content and downgrade other content?\u201d\n\nDuring questioning, Senator Curtis warned executives that Americans will look back on these hearing as they did when tobacco companies testified that smoking had no negative health impacts. Curtis challenged Markham Erickson, representing Google, about what keeps people on their platforms:\n\n\u201cI actually think this is going to be a lot like the tobacco hearings. You\u2019re saying, years from now, when we look back in history, there\u2019s going to be no study or internal conversations that says, \u2018it\u2019s good to have people stay on our platform longer?\u2019\u201d To which Erickson replied, \u201cSenator, we want people to stay on our platforms.\u201d\n\nView a post on this exchange here.\n\nLater, Will Creeley of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression showed weariness of further government regulation, prompting Curtis to state:\n\n\u201cThe interference starts when [tech companies] apply an algorithm to content\u2026 the moment you make a decision to magnify [that content], do you not own that decision?\u201d\n\nCurtis concluded his remarks with calls to further discussions on this topic, raising questions on why tech companies\u2019 interference deserves protection from the law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-statement-at-epw-subcommittee-hearing-on-chemical-regulation", "CURTIS STATEMENT AT EPW SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON CHEMICAL REGULATION", "2025-10-23", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "As prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cThank you, and welcome everyone to today\u2019s subcommittee hearing on the impacts of the regulatory environment for new and existing chemicals, a subject that lies at the intersection of innovation, safety, and US competitiveness. I will let our Ranking Member introduce Dr. Woodruff in his opening remarks.\n\n\u201cToday, we will hear from both sides of the chemical equation, from Huntsman Corporation, represented by President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Huntsman, and from Boeing, represented by Dr. Gwen Gross, Senior Technical Fellow in Composites and Chemical Technology and Chief Chemist. The two witnesses bring critical perspectives. Mr. Huntsman leads a company whose core business is the development of new chemistries that enable the deployment of safer, more efficient, and more effective products in the United States.\n\n\u201cDr. Gross represents a major customer of those materials, an aerospace manufacturer whose ability to incorporate new chemistries into aircraft is essential to maximizing the safety and performance of aircraft and maintaining American competitiveness.\n\n\u201cTogether, their perspectives embody the essential relationship between chemical manufacturers and their customers \u2013 those who depend on chemical innovation to drive American industry forward. Every day, American chemical manufacturers like\n\nHuntsman invest billions of dollars in research and development to produce new materials that can reduce emissions, improve safety, and maintain U.S. industrial competitiveness. These new chemistries enable lighter, stronger, and more efficient products to reach the market \u2013 from cars to aircraft to medical devices.\n\n\u201cHowever, regulatory delays or ambiguities in the chemical approval process can stifle that innovation, forcing companies to move research overseas or abandon promising materials altogether. That\u2019s not good for workers, consumers, or the environment. On the other end of the supply chain are manufacturers like Boeing, companies that rely on those new chemistries to build world-class products that meet the highest safety standards on earth.\n\n\u201cDr. Gross and her team work every day to integrate next generation replacement materials into aircrafts, a lengthy approval process involving \u2013 in this example \u2013 EPA in addition to FAA or DoD. When the regulations guiding chemical approvals change faster than the relevant agencies can deliver the chemical approvals and certifications, companies like Boeing are caught in a difficult position, hamstrung by a process that may actually prevent safer or more efficient replacement chemicals from ever reaching final products.\n\n\u201cThese regulatory bottlenecks can ripple across the entire aerospace supply chain, impacting thousands of suppliers and\n\nhundreds of thousands of workers. Our challenge, therefore, is not whether to regulate chemicals, of course we must, but how to do so in a way that protects public health and the environment without stifling American innovation.\n\n\u201cWe must ensure that our regulatory system keeps pace with modern science, supports collaboration between EPA and other relevant agencies, and gives both chemical manufacturers and their customers the certainty they need to invest, produce, and compete globally. America cannot lead in advanced manufacturing if our innovators do not have a chemical approval system that works.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/10/lee-bill-protects-american-businesses-from-revenge-lawsuits-by-climate-extremists", "Lee Bill Protects American Businesses from Revenge Lawsuits by Climate Extremists", "2025-10-23", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today to protect Americans from lawfare by climate extremists. The Fair Air Enforcement Act will stop the weaponization of the judicial system by outlawing citizen suits under the Clean Air Act, which has been used by political groups to hurt Americans and their businesses.\n\n\u201cClimate extremists are weaponizing our judicial system against Americans and their small businesses,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cIt\u2019s time for this to stop. Americans deserve the freedom to do as they please with their own property without fearing crushing regulations. The Fair Air Enforcement Act will prevent partisan political groups from abusing the legal process to drag private citizens and industries through frivolous lawsuits.\u201d\n\nThe Fair Air Enforcement Act:\n\nAmends the Clean Air Act to prohibit lawsuits by private citizens alleging violations of its provisions.\n\nRequires such enforcement lawsuits to be brought by state governments and relevant agencies.\n\nMakes conforming changes to other sections of U.S. code referencing the amended provision.\n\nRead full text of the Fair Air Enforcement Act here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/recap-fourth-annual-conservative-climate-summit", "RECAP: FOURTH ANNUAL CONSERVATIVE CLIMATE SUMMIT", "2025-10-22", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cThe Conservative Climate Summit continues to show that conservatives are leading with practical, durable solutions for our environment and economy. Utahns care deeply about clean air, healthy forests, and reliable, affordable energy\u2014and we know those goals are not in conflict,\u201d Curtis said following the summit. \u201cBy championing innovation, empowering local communities, and responsible land and resource management, we can protect what makes Utah special without sacrificing our prosperity. The summit is about action over ideology, and this year\u2019s program proved no different. I am grateful to the University of Utah for hosting us again this year and to everyone who came ready to engage in candid, solutions-driven conversation about the future of energy, water, and conservation in our state.\u201d\n\nThe day\u2019s agenda highlighted Utah\u2019s leadership in next-generation energy and land stewardship, featuring conversations on renewables, nuclear, geothermal, and healthy forests/wildfire mitigation. The summit underscored Senator Curtis\u2019s \u201call-of-the-above\u201d approach to energy and his bipartisan work on forest management.\n\nBackground", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/senate-advances-fix-our-forests-act-marking-key-progress-to-combat-wildfires", "SENATE ADVANCES FIX OUR FORESTS ACT, MARKING KEY PROGRESS TO COMBAT WILDFIRES", "2025-10-21", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "One of the most significant steps forward in federal wildfire policy in recent decades streamlines processes to protect communities while restoring forest health\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) today applauded the advancement of the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act through the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry by a bipartisan vote of 18-5. The legislation would help combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient.\n\nThe comprehensive Senate bill reflects months of negotiations to find consensus on how to holistically respond to the wildfire crisis, best improve forest management practices, accelerate efforts to protect communities, advance watershed restoration, and strengthen partnerships between federal agencies, states, Tribes, and private stakeholders. The Senate version of the bill would also bolster coordination efforts across federal agencies through a new Wildfire Intelligence Center, which would streamline the federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combating wildfires.\n\nA one-pager on the Senate Fix Our Forests Act is available here.\n\n\u201cIn Utah and across the West, we face a growing crisis of overgrown, unhealthy forests. Thanks to the cooperation of both parties, we are confronting the challenge head\u2011on and now one step closer to passing legislation that will deliver essential tools to combat wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cI commend the Committee\u2019s action and look forward to the bill\u2019s swift passage by the full Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe status quo around wildfires isn\u2019t working and far too many Americans have paid the price,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cThe families I\u2019ve met who have lost everything to the devastation in Los Angeles and in wildfire disasters across the country deserve action. That\u2019s why we\u2019re coming together to confront this crisis and rethink how we prevent and respond. Today\u2019s advancement of our bipartisan bill is real progress toward protecting Americans and our environment through forward-thinking, practical wildfire solutions.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere is a wildfire crisis across much of the country \u2013 our communities need action now,\u201d said Senator Hickenlooper. \u201cWildfires won\u2019t wait. After bipartisan committee passage, the next step is a full Senate vote. The Fix Our Forests Act will make our communities and environment more resilient.\u201d\n\n\u201cBetter stewardship of our forests is not a partisan issue; it\u2019s an imperative to securing a stronger economy, healthier forests, and safer communities. I\u2019m proud to see the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act move forward in the legislative process, and I\u2019ll continue fighting alongside my colleagues to enact commonsense reforms that ensure proper forest management, unleash the resource economy, and protect American communities from the threat of wildfire,\u201d said Senator Sheehy.\n\nThe American West has long been prone to wildfires, but prolonged drought and the buildup of dry fuels have increasingly intensified these fires and extended fire seasons. Wildfires today are more catastrophic \u2014 growing larger, spreading faster, and burning more land than ever before. Nationwide, total acres burned rose from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024, a 231 percent increase.\n\nTo address these challenges, the Fix Our Forests Act would:\n\nEstablish new and updated programs to reduce wildfire risks across large, high-priority \u201cfiresheds,\u201d with an emphasis on cross-jurisdictional collaboration.\n\nStreamline and expand tools for forest health projects (e.g., stewardship contracting, Good Neighbor Agreements) and provide faster processes for certain hazardous fuels treatments.\n\nCreate a single interagency program to help communities in the wildland-urban interface build and retrofit with wildfire-resistant measures, while simplifying and consolidating grant applications.\n\nExpand research and demonstration initiatives \u2014 including biochar projects and the Community Wildfire Defense Research Program \u2014 to test and deploy cutting-edge wildfire prevention, detection, and mitigation technologies.\n\nStrengthen coordination efforts across agencies through a new Wildfire Intelligence Center which would streamline the federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combating wildfires.\n\nImprove reforestation, seedling supply, and nursery capacity; establish new programs for white oak restoration; and clarify policies to reduce wildfire-related litigation and expedite forest health treatments.\n\nSupporters of the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act include Utah Governor Spencer Cox; California Governor Gavin Newsom; Colorado Governor Jared Polis; Montana Governor Greg Gianforte; Western Governors\u2019 Association; California Natural Resources Agency; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; California State Association of Counties; Rural County Representatives of California; California Fire Chiefs Association; California Fire Service Leadership Alliance; County of Los Angeles; The Nature Conservancy; National Wildlife Federation; Environmental Defense Fund; National Audubon Society; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; California Farm Bureau; Federation of American Scientists; Citizens\u2019 Climate Lobby; The Stewardship Project; Megafire Action; Climate and Wildfire Institute; International Association of Fire Chiefs; Alliance for Wildfire Resilience; Wildfire Alliance; American Forests; Tall Timbers; National Water Resources Association; National Association of State Departments of Agriculture; National Association of State Foresters; American Property Casualty Insurance Association; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Congressional Sportsmen\u2019s Foundation; Hispanics Enjoy Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors; Utah Department of Natural Resources; Colorado Department of Natural Resources; Colorado State Forest Service; Colorado State Fire Chiefs Wildland Section; Colorado Water Congress; Rocky Mountain Elk; and Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.\n\nThe Western Governors\u2019 Association wrote to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry leadership yesterday to express their strong support for the continued advancement of the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act:\n\n\u201cWestern Governors are encouraged by the development of bipartisan legislation to improve forest management and mitigate wildfire risk. As the wildfire crisis has worsened in recent years, Western Governors have developed and advocated for a range of policy recommendations to promote healthy western forests that can continue to provide our communities with jobs, recreation, quality of life, and important ecosystem services. S. 1462, the Fix Our Forests Act, advances many of our recommendations, and we are eager to continue to work with the Committee to support critical forest management reforms through the legislative process.\u201d\n\nAdditional letters of support from elected officials, environmental groups, first responders, and wildfire organizations are available here.\n\nA full list of national supporters can be found here.\n\nEarlier this year, Senators Curtis, Padilla, Hickenlooper, and Sheehy praised the continued progress of their Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act, as it received a legislative hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The Senators have also announced growing support from state and local government officials, community leaders, and industry stakeholders for the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act. In April, Padilla highlighted the Senate Fix Our Forests Act after joining federal and state emergency officials for a tour of the Pacific Palisades fire recovery area led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/10/icymi-lee-s-guarding-readiness-resources-act-adopted-in-ndaa", "ICYMI: Lee\u2019s Guarding Readiness Resources Act Adopted in NDAA", "2025-10-14", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) received unanimous support last week for the bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act introduced earlier this year mandating that National Guard units receive appropriate federal reimbursements, ensuring their readiness in emergencies. The bill was cosponsored by 20 U.S. Senators and passed unanimously as an amendment to this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\n\u201cOur National Guard responds to emergencies, protects our states, and keeps countless American families safe from harm,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cWhile they deserve the best when answering the call, they have not been well served due to copious amounts of bureaucratic red tape and unnecessary hurdles. For the last few years, I\u2019ve been working to solve this problem. Tonight, my bill passed unanimously.\u201d\n\nWatch Senator Lee\u2019s remarks here.\n\nCosponsors included U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Justice (R-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jim Risch (R-ID), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).\n\n\u201cThe men and women of the National Guard are committed to the motto of \u2018always ready, always there\u2019\u2014which is why it\u2019s important our Guardsmen have the resources they need to stay mission-ready,\u201d said Senator Duckworth. \u201cOur bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act would better ensure the Guard has access to the funds needed for the maintenance and readiness activities that help them keep our country safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe National Guard is America\u2019s first responder, but outdated bureaucracy is draining resources, leaving critical equipment broken and unfunded after State Active Duty missions,\u201d said Congressman Harrigan. \u201cThe Guarding Readiness Resources Act fixes this by cutting red tape at the Department of the Treasury\u2014ensuring the National Guard Bureau immediately gets the funds it needs to repair, replace, and maintain equipment. This keeps our Guardsmen mission-ready, whether responding to natural disasters or supporting local law enforcement. I\u2019m proud to lead this effort in the House alongside Senator Lee in the Senate to strengthen the Guard and protect American communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur National Guard members serve side by side with their active-duty counterparts, answering the call at home and abroad,\u201d \u201cYet, they continue to face inequities in pay, health care, and benefits that undermine their service and sacrifice. This legislation is a significant step toward correcting these imbalances and ensuring our Guardsmen are properly equipped, trained, and supported\u2014whether they are responding to domestic emergencies or deploying overseas. EANGUS stands ready to work alongside Senator Lee and other congressional leaders to advance this bill. Our members, the backbone of the National Guard, deserve nothing less than full recognition and fair treatment for their dedication to our nation.\u201d \u2013 CMSgt. Josh J. Baker, Vice President, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS)\n\n\u201cThe National Guard continuously responds to the dynamic domestic challenges this nation faces. Immediate response often requires significant unforeseen state expenditures. While the law allows for federal reimbursement, it is executed in such a way that states never see those much-needed funds. This creates substantial budget gaps that threaten the readiness of the force. The Guarding Readiness Resources Act corrects this oversight and ensures the National Guard has the necessary resources to effectively fulfill their mission. We are grateful for the work of Senators Lee and Duckworth and ask for full congressional support for inclusion in the FY26 NDAA.\u201d \u2013 Retired Maj Gen. Francis M. McGinn, President, National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS)\n\nThe Guarding Readiness Resources Act will:\n\nAdd a Miscellaneous Receipts exemption to section 710 of title 32, ensuring that:\n\nThe U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer (USPFO) can direct reimbursement money back to National Guard units.\n\nNational Guard units will have available funding for maintenance, repair, and replacement costs of federal equipment when needed.\n\nNational Guard equipment, property, and training funds will remain ready for National Guard federal missions.\n\nRead full text of the Guarding Readiness Resources Act here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-champions-utahs-role-in-advancing-clean-reliable-nuclear-energy", "CURTIS CHAMPIONS UTAH\u2019S ROLE IN ADVANCING CLEAN, RELIABLE NUCLEAR ENERGY", "2025-10-10", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or above to watch Senator Curtis question Mr. Nieh\n\n\u201c[Nuclear energy is] clean, it is reliable. I think as we get it up to scale, it will become more and more affordable, and Utah would look to be a leader in it,\u201d said Curtis.\n\nWhile questioning Nieh, Curtis highlighted the importance of early engagement with states and the need to remove regulatory roadblocks that can delay or derail nuclear energy projects. He emphasized the potential for Utah to host pilot programs in partnership with the NRC and industry innovators, stating, \u201cI think Utah would be very interested in participating with you [on pilot programs] and seeing if we can find some new, innovative approaches.\u201d\n\nCurtis also discussed the ADVANCE Act, which includes his legislation \u2014 the Advanced Nuclear Reactor Prize Act \u2014 aimed at creating a more predictable and transparent regulatory pathway for applicants and developers.\n\nNominee Ho Nieh committed to improving transparency and communication with states, pledging to work closely with stakeholders and provide greater clarity around licensing timelines and safety decisions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-cortez-masto-push-cftc-for-answers-on-enforcement-of-illegal-gaming-in-event-contracts", "CURTIS, CORTEZ MASTO PUSH CFTC FOR ANSWERS ON ENFORCEMENT OF ILLEGAL GAMING IN EVENT CONTRACTS", "2025-10-01", "2025", "2025-10", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) led four of their Senate colleagues in a letter to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Acting Chair Caroline Pham reminding the Commission sports betting is regulated by states and tribes, not the CFTC. The Senators underscore that by implicitly allowing some companies to offer sports betting activities as \u201cevent contracts,\u201d the CFTC is preventing enforcement of state and tribal gaming laws which inappropriately permits sports betting nationwide.\n\n\u201cThe CFTC is expressly prohibited from allowing event contracts that involve gaming, are unlawful under federal or state law or are contrary to the public interest,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cDespite this prohibition, the CFTC is permitting sportsbook gaming to inappropriately designate themselves as \u2018event contracts\u2019 with oversight by the CFTC. For example, some companies are claiming to allow legal sports betting in all fifty states. This action \u2013 and the CFTC\u2019s unwillingness to stop it \u2013 contradicts both the letter and the intent of the law. The Commission cannot sidestep its statutory obligations by declining to enforce the prohibitions that Congress enacted. Doing so undermines the sovereign authority of states and tribes to regulate gambling within their jurisdictions and risks federalizing an area of law that the Supreme Court has held is reserved to the states.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe continued availability of illegal sport event contracts in all 50 states further reaffirms the need for the CFTC to enforce its own regulations mandated by Congress. Moreover, by claiming to be federally regulated by the CFTC, issuers of sports event contracts can avoid myriad state laws, including licensing and background investigations, minimum age requirements, federal anti-money laundering rules, and consumer protections such as addiction warnings and integrity monitoring. These rigorous standards are required by state and tribal licensed entities which the CFTC does not have the authority or the capacity to replicate,\u201d theSenators concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-statement-on-republican-efforts-to-avoid-shutdown", "CURTIS STATEMENT ON REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO AVOID SHUTDOWN", "2025-09-30", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Senator John Curtis (R-UT) issued the following statement today on Senate Republicans\u2019 efforts to avoid a federal government shutdown:\n\n\u201cToday, I voted to keep the federal government open and to prevent unnecessary harm to hardworking, taxpaying families in Utah and across America. Sadly, the measure failed without enough Democratic support, and once again Washington\u2019s dysfunction has forced a shutdown.\n\n\u201cI remain deeply concerned that Congress has grown far too comfortable relying on short-term Band-Aids. Some of my Democratic colleagues asked for over a trillion dollars in new spending just to buy seven more weeks of time. That is not reasonable, sensible, or responsible.\n\n\u201cShutdown showdowns are no way to run the greatest nation on Earth. Utahns know the simple truth: you prepare, you live within your means, and you finish the job. My mission is to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to build a process that reflects those principles, one that ends the cycle of crisis management and restores public trust.\n\n\u201cUtahns deserve a government that is more efficient and effective, one that delivers sensible solutions and real results. That is my commitment.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/lee-applauds-department-of-commerce-rescinding-biden-era-anti-firearm-rule", "Lee Applauds Department of Commerce Rescinding Biden-Era Anti-Firearm Rule", "2025-09-30", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) applauded the Department of Commerce\u2019s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today for rescinding a Biden-era anti-firearm rule that imposed onerous export controls on civilian firearms. Reversing this damaging policy will allow American firearm manufacturers to better compete in overseas markets.\n\n\u201cIn March, I partnered with 87 colleagues in the House and Senate asking the Department of Commerce to reverse Joe Biden\u2019s anti-firearm export rule and save American businesses,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cThis rule hurt law-abiding gun manufacturers by severely limiting their ability to export firearms \u2013 but today, those regulations are gone. Thank you to President Trump and his cabinet for putting American businesses and our Second Amendment rights first.\u201d\n\n\u201cBIS strongly rejects the Biden Administration\u2019s war on the Second Amendment and law-abiding firearms users. With today\u2019s rule, BIS is restoring common sense to export controls and doing right by America\u2019s proud firearms industry, while also continuing to protect national security.\u201d \u2013 Jeffrey I. Kessler, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security\n\nBackground\n\nIn March, Senator Lee urged the Department of Commerce to rescind this Biden-era rule in a letter with the support of 87 colleagues in the House and Senate. He fought against this rule throughout Biden\u2019s term by introducing the Protect American Gun Exporters Act and the STOP the BIS Rule Act to have it rescinded.\n\nThe now-defunct rule imposed a range of excessive and burdensome requirements, including:\n\nA \u201cpresumption of denial\u201d for civilian firearms exports to 36 supposedly \u201chigh-risk\u201d countries \u2013 effectively ceding overseas markets to foreign firearms manufacturers, with no benefit to national security.\n\nExport license requirements on sporting shotguns and optics to U.S. allies \u2013 despite no evidence of any national security risk.\n\nBureaucratic hurdles on firearms export licenses, such as extensive documentation requirements and short validity periods.\n\nToday\u2019s rule revokes these requirements and restores the export rules for civilian firearms that existed under the first Trump Administration. Under the new rules, exports of most pistols, rifles, and non-long-barrel shotguns will remain subject to a worldwide export license requirement. Long-barrel shotguns and most optics can be exported without a license to U.S. allies and certain partners. License application paperwork requirements for firearms will be streamlined and consistent with normal BIS practice. BIS and interagency partners will continue to screen firearms license applications to reduce the risk of weapons ending up in the hands of criminals.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/lee-introduces-safe-transit-accountability-act", "Lee Introduces Safe Transit Accountability Act", "2025-09-30", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Safe Transit Accountability Act today to keep labor unions from endangering Utahns and blocking public transportation agencies from implementing necessary safety measures. Reps. Burgess Owens (R-UT) and Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) have introduced the bill in the House of Representatives. The legislation has earned endorsements from Utah Transit Authority (UTA), the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).\n\n\u201cAmerican families deserve to have safe, reliable public transit,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cUnder President Biden, labor unions were given a veto over public transit agency safety plans, allowing them to stall projects and interfere with federal funding for safe transit. Just last year, such obstruction threatened resources for the Utah Transit Authority. The Safe Transit Accountability Act ensures that these disputes can be resolved by the executive authority responsible for rider and operator safety.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Safe Transit Accountability Act restores common sense by removing bureaucratic roadblocks and putting safety decisions back in the hands of those responsible for running our transit systems,\u201d said Rep. Burgess Owens. \u201cI\u2019m proud to lead this bill with Congressman Smucker in the House and Senator Lee in the Senate to empower agencies like the Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Transit Authority to protect riders and ensure Utah\u2019s growing communities have the safe, reliable service they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cMillions of Americans rely on public transit every day, and travelers deserve to know their safety is always a priority,\u201d said Rep. Lloyd Smucker. \u201cI am grateful for Senator Lee\u2019s partnership in introducing the Safe Transit Accountability Act, which streamlines transit system operations and cuts red tape to efficiently address risk and safety concerns. I\u2019m committed to ensuring transit systems here in Pennsylvania and across the nation provide the service America\u2019s travelers deserve.\u201d\n\n\"Safety is and always will be the Utah Transit Authority\u2019s top priority, and the Safe Transit Accountability Act is an important step forward in strengthening public transit safety across the country. This legislation ensures efficient compliance with federal safety standards while empowering transit systems to best protect our riders and employees. UTA thanks Senator Lee for his leadership in introducing this important bill in the Senate.\u201d \u2013 Carlton Christensen, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Utah Transit Authority (UTA)\n\n\u201cA strong safety plan is essential\u2014not just for compliance, but to protect riders and operators every day. This legislation brings needed clarity to the process and helps ensure transit agencies can act quickly and responsibly. We appreciate Representative Owens\u2019 and Senator Lee\u2019s leadership and are proud to support this commonsense legislation.\u201d \u2013 Carlos Braceras, Executive Director, Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)\n\n\"APTA applauds Senator Mike Lee's leadership in introducing the Safe Transit Accountability Act. This bill addresses a real operational challenge by giving public transit agencies the clarity they need to meet Federal safety requirements while ensuring the highest standards for the millions who depend on their services every day\" \u2013 Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association (APTA)\n\nBackground\n\nIn 2021, Democrats pushed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) through Congress to codify President Biden\u2019s irresponsible spending.\n\nThe IIJA requires transit agencies who receive certain funds to create \u201cSafety Committees\u201d equally composed of labor unions and agency members. Safety Committees are required to review and approve Public Transit Agency Safety Plans (PTASPs). This gives labor unions the ability to obstruct PTASPs during negotiations, jeopardizing an agency\u2019s federal funding.\n\nIn December 2024, labor representatives on UTA\u2019s Safety Committee stalled approval of its PTASP. This obstruction by the union threatened Utahns\u2019 safety as well as crucial funding for UTA, as The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) threatened to suspend UTA\u2019s federal funds over the issue.\n\nThe Safe Transit Accountability Act will protect Utahns by ensuring the timely implementation of safety measures and guard against funding losses used by labor unions to play politics with Utahns\u2019 safety.\n\nRead full text of the Safe Transit Accountability Act here.\n\nRead UTA\u2019s letter of support here.\n\nRead exclusive coverage by Deseret News here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/icymi-statement-from-senator-john-curtis-on-passing-of-russell-m-nelson-president-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints", "ICYMI: STATEMENT FROM SENATOR JOHN CURTIS ON PASSING OF RUSSELL M. NELSON, PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS", "2025-09-28", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Few lives have been lived as fully and faithfully as that of President Russell M. Nelson. His remarkable 101 years were a testament to service, faith, and vision. I am grateful for the insight, inspiration, and teachings he shared so generously. As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate a life that lifted countless people and left an enduring legacy of hope and strength.\n\nSee the post here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/sen-lee-president-nelson-was-a-leader-and-healer-of-hearts-and-souls", "Sen. Lee: President Nelson Was a Leader and Healer of Hearts and Souls", "2025-09-28", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement on the passing of Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:\n\n\u201cPresident Russell M. Nelson was a bold, visionary leader prepared by God to testify of Jesus Christ in the very times in which we now live.\n\n\u201cI first acquired my profound respect for him as a seven-year-old boy, when he performed open-heart surgery on both of my maternal grandparents. On the same day Just a few short years ago, President Nelson described to me in exquisite detail how he handled each step of the two surgeries he had performed that day \u2014 more than 40 years earlier, and about seven years before he was called into full-time Church service as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.\n\n\u201cAfter their surgeries, he told both of my grandparents that they could each expect to live another 10 to 15 years following the surgery. Both of them lived for another 25 years and credited President Nelson for their longevity, with good reason!\n\n\u201cAlthough I first heard his name in the context of his surgical practice, for me that was only the beginning of my countless reasons for admiring President Nelson.\n\n\u201cFor as long as I\u2019ve known him, he has exuded \u2014 and for me, he\u2019s come to personify \u2014 the kind of faith, humility, and quiet confidence that tends to be the constant companion of a devoted servant and follower of Jesus Christ.\n\n\u201cTo the day he died, he remained a healer \u2014 of hearts and of souls.\n\n\u201cSharon and I extend our gratitude and heartfelt condolences to President Nelson\u2019s family, and to the millions of Latter-day Saints throughout the world who mourn his passing.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-dozens-of-leaders-applaud-fix-our-forests-act", "WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: DOZENS OF LEADERS APPLAUD FIX OUR FORESTS ACT", "2025-09-25", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) today highlighted growing support for the Fix Our Forests Act from governors, state and local officials, community leaders, and industry stakeholders. The bipartisan legislation, introduced earlier this year, combats catastrophic wildfires, restores forest ecosystems, and streamlines federal forest management to be more efficient and responsive.\n\nThe Fix Our Forests Act is supported by Utah Governor Spencer Cox; Colorado Governor Jared Polis; California Governor Gavin Newsom; American Property Casualty Insurance Association; California Natural Resources Agency; Climate and Wildfire Institute; Utah Farm Bureau Federation; The Nature Conservancy; Association for Firetech Innovation and Convective Capital; Federation of American Scientists; National Audubon Society; Berkshire Hathaway Energy; Arnold Ventures; Utah Department of Natural Resources; The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC); Colorado Department of Natural Resources; Colorado State Forest Service; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; National Wild Turkey Federation; National Wildlife Federation; Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions; American Forests; Colorado Rural Electric Association; Congressional Sportsmen\u2019s Foundation; Western Governors\u2019 Association; National Association of State Departments of Agriculture; National Association of State Foresters; United Power; Rocky Mountain Elk; Citizen\u2019 Climate Lobby; Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control; Bipartisan Policy Center Action; International Association of Fire Chiefs; Alliance for Wildfire Resilience; Wildfire Alliance; Tall Timbers; Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition; The Stewardship Project; Megafire Action; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; Hispanics Enjoy Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors; Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society; State of Utah; Environmental Defense Fund; Rural County Representatives of California; Salesforce; Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility; C2ES; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Colorado State Fire Chiefs Wildland Section; Colorado Water Congress; Coalition of 22 Wildfire Organizations; National Water Resources Association\n\nWhat They Are Saying:\n\n\u201cA century of fire suppression and decades of reduced forest management have left us with overgrown, unhealthy forests that are more vulnerable to disease and catastrophic wildfire. Thanks to Senator Curtis\u2019s strong leadership on the Fix Our Forests Act, along with the tools provided by President Trump\u2019s executive order, we\u2019re now equipped to do the critical work our forests need. This bill will help us protect watersheds, enhance wildlife habitat, reduce wildfire risk, and provide the timber we need to build strong homes and neighborhoods.\u201d \u2014 Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah\n\n\u201cExtreme risk of catastrophic wildfires across the West demands urgent action. In California, we\u2019re fast-tracking projects by streamlining state requirements and using more fuel breaks and prescribed fire. The Fix Our Forests Act is a step forward that will build on this progress \u2014 enabling good projects to happen faster on federal lands. I\u2019m appreciative of Senators Padilla and Schiff and the bipartisan team of Senators who crafted a balanced solution that will both protect communities and improve the health of our forests.\u201d \u2014 Gavin Newsom, Governor of California\n\n\u201cI applaud the bipartisan work and leadership of the Senate sponsors of this bill, including Colorado\u2019s Senator Hickenlooper, in crafting a bill that will make Colorado communities safer amidst the urgent and growing wildfire crisis in the West. From supporting responsible and expedited on-the-ground fuel reductions, to bolstering the use and development of the latest wildfire satellite monitoring technology which compliments Colorado\u2019s national leadership in the aerospace sector, and to investing in stewardship practices for local communities to be better prepared for wildfires and reforestation efforts with the state nursery to improve our ability to recover \u2013 this bill makes major strides in addressing the country\u2019s wildfire risk and will support Colorado\u2019s continued leadership in wildfire preparedness, response and recovery.\u201d \u2014 Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado\n\n\u201cAs the megafire crisis grows larger and more severe with each fire season, we need policy solutions that reflect the urgency and scale of the problem. Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla and Sheehy have negotiated a Senate companion to the Fix Our Forests Act that will move the federal government towards a science-based, strategic approach to addressing megafires. We look forward to working with the sponsors to advance this bill and enact the most transformative wildfire and land management law in a generation \u2014 since the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003, if not the National Forest Management Act of 1976.\u201d \u2014 Matt Weiner, CEO, Megafire Action\n\n\u201cWildfires continue to ravage communities igniting homes, businesses, and infrastructure. APCIA commends Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla for their bipartisan leadership of the Fix Our Forests Act. The bill would improve fire assessment and prediction for wildland areas and communities to improve response, reduce hazardous fuels, enable greater vegetation management by utilities in federal rights-of-way to prevent fires, and create a community wildfire risk reduction program to support fire-resistant building methods, codes, and standards, promote ignition-resistant materials, defensible space, and other measures to reduce risk.\u201d \u2014 David A. Sampson, President and CEO, American Property Casualty Insurance Association\n\n\u201cAbout half of our lands in California are publicly owned and managed by the federal government,\u201d explained California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. \u201cSo, reducing catastrophic wildfire risk clearly relies on helping our federal lands become healthier and more resilient to fire. This bipartisan Fix our Forests Act does just this, removing barriers to get more good work done across our federal lands more quickly. This act represents an opportunity for an all-lands, all-hands approach that is urgently needed at this moment.\u201d \u2014 Wade Crowfoot, Secretary, California Natural Resources Agency\n\n\u201cCWI commends Senator Curtis, Senator Hickenlooper, Senator Sheehy, and Senator Padilla for their bipartisan efforts to meaningfully address the wildfire crisis. The Fix Our Forest Act is an important step towards accelerating proven solutions to reduce catastrophic fire risk, improve forest and ecosystem health, and safeguard our local communities. We are pleased to see many recommendations from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Report included in the updated legislation, including a directive to establish the Wildfire Intelligence Center to serve as the national hub for wildfire data, prediction, and response. We look forward to working with the bill\u2019s sponsors to help accelerate solutions to the wildfire crisis by incorporating the best available science, data, and management principles into commonsense policy reform and decision-making.\u201d \u2014 Marissa Christiansen, Executive Director, Climate and Wildfire Institute\n\n\u201cUtah\u2019s farmers and ranchers applaud Senator Curtis\u2019 sponsorship of the \u2018Fix Ours Forests Act\u2019, which will enhance forest health, reduce wildfire risks, and protect vital watersheds. We are particularly encouraged by provisions promoting locally-led restoration efforts, targeted grazing as a wildfire mitigation tool, and watershed protection strategies. The Utah Farm Bureau appreciates the bill\u2019s emphasis on active forest management and increasing the pace and scale of treatment projects to address catastrophic wildfire risks. The \u2018Fix Our Forests Act\u2019 represents a significant step toward healthier forests and safer communities.\u201d \u2014 Valjay Rigby, President, Utah Farm Bureau Federation\n\n\u201cTNC appreciates the serious undertaking of Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla to build on legislation targeted at preventing more catastrophic wildfires through improved forest and fuels management and expanded use of prescribed fire. TNC has been working to restore beneficial fire and improve the resilience of forest systems on the ground for more than 60 years. Every year, wildfires continue to grow deadlier and more devastating to communities and the environment, and we remain concerned that the significant cuts to the Forest Service workforce will impede work to protect people and nature from these wildfire risks. We support this legislative effort aimed at improving the forest management process to better address catastrophic wildfires.\u201d \u2014 Kameran Onley, Managing Director of North America Policy and Government relations, The Nature Conservancy\n\n\u201cAFI supports the Fix our Forests Act and calls on the United States Senate to pass it with the urgency the $100 billion a year wildfire crisis warrants from our elected officials. AFI is particularly supportive of the legislation\u2019s inclusion of a Wildfire Intelligence Center, a long-overdue step to better integrate and coordinate wildfire response efforts and invest in cutting-edge technology. Our country\u2019s wildfire response efforts are antiquated and are leaving us ill-prepared for this growing crisis. FOFA is a critical step to refining our wildfire response efforts and protecting our communities.\u201d \u2014 Bill Clerico, Founding Chair of the Association for Firetech Innovation (AFI) and Managing Partner of Convective Capital, Association for Firetech Innovation and Convective Capital\n\n\u201cAs FAS continues to emphasize, failing to address the root causes of devastating wildfires is a policy choice. And it\u2019s a choice we can no longer afford. Swift passage of the Fix Our Forests Act in the Senate would put us on track to better manage the entire wildfire lifecycle of prevention, suppression, and recovery, including through smart and systematic use of science and technology for decision support.\u201d \u2014 Daniel Correa, Chief Executive Officer, Federation of American Scientists\n\n\u201cThe science is clear: tackling the wildfire crisis requires better forest management, increasing the use of prescribed fire, and investing in and deploying the next generation of wildfire technologies. The Fix Our Forests Act will get this urgently needed work done. Now is the time for the Senate to build on the bipartisan leadership demonstrated by the sponsors and pass this bill.\u201d \u2014 James Campbell, Wildfire Policy Specialist, Federation of American Scientists\n\n\u201cWildfires grow more intense and destructive each year, leaving behind immense devastation for our forests, wildlife, and communities. The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act represents an important step in reducing wildfire risks across forested landscapes. Audubon thanks Senators Hickenlooper, Curtis, Padilla, and Sheehy for working together to craft a bill that sets the stage for improved forest management, and we urge Congress to dedicate the resources necessary to ensure federal agencies are well-equipped to reduce wildfire risks, steward our forestlands, and protect wildlife habitat.\u201d \u2014 Marshall Johnson, Chief Conservation Officer, National Audubon Society\n\n\u201cBerkshire Hathaway Energy applauds the Senate introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act and thanks the bipartisan group of Senators who worked together to move it forward. The bill\u2019s provisions would improve forest management activities on federal and tribal lands in common-sense ways, improving their resilience to wildfire. Passage and enactment of these provisions would be a step to help prevent catastrophic wildfires and lessen their environmental damage. Berkshire Hathaway Energy recognizes the growing threat of wildfires affects everyone and requires holistic solutions with businesses, governments and key stakeholders working together to design and implement constructive, enduring solutions.\u201d \u2014 Scott Thon, President and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Energy\n\n\u201cArnold Ventures praises the bipartisan introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act, an evidence-based, constructive proposal to cut red tape and prevent catastrophic forest fires. We applaud Senators John Curtis (R\u2011UT), John Hickenlooper (D\u2011CO), Tim Sheehy (R\u2011MT), and Alex Padilla (D\u2011CA) for their work to craft and introduce this important and necessary legislation. We encourage all Senators to support and ultimately pass the Fix Our Forests Act.\u201d \u2014 Charlie Anderson, Executive VP for Infrastructure, Arnold Ventures\n\n\u201cOur forests face serious threats, and this bipartisan bill is a vital step forward in addressing complex forest health challenges,\u201d \u201cIt gives land managers the tools to proactively reduce wildfire risk, protect critical watersheds, and restore forest ecosystems through stronger collaboration.\u201d \u2014 Joel Ferry, Executive Director, Utah Department of Natural Resources\n\n\u201cThe Senate\u2019s bipartisan Fix Our Forest Act is a critical step toward restoring forest health and reducing catastrophic wildfire risk. This bipartisan legislation tackles the root causes of catastrophic wildfires by fixing the Cottonwood decision, reforming litigation standards, expanding categorical exclusions up to 10,000 acres, and boosting restoration capacity through long-term stewardship contracts and extended Good Neighbor Authority. Healthy forests require active stewardship \u2014 not bureaucratic delay. We thank Senators Hickenlooper, Sheehy, Padilla, and Curtis for bringing forward this bill, and we urge swift passage of this much-needed legislation.\u201d \u2014 Brian Yablonski, CEO, The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC)\n\n\u201cWe applaud the efforts made by Senator Hickenlooper in the Fix Our Forests Act to provide federal, state, and local partners with the tools needed to address wildfire mitigation in the most vulnerable areas in Colorado. Wildfires do not abide by our political boundaries. But here in Colorado we have built strong coordination among federal, state, local land managers and stakeholders to help reduce the impact of wildfires on our critical infrastructure and landscapes. We appreciate that this legislation builds upon this important collaboration and draws on existing agreements, such as Shared Stewardship, which will help strengthen our intergovernmental partnerships as we prepare for the next Colorado mega-fire.\u201d \u2014 Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources\n\n\u201cForests are central to our way of life in Colorado. They support world-class outdoor recreation and a vital water supply that more than 40 million Americans rely upon. I am grateful to Senator John Hickenlooper for his work on the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act,\u201d \u201cThis critical legislation will bolster our shared stewardship ethic in Colorado and enhance our ability as a state to improve forest health, protect lives, communities and water supplies from wildfire, and ensure that the forests that define Colorado endure for generations to come.\u201d \u2014 Matt McCombs, Colorado State Forester and Director, Colorado State Forest Service\n\n\u201cThe declining health of our National Forests and the fish and wildlife habitat that they provide is a concern for America\u2019s hunters and anglers,\u201d \u201cTRCP applauds the leadership of Senators Curtis, Sheehy, Hickenlooper, and Padilla for introducing the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act in the Senate and urges Congress to advance these important forest management provisions and to accompany them with adequate resources and capacity to carry out on-the-ground work.\u201d \u2014 Joel Pedersen, President and CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership\n\n\u201cThe Fix Our Forests Act streamlines collaboration between the National Wild Turkey Federation, the USDA Forest Service, and other partners, cutting red tape to accelerate urgent forest restoration and management on federal lands,\u201d \u201cThis bill ensures we can better manage and conserve vital natural resources for wildlife, hunters and anglers. We are grateful to see the Senate introduce this critical piece of legislation and await the signature from the president.\u201d \u2014 Matt Lindler, Director of Government Affairs, National Wild Turkey Federation\n\n\u201cThe health of our nation\u2019s forests is dependent on the rivers, streams, and wetlands that sustain them. Actively conserving and restoring these critical aquatic resources is an important tool that can be used to mitigate the impacts of wildfire and drought, among other threats,\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re encouraged to see language in the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act that recognizes the wildfire benefits of aquatic restoration. We look forward to continuing to work with leaders from both sides of the aisle to elevate these common sense and cost-effective approaches to forest and water management for all Americans.\u201d \u2014 Alicia Marrs, Director of Western Water, National Wildlife Federation\n\n\u201cAn antiquated NEPA review system delays environmental progress, whether it is protecting our natural resources from forest fires or deploying innovative technologies. This bill takes important steps to address those obstacles that hinder effective land management. For too long we have tiptoed around meaningful and impactful reforms, leading to habitat and human loss in the process. CRES is proud to support this effort spearheaded by Senators Curtis, Sheehy, Hickenlooper and Padilla.\u201d \u2014 Heather Reams, President, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions\n\n\u201cThere is no time to waste in restoring and reforesting the forests that work every day to be the lungs of our nation. More than ever before successful and timely forest restoration will require strengthened coordination across federal, state, and tribal governments together with non-profit organizations. This bill prioritizes a complementary series of actions that will accelerate wildfire resilience and community resilience including ensuring post-fire reforestation is implemented quickly and with the best available science.\u201d \u2014 Brian Kittler, Chief Program Officer-Resilient Forests, American Forests\n\n\u201cThe Fix Our Forests Act includes vital provisions that would improve wildfire mitigation and grid hardening efforts. Specifically, the bill streamlines federal permitting processes, authorizes the management of hazard trees within 150 feet of power lines, and establishes timelines for approval of vegetation management plans. It also incorporates key reforms from the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act, allowing electric utilities to remove felled timber and slash from rights-of-way in national forests without being subject to time-consuming timber sales procedures. These are common-sense, pragmatic changes that will reduce regulatory barriers and allow electric co-ops to act more quickly to protect their infrastructure and the communities they serve.\u201d \u2014 Kent Singer, Executive Director, Colorado Rural Electric Association\n\n\u201cThe poor health of our federal forests exacerbates the wildfires that negatively impact wildlife habitat, sportsmen\u2019s access, and communities across the country, and comprehensive reforms are needed to actively treat hazardous fuels efficiently and at scale to increase forest resiliency to severe wildfires, insects, and disease. We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Congressional Sportsmen\u2019s Caucus Members Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla, and Sheehy for introducing the Fix Our Forests Act to improve forest management through strengthened authorities, collaborative tools, and improved processes. We look forward to working with the bill sponsors to advance the legislation quickly as we approach wildfire season.\u201d \u2014 John Culclasure, Senior Director of Forest Policy, Congressional Sportsmen\u2019s Foundation\n\n\u201cWestern Governors have long supported several policies which are included in the Fix Our Forests Act. Shared stewardship, prescribed fire, and other management strategies addressed in the bill are imperative to the health and resilience of forests and the communities that live among them. The Western Governors\u2019 Association applauds the bipartisan efforts of U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) to address these issues of critical importance to the West. WGA encourages swift consideration of this important piece of legislation by the full Senate.\u201d \u2014Western Governors\u2019 Association\n\n\u201cWith more than two-thirds of U.S. forestland held in state and private ownership, the Fix Our Forests Act acknowledges the crucial role of state agencies in forest health, fire prevention, and ecosystem restoration. We particularly appreciate your inclusion of reforms that improve local flexibility and strengthen the role of state foresters and agriculture agencies in managing risk.\u201d \u2014 Ted McKinney, CEO, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture\n\n\u201cState forestry agencies play a lead role not only in managing and protecting over 550 million acres of state and private forests, but also working to improve the health and resiliency of federal lands through cross-boundary partnerships nationwide. State Foresters are also responsible for wildfire protection on more than 1.5 billion acres and, in collaboration with local fire departments, responding to 80 percent of the nation\u2019s wildland fires. NASF applauds the bipartisan work of Senators Sheehy, Curtis, Hickenlooper, and Padilla to chart a path forward to greatly enhance wildfire management and recovery efforts and stem the tide of disastrous wildfires that threaten our nation\u2019s forests and the livelihood of communities that depend on them. We recognize that many of the key improvements made in the Fix Our Forests Act are nuanced and look forward to continuing our work with Congress to ensure its landmark reforms become law.\u201d \u2014 Jay Farrell, Executive Director, National Association of State Foresters\n\n\u201cWe write to express support of the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act. This legislation is designed to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires that are causing billions of dollars in damages and displacing thousands of people across the United States. Colorado suffered several serious events in the last few years and the state is among the highest in the country for wildfire risk. We are confident the Fix Our Forests Act will help reduce wildfire risk for Colorado communities and speed up mitigation projects while maintaining environmental safeguards and encouraging local involvement in the cooperative community. Further, we believe this will help the availability of liability insurance that has grown difficult to obtain.\u201d \u2014 Mark A. Gabriel, President & CEO, United Power\n\n\u201cRMEF has long supported reforms of federal policy to actively manage our forests, sagebrush and grasslands for improved wildlife habitat and reduced catastrophic fire risk. That is why we strongly support the passage of the Fix Our Forests Act.\u201d \u2014 Kyle Weaver, President & CEO, Rocky Mountain Elk\n\n\u201cLast month, after seeing the devastating fires in Los Angeles, CCL volunteers sent 4,509 messages (and counting!) to Congress, urging them to work in a bipartisan way to reduce wildfire risk. Democratic Rep. Scott Peters from California and Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman from Arkansas have now introduced an updated version of the Fix Our Forests Act. The bill is intended to improve forest health, increase resilience to wildfires, boost forest restoration projects, protect communities, and more. If your representative in the House voted in favor of the Fix Our Forests Act, you can send an appreciation to the office or post it on social media.\u201d \u2014Citizen\u2019 Climate Lobby\n\n\u201cFirst of all, thanks to Senators Hickenlooper, Curtis, Sheehy, and Padilla for their leadership in moving all this forward! Having spent so many hours working on the Wildfire Mitigation and Management Commission, it is refreshing to see so many of the recommendations moving forward! Colorado has taken a very aggressive approach in addressing the wildfire challenges we face and we are pleased to see these efforts at the federal level taking a more holistic look at the challenges we all face and in support of the Commission\u2019s recommendations. This bipartisan effort will serve Colorado and America well! I fully support this effort and I am happy to help in any way that would be helpful.\u201d \u2014 Chief Mike Morgan, Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control\n\n\u201cBPC Action applauds the bipartisan leadership of Sens. Curtis (R-UT), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Sheehy (R-MT), and Padilla (D-CA) on the introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act. By streamlining and improving forest and hazardous fuels management activities on public and Tribal lands, this legislation will help reduce wildfire risks, improve forest health, and protect communities in fire-prone areas. The Fix Our Forests Act also delivers substantial economic and environmental benefits by addressing critical needs to enhance the domestic supply chain of seeds and advance biochar commercialization.\u201d \u2014 Michele Stockwell, President, Bipartisan Policy Center Action\n\n\u201cWe are thrilled to see the Fix Our Forests Act introduced in the Senate through a bipartisan cooperation between Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla, and Sheehy. The bill greatly expands upon the version that passed the House, adding critical details to support wildfire risk reduction in the built environment and provisions for mitigating the health impacts of smoke to communities while promoting expanded use of prescribed fire. Covering a third of the recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, this bill is a significant step forward in wildfire policy and, coupled with sufficient funding and staffing to realize the proposed tools and programs, will make a real difference in our nation\u2019s experience with wildfire.\u201d \u2014 Alliance for Wildfire Resilience\n\n\u201cThe science is clear: tackling the wildfire crisis requires better forest management, increasing the use of prescribed fire, and investing in and deploying the next generation of wildfire technologies. The Fix Our Forests Act will get this urgently needed work done. Now is the time for the Senate to build on the bipartisan leadership demonstrated by the sponsors and pass this bill.\u201d \u2014 James Campbell, Wildfire Policy Specialist, Federation of American Scientists\n\n\u201cHECHO enthusiastically applauds the impressive bipartisan leadership behind the Senate\u2019s Fix Our Forests Act.\u201d \u2014Hispanics Enjoy Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors\n\n\u201cThe Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society values opportunities to engage with conservation allies, including state agencies and the U.S. Forest Service. The Fix Our Forests Act enables collaborative approaches among federal, state, tribal and other entities to forest management that are grounded in state-of-the-art science and data. It lays the foundation for an approach that will facilitate healthy forests management and healthy habitat.\n\nWe commend Chair Westerman and Representative Peters for introducing the Fix Our Forests Act and we urge the House and the Senate to advance the bill without delay.\u201d \u2014Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society\n\n\u201cFor many Americans, catastrophic wildfires are a very real and growing threat to their homes and lives. The U.S. Forest Service needs new tools and more resources now to prevent and control these wildfires, and with the right funding, this bipartisan proposal will help. Protecting people and nature from catastrophic wildfire requires both a robust, science-based plan of forest management and the resources to implement it.\u201d \u2014Environmental Defense Fund\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), we are pleased to support the Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462). RCRC is confident that this legislation will provide much needed pathways to improve and expedite forest management and wildfire prevention measures on USDA Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, as well as on tribal lands; and to improve forest resilience, watershed health and resistance to wildfire. RCRC is an association of forty rural California counties and the RCRC Board of Directors is comprised of elected supervisors from each of those member counties.\u201d \u2014Rural County Representatives of California\n\n\u201cHealthy forests are critical for the well-being of our communities and the planet. The Fix Our Forests Act is a meaningful step forward in advancing forest resilience, reducing wildfire risk, and protecting lives and ecosystems. As a company committed to sustainability and innovation, we\u2019re encouraged to see bipartisan efforts like FOFA that prioritize forest health and a more sustainable future.\u201d \u2014Sunya Norman , Senior Vice President , Salesforce\n\n\u201cWe strongly support Senator Curtis\u2019s efforts to modernize the performance of wastewater treatment infrastructure through the use of intelligent/digital technology. This bill will provide a great benefit for Utah. A few years ago, CVWRF started the Digital Water committee which is part of the Water Environment Association of Utah. At CVWRF, we already have many real time sensors and instruments that monitor our processes and feed data into the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system that automates control of the plant. The topic of intelligent water infrastructure is extremely pertinent for us as we are now significantly increasing the number (by around a factor of 10), variety and sophistication of the sensors and the control software we use. This work is being implemented as part of the redesign and construction we are currently undertaking to improve our treatment facilities to lower costs and improve the quality of wastewater we discharge into the Great Salt Lake. We are also starting to use this information for asset management such as triggering maintenance events based on sensor data and not just a simple maintenance schedule. We are also implementing digital twin software models of our process which use real time data and simulate the operation which will allow us for example, to predict the outcome of process changes we want to make prior to implementing them in our physical facility.\u201d \u2014 Phil Heck, General Manager, Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility\n\n\u201cThe accelerating frequency and severity of wildfires are devastating communities, crippling infrastructure, and inflicting enormous losses to our economy. Beyond the immediate destruction and long-term recovery, these fires release large amounts of carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases, threatening human health and undermining hard-won progress on emissions reductions critical to combating climate change. The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) is pleased to endorse the active forest management and resilience strategies outlined in the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, which will remove barriers hindering wildfire prevention, leading to better outcomes for communities and the U.S. economy. Many efforts in the bill closely align with C2ES\u2019s Wildfire Resilience Policy Recommendations drafted with the support of local, state, and business leaders in the West.\u201d \u2014 Nat Keohane, President, C2ES\n\n\u201cThe Fix Our Forests Act will help restore forest health and increase resilience to catastrophic wildfires by: Streamlining environmental reviews to reduce project delays; Encouraging prescribed fire practices and livestock grazing as wildfire mitigation tools; Promoting technology partnerships for wildfire detection and prevention; Supporting research into wildfire- resistant building designs and community layouts, aiming to improve structural resilience; and fostering interagency cooperation to avoid duplication.\u201d \u2014 Marty Durbin, Senior Vice President, Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce\n\n\u201cThe Fix Our Forests Act will help address some of the most pressing challenges facing our landscapes and communities by: accelerating landscape-scale restoration work through revised categorical exclusion (CE) and permitting thresholds that reduce delays and promote proactive land management; driving data-informed decision-making by improving access to intelligence and leveraging existing decision support tools and data infrastructure; leveraging innovative technologies to enhance wildfire response, including the integration and accessibility of commercially available tools at both federal and state levels; and promoting resilience in the built environment by creating a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program and expanding Community Wildfire Defense Grants to include home\n\nhardening activities.\u201d \u2014 Lief Sackett, Colorado River Fire Rescue; Mark Novak, Vail Fire and Emergency Services; Karl Bauer, Eagle River Fire Protection District; C. Andrew Hoehn, Red, White, and Blue Fire District; Brad White, Grand Fire District #1; Jake Anderson, Aspen Fire Department; Travis Davis, Summit Fire and EMS; David Wolf, Wildland Fire Section Chairman\n\n\u201cThis legislation outlines a comprehensive approach to improving forest and watershed health by helping to foster a collaborative partnership between federal agencies and local communitas, authorizing common sense environmental streamlining authorities, and expanding important research initiatives.\u201d \u2014 Chane Polo, Executive Director Andy Colosimo, Chair of CWC Federal Affairs Committee, Colorado Water Congress\n\n\u201cThe bill has come a long way since passing on the House floor by a bipartisan vote in January. Thanks to the efforts of the Senate bill\u2019s sponsors, Sens. Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla, important improvements have been made that have allowed for our organizations to back the bill: there are more guardrails around the emergency authorities, clarified forest management activities, broader inclusions of local, state, tribal and stakeholder input, substantially strengthened Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program language, provisions on improving prescribed fire use, and expanded seed nursery and reforestation infrastructure. Further, language has been struck that would limit standing for plaintiffs based on comment period participation, and the statute of limitations has been extended.\u201d \u2014 The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, and National Audubon Society\n\nThe Fix Our Forests Act is a critical step forward. The bill provides an opportunity to speed up the planning and implementation of wildfire risk reduction projects on federal lands while expanding collaborative tools to bring more partners into this vital work. Additionally, it bolsters the use of prescribed fire to help reduce fire severity and restore ecosystems. The bill recognizes that replanting after wildfire and other extreme events goes hand in hand with active forest management and the legislation supports ecosystem and habitat restoration across our public lands and in the priceless white oak forests of the Eastern U.S. The Fix Our Forests Act also takes a broad view of the solutions needed by establishing a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program to address risk in the built environment and creating a Fire Intelligence Center to improve interagency coordination and adoption of new technologies. \u2014 Coalition of 22 Wildfire Organizations\n\n\u201cWe are particularly encouraged by the bill\u2019s designation of Fireshed Management Areas to focus forest health treatments in the highest-risk regions; creation of an Interagency Fireshed Center to coordinate science, data, and planning across jurisdictions; streamlined environmental reviews that maintain safeguards while accelerating action on priority projects; support for Good Neighbor Authority expansion to allow broader participation from states and local partners; investment in local and tribal capacity, data tools, and restoration programs to improve on-the-ground outcomes.\n\nEach of these components advances better watershed protection, reduces long-term fire suppression costs, and improves the resilience of the systems our members rely on to deliver clean, reliable water.\n\nThe Fix Our Forests Act provides a forward-looking framework that strengthens interagency collaboration and delivers common-sense reforms to improve forest and watershed health. NWRA believes this legislation will provide lasting benefits for our environment, public safety, and water quality and infrastructure. We respectfully urge swift passage of the bill and stand ready to support its implementation.\u201d \u2014 Greg Morrison, Executive Vice President , National Water Resources Association\n\nTo address these challenges, the Fix Our Forests Act would:\n\nEstablish new and updated programs to reduce wildfire risks across large, high-priority \u201cfiresheds,\u201d with an emphasis on cross-boundary collaboration.\n\nStreamline and expand tools for forest health projects (e.g., stewardship contracting, Good Neighbor Agreements) and provide faster processes for certain hazardous fuels treatments.\n\nCreate a single interagency program to help communities in the wildland-urban interface build and retrofit with wildfire-resistant measures, while simplifying and consolidating grant applications.\n\nExpand research and demonstration initiatives\u2014including biochar projects and the Community Wildfire Defense Research Program\u2014to test and deploy cutting-edge wildfire prevention, detection, and mitigation technologies.\n\nStrengthen coordination efforts across agencies through a new Wildfire Intelligence Center, which would streamline federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combating wildfires.\n\nImprove reforestation, seedling supply, and nursery capacity; establish new programs for white oak restoration; and clarify policies to reduce wildfire-related litigation and expedite forest health treatments.\n\nA version of the Fix Our Forests Act was originally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Scott Peters (D-CA).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/lee-introduces-charlie-kirk-act-to-ban-government-funded-propaganda", "Lee Introduces Charlie Kirk Act To Ban Government Funded Propaganda", "2025-09-17", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Charlie Kirk Act today to restore protections against government-funded propaganda targeted at American audiences. Named as a tribute to the late conservative leader Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last week during a debate appearance in Utah, this legislation restores protections from the Smith-Mundt Act to block the federal government from propagandizing its own citizens shaping media narratives. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS).\n\n\u201cFrom the end of World War II until the Obama administration, it was illegal for the US government to use the State Department\u2019s foreign broadcasting apparatus to target American citizens with propaganda,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cIn 2013, these protections were taken away. My legislation restores this safeguard under the name of an American martyr for freedom of speech and freedom of thought: Charlie Kirk. As Charlie\u2019s vital work so ably demonstrated, Americans can figure out the truth for themselves without government telling them what to believe.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe tragedy we witnessed last week was a sobering reminder of the perils of a population subjected to dangerous propaganda,\u201d said Senator Roger Marshall. \u201cThe federal government should never be able to directly target U.S. citizens with propaganda, and this bill takes meaningful steps to remove any semblance of government influence over American media.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nNew survey data revealed in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk\u2019s death that 24% of very liberal Americans find political violence justifiable \u2013 a startling revelation on the effects of extremist rhetoric from the ideological left. Vice President JD Vance urged Americans to address \u201cthis incredibly destructive movement of left-wing extremism that has grown up over the last few years,\u201d which he believes \u201cis part of the reason why Charlie was killed by an assassin's bullet.\" Kirk\u2019s murder was the latest in a growing list of political attacks apparently motivated by extreme leftist rhetoric.\n\nThe Smith-Mundt Act was enacted during the Cold War and included specific protections against the federal government gaining illegitimate, monopolized influence over the minds of the American people by banning the targeted dissemination of government funded propaganda material to American audiences. Under the Obama administration in 2013, these protections were weakened, opening the door for government control and exploitation of information channels.\n\nNow, American audiences are not only vulnerable to, but likely paying for their own propagandization. Given that government funded media outlets like NPR and PBS have proven so incredibly politically biased that Congress revoked their federal funding when Senator Lee led the charge, this is a deeply troubling overstep of tyranny over the American public.\n\nIn response to Charlie Kirk\u2019s assassination, President Trump expressed support for reenacting Smith-Mundt, and a petition for its passage in memoriam of Kirk has gathered over one hundred thousand signatures. The Charlie Kirk Act will restore media accountability and safeguard freedom of speech and the press from biased government control with Smith-Mundt Act protections against propaganda funded by American tax dollars.\n\nRead exclusive coverage by Fox News here.\n\nRead bill text of the Charlie Kirk Act here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-curtis-honors-fallen-tremonton-officers-on-the-senate-floor", "SENATOR CURTIS HONORS FALLEN TREMONTON OFFICERS ON THE SENATE FLOOR", "2025-09-15", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "In his speech, Senator Curtis paid tribute to the officers\u2019 courage and sacrifice, reflecting on the deep impact their loss has had on their families, their department, and the community.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Last week, Senator John Curtis (R-UT) visited Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath in honor of Sergeant Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada, two Tremonton-Garland police officers who were killed in the line of duty last month. He later paid tribute to the officers in a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate.\n\n\u201cSergeant Sorensen and Officer Estrada carried the pioneer spirit that defines Utah,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cThey chose duty over comfort. They walked into danger so others could walk in peace. Their service, their laughter, their sacrifice lives on in us. May we honor them not only with our words, but with action worthy of their examples.\u201d\n\nCurtis noted that the Tremonton-Garland Police Department, made up of just 17 people, has had to carry on despite the tragedy. Thousands of Utahns lined the streets in the rain for the officers\u2019 funerals, tying blue ribbons on homes and storefronts to show their support.\n\nEarlier in the day, Senator Curtis laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in honor of Sergeant Sorensen and Officer Estrada. Footage of that ceremony can be found below:\n\nThe full speech as prepared for delivery is below, and the video file can be downloaded here.\n\nMr. President, colleagues,\n\nTremonton, Utah, is a quiet town in the Bear River Valley, best known for the Box Elder County Fair, now celebrating its 100th year. It\u2019s the kind of place where folks wave as they pass on the road, where neighbors look after each other, and where life feels far from the noise and chaos of other parts of the country.\n\nBut on Sunday, August 17, that peace was shattered. Sergeant Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada\u2014two devoted public servants\u2014responded to a domestic disturbance call. In the line of duty, both were shot and killed while protecting their community. Their loss has left a hole not just in their families, but in Tremonton, and across Utah.\n\nEarlier today, I laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in their honor. It was a humbling reminder that sacrifice\u2014whether on foreign battlefields or the quiet streets of our towns\u2014is what preserves our freedom.\n\nWe all know policing is never easy. Officers step into the unknown, often with seconds, or less, to decide between life and death. Domestic calls are among the most dangerous. That night in Tremonton, Lee and Eric faced lethal fire. Yet their courage saved lives. A deputy and his K-9 were injured but survived. Others made it home because Lee and Eric did not.\n\nSgt. Sorensen, a 16-year veteran, was known as steady and kind. He checked on grieving neighbors, looked out for late-night grocery store employees, and every year rode his bike in the county fair parade, tossing candy with a smile.\n\nOfficer Estrada, just 31, was a husband and father, known for his humor and compassion, and for putting people at ease. Together, these men embodied the best of Utah law enforcement\u2014service rooted in responsibility, not authority.\n\nTo give you perspective, the Tremonton-Garland Police Department has just 17 people\u2014officers and staff together. They didn\u2019t get to stop and grieve. They had to carry on, leaning on each other and on a community that has shown incredible kindness.\n\nAt their funerals, thousands lined the streets in the rain. Blue ribbons appeared on homes and storefronts. At the fair, more than $260,000 was raised for their families. That is Utah at its best. Neighbors locking arms and lifting one another.\n\nMr. President, Utah has always honored sacrifice. My pioneer ancestors climbed Ensign Peak in 1847. They looked out over a barren desert and imagined what could be\u2014a thriving home built on faith, family, and community. They didn\u2019t have much, but they had courage. They knew the future would demand hardship\u2014and unity.\n\nSgt. Sorensen and Officer Estrada carried that same pioneer spirit. They stood watch so others could rest. They chose duty over comfort. They walked into danger so others could walk in peace.\n\nAs President Kennedy said, \u201cAsk not what your country can do for you\u2014ask what you can do for your country.\u201d Lee and Eric lived that creed. And as President Reagan reminded us, \u201cFreedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.\u201d On the quiet streets of Tremonton, they stood guard against that extinction.\n\nDeputy Allred, who was shot and survived, said while recovering: \u201cIf I could ask one thing to come from this senseless tragedy, don\u2019t forget how much love and support is being handed out right now. Communities are coming together. Kindness and love are being shared. Keep this moving forward and don\u2019t stop ever.\u201d\n\nThat\u2019s the charge before us. My mission is to ensure Lee and Eric are remembered not as headlines, but as symbols of Utah values and American courage. And my commitment is to work for solutions that better support law enforcement, strengthen protections for families, and bring peace of mind to hardworking citizens.\n\nSo let us pledge today: Sgt. Sorensen and Officer Estrada will not be forgotten. Their service, their laughter, their sacrifice lives on in us. May we honor them not only with our words, but with action worthy of their example.\n\nThank you, Mr. President. I yield back.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/senators-launch-consumer-safety-technology-act-to-strengthen-ai-and-blockchain-safeguards", "SENATORS LAUNCH CONSUMER SAFETY TECHNOLOGY ACT TO STRENGTHEN AI AND BLOCKCHAIN SAFEGUARDS", "2025-09-11", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, introduced the Consumer Safety Technology Act, bipartisan legislation to modernize consumer protection tools and keep American families safe in a rapidly changing digital world.\n\n\u201cThe world is changing fast, and consumer protection must keep pace,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cThis bill puts the right tools in the hands of experts\u2014employing AI to catch dangerous products before they hurt families, exploring blockchain to strengthen supply chains, and making sure digital tokens don\u2019t become a new avenue for fraud. This is about keeping people safe while helping American innovation thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur government must be able to keep up with new and emerging technologies, especially when it comes to consumer safety,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cThe Consumer Safety Technology Act would allow the Consumer Product Safety Commission to explore using artificial intelligence to further its critical goals. I am grateful to work alongside Senator Curtis on this legislation and look forward to getting it over the finish line.\u201d\n\nAs technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and digital tokens become part of everyday life, Americans face new risks\u2014from unsafe products and scams to unfair or deceptive practices. The Consumer Safety Technology Act ensures the U.S. stays ahead of threats by equipping the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other agencies with the tools they need to protect consumers while preserving America\u2019s leadership in innovation.\n\nThe Consumer Safety Technology Act would:\n\nLaunch an AI pilot program at the CPSC to analyze injury trends, identify hazards, monitor recalls, and flag unsafe imports more quickly, keeping dangerous products out of American homes.\n\nRequire a Department of Commerce study on how blockchain can improve product safety, supply chain integrity, and traceability, while identifying potential risks.\n\nDirect the Federal Trade Commission and Commerce Department to report on unfair or deceptive practices involving digital tokens, ensuring consumers are protected without stifling responsible innovation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/senator-lee-introduces-resolution-condemning-assassination-of-charlie-kirk-and-honoring-his-legacy", "Senator Lee Introduces Resolution Condemning Assassination of Charlie Kirk and Honoring His Legacy", "2025-09-11", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a resolution today in response to the assassination of conservative leader and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk yesterday during an event on Utah Valley University\u2019s campus. A companion resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-UT).\n\nRESOLUTION\n\nCondemning the assassination of Charlie Kirk and honoring his life and legacy.\n\nWhereas Charlie Kirk was horrifically assassinated on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University while speaking to a large group of college students;\n\nWhereas Charlie Kirk was a devoted husband, father, and Christian;\n\nWhereas, in 2012, Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a conservative campus advocacy group that quickly became one of the fastest growing college campus chapter organizations in the country; and\n\nWhereas Charlie Kirk frequently engaged college students of all political backgrounds in open debates and discussion, encouraging civil discourse on college campuses and among college students: Now, therefore, be it\n\nResolved, That the Senate\u2014\n\n(1) condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk in the strongest possible terms;\n\n(2) extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to Charlie Kirk\u2019s family, including his wife, Erika, and their two young children; and\n\n(3) honors Charlie Kirk\u2019s commitment to the constitutional principles of civil discussion and debate between all people of the United States, regardless of political affiliation.\n\nSenator Lee released the following statement yesterday in response to Kirk\u2019s passing:\n\n\u201cCharlie Kirk was an American patriot, an inspiration to countless young people to stand up and defend the timeless truths that make our country great.\n\n\u201cThis murder was a cowardly act of violence, an attack on champions of freedom like Charlie, the students who gathered for civil debate, and all Americans who peacefully strive to save our nation.\n\n\u201cThe terrorists will not win.\n\n\u201cCharlie will.\n\n\u201cPlease join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift.\u201d\n\nRead the full text of the resolution here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/senator-mike-lee-issues-statement-on-murder-of-charlie-kirk-on-uvu-campus", "Senator Mike Lee Issues Statement on Murder of Charlie Kirk on UVU Campus", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement on the murder of conservative leader and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk earlier today at Utah Valley University:\n\n\u201cCharlie Kirk was an American patriot, an inspiration to countless young people to stand up and defend the timeless truths that make our country great.\n\n\u201cThis murder was a cowardly act of violence, an attack on champions of freedom like Charlie, the students who gathered for civil debate, and all Americans who peacefully strive to save our nation.\n\n\u201cThe terrorists will not win.\n\n\u201cCharlie will.\n\n\u201cPlease join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift.\u201d\n\nKirk was shot during a speech on Utah Valley University\u2019s campus at approximately 12:30pm MDT as a large crowd of students was gathered to hear Kirk speak at the first stop of his American Comeback Tour. No students or other guests have been reported injured at the event.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/lee-supports-trump-energy-agenda-with-protections-for-utah-energy-producers", "Lee Supports Trump Energy Agenda with Protections for Utah Energy Producers", "2025-09-09", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today to support President Trump\u2019s American energy dominance agenda and shield Americans from artificially high gas prices by protecting Utah oil refineries from unfair fines by the federal government. The Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act would block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from forcing refineries to shoulder forgiven fines from refineries that do not meet the EPA\u2019s environmental standards. U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) cosponsored the legislation, which received endorsements from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and the American Energy Alliance.\n\n\u201cThe Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act advances President Trump\u2019s growth agenda for American energy and lowers costs for hardworking families, ensuring that refineries in Utah and across the nation are not subjected to unlawful regulations invented by DC lobbyists,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cNowhere in the Clean Air Act does it say that the swampy corn lobby can force Americans to pay more for their products. By jamming through more biofuels and environmental compliance costs, the corn lobby is stifling US energy producers and jacking up the price of fuel. It\u2019s bad for refineries, bad for American families, and bad for American energy independence.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur refineries play a critical role in supplying Wyoming families and businesses with affordable energy. Outrageous compliance costs under the Renewable Fuel Standard threaten to raise prices for families across the country,\u201d said Senator John Barrasso. \u201cOur legislation will prevent increased compliance costs and help keep gas prices down for the people of Wyoming.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe small refinery exemption was meant to provide relief, not shift costs onto larger refineries,\u201d said Senator Cynthia Lummis. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join my western colleagues in introducing legislation that preserves fairness and common sense at the EPA by clarifying Congress\u2019 intent. This will prevent unfair compliance costs, protect Wyoming jobs while keeping gas prices down for people throughout the Cowboy State, and uphold President Trump\u2019s commitment to unleashing American energy.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs if a $70 billion RFS price tag and a mandate for record imports wasn\u2019t enough, the U.S. EPA is threatening to further undercut the President\u2019s energy dominance agenda by reallocating more than a billion gallons of exempted RFS volumes from small refiners to their competitors. This is akin to your neighbor getting a tax break and the IRS showing up at your doorstep with the bill. It is simply wrong and will not meaningfully change the volume of corn ethanol that gets blended into American gasoline. We\u2019re grateful to Senator Lee for introducing this legislation that will make it explicitly clear that EPA cannot re-assign massive regulatory burdens from one refinery to others. This bill will save American consumers billions of dollars. It will benefit U.S. energy security and help to ensure that American fuel manufacturers use more of their resources on productive things \u2014 like jobs, facility construction projects, and energy infrastructure \u2014 instead of red tape from the EPA.\u201d \u2013 Chet Thompson, CEO and President, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers\n\nBackground\n\nThe EPA requires refineries in the U.S. to include a minimum volume of renewable fuel (e.g., ethanol, biodiesel, etc.) in all fuel sold, or pay to make up for any level of noncompliance. Small refineries may be granted exemptions if complying would cause \u201cdisproportionate economic hardship.\u201d\n\nThe EPA is currently considering whether to reallocate forgiven payments over to non-exempt refineries, forcing compliant producers to shoulder even more costs despite no authorization from the Clean Air Act to do so.\n\nThis is an antiquated Bush-era program that originated in a time when there were fears about an \u201caddiction to foreign oil\u201d and a looming cliff for domestic oil production, seeking to turn the industry toward biofuels. Despite those fears proving unfounded, the program escalates its requirements each period, with the most recent Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) being the highest ever proposed.\n\nBy the EPA\u2019s own calculation, the proposed rule would impose compliance costs of approximately $6.7 billion per year, while returning benefits of only $200 million per year. The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) estimates that compliance costs are closer to $70 billion.\n\nThis is simply a handout for the biofuel and agriculture industries at the expense of American refineries and consumers, who will see prices at the pump increase if the EPA moves forward with its proposed rule and reallocation of exempted payments.\n\nThe Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act would protect Americans from artificially high gas prices by blocking the EPA from forcing refineries to shoulder unfair fines.\n\nRead bill text of the Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/senator-lee-cosponsors-clean-d-c-act", "Senator Lee Cosponsors CLEAN D.C. Act", "2025-09-03", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and a coalition of their Republican colleagues in introducing the Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now (CLEAN) D.C. Act today. The legislation empowers law enforcement in D.C. by repealing sweeping restrictions made by D.C.\u2019s City Council and Democrats in Congress under President Joe Biden.\n\n\u201cFor too long, Congress has failed to keep D.C. safe and allowed corrupt local officials to prioritize politics over people\u2019s lives,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cThe CLEAN D.C. Act is a step in the right direction as Congress reasserts its constitutional duty to safeguard D.C.\u201d\n\n\u201cViolent crime has become endemic in Washington DC as a direct result of political and ideological decisions made by Democrats,\u201d said Senator Ted Cruz. \u201cThose decisions included passing and trying to lock in anti-police measures such as the Orwellian-named Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, which undermined police morale, weakened officer retention, and contributed to a still-ongoing public safety disaster. The CLEAN D.C. Act will reverse that decision, and I call upon my colleagues in Congress to pass it.\u201d\n\nThe CLEAN D.C. Act was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and U.S. Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\n\u201cFor far too long, our nation\u2019s capital has been plagued by rampant crime and unsafe streets,\u201d said Senator Ted Budd. \u201cI am proud to join Senator Cruz and my colleagues in reaffirming Congressional authority to implement common-sense policing measures in Washington, D.C., to support the President\u2019s agenda \u2014 putting safety first.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, the radical liberals on the D.C. Council in Washington have turned their backs on the blue by ushering in new laws and regulations that handicap law enforcement\u2019s ability to do their jobs, spurring rampant, violent crime across our nation\u2019s capital,\u201d said Senator John Cornyn. \u201cThis legislation would repeal one of these harmful laws that unfairly targeted police by restricting their ability to pursue a fleeing target or stop a violent protest so our brave law enforcement officers can once again feel empowered to make D.C. safe for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cIdaho serves as a model of low crime and safe streets, while Washington, DC\u2019s crime and threats to public safety required President Trump\u2019s intervention to bring law and order,\u201d said Senator Jim Risch. \u201cThe CLEAN DC Act will ensure law enforcement can continue to support the President\u2019s efforts to prioritize the safety of all Americans in our nation\u2019s capital.\u201d\n\n\u201cWashington, D.C. is the capital of the free world \u2013 instead of being a shining example to metro areas across the globe, it has become a cesspool for criminals and illegals to get away with violent crime,\u201d said Senator Tommy Tuberville. \u201cThe D.C. police should have every tool in the toolkit to enforce the law and fight crime. We owe it to them, along with the millions of people who live, work, and visit D.C. every year, to keep this city safe. I\u2019m proud to join this legislation with Senator Cruz to remove red tape that\u2019s preventing our police officers from being able to do their jobs. Keeping people safe and locking the bad guys up is common sense and I hope my colleagues can get off their high horse and vote for the wellbeing of our nation\u2019s capital.\n\n\u201cCongress must once again exercise our constitutional authority to repeal the D.C. City Council\u2019s anti-police law that has recklessly put criminals first and our men and women in blue last,\u201d said Rep. Andrew Clyde. \u201cUnlike Joe Biden \u2014 who vetoed this commonsense legislation in 2023, President Trump stands for law and order. Sending the CLEAN DC Act to President Trump\u2019s desk will further bolster his successful efforts to make our nation\u2019s capital safe again for the American people. I thank Senator Cruz for leading this critical bill in the Senate, and I urge our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put public safety over politics by supporting our efforts to repeal the D.C. Council\u2019s severely misguided law.\u201d\n\nThis bill is endorsed by the D.C. Police Union and the Fraternal Order of Police.\n\n\u201cThe D.C. Police Union, representing 3,000 dedicated officers of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), expresses profound gratitude to Senator Ted Cruz for his steadfast leadership in introducing legislation to repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act, a misguided and harmful law that has plagued our city's public safety since its enactment. This new repeal effort is a critical step toward restoring common-sense law enforcement in our Nation's Capital. The Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act has not reformed anything, it has enabled lawlessness, endangered officers and their families, and driven away the very professionals needed to keep D.C. safe. We urge all Senators to pass this repeal with the same bipartisan resolve shown in 2023, and we call on the President to sign it into law. Our city cannot afford another day of this failed experiment.\" \u2013 Gregg Pemberton, Chairman, D.C. Police Union\n\nBackground\n\nCosponsoring the CLEAN D.C. Act is part of Senator Lee\u2019s ongoing support for President Donald Trump\u2019s agenda to make Washington D.C. safe and beautiful again by asserting Congress\u2019 constitutional authority to govern the nation\u2019s capital.\n\nIn February, Senator Lee introduced the Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident (BOWSER) Act. In response to the mayor and city council\u2019s failure to prevent violent crime, corruption, and voting by non-citizens, the BOWSER Act would repeal the District of Columbia Home Rule Act and restore Congress\u2019 constitutional authority to govern D.C.\n\nSenator Lee then introduced legislation to block the D.C. City Council from holding secret meetings and circumventing President Trump\u2019s efforts to manage crime and sanitation issues across the city. This bill would provide transparency and prevent corruption by closing the loophole councilmembers use to avoid accountability to their own citizens and Congress.\n\nThe CLEAN D.C. Act\n\nThe CLEAN D.C. Act repeals the D.C. City Council\u2019s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, which imposed sweeping restrictions on law enforcement in Washington, D.C.\n\nIn 2023, the House and Senate passed legislation with bipartisan support to block that measure. President Biden vetoed the resolution, and Democrats sustained his veto the same year.\n\nThe D.C. Council\u2019s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 weakens D.C. law enforcement by:\n\nBanning longstanding and proven police tactics.\n\nStripping legal protections and due process rights for officers.\n\nThreatening police officer safety by authorizing public release of records.\n\nImposing restrictions on policing protests and the use of non-lethal crowd control.\n\nLaw enforcement leaders have warned that these provisions demoralize officers, worsen D.C.\u2019s law enforcement staffing crisis, and embolden criminals.\n\nRead bill text for the CLEAN D.C. Act here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T15:07:37Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/senator-lee-introduces-department-of-war-restoration-act", "Senator Lee Introduces Department of War Restoration Act", "2025-09-02", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today to restore the original title of the United States Department of War to what is currently known as the Department of Defense. U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) cosponsored the legislation, and Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cFor the first 150 years of our military\u2019s history, Americans defeated their enemies and protected their homeland under the War Department,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the Department of War Restoration Act to make President Trump\u2019s return to tradition permanent in federal law. It should always be clear to anyone who would harm our people: Americans don\u2019t just play defense.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom 1789 until the end of World War II, the United States military fought under the banner of the Department of War,\u201d said Rep. Steube. \"Thanks to their courage and sacrifice, the standard of excellence was established for all servicemembers who followed in their footsteps. It is only fitting that we pay tribute to their eternal example and renowned commitment to lethality by restoring the name of the 'Department of War' to our Armed Forces.\"\n\nSenator Rick Scott said, \u201cThe United States military is not a purely defensive force. We are the most lethal fighting force on the face of the planet \u2013 and a restoration of the name Department of War reflects their true capabilities to win wars, not just respond when prodded. President Trump has made clear that our nation will pursue Peace Through Strength; we will always protect our freedoms.\u201d\n\nRead exclusive coverage by RealClear Politics here.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T15:07:37Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/bipartisan-push-to-boost-usfs-firefighting-capacity-amid-utah-wildfires", "BIPARTISAN PUSH TO BOOST USFS FIREFIGHTING CAPACITY AMID UTAH WILDFIRES", "2025-08-29", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins this week to address staffing shortages at the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) by expanding firefighting capacity. The request comes as Utah battles nearly ten major fires and other Western states face heightened threats during the ongoing wildfire season.\n\nIn their letter, the Senators called on Secretary Rollins to increase the number of Incident Qualification Cards, commonly known as \u201cRed Cards,\u201d for USFS wildland firefighters. The Red Card is an essential credential for any firefighter participating in interagency wildland fire operations.\n\n\u201cAs the 2025 wildfire season intensifies, timely certification is critical to ensuring that qualified firefighting personnel can be mobilized without delay. Unfortunately, the persistent backlogs in Red Card processing are impairing the ability of our states and other Western states to deploy federal, state, and contract crews during periods of high fire activity,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cOur wildland firefighters are working in increasingly hazardous and complex conditions as we have already seen this year. Those putting their lives on the line deserve efficient administrative systems that match the urgency and importance of their mission,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Rollins,\n\nWe write to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure an adequate level of Incident Qualification Cards\u2014commonly referred to as \u201cRed Cards\u201d\u2014including through their issuance and renewal, for wildland firefighters operating at the United States Forest Service (USFS).\n\nThe Red Card is an essential credential for any firefighter participating in interagency wildland fire operations, including those under the USFS. Without current certification, even experienced and fully trained individuals are sidelined at a time when every available resource counts.\n\nAs the 2025 wildfire season intensifies, timely certification is critical to ensuring that qualified firefighting personnel can be mobilized without delay. Unfortunately, over the years, the persistent backlogs in Red Card processing are impairing the ability of our states and other Western states to deploy federal, state, and contract crews during periods of high fire activity. These delays are not only creating operational gaps but also placing additional strain on already-deployed responders. We remain committed to the expeditious rollout of Red Cards and to adequate staffing at USFS to efficiently respond to this fire season.\n\nOur wildland firefighters are working in increasingly hazardous and complex conditions as we have already seen this year. Those putting their lives on the line deserve efficient administrative systems that match the urgency and importance of their mission. If we can be helpful in this effort, please let us know how; we stand ready to work with USDA and USFS to ensure a satisfactory number of trained and ready firefighters can be on the line when needed.\n\nAdditional Reading:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/statement-from-senator-curtis-on-administrations-wind-and-solar-guidance", "STATEMENT FROM SENATOR CURTIS ON ADMINISTRATION\u2019S WIND AND SOLAR GUIDANCE", "2025-08-15", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Provo, Utah \u2014 Senator John Curtis (R-UT) today issued the following statement in response to guidance posted by the Department of Treasury regarding Executive Order 14315, Ending Market Distorting Subsidies for Unreliable, Foreign-Controlled Energy Sources (90 F.R. 30821), issued July 7, 2025:\n\n\u201cI appreciate the work of Secretary Bessent and his staff in balancing various concerns and perspectives to address the President\u2019s executive order on wind and solar projects. Throughout these conversations, we have shared the goal of responsibly ending the decades-long tax credits for these industries while providing a soft landing. I look forward to further reviewing these changes to understand their full impact.\u201d\n\n\u201cI will continue working to ensure Utah companies\u2014and all American innovators\u2014have the certainty and opportunity they need to deliver the future we all want: affordable, reliable, clean energy rooted in American ingenuity.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nA new economic analysis by ICF, commissioned by the American Clean Power Association, shows that federal programs and clean energy tax incentives, maintained during conversations with the Administration, are projected to deliver major economic benefits to Utah from 2025\u20132035.\n\n126,800 full-time equivalent jobs created or supported in Utah \u2014 averaging about 11,500 jobs per year\n\n$5 billion in additional income for Utahns\n\n$33 billion in total spending from investments in American energy infrastructure\n\n$17 billion added to Utah\u2019s economy over the next decade from clean energy investment alone\n\nThese benefits span multiple sectors:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-gallego-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-spur-water-technology-innovation", "CURTIS, GALLEGO INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO SPUR WATER TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Last week, Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the bipartisan Water Infrastructure Modernization Act to increase the use of smart water technologies. The legislation provides $50 million in grant funding for community water systems to purchase and implement new water technologies, including those that can identify water loss, examine pipe integrity, detect leaks, prepare for severe weather, innovate water storage systems, and more.\n\n\u201cAcross Utah and the West, communities face real challenges with aging water systems, drought resilience, and growing demand,\u201dsaid Senator Curtis. \u201cThe Water Infrastructure Modernization Act empowers local leaders to adopt next-generation technologies and reflects our pioneer values of innovation, thrift, and stewardship, and puts modern tools in the hands of those closest to the land.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn the West, we know that every drop of water matters,\u201d said Senator Gallego. \u201cBy investing in the latest technologies, we can make our water systems more efficient \u2013 saving communities water and money.\u201d\n\nSupport for the Water Infrastructure Modernization Act:\n\n\u201cWe strongly support Senator Curtis\u2019s efforts to modernize the performance of wastewater treatment infrastructure through the use of intelligent/digital technology. This bill will provide a great benefit for Utah. A few years ago, CVWRF started the Digital Water committee which is part of the Water Environment Association of Utah. At CVWRF, we already have many real time sensors and instruments that monitor our processes and feed data into the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system that automates control of the plant. The topic of intelligent water infrastructure is extremely pertinent for us as we are now significantly increasing the number (by around a factor of 10), variety and sophistication of the sensors and the control software we use. This work is being implemented as part of the redesign and construction we are currently undertaking to improve our treatment facilities to lower costs and improve the quality of wastewater we discharge into the Great Salt Lake. We are also starting to use this information for asset management such as triggering maintenance events based on sensor data and not just a simple maintenance schedule. We are also implementing digital twin software models of our process which use real time data and simulate the operation which will allow us for example, to predict the outcome of process changes we want to make prior to implementing them in our physical facility.\u201dSaid Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility General Manager Phil Heck.\n\n\u201cEmerging smart water technologies hold the potential to help water systems identify trends in water use, detect potential infrastructure failures before they happen, and more efficiently manage water resources overall,\u201d said the Association of Municipal Water Agencies. \u201cHowever, start-up costs for individual water systems can pose a challenge that discourages water systems from utilizing the full potential of these technologies. AMWA appreciates Senator Gallego\u2019s leadership in advancing adoption of innovative technologies to enhance water system operations, and we look forward to working with him and other water sector stakeholders on this important issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) applauds the bipartisan introduction of the Water Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2025. This legislation will help clean water agencies fulfill their responsibilities of protecting public health and the environment, by ensuring agencies have access to and are able to adopt the advanced water treatment technologies that are required to meet today\u2019s increasingly complex water quality needs,\u201d said Adam Link, Executive Director, CASA.\n\n\u201cAs a U.S.-based water solutions company, Xylem applauds Senator Gallego and Senator Curtis\u2019 leadership in introducing the \u201cWater Infrastructure Modernization Act,\u201d a vital step towards modernizing our nation\u2019s water systems. Communities across the country face growing challenges posed by aging infrastructure, drought, and rising input costs. Smart water technologies can improve efficiency, extend infrastructure lifespans, and help keep water safe, affordable and reliable. We look forward to working with Senator Gallego and Senator Curtis to ensure all communities are empowered be more water-secure,\u201d said Joshua Mahan, Senior Director, Government and Industry Relations, Xylem.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/7/lee-bill-blocks-federal-judges-from-appointing-u-s-attorneys", "Lee Bill Blocks Federal Judges from Appointing U.S. Attorneys", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today to restore the President\u2019s right to appoint acting United States Attorneys, a power usurped by Democrats and handed to judges under arbitrary time limits, creating conflicts of interest and power imbalances within courts. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) cosponsored the legislation.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump deserves to pick the people working for him,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cJudges shouldn\u2019t get to choose the US Attorney who will be arguing cases before them, just as they would never let a President name their law clerks. Congress took this provision out once before, and Democrats revived it to hamper the Bush administration almost 20 years ago. It\u2019s time we restored this prerogative to the leader of the Executive Branch.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nU.S. Attorneys are appointed by the President and subject to approval by the Senate. While awaiting Senate approval, the Attorney General selects an interim U.S. Attorney to serve for 120 days. If the presidential appointee is not confirmed within those 120 days, current law allows district courts to then select yet another interim U.S. Attorney \u2013 an opportunity sometimes exploited for political retaliation.\n\nThis shift of appointment authority away from the executive branch to the courts creates a conflict of interest, weakening the separation of powers by allowing courts to select their own interim U.S. attorneys.\n\nSenator Lee\u2019s legislation will correct this miscarriage of justice by restoring the authority to make U.S. attorney appointments to the executive branch.\n\nRead exclusive coverage by The Federalist here.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/7/lee-introduces-protecting-american-jobs-act", "Lee Introduces Protecting American Jobs Act", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today to ensure unbiased due process for American workers and businesses in labor practice complaints. The Protecting American Jobs Act blocks the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from prosecuting and adjudicating cases \u2013 returning adjudicatory power to the U.S. Courts where it belongs and eliminating biased court decisions.\n\n\u201cBusiness disputes should be given a fair trial \u2013 not biased decisions from federal bureaucrats cosplaying as judges,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cThe NLRB should never be allowed to adjudicate the very cases it is prosecuting. My legislation will restore the right to a fair trial for workers and businesses as outlined by the Constitution, providing them due process and protection from biased bureaucrats.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) currently investigates and adjudicates union representation disputes, unfair labor practice complaints, and contract disputes with federal court review only allowed in limited circumstances. This means that the NLRB acts as investigator, prosecutor, and judge with an unelected and unaccountable membership that turns over every few years \u2013 a structure poorly suited to ensure due process for either employees or employers. This bureaucratic and political mess results in delayed complaint resolutions, a damaged economy, and stalled business decisions which in turn stunt job growth.\n\nCongress should return the adjudicatory functions of the NLRB to the U.S. Courts as designed by the Constitution and revoke the Board\u2019s power to prosecute unfair labor practice charges. Under this system, victims of unfair labor practices could still bring forth complaints for the NLRB to investigate, but the power to hear and adjudicate complaint cases would remain with the U.S. Court system, as in the adjudication of all other disputes between private parties.\n\nRemoving the influence of a politically charged federal agency would remove the \u201cthumb on the scale\u201d in these proceedings, providing both workers and businesses with a simplified and unbiased method for resolving disputes and a consistent set of regulations to follow.\n\nThe Protecting American Jobs Act:\n\nRemoves the NLRB General Counsel\u2019s power to issue complaints related to unfair labor practices.\n\nLimits the Board\u2019s rulemaking authority to rules concerning the internal functions of the Board.\n\nRemoves the Board\u2019s power to bring charges of unfair labor practices and to adjudicate those charges and instead provides the Board with the authority to investigate unfair labor practices.\n\nMoves relief of unfair labor practices to the courts where an aggrieved party may bring a civil action.\n\nRequires the NLRB to review and revise its regulations to comply with these changes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/icymi-senators-curtis-and-padilla-join-pbs-newshour-to-discuss-wildfires-and-bipartisanship", "ICYMI: SENATORS CURTIS AND PADILLA JOIN PBS NEWSHOUR TO DISCUSS WILDFIRES AND BIPARTISANSHIP", "2025-07-30", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 In a PBS NewsHour segment yesterday, Senator John Curtis (R-UT) appeared alongside Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) to discuss their bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, transparency in government, and how Senators can work on bills across the aisle.\n\nThe bipartisan legislation would combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive. The comprehensive bill reflects months of bipartisan negotiations to find consensus on how to best accelerate and improve forest management practices, streamline environmental reviews, and strengthen partnerships between federal agencies, states, tribes, and private stakeholders.\n\nClick here for more background.\n\nBelow are select remarks from the segment:\n\nOn wildfire prevention and coordination:\n\n\u201cThe beauty of the bill is it is not just focused on one thing. It\u2019s focused on everything \u2014 from starting early to prevent them, to deal with them while they\u2019re happening, and also deal with them afterwards.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne of the problems we\u2019ve had is interagency coordination\u2026 This bill addresses that and tries to get us out of our silos so that we\u2019re actually working together and pulling in the same direction.\u201d\n\nOn federal funding:\n\n\u201cIf we\u2019re successful in what we\u2019re doing, we\u2019ll save the taxpayers massive amounts of money.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have asked for all the appropriations needed\u2026 and still stayed within the limits that we\u2019re trying to target financially.\u201d\n\nOn keeping politics out of disaster response:\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve tried to build a bill that will last through many administrations \u2014 whether they\u2019re Republican or Democrat.\u201d\n\nOn the cause of wildfires:\n\n\u201cWe all know that it is drier and less rain and less moisture than we\u2019ve had before. We all know that the seasons are longer and hotter. That is not a debatable thing.\u201d\n\nOn transparency and the Epstein files:\n\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t only a Trump administration issue. All of these files existed with the previous administration, and they also chose not to release them.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis really points out how desperate the American people are for transparency\u2026 Let\u2019s give the American people some transparency.\u201d\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s also not make this a major distraction. We have important things to do\u2026 I think we can do both.\u201d\n\nOn bipartisanship and compromise:\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s begin with realizing that [other Senator\u2019s] they\u2019re genuine and they see things differently than I do. And just because they\u2019re different, it doesn\u2019t mean that they\u2019re not genuine.\u201d\n\n\u201cCompromise gets a bad rap\u2026 If we can sit down and find those areas of intersection where we actually agree, that\u2019s a different kind of compromise \u2014 and in my experience, is the best work.\u201d\n\nSenator Curtis concluded the segment with a reflection on the opportunity this bill represents:\n\n\u201cFix Our Forests is a really good example of where I don\u2019t think either one of us feel like we have abandoned our principles \u2014 but we actually found some areas of overlap that are really important to this country and to our constituents.\u201d\n\nFor the full interview, visit: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/senators-highlight-importance-of-working-across-the-aisle-in-mission-to-fight-wildfires", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/7/lee-introduces-america-first-deregulation-for-coastal-trade", "Lee Introduces America First Deregulation for Coastal Trade", "2025-07-30", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced three pieces of legislation today to repeal and reverse the effects of the overreaching Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (PVSA). Senator Lee\u2019s three-pronged approach will strengthen America\u2019s economy while protecting American jobs and businesses by repealing PVSA and eliminating its burdensome regulations.\n\n\u201cRed tape around America\u2019s ports is strangling our economy and boosting foreign interests,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cCurrent law protects ships that haven\u2019t existed for decades and creates ridiculous requirements, forcing cruise ships to take Americans to foreign ports instead of their own cities. My legislation will repeal these outdated regulations, protect American jobs, and put our economy first.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) is an outdated regulation intended to protect America\u2019s coastal trade and tourism by restricting the domestic waterborne transportation of passengers only to ships that are U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged, and largely U.S.-crewed and -owned. This regulation was meant to insulate America\u2019s coastal industries from foreign competition \u2013 with one exemption for ships making stops at \u201cdistant foreign ports.\u201d\n\nIn practice, however, PVSA has stunted America\u2019s economy by complicating trade practices and incentivizing foreign travel over American tourism. For example, because the United States has produced no large cruise ships in over sixty years, virtually any of these vessels moving passengers from one American port to another is essentially required by law to stop at a \u201cdistant foreign port\u201d in order to legalize its domestic American travel. This means America is shipping its tourism economy to other countries in order to protect American-made cruise ships that no longer exist.\n\nFar from an America First approach, PVSA regulations favor foreign economies and special interests.\n\nSenator Lee\u2019s legislation will cut through the red tape strangling America\u2019s coastal economy by repealing PVSA, eliminating its requirement for U.S.-built vessels, and exempting large passenger ships from PVSA requirements.\n\nThe Open America\u2019s Ports Act:\n\nRepeals the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA).\n\nThe Protecting Jobs in American Ports Act:\n\nRepeals the section of PVSA barring non-U.S.-built vessels from standard treatment at American ports.\n\nThe Safeguarding American Tourism Act:\n\nExempts large passenger vessels (those with 800 or more passenger berths) from PVSA restrictions.\n\nRead the full text of the legislation below:\n\nOpen America\u2019s Ports Act\n\nProtecting Jobs in American Ports Act\n\nSafeguarding American Tourism Act", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/utah-senators-introduce-star%e2%80%91spangled-summit-act-to-restore-american-flag-on-kyhv-peak", "UTAH SENATORS INTRODUCE STAR\u2011SPANGLED SUMMIT ACT TO RESTORE AMERICAN FLAG ON KYHV PEAK", "2025-07-25", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 This week, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Star-Spangled Summit Act, a bill to authorize a special-use permit allowing the American flag to be flown on Kyhv Peak above Provo, Utah. Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-UT) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nFor over two decades, Robert Collins has made the seasonal trek up Kyhv Peak to proudly display the U.S. flag. In 2021, the Forest Service informed Collins that his long-standing tribute was inconsistent with agency policy prohibiting structures or improvements on National Forest System lands without a special-use authorization. The Star-Spangled Summit Act would resolve this impasse by requiring the Forest Service to issue a permit for this one specific and symbolic act of patriotism.\n\n\u201cUtahns are among the most patriotic people in the country,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t take an act of Congress to allow an American flag to fly on a mountain peak, but here we are. This is about more than red tape\u2014it\u2019s about recognizing that local traditions, patriotism, and common sense still matter. Robert\u2019s quiet, consistent act of honoring our country deserves to be celebrated, not blocked by bureaucracy.\u201d\n\nEach year, Robert Collins hiked with his son to raise the American flag. That tradition speaks to who we are as a state and a country,\u201d saidSenator Lee. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join Senator Curtis in making sure that tradition continues\u2014so future generations of Utahns can raise the flag, honor their country, and carry forward what Robert Collins began.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nFor more than 20 years, Robert Collins has seasonally raised the American flag atop Kyhv Peak overlooking the Provo Valley. The annual ascent, made following the snowmelt, involves community members gathering to honor the flag, veterans, and the foundational ideals of the nation. In 2021, the U.S. Forest Service cited policy restrictions that prohibit the construction or placement of any structure, including flagpoles, on National Forest lands without an official permit.\n\nCurtis previously introduced the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives while serving as Utah\u2019s Representative from the Third Congressional District.\n\nSenator Curtis noted that in much of the country, a decision of this nature would fall to local communities. But in Utah, where nearly 70% of the land is federally owned, decisions that might elsewhere be routine often require intervention from Congress.\n\n\u201cIn many ways, this story underscores the broader challenge Utah and other Western states face when it comes to federal land management,\u201d Curtis said. \u201cDecisions that should reflect the values of a community too often require navigating layers of distant bureaucracy. This bill restores some balance and ensures the American flag can continue to wave from one of Utah\u2019s most cherished peaks.\u201d\n\nKey Provisions of the Star-Spangled Summit Act:\n\nDirects the Forest Service to issue a special-use permit to Robert Collins for the placement and seasonal maintenance of a flagpole flying the U.S. flag on Kyhv Peak.\n\nAuthorizes the Forest Service to set appropriate conditions for the care, safety, and environmental responsibility associated with the flag display.\n\nProvides for the permit to be reviewed, reissued, or terminated based on future circumstances or violations of terms.\n\nAdditional Readings:\n\nDeseret News: The day before flag-burning protest, Rep. John Curtis introduces bill to raise U.S. flag on mountain top\n\nFOX13: New bill could bring American flag back to Kyhv Peak after order to cease", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/7/lee-applauds-usda-shift-from-washington-to-utah", "Lee Applauds USDA Shift from Washington to Utah", "2025-07-24", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement in response to this morning\u2019s announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the agency will be shifting its focus and staffing away from Washington D.C. and toward agricultural hub locations across the country, including one in Salt Lake City, Utah:\n\n\u201cThe people making decisions about how our forests are managed and our food is grown shouldn\u2019t be distant bureaucrats,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cI congratulate the Department of Agriculture for decentralizing from Washington and relocating staff to Salt Lake City and other regional hubs. Not only is this a big win for Utah\u2019s farmers and ranchers, but also for our land managers as the department moves closer to the people who live, work, and rely upon these lands. I will continue to fight for the Utahns who raise livestock, grow the best food on Earth, and sustain our National Forests.\u201d\n\nUSDA Secretary Brooke Rollins made the following statement:\n\n\u201cAmerican agriculture feeds, clothes, and fuels this nation and the world, and it is long past time the Department better serve the great and patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers we are mandated to support. President Trump was elected to make real change in Washington, and we are doing just that by moving our key services outside the beltway and into great American cities across the country,\u201d said Secretary Rollins. \u201cWe will do so through a transparent and common-sense process that preserves USDA\u2019s critical health and public safety services the American public relies on. We will do right by the great American people who we serve and with respect to the thousands of hardworking USDA employees who so nobly serve their country.\u201d\n\nAbout the USDA Reorganization plan\n\nThe reorganization consists of four pillars:\n\nEnsure the size of USDA\u2019s workforce aligns with available financial resources and agricultural priorities\n\nBring USDA closer to its customers\n\nEliminate management layers and bureaucracy\n\nConsolidate redundant support functions\n\nTo bring USDA closer to the people it serves while also providing a more affordable cost of living for USDA employees, USDA has developed a phased plan to relocate much of its Agency headquarters and NCR staff out of the Washington, D.C. area to five hub locations. The Department currently has approximately 4,600 employees within the National Capital Region (NCR). This Region has one of the highest costs of living in the country, with a federal salary locality rate of 33.94%. In selecting its hub locations, USDA considered where existing concentrations of USDA employees are located and factored in the cost of living. Washington, D.C. will still hold functions for every mission area of USDA at the conclusion of this reorganization, but USDA expects no more than 2,000 employees will remain in the NCR.\n\nUSDA will vacate and return to the General Services Administration the South Building, Braddock Place, and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, and revisit utilization and functions in the USDA Whitten Building, Yates Building, and the National Agricultural Library. The George Washington Carver Center will also be utilized until space optimization activities are completed. These buildings have a backlog of costly deferred maintenance and currently are occupied below the minimum set by law. For example, the South Building has approximately $1.3 billion in deferred maintenance and has an average daily occupancy of less than 1,900 individuals for a building that can house over 6,000 employees.\n\nUSDA\u2019s five hub locations and current Federal locality rates are:\n\nRaleigh, North Carolina (22.24%)\n\nKansas City, Missouri (18.97%)\n\nIndianapolis, Indiana (18.15%)\n\nFort Collins, Colorado (30.52%)\n\nSalt Lake City, Utah (17.06%)\n\nRead the full reorganization memo from Secretary Rollins here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/7/lee-bills-ban-d-c-council-s-secret-meetings-close-emergency-loophole", "Lee Bills Ban D.C. Council\u2019s Secret Meetings, Close \u201cEmergency\u201d Loophole", "2025-07-24", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today overturning a recent move by the City Council of the District of Columbia (DC) to hold secret planning meetings in retaliation against President Trump\u2019s recent executive order to improve the city\u2019s crime rates and cleanliness. The legislation includes a Joint Resolution outlawing the City Council\u2019s secret meetings and a bill to close an \u201cemergency\u201d loophole used to evade Congressional oversight and public input. U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY) led companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cD.C.\u2019s corrupt City Council is taking out its hatred for President Trump on the nation\u2019s capital by holding secret meetings, breaking with longstanding rules,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cAmericans deserve transparency from Washington \u2013 not petty corruption and secret political vendettas. My legislation will ban the Council\u2019s shady meetings and remove the loophole they\u2019ve exploited to keep their citizens in the dark.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American people deserve transparency, not backroom deals and political scheming,\u201d said Congresswoman Harriet Hageman. \u201cThe Council of the District of Columbia and Mayor attempting to eliminate and bypass open meeting laws is nothing more than a partisan tactic to hide their agenda and undermine President Trump\u2019s efforts to restore safety and order in our nation\u2019s capital. It is Congress' duty to oversee D.C., and I will not sit back while D.C. officials plot in secret to defy federal authority and destroy public trust. This bill ensures D.C. officials are accountable to the public and Congress and can no longer hide behind closed-door meetings.\"\n\nBackground\n\nThe Constitution of the United States and standing D.C. law both require the D.C. City Council be subject to congressional checks and balances. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution requires Congress \u201cto exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever\u201d related to D.C. governance. But in retaliation against President Trump\u2019s efforts to clean up the city, the City Council has stripped itself of the transparency it owes the American public in favor of secret planning meetings.\n\nThe Council has exploited emergency loopholes to insulate itself from congressional disapproval and plot against the President\u2019s agenda to improve the city\u2019s safety and cleanliness. While actions by D.C.\u2019s City Council are normally mutable by a vote of disapproval from Congress, current law allows immunity from this oversight in the case of emergency actions. The Council has wrongfully categorized its vendetta against President Trump an \u201cemergency\u201d in a politically-motivated move that even the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of D.C. dubbed a slippery slope, as \"it is undisputed that public access to government meetings is a cornerstone of our democracy.\"\n\nSenator Lee\u2019s Joint Resolution will overturn the City Council\u2019s move to hold secret meetings, and the corresponding bill will close the \u201cemergency\u201d loophole currently allowing the Council to evade Congressional oversight and hide from the American people.\n\nRead exclusive coverage from The Washington Post here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-opening-statement-at-hearing-on-democracy-and-human-rights-in-hong-kong", "CURTIS OPENING STATEMENT AT HEARING ON DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONG KONG", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women\u2019s Issues, today gave the following opening remarks at a hearing examining the Status of Democracy and Human Rights in Hong Kong, Five Years After the PRC\u2019s Judicial Takeover.\n\n\u201cFirst, a note that the full title for this Subcommittee is \u2018Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women\u2019s Issues.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile the Subcommittee focus is on the Western Hemisphere, we also have jurisdiction over global human rights and democracy, and Ranking Member Kaine and I will be holding some hearings this Congress on the topic of global human rights and democracy such as this one.\u201d\n\n\u201cFive years ago, the Chinese Communist Party imposed the so-called National Security Law on Hong Kong\u2014an act that marked the end of \u201cOne Country, Two Systems\u201d and culminated in the full-scale dismantling of Hong Kong\u2019s freedoms, rule of law, and judicial independence.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast year, Hong Kong doubled down on its repression and enacted the \u201cArticle 23\u201d law\u2014a sweeping expansion of the National Security Law that introduces dangerously vague offenses like \u201cexternal interference\u201d and \u201cstate secrets,\u201d punishable by life in prison. This hearing is not just about an anniversary\u2014it\u2019s about the people whose lives have been reshaped by the loss of liberty, and the warning their story sends to the rest of the world.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe meet today to reaffirm a bipartisan truth: human rights do not end where the reach of the CCP begins. The United States has a moral obligation to stand firmly with those in Hong Kong whose voices have been silenced, whose rights have been stripped, and whose future has been thrown into uncertainty by the Chinese Communist Party. In the years since 2020, I\u2019ve watched as courageous Hong Kongers have been arrested, exiled, and silenced. Courageous Hong Kongers like Jimmy Lai prove the CCP\u2019s fear of free voices. Mr. Lai has spent the last 4\u00bd years largely in solitary confinement. Authorities are so threatened by his image that the last photo of him\u2014taken two years ago by an AP photographer\u2014led to that photographer\u2019s expulsion from Hong Kong. Since then, guards have used umbrellas, tarps, and even boarded-up windows to keep the world from seeing him.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve watched as judges\u2014once seen as guardians of an impartial legal system\u2014have become enforcers of Beijing\u2019s repression. Let\u2019s be honest: what was once an impartial legal system is now being used as a political tool\u2014twisting the law not to protect rights, but to erase them. That is why I introduced the Hong Kong Sanctions Act in the House, to push for sanctions on those in the judicial system responsible for the deterioration of freedom. As if to prove my point, Hong Kong prosecutors responded to this bill by pushing a warrant for my arrest in Hong Kong. I am proud to have joined with Senator Sullivan and my fellow Subcommittee Member, Senator Merkley, in re-introducing this bill in the Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd in the face of this, I have a message for those who believe threats and arrest warrants from 8,000 miles away will intimidate us into silence: They won\u2019t. We will not be silenced.\n\n\u201cThe louder the CCP tries to shout us down, the firmer our resolve becomes to defend freedom in Hong Kong, and anywhere it is under siege.\u201d\n\n\u201cYears ago, I spent time in Hong Kong and saw firsthand a city alive with energy, enterprise, and freedom. Now, instead of a beacon of liberty, Hong Kong has become a key node in a global network that assists Russia and other adversaries in evading sanctions, money laundering, and circumventing export controls. To crack down on Hong Kong\u2019s status as a money launderer and sanctions evasion hub, I have introduced the Stop CCP Money Laundering Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe struggle for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong is not over\u2014and this Subcommittee will continue to shine a spotlight on the abuses and advocate for accountability and action.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/senators-curtis-rosen-lead-bipartisan-resolution-honoring-victims-of-argentine-terror-attacks-confronting-rise-in-global-antisemitism", "SENATORS CURTIS, ROSEN LEAD BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION HONORING VICTIMS OF ARGENTINE TERROR ATTACKS, CONFRONTING RISE IN GLOBAL ANTISEMITISM", "2025-07-18", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 To commemorate the 31st anniversary of the bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) Jewish Center and the 33rd anniversary of the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) yesterday introduced a bipartisan Senate resolution reaffirming the United States\u2019 commitment to justice for the victims and vigilance against the rising tide of antisemitism at home and abroad.\n\n\u201cThe attacks in Argentina were brutal acts of terror carried out against innocent people simply because they were Jewish,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cThirty years later, we are still seeing violence driven by the same hatred\u2014from Buenos Aires to Boulder to Washington, D.C. Whether it\u2019s the Tree of Life massacre in Pittsburgh, the murder of a Jewish woman at a peace event in Colorado, or the recent killing of two Israelis outside a Jewish gathering in our nation\u2019s capital, we are witnessing an alarming rise in antisemitism in our time. These tragedies must not be ignored\u2014and they must not go unanswered.\u201d\n\n\u201cDecades after the devastating attacks on Jewish centers in Argentina, we are sadly reminded of how little has changed. People continue to be targeted and attacked for simply being Jewish all around the world \u2013 at a Jewish Center in Buenos Aires, a demonstration in Colorado, a Synagogue in Texas, and even a museum just blocks from the U.S. Capitol,\u201d said Senator Rosen. \u201cWe have a responsibility to come together and fight back against these acts of hate. That\u2019s why Senator Curtis and I are introducing a resolution to honor the victims of these horrific attacks, and reaffirm our commitment to tackling antisemitism wherever we see it.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nArgentina is home to the largest Jewish population in Latin America and the sixth largest in the world. In 1992, 29 people were killed and more than 200 injured when a truck bomb exploded at the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires. Two years later, on July 18, 1994, 85 people were killed and over 300 injured in the deadliest terrorist attack in Argentina\u2019s history when a car bomb destroyed the AMIA Jewish Center.\n\nInvestigations by Argentine authorities have long concluded that Hezbollah, operating on the direction of the Iranian regime, was responsible for both attacks. In 2006, Argentine prosecutors issued formal indictments against several high-ranking Iranian officials. Despite the issuance of INTERPOL Red Notices, many suspects have traveled freely for years, evading justice.\n\nAfter decades of delay, Argentina has taken significant steps forward. In April 2024, the country\u2019s highest criminal court formally held the government of Iran responsible for the AMIA bombing, designating it a crime against humanity. In 2025, Argentina enacted Law No. 27.784, enabling trials in absentia, and subsequently issued new national and international arrest warrants\u2014including for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.\n\nThe Curtis-Rosen resolution recognizes these judicial advancements and urges continued action by the United States and international community to ensure accountability. It specifically calls for enforcement and extension of INTERPOL Red Notices, U.S. technical assistance to support Argentina\u2019s investigations, and continued efforts to hold Iran responsible for its sponsorship of terrorism.\n\nQuotes of Support:\n\n\u201cThis week, Argentine and Jewish communities worldwide mark the 31st anniversary of the bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires, the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust until Hamas\u2019 October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. For over three decades, American Jewish Committee (AJC) has persistently advocated for justice, urging Argentina to hold those responsible accountable. The AMIA bombing, carried out by Hezbollah operatives, is a reminder of the global threat posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies. We commend Senator Curtis (R-UT) and Senator Rosen (D-NV) for their leadership and steadfast commitment to advancing truth and justice, and for sustaining awareness of the Iranian regime\u2019s continuous destabilizing activities around the world. Let this anniversary renew our commitment to ensure the victims are never forgotten, that justice is ultimately served, and that dangerous proxies can no longer sow terror across the globe,\u201d said Dina Siegel Vann, Director, The Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs, AJC.\n\n\u201cWhile the deadliest attack in Argentina\u2019s history happened some three decades ago, the perpetrators- the Islamic Republic of Iran \u2013 continues to engage in terrorism not only in the Western Hemisphere but around the globe. The annual resolution marking the bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center matters not only so that we remember its victims and their families but so that we take action to ensure those in Iran who plotted the attack, some of whom have positions of authority till this day, remain on INTERPOL\u2019s red notice list and are held to account in other ways, no matter how much time has passed. FDD Action is grateful for Congress\u2019 leadership on this important bipartisan resolution.\u201d \u2013 Toby Dershowitz, Managing Director of FDD Action", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/7/lee-bill-bans-disparate-impact-from-civil-rights-law", "Lee Bill Bans Disparate Impact from Civil Rights Law", "2025-07-17", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Codifies President Trump\u2019s Civil Rights Reforms\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Restoring Equal Opportunity Act today to codify President Trump\u2019s Executive Order prohibiting the use of disparate impact policies that incentivize racial hiring quotas. U.S. Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX) is the legislation\u2019s co-lead in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cDisparate impact has undermined equal opportunity in hiring for generations,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cThese policies are antithetical to the Constitution, keeping hardworking men and women from the jobs they deserve. It\u2019s un-American, and it\u2019s going to stop. The Restoring Equal Opportunity Act will prohibit this woke practice and support President Trump\u2019s fight for equality under the law.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans deserve equal opportunity, not race-based quotas,\u201d said Rep. Gill. \u201cEquality under the law is a core American principle, ensuring every citizen\u2019s right to equal protection and due process. I\u2019m proud to introduce the Restoring Equal Opportunity Act alongside Senator Lee to bring merit, rather than DEI, back to our hiring and selection processes.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nTitle VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, or national origin. The purpose of this prohibition is clear: to prevent clear and overt instances of discrimination by prohibiting employers from engaging in the kinds of discriminatory practices that had become commonplace during the Jim Crow era.\n\nIn the 1971 case of Griggs v. Duke Power Company, the Supreme Court expanded this standard by ruling that in addition to overt discrimination, Title VII also prohibited any employment practices that have a \u201cdisparate impact\u201d on minorities. The Court alleged that though Duke Power Company\u2019s policies were not intentionally discriminatory, they could not implement job requirements that have a disparate impact on minorities and are judged to have no relation to job performance.\n\nThis unfair standard practically requires employers to impose racial quotas to avoid potential legal liability. Disparate impact prevents employers from making hiring decisions based solely on qualification and skill and requires them to engage in behavior that goes against the spirit and the letter of the Constitution. Congress codified the disparate impact standard into law via the 1991 Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act, and disparate impact theory has since become the de facto method of determining discrimination.\n\nOn April 23rd, President Trump issued an executive order to end usage of the disparate impact standard in all areas of the United States government. President Trump\u2019s executive order is a much-needed correction, and Senator Lee\u2019s Restoring Equal Opportunity Act would permanently put an end to disparate impact and fully restore equal opportunity under the law.\n\nThe Restoring Equal Opportunity Act:\n\nProhibits any disparate impact claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act or the Fair Housing Act.\n\nCodifies President Trump\u2019s \u201cRestoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy\u201d executive order.\n\nRead exclusive coverage from The Daily Caller here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/release-icymi-curtis-talks-ukraine-and-waltz-with-jake-tapper", "ICYMI: CURTIS TALKS UKRAINE AND WALTZ WITH JAKE TAPPER", "2025-07-16", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "The full transcript of the interview can be found below, and video can be found here.\n\nJake Tapper: And Republican Senator from Utah. John Curtis joins us now. He is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senator, thanks so much for joining us. Good to see you.\n\nSenator Curtis: Always great.\n\nTapper: So last week, President Trump confirmed he was going to restart the weapons shipments to Ukraine, despite Secretary of Defense Hegseth apparently having paused the shipments without telling the white House. First, you say you agree with the President\u2019s decision to restart, \u201cbut I hope the administration will brief Congress on why these shipments were paused in the first place.\u201d Have you gotten an answer to that? Do you think I Hegseth should testify?\n\nCurtis: Well, I think any time there\u2019s a question like this, the American people and Congress want answers. I haven\u2019t had a satisfactory answer. I think we\u2019re all pleased. Well, let me just say, the people I associate with are pleased that the weapons are going over there. And I think even more important, it\u2019s tied to a specific strategy. Let\u2019s get a ceasefire in 50 days. And I think one of the mistakes we\u2019ve made in Ukraine in the past is we haven\u2019t been strategic about what we\u2019re sending over and what we\u2019re actually trying to achieve.\n\nTapper: Do you want Hegseth to testify?\n\nCurtis: Oh, absolutely. Any time there\u2019s a lack of information, like I said, it\u2019s not just Congress, I think the American people long for that and want answers. Of course.\n\nTapper: So, in a story first reported by the Financial Times, President Trump apparently, asked about Ukraine\u2019s ability to reach, to strike, major Russian cities such as Moscow or Saint Petersburg. And there were even follow up discussions about what long range U.S. weapons could be used for such a thing. The White House is insisting that Trump\u2019s words are being taken out of context. And this afternoon, President Trump reiterated Ukraine should not target Moscow. But what do you make of it all? And should striking Moscow be completely off the table?\n\nCurtis: Well, if you go back to the beginning of this war and our involvement, I think one of the mistakes we\u2019ve made is taking things off the table. All of us would like to fight an enemy that has restrictions, particularly dramatic restrictions. You remember a couple of years ago, we wouldn\u2019t let any offensive weapons go over there. Well, how is Ukraine going to really fight that war? So it\u2019s hard for me to say what we should do or what we shouldn\u2019t do, but simply from a strategic advantage, we should be talking about what we\u2019re not going to allow them to do publicly.\n\nTapper: You had a chance to speak with Mike Waltz a few days before the confirmation hearing before the Foreign Relations Committee, earlier today. Did you get the chance to ask him about any lessons he learned from the Signal Gate experience when he accidentally added Jeff Goldberg from the Atlantic to this chat on Signal, where he and the Vice President and Pete Hegseth and others were talking about very sensitive, if not classified, information?\n\nCurtis: So, I didn\u2019t ask him that specific question, but the topic obviously came up. I think it\u2019s important to me, and I\u2019ll come back to this, it\u2019s important to Congress and the American people that when things like this happen, that we have answers. The more transparency, the better. I think there\u2019s a lot of legitimate questions about just in government in whole, not just this administration, but overall, is this something that has been going on.\n\nTapper: The signal chat?\n\nCurtis: The signal chat. Right. Is it appropriate if we have boundaries around what type of information? And then at what point do you cross the line? I don\u2019t think that we have answers to that. And I think that this was an opportunity for us to better understand that tool, how it\u2019s used appropriately and when it\u2019s not used appropriately.\n\nTapper: Here\u2019s an exchange between Mike Waltz and your Democratic colleague Chris Coons of Delaware earlier today.\n\nMichael Waltz: Recommends end-to-end encryption messaging, on both government and personal devices.\n\nSenator Coons: For sensitive military operational information?\n\nWaltz: Of course, Senator, there was no classified information exchanged.\n\nCoons: For sensitive military operations? This, you were sharing details about an upcoming airstrike. Was any disciplinary action taken?\n\nWaltz: From the White House Investigation, Senator?\n\nCoons: Yes.\n\nWaltz: No. The use of Signal was, and, not only authorized, it\u2019s still authorized and highly recommended.\n\nTapper: Did that satisfy you? That answer?\n\nCurtis: Well, as I understand it, there is a DoD investigation, and that\u2019s what will satisfy me when I get answers to that. I don\u2019t have the experience to know when that line was crossed. Obviously, there was a lot of information shared there that didn\u2019t sound appropriate. And I would like to know that as well as I think my colleagues and the American people would like to know that as well.\n\nTapper: I guess this is more of a comment than a question, but I am wondering what you think. Like, obviously he messed up. He accidentally added a journalist to a Signal chat, and obviously there are questions about whether Signal should be used for such sensitive conversations. People make mistakes. We\u2019re all fallible. I don\u2019t understand this huge reluctance to admit that a mistake has been made when especially it doesn\u2019t appear as though there were any serious repercussions.\n\nCurtis: So, I served with, Mike Waltz in the House for a number of years. I think I know him well, and think I know his character well, and I don\u2019t, to me, this is not a character issue. I think there\u2019s an issue of not throwing my colleagues under the bus. Also, an issue of, look, as long as this DoD investigation is going on, let\u2019s wait and let\u2019s get to the end of that and see what we have.\n\nTapper: Yeah, that\u2019s fair enough. I didn\u2019t even mean it applying to him. I meant to the administration, writ large. That just does seem to be a refusal to ever admit when a mistake has been made. Senator, Curtis, John Curtis from Utah, Republican. Thank you so much for being here. Really appreciate it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/7/lee-budd-introduce-keep-your-coins-act", "Lee, Budd Introduce Keep Your Coins Act", "2025-07-15", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) cosponsored the Keep Your Coins Act today with U.S. Senator Tedd Budd (R-NC) to allow Americans to maintain self-custody of crypto assets, protecting their financial privacy and freedom from burdensome regulations and third-party custodians.\n\n\u201cAmericans deserve to keep their crypto assets where they choose \u2013 not where they\u2019ve been forced by the federal government,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cWashington\u2019s dragnet-style surveillance has eroded the financial privacy of law-abiding Americans for decades. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Budd\u2019s Keep Your Coins Act to protect Americans\u2019 privacy and ability to maintain self-custody of crypto assets.\u201d\n\n\u201cSelf-custody is a founding principle of the digital asset ecosystem and needs to be protected. I introduced the Keep Your Coins Act of 2025 to ensure the federal government cannot infringe on a person\u2019s ability to control their own digital assets. If cryptocurrencies are going to be digital cash, we need to protect a person\u2019s right to hold their digital cash however they want. I urge my colleagues to support this common-sense legislation to ensure financial freedom for the digital asset ecosystem,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\nLeading wallet platforms Exodus, Ledger, Casa, Block, MetaMask, and Uniswap joined in celebrating the reintroduction of the Keep Your Coins Act, saying:\n\n\"As leading providers of self-custodial wallets, we applaud Senator Budd's introduction of the Keep Your Coins Act, which mirrors Congressman Davidson's bill in the House. This crucial legislation protects individuals' fundamental right to own digital property by safeguarding against regulatory overreach. We look forward to continuing to support this legislation and establishing the United States as a haven for financial autonomy and economic freedom.\u201d\n\nThe Keep Your Coins Act:\n\nPrevents the federal government from having access to and surveillance of transactions in the digital asset ecosystem by:\n\nProhibiting any federal agency from promulgating a rule that would impair an individual\u2019s ability to act as a self-custodian.\n\nProtecting an individual\u2019s right to conduct peer-to-peer transactions with their digital assets without the need to utilize a third-party intermediary.\n\nEmpowering individuals to maintain control over their digital assets through self-hosted wallets to ensure financial freedom and a decentralized cryptocurrency ecosystem.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-padilla-schiff-mullin-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-support-americas-olympic-and-paralympic-games", "CURTIS, PADILLA, SCHIFF, MULLIN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT AMERICA\u2019S OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES", "2025-07-14", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 Today, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) introduced bipartisan legislation to support and commemorate the 2028 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games set to take place in Los Angeles, California and Salt Lake City, Utah, respectively, through the minting of new commemorative coins. Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT-01), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Frank Lucas (R-OK-03), Ken Calvert (R-CA-41), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\nThe America\u2019s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act would direct the Treasury Department to mint and issue four types of coins each in commemoration of the 2028 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The coins would be minted at no cost to the federal government, and any proceeds collected from the sale of these commemorative coins would aid in the execution of the 2028 and 2034 Games as well as support their legacy programs, which include the promotion of youth sports in the United States.\n\n\u201cThe 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will showcase Utah\u2019s pioneer spirit, community strength, and commitment to excellence,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cThese commemorative coins honor not just the athletes, but the values that built our state and the legacy we\u2019ll pass on to future generations.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfter years of careful preparation and federal collaboration, Los Angeles will be under the world spotlight for the Olympic and Paralympic Games before we know it,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will help ensure Los Angeles has the resources it needs to put on a world-class event \u2014 with a token to commemorate the Games for years to come. There is strong congressional interest in promoting and supporting all upcoming U.S.-hosted Olympic events to showcase our nation and our athletes on the global stage, and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to advance this bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is such an honor that our Golden State will be hosting the 2028 Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. And I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to commemorate these historic games and our incredible athletes,\u201d said Senator Schiff.\n\n\u201cAmerican athletes are the pinnacle of our exceptionalism and I am looking forward to them leading the way as we host both the 2028 Summer Olympic Games and the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. As Oklahoma\u2019s world-class facilities will be home to multiple official venues, I am honored to join with my colleagues on this important legislation,\u201d said Senator Mullin.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m immensely proud to represent Utah in co-leading the America\u2019s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act. The return of the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to Salt Lake City in 2034 will mark only the second time in history that the Winter Olympics have returned to the same city, and I cannot wait to see Utah front and center on the world stage once again,\u201d said Representative Moore. \u201cThis bid was supported by over 80% of Utahns and will bring billions in GDP growth, tens of thousands of jobs, and showcase the world\u2019s best athletes on the Greatest Snow on Earth. I\u2019m also thrilled that the Summer Olympics will return stateside to Los Angeles in 2028 and look forward to this bill quickly passing through both houses of Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe dedication demonstrated by the American athletes who participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games is truly inspiring and our nation is honored to host both the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games and Salt Lake City 2034 Winter Games. That is why I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating our athletes by introducing America\u2019s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act. As a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over this legislation, I look forward to Congress moving quickly to advance this important bill. As an Angelino, I am excited to witness the Olympics return to Los Angeles after 44 years, and I am proud to join with my colleagues to honor the Salt Lake City 2034 Games as well,\u201d said Representative Sherman.\n\n\u201cIt is no small honor to host the Olympic Games, and no small feat to organize them either. That is why these commemorative coins would not only pay proper tribute to such a great honor, but also help pay for the preparations to ensure the upcoming Olympic games \u2013 including the 2028 games in my home state \u2013 receive the resources they need,\u201d said Representative Lucas.\n\n\u201cThe Olympic and Paralympic Games are incredible events that celebrate athletic achievement and the human spirit. I\u2019m especially excited for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, which will allow southern California residents to get an up-close look at these remarkable competitions as well as deliver a tremendous boost to our tourism economy. I want to thank all of my colleagues who have worked together to advance the bipartisan America\u2019s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act,\u201d said Representative Calvert.\n\n\u201cAs we gear up for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I\u2019m proud to co-lead the America\u2019s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act,\u201d said Representative Kamlager-Dove. \u201cThis commemorative coin will celebrate not only the upcoming games, but also nearly a century of Olympic history in Los Angeles. The 2028 Games in Los Angeles memorialized by this coin will be a feat all Angelenos and Americans can be proud of.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a four-time Olympian, I greatly appreciate the commemorative coin program as another means of showcasing our Olympic and Paralympic athletes,\u201d said Catherine Raney Norman, Vice President Development and Athlete Relations, Salt Lake City-Utah 2034, A four-time Olympic speed skater.\n\n\u201cThe 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will mark the historic return of the summer Games to America in more than 30 years,\u201d said LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover. \u201cThe heart and dedication demonstrated by the athletes who participate in the Games is truly unparalleled. Los Angeles 2028, followed by Salt Lake 2034 will serve as an opportunity for American athletes to showcase their talent and resilience on the world\u2019s stage. We\u2019re grateful to Senators Padilla, Curtis, Schiff, and Mullin and Congressmembers Sherman, Lucas, Calvert, Kamlager-Dove and Moore for moving this bill forward to honor these athletes and our U.S. host cities for the 2028 and 2034 Games.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the America\u2019s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act would direct the Treasury Department to mint and issue commemorative $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, half-dollar clad coins, and proof silver $1 coins in commemoration of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games set to be held in in Los Angeles and the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games set to be held in Salt Lake City.\n\nThe United States has hosted the modern Olympic Games nine times, with the 2028 Games set to become the third time Los Angeles will host the summer Olympic Games and the 2034 Games set to become the second time Salt Lake City will host the Olympic Winter Games.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\nAdditional Reading", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/medicaid-and-the-promise-of-compassionate-reform", "MEDICAID AND THE PROMISE OF COMPASSIONATE REFORM", "2025-07-11", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "By: Senator John Curtis (R-UT)\n\nJuly 11, 2025\n\nOn July 4th, President Trump signed into law a broad reconciliation package\u2014The Big Beautiful Bill. Among its many provisions were serious steps to stabilize our budget, reduce inflationary pressure, and yes, address the unsustainable growth of Medicaid. That last provision has become the focus of heated rhetoric and unfortunate misinformation. I recognize that there are those with legitimate concerns about the future of Medicaid and I will always welcome Utahns to share their concerns with me and my office.\n\nLet\u2019s be clear: no one is gutting the safety net. America remains a generous society. But compassion without accountability risks collapsing the safety net under its own weight. The goal of Congress is not to strip assistance from those in need, but to restore balance and sustainability to programs like Medicaid\u2014so they endure for future generations.\n\nMedicaid was created with a noble purpose: to ensure that low-income children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly aren\u2019t left behind. That mission remains sacred. But over time, Medicaid has grown far beyond its original scope. Since 2019, spending has soared nearly 60%. In some places\u2014like New York City\u2014over 60% of residents are enrolled. That was never the design, and it\u2019s not financially viable.\n\nThe reforms in this bill are responsible. They do not cut a single dollar from the current Medicaid program. They simply slow the rate of growth. That\u2019s something every taxpaying family understands. Families don\u2019t double their household budgets every few years; neither should the government.\n\nWhat\u2019s more, we\u2019ve introduced modest work and community engagement requirements for able-bodied adults without children. These requirements are not harsh. In fact, they reflect values many of us in Utah and across the country hold dear: contributing when we are able, helping one another, and taking steps toward self reliance. These provisions don\u2019t apply to anyone who is disabled, pregnant, or caring for a young child. And for those required to participate, the threshold is reasonable: 20 hours a week of work, school, or volunteering.\n\nBeyond individual participation, we also must ensure that institutions\u2014especially those serving rural communities\u2014are positioned to thrive under these reforms. Some of my colleagues argue that closing these loopholes will unintentionally harm rural providers. I have great sympathy for our rural communities and the institutions that keep them healthy. That\u2019s why the bill creates the Rural Health Transformation Program, which provides $50 billion to encourage states to prioritize health care outcomes for rural residents.\n\nOthers claim these rules will throw millions off the rolls. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 4.8 million may not comply, which should concern all of us\u2014not because we\u2019re eager to disqualify them, but because it reveals the scale of disengagement from work among prime-age adults. That\u2019s not a Medicaid problem\u2014that\u2019s a societal one.\n\nCritics say states can\u2019t manage these requirements, or that red tape will trip up the poor. But that\u2019s simply not true. States have successfully administered similar rules for decades in food stamps and cash assistance. And the people administering Medicaid at the state level are committed, compassionate public servants\u2014not bureaucrats out to deny help.\n\nI\u2019ve even seen how the current system can, unintentionally, discourage progress. In Utah, I met a man who wanted to transition off Medicaid because he found a job with health insurance. But he faced resistance\u2014not from the system itself, but from those whose jobs depend on keeping enrollment high. That\u2019s not compassion\u2014that\u2019s inertia.\n\nLet me be clear: this conversation is not about blame or division. It\u2019s about finding sensible solutions that deliver real results. I believe we can preserve and even improve Medicaid by restoring balance, preventing misuse, and ensuring it reaches the people who truly need it.\n\nIt\u2019s important to note that the Medicaid system is not the only safety net we have in our society. There are other programs at the state and local government level, at non-profits, and religious institutions, that exist, especially in Utah, that help those facing hardship.\n\nIf we don\u2019t act now, we risk breaking the very system we\u2019re trying to protect. And when that happens, those who will suffer most are the very people we set out to help.\n\nThis isn\u2019t easy work\u2014but it is necessary. And it reflects a truth Utahns understand deeply: sometimes the kindest thing we can do is make hard choices today to ensure lasting support tomorrow.\n\nLet\u2019s reject the false choice between compassion and fiscal sanity. Let\u2019s reject the scare tactics and the shouting. Instead, let\u2019s choose compassion\u2014rooted in purpose, grounded in principle, and aimed at helping every American rise.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/7/lee-defends-religious-freedom-in-football-game-prayer-case", "Lee Defends Religious Freedom in Football Game Prayer Case", "2025-07-10", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) led an amicus brief today to protect Americans from religious discrimination by state governments. Senator Lee filed the brief to defend free speech and religious observance from infringement by government entities as part of the case Cambridge Christian School v. Florida High School Athletic Association.\n\n\u201cWhen the government blocks Christian schools from praying before their own football games, something is very wrong,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cEven after the Supreme Court has repeatedly warned about the dangers of expansive definitions of government speech, some lower courts are creating new loopholes and ignoring protections for freedom of speech and religion. This overstep represents a serious danger to even private expressions of faith, and must be overturned. I pray the Supreme Court grants this case, corrects the lower court\u2019s error, and upholds the First Amendment.\u201d\n\nJoining Senator Lee in filing the amicus brief are U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Josh Hawley (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Tim Scott (R-SC), as well as U.S. Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-CO), John McGuire (R-VA), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Keith Self (R-TX), and Daniel Webster (R-FL).\n\nBackground\n\nCambridge Christian School was set to play another Christian high school in the Florida state football championship game. Both schools wished to begin their game with prayer over the loudspeaker, but the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) refused their request \u2013 despite allowing it three years prior.\n\nThe FHSAA originally argued that the prayer might have been viewed as a government endorsement of religion. After realizing that defense failed under controlling precedent, they changed their tune. The FHSAA now argues that the prayer would have qualified as \u201cgovernment speech,\u201d giving them the right to deny the request. The Eleventh Circuit accepted this argument despite countless instances of private, non-government speech occurring over the loudspeaker at these football games.\n\nThe court essentially backdoored in a new way to silence Americans by allowing the government to reclassify speech whenever it sees fit.\n\nThe Establishment Clause, Free Speech Clause, and Free Exercise Clauses are meant to work together to prevent the government from impinging on freedom of religion. But actors who are hostile to religion exploit the government-speech doctrine to undermine the constitutional rights of religious persons and groups. As Justice Samuel Alito has noted, that doctrine is \u201csusceptible to dangerous misuse\u201d and courts \u201cmust exercise great caution before extending government-speech precedents.\u201d This decision by the Eleventh Circuit is one of those dangerous extensions.\n\nSenator Lee\u2019s amicus brief argues:\n\nThe Eleventh Circuit erred in its application of the government-speech doctrine, thus creating a loophole for government to stifle private speech.\n\nThe Eleventh Circuit\u2019s misclassification of the speech of private actors as government speech would (a) chill otherwise protected speech, and (b) cause confusion as to what is and is not government speech.\n\nThe Supreme Court should adopt an analytical framework to resolve these types of disputes.\n\nRead the full text of the amicus brief here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-rosen-introduce-bill-to-counter-chinese-sabotage-of-taiwans-undersea-cables", "CURTIS, ROSEN INTRODUCE BILL TO COUNTER CHINESE SABOTAGE OF TAIWAN\u2019S UNDERSEA CABLES", "2025-07-09", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Bipartisan legislation aims to protect Taiwan\u2019s undersea communication cables against \u201cgray zone tactics\u201d used by China\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), members of the Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act, bipartisan legislation that would protect Taiwan\u2019s critical communications infrastructure and deter malicious \u201cgray zone\u201d activities by the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC). The cables\u2014critical for global communication and commerce\u2014have been a primary target of the PRC for undercover sabotage to undermine Taiwan\u2019s security and sovereignty.\n\n\u201cWe can\u2019t stand idle as China ramps up its tactics to isolate Taiwan, including by sabotaging its vital undersea cables,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cBy improving systems monitoring and helping increase cable resiliency, our bipartisan legislation sends a clear message: the United States stands with Taiwan and our allies in defending shared infrastructure, sovereignty, and freedom.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party\u2019s ongoing efforts to target Taiwan\u2019s undersea cable infrastructure don\u2019t just threaten Taiwan\u2019s national security, but connectivity and communication around the world,\u201d said Senator Rosen. \u201cSenator Curtis and I are introducing this bipartisan legislation to bolster collaboration between our two nations in order to protect these underground cables and impose sanctions on any adversary that targets this critical infrastructure. I will continue to push back on China\u2019s growing aggression, and its attempts to undermine democracy.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nUndersea cables are the invisible backbone of modern communication, enabling everything from internet access, communication, and economic transactions to military coordination. For Taiwan\u2014a vital democratic partner for the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific\u2014these cables are an essential lifeline that China has been sabotaging using \u201cgray zone\u201d tactics. These activities fall below the threshold of traditional warfare, allowing authoritarian regimes to exert pressure and destabilize democracies while avoiding direct military confrontation.\n\nDisrupting undersea cables is a key part of China\u2019s military strategy to cripple Taiwan\u2019s communication in a conflict. In February 2023, two of Taiwan\u2019s undersea internet cables were severed near the Matsu Islands, causing widespread outages. The incidents were linked to vessels suspected of deliberate interference. In January 2025, Taiwan\u2019s Chunghwa Telecom reported damage to an international undersea cable near a \u201csuspicious vessel\u201d identified as the Chinese-linked cargo ship Shunxin39. Shortly afterward, Taiwan\u2019s Coast Guard seized another ship\u2014Hong Tai 58\u2014suspected of deliberate sabotage. Since 2023, there have been at least 11 reported cases of cable disruption around Taiwan.\n\nTo counter China\u2019s \u201cgray zone\u201d tactics and help safeguard Taiwan\u2019s national security, the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act mandates the establishment of an initiative, led by the Secretary of State and in coordination with other agencies, to prioritize the protection and resilience of undersea cables near Taiwan.\n\nSpecifically, the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act would:\n\nEstablish a comprehensive initiative led by the U.S. State Department, in partnership with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Coast Guard to deploy real-time monitoring systems, develop rapid-response protocols, improve maritime surveillance, and enhance international cooperation to defend against sabotage.\n\nEncourage hardening of Taiwan\u2019s cable networks and call for public diplomacy to expose and counter Chinese \u201cgray zone\u201d operations.\n\nAuthorize targeted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for damaging undersea cables linked to Taiwan\u2019s national security, while directing the Administration to report regularly to Congress on threats and response measures.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-curtis-statement-on-senate-passage-of-big-beautiful-bill", "SENATOR CURTIS STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL", "2025-07-01", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Big Beautiful Bill, landmark legislation that secures the border, delivers permanent tax relief for Utah families, and gives business certainty on energy policy:\n\n\u201cThe Big Beautiful Bill delivers for Utahns. It secures the border, provides permanent tax relief for working families, and strengthens our military. I\u2019m grateful to Leader Thune and Finance Chair Crapo for including my changes to the energy credits\u2014key for business certainty and for Utah\u2019s energy future. I look forward to the House sending it to the President before the Fourth.\u201d\n\nThe bill includes critical provisions that reflect Utah\u2019s values of hard work, self-reliance, and forward-thinking energy leadership. Senator Curtis\u2019 contribution ensures stability for Utah\u2019s growing clean and traditional energy sectors, helping lower long-term costs for Utah families.\n\nBackground:\n\nSenator Curtis secured the following wins on energy tax credits:\n\nCertainty Today to Invest in Tomorrow:\n\nSenator Curtis secured 100% credit value for 12 months under the Start of Construction standard\u2014providing more time and clarity than either the original House or Senate bills. This gives energy developers the confidence to break ground now while maintaining full eligibility.\n\nGuaranteed Full Credit Value Through 2027:\n\nProjects will retain 100% credit value under current rules through December 31, 2027\u2014removing ambiguity and de-risking investment for the next three years.\n\nNo Retroactive Punishment:\n\nThe deal protects projects already underway. Those initiated before the law takes effect will be governed by the current regulatory regime\u2014no surprise penalties, no shifting goalposts.\n\nFlexibility for Solar Leasing:\n\nThe previous ban on solar leasing has been lifted\u2014opening more doors for innovative financing and access to clean energy technologies.\n\nRemoval of Punitive Tax on Projects:\n\nThe excise tax on solar and wind projects has been removed.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:48:13Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-calls-for-regulatory-certainty-to-promote-clean-nuclear-energy-in-utah", "CURTIS CALLS FOR REGULATORY CERTAINTY TO PROMOTE CLEAN NUCLEAR ENERGY IN UTAH", "2025-06-25", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "The full transcript of the exchange is below and the video file can be downloaded here.\n\nSenator Curtis: Thank you. And to the senior Senator from California, I think I heard you say California had a lot of faults.\n\nSenator Padilla: Earthquake faults, to be precise.\n\nCurtis: Just clarifying. Actually, Senator, really appreciate the work we\u2019ve had together on Fix Our Forests [Act] and appreciate the good work that you\u2019re doing.\n\nMiss Turner and Mayor Wright, may I use that term? I continue to believe that mayor is one of the best public positions that we can hold. As mayors, you have to be nimble. You have to deliver results. You have pragmatic accountability and, it\u2019s my experience that those are all important things in this current role that you\u2019re approaching as well. And I appreciate your service there. We\u2019ve had a conversation to talk about Utah and as you know, Utah aspires to be a centerpiece in nuclear as we move forward. It\u2019s just a great solution to clean baseload. And as you\u2019re aware, we\u2019ve had some attempts, not always successful. And I\u2019m curious how the NRC can work with our entities in the state on paths forward and specifically lessons learned, so that we can make this a reality in Utah.\n\nDavid A. Wright: So first off, once a mayor, always a mayor. All right, Mayor? So, you know, I know that there have been some issues there with UAMPS and everything, but, you know, we\u2019re a safety regulator, right? And so we, utilities and other nuclear companies out there, companies that have nuclear, they make decisions on their energy assets, whether it\u2019s nuclear, gas or anything else. They make that in a boardroom. And we\u2019re not a part of that financial discussion.\n\nBut what we are committed to as a safety regulator is to get to collaborate with the states, like Utah, to have discussions early on, things that they are looking at, maybe technologies they\u2019re looking at, or other permits that they\u2019re, like it\u2019s early site permits or things like that. And we commit to getting it done efficiently. We have been getting our house in order to do that. And that\u2019s the lesson learned that we took from the early work with new scale.\n\nWe learned how to, you know, put core teams together, tiger teams together, to break things apart, so to speak, and to project manage each one of them in the advanced reactor side of our house is a shining star right now. We\u2019re ahead of the game in every area there, and we\u2019re going to make sure that we can get everything done that needs to get done. We\u2019re not going to be the problem.\n\nCurtis: Thank you. I was really proud, last Congress in the House to have my bill, the Advanced Nuclear Reactor Prize Act, become law as part of the Advance Act. And that legislation was built on the simple premise that if we want to foster innovation and clean energy, we have to reward and support first movers. And that starts with certainty and clarity. And I think you referred to some of that.\n\nAnd I think for any emerging technology, especially advanced nuclear, the clear rules of the road are not just helpful, but really mandatory. So my question is, how can the NRC ensure that applicants, whether they\u2019re startups or utilities, know what to expect as they navigate the licensing process?\n\nYou mentioned efficiency on your end, but you can well imagine that municipalities or others that might take this process, it\u2019s kind of what I would call a big gray cloud, and how they penetrate move forward. How can the NRC help with that?\n\nWright: Well, first off, we have to be transparent about everything, and we\u2019ve got to provide clarity along the way. We need to be sure that we\u2019re truly communicating what needs to be done and we\u2019re not playing hide the rock with the people who come before us.\n\nWe, although we are \u201cnot supposed to be consultants or to be promoters,\u201d you know we do promote nuclear safety. That\u2019s one thing we do. And if we know the answer to what an applicant might need to get a decision reached by us, we\u2019ve got to share that information with them. We shouldn\u2019t hide it. Right. So we\u2019ve got to be transparent.\n\nCurtis: I think if you look at the Advance Act and executive orders, you\u2019ll see a lot of this is aimed at ensuring that the applicants have the efficiency, that there\u2019s transparency, they have the best possible chance of making that through. If leaning on your past service on the commission, how do you think that\u2019s prepared you to move forward and deal with some of these? And what are kind of lessons learned for you?\n\nWright: So, Senator, every part of my life, my life experience has taught me, and I apply it today. I mean, I\u2019m a colon cancer survivor. As is my daughter. And having to fight that battle with both of us, for both of us, and as a dad and supporter of a daughter, you learn a lot about metal and about what it, you know, what you\u2019re made of.\n\nAs a mayor, you\u2019ve already spoken to this, you have to be nimble. That\u2019s the closest to the people you\u2019re going to get. I didn\u2019t even leave the town to buy gas. I bought everything inside the town. You know, you got to support your people.\n\nCurtis: You can\u2019t jaywalk in your own town either, when you\u2019re mayor.\n\nWright: Exactly. I mean, so everything I learned about leadership came from either cancer, baseball, or serving as mayor of a small town. And in the end, it\u2019s about people. It\u2019s just about people and leading people.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/6/lee-introduces-withdrawal-from-nato", "Lee Introduces Withdrawal from NATO", "2025-06-25", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 As NATO concludes another ineffective summit, U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Not A Trusted Organization (NATO) Act today to withdraw the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s withdrawal from NATO is long overdue,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cNATO has run its course \u2013 the threats that existed at its inception are no longer relevant 76 years later. If they were, Europe would be paying their fair share instead of making American taxpayers pick up the check for decades. My legislation will put America first by withdrawing us from the raw deal NATO has become.\u201d\n\nThe Not A Trusted Organization (NATO) Act:\n\nEnsures the complete U.S. withdrawal from NATO:\n\nDirects the President to provide notice of denunciation of U.S. membership in NATO, consistent with Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty\n\nSatisfies the requirement for congressional authorization of withdrawal, consistent with section 1250A of the FY24 NDAA\n\nProhibits the use of U.S. funds to directly or indirectly contribute to NATO\u2019s common-funded budgets", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/icymi-curtis-talks-cease-fire-between-israel-and-iran-with-cnns-kaitlan-collins", "ICYMI: CURTIS TALKS CEASE-FIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN WITH CNN\u2019S KAITLAN COLLINS", "2025-06-24", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "The full transcript of the interview can be found below, and video can be found here.\n\nKaitlan Collins: My Republican source tonight sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senator John Curtis of Utah joins me. And Senator, thank you for being here. I just want to get your reaction to this breaking news and whether or not you believe the cease fire that the President has announced will hold.\n\nSenator Curtis: I think everybody\u2019s reaction needs to be incredibly positive. You know, we started this day with a lot of turmoil, a lot of uncertainty. Not sure if Iran was going to strike and how they would strike. And not only do we have the cease-fire, but we have a very unusual strike from Iran where they notified us it was going to happen. Very symbolic, but not a real serious one. And now tonight, the hope that we\u2019re actually tying a bow around this and can move forward with peace in the region is just great news.\n\nCollins: And that\u2019s the question of what this looks like going forward in terms of especially the result of Saturday night\u2019s strikes by the U.S. and Iran. You\u2019re a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, as I mentioned. What is your latest understanding of the impact of those strikes and the damage they did to the nuclear program?\n\nCurtis: Well, first of all, I would say the first chapter in the book, \u201cPeace Through Strength,\u201d should be the case study of what\u2019s happened here. I, like my colleagues, will have a classified briefing tomorrow. I think we\u2019ll know a whole lot more. I think, like many people, we\u2019re trying to understand ourselves, but it appears from all indications to be very positive.\n\nCollins: And do you have questions tomorrow in that briefing about the enriched uranium and where it is and whether it was still in those facilities that got hit on Saturday?\n\nCurtis: Absolutely. And to the extent we know or don\u2019t know, we need to take this all the way to the end and find out exactly what it is and where it is, and I think that needs to be our biggest priority moving forward is resolving that very question.\n\nCollins: The Vice President said earlier he believes that it is buried. He said that was their goal. Is that your hope as well, that it would be buried, or do you have concerns that Iran would be able to continue to use that potentially?\n\nCurtis: If it\u2019s buried, I think it\u2019s going to be a little bit like the lost treasure, where people forever are looking for it and personally I would like closure. So I\u2019d like to know and we may not get that, but it would be nice to have that closure and know exactly what happened to it.\n\nCollins: And in terms of what this looks like going forward, you know, the President announcing the cease-fire tonight, yesterday he was floating this idea of regime change in Iran, something that your colleague Lindsey Graham is outright calling for. Is that something that you would like to see personally in Iran?\n\nCurtis: Well, for me, it\u2019s very clear. What I would like to see is a region where countries are prospering, they\u2019re working together. I think we\u2019ve seen that with the Abraham Accords. And I think that\u2019s possible here. That, to me, is the real goal, is that we bring peace to the region, we bring prosperity to the region and totally change the landscape of what\u2019s happening over there. And I think it sounds like we might be on the verge of that. And that is big news and very exciting news.\n\nCollins: And does that mean an end to the fighting in Gaza as well as you\u2019re looking at peace in the region?\n\nCurtis: I think so. You can\u2019t talk about Gaza without talking about Iran and their proxies. And if you think about so much of the conflict, not just there, but in many places around the world, it all stems from Iran and their proxies. And so, to the extent that we\u2019ve got Iran in a good place, that\u2019s very, very good news, not just for Iran and Israel, but many places around the globe.\n\nCollins: And how would you like to see President Trump handle that? I mean, he was obviously working with the Israeli Prime Minister today, was coordinating with them on the attacks on Saturday night. Do you want to see the President, you know, talk to the Israeli Prime Minister about ending that fighting in Gaza?\n\nCurtis: Listen, the Abraham Accords are a great model. And I think if you take that model and really even going back to President Jimmy Carter in 1979, who signed the peace accords. That\u2019s our model. That\u2019s what we\u2019re looking for. We\u2019ve seen great success with that model, and I think we ought to be pushing for that in all areas.\n\nCollins: Senator John Curtis, thank you for your time tonight. Great to have you here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/trump-signs-curtis-bill-repealing-burdensome-biden-era-emissions-rule", "TRUMP SIGNS CURTIS BILL REPEALING BURDENSOME BIDEN-ERA EMISSIONS RULE", "2025-06-24", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 President Trump signed into law legislation introduced by U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) to overturn the Biden Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) Review of Final Rule Reclassification of Major Sources as Area Sources. This rule prevented many industries vital to our nation\u2019s economic and national security from reclassifying as Area Sources and discouraged efforts to reduce emissions. The Senator\u2019s Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval received a vote of 52-46 in the Senate and 216-212 in the House prior to being sent to the President\u2019s desk.\n\n\u201cThe rule put forward under the former administration shut the door on progress. It told companies that no matter how much they invest to reduce harmful emissions, they would still be punished with permanent red tape. That\u2019s not good science, it\u2019s not good governance, and it certainly isn\u2019t good for the environment,\u201d said Senator Curtis.\n\nBackground:\n\nMajor Sources are industrial facilities\u2014like chemical plants, refineries, or large factories\u2014that emit high levels of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and are subject to strict pollution control standards. Area Sources, on the other hand, are facilities that emit smaller amounts of HAPs and generally have less strict pollution control requirements.\n\nThe Biden Administration\u2019s EPA, in its Review of Final Rule Reclassification of Major Sources as Area Sources, required any facility reclassifying as an area source to remain subject to the strict major source pollution control standards if their facility emitted certain pollutants.\n\nIf a facility made substantial efforts to reduce emissions beyond what was required for a major source, but still couldn\u2019t escape the major source category, there was no direct regulatory \u201creward\u201d for that extra effort. By effectively making it impossible for many facilities to truly escape the major source standards even after significant emission reductions, the Biden-era rule ultimately disincentivized proactive efforts to reduce pollution below the thresholds to gain a lighter regulatory burden.\n\nBy overturning the rule, Senator Curtis\u2019 legislation removes burdensome red tape on U.S. energy producers and industrial facilities while restoring incentives to reduce pollution.\n\nSenator Curtis\u2019 resolution was filed under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a mechanism that allows Congress to overturn certain federal agency rules with a simple majority vote in both chambers. Importantly, a CRA resolution bars the agency that issued the disapproved rule from issuing a new rule that is \u201csubstantially the same\u201d as the disapproved rule unless specifically authorized by subsequent law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/6/lee-introduces-accountability-reporting-for-nato-freeloaders", "Lee Introduces Accountability Reporting for NATO Freeloaders", "2025-06-24", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 As NATO convenes today, U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation addressing inadequate burden sharing among the United States\u2019 allies and NATO member nations.\n\nThe Allied Burden Sharing Report Act and the NATO Burden Sharing Report Act would incentivize delinquent nations to contribute their fair share for defense measures by requiring the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to compile annual reports on allied nations\u2019 defense contributions and their ability to fulfill commitments. U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) cosponsored both pieces of legislation.\n\n\u201cAmerica has shouldered the burden of NATO freeloaders for decades,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cYear after year, our so-called allies shirk their commitments while we pay for the conflicts raging in their backyards. By imposing annual reporting requirements, my legislation will identify delinquent allies \u2013 promoting accountability and putting them on notice to pay their fair share.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur NATO allies expect the U.S. to be the sugar daddy and the world\u2019s policeman while they sit back and let us do the heavy lifting. President Trump was right, it\u2019s time for them to pull their own weight. Congress must stop giving blank checks to our allies and start demanding accountability. That\u2019s why I\u2019m pushing for the NATO Burden Sharing Report Act and the Allied Burden Sharing Report Act, to show the American people exactly who\u2019s paying the bills and who\u2019s shirking their share,\u201d said Sen. Paul.\n\n\u201cNATO is a vital alliance, but it only works when every member pulls their weight,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cEurope\u2019s security is not America\u2019s sole responsibility. These bills will shine a light on who\u2019s paying their fair share\u2014and who\u2019s not\u2014so we can finally hold our allies accountable and strengthen the alliance for the future.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nNATO allies committed to spending 2% of their annual GDP on defense measures over a decade ago, but many have failed to deliver \u2013 instead allowing the U.S. to carry the burden of European security. Even as conflict in Ukraine continues in their own backyards, a significant portion of NATO members remain delinquent on their defense commitments. It is unreasonable for the U.S. to continue subsidizing the security of a peripheral theater, while allies neglect to carry their fair share.\n\nAs the alliance convenes today, President Donald Trump has rightfully demanded greater burden sharing and higher defense spending. As the Summit opens, Senator Lee is introducing two pieces of legislation to support this burden sharing agenda. The Allied Burden Sharing Report Act and NATO Burden Sharing Report Act require regular reporting on allies\u2019 contributions to the common defense.\n\nThese bills promote burden sharing accountability, removing any doubt as to who the delinquent allies are and equipping Congress with the information it needs to perform necessary oversight.\n\nThe Allied Burden Sharing Report Act:\n\nRequires DOD to prepare an annual report on the defense spending of all 59 U.S. allies \u2013 including:\n\nAnnual defense spending of each allied nation, both as a nominal figure and percentage of GDP\n\nActivities of each allied nation that contribute to military or stability operations in which the Armed Forces of the U.S. are a participant or could be called upon per the obligations of a cooperative defense agreement of which the United States is a signatory\n\nAny limitation placed by an allied nation on the use of such contributions\n\nAny actions undertaken by the U.S. or by other countries to minimize such limitations\n\nThe NATO Burden Sharing Report Act:\n\nApplies only to NATO member countries and includes all of the above reporting requirements plus:\n\nA description of each member\u2019s hard vs. soft power contributions for Ukraine\n\nDefense industrial base health and comparative advantages\n\nSize and structure of armed forces\n\nAny areas where the country would be fully reliant on allied assets\n\nFMS deliveries or contracts in the previous year\n\nAny change in defense spending over the previous year and anticipated future spending", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-pushes-for-accountability-from-world-anti-doping-agency-ahead-of-2034-salt-lake-games", "CURTIS PUSHES FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FROM WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY AHEAD OF 2034 SALT LAKE GAMES", "2025-06-17", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "A transcript of the exchange can be found below, and the video file can be downloaded here.\n\nSenator Curtis: Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you to our witnesses. Mr. Tygart, as you know, Utah hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics. I think by everybody\u2019s standards, it was a tremendous success, both for the state and for the Olympics. Today, imagine our pride in hosting the 2034 games!\n\nAnd to us, building on that legacy that we had in 2002 is just really important. And to be honest, if you ask the average person on the street in Utah about WADA or USADA they wouldn\u2019t know, right, what was going on. But they do know this. They want the Olympics in 2034 to be the cleanest Olympics in the history of Olympics.\n\nSo, what has to happen? What does WADA, can they restore trust? And to restore trust specifically, not in generalities, what do they need to do?\n\nMr. Travis Tygart: Listen, I think the silver bullet to restoring trust is independence. They promised an independent president and vice president. They broke, betrayed that promise. And that was part of why the U.S., back in 2020, agreed to fund WADA was making it more independent.\n\nThat was in the legislative language to the funding that U.S. taxpayers agreed to send to WADA. And that was supposed to go into effect, but they changed the rules mid-game. A bait and switch is what happened.\n\nI do firmly believe if you put an independent president and vice president on the executive committee, which then also means it\u2019s on the foundation board, they\u2019re the same people, then we can begin the process of ensuring that it\u2019s trustworthy, that it\u2019s transparent, has accountability, and change the culture so it\u2019s not a service or lapdog to sport, but is actually a dedicated, faithful servant to clean athletes.\n\nCurtis: Great. Thank you. Katie, thank you for being here today. There are not many people that have done what you did, and there are not many people who could come here today and fill the role that you\u2019re filling.\n\nI think, in many ways, there are a lot of people both in Congress and professionally, who are working on getting this fixed, but you represent the athletes. So, what do we need to do so that the next person that stands on that pool deck feels like, \u2018You know what? This is going to be fair.\u2019\n\nMs. Katie McLaughlin: Thank you for your question.\n\nI don\u2019t have the specific ground rules of a plan of what I think should be done, but I think just echoing what Travis has said of independence and finding a way to find a way for the athletes to be able to trust WADA is super important. And I think that\u2019s pretty much it.\n\nCurtis: Okay, good. Well said. Doctor Gupta, we talked about transparency. In your legal opinion. right, in your professional opinion, how does that happen? And is there possible legal action under Rodchenkov anti-doping legislation do we need to do?\n\nDr. Rahul Gupta: Thank you, Senator. And really appreciate the work of this Committee, actually, on this issue. It\u2019s really critical.\n\nI do echo my colleague\u2019s thoughts here about the true independence. I also think having the independent code compliance audit is important. I think having make sure there\u2019s no conflicts of interest in the leadership of WADA is important. I think independent athletes\u2019 representation is important. I think strengthening our oversight of it and having that representation.\n\nWhat I found is if we\u2019re not at the seat, we can\u2019t impact change. And what about the most independent? And you\u2019ve heard Katie talk about what U.S. athletes do, and we want to make sure that everybody\u2019s doing it first of all. But more importantly, we want to make sure that cheaters are not part of that system. And then, of course, engaging our corporate stakeholders, and leveraging much more diplomatic channels.\n\nSo, I think all of those things, we cannot give up our authority under the Rodchenkov Act to go after the entourage of bad actors. And that\u2019s where the supreme authority language kind of doesn\u2019t work for the United States when these games are coming to you and U.S. and we are so proud of those as well.\n\nCurtis: Let me ask this. Athletes are going to get more and more innovative in cheating. What resources do we need to bring to the table to deal with that?\n\nGupta: I think we do. Congress has to think about more resources in terms of supporting USADA\u2019s work, because I do think that more R&D and more work will be required in the future because we have a decade, a golden decade, in the United States, where we will have so much more sports, but also, ensuring that, you know, I withheld the funding because we weren\u2019t getting results.\n\nSo, we have to be more accountable ourselves as well as expect accountability out of WADA.\n\nCurtis: Good. Ms. Koller, I have just a few seconds left. Would you like to weigh in on any of the questions that I\u2019ve asked?\n\nMs. Dionne Koller: No, Senator, I think it\u2019s been well covered. Thank you.\n\nCurtis: Thank you, Madam Chair. I yield.\n\nAdditional Reading:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-statement-on-israeli-airstrikes-on-iran", "CURTIS STATEMENT ON ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES ON IRAN", "2025-06-13", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on Israel\u2019s airstrikes on Iran:\n\n\u201cLast night, the world witnessed the extraordinary resolve of a nation determined to survive\u2014and to prevent Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. Israel exercised its sovereign right to defend itself against an existential threat. Just yesterday, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran is not complying with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.\n\n\u201cThe United States must stand firmly with Israel and remain committed to long-term peace and stability in the region. I pray for the safety of our American servicemembers stationed in the Middle East, and for the Israeli and Iranian people who suffer because of the Ayatollah\u2019s regime.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/6/lee-declares-june-fidelity-month-to-celebrate-family-values", "Lee Declares June \u2018Fidelity Month\u2019 to Celebrate Family Values", "2025-06-12", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a resolution designating June as \u2018Fidelity Month\u2019 to celebrate faith, family values, and patriotism. The resolution recognizes the national strife resulting from declining traditional values and serves as a rededication to these principles for the wellbeing of the American people.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s success hinges on the values of faith, family, and patriotism,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cCelebrating Fidelity Month this June, we stand against a tide of moral relativism, a culture which increasingly revolves around serving one\u2019s self, rather than our duty to others. Loving families and faithful marriages must be a guiding star for our society and a cornerstone of our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cFidelity Month is an invitation to our fellow Americans to rededicate themselves to core principles that were once, and can again be, sources of our nation\u2019s unity and strength: fidelity to God; fidelity to spouses and children; fidelity to our country and communities.\u201d \u2013 Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University and founder of Fidelity Month.\n\n\"At a time when America\u2019s moral fabric is fraying and too many voices denigrate the very values that once bound us together, Fidelity Month is a timely and essential initiative. Faith, family, and patriotism are not relics of the past \u2014 they are the pillars of any flourishing civilization. I wholeheartedly support this effort to call Americans of every background to renew their dedication to these enduring truths. Without such fidelity, freedom itself becomes fragile.\" \u2013 Andrew T. Walker, Ph.D., Fellow, The Ethics and Public Policy Center\n\nResolution\n\nSupporting the designation of June as Fidelity Month for the purpose of rededicating the United States to the values of faith, family, and patriotism.\n\nWhereas a recent opinion poll of Americans showed support for traditional values has significantly declined;\n\nWhereas a majority of Americans no longer view values like faith, family, patriotism, or being involved in the community as very important;\n\nWhereas these values used to unite Americans;\n\nWhereas the decline in these values has corresponded with a rise in crime, drug abuse, alienation, and family disintegration;\n\nWhereas fidelity means dedication to faith, spouses and families, and country and communities;\n\nWhereas citizens of all faiths can join in recommitting the United States to fidelity;\n\nWhereas John Adams, a founding father of the United States, said, \u2018\u2018Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.\u2019\u2019;\n\nWhereas survival of the United States depends on the shared bonds of faith, family, and patriotism; and\n\nWhereas it is fitting to observe one month each year to rededicate the United States to its core values: Now, therefore, be it\n\nResolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that June should be designated as Fidelity Month for the purpose of rededicating the United States to the values of faith, family, and patriotism.\n\nSee the official resolution text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/6/lee-introduces-the-open-america-s-waters-act-to-repeal-jones-act-boost-coastal-trade", "Lee Introduces the Open America\u2019s Waters Act to Repeal Jones Act, Boost Coastal Trade", "2025-06-12", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Open America\u2019s Waters Act today to deregulate America\u2019s coastal trade and alleviate the energy crisis by repealing the outdated Jones Act. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cOutdated regulations from the Jones Act have deepened the energy crisis and heightened prices for Americans on goods from our own country,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cAmerican producers have been forced into dangerous workarounds like importing their energy resources from Russia. The Open America\u2019s Waters Act will cut this 105-year-old red tape to alleviate the energy crisis, bring prices down for Americans, and protect our national security from adversarial nations.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Jones Act is outdated in a global economy. It enriches a very small special interest at the expense of every consumer in America,\u201d said Rep. McClintock. \u201cRepealing this restrictive and counterproductive law is vital for the new golden age that President Trump has envisioned.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Open America\u2019s Waters Act would repeal the Jones Act, an outdated and particularly demanding regulation on America\u2019s coastal trade. The Jones Act requires all goods transported by water between U.S. ports to be carried on a vessel that was constructed and registered in the U.S., and is both owned and primarily crewed by U.S. citizens.\n\nWhile these requirements were originally touted in 1920 as necessary for America\u2019s national security, they have actually endangered it by severely limiting access to critical energy sources and incentivizing American companies to contract with adversarial nations in their efforts to comply with its stipulations. Additionally, the elevated costs associated with compliance result in higher prices for Americans on goods produced in their own country.\n\nAttempts to comply with the Jones Act have forced American producers to choose expensive and even politically risky transportation options. For example, cattle ranchers in Hawaii have opted for expensive planes rather than boats to transport cattle to the mainland. Puerto Rico imports jet fuel from Venezuela \u2013 benefitting the human rights-violating Maduro regime \u2013 rather than nearby Gulf Coast refineries. And because there are no compliant specialty carriers capable of transporting LNG or propane gas, Massachusetts and Puerto Rico have had to import LNG from adversarial Russia.\n\nThe Open America\u2019s Waters Act would repeal the outdated Jones Act regulations to cut red tape for American producers, improve national security by disincentivizing contracts with adversarial nations, and bring down prices for American consumers.\n\nThe Open America\u2019s Waters Act would:\n\nRepeal the 105-year-old Jones Act regulations requiring all goods transported by water between U.S. ports to be carried on a vessel: (1) Constructed in the U.S., (2) Registered in the U.S., (3) Owned by U.S. Citizens, and (4) Primarily crewed by U.S. citizens.\n\nRead the full text of the legislation here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-risch-statement-condemning-violence-in-colombia", "CURTIS, RISCH STATEMENT CONDEMNING VIOLENCE IN COLOMBIA", "2025-06-11", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators John Curtis, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, and Jim Risch, SFRC Chairman, today released the following statement regarding the ongoing wave of violence in Colombia, which has included an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate, Miguel Uribe, and at least 15 bombings:\n\n\u201cThe ongoing acts of violence and terrorism in Colombia are reprehensible and should be condemned by all who prize freedom and law and order. President Petro should immediately adopt robust security measures and roll back his dangerous \u201cTotal Peace\u201d strategy that has only emboldened terrorists and invited violence. Additionally, Petro should cease his efforts to push through a failed referendum that has already been rejected by the Colombian Senate. We fear that without taking these actions, the Colombian people will continue to suffer under extreme violence and uncertainty.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/6/lee-condemns-comey-s-death-threat-against-president-trump", "Lee Condemns Comey\u2019s Death Threat Against President Trump", "2025-06-10", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a resolution condemning former FBI Director James Comey for inciting violence against President Donald Trump in a recent social media post. In response to Comey\u2019s reckless threat on the President\u2019s life, the resolution condemns his incitement of violence, bars Comey from future employment by the federal government, and calls for investigations by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security into Comey\u2019s threats. The resolution was cosponsored by U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), and a companion resolution was led by Reps. August Pfluger (R-TX) and Laurel Lee (R-FL) in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cFor the former FBI director to be amplifying threats against the President of the United States is disgraceful,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cPresident Trump has been targeted in two assassination attempts and wounded in one, which killed Corey Comperatore. Congress should unite to condemn Jim Comey in the strongest terms.\u201d\n\n\"As violent riots rage across Los Angeles, it has never been more important to have leaders in Washington that are prepared to defend the rule of law and uphold our shared values,\" said Rep. August Pfluger, Chairman of the Republican Study Committee. \"James Comey\u2019s reckless incitement of violence is another reminder of how dangerous it is when former public officials prioritize politics over the values our nation was founded upon. This bicameral resolution demands the accountability and transparency the American people deserve, ensuring Comey never again holds a position of public trust.\"\n\n\u201cFor years, we\u2019ve heard accusations from the Left about so-called dangerous rhetoric. But now, former FBI Director James Comey\u2014the same official who helped launch the discredited Russia collusion hoax \u2014is engaging in rhetoric that carries an implicit threat against President Trump. As a former federal prosecutor and judge, I take this very seriously. James Comey should never again hold a position of public trust in the United States Government, and we formally urge the Department of Justice to investigate whether his conduct violates applicable laws. The American people deserve equal justice\u2014not selective outrage. If we are to preserve the rule of law, then even those who once led law enforcement must be held accountable.\u201d \u2013 Representative Laurel Lee\n\nResolution\n\nA resolution condemning James B. Comey, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for inciting violence against President Donald J. Trump.\n\nWhereas James B. Comey, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (in this preamble, referred to as the \u2018\u2018FBI\u2019\u2019), on May 15, 2025, posted an image on Instagram depicting the numbers \u2018\u201886 47\u2019\u2019 with the cryptic caption \u2018\u2018cool shell formation\u2019\u2019;\n\nWhereas this message promotes violence against the sitting President of the United States, Donald J. Trump;\n\nWhereas Mr. Comey posted this to his public Instagram account during President Trump\u2019s first overseas trip to the Middle East, jeopardizing his security and invigorating the enemies of the United States abroad;\n\nWhereas it is indefensible and inexcusable to issue a call for violence against the President of the United States;\n\nWhereas Mr. Comey exhibits a clear desire to undermine President Trump; Whereas there have been multiple assassination attempts against President Trump;\n\nWhereas former public officials owe a special duty of care not to use their past positions and influence accrued through public service to threaten the lives of their political opponents; and\n\nWhereas Congress must hold Mr. Comey accountable for his violations of the public trust and preserve the rule of law to protect our institutions from those that seek to sow discord and promote violence against their political opponents:\n\nNow, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate\u2014\n\n(1) unequivocally condemns James Comey\u2019s ap3 parent incitement of political violence against President Trump;\n\n(2) urges the relevant authorities to take every relevant action to ensure that Mr. Comey is never again permitted to serve as an employee of the Federal Government; and\n\n(3) requests that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security conduct a full and comprehensive investigation of Mr. Comey\u2019s attempts to incite violence against the President, and release the findings to the relevant committees of Congress and the public.\n\nRead exclusive coverage from The Daily Signal here.\n\nSee the official resolution text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-cortez-masto-introduce-bill-to-reduce-wildfire-risk-through-strategic-grazing", "CURTIS, CORTEZ MASTO INTRODUCE BILL TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK THROUGH STRATEGIC GRAZING", "2025-06-09", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the Strategic Grazing to Reduce the Risk of Wildfire Act, bipartisan legislation to direct the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to collaborate with grazing allotment holders, States, Tribes, and local fire departments to create a strategy to use targeted grazing to manage hazardous fuels and reduce risks from wildfires.\n\n\u201cUtah has already experienced 218 wildfires this year, marking a nearly 50% increase compared to this point last year,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cWhile officials anticipate an above-average wildfire season, I am encouraged by proposals that include grazing and use of public lands for fire mitigation. Our bipartisan legislation will help empower local officials and fire crews to develop targeted strategies like these to manage hazardous fuels and decrease risks.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the West continues to face the threat of wildfires, it\u2019s essential that we look for ways to protect our communities from devastation,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cThis bill takes a wildfire prevention and mitigation strategy that\u2019s been proven to work and puts it in place at the federal level. We must make sure there\u2019s an overarching plan to combat these fires that have become all too frequent.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe American West has long been prone to wildfires, but climate change, prolonged drought, and the buildup of dry fuels have increasingly intensified these fires and extended fire seasons. Wildfires today are more catastrophic\u2014growing larger, spreading faster, and burning more land than ever before.\n\nUtah saw a total of 1,244 wildfire reports in 2024\u2014a 54% increase from 2023 and the highest level the state has recorded since 2020. Nationwide, total acres burned rose from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024, a 231% increase. In 2025, Utah has seen 218 wildfires\u2014a nearly 50% increase from the 147 fires recorded at this same time one year ago.\n\nPilot programs across the United States have shown that the use of strategic grazing can reduce hazardous fuels and slow the spread of a wildfire. The Strategic Grazing to Reduce the Risk of Wildfire Act directs federal agencies to consider the following in the development of the strategic grazing framework:\n\nTargeting specific high-risk areas for grazing\u2014especially those near populated areas.\n\nUsing temporary grazing permits to reduce risks caused by annual grasses or invasive grasses like cheatgrass that burn easily and help fires spread more quickly.\n\nRecommending the use of strategic grazing when providing technical assistance to communities and Tribes undertaking their own wildfire risk management projects.\n\nReimbursing States, local governments, Tribes, and local firefighting agencies who use strategic grazing on federal lands in coordination with federal land management agencies.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-visits-fervo-energys-cape-station-geothermal-project-in-beaver-utah", "CURTIS VISITS FERVO ENERGY\u2019S CAPE STATION GEOTHERMAL PROJECT IN BEAVER, UTAH", "2025-06-04", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cUtah is at the forefront of energy innovation, and the Cape Station Geothermal project in Beaver is a powerful example of that progress,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cI believe America\u2019s energy future can be affordable, reliable, and clean\u2014and geothermal will be a critical part of making that vision a reality. This project highlights what\u2019s possible when private investment is matched with government collaboration to provide the right tools for success. I\u2019m hopeful it will drive new opportunity, strengthen rural communities, and showcase the kind of results that come from pairing innovation with Utah\u2019s work ethic. It was a privilege to tour the site and meet the exceptional team leading this effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cFervo\u2019s Cape Station project is what happens when great science, smart policy, and American entrepreneurship come together,\u201d said Bill Gates. \u201cEnhanced geothermal is one of the most promising solutions for delivering reliable, low-carbon power, especially as demand for affordable energy grows. Breakthrough Energy Ventures invested in Fervo early because we believed in this vision, and it\u2019s exciting to see that potential becoming reality here in Utah.\u201d\n\n\u201cGeothermal isn\u2019t a technology of the distant future; it\u2019s scaling today, and Cape Station is proof of that,\u201d said Tim Latimer, CEO and co-founder of Fervo Energy. \u201cThis project represents years of hard work by engineers, policymakers, and local partners who believe in the power of innovation to generate solutions. We\u2019re proud to be building this in Utah, creating full-time jobs, and setting a new standard for what geothermal can achieve at scale. With Cape Phase I coming online next year, this is only the beginning for Fervo, for Utah, and for geothermal.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nSenator Curtis has long championed a responsible and practical approach to clean energy development. He has led bipartisan efforts to modernize permitting, reduce bureaucratic duplication, and accelerate the deployment of geothermal resources. In the 118th Congress, he advanced the GEO Act, legislation to update the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 and streamline the application process for new geothermal projects.\n\nCape Station is one of the nation\u2019s most advanced geothermal projects. Developed by Fervo Energy, the facility broke ground in June 2023. Once fully operational, the first two phases will provide 500 megawatts of clean, baseload power\u2014enough to support hundreds of thousands of homes. Initial production is slated for 2026, with full-scale operations expected by 2028.\n\nThe economic impact for Utah is significant. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory\u2019s jobs estimation tool, during construction, Cape Station will support approximately 6,600 jobs and generate more than $437 million in earned wages. The project will sustain around 160 high-quality, full-time jobs once operational, bolstering the local economy and reinforcing Beaver County\u2019s role in the future of American energy.\n\nAdditional Reading:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/opinion-tax-credits-with-a-scalpel-how-to-boost-american-energy-without-killing-innovation", "OPINION: TAX CREDITS WITH A SCALPEL\u2014HOW TO BOOST AMERICAN ENERGY WITHOUT KILLING INNOVATION", "2025-06-04", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Tax credits with a scalpel\u2014how to boost American energy without killing innovation\n\nBy: Senator John Curtis (R-UT)\n\nDeseret News\n\nJune 4, 2025\n\nJust days after I was sworn into Congress in 2017, I found myself in the thick of negotiations over the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Republicans passed the bill within a month, and I returned to Utah eager to tell small-business owners and manufacturers about the historic tax relief they could expect.\n\nAs I shared the news, business leaders politely nodded, then said, \u201cThanks. But if you really want to help us grow, cut the red tape and the uncertainty that goes with it.\u201d\n\nSolving a problem is great. Solving the right problem is better. That lesson has stuck with me. As the U.S. Senate begins its swing at reconciliation, I am determined to apply this principle \u2014 solving the right problem in the right way. Leadership expert Margaret Wheatley cautioned, \u201cWe experience problem-solving sessions as war zones, we view competing ideas as enemies, and we use problems as weapons to blame and defeat opposition forces. No wonder we can\u2019t come up with real lasting solutions!\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Senate must solve the right problem relating to American energy. The right policy solution must navigate tax credits and regulatory reform in what I believe is central to America\u2019s economic future, the planet and our national security: energy.\n\nI am convinced the next great opportunity for economic growth \u2014 and energy dominance \u2014 won\u2019t come solely from government programs. For example, we likely wouldn\u2019t have had the fracking revolution without federal research at the Department of Energy. That said, we can\u2019t rely only on government intervention. When government acts, it must be fiscally responsible and targeted. This problem requires the government to support the private sector in its leadership, not the other way around.\n\nSome conservatives understandably want to end the energy tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and frankly, I agree with them on many provisions that included frivolous spending. We weren\u2019t included in its drafting and didn\u2019t vote for it. But we must be wise \u2014 we simply cannot afford to treat good policy ideas as guilty by political association. That would be a quest for political power over intelligence and strategy.\n\nThe simple truth is this: many of these credits are Republican policies that we fought to protect. They support strategic energy assets and a robust domestic economy. That\u2019s why businesses from across the energy spectrum \u2014 oil and gas, nuclear, renewables \u2014 have already made billions in long-term investments based on these policies.\n\nWe must build a thoughtful, principled bill that doesn\u2019t pull the rug out from under American innovators. Doing otherwise risks freezing investment, delaying domestic production, increasing costs, and forfeiting our energy edge and national security to China and Russia.\n\nWe can \u2014 and must \u2014 evaluate each tax credit on its merits. Some deserve to be wound down. Others should stay, at least for now, if they advance American energy independence and national security. In reconciliation, we should fight for a thoughtful approach or, in the words of Speaker Johnson, \u201cuse a scalpel and not a sledgehammer.\u201d\n\nOver the years, I\u2019ve spoken with energy innovators across Utah and the nation. From the Uintah Basin to Beaver\u2019s geothermal fields, I\u2019ve seen cutting-edge facilities building the future of power. Their consistent ask isn\u2019t subsidies \u2014 it\u2019s predictability and deregulation.\n\nMany of them compete with foreign producers who pollute more and comply less. Russian natural gas is 40% dirtier than American-produced gas. When we saddle our own production with a regulatory millstone and unnecessary uncertainty, we don\u2019t help the climate. Nor are we being careful stewards of the environment. By default, we outsource emissions, undermine our economy and provide resources to our enemies.\n\nDeregulation doesn\u2019t mean eliminating guardrails. It means designing rules that are transparent, consistent and don\u2019t take five years and three lawsuits to get a permit.\n\nDuring the oil embargo of the 1970s, Americans learned a hard truth: we must never depend on adversaries for our energy. Gas lines and rationing are the result of bad policy or simply not solving the right problem. That lesson shaped a generation.\n\nDecades later, we watched as European leaders scrambled when Russia invaded Ukraine \u2014 only to discover that they were energy-dependent on their enemy. The U.S. must never be in that position. In fact, we should aim higher. We shouldn\u2019t just be energy independent \u2014 we should be energy dominant.\n\nPresident Trump understands this. His energy agenda is not about ideology \u2014 it\u2019s about prosperity, security and leverage. The Senate must now amend the House legislation that supports that agenda in both word and substance. To meet President Trump\u2019s goals, we must bring every energy source to the table as part of the solution. If we prematurely cut any one of them off \u2014 or do so without a reasonable, responsible offramp \u2014 we don\u2019t just risk falling short of our energy targets; we put our economy and national security in jeopardy.\n\nLet\u2019s be honest with the American people. Some credits in the IRA should end. Others support strategic advantages. And across the board, what will truly unleash energy production isn\u2019t a new spending or deduction line \u2014 it\u2019s liberating American ingenuity from the shackles of Washington bureaucracy and unnecessary regulation. Perhaps most important, Congress needs to get to work on substantive permitting reform and fix the bureaucracy that is preventing all forms of energy from being deployed.\n\nIt\u2019s time for Congress to act \u2014 not by reflexively tearing down or playing political power games, but by building smarter. Intelligently solving the right problems by delivering a structured offramp to tax credits and common-sense deregulation will unleash American energy \u2014 and produce economic prosperity, a healthier planet and true national security.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/6/lee-bill-cuts-drug-prices-and-red-tape", "Lee Bill Cuts Drug Prices and Red Tape", "2025-06-04", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the bipartisan Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act today to cut drug prices for consumers and increase competition in the pharmaceutical market by categorizing generic-brand \u201cbiosimilar\u201d drugs as interchangeable with their name-brand counterparts. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM) cosponsored the legislation.\n\n\u201cAmericans are missing out on lower drug prices thanks to bureaucratic red tape that protects big pharma monopolies,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cMany consumers would choose a cheaper generic-brand version of their medications, but technicalities from Congress have kept these out of reach. Our legislation will cut the red tape to bring drug prices down, break up the big pharma monopolies, and let Americans make their own medication choices.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to support Senator Lee\u2019s Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act. Americans pay too much for prescription treatments because of outdated FDA requirements. This bill would give pharmacists more options, subject to state law, to substitute unaffordable therapeutics with lower-cost alternatives. I offered similar reforms in the past because health care reform starts with giving patients more affordable choices. It\u2019s time we stop letting red tape stand between patients and lower prices.\u201d said Dr. Rand Paul\n\n\u201cToo many Americans face sky-high prescription drug costs. This bipartisan legislation will cut unnecessary red tape and help biosimilar drugs get to the market faster, creating more competition in the market, and cutting costs for consumers,\u201d said Senator Hassan. \u201cI will continue to work to lower prescription drug and health care costs for Granite Staters and all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cLimited competition drives up drug prices, making it harder for people to afford the medications they need to survive. Expanding access to biosimilar drugs can improve patients' lives and reduce costs. But too often, access can be limited due to regulatory red tape that scientists agree is not necessary,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThis bipartisan bill will help simplify that process while maintaining rigorous safety and effectiveness standards. By increasing competition, this legislation will allow more patients and families to access the treatments they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the FDA has made clear, there is no clinically meaningful difference between biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars,\u201d said John Murphy, President and CEO of the Association for Accessible Medicines. \u201cThe Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act will expand competition and generate savings for patients and taxpayers, while preserving FDA\u2019s ability to ensure the safety and efficacy of medicines for America\u2019s patients. The Biosimilars Council and AAM thank Senators Lee and Luj\u00e1n for their work on behalf of American patients and we look forward to working with Congress to eliminate this outdated and unnecessary barrier to lower-priced biosimilar medicines.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\n\u201cBiosimilars\u201d \u2013 generic alternatives to name-brand medications \u2013 have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of biologic drugs through increased competition. Choosing biosimilars over their name-brand counterparts could save consumers an estimated $42.9 billion by 2027. Americans deserve to hold this decision-making power, but red tape around biosimilars keeps them from being widely used. The FDA\u2019s complex approval system has confused physicians, patients, and states about biosimilars\u2019 safety and efficacy.\n\nBiosimilars must undergo extensive testing to prove they provide no meaningful difference from their name-brand version. Bringing a new biosimilar to market costs as much as $300 million and can take as long as 9 years. Even after this approval, patients may not be able to access biosimilars because Congress created a separate designation: interchangeability. To be classified as truly \u201cinterchangeable\u201d with the name-brand version, a biosimilar must undergo further testing called \u201cswitching studies.\u201d This type of research has proven unnecessary for biosimilars, as it repeatedly shows no meaningful difference or relevant new data.\n\nThe Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act would remove these extra steps so that a biosimilar will immediately be classified as interchangeable upon its initial approval by the FDA. Foregoing unnecessary switching studies would no longer disqualify biosimilars as alternatives to their name-brand counterparts.\n\nThis legislation will streamline the regulatory pathway for biosimilar approval by aligning the law with the current scientific reality, giving Americans the option to save billions and increasing competition in the pharmaceutical market.\n\nThe Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act would:\n\nAmend the federal code to state that all biosimilars, upon approval, shall be deemed interchangeable. The bill still uses the term \u201cinterchangeable\u201d because states have crafted their own laws around interchangeability. Retaining that word would provide for minimal disruption to current biosimilar distribution.\n\nStrike the current requirement in code that has been used to justify switching studies.\n\nCreate a cooldown period for certain biologics that were already granted exclusive interchangeable status.\n\nInstruct HHS and FDA to issue or retract relevant guidance.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/5/senators-lee-and-coons-applaud-u-s-sentencing-commission-s-amendment-on-supervised-release", "Senators Lee and Coons Applaud U.S. Sentencing Commission\u2019s Amendment on Supervised Release", "2025-05-28", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), along with Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL), released the following statement to applaud the United States Sentencing Commission\u2019s unanimously finalized recent amendment to the United States Sentencing Guidelines regarding federal supervised release:\n\n\u201cThis is an important step by the U.S. Sentencing Commission. This amendment regarding federal supervised release better aligns our system with parts of our Safer Supervision Act. It is a meaningful move to restore federal supervision to the system that Congress originally intended and focus supervision on those who need it most. This is an illustration of how we can work together to improve our justice system by promoting rehabilitation, fairness, and public safety. We look forward to continuing this effort and ensuring that the entire Safer Supervision Act becomes law.\u201d\n\nFederal supervised release is a form of supervision after incarceration that was originally designed to be used \u201cfor those, and only those, who [need] it,\u201d according to the U.S. Supreme Court. Currently, however, supervised release is imposed in nearly every case, resulting in an overburdened system with more than 110,000 people in supervision at any moment, and nearly 50,000 people cycling into it each year. The result is a system that does not provide appropriate supervision to the high-risk individuals who most need it while creating counterproductive burdens on low-risk individuals that inhibit their ability to reintegrate.\n\nOn April 30, 2025, the United States Sentencing Commission transmitted to Congress an amendment to the Guidelines that encourages courts to impose supervised release on the basis of individualized circumstances, provides courts with factors to consider in assessing potential early termination, and increases courts\u2019 discretion on how to address supervised release violations. These changes are aligned with certain portions of the Safer Supervision Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that will ensure that supervision resources are directed in a way that best promotes rehabilitation and public safety. The Commission initially proposed this amendment in January, and the aforementioned members of Congress filed a comment in March in support of the Sentencing Commission\u2019s proposal. The proposal received favorable comments at a public hearing in March from law enforcement and advocates across the political spectrum. The finalized amendment will go into effect on November 1, 2025.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-foreign-relations-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-address-gang-violence-in-haiti", "CURTIS, FOREIGN RELATIONS COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS GANG VIOLENCE IN HAITI", "2025-05-23", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), Chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, joined Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Committee members Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Chris Coons (D-DE) in introducing the bipartisan Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act, which would prioritize U.S. leadership in addressing the ongoing violence in Haiti. This bill will mandate sanctions against Haitian gangs, armed criminal actors, and their political and economic enablers. It will also require extensive interagency cooperation, identification, and reporting of criminal collusion and threats to U.S. national interests, including through an annual report submitted to Congress by the Secretary of State.\n\n\u201cHaiti\u2019s deteriorating security situation threatens America\u2019s national interests in the region,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cBy mandating targeted, strategic sanctions on Haitian political and economic elites who are colluding with criminal gangs, our bipartisan legislation will help address a growing humanitarian, economic, and national security crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan bill is a meaningful and logical next step towards addressing and preventing criminal collusion and violence in Haiti,\u201dsaid Senator Shaheen. \u201cThe ongoing gang violence has displaced more than a million Haitians\u2014including women and children, creating a dire humanitarian catastrophe mere hundreds of miles from U.S. shores. The measures laid out in the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act will ensure the U.S. is properly equipped to protect our national security interests and ensure stability and security in the region.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe people of Haiti have suffered for too long at the hands of violent gangs and corrupt elites who put their own power over their people,\u201d said Senator Scott. \u201cThis bill will shine a light on the collusion between criminals and those in power, makes clear that the United States will not stand for this violence and prioritizes our national security interests in the region. I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort and look forward to its passage as the Trump administration advances peace through strength around the globe.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe widespread violence perpetrated by criminal gangs in Haiti has internally displaced over one million Haitians and created a dire humanitarian crisis,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cThis bill would help address the deteriorating conditions in Haiti by sanctioning Haitian gangs and other individuals with ties to them, and require a comprehensive analysis regarding how this crisis impacts our security and the stability of the region.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans are safer and more prosperous when Haiti is stable and secure,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cThe criminal gangs and their enablers acting with impunity and terrorizing civilians throughout the island are endangering the Haitian people and destabilizing a country in our own backyard. The Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act will help bring them to account, making both Haiti and the United States more secure.\u201d\n\nKey provisions of the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act include:\n\nMandating sanctions against Haitian gangs and political and economic elites;\n\nRequiring extensive interagency reporting on the scale and nature of criminal collusion in Haiti, including identification of the most prominent gangs in Haiti and political and economic elites with direct and significant ties to criminal gangs; and\n\nRequiring an assessment of threats to U.S. national interests, democratic governance in the country and the provision of assistance to the Haitian government caused by criminal collusion between gangs and elites.\n\nCompanion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (D-NY), and passed out of the Committee in April 2025.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:29Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/5/lee-introduces-off-act-to-protect-farmers-cut-government-waste", "Lee Introduces OFF Act to Protect Farmers, Cut Government Waste", "2025-05-22", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the bipartisan Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act today with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to protect agricultural producers and cut government waste by enforcing transparency in checkoff programs. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) cosponsored the legislation.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s farmers are being ripped off by federal checkoff programs that take farmers\u2019 money and play favorites with who they serve,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cThese programs have a reputation for hurting farmers through financial fraud and deceptive practices. The OFF Act will implement accountability measures to cut waste, enforce transparency, and ensure that our farmers get the services they pay for.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s farmers and ranchers deserve accountability and transparency when it comes to how their checkoff dollars are being spent,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cCheckoff dollars too often get channeled to lobbying groups who advocate against the best interests of many of the farmers who are required to pay into the program. This bipartisan bill will prohibit conflicts of interest and anti-competitive practices in these checkoff programs and will ensure that these programs work better for our farmers and ranchers.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must change the agricultural checkoff programs that put money in the hands of corporate lobbyists at the expense of farmers and ranchers,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cThe OFF Act will put commonsense safeguards in place to ensure accountability and transparency for our farmers.\u201d\n\nThe OFF Act is endorsed by organizations representing over 200,000 American farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cWe commend Senators Booker and Lee for their important work on fighting for fairness in the Beef Checkoff,\u201d said United States Cattlemen\u2019s Association President Justin Tupper. \u201cUSCA looks forward to this bill preserving the original intent of the Checkoff and implementing more transparency and accountability. The Checkoff must work for cattle producers who both support and benefit from it.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica's farmers and ranchers are fed up with their hard-earned money landing in the hands of corporate lobbyists,\u201d said Farm Action Fund President and Missouri farmer Joe Maxwell. \u201cWe face enough hurdles as it is; the last thing we need is our own dollars extracted against our will and then used to illegally lobby on behalf of the largest corporations that are already squeezing us out of the market. It\u2019s the USDA\u2019s job to prevent this abuse, and they continue to fail us. The OFF Act\u2019s common-sense reforms would ensure USDA performs stringent oversight so that farmers know exactly where their money is going.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Senator Lee and Senator Booker for their work to bring accountability and transparency to the beef checkoff program and to recognize that the cattle and beef production systems in the USA are not one size fits all,\u201d said Carrie Balkcom, Executive Director, American Grassfed Association. \u201cThe OFF act will allow cattle and beef producers of all production methods to be served by the dollars that they pay into the system.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud this bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Booker and Senator Lee to bring needed transparency and accountability to the antiquated beef checkoff program that has long been used to undermine the interests of America's independent cattle producers,\u201d said Bill Bullard, CEO, R-CALF USA.\n\n\u201cWe applaud the Members of Congress for their longterm leadership and for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral OFF Act and call on both the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders to stand up for American family farmers by moving this legislation swiftly through their committees,\u201d said Taylor Haynes, President of the Organization for Competitive Markets. \u201cIf we\u2019re going to be forced to pay into USDA\u2019s checkoff programs then the very least we should expect is transparency, accountability, and oversight of our hard-earned dollars, and the OFF Act accomplishes just that.\u201d\n\n\u201cScandal after scandal has proven the longterm corruption in the beef, dairy, and pork checkoff programs that continue to utilize our own tax dollars against us and the day of reckoning is here,\u201d said Mike Schultz, Founder of the Kansas Cattlemen\u2019s Association and Vice-President at the Organization for Competitive Markets. \u201cAmerican family farmers are up in arms and are determined to see justice in the 119th Congress with the enactment of the OFF Act. Clean up decades of corruption.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nUnder checkoff programs, farmers, producers, importers, and other stakeholders in the marketing chain join together to pool resources, advancing demand for their products through marketing and research. Slogans like \u201cGot Milk?\u201d and \u201cBeef. It\u2019s What\u2019s for Dinner,\u201d are the result of checkoff program marketing campaigns that allowed agricultural producers to access large-scale advertising by promoting their product categories as a whole without individual branding. These campaigns are directed by multiple boards and are funded by checkoff dollars, which stakeholders pay through regular business activities.\n\nUnfortunately, some checkoff programs have exhibited fraudulent and unethical behavior. One investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that a subcontractor organization had used checkoff program funding to award its employees unauthorized bonuses totaling approximately $302,000 \u2013 then requested further funds to remedy its poor financial situation. More recent audits reveal the USDA\u2019s oversight of checkoff programs still needs improvement.\n\nThe Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act would:\n\nProhibit checkoff boards with an annual assessment revenue of over $20 million from entering into contracts to carry out checkoff activities with parties that also work to influence government policy.\n\nExempt institutions of higher education.\n\nProhibit board members and employees of checkoff programs from engaging in any act that may involve a conflict of interest.\n\nProhibit engagement in anticompetitive activity, deceptive practices, or disparaging practice.\n\nRequire that contracts entered into by the board be recorded to describe goods and services provided/costs incurred.\n\nRequire checkoff boards to publicize a transparent budget.\n\nRequire periodic audits of checkoff boards by the Inspector General of USDA.\n\nRequire periodic audits of checkoff boards by the Comptroller General.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-and-rubio-highlight-u-s-energy-leadership-strengthening-gop-voice-in-global-climate-initiatives", "CURTIS AND RUBIO HIGHLIGHT U.S. ENERGY LEADERSHIP, STRENGTHENING GOP VOICE IN GLOBAL CLIMATE INITIATIVES", "2025-05-20", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "A transcript of the exchange is below and the video file can be downloaded here.\n\nSenator Curtis: Mr. Secretary, as you talked about visiting 18 countries and not being with your kids, I had a pang of guilt with you being here today, but thank you for making this a priority and being with us today.\n\nThis might surprise some of my colleagues and maybe even you, but for the last several years, I\u2019ve led a Republican delegation over to the Conference of the Parties, \u201cCOP.\u201d And I believe that a Republican voice is really important at that table.\n\nI would point to issues, for instance, like nuclear. When I first started attending COP, nuclear was out of power, and we were shouting from the housetops that we had to have nuclear power. And I think that that\u2019s shown the influence of a Republican voice over there.\n\nYour agency has done, and I applaud, a lot of reduction and cost cutting. Part of that has been the State Department\u2019s Office of Global Change, which would normally handle the COP arrangements. I\u2019m wondering who we would work with, and if you\u2019ve given any thought of who we can coordinate to make sure that we have a good presence over there in Brazil.\n\nThe Honorable Marco Rubio: Yeah. So, that\u2019ll be rolled into our economics bureau in the restructure. And I think on the energy front, it\u2019s actually going to be at the forefront of foreign policy for the next 100 years. One of the reasons why just AI alone and AI development alone is going to put a strain on the amount of energy that\u2019s going to take to produce AI and AI-driven innovations.\n\nWell, we just don\u2019t produce enough global energy to meet it. And so, it\u2019s going to provide two things. The strategic opportunities for nations that can deliver cost efficient energy in a sufficient volume, it\u2019s going to become an enormous opportunity for these countries to be leaders in the AI space.\n\nBut the other is it\u2019s going to put a strain on everybody else because it\u2019s going to use up those energy resources. So, we need to be at the table to have conversations about how not just what our role in energy is, but how we help invest or partner with countries that have a supply of energy.\n\nSo, as an example, Paraguay has a hydroelectric plant right now, and they were in a long term deal with Brazil, where they sold them 50% of the energy being produced. That deal is now expired. They\u2019re trying to figure out what to do with the 50% of electricity generated by hydropower that is no longer going to be going to Brazil, and they can\u2019t put that in a tank and ship it overseas. So someone, if they\u2019re smart, is going to go down to Paraguay and open up an AI facility.\n\nGuyana has just made extraordinary discoveries on natural gas and oil. This is a country that\u2019s going to become incredibly rich very quickly, and has an opportunity to both invest that wealth to develop their society, but also become a platform for other industries that could help strengthen the region.\n\nCurtis: For the sake of time, I just would love to work with the State Department on that and make sure we have a good presence for that message. I also believe the United States can carry a message that you don\u2019t have to give up affordability, you don\u2019t have to give up reliability and we can also be clean. I think that\u2019s a really strong message of force.\n\nForeign assistance has been talked about a lot today. And I\u2019d like to just point out that there are a number of philanthropic entities, and in Utah, we have The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who are really ready to stand up and go to work. I know Catholic Charities, there\u2019s many like that, and just want to make sure you\u2019re factoring those into kind of your rebuild and restructure. I know there are a lot of people like that ready to jump in and be part of this.\n\nRubio: Absolutely. And just to go back on foreign aid for a moment, we\u2019re not walking. We\u2019re going to be doing foreign aid. We\u2019re going to be doing humanitarian relief, disaster relief. We\u2019re going to be doing all the things we\u2019ve done before. Maybe not some of the same projects, but we\u2019re going to be doing all of it.\n\nThe difference is it\u2019s going to be coordinated out of the umbrella of the State Department, and it\u2019s going to be part of a cohesive, coherent foreign policy. And it\u2019s going to be driven by our embassies and our regional bureaus.\n\nSo, in the case of the Philippines, which was brought up a moment ago, we\u2019re going to rely not just on the region, the bureau here in Washington, but in our embassy on the ground to help us every single year construct what aid needs to be delivered, be it humanitarian or disaster relief or the like, to that country.\n\nAnd that\u2019s been missing, that sort of cohesive approach to how we treat foreign aid as a tool in our broader toolbox as opposed to its brand, its own toolbox altogether. We want to make it part of our broader toolbox on foreign policy.\n\nCurtis: And I think my only footnote is, as we do that, let\u2019s keep in mind that many people are willing to participate and be part of this, without a drag on the U.S. tax dollar, that I think can complement the vision that you just laid.\n\nI\u2019ve had the opportunity to work with you on the House side on some legislation, and to some degree fill some of your big shoes here on Taiwan and Hong Kong.\n\nAnd I just wanted to touch on that briefly. I know Senator Ricketts brought up Taiwan. With the recent implementation of more national security laws and the blockade style drills around Taiwan, how can Congress better work with you and your department to support you and make sure we\u2019re doing everything that we can do?\n\nRubio: I mean, unfortunately, with Taiwan, I think, I\u2019m sorry, with Hong Kong, as we\u2019ve seen its autonomous stand, I think our law now reflects that is no longer real. It is basically an extension of, and I think one of the great examples of that is a company named Hutchison Ports, which is headquartered in Hong Kong.\n\nAnd they control two of the main facilities, the two main facilities on the Panama Canal. And everyone was saying whether or not a Chinese company. They\u2019re not Chinese, they\u2019re a private Hong Kong company. Well, when Hutchison Ports decided they were going to sell, all of a sudden the Chinese government put all kinds of pressure on them and it slowed down the deal.\n\nSo, how can it be if this company\u2019s an independent Hong Kong company, why do they care what the Chinese authorities think? Well, the reason is because they are under Chinese control and Chinese influence and the fact they\u2019re headquartered in Hong Kong is no longer a protection from that.\n\nSo, I think it\u2019s important for us to understand Hong Kong cannot become a place where China can evade, be it sanctions or restrictions, by simply hiding behind some company who has an address there.\n\nIt is sadly, tragically and unfortunately, fully under the control, for national security perspectives, of authorities in Beijing and sadly as part of that is lost all of the values that were in Hong Kong before of a free press, of free people, that went with that as well.\n\nCurtis: Yeah.\n\nRubio: Those are incompatible with, you know, authoritarian rule.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:29Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-sullivan-merkley-condemn-ccps-transnational-repression-press-for-sanctions-on-hong-kong-judiciary-officials", "CURTIS, SULLIVAN, MERKLEY, CONDEMN CCP\u2019S TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION, PRESS FOR SANCTIONS ON HONG KONG JUDICIARY OFFICIALS", "2025-05-16", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) this week introduced the Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act, which would hold officials of Hong Kong\u2019s judiciary accountable for human rights violations and support Hong Kongers facing persecution from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its accomplices in Hong Kong.\n\n\u201cThe United States must hold accountable those responsible for the erosion of freedoms and the persecution of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cBy directing the Administration to review sanctions, our bipartisan legislation reaffirms America\u2019s commitment to ensuring consequences for those who seek to undermine human rights and freedom.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party\u2019s aggressive repression of dissent and appalling human rights record extend far beyond China\u2019s borders,\u201d said Sen. Sullivan. \u201cEven American citizens and others lawfully living in our country have found themselves victims of the CCP regime\u2019s intimidation and coercion tactics. In Hong Kong, the CCP has completely corrupted the local judiciary and is turning it into a tool of intimidation and injustice, contrary to the promises made to the world, including in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. America must stand firmly against the CCP\u2019s flagrant violation of the civil rights of the Chinese people and citizens of nations across the globe. Senator Merkley, Senator Curtis and I are introducing legislation to hold Hong Kong judiciary officials accountable for their actions, and a resolution condemning the Xi dictatorship\u2019s outrageous attempts to threaten and intimidate citizens and others within our own country.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Chinese officials continue to undermine the autonomy and freedoms of its peoples, the United States must continue to hold these officials accountable,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cRepublicans and Democrats are united in sending a clear message that we will not tolerate this brutal oppression, both within China and outside its borders. Our bipartisan resolution denounces these intimidation tactics, and our bill also imposes sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials for disregarding their treaty obligations and commitments to the people of Hong Kong.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act requires the President to determine whether certain Hong Kong officials violated human rights and whether sanctions should be imposed in accordance with the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, or the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.\n\nPrevious introduction of the legislation led to calls for the arrests of the Senators by Hong Kong officials. Then Congressman Curtis responded, saying, \u201cI have a message for those who would try to silence my calls for freedom and democracy in Hong Kong,\u201d Curtis said. \u201cI will not be bullied or silenced. Your catcalls from 8,000 miles away will only reinforce my resolve to fight for freedom in Hong Kong, Ukraine, Israel, and wherever else it is challenged.\u201d\n\nAdditionally, the senators this week introduced a resolution condemning the Chinese government for engaging in repression, coercion and intimidation beyond its own borders, targeting citizens of other nations, including in the United States.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:29Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-ernst-introduce-bill-ending-unemployment-benefits-for-millionaires", "CURTIS, ERNST INTRODUCE BILL ENDING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR MILLIONAIRES", "2025-05-15", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Ending Unemployment Payments to Jobless Millionaires Act, which would make anyone earning $1 million or more from any source of income ineligible for unemployment benefits.\n\n\u201cThe federal government must be responsible stewards of taxpayer money. That includes ensuring programs like unemployment insurance only serve those who need them the most. Yet IRS data show that thousands of millionaires are gaming the system to receive unemployment benefits,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cOur commonsense legislation would end jobless benefits for anyone earning $1 million or more from any source of income.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s safety net shouldn\u2019t be strained by subsidizing the lifestyles of the self-sufficient,\u201d said Senator Ernst. \u201cAble-bodied millionaires shouldn\u2019t expect handouts paid for by overtaxed and overworked Americans. The freebies for free-loading fat cats are over.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nAccording to a Congressional Research Service analysis of tax returns, thousands of high-income earners collected jobless benefits during 2021 and 2022. In 2021 alone, 14,972 individuals and households reporting incomes of $1 million or more received a collective $213.6 million in unemployment benefits. The following year, another 5,773 millionaires were paid a total of $57.6 million.\n\nAmong them were more than 300 ultra-wealthy individuals earning $10 million or more, who collectively received nearly $4 million. On average, each unemployed millionaire was paid approximately $14,265 for not working in 2021. Over the course of these two years, nearly half a billion dollars in unemployment benefits were distributed to out-of-work millionaires.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:29Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-delivers-maiden-speech-on-senate-floor", "CURTIS DELIVERS MAIDEN SPEECH ON SENATE FLOOR", "2025-05-14", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "In an opinion piece published in the Deseret News prior to the speech, Senator Curtis invited constituents to share their own reflections on the four sites of his \u201clistening tour.\u201d The office received over 150 responses, including touching messages on the impact these sites had on individuals and families.\n\nThe full speech as prepared for delivery is below, and the video file can be downloaded here.\n\nMr. President, having been a United States Senator for exactly 131 days, I am attempting to follow the advice of my great-grandmother, who was the first woman school board president of the Salt Lake City School District. Grandma Genevieve said, \u201cListen first, speak when it matters, and let your actions carry the weight.\u201d That may sound radical in our social-media-driven world and DC politics\u2014but I am committed to giving it a try.\n\nAs I begin my service in the Senate, it matters to me that both what is said and what is done in this body will not just make noise, but will actually make a difference for the citizens of the nation.\n\nTen days ago, I invited the citizens of Utah and the nation to join me in my preparations for this maiden floor speech today.\n\nI invited them to follow me, virtually, to places that speak to the heart and soul of the nation. I visited four places where our bedrock strength and enduring principles are found, and where I believe our bold future will begin. I have called it my \u201cThink Before I Speak: A Pilgrimage to American Principles\u201d tour.\n\nI began my journey with a hike to Ensign Peak\u2014a small hill just above the Utah Capitol that overlooks the Salt Lake Valley. It\u2019s where we learn about pioneer values\u2014and vision.\n\nJust days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, my pioneer ancestors climbed that very peak. What they saw wasn\u2019t what was\u2014but what could be.\n\nThey looked out over a barren desert and imagined a thriving community, a home for faith and family, and a crossroads not just for the West but for the world.\n\nPresident Gordon B. Hinckley, a pioneer descendant and Church leader, once reflected on that moment atop Ensign Peak.\n\nHe said if a news reporter had been there that July morning in 1847, they would\u2019ve scoffed at the idea. A ragtag group of exiles, driven from their homes, standing in worn-out boots, almost a thousand miles from the nearest settlement. They were in an untried climate. They had never raised a crop here. They had not built a structure of any kind. Such a grand vision would have seemed laughable.\n\nWell, those pioneers didn\u2019t just dream. They came down from that peak and went to work.\n\nStanding there at the summit a few days ago, a strong, steady wind blew against my face. I couldn\u2019t help but think of my pioneer ancestors who faced the same winds, with far heavier burdens. I saw them, pushing forward with courage and faith, laying the foundation for the life we now enjoy.\n\nFrom that height, much of the valley was hidden beneath a green canopy. But even though I couldn\u2019t see it all\u2014I knew the secret to Utah\u2019s success. It\u2019s not just in the buildings or the businesses. It\u2019s in the people.\n\nPeople known for their kindness. For their hard work, resilience, independence and for their deep and abiding belief in God.\n\nThe spirit that built this place is still alive. It calls us to be all that our pioneer ancestors need us to be\u2014for the future generations they saw.\n\nWe don\u2019t get everything right in Utah, but we\u2019ve built something remarkable\u2014a strong economy, fiscally responsible government, educational opportunity, and real upward mobility.\n\nThese aren\u2019t accidents. Washington could use a little more Ensign Peak thinking\u2014and a lot more pioneer doing.\n\nMy listening tour next took me to hallowed ground.\n\nWhen I visited Arlington National Cemetery. I found myself drawn to reading the words and names on the white stones. Korea, WWI, WWII, Vietnam\u2014unknown, unknown, unknown, and occasionally on the back\u2014names like Ruth, Ethel, Alta with the words\u2014\u201dHis Wife.\u201d\n\nI paused to try and hear the voices of those laid to rest in that sacred place. What would they say to me\u2014a U.S. Senator charged with safeguarding the Constitution and the freedoms they gave their lives to defend?\n\nSometimes their voices whispered gently; sometimes they spoke with striking clarity. But never, ever did they ask about my political party.\n\nThose honored dead don\u2019t care if future generations have the latest gadgets or a life of ease\u2014but they do care deeply that those generations have souls\u2014souls with the strength forged by doing hard things. Souls that cherish freedom, pursue peace, and carry the moral courage to stand for what\u2019s right.\n\nThey remind me that the Constitution was not just a clever document\u2014it was, and remains, divinely inspired.\n\nPresident Ronald Reagan once said, \u201cFreedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of the human spirit.\u201d\n\nThose who rest beneath the white stones at Arlington didn\u2019t die just so Americans could live free\u2014they died so that freedom could take root wherever the human spirit longs for it.\n\nTheir legacy isn\u2019t just national\u2014it\u2019s universal.\n\nTheir sacrifice calls us to something higher.\n\nTwo stones next to each other caught my attention. William W Kirby and William W Kirby Jr. The father had fought in WWI and lived 85 years. The son fought in World War II and died in combat, earning a purple heart, at age 20.\n\nFamily. I recognized that families fight for freedom.\n\nAs an American family we should all stand at Arlington as if we all had lost our son, our daughter, our spouse, our friend\u2014because we have! Our honored dead are indeed our brothers and sisters.\n\nSo, let\u2019s remember, that we honor best those who have gone before by standing for freedom, today.\n\nI walked into the Holocaust Museum alone, but I wasn\u2019t alone. I was surrounded by thousands, mostly young Americans. I found myself wondering: Do they see what I\u2019m seeing? Or do they \u201csee without seeing, and hear without understanding\u201d? This place forces us to confront the darkest chapters of human history\u2014and asks whether we\u2019ve truly learned the lessons.\n\nAs I walked the halls, I was struck by how easily a human life can be devalued. I kept asking, \u201cHow?\u201d:\n\nHow did so many participate?\n\nHow did others stand by?\n\nHow did some serve to enable?\n\nHow have so many already forgotten?\n\nThe late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks once identified both the problem and the solution when he warned: \u201cWhen morality is outsourced to either the market or the state, society has no substance, only systems. And systems are not enough.\u201d\n\nToday, we are outsourcing more than just governance:\n\nWe are outsourcing responsibility.\n\nCongress outsources lawmaking to the executive branch.\n\nCommunities outsource compassion to agencies.\n\nParents outsource teaching values to institutions.\n\nCitizens outsource critical thinking to curated social media feeds.\n\nAnd far too often, we outsource truth itself to voices that may be loud\u2014but not always wise.\n\nRabbi Sacks also said, \u201cMorality cannot be outsourced because it depends on each of us.\u201d\n\nThe Holocaust Museum reminds us that truth\u2014like morality\u2014must be studied, not streamed, learned, not assigned, and understood with the weight of history, not just the opinions of the moment.\n\nThe values our nation needs\u2014moral clarity, historical understanding, a commitment to peace\u2014can\u2019t be manufactured by the government, or mass-produced by culture. They must be grown, like they always have been, in the cottage industries of family and community.\n\nFor my fourth, and final visit, I went to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.\n\nI did this because I believe unity begins with understanding.\n\nAnd like many Americans, I wasn\u2019t raised with firsthand experience of the injustices faced by Black Americans, or Native Americans, or others who\u2019ve endured the heavy burden of prejudice.\n\nI\u2019ve come to understand that listening and learning are not one-time acts\u2014they require humility, honesty, and a lifetime of commitment.\n\nAs I walked through the museum, I found myself thinking of\u2014and hearing the voice of\u2014my dear friend and former colleague, Congresswoman Mia Love.\n\nMia broke barriers as the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress. She used her voice to lift and to call us to our better angels, and now Mia is one. At her funeral, her children read a final message she had written to the nation\u2014words that deserve to be remembered.\n\nMia wrote: \u201cSome have forgotten the math of America\u2014whenever you divide, you diminish. The goodness and compassion of the American people is a multiplier that simply cannot be measured.\u201d\n\nShe reminded us that America\u2019s greatness doesn\u2019t come from uniformity\u2014it comes from unity.\n\nAt a time when division too often drowns out decency, Mia\u2019s words offer a roadmap back to our shared purpose\u2014not based on race, status, or party, but on the simple truth that we are Americans.\n\nMy visit to the African American Museum also reaffirmed something I deeply believe: that as long as bigotry, discrimination, and unfair treatment still exist, we cannot claim to be united.\n\nTo fully heal, somehow, America must learn the delicate dance of leaving things behind and at the same time never forgetting them. That is easy to say, hard to do\u2014and together, we must do it.\n\nFor her courage and conviction, her voice, and vision for America\u2014Mia absolutely belongs in the African American Museum\u2014and even more, in the hearts of every American.\n\nThank you for joining me on that journey. We could spend days discussing the principles each of these sites contain.\n\nIf we did\u2014I would be on this floor longer than my friend and colleague, Senator Cory Booker.\n\nI do want to thank my Senate colleagues and the many citizens who have shared their lessons from these sacred places\u2014your insights will guide me in my service.\n\nIn the short time I\u2019ve had to travel my state since becoming a Senator, I\u2019ve felt something clear and consistent\u2014citizens want President Trump to be successful. Citizens also want Congress to work. Not just show up, not just argue\u2014they want us to succeed.\n\nAnd I\u2019ve said many times, I want both the President and this institution, the Senate, to be wildly successful.\n\nSometimes, that desire requires us to be wildly honest\u2014something that\u2019s become all too rare in Washington.\n\nThe way I see it, the odds of Congress delivering real results for the American people go up dramatically when we start telling each other the truth\u2014not just behind closed doors, but out in the open, where the public can see, what I believe is their right to know.\n\nHonest policy conversations on issues that are vital to the foundation of our future matter more than ever.\n\nI have spent most of my time in Congress focused on four major priorities that I believe deserve a fresh and honest look from all of us in the Senate.\n\nEnergy\n\nSo, let\u2019s be honest\u2014it\u2019s time we talk more openly about the importance of clean energy.\n\nConsumers are asking for cleaner, more responsible energy choices. At the same time, we need to be realistic about the demands of powering a modern nation. Affordability matters. Reliability matters. And we must protect\u2014not surrender\u2014our energy independence.\n\nPresident Trump has put America back on the right path when it comes to energy.\n\nI am convinced that a healthy economy and a healthier environment are not mutually exclusive\u2014I actually believe they are compatible and inseparable.\n\nThe simple truth is that Americans want energy that is more affordable, reliable, and cleaner\u2014and they deserve honest, common-sense policies that deliver all three.\n\nLocal Communities\n\nTo my colleagues from the East, it may be hard to grasp just how deeply federal overreach affects daily life in Utah.\n\nIn some counties, more than 90% of the land is owned and controlled\u2014not by local leaders or communities\u2014but by a distant federal government.\n\nThat\u2019s not theoretical; it\u2019s the daily reality for much of the West.\n\nI often say that the best environmentalists in the world are the farmers and ranchers of Utah. They hate it when I say that! But it is true because Utahns live closest to the land so we know it, we care for it, and we depend on it.\n\nWe don\u2019t want to be managed; we want to be trusted. We want stewardship, not control.\n\nI look forward to working with President Trump to restore local control and stewardship for the land we love.\n\nChina\n\nFor decades, we\u2019ve operated under the hope that bringing China to the economic table\u2014even as they stole intellectual property, cheated on labor practices, and manipulated trade\u2014would lead them toward democracy.\n\nLet\u2019s be honest: it hasn\u2019t.\n\nIn fact, they\u2019ve moved further away from our values. This isn\u2019t just about trade or technology; it\u2019s about national security, economic freedom, and a commitment to the rule of law.\n\nWe need fact-based policies with meaningful and measurable consequences. It\u2019s time to protect the American Dream\u2014not subsidize the Chinese one.\n\nDebt and Deficit", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/5/lee-honors-law-enforcement-officers-for-national-police-week", "Lee Honors Law Enforcement Officers for National Police Week", "2025-05-14", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", "mikelee", "https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) honored Utah\u2019s law enforcement officers this week supporting two resolutions recognizing their service and the observance of National Police Week.\n\n\u201cThe courageous men and women of law enforcement put their lives on the line every day to protect our families and our communities,\u201d said Senator Mike Lee. \u201cIn the face of outrageous attacks against these American heroes, we salute them, we thank them, and we pray for them.\u201d\n\nBadges from each of Utah\u2019s police departments are displayed in honor of National Police Week.\n\nSenator Lee cosponsored two pieces of legislation honoring the work of law enforcement officers. A resolution introduced Tuesday recognizes the sacrifices and impact made by police officers across the country \u2013 particularly those whose lives were lost in the line of duty \u2013 and calls for increased support for officers\u2019 work and wellbeing. Another resolution passed unanimously on Tuesday with a large bipartisan coalition calling for the observance of National Police Week on May 11-17, 2025.\n\nApproximately 800,000 law enforcement officers in the United States \u2013 and over 5,000 in Utah \u2013 risk their lives every day to protect and serve their communities. Utah\u2019s dedicated police departments have decreased the rates of violent crime, homicide, property crime, and vehicle theft at a faster pace than the national average since 2020. Yet while police forces have successfully brought crime rates down, increasing partisan hostility puts them in more danger than ever. Over the past 10 years, over 2,500 American law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty, with assaults peaking in 2023 as 79,000 officers suffered attacks by criminals. These resolutions reaffirm Congress\u2019s commitment to support law enforcement officers in their service to Americans.\n\nRead the resolution in support of law enforcement here.\n\nRead the resolution on National Police Week here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-kelly-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-unlock-federal-funding-for-western-water-infrastructure", "CURTIS, KELLY INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO UNLOCK FEDERAL FUNDING FOR WESTERN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE", "2025-05-13", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) today introduced the Restoring WIFIA Eligibility Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation aimed at strengthening water quality and storage infrastructure across the Western United States. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Jim Costa (D-CA) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA).\n\n\u201cAfter meeting with several water conservancy districts across Utah over the past few months, one thing is clear: Utah\u2019s rapid population growth is placing significant pressure on our community water resources,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation would make it easier for local governments and utilities to invest in critical water infrastructure projects\u2014helping ensure we can meet the growing needs of our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cStrengthening Arizona\u2019s water infrastructure is key to the growth and prosperity of our state,\u201d said Senator Kelly. \u201cOur bipartisan bill will cut red tape to give more projects access to federal funding, which will help modernize our water infrastructure and address critical water challenges facing communities in Arizona and the western U.S.\u201d\n\n\u201cWater is the lifeblood of the West, and as climate change intensifies drought and weather extremes, we must invest in reliable, modern water infrastructure,\u201d said Congressman Costa. \u201cOur legislation will provide California and San Joaquin Valley water managers with the tools they need to expand water storage and ensure clean drinking water in our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cFederal irrigation, clean water, and wastewater projects are essential to rural areas like Central Washington, but a lack of resources for maintenance and repairs puts our water infrastructure at risk. This legislation gives our local water managers the tools they need to sustain long-term projects and guarantee clean, safe water that our communities, farmers, and ranchers rely on,\u201d said Congressman Newhouse.\n\n\u201cThe legislation introduced by Senator Curtis is a practical solution that will accelerate essential water infrastructure projects. Allowing federal loans, which are ultimately repaid by local dollars, to serve as the local match for WIFIA funding maximizes the impact of every dollar our communities invest,\u201d said Gene Shawcroft, General Manager, Central Utah Water Conservancy District. \u201cThis legislation will allow local water agencies to move forward with critical infrastructure projects that ensure continued compliance with federal regulatory requirements and the protection of public health.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Curtis\u2019 legislation will enable water districts to invest in innovative projects like our Regional Reuse System, which will be critical as we face future droughts and increasing water demand,\u201d said Zachary Renstrom, General Manager, Washington County Water Conservancy District. \u201cBy allowing federal loans that are repaid by local dollars to be used as the local match for WIFIA funding, water agencies can maximize community resources and secure a resilient water future for our residents.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) of 2014 established a program designed to provide credit assistance to public and private borrowers for wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater projects. WIFIA loans offer attractive terms, including low, fixed-interest rates, flexible repayment schedules, and the ability to draw funds as needed. This structure helps communities undertake crucial water infrastructure improvements more affordably, benefiting ratepayers and local economies.\n\nHowever, despite WIFIA\u2019s broad intent, certain interpretations of the program have inadvertently created hurdles for projects with any federal involvement. These projects, while largely managed and funded by non-federal entities, have been erroneously classified as \u201cFederal\u201d for budgetary purposes. This classification has rendered them ineligible for WIFIA loans, which are statutorily available only to \u201cnon-federal borrowers.\u201d\n\nThe Restoring WIFIA Eligibility Act addresses this issue by:\n\nAmending the WIFIA Act to clarify the budgetary treatment of financial assistance for hybrid-funded projects, and\n\nEnsuring that WIFIA assistance is deemed non-Federal as long as the recipient is a non-federal entity and the repayment sources are non-federal revenues.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:29Z"], ["https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-klobuchar-introduce-bipartisan-gate-safety-bill", "CURTIS, KLOBUCHAR INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN GATE SAFETY BILL", "2025-05-12", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "UT", "John R. Curtis", "C001114", "www.curtis.senate.gov", "curtis", "https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Legislation would prevent tragic accidents from poorly designed, ill-maintained, or faulty gates\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Alex Gate Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to create and enforce a consumer product safety standard for large and potentially hazardous gates often installed in residential, commercial, and recreational settings. By establishing uniform safety standards and launching a national education campaign, the bill aims to prevent further harm and raise awareness among manufacturers, installers, consumers, and local authorities.\n\n\u201cSimple and affordable safety mechanisms can prevent tragic accidents caused by poorly designed or maintained gates. We\u2019ve seen the devastating impact of these preventable incidents, such as the tragic death of seven-year-old Alex Quanbeck, who was crushed by a falling gate, and the death of Esther Nakajjigo at Arches National Park,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cBy codifying industry standards, our Alex Gate Safety Act will save lives and prevent needless heartbreak.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nIn 2019, seven-year-old Alex Quanbeck was playing football with friends during recess when he attempted to close the schoolyard gate to stop the ball from rolling away. However, as he pushed the gate closed, it detached from its supporting hardware and collapsed on him\u2014a shocking accident which could have been prevented had the gate been equipped with a simple safety feature that costs no more than $50.\n\nIn 2020, Esther \u201cEssie\u201d Nakajjigo was killed by an unsecured gate at Arches National Park during a camping trip. A strong wind blew the metal gate into her car, decapitating Nakajigo.\n\nTo address these safety concerns, consumer advocates, industry professionals, independent experts, and standards organizations came together to update the voluntary industry standards.\n\nSpecifically, the Alex Gate Safety Act would:\n\nDirect the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue a consumer product safety standard for vehicular and large gates within one year of enactment;\n\nAllow the CPSC to modify standards if it determines that a modification would further reduce the risk of injury associated with covered gates; and\n\nLaunch a national campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of covered gates, including those that detach or fall.\n\nSenator Curtis previously introduced a version of the legislation during the 118th Congress in the House of Representatives.\n\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.\n\nThe Alex Gate Safety Act is supported by The Hummingbird Alliance, a non-profit organization founded by Alex Quanbeck\u2019s parents; the American Fence Association; the Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA); and ASTM International.\n\n\u201cThe true tragedy in our son Alex\u2019s death is that it was preventable, and today we honor his memory by advancing bipartisan, commonsense legislation to protect Americans from falling gates like the one that collapsed on him,\u201d said Dayna and Eric Quanbeck, Alex\u2019s parents and Co-Founders of The Hummingbird Alliance. \u201cWe are honored and proud to support Senator Curtis and Senator Klobuchar\u2019s bill to improve gate safety by implementing simple, inexpensive safety features to save countless lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American Fence Association has worked with industry partners on gate safety standards for over twenty years,\u201d said Michael Reed, Executive Director, American Fence Association. \u201cThe Alex Gate Safety Act of 2025 reflects many of these life-saving standards. We thank Senator Curtis and Senator Klobuchar for introducing such important legislation, which will be to the benefit of all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are excited to see this bipartisan effort advancing the important and overlooked priority of gate safety,\u201d said Dave Monsour, Technical Director, DASMA.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:29Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 206, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "UT", "p2": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=UT&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 206, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=UT&year=2025&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=UT&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 206, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=UT&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=UT&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "UT", "label": "UT", "count": 206, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=UT&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 206, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=UT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2025-05-12,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecurtis~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpress-releases~2Fcurtis-klobuchar-introduce-bipartisan-gate-safety-bill", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=UT&year=2025&_next=2025-05-12%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecurtis~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpress-releases~2Fcurtis-klobuchar-introduce-bipartisan-gate-safety-bill&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 123.0242510791868, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}