{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"UT\" and year = 2022 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/president-biden-signs-law-congressman-blake-moores-bill-help-save-great-salt", "President Biden Signs Into Law Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Bill to Help Save the Great Salt Lake", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Yesterday, Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden. Introduced with Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA) and led by Senators Merkley (D-OR) and Romney (R-UT) in the Senate, this legislation will establish a scientific monitoring and assessment program to help save the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes in the West.\n\n\u201cI am so proud of all the work that went into getting this critical bill signed into law by President Biden,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore.\u201cMany thanks to the leaders and experts who helped put this together, including Senate sponsor Senator Romney, Governor Cox, Speaker Wilson, President Adams, State Representatives Joel Ferry and Tim Hawkes, and several others. Saving the Great Salt Lake and our neighboring saline lakes is one of my top priorities, and this bill will help us get there.\u201d\n\nThe Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act will provide the U.S. Geological Survey\u2014in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and tribal, state, academic, and nonprofit organizations\u2014resources to conduct scientific monitoring and assessments to establish effective management and conservation efforts to preserve essential Saline Lake habitats within the Great Basin network.\n\nThe Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act builds on the important, broadly supported work being done in the Utah State Legislature to address this issue. In addition, this bill received support from Governor Cox and several organizations, including: the National Audubon Society, Compass Minerals, Trout Unlimited, Rio Tinto Kennecott, the Utah Waterfowl Association, the Utah Airboat Association, the Utah Wetlands Foundation, the Nature Conservancy in Utah, Friends of Great Salt Lake, the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, the Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Cooperative, the Utah Audubon Council, and the National Wildlife Federation. This bill supports the work authorized under the Concurrent Resolution to Address Declining Water Levels of the Great Salt Lake, which passed the Utah State Legislature unanimously in 2019.\n\nThis legislation is also cosponsored by Representatives Susie Lee (D-NV), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Burgess Owens (R-UT), John Curtis (R-UT), Chris Stewart (R-UT), and Mark Amodei (R-NV).\n\nThe bill text can be found here. The coalition support letter can be found here and Governor Cox\u2019s support letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-legislation-help-save-great-salt-lake-heads", "Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Legislation to Help Save the Great Salt Lake Heads to the President\u2019s Desk", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Last night, Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act passed the Senate. Introduced with Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA) and led by Senators Merkley (D-OR) and Romney (R-UT) in the Senate, this legislation would establish a scientific monitoring and assessment program to help save the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes in the West. The bill now heads to the White House to be signed into law by President Biden.\n\n\u201cI am so appreciative of Governor Cox, Speaker Wilson, Joel Ferry, and the state Legislature for their consistent support of and collaboration on this critical legislation,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cI was grateful to use my role in Congress to play a part in this solutions-oriented approach to one of our region\u2019s greatest challenges. Over the last two years, I have worked with Senator Romney and the Utah delegation to bring awareness and solutions to the challenges that threaten the Great Salt Lake and our neighboring saline lakes. I am thrilled this bill has received the support necessary to head to the president\u2019s desk, and I thank all who have worked on this legislation to get it to the finish line.\u201d\n\n\"This is a superb bill for the future of the Great Salt Lake and the animals and people who rely on it,\u201d said Governor Spencer Cox. \u201cIt would address the economic value associated with the lake and the importance of migratory birds, help fill gaps in science around hydrology, integrate existing work being done on water quality, and assess future water needs. This legislation could be a key to ensuring the viability of the Great Salt Lake far into the future.\"\n\n\u201cThe Great Salt Lake continuing to shrink will result in lasting negative consequences to Utah\u2019s ecosystem, economy and quality of life,\u201d said Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams. \u201cThe Utah Legislature\u2019s efforts, combined with those in Congress, will have significant and positive impacts. I appreciate Congressman Moore\u2019s work and leadership on this issue at the federal level and look forward to reviewing and utilizing the findings to further our efforts to protect the Great Salt Lake.\u201d\n\n\u201cSaving the Great Salt Lake and protecting our available water sources is no small task and will require significant efforts from all Utahns \u2013 government, organizations, businesses, and individuals,\u201d said Speaker Brad Wilson. \u201cI appreciate Congressman Moore\u2019s efforts to bring attention to and funding for the Great Salt Lake from a national level. As Utah\u2019s leaders, we are doing everything we can to ensure Utah has enough water to meet our current needs and continue to support a growing and thriving population.\u201d\n\n\"Public waters like the Great Basin saline lakes are vital for the futures of wildlife and the communities whose livelihoods depend on them. How we manage them, especially in the face climate change and severe drought, should be led by science,\u201d said Congressman Jared Huffman. \u201cOur bill will get us the data needed to understand how water supplies and habitats are changing, assess future water needs, and develop management solutions to help these ecosystems thrive for generations \u2013 and I\u2019m glad to see pass the Senate and on its way to become law.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur lands and waters\u2014including saline lakes in Oregon like Lake Abert and Goose Lake\u2014are integral to the survival of countless animals and migratory birds,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThese ecosystems must be protected, but we can\u2019t do that without sufficient data. With the passage of this bipartisan bill, we are one step closer to securing the studies and science needed to put long-term plans into action to ensure our saline lakes ecosystems can thrive for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith the Great Salt Lake currently at the lowest levels ever recorded, we must do whatever is necessary to save it,\u201d said Senator Romney. \u201cI was proud to lead this legislation with Senator Merkley and Congressman Moore, which will establish a scientific foundation and ongoing monitoring system to inform coordinated management and conservation actions for threatened Great Basin saline lake ecosystems and the communities who depend on them. This legislation will complement and help elevate the work already being done by the State of Utah to understand this key resource and the role it plays as part of the larger landscape. I urge President Biden to sign our bill without delay so we can save this iconic and cherished part of Utah.\u201d\n\n\u201cGreat Salt Lake and the network of saline lake ecosystems in the arid West face very serious challenges with increasingly low water levels, placing local communities and millions of migratory birds at risk,\u201d said Marcelle Shoop, Saline Lakes Program Director for the National Audubon Society. \u201cThe additional resources and technical expertise provided within this indispensable science-based program will build on current efforts locally to conserve these habitats, while advancing collaborative solutions across the Great Basin to protect people and birds. Audubon is grateful to Rep. Moore and Rep. Huffman, and Sen. Merkley and Sen. Romney, for championing this important bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis was a great effort to get this help through Congress at this time,\u201d said Scott W. Paxman, General Manager and CEO of the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. \u201cThe Great Salt Lake, as well as other saline lakes in the region, require all hands on deck. My hope is that the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act will bring many of us together to help us understand all of the issues impacting these lakes and thus bringing us closer to real solutions.\u201d\n\nThe Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act would provide the U.S. Geological Survey\u2014in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and tribal, state, academic, and nonprofit organizations\u2014resources to conduct scientific monitoring and assessments to establish effective management and conservation efforts to preserve essential Saline Lake habitats within the Great Basin network.\n\nThe Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act builds on the important, broadly supported work being done in the Utah State Legislature to address this issue. In addition, the bill has received support from Governor Cox and several organizations, including: the National Audubon Society, Compass Minerals, Trout Unlimited, Rio Tinto Kennecott, the Utah Waterfowl Association, the Utah Airboat Association, the Utah Wetlands Foundation, the Nature Conservancy in Utah, Friends of Great Salt Lake, the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, the Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Cooperative, the Utah Audubon Council, and the National Wildlife Federation. The bill supports the work authorized under the Concurrent Resolution to Address Declining Water Levels of the Great Salt Lake, which passed the Utah State Legislature unanimously in 2019.\n\nThe bill is also cosponsored by Representatives Susie Lee (D-NV), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Burgess Owens (R-UT), John Curtis (R-UT), Chris Stewart (R-UT), and Mark Amodei (R-NV).\n\nThe bill text can be found here. The coalition support letter can be found here and Governor Cox\u2019s support letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-blake-moore-and-lloyd-smucker-introduce-protecting-adopting-0", "Congressmen Blake Moore and Lloyd Smucker Introduce the\u00a0Protecting Adopting Families from Audits Act of 2022", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressmen Blake Moore (R-UT) and Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) introduced the Protecting Adopting Families from Audits Act of 2022 to provide Congress the information needed to ensure administration of the Adoption Tax Credit is fair and does not pose unnecessary burdens to those who adopt.\n\n\u201cThroughout my first term in Congress, I have consistently advocated for families navigating the adoption process,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cI am proud to introduce the Protecting Adopting Families from Audits Act with Congressman Smucker to help us better understand how the IRS administers the Adoption Tax Credit and to prevent future issues\u2014including unfair auditing rates\u2014that may complicate the process for families pursuing adoption. The adoption process is already arduous and expensive, and we must do all we can to ensure the Adoption Tax Credit is administered fairly and efficiently so children in need find forever families.\"\n\n\u201cAn IRS audit is no way to show thanks to families who are adopting children,\u201d said Congressman Lloyd Smucker. \u201cYet, that appears to be exactly what is happening to the overwhelming majority of families claiming the Adoption Tax Credit, according to the most recent data from the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Adoption is already a timely and expensive process for families. Parents trying to build strong families should not face undue burdens. I thank Rep. Moore and my colleagues for advancing this important legislation.\u201d\n\nIn the past, those who claim the Adoption Tax Credit (ATC) were subjected to high audit rates. The National Taxpayer Advocate 2012 Annual Report to Congress found that nearly 70% of claimants of the ATC were audited in the 2012 filing season. While the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has taken action to address this problem, Congress has not yet received data confirming this issue has been properly resolved. The IRS also decided against following all of the recommendations from the GAO to resolve this issue. Because of the lack of data on audit rates and the potential for a renewed focus on auditing from the IRS, there are concerns that unfair audit rates could return in the future. To fill in information gaps and provide ongoing oversight, the Protecting Adopting Families from Audits Act would require the IRS provide three types of reports to the House Ways & Means and Senate Finance committees to seek:\n\ntransparency into the audit rates of those who have received the Adoption Tax Credit since 2008;\n\nan annual report on Adoption Tax Credit audit rates through 2032, which will provide insight into how the Inflation Reduction Act impacts audit rates; and\n\ninsight into how the IRS audits personal tax credits differently depending on if they are refundable or non-refundable.\n\n\u201cThank you to Congressman Moore for his continued efforts to support adoption,\u201d said Ryan Hanlon, President and CEO of National Council For Adoption (NCFA). \u201cNCFA welcomes this opportunity to learn more about how the Adoption Tax Credit has been utilized and to ensure adoptive families are not specifically targeted for audits just because they chose to adopt.\u201d\n\n\"When the Adoption Tax Credit was refundable in 2010 and 2011, we heard from hundreds of families\u2014especially those who adopted from foster care\u2014who were subjected to lengthy IRS audits as a result of claiming the Adoption Tax Credit,\u201d said the North America Council for Adoptable Children. \u201cThis bill would ensure that we know if such audits are continuing at high rates and would help reduce unnecessary burdens on families legally claiming a credit for building their family through adoption.\"\n\n\"The Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA) is an international professional organization dedicated to the ethical practice of adoption law and protecting the rights of all involved in an adoption process. AAAA has over 500 highly credentialed members across the United States and across the globe. Even subsidized adoptions leave adopting families with hundreds and likely thousands of dollars of unreimbursed and uncovered expenses as they prepare to and provide a child with a lifelong family. AAAA believes that adopting families should not have to worry about unequal auditing rates when claiming the Adoption Tax Credit, and we support this bill,\" said the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys.\n\n\u201cRaise the Future programming works together to support foster care involved youth and families at every step of their relationship journey,\u201d said Ann Ayers, CEO of Raise the Future. \u201cThat is why we fully support the work of Representative Moore and his Protecting Adopting Families from Audits Act. It is important for our youth and families to feel safe and supported as they navigate this life together.\u201d\n\nThis bill enjoys support from the National Council For Adoption, the North American Council on Adoptable Children, and Raise the Future.\n\nThe full bill text can be found by clicking HERE and the one pager HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/moore-spanberger-introduce-bipartisan-bill-prevent-wasteful-government", "Moore, Spanberger Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Wasteful Government Spending, Reduce Improper Payments", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT-01) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) today introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent the waste, fraud, and abuse of federal funds.\n\nThe rate of improper payments \u2014 or payments made by the government that should not have been disbursed or were disbursed in the incorrect amount \u2014 has consistently been an issue across the federal government. These improper payments have also been a significant concern related to COVID-19 pandemic relief programs. For Fiscal Year 2021 (FY2021), the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that federal agencies had distributed an estimated $281 billion in improper payments \u2014 an increase of about $75 billion from FY2020. The Preventing Improper Payments Act would create safeguards to reduce improper payments for new federal spending programs.\n\n\"As our national debt and deficit crises worsen, it is imperative that we ensure federal agencies spend each dollar of taxpayer funds toward its intended purpose,\u201d said Congressman Moore. \u201cCongress owes it to the American people to ensure their hard-earned dollars are stewarded responsibly, and I am proud to join Congresswoman Spanberger in this effort.\"\n\n\u201cIt is essential that federal assistance ends up where it is intended,\u201d said Congresswoman Spanberger. \u201cCongress created new programs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to help small business and local restaurant owners keep their doors open and keep their employees on payroll, help healthcare providers protect themselves and care for their patients, and allow Americans to keep themselves and their families safe during a global health emergency. Unfortunately, we heard reports of those funds ending up in the wrong hands. But this issue did not materialize alongside the COVID-19 pandemic. Improper payments of federal funds have long hurt the Americans that federal programs are intended to assist. We must work to better protect taxpayer dollars and the integrity of these programs. I am grateful to my colleague, Congressman Blake Moore, for joining me to introduce bipartisan legislation that would cut down on the wasteful spending and the abuse of federal funds.\u201d\n\nThe Preventing Improper Payments Act is supported by the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), the R Street Institute, and Americans for Prosperity.\n\n\u201cImproper payments in government programs hurt taxpayers and often hurt the people these programs serve,\u201d said Andrew Lautz, Director of Federal Policy, NTU. \u201cNational Taxpayers Union applauds Representatives Abigail Spanberger and Blake Moore for introducing the Preventing Improper Payments Act, which would require more federal programs to report to Congress on their anti-fraud and risk management efforts to actually reduce improper payments.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne of the most important responsibilities of a member of Congress \u2013 and of the institution as a whole \u2013 is to be a good and responsible steward of taxpayer dollars,\u201d said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, Government Affairs Manager, POGO. \u201cOversight mechanisms and guardrails against waste, fraud, and abuse in the spending of those taxpayer dollars are essential to delivering on this responsibility. Rep. Spanberger and Rep. Moore should be applauded for leading the way on this bill and protecting the public from wasted spending via improper payments, which will help ensure that precious public funds can be instead used for vital public investment.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) applauds Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Blake Moore (R-UT) for introducing the Preventing Improper Payments Act,\u201d said David Williams, President, TPA. \u201cEstimates show that criminals stole upwards of $80 billion \u2013 or 10 percent \u2013 of all Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds during the pandemic, as well as over $45 billion in unemployment insurance. This legislation takes the necessary steps to ensure effective oversight of public funds. TPA encourages members to join Reps. Spanberger and Moore in protecting federal programs from fraud and abuse.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe R Street Institute is pleased to endorse the bipartisan Preventing Improper Payments Act,\u201d said Nan Swift, Resident Fellow, Governance Program, R Street Institute. \u201cDecades of oversight from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have highlighted that as government spending increases, so too does the risk of improper government payments. GAO recommends that new federal programs that dispense more than $100 million in a fiscal year be designated as susceptible to improper payments. Codifying this recommendation into law is a welcome step, and this preemptive action, along with reinstating expired reporting requirements, will help prevent unnecessary oversight delays and reduce wasteful and fraudulent spending. We urge all Members of Congress to support this legislation.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Preventing Improper Payments Act would:\n\nDesignate all new federal programs making more than $100 million in payments in any one fiscal year as \u201csusceptible to significant improper payments\u201d for the first three years of operation;\n\nSubject these programs to more timely improper payment reporting requirements; and\n\nReinstate the requirement that agencies report on their antifraud controls and fraud risk management efforts in their annual financial reports to Congress.\n\nClick here to read the full bill text.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-lodge-act-passes-house-natural-resources-committee", "Congressman Blake Moore's LODGE Act Passes the House Natural Resources Committee by Unanimous Consent", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Lodging Options Developed for Government Employees (LODGE) Act passed the House Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support. Introduced with Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), this legislation will foster innovative public-private partnerships to increase the availability of affordable housing in and around our national parks.\n\n\u201cMy colleagues and I are committed to finding ways to improve government programs while simultaneously saving taxpayer dollars,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cThe LODGE Act is a great example of how these goals come together to make a positive impact. Not only will the passage of this bill bring relief to the housing markets for National Park Service employees around our gateway communities, but it will also provide them with better living and working conditions so they can focus on maintaining our national parks for generations to come. I am thrilled the LODGE Act unanimously passed the House Natural Resources Committee today, and I look forward to supporting this bill through the legislative process.\u201d\n\nThe LODGE Act will cut red tape and provide the National Park Service (NPS) with new authorities and increased flexibility to enter into innovative housing partnerships. It will also reduce costs to the taxpayer, provide modern housing for both NPS employees and the private sector to rent, and improve NPS employee morale and the agency\u2019s ability to hire and retain staff. This model is similar to those used successfully by other federal agencies, such as at Falcon Hill Aerospace Research Park at Hill Air Force Base.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found here.\n\nBackground", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-statement-final-house-passage-national-defense-0", "Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Statement on Final House Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Blake Moore issued the following statement following final House passage of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):\n\n\u201cToday, I was thrilled to vote for the National Defense Authorization Act. This bipartisan legislation is the culmination of the hard work of my team, colleagues, and the Armed Services Committee as we continue the 62-year-long tradition of overcoming partisan divides to put forth a bill that supports military members, their families, and the warfighter. My team and I successfully pushed for provisions in this package that support Hill Air Force Base and Utah\u2019s defense community, including depot modernization, Utah Test and Training Range improvements, better housing for airmen, full funding for the Sentinel program, and more.\n\nOne significant win my GOP colleagues and I successfully fought for over 18 months is a permanent repeal of the DoD\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. After more than two years of our servicemembers being subjected to inconsistent vaccine mandates, we are grateful to right this wrong and restore hardworking servicemembers to their posts and livelihoods. This is a model example of why elections matter\u2014Republicans winning back the majority gave us leverage to make critical reforms like this possible.\n\nRepublicans were also successful in defeating Democrat attempts to make climate change a top priority for the military and prevent the National Guard from continuing deployments to the southern border to help our immigration crisis. This bill also includes significant resources toward targeted deterrence against peer adversaries, increases President Biden\u2019s inadequate defense budget, and provides a pay raise to our servicemembers, among many other provisions.\n\nThe NDAA supports our servicemembers across the world and military communities from coast to coast. It is imperative that America\u2019s defense prowess is maintained across the world, and this is a strong step forward in ensuring our continued dominance on the global stage.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-introduces-range-access-act-expand-access-public", "Congressman Blake Moore Introduces the Range Access Act to Expand Access to Public Shooting Ranges and Support Local Conservation Efforts", "2022-10-14", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Blake Moore introduced the Range Access Act to promote and expand access to safe recreational target shooting practice. This bill would require the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to ensure that each qualifying National Forest and BLM district has at least one designated public recreational shooting range that does not require a user fee, thus promoting wildlife conservation efforts and supporting local economies.\n\nBy making it easier to recreate, this bill will enhance Pittman-Robertson funding that flows toward state wildlife and fish management agencies. Under the Pittman-Robertson Act, an excise tax is levied on the purchase of ammunition, firearms, and archery equipment that funds critically important conservation programs. Since being enacted in 1937, more than $15 billion has been transferred to states.\n\n\u201cThis legislation is an important step in expanding access to recreational shooting practice. Americans from coast to coast love spending time in the outdoors, and expanding our ability to recreate on and enjoy our public lands is one of my core focuses in Congress,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cThe Range Access Act would establish free shooting ranges for sportsmen to safely participate in target practice while supporting our wildlife conservation and local economies.\u201d\n\n?\u201cThe National Shooting Sports Foundation commends Congressman Blake Moore for introducing this vitally important legislation to increase access for the public to practice marksmanship at safe recreational shooting ranges,\u201d said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. \u201cThis legislation, that would require the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to have at least one qualifying recreational shooting range in each National Forest and BLM district, is crucial to ensuring safe public recreational shooting. Congressman Moore\u2019s bill would also benefit conservation by reducing pollution at non-dedicated ranges on federal public lands while also generating additional Pittman-Robertson revenue.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Mule Deer Foundation expresses our gratitude to Congressman Blake Moore for today\u2019s introduction of the Range Access Act,\u201d said Joel Pedersen, President and CEO of the Mule Deer Foundation. \u201cThis vital legislation will help with the recruitment and retention of hunters and recreational shooters while also ensuring that sportsmen and women have safe places to practice shooting in preparation for hunting seasons. This will promote ethical and accurate shooting in the field. Additionally, by creating additional places to shoot, this legislation will increase the revenues generated by the Pittman-Robertson excise taxes which hunters self-imposed to fund wildlife conservation and management and other beneficial activities at the state level.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Range Access Act will build on years of coordination among Federal agencies and sportsmen conservationists to promote safe opportunities for hunters to learn and practice shooting skills,\u201d said Tony Schoonen, CEO of Boone and Crockett Club. \u201cWe thank Congressman Blake Moore for advancing this work, which will also aid the recruitment, reactivation, and retention of hunters and recreational shooters.\"\n\n\"CSF extends our appreciation to Rep. Blake Moore for leading the Range Access Act. As recreational shooting continues to grow in popularity, the Range Access Act is an important bill to bolster opportunities for sportsmen and women to safely practice and exercise our firearms heritage,\" said Jeff Crane, President and CEO of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. \"Recreational shooters provide the bulk of funding to the Pittman-Robertson Act, the lifeblood of state fish and wildlife agencies for hunting and shooting projects, and this legislation recognizes the contributions of target shooters by increasing access opportunities for them to enjoy this time-honored tradition.\"\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nBackground checks for firearm sales hit a record 21 million in 2022, and an additional 18.5 million background checks were processed in 2021. 2022 background checks are expected to near these record numbers. It is imperative that these first-time gun owners have free access to shooting ranges to practice their skills for safer recreational use. This bill also would incentivize more funding to the Pittman-Robertson excise tax, which greatly supports wildlife conservation efforts.\n\nThis bill enjoys support from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the Boone and Crockett Club, Delta Waterfowl, the Congressional Sportsmen\u2019s Foundation, the Mule Deer Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Wild Sheep Foundation, Safari Club International, the Sportsmen's Alliance, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Kalkomey, and Ducks Unlimited.\n\nYou can read the full bill text here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/western-members-congress-convene-working-group-discuss-reca", "Western Members of Congress Convene Working Group to Discuss RECA", "2022-09-21", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013Today, several western senators and representatives convened a working group to discuss the next steps for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), critical legislation to provide healthcare and compensation to aging uranium miners who were exposed to toxic radiation.\n\nRep. Blake Moore, along with Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Reps. Yvette Herrell (R-NM), Burgess Owens (R-UT), John Curtis (R-UT), and Ken Buck (R-CO), met to discuss RECA reauthorization and their priorities to ensure constituents negatively impacted by uranium mining receive the care and compensation they have earned.\n\n\u201cToday I met with my fellow members of Congress to discuss how to improve RECA so we can better support Utahns adversely impacted by nuclear testing and uranium mining. I will continue to engage on a solution to provide assistance to the hard-working individuals suffering from illnesses resulting from the American nuclear program,\u201d said Rep. Moore.\n\n\u201cWyoming uranium miners heroically helped our country win the Cold War, but sadly, due to radiation exposure, are facing healthcare struggles associated with their time in the mines,\u201d said Sen. Lummis. \u201cI am committed to finding a responsible solution to RECA reauthorization that helps compensate miners without bankrupting our country in the process. Thank you to my colleagues for convening today in my office to discuss next steps. American miners deserve a timely and fair solution and we are committed to delivering just that.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, more and more of my constituents are passing away every day from the side effects of decades-old nuclear testing and uranium mining without the compensation they deserve,\u201d said Rep. Herrell. \u201cTime is of the essence for Congress to take meaningful action to make my constituents whole. I am committed to working with my colleagues from both parties to pass new legislation as soon as possible.\u201d\n\n\"The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act is a lifeline for Downwinders in my district and throughout the West who lived in the shadow of radiation exposure and suffered life-altering diseases,\" said Rep. Owens. \"This year's bipartisan 2-year extension of RECA was just the beginning. Americans are still suffering the consequences of our country's foray into nuclear testing, and I am committed to righting these wrongs and ensuring victims receive the support they deserve.\"\n\n\u201cI am proud to have previously supported extending the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, an important program to support individuals whose health was impacted by atmospheric nuclear testing and uranium mining. It was a pleasure to participate in a discussion with several of my colleagues in the House and Senate, put together by Senator Lummis, to proactively think through how to reach those impacted. These individuals have been a critical part of our country\u2019s national security. We should recognize our role in righting the wrongs caused by the federal government,\u201d said Rep. Curtis.\n\nRECA was scheduled to sunset in 2022, until a two-year extension was passed in June 2022. The program is now scheduled to sunset on June 7, 2024 leaving many miners in need of long-term care in limbo.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nRECA provides one-time cash payments to people who may have developed cancer or other specified diseases after being exposed to radiation from atomic weapons testing, uranium mining, milling, or transporting.\n\nThose eligible to receive compensation under RECA include:\n\nWorkers who worked in an above-ground or underground uranium mine for at least one year between January 1, 1942 and December 31, 1971 in the following states: Wyoming, Arizona, North Dakota, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas.\n\nOnsite participants who were present at a test site during at atmospheric atomic weapons test\n\nDownwinders, those persons who were present in certain areas north and west of the nuclear testing sites during periods of atmospheric atomic weapons testing.\n\nRECA was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on October 15, 1990.\n\nAdministered by the Department of Justice (DOJ), RECA has awarded over $2.5 billion in benefits to more than 37,000 claimants since 1990.\n\nAll beneficiaries must prove geographic, participation, disease, and exposure requirements to receive the benefit.\n\nBenefit Payout Groups:\n\nOnsite Participants - $75,000;\n\n5,293 claims submitted to date\n\n??????????????Downwinders - $50,000;\n\n25,386 claims submitted to date\n\nUranium miners, millers, and ore transporters - $100,000;\n\n8,389 claims submitted to date\n\n???????On July 16, 1945, the United States detonated the first atomic bomb at the Trinity Test Site near Alamogordo, New Mexico.\n\nTesting would last until 1992, and the United States, under the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the Department of Energy (DOE), conducted 1,054 atomic weapons tests which resulted in radioactive material being released into the atmosphere.\n\nAtmospheric tests were conducted between January 27, 1951 \u2013 October 30, 1958, and between July 7-17, 1962.\n\nUranium mining in the United States produced 420 million pounds of uranium concentrate from 1949 until the RECA claims deadline of December 31, 1971.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-introduces-pharmacist-conscience-protection-act", "Congressman Blake Moore Introduces the Pharmacist Conscience Protection Act to Protect Pharmacists\u2019 First Amendment Rights", "2022-09-14", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT) introduced the Pharmacist Conscience Protection Act alongside Congressman Earl L. \u201cBuddy\u201d Carter (R-GA) and Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) to protect pharmacists' conscience rights when choosing whether to fill prescriptions for elective abortions.\n\nThis bill, co-sponsored by 26 House Republicans, comes after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued guidance warning pharmacists that they may be in violation of federal civil rights laws if they do not fill such prescriptions.\n\n\u201cConscience protections prevent discrimination and ensure Americans in the healthcare sector are not forced to violate their beliefs,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cAs the Biden Administration takes steps to undermine the conscience rights of pharmacists, I am proud to join Congressman Buddy Carter and Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger in introducing the Pharmacist Conscience Protection Act which would ensure pharmacists can refuse to provide abortion drugs without repercussion. Pharmacists, along with other medical and healthcare workers, should never be coerced into participating in abortions, and this bill is an important step in supporting medical professionals who have deep convictions about practicing life-affirming medicine.\u201d\n\n\u201cYour first amendment rights don\u2019t go away when you put on a white coat,\u201d said Congressman Buddy Carter. \u201cThis legislation will ensure that pharmacists are able to make the medical decisions that are best for the health of the mother, the life of the child, and the integrity of their practice without threats from non-medically trained bureaucrats. Medical decisions should be made between doctors, pharmacists, and patients - not the federal government.\u201d\n\n\u201cI will not stand by and let the Biden administration use an extremist and unlawful agenda of taxpayer-funded abortions through birth to persecute pharmacists who have religious, moral, or conscience objections to the intentional killing of unborn children through abortion. As a licensed pharmacist for more than 30 years, I have always followed the precept of first doing no harm. I will always stand-up for the lives of unborn children, and will always defend health practitioners who believe the same,\" said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cPharmacists and other health professionals should never be punished for their moral beliefs in protecting life, or be threatened or forced to facilitate abortions against such beliefs. I call on the Biden administration to immediately withdraw this outrageous assault on pharmacists\u2019 conscience rights, and to stop treating the Constitution like its own political chew-toy!\u201d\n\nThe bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), David McKinley (R-WV), Ken Buck (R-CO), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Mary Miller (R-IL), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Bill Posey (R-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Brian Babin (R-TX), Dan Webster (R-FL), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Randy Weber (R-TX), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Robert E. Aderholt (R-AL), Don Bacon (R-NE), Robert E. Latta (R-OH), and Andrew Clyde (R-GA).\n\nRead the full bill text by clicking here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-introduces-connecting-forever-families-act-2022", "Congressman Blake Moore Introduces the Connecting Forever Families Act of 2022", "2022-09-09", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Blake Moore introduced the Connecting Forever Families Act of 2022 to improve America\u2019s child welfare system and expedite the process to placing foster care children in supportive homes.\n\nThe opioid epidemic has strained the ability of child welfare courts to place children in a timely manner, and new court training and hearing requirements have caused additional delays. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges as courts reduced or stopped in-person proceedings. Already overwhelmed, courts struggled to adopt new procedures and technology quickly enough to deploy virtual proceedings, and children experienced significant delays.\n\nAs a response to these challenges, this bill would improve and provide resources to the Court Improvement Program (CIP), which supports the judicial processes for child welfare proceedings across the United States. This program equips courts for training, legal representation, and technological modernization to improve outcomes and timeliness of placement for children in foster care and in need of adoption.\n\n\u201cThroughout my first term in office, I have been an outspoken advocate for foster care and adoption,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cThe Connecting Forever Families Act is an opportunity for Congress to more efficiently help thousands of children find supportive homes by bolstering the Court Improvement Program and providing resources to expedite the placement process. A positive and safe home life is the key to a child\u2019s success, and it is imperative that we create better outcomes and streamline the process through which foster care children are placed in loving and supportive families.\u201d\n\n\u201cUtah is already leading the way in using technology for hybrid or remote proceedings, and Rep. Moore\u2019s Connecting Forever Families Act will improve and enhance these efforts, and will be especially helpful for Utah\u2019s foster children needing a home,\u201d said Utah Governor Spencer Cox.\n\n\u201cChildren and families involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems are too often challenged by the complexities of scheduling, access, and understanding of the courts with which they must engage. The COVID-19 pandemic served to highlight this issue and open the conversation about what courts and court personnel need in order to address backlogs, family engagement and equitable access through remote hearings,\u201d said Rita L. Sorenen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. \u201cRep. Moore\u2019s Connecting Forever Families Act not only builds on the successful work of the Court Improvement Program, but provides critical funding to ensure technological modernization within the courts that ultimately will reduce delays while recognizing that without true access and engagement with families, we continue to fail them. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is pleased to support this Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation will advance efficiencies and access to those receiving child welfare services\u2014including processing adoption cases,\u201d said Ryan Hanlon, President and CEO of National Council For Adoption. \u201cWe appreciate the commitment to improving court technology services to states and tribal nations.\u201d\n\nThe CIP needs updates to keep up with modern challenges. The Connecting Forever Families Act would:\n\nIncrease funding for the CIP by $30 million each year for the next five years to help support timely placement of foster youth in quality homes (this funding is offset and does not add to the national deficit).\n\nCodify regulatory language to ensure CIP funds retain wide flexibility to be used for technological modernization.\n\nRequire the Administration for Children and Families under the Department of Health and Human Services to provide non-compulsory, informational implementation guidance for remote court proceedings every 5 years to help inform how remote hearings can improve engagement and protect participant privacy.\n\nThis bill enjoys support from child welfare organizations including the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, the National Council For Adoption, and the North American Council on Adoptable Children.\n\nThe full bill text can be found by clicking HEREand the one pager HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-statement-hr-5376", "Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Statement on H.R. 5376", "2022-08-12", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Blake Moore issued the following statement after his vote against H.R. 5376:\n\n\u201cOn behalf of Utahns who are struggling with inflated prices of everyday goods, rising energy costs, and overreaching big government policies, I voted \u201cno\u201d today on the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5376 \u2013 the Democrats\u2019 Inflation \u201cReduction\u201d Act. Behind a misleading name, this $700+ billion package comes on the heels of Democrats passing trillions in new spending over the past year and a half, contributing to inflation and negative economic growth. It pushes the Biden Administration\u2019s progressive agenda\u2014as Democrats are vying to keep their majority in the House\u2014at the expense of hardworking American families.\n\n\u201cOver 50% of the spending in this bill goes toward Green New Deal initiatives\u2014over $380 billion through direct spending and tax breaks\u2014which includes a proposal to expand a Department of Energy program by $250 billion to subsidize \u201cgreen\u201d energy technologies. In reality, this will become a $250 billion slush fund that will enable more bureaucratic waste, fraud, and abuse. When President Obama attempted a similar green energy initiative\u2014the failed Solyndra operation\u2014it cost $500 million. Compare that to $380 billion\u2014with a \u201cb\u201d\u2014 in taxpayer dollars. We cannot put this much federal spending ahead of private, marketplace investment. This bill redistributes the paychecks of low and middle-income Americans toward $7,500 electric vehicle tax credits for wealthy Americans who can afford such expensive vehicles. As Utah\u2019s domestic energy producers struggle with delayed permitting and drilling bans, Democrats are giving money to the rich to buy new cars. I have personally looked into purchasing an electric vehicle, and the backlog is over a year.\n\n\u201cAs I have previously communicated, Utah\u2019s First District is home to thousands of IRS workers, and my team and I enjoy working with them on constituent casework and engaging with them at district events. I\u2019ve heard their concerns, and they are in desperate need of advanced technologies and enhanced customer service capabilities. They are not, however, in need of the Democrats\u2019 push to spend $80 billion on IRS expansion, much of which will be used to hire 87,000 new agents to conduct new audits. Low and middle income earners will be hit with an estimated 700,000 new audits, hurting small businesses and low-income Americans. Obama\u2019s own IRS commissioner said there is no way to spend even half of this money. Even after Republicans repeatedly tried to place guardrails to protect everyday Americans from intrusive audits, Democrats will deputize the IRS to go after all Americans, which is the worst way to raise tax revenues as our economy experiences historic declines.\n\n\u201cThis package includes an expansion of Obamacare that would cost $248 billion over the next ten years with the majority of new funding going to Americans who never originally qualified for subsidies, allowing wealthier individuals to take advantage of taxpayer-funded healthcare. Additionally, this legislation contains big government provisions that allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services more authority to set the price of certain drugs, stifling much-needed market competition and life-saving medical advancements.\n\n\u201cAs American businesses struggle to get back on their feet after COVID shutdowns and a challenging economic environment, Democrats are pushing for a \u201cMade in America\u201d tax that will, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation, increase taxes by $222 billion by imposing a new 15% minimum tax on book income on American businesses in the U.S. with net income over $1 billion starting January 1stof next year, offering too little time for companies to make necessary changes for this massive added cost. This will reduce economic growth in the form of reduced jobs, wages, and investment; it is simply the last thing Americans need after two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.\n\n\u201cI fail to understand how this package reduces inflation. This bill will reduce economic output, add to the deficit, and cost tens of thousands of full-time jobs. It is nothing more than a vehicle for Democrats to push their partisan agenda that creates outcomes we already know adversely impact the American people. I will continue to fight for Utah\u2019s hardworking families who will carry the brunt of these policies.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-saline-lake-ecosystems-great-basin-states-program-0", "Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act Passes House of Representatives", "2022-07-29", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act passed the House of Representatives. Introduced with Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA), this legislation would establish a scientific monitoring and assessment program to help save the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes in the West.\n\n\u201cUtah\u2019s Great Salt Lake and its neighboring saline lakes are invaluable to our health, environment, habitats, and our ski, recreation, brine shrimp, and extraction industries,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cI am thrilled this bill moved through the House Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support and passed the House as a testament to our commitment to preserve our saline lake ecosystems so our water users, habitats, industries, and animals can thrive for years to come. I thank my colleagues for their support of this bill, and I look forward to its progress through the legislative process.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe appreciate the great work of Representative Moore and Senator Romney to advance this important legislation on saline ecosystems,\u201d said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. \u201cIt perfectly complements our work with the Utah legislature to make historic changes to state water law and dedicate hundreds of millions of dollars to save the Great Salt Lake and improve water conservation throughout Utah.\u201d\n\n\u201cI want to commend Representative Moore for his work on passing the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act,\u201d said Joel Ferry, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. \u201cThis legislation is an important step forward in understanding and protecting Great Salt Lake. We are experiencing the worst drought in the West in generations and Great Salt Lake has hit historic low levels. We need to take action to protect and mitigate these impacts. The assessment and monitoring effort envisioned by this legislation will help inform Utah and neighboring states about what is happening at these Western saline lakes and what actions could help conserve them for generations to come. Finding solutions to the water challenges facing Great Salt Lake and the West cannot be a zero sum game -- we are all in this together.\u201d\n\nSaline lakes within the Great Basin\u2014which includes areas of Utah, California, Nevada, and Oregon\u2014provide a critical network of habitats for millions of migrating shorebirds, waterbirds, and waterfowl. Saline lakes generally have higher levels of salts and dissolved minerals than freshwater lakes, allowing them to provide essential habitats, create and drive recreational opportunities, provide public health benefits, and more. However, declining water levels due to demand, drought, and environmental changes have dried out these important lakes within the Great Basin, threatening economies, habitats, public health, and recreation.\n\nThe Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act would provide the U.S. Geological Survey\u2014in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and tribal, state, academic, and nonprofit organizations\u2014resources to conduct scientific monitoring and assessments to establish effective management and conservation efforts to preserve essential Saline Lake habitats within the Great Basin network.\n\nThe Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act builds on the important, broadly supported work being done in the Utah State Legislature to address this issue. In addition, the bill has received support from Governor Cox and several organizations, including: the National Audubon Society, Compass Minerals, Trout Unlimited, Rio Tinto Kennecott, the Utah Waterfowl Association, the Utah Airboat Association, the Utah Wetlands Foundation, the Nature Conservancy in Utah, Friends of Great Salt Lake, the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, the Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Cooperative, the Utah Audubon Council, and the National Wildlife Federation. The bill supports the work authorized under the Concurrent Resolution to Address Declining Water Levels of the Great Salt Lake, which passed the Utah State Legislature unanimously in 2019.\n\nIn addition, the bill is also cosponsored by Representatives Susie Lee (D-NV), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Burgess Owens (R-UT), John Curtis (R-UT), Chris Stewart (R-UT), and Mark Amodei (R-NV).\n\nThe bill text can be found here. The coalition support letter can be found here and Governor Cox\u2019s support letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-statement-chips-act", "Congressman Blake Moore's Statement on the CHIPS+ Act", "2022-07-28", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASINGTON -- Today, Congressman Blake Moore issued the following statement on his vote on the CHIPS+ Act:\n\n\"Today I voted no on the Chips and Science bill, or the CHIPS+ Act. This $250 billion package adds $60 billion to our federal mandatory spending budget at a time when we need to be reducing mandatory spending. As House Republicans look for ways to reverse our historic debt-to-GDP ratio and uncontrollable inflation, I could not support yet another spending measure, particularly given that Senators Manchin and Schumer announced last night that they would move forward with another massive spending package.\n\nThis is no different than last year\u2019s biggest legislative drama. In November, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer tied the bipartisan infrastructure bill to their reckless and polarizing tax-and-spend reconciliation package, leaving me guessing at just how much money these votes would add to our federal debt. Luckily, only the infrastructure bill became law when Senator Manchin announced he would not support Build Back Better because of his concerns around inflation. But yesterday, just four hours after the CHIPS+ Act passed the Senate, Senate Democrats announced a deal on their sequel to Build Back Better, a bill that will raise taxes and cut jobs for hardworking American families, spend billions on \u201cGreen New Deal\u201d initiatives, reduce lifesaving cures, and more. In this context, I simply cannot support spending $250 billion on the CHIPS+ Act.\n\nI agree that we must counter the serious threat posed by China and shore up our semiconductor industry, and if the Senate and House could negotiate transparently in good faith, I would support a package to incentivize semiconductor investment and research and development. But the guessing games and sequence of these secret, closed-door spending deals do no favors to the Utah families struggling to pay for everyday expenses from gas to groceries.\n\nAs the House Armed Services representative on the China legislation conference committee, I am additionally disappointed that our negotiations were cut short as we were working toward progress on guardrails that prevent companies from using incentives funded by the American taxpayer on manufacturing operations in China; inserting strong intellectual property safeguards; and securing American supply chains.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-statement-house-passage-national-defense-0", "Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Statement on House Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023", "2022-07-15", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Last night, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 passed the House of Representatives. Many of Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s provisions advocating for Hill Air Force Base and Utah\u2019s defense community were included in the passed legislation.\n\n\u201cPutting forth a defense bill that serves the needs of both the warfighter and military families continues to be one of my top priorities in Congress,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cFor the second year in a row, the Biden Administration\u2019s defense budget recklessly disregarded the impacts of inflation, attrition, and peer competition on our military. The defense bill passed by the House yesterday reverses injurious cuts to our military and restores funding for procurement, research, and training while also protecting the rights and resources for our military families. A significant majority of my provisions that advocate for Hill Air Force Base and Utah\u2019s defense community were included in the passed package. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues and the conference committee to further refine and improve this bill.\u201d\n\nMany provisions beneficial to Utah were included in the National Defense Authorization Act, including, but not limited to, the following:\n\nHill Air Force Base modernization: Provides a strategy for replacing the 1200 series facilities at Hill Air Force Base. 66 of the buildings at Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) were constructed over 80 years ago, and HAFB\u2019s expanded administrative functions and personnel no longer fit in these facilities.\n\nUtah Test and Training Range improvements: Supports efforts to field threat emitter capabilities to help the Utah Test and Training Range reach its full potential as the largest overland restricted airspace in the United States. Adjacent to HAFB, threat emitters are necessary to help 5th generation F-35 pilots train as they fight.\n\nGround Based Strategic Deterrent \u201cSentinel\u201d Program: Fully funds the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent to avoid harmful delays to nuclear modernization and provides HAFB the ability to maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent. This program is expected to bring as many as 4,000 new jobs and six new buildings to Utah\u2019s defense community.\n\nHousing for airmen: Directs the Air Force to address the inadequate quality and capacity of barracks across the country. Due to aging infrastructure and rising costs, housing for many military personnel remains a challenge and hurts morale, retention, and quality of life.\n\nMicroelectronics supply chain: Directs the Department of Defense to coordinate with other government microelectronics manufacturing initiatives to increase the resiliency and integrity of our supply chains and enhance our industrial defense capacity. Decreased reliance on foreign nations will reshore our manufacturing jobs, maintain national security, and enhance the warfighter.\n\nCare for military children with special needs: Utilizes the Autism Care Demonstration Program and further supports military children with special needs by removing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles to receiving accessible and affordable care.\n\nHouse Republicans were successful in including programs to deter Russian and Chinese aggression such as the Pacific Deterrence Initiative; to improve supply chain security and industrial base readiness; and to secure funding for our servicemembers and their families across the nation, including the following provisions:\n\nReverses President Biden\u2019s reckless cuts to our national security, restoring cuts to procurement, missile defense, and military construction.\n\nRequires the DoD Inspector General to carry out comprehensive reviews and audits of all assistance provided to Ukraine.\n\n7% growth to maintain the Trump Administration\u2019s rebuilding of the military and keep pace with aggressive Chinese military modernization.\n\n4.6% pay increase for servicemembers.\n\n2.4% pay bonus for enlisted personnel to combat inflation on low-income military families.\n\nEstablishes a Servicemember Parents\u2019 Bill of Rights to ensure parents can review DoD school curriculum.\n\nExtends prohibition on dishonorable discharges for servicemembers who refuse a COVID-19 vaccination; requires a report on the impact of the vaccine mandate on recruiting and retention; and prohibits implementation of the vaccine mandate on defense contractors.\n\nMore Republican wins in the NDAA can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-appointed-house-budget-committee", "Congressman Blake Moore Appointed\u00a0to\u00a0the House Budget Committee", "2022-06-27", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Blake Moore announced his appointment to serve as House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy\u2019s representative on the House Budget Committee as the second highest ranking Republican member of the committee. He also serves as the representative from the House Armed Services Committee.\n\n\u201cI am beyond excited to be appointed to serve on the House Budget Committee,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cAddressing our national budget issues has been the focus of much of my work both in Washington and in Utah\u2019s First Congressional District. It is imperative that we rein in our federal spending and get our fiscal house back in order so we can chart a course forward that will ensure prosperity for the next generation. I thank Leader McCarthy, Ranking Member Mike Rogers, and Ranking Member Jason Smith for recognizing my work, passion, and vision for how we can address these issues and for including me in this important committee. I look forward to getting to work.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to have a fighter like Rep. Blake Moore joining us as our newest member of the House Budget Committee,\u201d said House Budget Committee Ranking Member Jason Smith (R-MO). \u201cHe joins us at a pivotal time as American families are facing record inflation driven by massive new government spending, and as House Democrats are reviving their calls to pass President Biden\u2019s Build Back Broke agenda, which would spend trillions more. Blake has already established himself as a vocal critic of wasteful Washington spending in Utah and we look forward to having him join us on the Budget Committee in our fight to return fiscal sanity to Washington.\u201d\n\nThe House Budget Committee is responsible for passing an annual budget resolution outlining government spending allocations and priorities. Congressman Moore was recognized by House Republican Leadership for his work on the Debt and Deficit Task Force he convened in Ogden, Utah, with local leaders to create a framework of solutions for how the federal government can address our national debt and deficit crisis. He was also recently named a 2022 Fiscal Hero by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. This is Congressman Moore\u2019s third committee assignment, in addition to his roles on the House Armed Services and Natural Resources Committees.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:13:54Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-statement-senate-gun-legislation", "Congressman Blake Moore's Statement on the Senate Gun Legislation", "2022-06-24", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON -- Today, Congressman Blake Moore issued the following statement on his vote on the Senate gun legislation:\n\n\"When I ran for Congress, I made a commitment to the people of Utah\u2019s First Congressional District that I would not vote for any bills that could affect their Second Amendment rights without fully vetting it with them. Since I have been in office, I have heard from thousands of constituents across the district expressing their unequivocal support for the Second Amendment and our due process rights, as well as support for mental health services and school security.\n\nTwo days ago, negotiators in the Senate reached a consensus on a package intended to reduce violence. I applaud those who came to the table to negotiate a hard-won deal. However, on the House side, there were no opportunities for collaboration and the bill did not go through the committee process. I simply do not feel confident voting for it without fully discussing the consequences of provisions such as section 12003 that could allow states to use federal funds to implement red flag laws without the specific assurance of full due process protections.\n\nBut let me be clear: my vote today is not a blanket disapproval of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Far from it. I support many of its provisions, such as improving NICS to include disqualifying juvenile records, investing in mental health resources for Medicaid and CHIP recipients, expanding mental health programs in our schools, ramping up criminal penalties and tools to investigate firearms traffickers, funding and training for law enforcement agencies, supporting enrichment programs for low-income students, funding school safety programs including school resource officers and school hardening, improving treatment and services for youth who have experienced trauma, and more. This legislation relies on state and local officials, mental health professionals, schools, law enforcement, and community organizations to invest in the services that work best to prevent violence and improve mental health and crisis intervention in their communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-statement-supreme-courts-decision-overturn-roe-v-wade", "Congressman Blake Moore's Statement on the Supreme Court's Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade", "2022-06-24", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON -- Today, Congressman Blake Moore issued the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe. v. Wade:\n\n\"I am thrilled with today's Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. The ruling gives back to states like Utah their constitutional authority to protect the lives of millions of children and support expecting mothers. This is a monumental day in our nation's history.\n\nAdvocating for the most vulnerable members of our community has been one of my most sacred priorities in Congress. Being pro-life means more than protecting unborn children from the tragedy of abortion. It means changing our culture to support expecting moms, families with children, and low-income parents who are struggling to make ends meet. It means providing resources and support for women navigating unexpected pregnancies and amplifying our foster care and adoption systems. I have been invested in supporting children in foster care since I was in high school, and I was honored to serve on the board of Raise the Future before being elected to Congress. In Congress, I am part of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption and I have led out on efforts to improve foster care services and adoption processes and make America\u2019s child welfare services more evidence based.\n\nI have cosponsored legislation that would support mothers navigating unexpected pregnancies, including the Care For Her Act, which would establish a commitment to care for expecting mothers and their unborn children through expanding the Child Tax Credit, providing State and federal resources, distributing grants for housing, job training, and more. I also co-introduced the Adoption Outcomes and Affordability Act, which would authorize the Administration for Children and Families to award grants to state or local governments, public or private adoption agencies, and faith-based organizations for the purpose of enhancing medical support services and mental health resources for mothers considering adoption.\n\nWe must use this moment in history to review how we support women and low-income families and empower them with a helping hand to provide healthy, safe, and stable outcomes for their families. We must fight for every child to receive equal opportunities, no matter the circumstances of their conception or birth.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-provisions-included-national-defense-authorization", "Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Provisions Included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023", "2022-06-23", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Early this morning, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, and Congressman Blake Moore fought to successfully include many sponsored provisions in the passed legislation.\n\n\u201cDuring a time of economic uncertainty and global geopolitical instability, the House Armed Services Committee carefully put together a defense authorization bill that will improve our defense systems and the lives of our servicemembers,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cFor the second year, I joined my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to oppose the Biden Administration\u2019s consequential defense cuts and put forth a budget that serves the needs of both the warfighter and military families. I advocated for this package to benefit Utah\u2019s defense community and pushed for a modernization strategy at Hill Air Force Base, improvements to the Utah Test and Training Range, funding for Utah\u2019s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, and more. This bill addresses the economic hardships of lower-enlisted personnel by providing an inflationary bonus, additional housing allowances, and funding to reduce food costs at military commissaries at Hill Air Force Base and at bases across the country. Most importantly, this authorization provides the resources needed to continue deterring Russian aggression, combatting Chinese provocation, and maintaining America\u2019s position as the most powerful force on the global stage. It is an honor serving on the most bipartisan committee in Congress, and I\u2019m eager to further refine this bill through the legislative process.\u201d\n\n\u201cRep. Blake Moore has worked tirelessly to make sure the FY23 NDAA strengthens our military and provides for our servicemembers,\u201d said HASC Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL). \u201cI thank Rep. Moore for his continued leadership on the House Armed Services Committee.\u201d\n\nMany of Congressman Moore\u2019s sponsored provisions were included in the NDAA including, but not limited to, the following:\n\nHill Air Force Base modernization: Provides a strategy for replacing the 1200 series facilities at Hill Air Force Base. Sixty-six of the buildings at Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) were constructed over 80 years ago, and HAFB\u2019s expanded administrative functions and personnel no longer fit in these facilities.\n\nUtah Test and Training Range improvements: Supports efforts to field threat emitter capabilities to help the Utah Test and Training Range reach its full potential as the largest overland restricted airspace in the United States. Adjacent to HAFB, threat emitters are necessary to help 5th generation F-35 pilots train as they fight.\n\nGround Based Strategic Deterrent \u201cSentinel\u201d Program: Fully funds the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent to avoid harmful delays to nuclear modernization and provides HAFB the ability to maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent. This program is expected to bring as many as 4,000 new jobs and six new buildings to Utah\u2019s defense community.\n\nHousing for airmen: Directs the Air Force to address the inadequate quality and capacity of barracks across the country. Due to aging infrastructure and rising costs, housing for many military personnel remains a challenge and hurts morale, retention, and quality of life.\n\nSmall business competitiveness: Requires the Department of Defense to improve and better utilize American small businesses in the defense industrial base. Harnessing the creativity and talents of small business owners in science, aerospace, and defense is central to leading the world in emerging technologies.\n\nMicroelectronics supply chain: Directs the Department of Defense to coordinate with other government microelectronics manufacturing initiatives to increase the resiliency and integrity of our supply chains and enhance our industrial defense capacity. Decreased reliance on foreign nations will reshore our manufacturing jobs, maintain national security, and enhance the warfighter.\n\nCare for military children with special needs: Utilizes the Autism Care Demonstration Program and further supports military children with special needs by removing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles to receiving accessible and affordable care.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/moore-and-aukus-working-group-introduce-new-bill-establish-officer-training", "Moore and AUKUS Working Group Introduce New Bill to Establish Officer Training Pipeline for Australian Submarines", "2022-06-16", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Yesterday, Rep. Blake Moore (UT-01) was joined by Reps. Joe Courtney (CT-02), Mike Gallagher (WI-08), and Derek Kilmer (WA-06) in introducing the Australia-U.S. Submarine Officer Pipeline Act. The new bipartisan bill will establish a joint training pipeline between the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Navy and will enable the start of U.S.-based training of Commanding Officers for Australia\u2019s future fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS alliance. Moore, Courtney, Gallagher, and Kilmer\u2014the four Chairmen of the Congressional AUKUS Working Group\u2014were also joined by Reps. Rob Wittman (VA-01), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) as original co-sponsors of the bill.\n\nThe Australia-U.S. Submarine Officer Pipeline Act outlines that the U.S., U.K., and Australia should work strategically to deliver the capabilities outlined in the new undersea alliance, including by engaging with industry partners and by expanding industrial base capacity to support increased submarine production. To prepare for the successful operation of future undersea capabilities, the bill establishes an exchange program between the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Navy to integrate and train Australian sailors for the operation and maintenance of nuclear-powered submarines.\n\n\u201cThe AUKUS partnership seeks to bolster the alliance between the US, Australia, and the UK, and the Australia-U.S. Submarine Officer Pipeline Act is a prime example of what we aim to accomplish together,\u201d Rep. Moore said. \u201cIt is imperative that we strengthen our undersea capabilities and increase submarine production for our national security interests, and the training exchange program outlined in the legislation will help us achieve that goal. I am pleased to join my AUKUS Working Group co-chairs in supporting this important bill and the great impacts it will have on our international security capabilities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe AUKUS alliance is the most important national security partnership that America has entered into in decades. Its centerpiece is creating an Australian nuclear-powered undersea fleet of submarines, which all three allies are actively designing. While that work is ongoing, it makes sense to open the U.S. Navy\u2019s nuclear training programs to Australia\u2019s naval officers to acquire proficiency in the operation of nuclear submarines,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cThe Australia-U.S. Submarine Officer Pipeline Act is a major milestone in the successful implementation of AUKUS. Our bill will authorize an education and training program for Royal Australian Navy submariners to receive formal instruction in the highest standard of U.S. Navy technology, and will begin rotating in the first cohorts of Australian sailors who will command their future fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. This bipartisan bill has the full support of the AUKUS Working Group, and we should waste no time in moving it forward towards a final vote.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe US, Australian, and UK partnership is the beating heart of the free world. Establishing a joint training pipeline between our navy and the Australian navy is a critical step that will take our security partnership to the next level,\u201d said Rep. Gallagher. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work alongside my colleagues to introduce this vital legislation that not only demonstrates Congress\u2019 unwavering support of the AUKUS partnership, but begins taking the many steps that will be required to realize its full potential.\u201d\n\n\u201cRecent world events have shown that our strategic alliances and partnerships with key allies across the globe are more important than ever. That includes our nation's work with the United Kingdom and Australia to strengthen our security partnership in the Indo-Pacific,\u201d Rep. Kilmer said. \u201cFacilitating a pipeline to help strengthen the Australian Navy, and consequently the AUKUS Alliance, makes a whole lot of sense. We\u2019ll keep pushing to get this bill signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen the U.S., U.K., and Australia committed to the AUKUS Alliance last year, all three nations reassured the rest of the world that rogue, authoritarian-led nations will not triumph in today\u2019s world nor will they in years to come,\u201d said Rep. Wittman. \u201cAUKUS is one of the most momentous and historic security partnerships that U.S. has committed to in decades. The Australia-U.S. Submarines Officer Pipeline Act is a positive step forward in the process of ensuring that our valued allies are able to effectively learn, train, and employ nuclear-powered submarines. I am honored to join Chairman Courtney and my colleagues to introduce this vital legislation.\u201d\n\nThe Australia-U.S. Submarine Officer Pipeline Act will help facilitate the delivery and ensure the future success of Australia\u2019s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS alliance. Because the delivery of such submarines to Australia will require the appropriate training and development of future commanding officers, and in order to uphold the stewardship of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, the bill establishes a program for Australian submariner training between the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.\n\nUnder the program, a minimum of two Australian submarine officers would be selected each year to participate in training with the U.S. Navy. Each such participant will:\n\nReceive training in the Navy Nuclear Propulsion School\n\nEnroll in the Submarine Office Basic Course\n\nBe assigned to duty on an operational U.S. submarine at sea\n\nOn September 15, 2021, joint leaders of the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom announced the creation of AUKUS to enhance each country\u2019s shared commitment to international rules-based order, and deepen diplomatic, security, and defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.\n\nThe AUKUS Working Group, also known as the AUKUS Caucus, was founded by Reps. Moore, Courtney, Gallagher, and Kilmer, and will serve as the go-to panel in the U.S. Congress for implementation of and collaboration on the new undersea alliance.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/moore-westerman-urge-consideration-environmental-impact-illegal-border", "Moore, Westerman Urge Consideration of Environmental Impact As Illegal Border Crossings Surge", "2022-06-03", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Ranking Member Blake Moore (R-Utah) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, urging the department to address the negative impacts of illegal immigration on federally protected areas and tribal lands due to the illegal migrant surges at the Southern border. In part, the members wrote:\n\n\"Recent reporting describes significant accumulation of garbage along the Rio Grande in Texas, documenting discarded clothing, hygiene items, and plastics along a path used by migrants to cross the border. Sadly, reports like this are neither surprising nor unique. The environmental consequences of illegal immigration are well known, resulting in the endangerment of wildlife, decimation of habitats, and destruction of vegetation.\n\n\"Anticipating an increased number of migrants attempting to cross our border, encouraged by President Biden\u2019s proposed policies, House Committee on Natural Resources (Committee) Republicans warned of the likely resulting damage to our nation\u2019s protected borderlands. During a May 27, 2021, forum about the impacts of President Biden\u2019s border crisis, several witnesses highlighted the negative consequences of then-record setting numbers of border crossers, including destruction of private ranchlands, degradation of sensitive environmental areas, and safety concerns, for both CBP agents and private citizens. Our concerns were affirmed and, at times, magnified by firsthand observations made on visits to the Southern border. For example, environmental damage resulting from illegal immigration was readily apparent along the Rio Grande River, where trash and rafts accumulated on the riverbank.\"\n\nRead the full letter by clicking here.\n\nBackground\n\nOn March 18, 2021, Westerman and U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) sent a letter to Mayorkas requesting information on the long-term environmental impacts stemming from President Biden's border crisis.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-introduces-protecting-american-energy-act", "Congressman Blake Moore Introduces the Protecting American Energy Act", "2022-05-19", "2022", "2022-05", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Blake Moore introduced the Protecting American Energy Act to lower gas prices and protect and promote American energy independence.\n\nThe bill would accomplish this by requiring the creation of an annual report outlining detailed information about American energy capacity, production, and consumption. This legislation will protect American energy from political interference by requiring certification that withdrawing land from being available for mineral leasing will not have a negative impact on domestic energy independence. In order to expand transparency, the bill would also require the Secretaries of the Department of the Interior, the Department of Defense, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, and the Department of State to report how current events might impact America\u2019s energy needs.\n\n\u201cIf the Biden Administration is so sure unleashing domestic energy production would not solve our skyrocketing gas prices and national security concerns, Americans deserve to know why,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cThe Protecting American Energy Act will ensure that domestic energy production can continue without political interference and hold the Administration accountable as we seek to understand their unwillingness to work with domestic energy producers on solutions to our crippling energy crises. We need answers now.\u201d\n\n\u201cWestern Energy Alliance strongly supports Congressman Moore\u2019s bill because it provides clarity from Congress that America is serious about increasing domestic energy production,\u201d said Kathleen Sgamma, President of the Western Energy Alliance. \u201cThe Interior Secretary is manipulating current law and claiming she can just stop leasing on federal lands while using the bureaucracy to stop new development. American energy production and security should not be a political football: it should be efficient and orderly on public lands, where it meets the highest environmental standards, so that Americans can benefit from the energy they own with lower prices and a secure supply.\u201d\n\nWithin weeks of taking office, President Biden restricted domestic energy production by imposing unilateral energy moratoria on new leasing and permitting, cancelling the Keystone XL Pipeline, implementing burdensome regulations, releasing recommendations on raising costs under the Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Program, and more.\n\nIn January of 2021, the average cost for a gallon of gasoline in the United States was $2.42. In May, the average increased to over $4.56, demonstrating one of the steepest price climbs in American history. On May 18th, gas prices reached a record high for the ninth day in a row.\n\nThis bill has support from outside organizations, including the U.S. Oil and Gas Association, the Independent Association of Drilling Contractors, and the Energy Workforce and Technology Council.\n\nYou can read the full bill text here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-bipartisan-better-cybercrime-metrics-act-signed-law", "Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Bipartisan Better Cybercrime Metrics Act Signed into Law", "2022-05-06", "2022", "2022-05", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Yesterday, Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Better Cybercrime Metrics Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden. This bipartisan, bicameral bill will improve the federal government\u2019s understanding, measurement, and tracking of cybercrime. Congressman Moore co-led this legislation in the House alongside Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY).\n\n\u201cCybercrime is one of the top security threats facing Americans today,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cIt is imperative that we equip the government to better understand and address the challenges of cybercrime so we can improve our national cybersecurity infrastructure. I am grateful to the members of the House and Senate who supported this bill, and I look forward to seeing the many the ways it will positively impact all Americans.\u201d\n\nThe federal government currently lacks an effective system to measure cybercrime. In 2018, a nonpartisan study from Gallup found that nearly one in four U.S. households were a victim of cybercrime \u2014 making it the most common crime in America. However, the large majority of these crimes are not properly reported or tracked \u2014 and in many cases, these incidents are not measured at all. By some estimates, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) only collects about one in 90 of all cybercrime incidents in its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) database.\n\nThe bipartisan Better Cybercrime Metrics Act would improve how the federal government tracks, measures, analyzes, and prosecutes cybercrime. By starting the process of building an effective system to delineate and track cybercrime incidents, this legislation would allow U.S. law enforcement agencies to better identify cyberthreats, prevent attacks, and prosecute perpetrators.\n\nCompanion legislation is led in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI). Additional U.S. Senate cosponsors on the legislation are Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).\n\nSpecifically, the Better Cybercrime Metrics Act would improve federal cybercrime metrics by:\n\nRequiring the Government Accountability Office to report on the effectiveness of current cybercrime mechanisms and highlight disparities in reporting data between cybercrime data and other types of crime data,\n\nRequiring that the National Crime Victimization Survey incorporate questions related to cybercrime in its survey instrument,\n\nRequiring the U.S. Department of Justice to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to develop a taxonomy for cybercrime that can be used by law enforcement, and\n\nEnsuring that the National Incident Based Reporting System \u2014 or any successor system \u2014 include cybercrime reports from federal, state, and local officials.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Uniform Crime Reporting Act of 1988 requires all federal law enforcement agencies to report crime data through the FBI. However, federal agencies like the FBI and Secret Service \u2014 which often have jurisdiction over crimes within the broader definition of cybercrime \u2014 are not consistently reporting these numbers into the federal systems. State and local law enforcement reporting on cybercrime is also limited and inconsistently reported to federal agencies.\n\nThis lack of detailed, consistent systems for collecting and categorizing data on cybercrime is an impediment to understanding the scope of the problem \u2014 thus impairing law enforcement\u2019s ability to protect against cybercrime.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-blake-moore-and-anna-g-eshoo-introduce-bipartisan-bill-bring", "Representatives Blake Moore and Anna G. Eshoo Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bring Electronics Manufacturing to America and Strengthen Supply Chains", "2022-05-06", "2022", "2022-05", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) announced bipartisan legislation to bolster domestic printed circuit board (PCB) production and strengthen supply chain security. The Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act will complement semiconductor incentives by encouraging domestic PCB manufacturing and R&D to reduce supply chain disruptions, address national security concerns related to foreign PCB production, and further enhance America\u2019s economic leadership.\n\n\u201cI have been encouraged by Congress\u2019s consistent efforts to strengthen our microchips industrial base, as they are increasingly critical to our everyday technology,\u201d said Rep. Blake Moore. \u201cHowever, they are only part of an extensive microelectronics infrastructure. As we work to reshore our manufacturing, strengthen our supply chains, and prioritize national security, we are confronted by the immediate need to rebuild and bolster our entire microelectronics ecosystem. The Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act will help usher in a new era of American manufacturing. This bill will not only maintain the integrity of military and national security commercial materials, but it will also fuel the resurgence of American manufacturing through incentivizing the purchase and production of domestically-sourced printed circuit boards. I look forward to collaborating with Congresswoman Eshoo on this bipartisan effort as we work to keep our supply chains and electronic systems secure.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe supply chain shortages for electronics are affecting every aspect of American life,\u201d said Rep. Eshoo. \u201cPrinted circuit board (PCBs) are a critical part of that supply chain and are at risk of tampering vulnerabilities related to offshore production, yet the U.S. global production share of PCBs is only approximately four percent, compared to China\u2019s 52 percent. If we want to ensure technological superiority across the global stage and strengthen national security, we need to bring PCB production back to America, which is exactly what my bipartisan bill does.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe bipartisan Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act addresses vulnerabilities in a key segment of the electronics manufacturing value chain, and in so doing, it promotes a \u2018silicon-to-systems\u2019 approach that prioritizes innovation, resiliency, and innovation across the electronics industry. We thank Reps. Eshoo and Moore for their leadership in helping to rebuild U.S. electronics manufacturing, and we call on all Members of Congress to support this bill,\u201d said John Mitchell, President & CEO of IPC.\n\n\"Printed Circuit Boards are the high-tech foundation that makes modern life possible, but over the last two decades, PCB production has moved away from the United States at an alarming rate, as overseas costs were driven down by foreign investments. Without robust and secure domestic supply chains, U.S. production of critical microelectronics is not sustainable. This bill from Representatives Eshoo and Moore is a win-win for American workers and consumers, and our national and economic security. The Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act of 2022 is a critical step towards rebuilding our nation's PCB manufacturing capacity,\u201dsaid Travis Kelly, Chairman of the Printed Circuit board Association of America (PCBAA) & CEO of Isola-Group.\n\n\u201cBringing back printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing to the U.S. is critically important to our economy, national security, and the integrity of our high-tech supply chain. PCBs are essential to high-end technology products from electric cars to cell phones. For higher end uses, PCBs are every bit as sophisticated, and important, as the semiconductors connected to them. Over the last two decades, 80% of printed circuit board manufacturing has moved offshore, mainly to Asia. The Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act of 2022 will help restore this important manufacturing base to the U.S., secure our supply chain, and create new, high-quality jobs. At a time of international tension, uncertainty, and risk, this bill is perfectly timed, and we applaud Rep. Eshoo for her leadership in introducing it,\u201d said Jure Sola, Chairman, CEO and Cofounder, Sanmina Corp.\n\nBackground\n\nPCBs are the material on which semiconductors sit (often the green-colored surface in images of chips) and are a critical part of the supply chain. A recent assessment from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Homeland Security called for domestic investment and production of key information and communications technology products such as PCBs.\n\nThe Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act does the following to incent domestic PCB manufacturing and R&D:\n\nEstablishes a financial assistance program, modeled on the CHIPS Act, within the Commerce Department for American facilities manufacturing or researching PCBs.\n\nProvides a tax credit for entities that purchase American-manufactured PCBs.\n\nA one-page summary of the bill can be found here and a section-by-section summary can be found here. The bill text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-modernizing-access-our-public-land-act-signed-law", "Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act Signed into Law by President Biden", "2022-04-29", "2022", "2022-04", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, President Joe Biden signed the Modernizing Access to our Public Land (MAPLand) Act into law. Congressman Moore was joined by Representatives Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Kim Schrier (D-WA) in introducing this legislation.\n\nThe MAPLand Act will direct federal land management agencies to digitize and standardize mapping records. This will allow hunters, hikers, bikers, anglers, and millions of other federal land users to access essential information about public lands as well as help federal land management agencies identify public lands with limited or nonexistent public access points and take proactive steps to open them to the public.\n\n\"Today President Biden signed the MAPLand Act into law! This is a major win for all who enjoy our public lands,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cI look forward to the many ways this bill will improve our access to public land records so we can better hunt, fish, hike, and more. Many thanks to all who helped get this across the finish line!\"\n\n\u201cI am thrilled to see President Biden prioritizing the modernization and expansion of public land access by signing this bill in to law,\u201d said Congressman Joe Neguse. \u201cThe MAPLand Act will ensure outdoor recreation lovers have the information they need to enjoy our federal lands. I look forward to seeing the ways in which it develops and contributes to Colorado\u2019s robust outdoor recreation economy for years to come.\u201d\n\n\"Congratulations to my good friend and committee colleague, Congressman Moore, on seeing his bill become law, an accomplishment that is the direct result of his leadership and tenacity as a member of Congress,\" House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman. \u201cMAPLand is practical, bipartisan legislation that will benefit not only Utah, but also every American who enjoys open access to our public lands. I look forward to seeing it put into action!\"\n\nCurrently, more than 9.52 million acres of land in the West lack permanent and legal access points for public use, and information on these lands is still kept on paper files. Approximately 5,000 of the Forest Service\u2019s 37,000 recorded easements have been digitized and uploaded to an electronic database. The MAPLand Act will help give federal land management agencies the resources they need to digitize these files for public use, as well as require these agencies to provide information on seasonal vehicle restrictions on public roads and trails, hunting boundaries, and watercraft restrictions.\n\nThe text of the bill can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-blake-moore-and-jimmy-panetta-introduce-bipartisan-lodging-options", "Congressmen Blake Moore and Jimmy Panetta Introduce the Bipartisan Lodging Options Developed for Government Employees (LODGE) Act", "2022-04-28", "2022", "2022-04", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressmen Blake Moore (R-UT) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the Lodging Options Developed for Government Employees (LODGE) Act.\n\nGiven the unprecedented interest in our national parks and subsequent management challenges, the LODGE Act will foster innovative public-private partnerships to increase the availability of affordable housing in and around our nation\u2019s parks. This legislation will cut red tape and provide the National Park Service (NPS) with new authorities and increased flexibility to enter into innovative housing partnerships. It will also reduce costs to the taxpayer, provide modern housing for both NPS employees and the private sector to rent, and improve NPS employee morale and the agency\u2019s ability to hire and retain staff. This model is similar to those used successfully by other federal agencies, such as at Falcon Hill Aerospace Research Park at Hill Air Force Base.\n\n\u201cUtah is known for our incredible national parks that attract millions of visitors each year,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cAs visitation levels continue to skyrocket, we must pursue creative solutions to add efficiency to our system, lower costs, and serve the needs of our communities. The LODGE Act will do just that by providing the NPS with the tools they need to staff and manage these lands by improving access to housing and addressing recruiting and retention challenges, thus enhancing the overall experience for all who work in and enjoy our national parks.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to see so many visitors to our national parks as we emerge from the pandemic. However, the surge in the amount of people has led to an increase in the amount of staff needed to serve the visitors. Unfortunately, many of our national parks and surrounding areas lack the infrastructure to affordably house our park service employees,\u201d said Rep. Jimmy Panetta. \u201cMy LODGE Act would help alleviate the lack of housing by allowing public-private partnerships to provide much needed supply of housing in these high-demand regions. It\u2019s a bipartisan innovative solution that will reduce the cost of employee housing for taxpayers, provide our park service with new and affordable housing options, and help the Park Service retain and hire staff at our national parks.\u201d\n\nFull text of the bill can be found here.\n\nThis legislation is supported by the National Park Foundation.\n\nBackground\n\nLast year, 44 units of the NPS set a record for recreation visits. Utah\u2019s national parks experienced record levels of visitation, with rates up nearly 80% since 2011. While a surge in tourism is beneficial to local economies, it poses major challenges for housing options in national park communities and their neighboring areas, known as gateway communities. In addition to this problem, property owners are using short-term rental services to rent their homes to vacationers rather than leasing them to NPS and private sector service employees. As a result, housing costs in many gateway communities have skyrocketed. The rapidly rising cost of housing is impacting recruitment and retention of both NPS and private sector service employees that rely on available and affordable housing.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-releases-debt-and-deficit-task-forces-2022", "Congressman Blake Moore Releases Debt and Deficit Task Force\u2019s 2022 Recommendations", "2022-04-22", "2022", "2022-04", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "OGDEN \u2013 Today, Congressman Blake Moore and his Debt and Deficit Task Force released their 2022 recommendations for how to address our nation\u2019s debt and deficit crisis. The Task Force is comprised of members from Utah\u2019s First District who are proven leaders across several industries and offer a wide array of experience to bring Utah\u2019s values and principles to the conversation on how we can reverse our national debt crisis.\n\n\u201cI am deeply concerned about our country\u2019s debt and deficit crisis and want to use my role in Congress to improve our national fiscal outlook for the next generation,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cI am grateful to the members of our Debt and Deficit Task Force for their hard work on and commitment to putting these recommendations together as we seek to reverse America\u2019s debt culture. I look forward to sharing these recommendations with my colleagues in Washington as we push for reforms in our federal spending processes so we can balance America\u2019s checkbook and get us back on a fiscally sustainable path.\u201d\n\nYou can view the Debt and Deficit Task Force\u2019s 2022 recommendations here.\n\nFor questions regarding the Task Force and its recommendations or to schedule an interview with Congressman Moore on this document, please contact Caroline Tucker at Caroline.Tucker@mail.house.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-appointed-republican-leader-kevin-mccarthy-serve-china", "Congressman Blake Moore Appointed by Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to Serve as China Legislation Conferee", "2022-04-07", "2022", "2022-04", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Blake Moore (UT-01) was selected by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to serve as the House Republican Conferee from the Armed Services Committee to the Conference Committee to negotiate a compromise bill between the House and Senate to bolster U.S. research and technology and counter and compete with China. Congressman Moore will serve alongside House Republican Ranking Members on the House and Senate China legislation conference to help surge U.S. innovation and industry and preserve our competitive edge over China. The conference committee will negotiate between the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act and House-passed America COMPETES Act to invest in U.S. manufacturing and address global semiconductor and supply chain shortages.\n\n\u201cIt is a huge honor to serve as a conferee to advance critical legislation that will strengthen our competitiveness with China,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cIt is far past time that Congress comes together on strong legislation that will directly counter China\u2019s efforts to weaken our economy, stifle our innovation, and compromise our security. I am looking forward to representing the House Armed Services Committee in this capacity and working with my colleagues to craft solutions that will bolster and maintain America\u2019s dominance on the global stage.\"\n\n\u201cCountering the Chinese Communist threat is the single most pressing issue we can undertake in this Congress,\u201d said Leader Kevin McCarthy. \u201cWe cannot continue to choose inaction or a weak approach if we want to secure a revitalization of our domestic manufacturing and bring those jobs back to the United States. This Congress cannot bend or bow to China's lobbying efforts. We need strong voices in this process who will put American interests above all else. I am confident these members will never waver in their commitment to only advance legislation that will help our national security, protect our economic prosperity, and that will hold the CCP accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud that Rep. Blake Moore will be representing House Armed Services Committee Republicans on a conference committee to advance legislation focused on countering China,\u201d said Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee Mike Rogers. \u201cRep. Moore has been a leader on the Committee in preparing our military to best counter and combat the pacing threat of China.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-modernizing-access-our-public-land-act-passes-senate", "Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act Passes the Senate", "2022-04-06", "2022", "2022-04", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the Senate passed Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s (UT-01) Modernizing Access to our Public Land (MAPLand) Act. The legislation now heads to the White House to be signed into law by President Biden.\n\nThe MAPLand Act will direct federal land management agencies to digitize and standardize mapping records. This will allow hunters, hikers, bikers, anglers, and millions of other federal land users to access essential information about public lands as well as help federal land management agencies identify public lands with limited or nonexistent public access points and take proactive steps to open them to the public.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thrilled my MAPLand Act is on its way to President Biden\u2019s desk,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cThis is a major step forward for all who enjoy our federal lands. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for their strong display of support for our efforts to modernize and digitize our critical public land records. I am grateful we can deliver this major win for Utah and our nation at large.\u201d\n\nCurrently, more than 9.52 million acres of land in the West lack permanent and legal access points for public use, and information on these lands is still kept on paper files. Approximately 5,000 of the Forest Service\u2019s 37,000 recorded easements have been digitized and uploaded to an electronic database. The MAPLand Act will help give federal land management agencies the resources they need to digitize these files for public use, as well as require these agencies to provide information on seasonal vehicle restrictions on public roads and trails, hunting boundaries, and watercraft restrictions.\n\nThe text of the bill can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-introduces-protecting-energy-independence-and", "Congressman Blake Moore Introduces the Protecting Energy Independence and Transparency Act to Hold Biden Administration Accountable for Delays in Energy Permitting and Leasing Process", "2022-03-30", "2022", "2022-03", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Blake Moore introduced the Protecting Energy Independence and Transparency Act to hold the Biden Administration accountable for their consequential delays in the domestic energy permitting and leasing process.\n\nDespite a statutory requirement to issue permits within 30 days, there are currently over 4,600 permits to drill still pending at the Department of the Interior. The Promoting Energy Independence and Transparency Act will require issuance of Applications for Permits to Drill (APDs) that have successfully completed environmental review and hold the Biden Administration accountable for the delays in permit issuances at a time when America desperately needs to lessen our dependence on foreign energy sources.\n\n\u201cSince President Biden took office, his policies have directly stalled our domestic oil and gas production, raising costs for American families and leaving us dependent on corrupt nations\u2014including Russia\u2014for energy,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cAs we watch the devastating global instability in Eastern Europe and experience pain at the gas pump, it is abundantly clear why we must unleash America\u2019s energy production capabilities and hold the Biden Administration\u2019s feet to the fire so we can become energy independent and keep more money in Americans\u2019 pockets.\u201d\n\nThe main provisions in the Protecting Energy Independence and Transparency Act would:\n\nRequire DOI to issue any pending permits that have successfully completed environmental analysis and other required reviews within 30 days of enactment;\n\nRequire DOI to submit a details report to Congress on the status of nominated parcels for future lease sales, the number of APDs that are pending approval, how long these items have been pending, and the reason these items have been delayed; and\n\nRequire DOI to publish the number of pending and approved APDs and expressions of interest for parcel nominations for lease sales.\n\nYou can read the full bill here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-modernizing-access-our-public-land-act-passes-house", "Congressman Blake Moore\u2019s Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act Passes the House of Representatives", "2022-03-15", "2022", "2022-03", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, in a bipartisan vote of 414 to 9, the House of Representatives passed the Modernizing Access to our Public Land (MAPLand) Act. Congressman Moore was joined by Representatives Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Kim Schrier (D-WA) in introducing this legislation.\n\nThe MAPLand Act will direct federal land management agencies to digitize and standardize mapping records. This will allow hunters, hikers, bikers, anglers, and millions of other federal land users to access essential information about public lands as well as help federal land management agencies identify public lands with limited or nonexistent public access points and take proactive steps to open them to the public.\n\n\u201cAmerica is home to some of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world, and it is essential that we have up-to-date information on how to best access our public lands,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cThe MAPLand Act will digitize tens of thousands of records so fishers, hikers, hunters, bikers, and those who spend time enjoying our outdoors have all the information they need to have great experiences and make fond memories. I thank Representatives Fulcher, Neguse, and Schrier for co-leading this effort, and I look forward to seeing this legislation soon pass the Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Colorado, access to public lands fuels our robust outdoor recreation economy, contributes to the health and well-being of Coloradans and is at the core of our state\u2019s values,\u201d said Congressman Joe Neguse. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled that the House has passed our MAPLand Act today which will modernize and formalize data sharing across public land agencies, to support our natural resource workforce, our communities and outdoor recreation activities.\u201d\n\n\u201cSportsmen and outdoor recreationalists have a tremendous impact on our Idaho culture and economy,\u201d said Congressman Russ Fulcher. \u201cI am proud to be support the MAPLand Act to modernize information and access to our Federal lands so Americans can utilize these public places. I appreciate Mr. Moore\u2019s leadership on this important issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thrilled that the House passed this bill with overwhelming support from both parties to make sure we can protect our beloved public lands. My family treasures the time we spend hiking, biking, and fishing across our region,\u201d said Congresswoman Kim Schrier. \u201cWe are fortunate to live in a state full of natural beauty, with some of the best parks and recreation areas our country has to offer. Modernizing and standardizing information so people know how to access our public lands will allow Washingtonians and visitors from across the country and world to enjoy our great outdoors. This bill will also support local businesses that rely on the outdoor recreational economy.\u201d\n\nCurrently, more than 9.52 million acres of land in the West lack permanent and legal access points for public use, and information on these lands is still kept on paper files. Approximately 5,000 of the Forest Service\u2019s 37,000 recorded easements have been digitized and uploaded to an electronic database. The MAPLand Act will help give federal land management agencies the resources they need to digitize these files for public use, as well as require these agencies to provide information on seasonal vehicle restrictions on public roads and trails, hunting boundaries, and watercraft restrictions.\n\nThe text of the bill can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-appointed-house-republican-whip-team", "Congressman Blake Moore Appointed to House Republican Whip Team", "2022-03-10", "2022", "2022-03", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, Congressman Blake Moore was appointed by House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (LA-01) to serve as an Assistant Whip on the House Republican Whip Team. In this role, Congressman Moore will assist Whip Scalise in organizing and rallying Republican Members around votes that advance a conservative and responsible agenda on the House floor.\n\n\u201cI am thrilled to be part of the House Republican Whip Team and serve my colleagues in this capacity,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cIt is imperative that House Republicans are united in our efforts to push legislation that promotes fiscal responsibility, supports our military and veterans, strengthens our national security, fights for energy independence, and more. Many thanks to Whip Scalise for this great opportunity.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am very excited to announce Congressman Moore\u2019s addition to our Whip Team,\u201d said House Republican Whip Steve Scalise. \u201cFrom his experience in the private sector to his foreign service career, Congressman Moore embodies the very best of Northern Utah. With a servant\u2019s heart and commitment to delivering results for his constituents, Congressman Moore will play a vital role in helping House Republicans reverse President Biden and Speaker Pelosi\u2019s self-made crises that are hurting millions of families, workers, and small businesses across the country.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-statement-president-bidens-state-union-address", "Congressman Blake Moore's Statement on President Biden's State of the Union Address", "2022-03-01", "2022", "2022-03", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Tonight, Congressman Blake Moore issued the following statement following President Joe Biden's State of the Union address.\n\n\u201cI appreciated the opportunity to attend President Biden\u2019s State of the Union address. The devastating situation in Ukraine has brought unity amid tragedy, and I continue to be inspired by President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people\u2019s resiliency and strength. I also appreciated Biden's call to fund our police, strengthen our border, and support our veterans.\n\n\"However, as we deal with grave crises at home and abroad, the president\u2019s words were hollow. His destructive responses have undermined America\u2019s national power.\n\n\"In 2020, President Biden ran on a message of unity and bipartisanship, but his hyper-partisan agenda has been out of step with even mainstream Democrats. Utahns are experiencing some of the worst inflation and price hikes in our nation\u2019s history due to his harmful tax-and-spend agenda and costly energy policies. These directly hurt hardworking Utahns when they go to the gas pump, check out at the grocery store, and heat their homes.\n\n\"President Biden spoke tonight of America\u2019s strength on the global stage, but his policies have unnecessarily abdicated global leadership. Late August marked one of America\u2019s darkest chapters as we lost 13 servicemembers due to Biden\u2019s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Both Utah and our nation continue to mourn the death of Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover. Today, the world is watching Russia\u2019s unprovoked war against Ukraine. Parallel to the invasion of Crimea in 2014, the world is reminded of what Vladimir Putin is capable of when the White House projects weakness and division instead of unity and power.\n\n\"Though our country faces many challenges, the spirit and resolve of the American people will allow us to overcome if we work together. I am eager to unify Americans and offer productive solutions that restore our national power. I am using my positions on the House Natural Resources and Armed Services committees to craft policies that balance America\u2019s checkbook, modernize our military, secure our borders, rebuild our energy independence, and regain our global dominance.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/media-advisory-congressman-blake-moore-host-town-halls-davis-and-weber", "Media Advisory: Congressman Blake Moore to Host Town Halls in Davis and Weber Counties", "2022-02-14", "2022", "2022-02", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Blake Moore will host town halls in Davis and Weber counties on Wednesday, February 16th to provide an update on his legislative efforts in Washington and talk about topics that matter most to Utahns, including inflation, immigration, housing affordability, Hill Air Force base, federal spending, and more. All are welcome to attend, and media are permitted to cover the entirety of the event. Time and location details are below:\n\nDavis County\n\nWednesday, February 16th\n\n6:15 \u2013 7:15pm MT\n\nSouth Clearfield Elementary\n\n990 East 700 South\n\nClearfield, Utah 84015\n\nWeber County\n\nWednesday, February 16th\n\n8:00 \u2013 9:00pm MT\n\nWest Haven City Hall\n\n4150 South 3900 West\n\nWest Haven, Utah 84401\n\nMedia should RSVP to Caroline Tucker at Caroline.Tucker@mail.house.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:57:46Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-appointed-new-ranking-member-house-committee-natural", "Congressman Blake Moore Appointed New Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations", "2022-02-08", "2022", "2022-02", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Blake Moore has been appointed the new Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources\u2019 Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations by Ranking Member Bruce Westerman.\n\n\u201cI am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cUnder Ranking Member Bruce Westerman\u2019s leadership, Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee have worked hard this past year to conduct rigorous, thoughtful oversight over the Biden Administration\u2019s harmful policies that are driving up energy prices, mismanaging our lands, and making America dependent on foreign countries for energy products and critical minerals. As we enter this new year, it is becoming increasingly clear to all Americans that this Administration is on the wrong track, and I look forward to serving in this leadership role to hold it accountable and get us on the right track.\u201d\n\n\"I\u2019m pleased to announce Congressman Blake Moore as the new Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee,\u201d said Ranking Member Bruce Westerman. \u201cSince day one, he has been an active leader on this committee and I know Mr. Moore will continue the great work of the subcommittee in holding the Biden administration accountable to the American people.\u201d\n\nA description of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:57:46Z"], ["https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-blake-moore-and-annie-kuster-introduce-resolution-support", "Representatives Blake Moore and Annie Kuster Introduce Resolution in Support of BridgeUSA Programs", "2022-02-02", "2022", "2022-02", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Blake D. Moore", "M001213", "blakemoore.house.gov", "blakemoore", "https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Annie Kuster (D-NH) introduced a resolution expressing congressional support for BridgeUSA programs\u2014formerly the Exchange Visitor J-1 Visa Program\u2014which are vital to the economy and national interests of the United States. Across the nation, and in states like Utah and New Hampshire, participants in these programs fill vital workforce needs, strengthen America\u2019s tourism industry and cultural diversity, and advance our important diplomatic efforts domestically and abroad. Approximately 300,000 participants from over 200 counties and territories visit the United States on a J-1 cultural exchange visa each year.\n\n\u201cI am proud to introduce this resolution reaffirming Congress\u2019 bipartisan support of the BridgeUSA programs,\u201d said Representative Blake Moore. \u201cAs I have traveled across Utah\u2019s First Congressional District, the message I have heard from community and business leaders alike is that these programs simply work. Not only do they deepen ties between our communities and our allies abroad, but they allow our employers to fill important vacancies and address the challenging workforce shortages that exist here in Utah and across the nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses here in New Hampshire and across the country rely on the BridgeUSA program \u2014 a work-and study-based exchange visitor program \u2014 to staff their operations and serve their communities,\u201d said Rep. Annie Kuster. \u201cIt is essential Congress does its part to strengthen this program and ensure American businesses have the workforce they need, especially in regions like the North Country where visiting workers fill critical vacancies during the busy tourism season. I was proud to help introduce this House Resolution today in support of BridgeUSA programs and the important role they play in our national and local economies.\u201d\n\nThe BridgeUSA programs were created alongside the Peace Corps and U.S. Agency for International Development during the Cold War to promote the diplomatic and foreign affairs goals of the United States, which the State Department still advances in administering BridgeUSA as federal cultural exchange programs. The programs make travel to the United States possible for a broad and diverse group of international students and young people.\n\nThe resolution text can be found by clicking here.\n\nThis resolution has received support from several external organizations and stakeholders:\n\nNational Associations\n\nAlliance for International Exchange\n\nAmerican Camp Association\n\nAmerican Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)\n\nFood Industry Association\n\nIAAPA, The Global Association for the Attractions Industry\n\nNational Park Hospitality Association\n\nNational Ski Areas Association\n\nThe Pool and Hot Tub Alliance\n\nU.S. Travel Association\n\nInternational Society of Hotel Associations (ISHA)\n\nState/Regional Associations\n\nGarfield County Office of Tourism\n\nUtah Tourism Industry Association\n\nVisit Ogden\n\nBioNJ\n\nCalifornia Attractions and Parks Association\n\nCape May County Department of Tourism\n\nColorado Ski Country, USA\n\nCommerce & Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ)\n\nDestination Door County\n\nGreater Wildwoods Tourism Authority\n\nGreater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority\n\nHospitalityMaine\n\nIdaho Ski Areas Association\n\nIntermountain Ski Areas Association\n\nMichigan Ski Areas Association\n\nMidwest Ski Areas Association\n\nMinnesota Ski Areas Association\n\nMonmouth-Ocean Development Council\n\nMontana Ski Areas Association\n\nNEAAPA - The Northeast\u2019s Entertainment Association\n\nNew Jersey Amusement Association\n\nNew Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc.\n\nNew Jersey Campground & Outdoor Lodging Association\n\nNew Jersey Licensed Beverage Association\n\nNew Mexico Ski Areas Association\n\nNJ Restaurant & Hospitality Association\n\nNJ Tourism Industry Association\n\nNJBIA - New Jersey Business and Industry Association\n\nOcean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association\n\nPacific Northwest Ski Areas Association\n\nPennsylvania Amusement Parks & Attractions\n\nPennsylvania Ski Areas Association\n\nSki Areas of New York\n\nSki California\n\nSki Maine\n\nSki New Hampshire\n\nSki Utah\n\nSNJDC\n\nSoutheast Ski Areas Association\n\nTechUnited:NJ\n\nVermont Ski Areas Association\n\nVisit South Jersey\n\nWest Virginia Ski Areas Association\n\nWestern Association of Independent Camps\n\nWisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau\n\nWisconsin Ski Areas Association\n\nChambers of Commerce\n\nNorthern Utah Chamber Coalition\n\nBox Elder Chamber of Commerce\n\nCache Valley Chamber of Commerce\n\nVernal Area Chamber of Commerce\n\nPark City Chamber of Commerce\n\nSalt Lake Chamber\n\nBig Sky Chamber of Commerce\n\nCape May County Chamber of Commerce\n\nChamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey\n\nCook County (MN) Chamber of Commerce\n\nGardiner Chamber of Commerce & CVB\n\nGloucester County Chamber of Commerce\n\nGreater Atlantic City Chamber\n\nGreater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce\n\nGreater Vineland Chamber of Commerce\n\nGreater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation\n\nGreater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce\n\nHampton Area Chamber of Commerce\n\nLake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB\n\nMeadowlands Regional Chamber & CVB\n\nNJ State Chamber of Commerce\n\nOcean City Regional Chamber of Commerce\n\nOuter Banks Chamber of Commerce\n\nRehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber Of Commerce\n\nSea Isle City Chamber / Revitalization\n\nSouthern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce\n\nU.S. Chamber of Commerce\n\nLocal Businesses Nationwide\n\nAlpengirl camp\n\nAstrocamp\n\nCali Camp\n\nCamp Nor'wester\n\nCamp Ocean Pines\n\nCampGroup LLC\n\nCanobie Lake Park\n\nCanoe Island French Camp\n\nCanyon Creek Summer Camp\n\nCarmel Valley Tennis Camp\n\nCatalina Island Camps\n\nCedar Fair Entertainment\n\nCheley Colorado Camps\n\nDeer Crossing Camp\n\nFour Winds Camp\n\nFriendly Pines Camp\n\nKnoebels Amusement Resort\n\nLoon Reservation Service & Sales\n\nMorey's Piers\n\nMountain Camp\n\nMountain Camp Woodside\n\nMountain View Grand Resort and Spa\n\nOne Love Brewery\n\nR.M. Pyles Boys Camp\n\nRiver Way Ranch Camp\n\nShaffer's High Sierra Camp, Inc.\n\nSignature Services Corporation\n\nSkylake Yosemite Camp\n\nTeton Valley Ranch Camp\n\nThe Margate Resort\n\nThe Wilderness Inn\n\nTocaloma Day Camp\n\nWestgate Park City Resort & Spa\n\nBridgeUSA Program Sponsors\n\nA Cultural Exchange Service\n\nAlliance Abroad Group\n\nAlliance Strategies\n\nAmerican Exchange Organization, Inc\n\nCCUSA\n\nCenter for International Career Development - CICD\n\nCIEE\n\nCordell Hull Foundation\n\nCultural Exchange Network (Cenet)\n\nCultural Homestay International (CHI)\n\nCultural Vistas\n\nDynamic Global Exchange\n\nEducational Resource Development Trust\n\nGeoVisions\n\nGreenheart International\n\nInterExchange, Inc.\n\nInternational Exchange of North America\n\nInternational Teacher Exchange Services LLC\n\nIntrax Inc.\n\nNorthWest Student Exchange\n\nUnited Studies, Inc\n\nWorld Wide Cultural Exchange, Inc.\n\nInstitutions of Higher Education\n\nWeber State University\n\nSalt Lake Community College\n\nThe University of Utah\n\nUtah State University", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:57:46Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 35, "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 \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "UT", "p1": "2022"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=UT&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 35, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=UT&year=2022&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=UT&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 35, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=UT&year=2022&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=UT&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "UT", "label": "UT", "count": 35, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2022", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=UT&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "2022", "label": "2022", "count": 35, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=UT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": null, "next_url": null, "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 84.38664907589555, "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"}