url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-calls-for-investigation-into-presidential-families-business-dealings,Curtis Calls for Investigation into Presidential Families’ Business Dealings,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Senator urges Judiciary Committee to examine use of presidential connections for private financial benefit

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) calling for an investigation into the use of presidential family relationships for private financial benefit, preferential treatment, or access by domestic and foreign interests.

As part of that investigation, the letter urges the Committee to subpoena Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden to testify regarding their past business dealings, relationships with foreign individuals and entities, gifts or other benefits they have received, and any instances in which their relationship to the President was invoked or understood to provide value.

The full letter is available here and below:

Dear Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Durbin:

Trust in our government institutions continues to fall to near historic lows. According to the Partnership for Public Service, only 27% of Americans have trust in the federal government, while 72% say it is “corrupt.” There are many reasons for this, but an important one is the perception that those with close proximity to political power are provided with opportunities, access, and treatment unavailable to ordinary Americans.

That concern should not depend on which party controls the White House.

For years, serious questions have been raised about members of presidential families using their names and proximity to the President to advance private business interests. The son of former President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, conducted substantial business with foreign entities, including interests in China and Ukraine, while his father held or sought public office. Congressional testimony has produced conflicting accounts about the extent to which his father’s name, presence, or political stature played a role in those relationships. Hunter Biden has denied involving his father in his business dealings, but there is little question that President Biden’s decades in public office gave his son a degree of access, name recognition, and influence that materially enhanced his value in business dealings and opened doors that otherwise may have remained closed.

More recently, questions have arisen about the relationships of President Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., with foreign business figures and the acceptance of significant gifts. These include a lavish wedding afterparty, on a private island, provided by Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, who reportedly traveled to China as part of a delegation accompanying Vladimir Putin shortly before giving the gift.

These concerns are compounded by Donald Trump Jr.’s active promotion of family-backed cryptocurrency ventures, his continued pursuit of international real estate deals involving direct meetings with foreign heads of state, and his reported investments in defense contracting. This pattern extends to his significant financial and advisory ties to prediction market platforms that depend on favorable federal regulatory decisions being considered by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

These reports raise legitimate questions about foreign access to members of a sitting president’s family and whether such relationships can create actual or perceived expectations of favorable treatment. They also may create expectations of a returned favor that would not be in the best interests of the American people or our allies, and could even create national security vulnerabilities.

The country should not have to accept one standard for the family of a Republican president and another for the family of a Democratic president. Nor should congressional oversight begin and end when control of the White House changes hands.

I therefore respectfully request that the Senate Judiciary Committee launch an investigation into the use of presidential family relationships for private financial benefit, preferential treatment, or access by domestic and foreign interests. As part of that investigation, I urge the Committee to subpoena Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden to testify regarding their past business dealings, relationships with foreign individuals and entities, gifts, or other benefits they have received, and any instances in which their relationship to the President was invoked or understood to provide value.

The purpose of such an inquiry should be straightforward: establish the facts, determine whether existing ethics, disclosure, or anti-corruption laws apply, and identify reforms necessary to prevent the presidency from becoming a vehicle for private enrichment by those closest to it.

Americans deserve confidence that public institutions serve them—not presidents, political parties, wealthy interests, or members of powerful families. Congress has an obligation to pursue credible concerns wherever they lead and without regard to party.

I appreciate your longstanding commitment to congressional oversight and respectfully ask the Committee to use its authorities to examine these matters thoroughly and transparently.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/9/mike-lee-warren-davidson-urge-department-of-war-to-adopt-clear-standards-for-banned-substances,"Mike Lee, Warren Davidson Urge Department of War to Adopt Clear Standards for Banned Substances",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) today authored a letter to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and DoW General Counsel Earl Matthews urging the military to reform the broken system used to ban certain substances and supplements for use by servicemembers, which has resulted in disciplinary action against innocent men and women in uniform. They note that the ongoing legal review of Pentagon standards and processes ordered by Secretary Hegseth is a perfect opportunity to adopt the policies of their PERFECT Act, protecting good-faith servicemembers from a malfunctioning bureaucratic system.

******

Dear Secretary Hegseth and Mr. Matthews:

We write to support the Department of War’s (DoW) comprehensive review of legal support functions and operations,1 and to bring a relevant issue to the DoW’s attention. Many of our most motivated troops use health supplements to increase nutrient intake and muscle performance, using common off-the-shelf and name-brand supplements. Some of these supplements are even sold in retail facilities on military bases. Due to valid military readiness and health concerns, many of these commercially available supplements are prohibited for servicemembers. These substances are listed in a database called Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS).

Unfortunately, OPSS is an obscure, not-user-friendly tool that has caused much trouble for highly motivated servicemembers.3 Rather than providing a comprehensive list of prohibited ingredients and substances, it only features a search box where exact spelling of unfamiliar and complex names like “enclomiphene” or “dimethylamylamine” is necessary. If the servicemember searches the brand name, or messes up a single letter, the database will approve its use, even if it is banned. Moreover, OPSS is regularly updated as more products are added to the commercial market. The database currently includes over 800 prohibited substances and over 1700 synonyms.

For a servicemember to maintain full compliance while optimizing supplement intake, he or she would have to regularly enter every single ingredient into the database search one at a time— double- or triple-checking spelling—to make sure the list did not add an ingredient included in the supplements since the last check. Despite being otherwise upstanding servicemembers, many face discipline and separation when a supplement is added to the list without their knowledge.

Two things are true at once: first, servicemembers must be responsible for their actions and remain complaint with lawful DoW regulations. Second, DoW regulations must be reasonably implemented and promulgated. Judge Advocate General (JAG) officers are spending inordinate

amounts of time defending young recruits who unknowingly used prohibited—but legal and publicly available— substances. These cases are treated as drug abuse, even though the supplements are otherwise legal, non-intoxicating substances. Moreover, the DoW Instruction 1010.01 makes separation from service mandatory, leaving commanding officers with little discretion regardless of the circumstances.

We respectfully request that OPSS and DoW Instruction 1010.01 be included in DoW’s comprehensive review of legal operations and functions, and that DoW consider updating the process to ensure that upstanding and motivated servicemembers are properly educated and not needlessly separated from service.

That is why we proposed the PERFECT Act, a framework that can guide DoW’s review. Rather than using an obscure search-only database, DoW can publish the full list of prohibited substances every 90 days, noting new additions to the list. This helps keep servicemembers educated. We also recommend that commanding officers be given explicit discretion to not subject servicemembers to discipline or separation, provided that (1) the offense was the first such offense by the servicemember, (2) that the commanding officer determines that the servicemember was acting in good faith, and (3) that the servicemember agrees to participate in education, counseling, or drug testing. This should not apply to servicemembers found to be in possession of dangerous, intoxicating, or illicit drugs appearing in the Controlled Substances Act. Updates like these can simultaneously help achieve DoW’s recruitment and retention goals while empowering servicemembers to take only those health supplements that support military readiness.

Thank you for your consideration of this request and for your work to ensure the health, safety, and readiness of our military and its servicemembers. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can be helpful.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-blunt-rochester-call-for-ai-hearings-regulation,"Curtis, Blunt Rochester Call for AI Hearings, Regulation",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Bipartisan members of the Senate Commerce Committee issue joint statement on artificial intelligence (AI)

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, issued the following joint statement calling for swift public congressional hearings to inform lawmakers on potential AI regulatory solutions:

“Americans deserve representation in Congress that is not only well-informed on cutting-edge AI development, but also has the wherewithal to cross the aisle and overcome political pressures to address the concerns these technologies pose.

“That is why we are calling for immediate public hearings to bring lawmakers, model makers, and other stakeholders into the same room and work through solutions that maintain America’s competitive edge in development while ensuring that these technologies serve human interests and remain fully under human control. In the meantime, Congress must ensure necessary safeguards are in place.

“At the end of the day, technology must be wholly designed to improve our lives, further opportunities for rising generations, and let the human spirit prevail. With no clear partisan divide on this issue, there is an opportunity to prove that Congress is functional, cooperative, and that it can deliver on what is becoming the hallmark issue of our time.”",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/9/lee-miller-fight-for-student-privacy-with-student-voter-data-protection-act,"Lee, Miller Fight for Student Privacy with Student Voter Data Protection Act",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Representative Mary Miller (R-IL) introduced the Student Voter Data Protection Act, a bill to safeguard the personal data of college students from being exploited for partisan voter registration efforts. This legislation amends the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to explicitly prohibit students' private information from being shared without their consent for voter registration drives, additionally banning federal funds from postsecondary education institutions that engage in these practices.

In recent years, colleges and universities nationwide have participated in the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), which compels institutions to hand over students' FERPA-protected data. This data is then shared through the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) with third-party voter processing companies. Without student consent, these companies match student information with voter databases.

""Partisan organizations should not have access to college students' personal data under the guise of civic engagement,"" said Senator Lee. ""Our bill closes the loopholes that allow institutions to disregard the consent of their students. If leftist groups want a student’s info for electioneering, they can do it the old-fashioned way: standing on campus with a clipboard.""

""The Student Voter Data Protection Act puts a hard stop to Left-wing data harvesting, making student data strictly opt-in and cutting off the pipeline to non-consensual personal information,” said Rep. Miller. “I am proud to lead this effort in the House alongside Senator Mike Lee to stand up for our students' basic privacy rights.""

The Student Voter Data Protection Act would amend FERPA to ensure that universities cannot share students' personally identifiable information for voter registration activities unless the student gives explicit consent. The legislation responds to ongoing concerns that organizations like Civic Nation, an affiliate of the Obama Foundation, are using this data to target student voters with left-leaning get-out-the-vote efforts.

Key Provisions of the Bill:

Amends FERPA to explicitly prevent universities from sharing student data without consent for voter registration purposes.

Ensures that voter registration efforts do not exploit students' private information for partisan gain.

Protects college students from being targeted based on their voting history or registration status.

The introduction of the Student Voter Data Protection Act follows concerns that the NSLVE initiative has been used to create a voter profile of students, often without their knowledge or consent, to fuel politically motivated campaigns. By tightening FERPA protections, the Student Voter Data Protection Act seeks to preserve the integrity of student privacy and ensure that educational institutions adhere to federal privacy laws.

###

You can read the bill text here.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-wildfire-emissions-prevention-bill-unanimously-passes-committee,Curtis Wildfire Emissions Prevention Bill Unanimously Passes Committee,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Bipartisan legislation to remove regulatory burden on proactive forest management unanimously passes Senate EPW Committee

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) today applauded the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee’s unanimous passage of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA), bipartisan legislation to streamline states’ use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions, protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and make American forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner. The bill—led by Senator Curtis—is cosponsored by EPW Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Boozman (R-AR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).

“Today’s unanimous approval by the Committee brings us one step closer to addressing the glaring irony in our current environmental regulations: They deter prescribed burns due to pollution concerns, practically guaranteeing catastrophic wildfires that emit far more carbon than proactive management ever would,” said Senator Curtis. “I thank my colleagues for their work and support and look forward to the bill’s passage by the full Senate.”

“The unanimous passage of the WEPA through the EPW Committee represents a key step toward implementing common-sense solutions that will help states more effectively prevent wildfires and protect their land and communities. I am grateful to Senator Curtis and Senator Merkley for their leadership on this bill, and I look forward to supporting its passage through the full Senate,” said Chair Capito.

“As climate chaos fuels longer, hotter, and more dangerous wildfire seasons, our communities need to have all the necessary resources to mitigate wildfire threats. Prescribed fire and cultural burning on the landscape are one such tool by reducing hazardous fuels,” said Senator Merkley. “This bipartisan bill would streamline the use of prescribed burns and establish the Smoke Ready Communities Program, which is based on provisions from my Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act. As our Wildfire Emissions Prevention Actmoves closer to becoming law, we are on the way to supporting more prescribed fire on the landscape—an essential forest management activity—while giving our communities the resources to plan and prepare for smoke events, protecting public health and saving lives.”

“Empowering states to proactively manage forests will reduce the frequency and devastation that wildfires increasingly inflict on communities. I am pleased the EPW Committee reached strong, bipartisan consensus around this commonsense solution and appreciate Sen. Curtis’ leadership on this critical issue,” said Senator Boozman.

“Year after year, increasingly devastating wildfires ravage our public lands and communities, so it’s critical we act with urgency,” said Senator Padilla. “Today’s unanimous Committee vote to advance WEPA will allow more prescribed fire to be deployed on the landscape and help prevent or mitigate wildfires. I am proud to see our bill advance as we work to be proactive in responding to the wildfire crisis instead of waiting to respond after disaster strikes.”

“In Arizona, we know just how catastrophic wildfires can be. One of the best tools we have to reduce wildfire risk and the damage it wreaks is prescribed fires. But right now, federal air quality rules can make it harder for states to use prescribed fire proactively,” said Senator Kelly. “The WEPA gives states greater certainty that they won’t be penalized under the Clean Air Act for responsibly using prescribed burns to reduce the risk of a much larger and more destructive wildfires. This is a commonsense change that will help us keep our communities safe and our forests healthy.”

Senator Curtis’ remarks at the markup can be viewed here, and transcript is below:

“I’m very pleased that the Committee is advancing the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act today. In Utah and across the West, wildfire season is increasingly becoming a year-round challenge.

“This year, we have had an astonishing half-million acres burned. These fires are also followed by devastating floods, making this even worse.

“I’ve had a chance to sit with the Forest Service, and they will show me where they have proactively done the prescribed burns, and clearly they’re able to contain the fire within these areas, and where they can’t contain it is where it escapes these prescribed burns. And of course, this bill gives them better tools.

“We’ve sadly penalized states because of the emissions that these prescribed burns cause. And that’s not the intention, because doing prescribed burns actually can dramatically reduce emissions. And so, I’m thankful for the Committee’s support. And I want to point out we’re not looking for a loophole on emissions reporting. And this is the perfect scenario of “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

“We should not be penalizing states for taking responsible steps to reduce wildfires, protect communities, and improve air. I’m grateful for the cosponsors of this bill, and I look forward to getting this across the finish line.”

Background:

Utah fire seasons typically begin in July and end in October. To date, Utah has experienced over 1,183 total wildfires with more than 560,478 acres burned and many still out of control.

While topography and natural weather conditions like a historic drought and an increasingly arid, hot climate contribute to an increase in the number of fires and their intensity, land managers can effectively influence fire behavior through proactive measures like prescribed burns. This reduces the amount of hazardous fuels, the dry vegetation that catches fire easily—helping protect forests, properties, and communities along the wildland-urban interface.

Implementing these measures has become increasingly burdensome, with environmental reviews for even the smallest projects taking up to four years. Moreover, land managers can be deterred from prescribed burns due to existing environmental penalties. Yet, avoiding these controlled burns practically guarantees catastrophic wildfires that emit far more carbon than proactive management ever would. Senator Curtis has remained vocal on this issue, responding to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial highlighting the bill and his other efforts to address wildfires. Read the piece here.

The Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act would:

Make it easier for states and communities to use prescribed fire to prevent wildfire emissions;

Protect ecosystems and wildlife habitat;

Provide certainty that states won’t be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires;

Promote the efficient use of state air quality resources; and

Make our forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner.

A one-pager on the bill is available here, and the full bill text is available here.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-joins-tillis-armstrong-on-delegation-to-ukraine,"Curtis Joins Tillis, Armstrong on Delegation to Ukraine",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Senators affirmed support for Ukraine, assessed security conditions and defense capabilities amid continued Russian aggression

KYIV, UKRAINE—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined a Republican congressional delegation with Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Alan Armstrong (R-OK) to Ukraine to affirm American support for the Ukrainian people and assess the security situation amid Russia’s continued war of aggression. The trip marks the first time since the start of the invasion that a congressional delegation visited Kharkiv, a heavily fortified frontline city just miles from the Russian border.

While in Kyiv, the delegation met with U.S. and Ukrainian officials and key stakeholders to receive updates on the war, negotiations, and Ukraine’s rapidly developing defense technologies. Before going to Ukraine, the delegation was joined by Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) in Poland.

Photos from the visit can be downloaded here.

Senator Curtis shared the following comments on his experience:

On Ukraine’s military capabilities:

“Ukraine has gone from a fragment of the Soviet Union to a global symbol of freedom and democracy in the face of authoritarianism. The Ukrainian people are fighting for their sovereignty, but they are also defending values Americans cherish: free speech, free markets, and free people.

“While in Ukraine, we witnessed an extremely capable military on the forefront of innovation in the UAS and counter-UAS space. It was particularly helpful to see how Ukraine is providing these capabilities across Europe and the Middle East.”

On the future of U.S. support for Ukraine:

“It is clear that Putin intends to make the coming winter hard for Ukraine. He will not succeed. The Ukrainians provided us with concrete asks to help them get through the winter, including House passage and the full enactment of the Lindsey Graham Russia Sanctions Act. It’s important to note that the requests made by the Ukrainians require no U.S. taxpayer dollars nor further aid packages. My colleagues and I plan to execute on these requests and get Ukraine the support it needs.”

On what’s at stake:

“A Russian victory threatens more than just Europe. Like Russia, China carries territorial ambitions. There’s no question they’re eyeing Taiwan and seeking to set the stage for an invasion, which is why what happens in Ukraine is directly tied to Taiwan and stability in the Indo-Pacific. President Xi is carefully watching our response to Russia’s war, inferring our posture would be similar to how we would respond if China were to invade Taiwan. If China invades Taiwan, global upheaval will follow, and we would see our economy hit harder in the initial onset than the Great Depression.”

On the lived experience of Ukrainians:

“This delegation made clear that the debate in Washington is about much more than lines on a map. We met Ukrainians defending their families and communities and saw the extraordinary lengths civilians are going to return to normality. Their courage and determination are an inspiration to freedom-loving people everywhere. We refuse to let this be a blueprint for future authoritarian regimes’ aggression.”

Background:

During the visit, the delegation received on-the-ground assessments of the security situation in Poland and Ukraine, updates on the war, NATO, and ongoing peace negotiations. Members also examined developments in unmanned aerial vehicle and counter-UAV systems, areas where Ukraine has developed significant battlefield expertise.

In Poland, Curtis praised the country’s leadership within NATO, including its commitment to spending 5 percent of its GDP on defense and its critical role as a logistical hub supporting Ukraine. Curtis emphasized that continued coordination between the United States, Poland, and other NATO allies is essential to deterring further Russian aggression and maintaining security along NATO’s Eastern Front.

Russia’s continued war in Ukraine has highlighted the many broader implications for U.S. national security and global stability. In his role on the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Curtis has remained vocal, warning that Vladimir Putin’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine and that a strong, unified NATO posture is necessary to deter further aggression in Europe.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/opinion-thank-capitalism-and-free-markets-for-human-flourishing,Opinion: Thank Capitalism and Free Markets for Human Flourishing,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"America should not abandon the economic system that has lifted billions from poverty and driven unprecedented human progress

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) authored an opinion piece in The Washington Post highlighting the extraordinary gains in prosperity, health, and quality of life made possible by capitalism and free enterprise.

“To what do we owe this phenomenal progress? Capitalism. It’s the only system in which individuals have the freedom to own their land, homes and businesses—and to be paid for their talent, labor and innovation,” Senator Curtis wrote. “Just one century into America’s experiment in capitalist free enterprise, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels—capitalism’s most prominent critics—could not help but admit that the system had driven more productivity ‘than have all preceding generations together.’ There is a clear link between economic freedom and standards of living, financial resources and personal health.”

“Free enterprise made America a ‘shining city on a hill’—a heritage the country will surely lose if it abandons its zeal for the only economic system capable of making upward mobility and prosperity possible for all,” Senator Curtis continued.

In the piece, Senator Curtis points to dramatic improvements in human well-being over the past several decades. More than one billion people were lifted out of extreme poverty between 1990 and 2015, while global child mortality has fallen 60 percent since 1990. In the United States, inflation-adjusted household income increased from roughly $59,000 in 1970 to nearly $84,000 in 2024.

Senator Curtis also reflects on his own experience in Taiwan, where he first lived as a missionary in 1979 and returned earlier this year as the co-lead of a Congressional delegation. He argues that Taiwan’s transformation from a poor, agrarian society into an economic powerhouse demonstrates the ability of market-oriented capitalism to improve lives and create opportunity.

Amid recent electoral victories by members of the Democratic Socialists of America, Curtis argues that leaders have a responsibility to better explain why free enterprise has been such a powerful force for technological, economic, and medical advancement, and why preserving economic freedom is essential to expanding opportunity for future generations.

“The oxcart had a good run,” Senator Curtis concluded. “America should not hitch itself back onto it.”",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-cosponsors-national-park-week-resolution,Curtis Cosponsors National Park Week Resolution,2026-08-25,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Bipartisan resolution designates August 22–30 as “National Park Week”

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) joined his colleagues in cosponsoring a bipartisan resolution designating the week of August 22 through August 30, 2026, as “National Park Week.” The resolution, introduced by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), recognizes the National Park Service’s role in preserving the United States’ natural, historical, and cultural treasures and encourages Americans to responsibly enjoy the nation’s public lands.

“Utahns know better than most what a gift our national parks are,” said Senator Curtis. “These landscapes connect us to our history, strengthen local economies, and give families from across the country and around the world the chance to experience some of the United States’ most remarkable places. National Park Week is an opportunity to celebrate these treasures and recommit ourselves to preserving them for generations to come.”

Background:

Utah is home to five national parks—Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion—which draw millions of visitors each year and serve as major economic drivers for gateway communities across the state. Together with Utah’s national monuments, recreation areas, and historic sites, these public lands showcase the state’s unique landscapes while supporting outdoor recreation, tourism, and local jobs.

More broadly, the National Park System welcomed more than 323 million recreational visits in 2025, underscoring the important role national parks play in recreation and communities across the country. In 2024, visitor spending associated with national parks generated approximately $56.3 billion in economic output nationwide.

The resolution:

Designates August 22–30, 2026, as National Park Week;

Recognizes the National Park Service’s work to preserve the nation’s natural, historical, and cultural resources;

Highlights the economic and recreational benefits of the National Park System; and

Encourages Americans to responsibly visit, enjoy, and support national parks.

Senator Curtis also cosponsored the National Park Week resolution in 2025.",1,2026-08-26T05:33:32Z,2026-08-26T05:34:56Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-convenes-utah-leaders-to-explore-bold-solutions-for-great-salt-lake-utahs-water-future,"Curtis Convenes Utah Leaders to Explore Bold Solutions for Great Salt Lake, Utah’s Water Future",2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"SALT LAKE CITY—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) convened a group of experts—including state elected officials, water experts, researchers, conservation leaders, and members of Utah’s technology sector—for a roundtable discussion on bold, long-term solutions to strengthen Utah’s water supply and protect the Great Salt Lake.

“A rich part of Utah’s heritage is our ingenuity and determination to solve societal challenges, particularly when it comes to water, and protecting the Great Salt Lake is no exception,” said Senator Curtis following the event. “This roundtable was focused on putting every idea on the table, bringing the right people together, and thinking boldly about what’s possible. There won’t be one silver bullet, but I’m confident that Utah can lead the way, and I’ll keep working to ensure the federal government is a strong partner in getting it done.”

Photos from the event are available here.

The discussion focused on both immediate and long-term strategies to strengthen Utah’s water supply and protect the Great Salt Lake. Participants explored ideas ranging from desalination and interstate water infrastructure to expanded cloud seeding and improved forest management. The group also discussed reducing water loss from evaporation and mineral production, and engaging Utah’s technology sector to develop new solutions. Throughout the conversation, participants emphasized that no single approach will solve the challenge and that progress will require a combination of innovation, conservation, infrastructure, and continued federal, state, private, and philanthropic partnership.

The roundtable group included Hannah Freeze, Great Salt Lake Commissioner; Clint Betts, CEO and Co-Founder of Silicon Slopes; Dr. Kevin Perry, Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Utah; Dr. Ben Abbott, Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Ecology at Brigham Young University and Executive Director of Grow the Flow; Scott Sandall, State Senator; Jill Koford, Utah Representative; Tim Hawkes, Great Salt Lake Advisory Council Chairman; Dr. Brian Steed, Vice President for Government and External Relations at Utah State University; Marcelle Shoop, Executive Director of the Saline Lakes Program for the National Audubon Society; Megan Nelson, Director of Policy and External Affairs for The Nature Conservancy in Utah; Jordan Nielson, Executive Director of Great Salt Lake Rising; Gene Shawcroft, Chair of the Colorado River Authority and General Manager at Central Utah Water Conservancy District; Joel Ferry, Commissioner of the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR); and Ben Stireman, Deputy Director of DNR.

Curtis plans to convene similar discussions and continue soliciting ideas from state, federal, private-sector, and community partners on both immediate and long-term approaches to Utah’s water future.",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/8/lee-colleagues-call-for-investigation-of-california-s-climate-pacts-with-china,"Lee, Colleagues Call for Investigation of California’s Climate Pacts with China",2026-08-20,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA-39) to call for an investigation into the state of California’s numerous climate agreements with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The members of Congress penned a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Todd Blanche outlining California’s inappropriate climate agreements with China.

“If Governor Newsom would like to assume foreign affairs authorities constitutionally vested in the federal government, that option, however quixotic, ill-conceived, and downright laughable, is theoretically available to him. As it stands, however, he is likely violating the Constitution, serving as China’s useful pawn while destroying the pocketbooks of millions of hardworking Americans,” wrote the members of Congress.

Background

The Compact Clause of the Constitution gives the federal government authority over foreign affairs, and the Supreme Court has upheld that even state action with a mere ""direct impact upon foreign relations""[1]may be unconstitutional. Despite this, California has an extensive history of circumventing Congressional approval and entering into agreements with CCP conduits, including:

California China Climate Institute

Founded in 2019 by Governor Jerry Brown and the CCP’s longtime global climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, the goal was to shape U.S. and subnational climate policy and advance the goals of the Paris Agreement. The California China Climate Institute was codified into law by Governor Newsom.

China-U.S. ZEV Policy Lab

Agreed upon by the University of California-Davis and the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, the China-U.S. ZEV Policy Lab committed both sides to speed the commercialization of electric cars.

Read the full letter here.

###",1,2026-08-21T05:30:57Z,2026-08-21T05:32:22Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-promotes-policy-to-address-utahs-growth-affordable-housing-with-utah-transportation-leaders,"Curtis Promotes Policy to Address Utah’s Growth, Affordable Housing with Utah Transportation Leaders",2026-08-19,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Commerce and Environment and Public Works Committees, today joined leaders from the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), Utah Transit Authority (UTA), Salt Lake City, Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG), and others to discuss policy developments that would strengthen Utah’s transportation network, expand affordable housing opportunities near transit hubs, and prepare the state’s infrastructure for continued growth and upcoming high-traffic events like the Salt Lake Temple open house in 2027 and the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Like Americans across the country, Utahns are facing affordability pressures. But we are also facing uniquely rapid growth, which is good for our economy but can worsen traffic and lead to overcrowding,” said Senator Curtis following the event. “Today’s event brought together transit officials, local leaders, and the private sector to discuss real solutions that will serve Utahns and address these problems. Whether it’s securing investments in FrontRunner, ensuring transportation investments proactively address our population growth, or creating more housing near transit, we have an opportunity to maintain a strong quality of life for Utahns well into the future.”

Photos of the event are available here.

The group met at WFRC’s offices before visiting the North Temple FrontRunner station, where participants discussed the FrontRunner 2X project and Senator Curtis’ bipartisan Promoting Advancement Through Transit and Housing (PATH) Act and Build Housing, Unlock Benefits and Services (Build HUBS) Act.

Curtis also highlighted the recent advancement of the FrontRunner 2X project into the Engineering phase of the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants program, an important step toward securing nearly $1.3 billion in federal funding for improvements to FrontRunner.

Read more about the PATH Act here, the Build HUBS Act here, and the FrontRunner 2X project here.",1,2026-08-20T05:28:41Z,2026-08-20T05:29:58Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-daines-introduce-bill-to-strengthen-american-critical-mineral-production,"Curtis, Daines Introduce Bill to Strengthen American Critical Mineral Production",2026-08-14,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act would expand incentives for domestic mining, processing, and production

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced the Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act, legislation to strengthen America’s domestic critical mineral supply chains by expanding and improving the Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit under Section 45X of the Internal Revenue Code.

“The United States should not have to depend on foreign adversaries for the minerals that power our economy, support our national defense, and underpin modern technology,” said Senator Curtis. “Utah and states across the West have the resources, workers, and expertise to produce more of these materials here at home. Our bill makes sure the tax code recognizes the full cost of American mineral production and gives domestic producers a fair opportunity to compete with heavily subsidized, artificially propped-up foreign supply chains.”

“There is no reason the United States should rely on other foreign nations for critical minerals that can be found right here at home, including in Montana. I’m proud to work with Senator Curtis to expand our critical mineral supply chain and ensure fairness in the tax code for American producers and businesses. It’s time to unleash America’s natural resources to power our economy and strengthen our national security,” said Senator Daines.

Background:

Critical minerals are essential inputs for energy infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, defense systems, agriculture, electronics, and other sectors of the U.S. economy. The Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act updates Section 45X to better reflect the economics of domestically producing those minerals, including the extraction activities necessary before refining can occur. The legislation would add several strategically important minerals to the Section 45X credit, recognize qualifying costs associated with extracting ore, and eliminate the reduced credit rate currently applied to metallurgical coal.

The legislation would strengthen and expand the Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit by:

Expanding eligible critical minerals to include boron, copper, lead, potash, rhenium, silicon, silver, uranium, and phosphate;

Ensuring parity for metallurgical coal by removing the current 2.5 percent credit limit, allowing producers to claim the same credit available to other eligible minerals; and

Clarifying that mineral extraction is an eligible expense under the credit if the ore is extracted in the United States or if the ore is not of a type extracted in the U.S. at a commercial scale and not extracted in a foreign country of concern.

Section 45X is intended to encourage domestic production of critical components and materials essential to American manufacturing. By recognizing additional critical minerals and the costs required to extract the raw materials used to produce them, the bill would strengthen incentives to build more complete mineral supply chains in the United States and reduce reliance on foreign sources.

The full text of the bill is available here.

“To meet the nation’s surging energy demand, electric utilities need a domestic supply of energy infrastructure and equipment,” said Mike Squires, UAMPS Managing Director of Government Affairs (UAMPS). “Much of this equipment contains critical minerals like copper that Utah produces. UAMPS is grateful for Senator Curtis’ leadership on advancing legislation that would increase critical mining and processing capacity in the United States.”

“Adding phosphate to the list of eligible minerals under section 45X of the Internal Revenue Code will greatly help domestic phosphate producers like the Simplot Company and will incentivize future investment in phosphate mining and processing,” said Garrett Lofto, President and CEO, the Simplot Company. “We very much appreciate Senator John Curtis’ leadership on this legislation and his support of strengthening the domestic supply chain for critical minerals such as phosphate.”

“The Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act brings federal tax policy in line with today’s mineral needs by reflecting the latest U.S. Geological Survey critical minerals list and recognizing the importance of domestic extraction and production,” said Lyndsey Wright, Women’s Mining Coalition Executive Director. “This commonsense legislation strengthens America’s mineral supply chains, supports a competitive domestic mining industry, and helps reduce our dependence on foreign sources for the resources our economy and national security rely on.”

“We applaud the introduction of the Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act, an important step to strengthen America’s mineral security and competitiveness,” Said Rich Nolan, President and CEO, National Mining Association. “Extending the Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit to include the Department of the Interior’s updated list of critical minerals, provides investors with meaningful incentives to expand domestic mining and production across the country. All of these minerals are indispensable to America’s manufacturing base, energy systems, economy and national defense, yet the United States remains dangerously dependent on foreign sources for far too many of them. America has the resources. What we need are policies that allow us to produce them and directly address the alarming gaps in our minerals supply chains.”

“The Uranium Producers of America (UPA) applauds Senator Curtis [and Senator Daines] for introducing the Senate companion of the Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act” said Scott Melbye, President, UPA and Executive Vice President, Uranium Energy Corp. “This important legislation will strengthen domestic critical mineral production, including uranium. It will further reduce U.S. dependence on foreign adversaries for uranium supply chains. Including uranium and other critical minerals within the Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit will spur further investment in America uranium production, ensuring American energy security and national security as the world increasingly looks to nuclear energy to meet growing power demand. This legislation complements previous efforts by Congress and the Trump Administration to ensure a robust and reliable domestic nuclear fuel supply chain that UPA and its member companies are actively working to expand.”

“Minerals are crucial to the future of American energy dominance,” said Andrew Sandstrom, Executive Director of Unleash Utah. “By incentivizing domestic extraction, we are shifting production away from adversarial regimes with abysmal environmental and labor records. This will unlock jobs for our rural communities, secure our supply chains, and help lower costs. It’s time we stop importing our energy future from China and start building it ourselves.”

“America should lead the world in critical minerals production,” said Jeremy Harrell, CEO, ClearPath Action. “The Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act will incentivize domestic production for all minerals on the USGS critical minerals list, strengthen supply chains and ensure America, not foreign adversaries, controls our energy and economic future.”",1,2026-08-15T05:23:20Z,2026-08-15T05:24:50Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/8/lee-introduces-kayleigh-s-law-to-protect-victims-of-sexual-crimes-from-contact-by-abusers,Lee Introduces Kayleigh’s Law to Protect Victims of Sexual Crimes from Contact by Abusers,2026-08-12,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced Kayleigh’s Law to protect victims from any further unwanted contact with their abuser. Named for survivor Kayleigh Kozak who bravely testified against her soccer coach for sexually abusing her as a sixth grader, the bill will require courts to issue permanent no-contact orders at the request of victims who have suffered violence or sexual abuse.

“Victims of sexual crimes often have to face their abusers in court over and over again, and even hear from these monsters outside of the courtroom. They fear for their safety, and they deserve better protection,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Kayleigh Kozak bravely faced her abusive soccer coach multiple times in court after he assaulted her in the sixth grade. Survivors like Kayleigh have suffered vile abuse and should never be dissuaded from coming forward by fear of retaliation or further contact from their attacker. I’m proud to sponsor Kayleigh’s Law to require courts to issue permanent no-contact orders on convicted defendants at victims’ request.”

“The harm caused by sexual assault is not temporary. It is lifelong,” said Kayleigh Kozak. “The protections for those who have been sexually violated should be lifelong, too.”

Kayleigh’s Law is endorsed by public safety authority Right On Crime:

“Kayleigh’s Law reflects a simple truth: justice should not come with an expiration date for victims. When the system allows dangerous offenders back into a victim’s life, it fails its most basic responsibility. Courts should have the authority to stand with survivors for the long term, and Kayleigh’s Law makes that possible.” – Brett Tolman, Executive Director, Right On Crime

Kayleigh’s Law

Applies to defendants convicted of a crime of violence or a felony offense that includes as an element a sexual act or sexual conduct.

Requires the court—on motion of the Government (with the consent of a victim) or a victim—to issue a permanent order during sentencing to prohibit the convicted defendant from contacting a victim directly or indirectly, through written, oral, electronic, digital, or physical means.",1,2026-08-13T06:17:16Z,2026-08-13T06:18:13Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/8/lee-introduces-circuit-court-of-appeals-reorganization-act,Lee Introduces Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act,2026-08-11,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act, restructuring the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals to more accurately reflect modern population growth and geographic interests. Cosponsoring the legislation are Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT).

“Congress is entrusted with the authority to ‘ordain and establish’ inferior federal courts,” said Senator Mike Lee. “For too long, we have failed to modernize our western circuit courts, despite the Ninth Circuit’s comparatively immense size – both in terms of geography and population. Congress needs to prioritize the efficiency of the federal judiciary to ensure a more balanced, predictable, and effective appellate system. I hope that this new proposal can serve as the basis for future bipartisan discussions.”

“The Ninth Circuit’s disproportionate caseload and vast geographic reach have contributed to an overburdened and inefficient judiciary,” said Senator Mike Crapo. “Reorganizing the circuit would help reduce these pressures, improve the timely administration of justice and better align Idaho with a court that reflects the needs of our state and region.”

“Our judicial system was designed to be deliberative but not completely obstructive,” said Senator Steve Daines. “The 9th Circuit Court faces a significant backlog that hinders the administration of justice throughout the West. Montanans deserve better. I’m proud to work with Senator Lee on this bill to better organize the western circuit courts and ensure timely justice for all.”

“Idahoans have endured a Ninth Circuit dominated by California’s values for far too long,” said Senator Jim Risch. “The Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act would restructure the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits to create a more efficient judicial system that better reflects Idaho’s values and interests.”

""The immense size of the Ninth Circuit has created unnecessary delays, inconsistent decisions, and a court that is increasingly disconnected from the communities it serves,” said Senator Tim Sheehy. “Montanans deserve a responsive and predictable federal appellate court that can better address the unique challenges facing the West. This commonsense legislation reforms our federal judiciary by creating circuits that are more manageable and better able to deliver timely, consistent justice – ensuring every American has access to a fair and effective appellate process.""

Background

The Ninth Circuit is the largest federal appellate circuit in the U.S. by both population and geographic area. Created during the era of Westward Expansion, the Ninth Circuit has experienced significant population growth in recent decades. The Ninth Circuit comprises 29 judgeships, nearly 20% of the U.S. population, and 40% of the U.S. landmass. Comparatively, the Eighth and Tenth Circuits have only 11 and 12 judgeships, respectively, and cover approximately 5.5-6.5% of the U.S. population.

The Ninth Circuit’s unique en banc structure has also created inconsistency in its decision-making processes. Currently, when a panel decision is appealed to the full Ninth Circuit, only 11 of the 29 judges speak for the entire court, which causes potentially inconsistent and contradictory case outcomes. Litigants and their lawyers are thus faced with a justice system that is unwieldy and unpredictable.

What the Bill Achieves

The Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act will right-size the western circuits by moving Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska to the Eighth Circuit, and Nevada and Arizona to the Tenth Circuit. The dispersion of states from the Ninth Circuit into other surrounding federal circuits will more accurately depict modern-day regional interests, population growth, and geography – securing a more just legal system for all Americans.

Read the full bill text here.

###",1,2026-08-12T06:18:38Z,2026-08-12T06:20:33Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/8/lee-warren-urge-pentagon-to-codify-trump-s-successful-eo-to-cut-defense-waste-boost-efficiency,"Lee, Warren Urge Pentagon to Codify Trump’s Successful EO to Cut Defense Waste, Boost Efficiency",2026-08-11,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) published a bipartisan analysis revealing the success of President Trump’s executive order to cut wasteful government spending and boost America’s national security by limiting individual defense contractors’ stock buybacks in response to how efficiently they deliver on their contracts with the federal government. The senators urged Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to codify this progress into law by supporting their bipartisan Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting Act. The legislation will make permanent President Trump’s plan to boost efficiency and competition within defense contracting.

“The Pentagon is handing companies billions – and now potentially trillions – of taxpayer dollars,” wrote the senators. “Congress and the Administration must work together to ensure they fulfill their contractual obligations and enhance national security.”

For decades, defense contractors have consistently fallen short in delivering weapons programs to DoW on time and on budget. In January, President Trump issued an executive order to address this problem, restricting executive pay packages and limiting stock buybacks and dividend payments for defense contractors that don’t meet DoW’s performance needs and fail to invest in expanding their production capacity.

A new review of the top 20 defense industry’s latest earnings calls and financial reports, conducted by the offices of Senators Lee and Warren, reveals that the DoW’s signal for accountability is already generating a positive response — and underscores the need for legislation to make the progress permanent.

In the six months since President Trump issued his executive order, each of the four largest defense contractors that engaged in stock buybacks and dividend payouts in the first quarter of 2025 cut them dramatically in the first quarter of 2026. Combined, these four companies — Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics — spent $4.2 billion on buybacks and dividends in Q1 2025; during the same quarter this year, they spent only $2.7 billion, a roughly 36 percent drop.

These defense contractors continued to report a strong financial outlook for their shareholders, making clear that this reduction in buybacks did not pose any harm to the companies’ underlying business fundamentals.

Despite the executive order — and the success it had in restricting buybacks by the big four contractors — other contractors continued to hand out larger stock buybacks and dividends to shareholders while the companies’ capital expenditures declined. For example, GE Aerospace spent $2.3 billion on stock buybacks in Q1 2026, a 21% increase from the $1.9 billion it spent on stock buybacks in Q1 2025.

“These contractors who did not respond to the President’s executive order reveal the need for legislation that emboldens the Department to enforce accountability,” wrote the senators.

“The latest round of financial reports from defense contractors shows that despite their concerns, defense contractors can afford to prioritize the warfighter and increase investments to improve outcomes and address schedule delays and cost overruns plaguing the Pentagon’s weapons systems,” wrote the senators.

“Given the findings of our review, we urge your support for codifying the President’s executive order into law and ensuring that the order has lasting results,” concluded the senators.

Read exclusive coverage by Fox News here.

Read the full text of the letter here.

###",1,2026-08-12T06:18:38Z,2026-08-12T06:20:33Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/8/utah-colorado-senators-honor-firefighters-killed-in-wildfires,"Utah, Colorado Senators Honor Firefighters Killed in Wildfires",2026-08-11,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), John Curtis (R-UT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring the bravery and sacrifice of several firefighters whose lives were lost while combatting recent wildfires on the Utah-Colorado border.

“We honor and mourn the courageous firefighters who gave their lives to protect the people we love and the frontier we call home,” said Senator Mike Lee. “These brave Americans from across the country dropped into the eye of the storm via helicopter to fight the wildfires ripping through Utah’s eastern border. Their sacrifice will always be remembered in the lands they protected. Utah’s prayers are with the families grieving these heroes.”

“Behind every wildfire are brave men and women who embody the very best of public service: courage, selflessness, and an unwavering commitment to protecting our communities, often at great personal risk,” said Senator John Curtis. “Since this resolution was introduced, it was confirmed that Utah has lost two more heroic individuals in a helicopter crash while fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire. My heart is with the families, friends, and fellow firefighters mourning the devastating loss of these brave Americans.”

“Our hearts are with the families, loved ones, and fellow firefighters grieving the loss of the five wildland firefighters who gave their lives protecting others,” said Senator Michael Bennet. “Today’s resolution honors the courage, sacrifice, and service of those who risk their lives to keep their fellow Americans safe during wildfires.”

“The bravery and heroism of these firefighters deserve our deepest gratitude,” said Senator John Hickenlooper. “Our hearts are with the families and friends of these heroic men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting lives, homes, and the landscapes we all cherish.”

Read the full resolution text here.",1,2026-08-12T06:18:38Z,2026-08-12T06:20:33Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/utah-colorado-senators-honor-casualties-from-wildfires,"Utah, Colorado Senators Honor Casualties from Wildfires",2026-08-10,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Mike Lee (R-UT), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring all those who serve on the front lines of wildland firefighting efforts in the United States.

“Behind every wildfire are brave men and women who embody the very best of public service: courage, selflessness, and an unwavering commitment to protecting our communities, often at great personal risk,” said Senator Curtis. “Since this resolution was introduced, it was confirmed that Utah has lost two more heroic individuals in a helicopter crash while fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire. My heart is with the families, friends, and fellow firefighters mourning the devastating loss of these brave Americans.”

“Our hearts are with the families, loved ones, and fellow firefighters grieving the loss of the five wildland firefighters who gave their lives protecting others,” said Senator Bennet. “Today’s resolution honors the courage, sacrifice, and service of those who risk their lives to keep their fellow Americans safe during wildfires.”

“Last month, five courageous firefighters gave their lives to protect the people we love and the frontier we call home,” said Senator Lee. “These brave Americans from across the country dropped into the eye of the storm via helicopter to fight the wildfires ripping through Utah’s eastern border. Their sacrifice will always be remembered in the lands they protected. Utah’s prayers are with the families grieving these heroes.”

“The bravery and heroism of these firefighters deserve our deepest gratitude,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Our hearts are with the families and friends of these heroic men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting lives, homes, and the landscapes we all cherish.”

Background:

Utah fire seasons typically begin in July and end in October. Not even through the second month of the 2026 fire season, Utah has already experienced 820 total wildfires with over 514,000 acres burned in 2026.

This has also been one of the deadliest fire seasons. The resolution, formally introduced on August 7, honors Emily Barker, Nicholas Hutcherson, Sydney Watson, and Nathan Matthews, who recently lost their lives fighting fires along the Utah-Colorado border, as well as Nicholas Dale, who died fighting the Gold Mountain Fire in Colorado. Since then, two firefighters were tragically confirmed killed in a helicopter crash while fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah.

Senator Curtis has made wildfire prevention and forest resilience a central legislative priority, championing bipartisan solutions that focus on reducing catastrophic wildfire risk before fires start. As a lead sponsor of the Fix Our Forests Act, Curtis is working to accelerate hazardous fuels reduction, improve forest management, streamline permitting for high-priority projects, and strengthen coordination among federal, state, tribal, and local partners. The bill passed the House and has broad bipartisan support in the Senate. Curtis has also co-led the bipartisan Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act, which removes regulatory barriers to the use of prescribed burns—one of the most effective tools for preventing catastrophic wildfires—while ensuring states are not penalized for taking proactive forest management actions.",1,2026-08-11T05:54:29Z,2026-08-11T05:56:25Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/8/lee-introduces-stopping-border-surges-act,Lee Introduces Stopping Border Surges Act,2026-08-10,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Stopping Border Surges Act to disincentivize child trafficking and combat bad-faith asylum fraud. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).

“Child traffickers have smuggled abused children across our border thanks to the Biden administration’s policies that made it easier for them to cross by claiming to have a child,” said Senator Mike Lee. “On top of that, many of these kids were released into their kidnapper’s arms. This is not merciful; it’s a Democrat-concocted system that favored traffickers. All the while, these coyotes were claiming to seek asylum, passing multiple safe countries on their way here without stopping. The Stopping Border Surges Act will disincentivize asylum fraud and give President Trump’s border team the tools they need to protect exploited kids.”

“Loopholes in our immigration laws have encouraged illegal crossing, fueled asylum fraud, and put vulnerable children at risk,” said Senator Jim Banks. “The Stopping Border Surges Act closes those loopholes, strengthens enforcement, and restores integrity to our immigration system.”

“Illegal border crossings not only endanger Americans; they also incentivize the abuse and trafficking of migrant women and children,” said Senator Katie Britt. “Now is the time to pass the Stopping Border Surges Act to permanently close these loopholes that embolden criminals and bad actors. I will always fight to keep American families and communities safe.”

“Joe Biden’s reckless open border policies allowed illegal aliens to exploit our immigration system,” said Senator Tom Cotton. “Our bill would close loopholes that incentivize illegal border crossings, endanger children and families, and undermine our asylum system.”

“America saw what open borders and mass amnesty looked like for four miserable years,” said Senator Rick Scott. “Democrat policies failed Laken Riley, Sheridan Gorman, Jocelyn Nungaray, and countless other Americans. We can never let a future president do that to us again – or worse. We know what the radical left socialists want: look at Spain and across Europe and look at what happened to our border under Biden. For the sake of our country, Congress must codify President Trump’s border agenda and close every possible loophole in America’s immigration system before it’s too late. We cannot go back.”

“Thankfully, President Trump has locked down our borders after Joe Biden let millions of illegals invade our country,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville. “But unfortunately, we still have loopholes that are incentivizing illegals to make the dangerous journey to come here. Proud to join Sen. Mike Lee in introducing legislation to make sure we are not actively encouraging illegal immigration.”

Background

Senator Lee’s bill would eliminate the expansion of the Flores Settlement Agreement by allowing alien children accompanied by parents to be held with that parent for the duration of the parent’s adjudication. This would end the incentive for non-parents to claim an unknown child as their own. It also removes any incentive for parents to bring children with them on the hazardous journey to the U.S. Border. Unfortunately, non-parents are increasingly using children as a get-out-of-jail-free card at the child’s expense. These children are often “recycled” by smugglers and forced to cross multiple times to ensure admission for more adults.

The United States currently returns unaccompanied children from Mexico and Canada quickly and safely. Children from other countries, however, are placed in a lengthy removal process. They are released into the United States with the same adults that smuggled them into the country. Consequently, the policy incentivizes the enlistment of couriers to smuggle children across the border. Senator Lee’s legislation ends this incentive by extending the same seamless process available to children from Mexico and Canada.",1,2026-08-11T05:54:29Z,2026-08-11T05:56:25Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-van-hollen-introduce-legislation-to-combat-affordable-housing-crisis-strengthen-usps,"Curtis, Van Hollen Introduce Legislation to Combat Affordable Housing Crisis, Strengthen USPS",2026-08-07,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act, bipartisan legislation to address the shortage of affordable housing and funding shortfalls at the United States Postal Service (USPS). Amid record-breaking housing costs, the Senators’ new bill would allow local communities to lease Postal Service propertyrights for new affordable housing construction. At the same time, this legislation protects against the sale of Postal Service assets, supports the rehabilitation and new construction of Postal facilities, and eases the Postal Service’s critical financial constraints.

“Utah desperately needs more housing, and the Postal Service needs new sources of revenue; this commonsense legislation helps accomplish both,” said Senator Curtis. “By giving USPS the authority to lease underutilized property for housing development, we can put unused land to work, expand the housing supply, and strengthen an institution that millions of Americans rely on every day.”

“Far too many working Americans are faced with housing costs they simply cannot afford. At the same time, the Postal Service faces financial struggles that, if left unaddressed, will result in USPS running out of money to operate. With this legislation, we’re not only bringing new, affordable homes to communities across the country, we’re also working to shore up the Postal Service so that it can continue serving Americans for generations to come. It’s a win-win,” said Senator Van Hollen.

Background:

Currently, USPS owns about 8,500 properties around the United States, many of which are located in places suitable for housing construction and in areas with high housing demand. According to a recent analysis from Brookings, housing construction on postal property could build over 200,000 new homes and bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the Postal Service each year.

The Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act would set guardrails on housing construction by USPS by allowing for the lease, but prohibiting the sale, of Postal Service property for housing construction and ensuring USPS maintains discretion over its real estate assets. The bill also requires housing units constructed on Postal Service property to include tenant affordability restrictions on at least 20% of units, among other provisions.

A one-page summary of this bill is available here, and the full text of the legislation is available here.

The legislation is supported by the Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Chamber of Progress, and Inclusive Abundance Action, among others.

“I applaud Senators Van Hollen and Curtis for their leadership in crafting this win-win legislation,” said Aaron Shroyer, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Brookings Metro. “This bill would enable the United States Postal Service to tap an underutilized asset—its land—to create a durable revenue source, while also adding much-needed housing to main streets and downtowns across the country.”

“USPS-owned sites could offer meaningful opportunities to add homes in communities where housing is badly needed,” said Ben Metcalf, Managing Director, Terner Center for Housing Innovation. “Terner Center research has identified hundreds of USPS-owned sites that warrant closer evaluation for housing. While not every site will be feasible, underutilized postal properties could offer one solution to policymakers who are looking for ways to increase their affordable housing stock.”

“The Postal Service owns 8,500 properties, many of them on prime, well-located land that cities and states need for housing,” said Colin Higgins, Executive Director of the National Housing Crisis Task Force. “In our Federal Housing Policy Agenda, the National Housing Crisis Task Force called for putting federal land to work this way, and it’s good to see a bipartisan bill take up the idea. The hope is that cities and states can chart a path to build homes on underused public land while the Postal Service keeps its footprint and earns revenue.”",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/8/lee-cosponsors-ballots-by-election-day-act-to-restore-confidence-in-federal-elections,Lee Cosponsors Ballots by Election Day Act to Restore Confidence in Federal Elections,2026-08-07,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) cosponsored the Ballots by Election Day Act with Senator James Lankford (R-OK) to require that all absentee and mail-in ballots in federal elections be received by the time polls close on Election Day in order to be counted.

“Congress holds the constitutional authority to set the times, places, and manner of federal elections,” said Senator Mike Lee. “States counting late ballots are inviting fraud and sowing doubt in their own election results. Our bill will clarify protocol and restore trust by counting only ballots received before the polls close on election day.”

""Election Day should mean Election Day,"" said Senator James Lankford. ""Americans should not have to wait days or weeks while states like California keep counting ballots. The SAVE Act, this bill, and every other effort to secure our elections are about the same thing: making sure the American people can trust the results. If your ballot is going to count, it needs to be in the hands of election officials by the time the polls close.""

Background

In Watson v. Republican National Committee, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted up to five days later and held that federal election-day statutes do not set a deadline for ballot receipt. The Ballots by Election Day Act legislatively closes this gap by setting a uniform federal deadline that requires ballots to be in the hands of election officials by the time polls close to be counted as valid.

The Ballots by Election Day Act:

Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require that absentee and mail-in ballots in federal elections be received by the appropriate election official no later than the time polls close on Election Day.

Prohibits states from counting absentee or mail-in ballots received after polls close on Election Day.

Preserves existing protections for absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).

Applies to federal elections held in 2027 and every year thereafter.

Read the full bill text here.

Read exclusive coverage by Fox News here.

###",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-highlights-need-to-reduce-regulatory-burdens-preserve-family-farms,"Curtis Highlights Need to Reduce Regulatory Burdens, Preserve Family Farms",2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"During opening remarks, Senator Curtis introduced Mr. Rigby as a hearing witness. During questioning, Curtis focused on the growing regulatory burden facing farmers and ranchers, asking how federal regulations contribute to consolidation in agriculture and what Congress can do to help family operations remain competitive. Mr. Rigby explained that simplifying regulations, expanding access to capital, and supporting value-added agriculture are critical to helping producers manage rising costs and continue operating.

Video of the Senator’s introduction and questioning can be found here, and a transcript is below.

Introduction:

Senator Curtis: Thank you, Chair Young. It’s my privilege to introduce today’s witness from the great state of Utah. Mr. ValJay Rigby, thank you for being here today.

Mr. Rigby serves as president of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, our state’s largest general agriculture organization, representing more than 3,700 members and their families. ValJay is a fifth-generation farmer from Newton, Utah, where his family continues to farm land that was part of its original 1869 homestead.

Today, he farms alongside his brothers and his children, raising beef cattle and growing approximately 1,500 acres of alfalfa and small grains. Mr. Rigby holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in information systems from Utah State University. He has also served as president of the Cache County Farm Bureau, on local planning and zoning and water boards, and as a volunteer firefighter.

Thank you, Mr. Rigby, for making the trip from Utah to join us today. I’m sure they’re missing you back on the farm, but thank you for being here, and I look forward to hearing your testimony.

Questioning:

Curtis: Mr. Rigby, two things you said in your testimony: one I have a comment on; the other, I have a question. You talked about how you were developing character in youth, and I will just tell you, as a previous small business owner myself, if anybody ever walked in my door and said they grew up on a farm in Utah or Idaho, we hired them, no questions asked. They’re hard workers, they’re disciplined, and they’re problem-solvers. I would totally agree with you.

You also alluded to the fact that you don’t have a room full of lawyers and attorneys to help navigate these regulations, and I want to focus on that for just a minute, particularly as it relates to the move toward consolidation in farms and ranches. If you think about the high costs that my colleague from Colorado alluded to, and the regulatory burden, what role is that playing in this consolidation? And how do we here in Washington help you push back on that?

ValJay Rigby: I appreciate the question. Any time that we can reduce the regulatory burden on farmers and producers and simplify those programs, it is a tremendous help because, as a farmer, I wear lots of hats every day. I’m a business owner. I manage my finances. I’m constantly thinking about my cash flow. I may have lots of assets, but I have no cash in the bank. Just ask my banker.

Any time we can provide opportunities to incentivize adding value to the crops that I grow on my farm, that increases the revenue that comes into my farm. Any of those programs are a benefit. When we can incentivize lower interest rates, that’s one of the challenges in agriculture: access to capital and credit. A beginning farmer who’s just starting out faces the challenge that we’ve talked about. They don’t have decades of experience or a balance sheet to show the bank that they’re a good risk. Any of those programs are a tremendous help to our producers.

Curtis: Thank you.

You mentioned the diesel fuel, and I suspect that’s an investment you’ve made that doesn’t pay off the next week, or the next month. You’re making investments that literally don’t pay off for years. I’m curious, as we reflect on tax policy here and the way it impacts small businesses, given your limited cash flow and margins, talk to us about tax policy—what we do here—and how it influences you, both good and bad.

Rigby: We appreciate last summer’s Working Families Tax Cut Act. It’s helpful for production agriculture. Having that certainty to know, as a producer, that I have that permanent $15 million per individual exemption from the estate tax is really important, so I can plan and have some certainty. The biggest asset that I have as a producer is the land, and I need that certainty as I plan.

Some of the other provisions are also a help to us. Any little bit that helps reduce some of that tax burden and incentivizes reinvestment in my farm is a great help.

Curtis: Just to state the obvious: if, upon your death, your heirs had to pay taxes before they could continue operating that farm, it would not make it to a sixth generation. Is that a fair statement?

Rigby: That is a fair statement. There’s no way they could do that. I was lucky enough to farm with my grandfather and my father. My father passed away a few years ago, and if he had died a few years earlier, we would have had a difficult time maintaining our farm if we had been caught in that window.

Curtis: Thank you. I’ve got just a moment left. I’d like to ask all of you to give me a quick answer and give me a sense of how our tax policy and our regulatory policies impact your hiring and financing decisions. Ms. High, we’ll start with you.

Nikki High: Thank you for that question. So much is dependent on our ability to have cash flow, similar to Mr. Rigby. Any break that we get from a tax perspective helps offset our built-in costs, including credit card servicing fees and other fees. Having a tax policy that benefits us allows us to continue hiring in the community and to do more outreach and advocacy programs.

Curtis: Thank you. Mr. Malshe.

Dr. Ajay Malshe: Thank you, Mr. Curtis, for asking that question. I think the two areas where it would help immensely: any dollars that go toward deep-tech product development or deep-tech research. If there can be a policy where those are not taxed, or taxed at a low rate, that would help because research converts money into knowledge, and if you tax the knowledge, you tax how you make the product. So I think research credits for small deep-tech businesses would be very helpful. Second, investment tax credits. If investments made in small businesses receive tax credits, that will increase investment in deep-tech businesses.

Lorena Cantarovici: I think we need to see everything globally, right? I’m not an expert in taxes—thank God. I take care of my [profit and loss statements] and pay attention to all the numbers. But I think as everything evolves, taxes should evolve too, and that we make sure the proportions are equal to what we’re paying. As a small business owner, I want to pay taxes. That means I’m alive. I want to create jobs, and I want to pay employment taxes as well—that’s part of doing business. I think it’s very important that we make sure everything grows in the same way. If I’m able to sell and the economy is good, we all want to pay the right taxes. If the economy isn’t good, we need help—but we need to survive. I don’t want to be in survival mode. I want to be in growth mode.",1,2026-08-07T06:11:19Z,2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-bill-to-prevent-youth-suicide-passes-senate,Curtis Bill to Prevent Youth Suicide Passes Senate,2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate passed the Youth Poisoning Prevention Act, bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to help prevent youth suicide by banning high-concentration sodium nitrite from being available to the public. Since 2017, the National Poison Data System has shown a sharp annual increase in young adults ingesting the substance with suicidal intent. There is no recognized household or consumer use for high-concentration sodium nitrite, yet the sale of this dangerous substance by retailers remains unregulated, resulting in tragic consequences.

“Too many young people are being put at risk by easy access to dangerous poisons,” said Senator Curtis. “I am proud to see our commonsense legislation to help protect vulnerable Americans, strengthen consumer safety, and prevent needless youth tragedies pass the Senate.”

“High-concentration sodium nitrite is a textbook example of a deadly product that should never be sold to consumers—let alone to our kids,” said Senator Duckworth. “Every child’s life is precious. We must ensure that our laws protecting our kids are up to date to protect against emerging deadly hazards. Our bipartisan legislation would immediately take this lethal substance off the shelves—it’s a no-brainer that must be sent to the President’s desk swiftly to help us protect our children.”

“I heard from a family who lost their daughter to this dangerous substance, and we have to do more to make sure no other American family suffers the same heartache,” said Senator Baldwin. “As new, deadly products like sodium nitrite become available to children, we must update our laws to keep these deadly chemicals out of the hands of our kids and prevent any further tragic deaths. I am proud to have worked with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to protect Wisconsin families, and I am glad that we are now one step closer to making our bill the law of the land.”

Background:

The Youth Poisoning Prevention Act would:

Ban the sale of high-concentration sodium nitrite to consumers by adding such products to the list of banned hazardous products under the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2057);

Define “high concentration of sodium nitrite” as a concentration of sodium nitrite greater than 10% (as there is no recognized household or consumer use of high-concentration sodium nitrite); and

Not interfere with the highly regulated use of high-concentration sodium nitrite for commercial and industrial purposes.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

The Youth Poisoning Prevention Act is endorsed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumer Reports, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Public Citizen, Consumer Federation of America, National Consumers League and Crisis Text Line—as well as a number of families who tragically lost their children to self-poisoning via high-concentration sodium nitrite ingestion.

“This law was written in the names of children who should still be alive,” said Kristin Jónsson, mother of the late Kristine Jónsson. “For years, high-purity sodium nitrite was sold with no guardrails despite mounting evidence that it had become a preferred suicide method. Today, we chose public health over preventable tragedy.”

“Every parent who came forward with me did so with one hope: that no other family would have to live this nightmare,” said Ruth Scott, mother of the late Mikael Scott. “We fought in our children’s names, and today their lives have left a legacy that will protect others.”

“The best wrongful death case is the one that never has to be filed,” said an attorney for the grieving families. “This law recognizes that prevention is always more powerful than accountability after the fact. Today, this country chose to save lives instead of counting them.”",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/committee-advances-curtis-priorities-to-strengthen-online-safety-for-children,Committee Advances Curtis Priorities to Strengthen Online Safety for Children,2026-08-05,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Video of the Senator’s Committee remarks can be found here, and a transcript is below.

As we all know, the digital world is changing faster than parents can keep up with it. And our kids are growing up in an online environment that barely existed a few years ago.

My wife and I raised six children, and we thought it was complicated when we raised them. And now I am expecting my 19th grandchild in a couple of weeks, and I can’t fathom what they have to navigate to get through this environment.

The bills we advanced today are an important step toward giving families the tools and transparency they need to keep their kids safe.

I want to thank the Chairman, Ranking Member Cantwell, and everyone who worked together in good faith to get us here.

I’m especially proud to be a lead cosponsor of the CHATBOT Act with Chairman Cruz and Senators Schatz and Schiff.

Chairman Cruz was collaborative throughout this process and incorporated several ideas Senator Schiff and I advanced in our SAFE KIDS Act.

I’m also proud to partner with Senator Lee on the SCREEN Act and commit to work with him and my other colleagues to advance that to the Senate floor.

We have to get this right.

That means protecting children without stifling innovation, empowering parents without leaving them on their own, and writing laws that will still make sense years from now.

But our work isn’t finished today.

I’m continuing to push to advance bipartisan bills from my colleagues and me to hold platforms accountable for the harm their products create, help users distinguish authentic content from AI slop, and close loopholes that allow youth to access content they shouldn’t see.

Parents shouldn’t have to carry this burden alone.

Platforms have a responsibility, Congress has a responsibility, and we should keep working together to build a safer digital world for our kids.

Today’s votes are meaningful progress, but they’re not the finish line.

Background:

The Committee passed the Kids Online Safety Act; Youth AI Privacy Act; CHATBOT Act; and Children’s Artificial Intelligence Toy Safety Act of 2026. Included in the CHATBOT Act were several key provisions from Curtis’ bipartisan SAFE KIDS Act, introduced with Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA).

The provisions adopted from the SAFE KIDS Act include:

Requiring AI chatbots to provide regular, clear disclosures reminding users that they are interacting with artificial intelligence—not a real person;

Prohibiting AI chatbot providers from materially assisting a minor in planning or attempting suicide;

Prohibiting AI chatbot providers from providing obscene material to minors; and

Requiring AI chatbot providers to notify a parent or guardian, as soon as feasibly possible, if a minor asks about committing suicide, while also directing the minor to external crisis resources.

In addition, several other priorities championed by Senator Curtis in the SAFE KIDS Act were advanced through Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)’s Youth AI Privacy Act, including:

A prohibition on advertising to children through AI chatbots;

Restrictions preventing companies from processing or transferring children’s data for targeted or behavioral algorithmic purposes; and

Whistleblower protections to encourage employees to report violations and protect those who expose harmful practices.

Together, these provisions represent significant bipartisan progress toward establishing stronger safeguards for children online, increasing transparency around AI systems, strengthening parental awareness, and protecting young users from harmful or exploitative practices.",1,2026-08-06T07:37:31Z,2026-08-06T07:38:34Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-kelly-propose-state-sponsored-visa-pilot-program,"Curtis, Kelly Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program",2026-08-03,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Bipartisan legislation would empower states and address growing workforce demands in Utah

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the State Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation to create a new temporary visa program that allows states to address their unique workforce and economic development needs while maintaining strong federal oversight and immigration enforcement.

“I’ve heard time and again from small business owners, farmers, and ranchers across Utah how difficult it has become to hire enough workers to meet growing market demands,” said Senator Curtis. “Our legislation would help fill the gap by creating a pilot program allowing states to sponsor visas tailored to their unique economies, without sacrificing rigorous federal vetting or accountability.”

“States understand their own economic needs best, but federal rules currently determine who can live and work here,” said Senator Kelly. “Our bipartisan bill would let Arizona and other states choose the visas they need to fill labor gaps and strengthen their local economies.”

Background:

Despite having one of the strongest economies in the country, Utah faces a significant workforce shortage—particularly in agriculture, construction, and hospitality. A report published by the Sutherland Institute found that Utah “is experiencing one of the more severe workforce shortages among the states,” and “had a Worker Shortage Index of 0.72, meaning that there are 72 available workers for every 100 open jobs.”

Under the legislation, states could voluntarily establish state-sponsored visa programs tailored to their labor market demands, subject to approval by the Department of Homeland Security. Participating states would determine which workers or investors they sponsor while remaining responsible for monitoring compliance with program requirements. The federal government would retain authority over security screening, visa issuance, and immigration enforcement. Every applicant would be required to pass comprehensive federal background and security checks before receiving a visa.

To ensure accountability, the legislation requires participating states to:

Assess workforce needs and prevailing wages on a regular basis;

Prevent displacement of American workers and investigate complaints;

Track participants’ employment and residency;

Report compliance to the federal government; and

Accept reductions or suspensions in visa allocations if compliance standards are not met.

The bill also includes strong safeguards to protect taxpayers and uphold immigration laws. State-sponsored visa holders would be ineligible for federal means-tested benefits, would be subject to all applicable federal, state, and local labor and tax laws, and could lose their status if they violate program requirements or leave the sponsoring state without authorization.",1,2026-08-04T07:35:49Z,2026-08-04T07:37:27Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/8/lee-bill-fixes-loophole-for-adoptive-families,Lee Bill Fixes Loophole for Adoptees of American Families,2026-08-03,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) closing burdensome loopholes for America’s adoptive families. The bill updates adoptee citizenship protocols in alignment with established law to grant citizenship for adopted children of American parents.

“Established law provides America’s adopted kids with naturalization, but a loophole has excluded those who were over 18 when this policy was passed decades ago. This bill will fix this oversight to bring these adopted Americans into accordance with the law and close the loopholes afflicting established families,” said Senator Mike Lee.

“Adoption is a wonderful thing. It gives children a loving family, opportunity, and hope for a better life. It often saves unborn lives. If you are adopted by American parents, grow up American, and love America, you are American. However, the law is not currently written to reflect that reality,” said Senator Rick Scott. “Adopted children of American parents should also be Americans, and there should be no legal hurdles to getting there. I’m proud to join Senator Lee in his effort to correct this issue.”

The legislation is endorsed by eighteen organizations and individuals: Adoptee Advisory Committee, Adoptees for Children, Adoptees Supporting Adoptee Citizenship, Adoptive Parents for Citizenship, Advisory Committee for Intercounty Adoption, American Academy of Adoptions Attorneys (AAAA), Barker Foundation, Care for Children International, China Children Adoption International (CCAI), Dr. Ron Federici, Holt International, Hope Leads Home, Diane Kunz, Lifeline Children’s Services, National Center for Adoption Law & Policy, National Council for Adoption (NCFA), Pono Roots, and Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea (MPAK).

""Holt International applauds Senator Lee for his leadership and determination to move adoptee citizenship legislation forward. His commitment to finding a path that can make meaningful progress in Congress is an important step for thousands of intercountry adoptees who have lived for years without the security and recognition of U.S. citizenship.” — Mark Loux, Interim President & CEO, Holt International

""This legislation would correct a longstanding inequity. It reflects the fundamental principle that children legally adopted by American citizens should enjoy the same security and legal status as other members of their families. Providing citizenship to these adoptees promotes family stability, recognizes the commitments made by adoptive families, and remedies an unintended consequence of earlier legislation and regulations. It is both a matter of fairness and an affirmation of America's longstanding support for permanent family placement for children in need. We are grateful that you have introduced this legislation and look forward to working toward its prompt enactment."" – Janna Annest, President, and Genie Miller Gillespie, Adoption Policy Director, American Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA)

""I'm grateful for Senator Lee's leadership in introducing this important legislation. For decades, international adoptees have played an invaluable part in the flourishing of our communities. Thousands of American parents have welcomed them into their families, and provided safe, loving and permanent homes for the world's most vulnerable children. This bill provides a legal remedy for the sons and daughters of U.S. citizens who were left in the gap of legal uncertainty."" – Herbert M. Newell IV, President & Executive Director, Lifeline Children’s Services

Background

Congress granted naturalization to international adoptees of U.S. citizen parents through the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, but thousands of legally adopted children were left out due to an arbitrary age cutoff. This technicality has resulted in continuous legal issues for a group whose only disqualifying characteristic was their date of birth. Senator Lee’s bill corrects this loophole for America’s adoptive families by providing naturalization to those adopted by U.S. citizens decades ago.

The bill grants automatic citizenship to individuals who were legally adopted by U.S. parents but were over 18 when the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 took effect. Specifically, the bill instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue a certificate of citizenship if adoptees establish through an application that their adoption was lawfully completed, that they resided in the legal physical custody of their U.S. citizen adoptive parents, that they have not committed serious criminal offenses, and that they meet other standard criteria under the INA.

Read the full bill text here.

Read the full letter of endorsement from AAAA here.

###",1,2026-08-04T07:35:49Z,2026-08-04T07:37:27Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-kelly-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-modernize-rural-road-mapping-improve-public-safety,"Curtis, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Modernize Rural Road Mapping, Improve Public Safety",2026-07-31,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Modernizing Access to Public Roads (MAP Roads) Act, bipartisan legislation to help states and counties digitize local road networks, improve navigation, strengthen emergency response, and support rural commerce.

“Too many county road maps still exist only on paper or in outdated systems. That creates unnecessary challenges for first responders, businesses, and families who rely on accurate navigation every day,” said Senator Curtis. “The MAP Roads Act modernizes local infrastructure, giving rural Utahns and recreationists the tools they need to improve public safety and support economic growth.”

“Arizona has millions of acres of public land, but outdated paper maps make it harder and less safe to navigate them,” said Senator Kelly. “Arizonans rely on accurate road data every day, whether they’re traveling, running a business, or accessing essential services. Visitors also depend on it to safely explore our incredible public lands. This bipartisan bill brings these records into the 21st century, improving safety, access, and navigation for everyone.”

“The lack of publicly accessible and accurate county road map information is a key barrier for hunters and anglers trying to access public lands,” said Joel Webster, Chief Conservation Officer, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The bipartisan, bicameral MAP Roads Act will provide resources to address these mapping shortfalls and improve public access, resulting in reduced confusion for hunters and anglers trying to navigate rural road systems across America. TRCP applauds Senator Curtis and Senator Kelly for their leadership on this bill.”

“Access is essential to conserving our hunting traditions and connecting people with the upland habitats that make those traditions possible,” said Ariel Wiegard, Vice President of Government Relations, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “The bipartisan MAP Roads Act will modernize county road records, giving hunters greater confidence as they access public lands while reducing confusion and inadvertent trespass. We thank the Senate sponsors for advancing this commonsense, bipartisan solution that benefits hunters, conservation, and rural communities.”

“Accurate and accessible maps are fundamental to ensuring Americans can safely and confidently access our public lands and waters,”said Kaden McArthur, Congressional Affairs Director, Trout Unlimited. “We thank Senators Curtis and Kelly for their leadership on the MAP Roads Act, which will modernize outdated public road information and make it easier for anglers and other outdoor recreators to find reliable, legal access to rivers, streams, and other public destinations. By improving the accuracy and availability of these maps, this bipartisan legislation will help people spend less time navigating road systems and more time enjoying the outdoors.”

Background:

The MAP Roads Act would:

Establish a Department of Transportation pilot grant program to help states digitize county road data;

Provide subgrants for counties to convert paper maps and outdated records into standardized geospatial datasets;

Create statewide, publicly accessible road repositories that distinguish public and private roads and integrate with third-party mapping platforms;

Improve navigation, emergency response, and rural commerce through more accurate and accessible road information; and

Preserve existing state and local authority over road ownership, jurisdiction, and public access while protecting sensitive archaeological and historic resource data.

The bill establishes a competitive grant pilot program at the U.S. Department of Transportation to help counties convert outdated paper maps and records into standardized digital geospatial data. States would maintain publicly accessible road repositories that are compatible with modern mapping platforms and regularly updated. The legislation authorizes $20 million annually through Fiscal Year 2031 for the pilot program, with participating states reporting on implementation and progress to help evaluate future expansion.

Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jeff Hurd (R-CO), and Susie Lee (D-NV).",1,2026-08-01T07:27:26Z,2026-08-01T07:28:22Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/opinion-i-wont-change-the-filibuster,Opinion: I Won’t Change the Filibuster,2026-07-31,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"It protects the rights of the minority in the Senate—even when it’s a minority of one

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) authored an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal reaffirming his commitment to preserving the Senate filibuster, arguing that it ensures consistent, long-term policy making; protects the rights of the minority; and encourages consensus building rather than top-down rule.

“…[The] question isn’t simply whether more legislation would pass. It is whether prudence would still be required in lawmaking, whether legislation passed in one Congress would remain law in the next,” Senator Curtis writes. “Under no circumstance will I support any effort to end or alter the filibuster, as any party that does so wouldn’t be guaranteed survival. Their agenda would be guaranteed death come the next majority.”

In the piece, Senator Curtis explains that the filibuster is not merely a procedural rule, but a defining feature of the Senate’s role as a deliberative body. He argues that while the filibuster has evolved over time, its central purpose remains the same: ensuring legislation is durable, broadly supported, and the product of negotiation rather than fleeting political majorities.

Senator Curtis is a cosponsor of the SAVE America Act and has previously voted in support of the legislation. His views on the filibuster are longstanding and are not tied to the passage of any specific legislation.",1,2026-08-01T07:27:26Z,2026-08-01T07:28:22Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-introduces-ban-on-federal-funding-for-child-mutilation-studies,Lee Introduces Ban on Federal Funding for Child Mutilation Studies,2026-07-31,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation to prohibit the use of federal funds for any research or publication promoting gender transitions for minors. The Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act will shield American children from permanent medical and psychological damage, in line with President Trump’s agenda to keep tax dollars from child mutilation. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), James Lankford (R-OK), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and is endorsed by Students for Life Action and the American Principles Project.

“Why is the federal bureaucracy in the child mutilation business?” said Senator Mike Lee. “Americans don’t want to pay millions for these disturbing studies where hundreds of kids are experimented on with puberty-blocking drugs. President Trump rightly halted this attack on America’s kids. Our bill will codify his agenda to keep federal dollars out of gender transition research involving minors.”

“The Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act takes the long-overdue step of prohibiting federal dollars from supporting procedures that involve dangerous, life-altering, and irreversible gender transition research on minors,” said Senator Ted Cruz. “I am proud to join Senator Lee in this effort, and I urge my colleagues to pass this commonsense legislation.”

“It’s critical that taxpayer dollars are never used to experiment on our children,” said Senator Steve Daines. “Gender-transition procedures are irreversible, potentially life-threatening, and a form of child abuse. I’m proud to co-sponsor this bill with Senator Lee to keep our children safe from harm.”

""God creates every child male or female in His perfect image,” said Senator James Lankford. “For too long, taxpayers have been forced to fund sex-rejecting studies on kids. The result has been irreversible physical harm, mental health crises, and families torn apart. President Trump has led the effort to shut down these grants across the federal government, and Congress needs to make it permanent. This bill ensures that not one more taxpayer dollar funds research designed to harm children.""

“Taxpayers should not be spending a penny on research done by those who want to push harmful gender transition surgeries and radical gender ideology on our kids,” said Senator Marsha Blackburn. “The Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act would prohibit the use of federal funds for any research or study on gender transition surgeries for minors.”

“For years, our tax dollars have funded research that experiments on children using treatments proven to cause irreversible harm. That ends today,” said Senator Cynthia Lummis. “Washington has no business bankrolling the radical left’s agenda and calling it medicine, especially when it's our kids on the receiving end. Children deserve to be protected from ideology, not used as subjects for it, and this bill will ensure that the federal government doesn’t fund such experimentation.""

“Thousands of America’s children have fallen prey to the Radical Left’s woke gender ideology,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville. “American families have been lied to for far too long as we know these surgeries cause irreversible harm. Subjecting healthy, developing children to damaging and harmful procedures without a grave medical purpose is BEYOND SICKENING. Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay for these extreme and reckless practices, or any of the left-wing propaganda promoting them. This vile attack on our children ends now with President Trump and his team. I’m proud to join Senator Lee in this crucial bill to stop the abuse of America’s children and enforce the President’s pro-family agenda.”

""Students for Life Action will always stand for children, born and preborn, protecting them from the harmful abortion industry and their new moneymaker, sterilizing drugs and surgeries. The abortion industry doesn't care what happens to children, as long as they never hold a child of their own. The Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act would protect children from this growing industry that is anti-child and anti-life. Students for Life Action stands with Senator Lee and the Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act."" – Kristan Hawkins, President, Students for Life of America and Students for Life Action

“The $4.5 billion Transgender Industrial Complex relies on pseudo-science to justify the sexual mutilation of children. Americans should never foot the bill for 'research' that permanently destroys kids' healthy bodies. The Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act provides commonsense protections to the family and to taxpayers. American Principles Project is proud to work with Sen. Lee on its passage.” – Terry Schilling, President, American Principles Project

The Protecting Our Kids from Harmful Research Act:

Prohibits the use of federal funds for any research, observational study, or publication, relating to gender transitions in individuals under the age of 18, which is conducted for the purpose of affirming a minor’s asserted identity or perception of his or her sex, if such is incongruent with the minor’s biological sex.",1,2026-08-01T07:27:26Z,2026-08-01T07:28:22Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-kaine-paul-and-merkley-introduce-bipartisan-repeal-of-1957-authorization-of-military-force,"Lee, Kaine, Paul, and Merkley Introduce Bipartisan Repeal of 1957 Authorization of Military Force",2026-07-30,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal an obsolete Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) dating back to 1957 under the Eisenhower Administration. Also known as the Middle East Force Resolution, the AUMF provides broad authority to use military force against countries in the Middle East in order to combat the influence of the Soviet Union. It has never been invoked but remains the longest-active AUMF.

“Outdated Congressional authorizations for military action should not sit on the books forever as a blank check; it is important to repeal the ones that have run their course,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Our bipartisan bill will clean the slate by repealing a Cold War-era AUMF in the Middle East that is no longer necessary.”

“When I was Governor of Virginia, I saw firsthand the human toll and costs of war on Americans, particularly our military families. That’s why I’ve fought to restore Congress’ role in decisions of war and peace since I came into the Senate,” said Senator Tim Kaine. “The 1957 AUMF, which has never been invoked, serves no purpose and runs the risk of potential misuse. We must repeal this outdated and unnecessary law and reaffirm our most solemn constitutional responsibility of whether to send our nation’s sons and daughters into war.”

""It is long past due for Congress to reclaim its constitutional duty regarding declarations of war,” said Senator Rand Paul. “This obsolete authorization for the use of military force dates back to 1957 and should be repealed to ensure deliberation and a vote before the men and women of the armed forces are placed in harm’s way.”

“Congress must repeal this decades-old authorization to prevent its misuse and reduce the risk of another costly and unnecessary forever war,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “It is essential to restore Congressional power on questions of war as our Founders envisioned.”

Background

Bipartisan legislation to repeal the 1957 authorization has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Tom Barrett (R-MI-07) and Jared Golden (D-ME-02). In 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 366-46 to repeal the 1957 AUMF.

Full text of the Senate legislation is available here.

###",1,2026-07-31T07:49:23Z,2026-07-31T07:50:48Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-introduces-bill-to-strengthen-ftc-governance-promote-regulatory-stability,"Curtis Introduces Bill to Strengthen FTC Governance, Promote Regulatory Stability",2026-07-28,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Legislation would require a quorum of FTC Commissioners to undertake any major policymaking

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Federal Trade Commission Governance Reform Act, legislation to reinforce Congress’ original intent for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to function as a deliberative, multi-member agency by requiring a quorum of at least three commissioners before the agency can undertake rulemaking or establish broadly applicable policy.

“When businesses are making long-term strategic decisions, they deserve confidence that major regulatory policy will be developed through a stable, collaborative process. This is why Congress designed the FTC to make major decisions through thoughtful deliberation, not by a single individual or a perpetually diminished Commission,” said Senator Curtis. “This legislation protects the governance structure Congress intended and strengthens confidence in the Commission’s decision making.”

Background:

Congress established the FTC as a five-member commission to ensure major competition and consumer protection policies are developed through collective deliberation. Under current law, the FTC can issue significant policy changes even when the Commission lacks a robust complement of sitting commissioners. The Federal Trade Commission Governance Reform Act reinforces Congress’ original intent by requiring at least three commissioners to participate in major policymaking decisions. By ensuring those decisions reflect the collective judgement of a Commission, the bill promotes regulatory predictability for businesses making long-term investment decisions.

The legislation would require a quorum of three commissioners in order for the FTC to:

Initiate, advance, rescind, or complete a rulemaking proceeding;

Adopt, amend, or rescind a policy statement, interpretive rule, industry guide, or enforcement policy statement; or

Take any other formal action establishing, revising, or rescinding generally applicable Commission policy.

The quorum requirement would not apply to case-specific enforcement actions or other Commission activities that do not establish generally applicable policy. The legislation would take effect on January 20, 2029.",1,2026-07-29T07:41:48Z,2026-07-29T07:42:57Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-lauds-utah-selection-as-contender-for-nuclear-lifecycle-innovation-campus,Curtis Lauds Utah Selection as Contender for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus,2026-07-28,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) today applauded the U.S. Department of Energy’s announcement selecting Utah as one of five states to advance as a potential host for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, a major initiative to strengthen America’s nuclear fuel supply chain, bolster energy security, and accelerate domestic nuclear innovation.

“Utah has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s leaders in advanced energy innovation, and today’s announcement is another vote of confidence in our state’s future,” said Senator Curtis. “This is an incredible opportunity to strengthen American energydominance, bolster our domestic nuclear supply chain, and create new high-paying jobs right here in Utah. I thank President Trump, Secretary Wright, Governor Cox, and everyone who helped make Utah a leading contender for this transformational project.”

Background:

The Department of Energy selected Utah alongside Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Idaho after reviewing applications from 26 states. The proposed campuses are expected to support the full nuclear fuel lifecycle—from fuel production and enrichment to advanced reactor deployment and manufacturing—while attracting significant private investment and creating thousands of high-paying jobs.

If selected, a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus could attract up to $50 billion in capital investment, generate as much as $10 billion in state and local tax revenue, and support nearly 25,000 jobs while advancing American nuclear capabilities.",1,2026-07-29T07:41:48Z,2026-07-29T07:42:57Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/opinion-on-this-we-can-agree-lets-stop-wildfires,Opinion: On This We Can Agree: Let’s Stop Wildfires,2026-07-27,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Letter-to-the-Editor Submitted by U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT)

WASHINGTON—In a letter responding to the Wall Street Journal editorial, “Trump and Bernie, Political Smokejumpers,” U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) argued that while the editorial correctly identifies American forest management failures, it overlooks the bipartisan legislative solutions already moving through Congress, including the Senator’s Fix Our Forests Act and Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act.

“We have neglected active forest management for far too long. Both parties share this blame. . . . But while you rightly criticize recent political finger-pointing, you fail to mention that bipartisan, turnkey solutions exist in this Congress,” Senator Curtis wrote.

“Cleaner air begins with better-managed forests. The support for these solutions proves that isn’t a Republican or a Democratic idea—it’s common sense. Yet, by our own doing, Washington is suffocating in the consequences of our own inaction,” the piece concludes.

Read the full letter to the editor here, and the original editorial here.

Background:

Utah fire seasons typically begin in July and end in October. Not even through the first month of the 2026 fire season, Utah has alreadyexperienced 651 total wildfires with over 380,000 acres burned in 2026—more than the past three years combined.",1,2026-07-28T07:37:32Z,2026-07-28T07:38:50Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-kelly-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-improve-transit-funding-for-fast-growing-communities,"Curtis, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Transit Funding for Fast-Growing Communities",2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Promoting Access to Transit in High-Growth Communities (PATH) Act, bipartisan legislation to modernize how the federal government evaluates transit projects seeking funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Burgess Owens (R-UT), Mike Kennedy (R-UT), Dina Titus (D-NV), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ).

“Communities across Utah are growing faster than ever, and our transportation planning needs to reflect where people are headed—not just where they live today,” said Senator Curtis. “The PATH Act gives fast-growing regions a fairer opportunity to compete for federal transit investments by recognizing future demand alongside current conditions. Better forecasting means better infrastructure decisions, less congestion, and stronger communities.”

“Arizona is one of the fastest‑growing states, but federal transit funding ignores that reality. This bill changes that by making population growth a factor when federal dollars are awarded,” said Senator Kelly.

“The PATH Act is a commonsense, bipartisan fix to a broken formula. For too long, federal transit dollars have gone to big cities that grew a century ago, funding the upkeep of infrastructure they already have, while fast-growing states like Utah were left fighting for scraps,” said Representative Owens. “This bill fixes that formula and levels the playing field. It ensures that states like ours, which have seen record growth and had the foresight to plan for it, can compete for limited federal dollars and put them to work on projects that will have long-lasting and meaningful impacts.”

“I have the privilege of representing one of the fastest-growing districts in America, and our infrastructure needs are growing just as quickly,” said Representative Kennedy. “The PATH Act modernizes how we evaluate transit projects by recognizing population growth and future development rather than relying solely on existing density. That’s a common-sense fix, and for Utah and other fast-growing states, it means a fair shot at the resources we need to build for the future.”

“Southern Nevada is one of the fastest growing regions in the country,” said Representative Titus. “By ensuring that population forecasts are taken into account in infrastructure investments such as commuter rail, streetcars, and rapid bus transit, the PATH Act will help transit agencies make vital investments to accommodate this growth.”

“Phoenix is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, and Arizonans feel the strain on our roads and transit every day,” said Representative Stanton. “Too often, federal funding formulas reward where growth happened decades ago instead of where it is happening right now. The PATH Act fixes that. It gives communities like ours a fair shot to compete for the investments we need to build transit that keeps pace with our growth. I am proud to join this bipartisan effort to make sure Arizona families are not left behind.”

“Fast-growing communities should be rewarded for planning ahead. Under the current evaluation framework for the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant Program, many communities must wait until population growth, traffic congestion, and transit demand have already materialized before they can effectively compete for major transit capital investments,” said Jay Fox, Executive Director, Utah Transit Authority (UTA). “The PATH Act modernizes that approach by allowing projected population growth and local transit-oriented development planning to be considered when determining project eligibility. UTA is grateful to Congressman Burgess Owens, Senator John Curtis, and the bipartisan cosponsors for their leadership in advancing this common-sense legislation, which will help rapidly growing regions like Utah’s Wasatch Front build the transit infrastructure needed to support future generations.”

“For decades, Utah has pursued a deliberate strategy of coordinating transportation investments, land-use planning, and transit-oriented development to create thriving population centers connected by high-quality transit,”said Andrew Gruber, Executive Director, Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC). “That approach has helped our region prepare for continued growth while addressing challenges such as traffic congestion, air quality, and housing affordability. The PATH Act recognizes the value of that planning by allowing communities that have done the hard work of preparing for future growth to compete more effectively for federal transit funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant Program. We appreciate Congressman Burgess Owens, Senator John Curtis, and their bipartisan colleagues for championing legislation that will empower fast-growing communities across the country to build transit systems before growth outpaces infrastructure.”

Background

Current federal transit funding evaluations rely heavily on existing population density and ridership, which can disadvantage rapidly growing communities where infrastructure has not yet caught up with population growth. The PATH Act allows the FTA to incorporate additional forecasting methods when evaluating a project’s future ridership and overall justification.

The legislation updates the evaluation criteria for projects applying for funding under the CIG program by allowing ridership forecasts to consider:

Population growth rates, in addition to population density;

The population measure that best reflects a project’s future ridership potential;

Current transit ridership in the project corridor; and

Local development planning activities that demonstrate future growth.

By modernizing these forecasting methods, the PATH Act aims to ensure federal transit investments better reflect the needs of communities experiencing rapid growth and significant new development.",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-introduces-protect-act-to-shield-kids-from-explicit-content,Lee Introduces PROTECT Act to Prevent Online Child Exploitation,2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation to shield children and other victims of sexual abuse from exploitation online. The Preventing Rampant Online Technological and Criminal Trafficking (PROTECT) Act requires platforms with explicit material to take reasonable steps to verify the age and consent of individuals who upload or appear in the content, while remaining consistent with First Amendment jurisprudence.

“Pornography sites need to do more to prevent the rampant child exploitation that is occurring on their platforms. The PROTECT Act is a step in that direction,” said Senator Mike Lee. “This bill will verify the ages and consent of the people appearing in explicit content – stopping abusive material from ever getting uploaded in the first place.”

Background

The online pornography market has quickly become one of the most lucrative industries, but much of the material in circulation is the product of sex trafficking and child exploitation. Though law enforcement diligently investigates and prosecutes individuals who distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM), pornography platforms regularly fail to verify the age, identity, or consent of depicted individuals. This carelessness allows human traffickers and websites to profit from underage or non-consenting individuals forced or coerced to participate.

Senator Lee advocates for greater accountability in the online pornography market by proposing legislation that requires platforms to vet the content they distribute. Each safeguard imposed by the PROTECT Act creates an additional barrier to the circulation of exploitative material, reducing online sexual exploitation and image-based sexual abuse.

Why This Matters

Existing security measures demonstrate the technological and operational feasibility of implementing safeguards. Federal statutes such as 18 U.S.C. § 2257 prevent minors from appearing in sexually explicit material by mandating age verification and recordkeeping. Additionally, pornography platforms have begun incorporating independent compliance systems to protect the individuals whose content generates their profits. OnlyFans requires uploaders to present government-issued identification and complete facial recognition before distributing their content. Pornhub also requires uploaders to verify the identities of each individual featured in the content and provide corresponding consent documentation.

The PROTECT Act will shield children and victims from the distribution of nonconsensual or exploitative material that has previously circulated without oversight or intervention.

The PROTECT Act:

Requires pornography platforms to verify the age and identity of individuals uploading pornographic images. Failure to comply with this section would result in a $10,000 per day per image civil penalty and additional criminal penalties.

Require pornography platforms to verify that each individual appearing in uploaded content is (1) not a minor, (2) has provided written consent for each depicted sex act, and (3) has consented to the distribution of the content. Failure to follow these regulations results in civil penalties for both the uploader and the host platform of up to $10,000 per day per image and additional criminal penalties.

Require pornography platforms to reasonably engage in the fight against human trafficking by eliminating the ability of traffickers to upload and monetize nonconsensual content involving both children and adults on pornographic platforms.",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-latter-day-saint-colleagues-honor-pioneer-spirit-on-senate-floor,"Lee, Latter-Day Saint Colleagues Honor Pioneer Spirit on Senate Floor",2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today joined his Latter-day Saint colleagues Sens. John Curtis (R-UT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) to commemorate the arrival of the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. In a resolution delivered on the Senate floor, the senators highlighted how the virtues demonstrated by early Latter-day Saint pioneers — including faith, sacrifice, resilience, and community — are universal American aspirations essential to addressing our nation’s modern challenges.

The resolution reads as follows:

This week, Utahns will celebrate Pioneer Day, which commemorates the arrival of the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.

For many outside of Utah, Pioneer Day may seem like a uniquely local observance. But the values it commemorates are profoundly American and can resonate with all of us. We recognize not only a historic journey, but the enduring pioneer spirit that helped shape the American West—and continues to shape our country today.

The early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sought to actualize our first freedom, and something every American should cherish: religious liberty.

Instead, they were driven from their homes, stripped of their property, and forced to flee into an uncertain wilderness.

Thousands traveled more than 1,300 miles across plains, deserts, and mountains. My recent walk across the state spanned only 250miles, and our pioneers did not have the luxury of spare shoes and an RV to sleep in at night.

Parents buried children. Children buried parents. Spouses buried their soulmates.

Yet, they sang “All is well”—from a hymn still a favorite in our church buildings today—for they had a vision of a land “Far away in the West, Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid; [where] the Saints will be blessed.”

When they finally reached that place, the Salt Lake Valley, they didn't dwell on what they had lost.

They focused on what they could build.

Within days, they were planting crops, digging irrigation canals, laying out streets, and creating communities where none had existed before.

Over the decades that followed, they established hundreds of settlements across the Mountain West, built roads and bridges, and helped countless other emigrants traveling west.

That is the pioneer spirit. That is the American spirit.

It is resilience in the face of hardship.

It is self-reliance married with cooperation.

It is choosing to build instead of surrender.

As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, I believe those values are as relevant today as they were nearly 180 years ago.

Every generation faces its own frontier. Ours may not be crossing the plains, but we are still called to solve difficult problems, contribute meaningfully to our communities, and leave a better nation for those who inherit it.

Americans still want to build something meaningful.

They still want to provide for their families.

They still want their children to inherit greater opportunities than they themselves received.

Those aspirations haven't changed.

What has changed is that sometimes we forget the virtues and sacrifices required to achieve them. May we all, this Pioneer Day, recommit ourselves to remembering that heritage, and channeling that spirit in our own hearts.

Because the American story has never belonged to just one generation. It is written by each generation willing to work, sacrifice, and build for the next.

That is why the resolution I’m introducing with my colleagues today is about more than honoring the past. It is about carrying forward the virtues that made those pioneers successful: faith, sacrifice, community, industry, and perseverance.

May we honor their legacy by living those same values and continuing to move our nation forward—one faithful step at a time.

Read the full resolution text here.

###",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/we-don-t-worship-fauci-lee-bill-pulls-tax-dollars-from-schools-that-deny-religious-vaccine-exemptions,“We Don’t Worship Fauci” Lee Bill Pulls Tax Dollars from Schools that Deny Religious Vaccine Exemptions,2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced legislation to keep federal tax dollars from schools that refuse to recognize religious exemptions for vaccinations. The Guaranteeing Religious Accommodation in Childhood Education (GRACE) Act protects religious freedom and parental rights by cutting federal funding from noncompliant schools, and prevents schools from targeting families with burdensome religious documentation requirements. The GRACE Act is cosponsored by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), was introduced in the House by Congressman Greg Steube (R-FL-17), and is endorsed by over fifty organizations.

“Schools are discriminating against religious kids and targeting their families over vaccine exemptions,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Keeping a kindergartner out of class over a vaccine is cruel – and it’s unconstitutional when the reason is their family’s religion. The GRACE Act will keep federal tax dollars out of schools that refuse religious exemptions for vaccines, and will outlaw targeting families to prove their beliefs. These schools need to learn we don’t all worship Fauci.”

“This is a free country and parents have every right to make personal decisions about what vaccines they choose to give their children,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville. “Last time I checked, parents are in charge of a child’s healthcare decisions, not the federal government. Taxpayer funded K-12 schools have no right to turn students away at the door because of their vaccination status – especially if they have a religious exemption. The GRACE Act is an incredibly important bill that protects religious liberty and puts parents back in charge.”

“Freedom of speech and religion is the most sacred right guaranteed under our Constitution,” said Congressman Greg Steube. “No student or their family should ever be coerced into sacrificing their faith or jumping through loopholes to comply with a vaccine requirement. The GRACE Act reaffirms our country’s commitment to protecting religious freedom in the classroom.”

The GRACE Act is supported by families and endorsed by over fifty organizations including Guiding The Impact, Family Research Council, First Liberty, Children’s Health Defense, MAHA Action, Moms for Liberty, Global Wellness Forum, and many others.

Read the experiences of American families impacted by discriminatory vaccine mandates at a recent hearing and below:

""I am very thankful for Senator Lee's legislation to provide equal opportunities for children and to restore religious liberty. The repeal of the religious exemption has become etched into every part of who I am. No child should ever have to go through the exclusion and isolation that my sister and I did. Without my parents' sacrifices, we would have lost important parts of our childhood. Though I love my new school, I always worry whether I will lose my place in class if religious exemptions are repealed again. I worry about losing my access to learning, friends, teachers, self esteem – everything that took so long to build back. All children in the United States should have equal access to education, regardless of their faith. That is what our founding fathers envisioned so many years ago.” – Isabella, 14-year-old student who was denied her right to an education on her 7th birthday

""We are incredibly thankful for Senator Lee's courage and leadership. Our family continues to sacrifice education, privacy, financial stability, and the peaceful enjoyment of our lives in order to maintain our religious convictions as we raise our children. A truly inclusive society offers every child a seat in the classroom, which many states have safely accomplished. This legislation would bring desperately needed relief to our children and to families who have endured great harm and sacrifice as a result of their commitment to faith.” – Nancy, mother to Isabella and parent impacted by discriminatory vaccine mandates

“Since California eliminated its religious exemption for school immunization requirements in 2015, my daughter has been unable to attend the neighborhood school she would otherwise attend today. We live near the school, so she regularly sees children her age walking through the gates with their backpacks. She looks at me and asks, ""Mom, why can't I go to school like the other kids?"" There is no easy way to explain to a 7-year-old that she can't attend because California no longer recognizes our family’s sincerely held religious beliefs.” – Karen, parent impacted by discriminatory vaccine mandates

""When New York repealed its religious exemption in 2019, our oldest son was forced out of the high school he loved, our younger children were denied access to daycare and school, and my husband and I spent three years homeschooling while working full-time. Ultimately, we had no choice but to uproot our family and move to Florida – leaving behind our home, careers, friends, extended family, and even our oldest son and grandson – so our younger children could receive an education without requiring us to violate our Christian faith. No American family should ever be driven from their home state simply to exercise a God-given right protected by the First Amendment."" – Elyse Young, Founder, Guiding the Impact

Background

Vaccine mandates for children in K-12 schools began in 1855, with all 50 states requiring a variety of student vaccines by 1980. These mandates require children to receive state-selected vaccinations in order to enroll in classes, and sometimes to participate in extracurricular activities.

While students may receive an exemption from one or more vaccines for medical, religious, or personal reasons, religious exemptions are often viewed as less legitimate than medical exemptions and are the most challenging for students to obtain. Requirements to receive an exemption range from providing a note signed by a legal guardian to showing explicit documentation proving religious affiliation. These hurdles for non-medical vaccine exemptions have caused some parents to withdraw their child from school – sometimes neglecting to provide education entirely. Other students in California, Connecticut, Maine, and New York are not allowed any form of religious exemption and must be vaccinated at the expense of their beliefs in order to attend school.

Before removing their religious freedom exemptions in recent years, California and New York reported that approximately 1-3% of their students held religious freedom exemptions, and Maine saw approximately double the national rate for non-medical exemptions. Thousands of American children are now blocked from attending the schools their tax dollars pay for, solely because of their sincerely held religious beliefs.

The GRACE Act would rectify this injustice by ensuring that the federal government does not financially support school policies that supersede students’ First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion.

The Guaranteeing Religious Accommodation in Childhood Education (GRACE) Act:

Prohibits federal education funds from any educational institutions and agencies that do not allow religious exemptions to vaccine requirements.

Prevents institutions from requiring documentation or other information to be submitted by the student or family obtaining a religious exemption.

Read exclusive coverage by Breitbart News here.",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-the-pioneer-spirit-is-the-american-spirit,Curtis: The Pioneer Spirit is the American Spirit,2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"The full text of the resolution can be found here. Video of his remarks is available here and the full transcript as prepared for delivery is below.

Mr. President,

This week, Utahns will celebrate Pioneer Day, which commemorates the arrival of the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.

For many outside of Utah, Pioneer Day may seem like a uniquely local observance. But the values it commemorates are profoundly American and can resonate with all of us. We recognize not only a historic journey, but the enduring pioneer spirit that helped shape the American West—and continues to shape our country today.

The early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sought to actualize our first freedom, and something every American should cherish: religious liberty.

Instead, they were driven from their homes, stripped of their property, and forced to flee into an uncertain wilderness.

Thousands traveled more than 1,300 miles across plains, deserts, and mountains. My recent walk across the state spanned only 250-miles, and our pioneers did not have the luxury of spare shoes and an RV to sleep in at night.

Parents buried children. Children buried parents. Spouses buried their soulmates.

Yet, they sang “All is well”—from a hymn still a favorite in our church buildings today—for they had a vision of a land “Far away in the West, Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid; [where] the Saints will be blessed.”

When they finally reached that place, the Salt Lake Valley, they didn’t dwell on what they had lost.

They focused on what they could build.

Within days, they were planting crops, digging irrigation canals, laying out streets, and creating communities where none had existed before.

Over the decades that followed, they established hundreds of settlements across the Mountain West, built roads and bridges, and helped countless other emigrants traveling west.

That is the pioneer spirit. That is the American spirit.

It is resilience in the face of hardship.

It is self-reliance married with cooperation.

It is choosing to build instead of surrender.

As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, I believe those values are as relevant today as they were nearly 180 years ago.

Every generation faces its own frontier. Ours may not be crossing the plains, but we are still called to solve difficult problems, contribute meaningfully to our communities, and leave a better nation for those who inherit it.

Americans still want to build something meaningful.

They still want to provide for their families.

They still want their children to inherit greater opportunities than they themselves received.

Those aspirations haven’t changed.

What has changed is that sometimes we forget the virtues and sacrifices required to achieve them. May we all, this Pioneer Day, recommit ourselves to remembering that heritage, and channeling that spirit in our own hearts.

Because the American story has never belonged to just one generation. It is written by each generation willing to work, sacrifice, and build for the next.

That is why the resolution I’m introducing with my colleagues today is about more than honoring the past. It is about carrying forward the virtues that made those pioneers successful: faith, sacrifice, community, industry, and perseverance.

May we honor their legacy by living those same values and continuing to move our nation forward—one faithful step at a time.

Thank you, Mr. President.",1,2026-07-25T07:13:44Z,2026-07-25T07:15:09Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-bill-to-support-next-generation-of-american-aviation-advances-out-of-committee,Curtis Bill to Support Next Generation of American Aviation Advances Out of Committee,2026-07-22,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) today applauded the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee passage of the bipartisan Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act, legislation that would improve the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) type certification process for American Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft companies to help them succeed and cement the United States’ role as a global leader in aviation. The bill, cosponsored by Curtis, was introduced by Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Ted Budd (R-NC).

“The Committee passage today brings us one step closer to modernizing the FAA certification process for the next generation of aviation,” said Senator Curtis. “This bipartisan bill will provide greater clarity and accountability, helping American Advanced Air Mobility companies innovate, compete, and lead the world in the future of flight. I’m pleased to see it advance and look forward to its passage by the full Senate.”

“Building on generations of leadership in aviation, American companies are spearheading electric aircraft innovation. That includes companies like Vermont’s Beta Technologies, which completed its historic, first-ever electric flight last year in South Burlington. Ensuring the FAA certification process is safe, efficient, and more transparent for emerging AAM companies like Beta is critical to promoting aviation innovation,” said Senator Welch. “I’m thankful for the support of my colleagues on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, including my bipartisan co-lead Senator Budd, in helping this bill fly through to the Senate Floor to support American ingenuity, good-paying jobs in Vermont, and our global leadership in aviation.”

“By ensuring that the FAA prioritizes the certification of novel aircraft like eVTOLs, we can quickly incorporate innovative technology into the National Airspace System. I am glad that our common-sense efforts to usher in the next generation of advanced air mobility aircraft will soon be considered by the full Senate,” said Senator Budd.

Background:

AAM technology is a novel collection of technologies that will allow new, innovative aircraft to integrate into our airspace system. Emerging U.S.-based AAM companies are also paving the way for new and innovative electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Supporting the United States’ continued leadership in AAM technology development will boost economic growth in American communities across the country.

Since the introduction of the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have both released reports on the AAM certification process and actions that can be taken by Congress to promote aviation innovation.

Specifically, the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act:

Establishes non-binding, standard expected timelines for the FAA’s type certification process for AAM aircraft for the Agency to respond to petitions for exemptions of aircraft type, and to develop means of compliance for aircraft outside of the existing types of AAM aircraft.

Sets transparent and reliable non-binding, standard expected ranges of time for the issue paper process, so that type certification applicants know how long reviews will take, reducing uncertainty and delays.

Provides the FAA with the sole discretion to exclude safety-critical matters from established timelines to ensure airspace safety is paramount.

Directs the FAA to define when an issue paper is required in the certification process, while providing flexibility for the Agency on complex safety issues.

Directs the FAA to account for performance-based rules in the certification process.

Directs the FAA to brief the relevant congressional committees on the status of implementing the certification regulations and managing workload.

Clarifies when the FAA can delegate routine compliance findings to qualified personnel, allowing Agency experts to focus on complex, safety-critical issues.

Updates delegation guidance for type certification to cover new and novel technologies related to AAM, including eVTOL aircraft.

The Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act is endorsed by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA); Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA); Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA); American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE); American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA); Archer Aviation; Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI); Beta Technologies; Boeing; Eve Air Mobility; General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA); Joby Aviation; National Air Transportation Association (NATA); National Business Aviation Association (NBAA); Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS); Vertical Aviation International (VAI); and Wisk Aero.",1,2026-07-23T07:31:02Z,2026-07-23T07:32:26Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-leads-bipartisan-wildfire-emissions-prevention-act,Curtis Leads Bipartisan Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act,2026-07-22,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Bipartisan legislation removes regulatory burden on proactive forest management efforts to mitigate wildfires

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led his EPW colleagues—including Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Boozman (R-AR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ)—in introducing the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA). The bipartisan legislation would streamline states’ use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions, protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and make American forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner. It also promotes the efficient use of state air quality resources and provides certainty that states will not be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires.

“If we’re serious about reducing the size and severity of wildfires, we need to stop punishing local authorities for doing the right thing to improve forest health and remove hazardous fuels,” said Senator Curtis. “By removing unnecessary regulatory burdens on prescribed burns, our legislation helps ensure states and localities can take proactive measures to help keep our forests and communities safe from the threat of wildfires.”

“I am very proud to cosponsor this legislation, which will help reduce the impact of wildfires on our land, our air, and our people,” said Chair Capito. “Wildfires have ravaged many parts of our country over the past several years, and change is necessary to ensure that states can successfully prevent the most dangerous and damaging fires. States should have the right to use known prevention practices, including prescribed fires, to mitigate potential catastrophes and care for their land. This bill gives states another tool in their toolbox, and will reduce barriers to successfully managing wildfires and protecting communities nationwide.”

“When the 2020 Labor Day fires swept across Oregon, I drove over 600 miles and never once escaped the thick, dark smoke that blanketed our state. As Oregonians face yet another record-breaking fire season this year, we need to tackle this crisis at every stage,” said Senator Merkley. “Our bipartisan bill supports more prescribed fire on the landscape—an essential forest management activity—while giving our communities the resources to plan and prepare for smoke events. Climate chaos is fueling more severe wildfires, and I’ll keep fighting to ensure Oregon and communities nationwide have the tools they need to protect public health and save lives.”

“In light of the devastating wildfires we now see far too often, Congress should do everything it can to encourage better forest management practices. Prescribed burns are an important way to prevent large-scale fires that threaten homes and property while damaging natural resources,” said Senator Boozman. “I am proud to join colleagues on both sides of the aisle on this legislation to ensure controlled burns do not generate an adverse Clean Air Act impact or penalize states taking proactive mitigation steps.”

“We know prescribed burns help prevent catastrophic wildfires and save lives,” said Senator Padilla. “This bipartisan bill cuts red tape so California and the whole country can make greater use of this proven, cost-effective tool to protect communities before the next major wildfire. It’s a commonsense step that prioritizes prevention instead of waiting to respond after disaster strikes.”

“Arizona knows the damage catastrophic wildfires can do to our communities and forests. Prescribed burns are one of the best ways to reduce that risk before a fire gets out of control, and states shouldn’t be penalized for taking action,” said Senator Kelly. “This bipartisan effort will help prevent larger, more destructive wildfires, keep our forests healthier, and better protect families from the smoke and pollution they leave behind.”

Background:

Utah fire seasons typically begin in July and end in October. Not even through the first month of the 2026 fire season, Utah has already experienced 594 total wildfires with 379,929 acres burned in 2026—more than the past three years combined.

While topography and natural weather conditions like a historic drought and an increasingly arid, hot climate contribute to an increase in the number of fires and their intensity, land managers can effectively influence fire behavior through proactive measures like prescribed burns. This reduces the number of hazardous fuels, the dry vegetation that catches fire easily—helping protect forests, properties, and communities along the wildland-urban interface.

Implementing these measures has become increasingly burdensome, with environmental reviews for even the smallest projects taking up to four years. Moreover, land managers can be deterred from prescribed burns due to existing environmental penalties. Yet, by avoiding these controlled burns, catastrophic wildfires become practically guaranteed and emit far more carbon than proactive management ever would.

The Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act would:

Make it easier for states and communities to use prescribed fire to prevent wildfire emissions;

Protect ecosystems and wildlife habitat;

Provide certainty that states won’t be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires;

Promote the efficient use of state air quality resources; and

Make our forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner.",1,2026-07-23T07:31:02Z,2026-07-23T07:32:26Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-padilla-tillis-schiff-press-congressional-leaders-to-pass-long-term-disaster-recovery-funding,"Curtis, Padilla, Tillis, Schiff Press Congressional Leaders to Pass Long-Term Disaster Recovery Funding",2026-07-22,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) urged Congressional leaders to include long-term disaster recovery funding in any supplemental appropriations package after the Administration’s recent emergency funding request did not include desperately needed resources for communities to rebuild and recover following catastrophic natural disasters.

In a letter to Senate Committee on Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), the Senators identified natural disasters that have severely devastated communities across the country, specifically the wildfires across Utah.

“This year alone, wildfires have already burned approximately 373,295 acres across 493 fires in Utah,” wrote the senators. “It is only the beginning of the peak dry season, with dangerous conditions persisting for months ahead, and Utah’s prevention and rebuilding efforts have barely begun as communities grapple with destroyed homes, damaged infrastructure, displaced families, and the looming threats of post-fire flooding, erosion, and watershed contamination. These devastating losses not only endanger lives and livelihoods but also impose enormous economic burdens through skyrocketing suppression costs, lost agricultural productivity, and long-term recovery needs. Immediate funding for wildfire protection, prevention, fuel reduction, and rebuilding are more critical than ever to safeguard the West before the season worsens further.”

“These disasters have caused widespread damage across California, North Carolina, and Utah, affecting federal and state highways, critical public infrastructure, homes, and buildings,” the senators continued. “The scale and complexity of these events will require sustained federal support to help communities rebuild damaged infrastructure, restore essential services, and meet long term recovery needs. Therefore, we strongly urge you to include long-term disaster recovery funding, like the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR), in any supplemental appropriations package to ensure communities have the resources needed to rebuild and recover.”

The senators urged that long-term disaster recovery funding be included in any supplemental appropriations package moving forward, emphasizing the critical need required to fully rebuild, as well as support needed for other natural disasters in Utah and North Carolina.",1,2026-07-23T07:31:02Z,2026-07-23T07:32:26Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-asks-hhs-to-cut-red-tape-for-life-saving-diabetes-treatment,Lee Asks HHS to Cut Red Tape for Life-Saving Diabetes Treatment,2026-07-21,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to cut red tape around life-saving diabetes treatment. Building on the framework of Senator Lee’s ISLET Act, the letter urges HHS to reclassify islets to facilitate their use in treatment for Americans with diabetes.

“Americans living with diabetes have been kept from life-saving research by nonsensical red tape,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Other countries treat islet transplantation as standard care, but a miscategorization in our law regulates islets as drugs rather than organs. I’m asking HHS to rectify this issue and make critical care available to Americans living with Type 1 diabetes.”

The letter is endorsed and championed by leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization Breakthrough T1D:

“For decades, other countries have successfully treated eligible people with type 1 diabetes using deceased donor islet transplants. Yet a simple regulatory classification has kept such treatments relatively inaccessible to the U.S. T1D community. It is past time for that to change. Breakthrough T1D thanks Senator Lee for his leadership in calling on HHS to reclassify deceased donor islets as organs for transplantation. This one adjustment can bring life-changing relief to more people living with T1D in the U.S. while catalyzing the research that will ultimately cure us all. We urge Secretary Kennedy to quickly take up this much-needed policy change.” – Breakthrough T1D

The letter reads as follows:

Dear Secretary Kennedy,

Re: Please Act to Reclassify Deceased Donor Islet Cells as Organs to Improve Diabetes Treatment Availability

I write to urge HHS to take administrative action to improve access to deceased donor islet cell transplantation for individuals living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Scientific progress has brought the 1.6 million Americans living with T1D closer to transformative and potentially curative therapies than ever before, but outdated regulatory classifications continue to limit patient access to this safe and effective treatment option. This must be fixed.

Recognizing the need to expand access to deceased donor islet cell transplantation for individuals living with T1D, I introduced the ISLET Act. This legislation would reclassify unmodified deceased donor islet cells as organs for purposes of transplantation—rather than continuing to regulate them solely as biological products requiring approval through a Biologics License Application (BLA)—so more centers across the United States can offer this therapy option. However, it is also possible for this reclassification to be made under existing HHS authority. Such administrative action, consistent with the policy goals of the ISLET Act, could simplify the transplant process, help align oversight with the biological nature of these cells, and ensure patients are not denied access to a potentially transformative therapy.

Deceased donor islet cell transplantation has been studied for decades, and clinical research shows meaningful benefits for individuals with T1D who experience severe hypoglycemia and hypoglycemia unawareness. Yet, despite FDA approval of a deceased donor islet cell product in 2023, patient access remains extremely limited. This suggests that the current US regulatory pathway is not functioning in a way that supports broad, practical availability of this therapy for the patients most likely to benefit from it. Reclassifying unmodified deceased donor islet cells under the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), while maintaining FDA oversight for manufactured cell therapies and any deceased donor islet products that undergo further modification, is a sensible and targeted solution.

Importantly, this approach would not require compromising patient safety. Rather, it could be implemented through a carefully designed framework that includes qualified transplant centers, appropriate quality controls, clear distribution protocols, and a pathway for responsible expansion to additional accredited sites. Such an approach would also better align the United States with the regulatory treatment of deceased donor islet cell transplantation in other developed nations and help strengthen American leadership in diabetes innovation and cure-focused research.

I urge HHS to act now, within its existing authority, so eligible patients are not forced to wait for access to a therapy that could significantly improve their lives, and I welcome the opportunity to work with you and your team on a swift path forward.

Read the full text of the letter here.

###",1,2026-07-22T07:34:13Z,2026-07-22T07:35:16Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-urges-doj-investigation-of-five-gruesome-dc-abortion-victims-with-rep-chris-smith,Lee Urges DOJ Investigation of Five Gruesome DC Abortion Victims with Rep. Chris Smith,2026-07-21,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-04) led 55 of their Republican colleagues in a letter urging the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate five gruesome apparent late-term abortion victims discovered outside of a D.C. clinic in 2022. Known as the “D.C. Five,” these victims have yet to receive proper investigations, autopsies, or justice. The letter is endorsed by National Right to Life, SBA Pro-Life America, Family Research Council, and Students for Life Action.

“Four years ago now, the bodies of five preborn children were found in D.C., apparently victims of infanticide or illegal partial-birth abortions. Those babies have still not received justice or proper investigations,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Americans cannot tolerate rogue abortion clinics performing gruesome murders and casting helpless victims aside like garbage, especially not in our Nation’s capital. This crime demands attention and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. I urge the Department of Justice to give this alarming case the full investigation it deserves, and the victims the proper autopsies and burials they are owed.”

“The Biden Administration’s deliberate and callous mishandling of the ‘D.C. Five’ case has been a stain on the Department of Justice for over four years now,” said Congressman Chris Smith. “These five beautiful, innocent babies—who were violently exterminated—deserve justice, accountability, and respect. All those involved and complicit in these children’s barbaric deaths must be held to account, and we are calling upon President Trump’s Department of Justice to ensure that these battered baby victims receive their day in court.”

Background

In the letter, first obtained by the Daily Wire, the 57 members of Congress explain that the desecrated bodies of these children — one of which bore deep lacerations and injuries consistent with illegal partial-birth abortion procedures — were “recovered by the Metropolitan Police Department in 2022, after they were allegedly aborted in the Washington Surgi-Clinic operated by the late-term abortionist Dr. Cesare Santangelo.”

“For four years, members of Congress have remained alarmed at this clear violation of life and law, but the Biden Administration Department of Justice refused to act,” the Republican lawmakers write.

The letter follows an April 2022 letter led by Senator Lee and Congressman Smith and signed by 67 other members of Congress, which called upon Biden-era Attorney General Merrick Garland to conduct a “comprehensive investigation on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of each preborn baby.”

The latest letter explains that President Biden’s DOJ “never provided a substantive response or indicated that any investigation had occurred,” and reports indicated that the agency even went as far as to advise “the Chief Medical Examiner to discard the bodies of the infants.”

In the letter, the members of Congress relay the expert findings of neonatal specialist Dr. Robin Pierucci, M.D. — who, upon viewing the publicly shared photographs of the deceased babies, said that she could “‘say with confidence that [four of] these babies died at an age when they were viable, premature people’” — and neonatologist Dr. Kendra Kolb, M.D., who posited that at least one child may have been killed from an illegal partial-birth abortion method, as one 28-30 week-old baby had “‘deep lacerations to the posterior neck, which presumably correlates to the method of abortion used to end her life.’”

The Republican lawmakers further argue that “if this baby girl was alive when the abortionist made these lacerations, then her death directly violated the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 (18 U.S. Code § 1531), which criminalizes the partial deliverance of a living child for the purpose of performing an overt act that intentionally takes the life of the child.”

Urging a renewed review of these tragic cases, the GOP co-signers note that former Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed in a June 2025 House budget hearing that the DOJ “was conducting an ongoing investigation into this case” and recall that a report signed by President Donald Trump encouraged the agency to “‘provide a briefing to the Committees on all actions previously taken by the Department on this issue within 180 days after the enactment of this act,’” which would fall on July 22, 2026.

“After years of inaction by the Biden Administration, we write to you again to reiterate these concerns and request that DOJ promptly complete a thorough investigation into the death of each child, including autopsies of the infants and the preservation of all collected evidence. Additionally, we request that you ensure these children receive a proper and respectful burial once the investigation is complete and all responsible parties have been brought to justice,” the members of Congress write.

“We cannot undo the grievous, barbaric acts that killed these children in their most vulnerable stage, but we equally cannot allow such lawlessness and inhumanity to evade our justice system any longer. Under President Trump’s and your leadership, we are hopeful that these children will finally receive the justice they deserve,” the GOP lawmakers conclude.

Read exclusive coverage by the Daily Wire here.

Read the full text of the letter here.

###",1,2026-07-22T07:34:13Z,2026-07-22T07:35:16Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-cosponsors-legislation-to-hold-purchasers-of-russian-oil-accountable,Curtis Cosponsors Legislation to Hold Purchasers of Russian Oil Accountable,2026-07-17,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Foreign Relations Committee, cosponsored the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation to hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. Originally championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the bill is led by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Darline Graham (R-SC) and is supported by more than 60 other senators.

“As long as Vladimir Putin’s war machine is funded by countries willing to buy Russian oil and gas, the war in Ukraine will continue,”said Senator Curtis. “This bipartisan legislation gives a powerful tool to increase pressure on Russia, hold its enablers accountable, and ensure Russia does not win this war.”

“Ukraine is at a critical crossroads—and we must meet this pivotal moment with a powerful sanctions bill. As Ukraine turns the tide on the battlefield, our Russia sanctions bill would be historically impactful in stopping Russia’s murderous slaughter,” said Senator Blumenthal. “When Senator Graham and I last spoke, he was absolutely exultant, calling from Kyiv with news that President Trump would support this bill to impose scorching tariffs and sanctions on purchasers of Russian oil and stop them from fueling Putin’s war machine. Now is the time to push Russia toward peace. Ukraine is gaining net territory and reaching deep into Russia with its drones and missiles. Sanctions provide a path toward peace. Our bill is the product of lengthy, detailed, difficult bipartisan work, and now has broad bipartisan support. Passing this legislation right now would be a fitting tribute to Senator Graham’s fierce support for Ukraine’s freedom.”

“Until the very day he passed, Lindsey remained focused on passing the Russia sanctions bill. Passing this legislation would honor my brother’s steadfast commitment to our national security, and it would provide President Trump with additional leverage to bring this war to an end. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation and send it to President Trump’s desk,” said Senator Darline Graham.

Background:

Senator Lindsey Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the effort last week and secured an agreement with the White House on Friday, before his death. Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham first introduced legislation in April 2025—cosponsored by Curtis—to bring primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 targets Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as the Russian Shadow Fleet. The legislation also directs the President to impose up to 100 percent tariffs on imported goods from countries that buy the majority of Russian oil and gas, and enable Russian sanctions evasion. The new text limits these tariffs to the five largest importers of Russian crude oil and gas.

A one-pager on the legislation is available here, and the bill text is available here.",1,2026-07-18T06:58:50Z,2026-07-18T07:00:34Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-kelly-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-support-young-mens-community-involvement-mentorship,"Curtis, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Support Young Men’s Community Involvement, Mentorship",2026-07-17,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Building Community in America Act, bipartisan legislation to expand pathways for Americans to serve as mentors, volunteers, and community leaders. The bill expands service participation among underrepresented populations, with a focus on men, in mentoring, coaching, youth development, and community-building activities.

“At a time when too many young men feel lonely and isolated, we should be creating more opportunities to mentor, volunteer, and connect to a great purpose,” said Senator Curtis. “By helping connect more young men to meaningful service and mentorship programs, our legislation will make our communities healthier, more resilient, and more connected.”

“Every kid deserves positive role models, and every community is stronger when more people step up to serve,” said Senator Kelly. “My years in the Navy taught me that service gives you purpose, responsibility and a stronger connection to your community. Right now, too many schools need teachers and too many mentoring programs need volunteers. We need more men to become teachers, mentors, and volunteers. When more people serve, our kids and our communities are better off.”

Background:

America’s communities are facing shortages of teachers, mentors, and volunteers at a time when many young people report feeling increasingly isolated and disconnected. Research shows volunteering strengthens social connections, improves mental and physical health, and increases civic engagement, yet men represent just 28 percent of AmeriCorps volunteers. Boys also face longer waitlists for mentors, and one in four boys and young men lacks an adult male mentor they can rely on.

The legislation addresses declining community engagement and increasing concerns about loneliness and disconnection among young people. Men today make up just 23 percent of public-school teachers and 28 percent of AmeriCorps volunteers, despite the important role teachers, mentors, and volunteers play in young people’s development.

The Building Community in America Act would:

Prioritize national service programs that recruit and train underrepresented participants, including men;

Expand opportunities to serve in youth mentoring, after-school programs, conservation, disaster response, public safety, violence interruption, reentry services, skilled trades, apprenticeships, and workforce development; and

Strengthen communities by encouraging more Americans to volunteer, mentor, and serve.",1,2026-07-18T06:58:50Z,2026-07-18T07:00:34Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-merkley-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-enhance-aviation-safety-after-slackline-helicopter-tragedy,"Curtis, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Aviation Safety After Slackline-Helicopter Tragedy",2026-07-17,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation that would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address urgent aviation safety issues by reviewing and updating existing safeguards for temporary obstructions in the low-altitude airspace, such as slacklines. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).

“High-adventure activities in Utah, like slacklining, should not come at the cost of aviation safety, particularly for helicopter pilots who transport patients, fight wildfires, and support search and rescue missions,” said Senator Curtis. “Our bipartisan bill takes a practical look at where the FAA can modernize its policies, improve coordination, and reduce unnecessary risks so everyone sharing our airspace can do so more safely.”

“Strengthening aviation safety is something that both Republicans and Democrats can get behind, especially following the tragic slackline collision that took the lives of four Oregonians earlier this year,” said Senator Merkley. “The FAA must do all it can to keep the flying public safe, and our bipartisan McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act directs the agency to prioritize aviation safety. We must move swiftly to reduce the risk of any similar tragedy in the future.”

“Congress must act with urgency to ensure federal regulators are taking every possible step to prevent low-flying aircraft crashes with slacklines like the tragedy that cost the lives of four Oregonians earlier this year,” said Senator Wyden. “This bill would accomplish that goal by setting deadlines for the Federal Aviation Administration to update and improve its policies and regulations for low-altitude airspace safety.”

“David, Katelyn, Rachel, and Faith lost their lives in an Arizona helicopter crash that never should have happened. I’ve met with their family. No one should have to go through what they’ve been through. This bill makes sure the FAA acts quickly to prevent tragedies like this from happening again,” said Senator Kelly.

Background:

The introduction of the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act follows a deadly helicopter crash caused by a collision with a slackline on January 2, 2026, that tragically claimed the lives of four Oregonians—David McCarty and his three nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty, and Katelyn Heideman. The bipartisan bill would instruct the FAA to use its authorities to review existing policies and regulations related to low-altitude airspace safety, including identifying appropriate policy, operational, or technical improvements such as updated requirements related to markings on slacklines.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

The bipartisan McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act is supported by Southern Utah University (SUU) Aviation, Vertical Aviation International (VAI), National Transportation Aviation Association (NATA), Balloon Federation of America (BFA), United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA), Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA), Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), BackcountryPilot.org, American Spray Drone Coalition, Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Life Flight Network, National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA), and Commercial Drone Alliance.

On behalf of the McCarty and Heideman family, “We are very grateful and excited to see the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act be introduced. It is a crucial and urgent step towards making the airspace safer for pilots, passengers, cargo, and anyone using the airspace for work or recreation. We look forward to working on getting this across the finish line!”

“At Southern Utah University’s School of Aviation, we are preparing the next generation of pilots to operate safely in an increasingly complex National Airspace System. That requires more than strong flight training, it requires pilots to have timely, accurate, and easily accessible information about hazards in the airspace around them. The McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act takes a practical approach by improving transparency, strengthening coordination, and examining how temporary obstruction information can be integrated into the digital flight-planning tools pilots use every day. Safety of flight and protection of the National Airspace System must remain our highest priorities, and we appreciate Senator Curtis’s leadership on this important bipartisan legislation,” said Michael Mower, Executive Director, Chief Instructor Southern Utah University’s School of Aviation.

“Wildfire airspace overlaps public lands and recreation. Formal coordination with the FAA, Forest Service, BLM, and Park Service—paired with real outreach and right sized penalties for creating low altitude hazards—prevents tragedies before they happen. We strongly support this bill and urge swift passage,” said Paul Peterson, Executive Director, United Aerial Firefighters Association.

“The National Agricultural Aviation Association firmly endorses the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act. The requirements this act places on the FAA will help ensure no more aviators operating in the low altitude airspace lose their life because of an unmarked slackline or other hazard strung across the landscape,” said Matthew Woolard, President, National Agricultural Aviation Association.

“The American Spray Drone Coalition (ASDC) strongly endorses the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act, reflecting our deep commitment to promoting high standards of low-altitude airspace safety for both crewed and uncrewed aviators. By directing the FAA to review existing safety policies, this legislation takes a critical first step toward assessing necessary improvements for temporary obstruction markings and ensuring obstacle data can be seamlessly integrated into modern digital flight planning tools,” said Eric Ringer, President, American Spray Drone Association.",1,2026-07-18T06:58:50Z,2026-07-18T07:00:34Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-secures-committee-approval-of-water-projects-for-utah-amid-intense-drought,Curtis Secures Committee Approval of Water Projects for Utah Amid Intense Drought,2026-07-15,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Video of the Senator’s Committee remarks can be found here, and a transcript is below.

Utah is in a record drought. Everywhere I go, it’s “water, water, water, water.” And I think in many cases, as [there are] many pressing problems we have as a country and as a state, water still rises to the top.

So, I’m very pleased, particularly for the communities of Ephraim and Centerville, who will benefit from this in their ability to bring clean water to the residents and otherwise would not be able to do it without this bill.

So, I’d like to thank the Committee, the staff, [and] the Ranking Member yourself for making this possible.

I’d also like to point out the Great Salt Lake and the impending needs there, and I look forward to furthering discussions with this Committee and other members to see how we can save a very, very important asset in the West.

It’s an environmental issue. It’s a standard of living issue. On many, many levels this is important and a very important role.

And what I’m pleased with the Great Salt Lake is that my state’s not just waiting for the federal government. I have philanthropic help. I have local community help. I have state government help. Everybody is leaning into this, and I’m grateful the federal government is willing to lean in as well.",1,2026-07-16T07:21:44Z,2026-07-16T07:23:13Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-bill-authorizes-american-hackers-to-fight-foreign-cyber-attacks,Lee Bill Authorizes American Hackers to Fight Foreign Cyberattacks,2026-07-15,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced legislation that would allow private American entities to prevent foreign cyberattacks against the United States. The Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act authorizes President Trump to issue letters of marque and reprisal to strategically deter and disrupt cyber operations against the U.S. The bill continues Senator Lee’s recent work to revive the use of traditional letters of marque and reprisal under the Constitution. Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) introduced the House version of this legislation.

“Our legislation allows American digital privateers to raid cartels, cybercriminals, and foreign adversaries, disrupting their operations and seizing their assets,” said Senator Mike Lee. “This is the ultimate in white hat hacking: stealing from America’s enemies at the direction of the President, and splitting the profits with the federal government.”

""Widespread cybercrime has become an existential threat to our national security,"" said Congressman Tim Burchett. ""Allowing private operators to aid the federal government in combatting these crimes will strengthen our ability to defend the United States against terrorism.""

Background

Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution authorizes Congress to “grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal.” Once a commonly used tool against piracy, letters of marque authorized private citizens to seize enemy vessels with their cargoes and crew. In December 2025, Senator Mike Lee introduced a bill authorizing President Trump to allow private citizens and groups to join in defending the United States from cartels on land and sea.

Building on that legislation, the Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act will allow the President to arm America’s hackers with authority to combat foreign cyberattacks against the United States. The bill authorizes the President to issue cyber letters of marque and reprisal to strategically deter and disrupt cyber operations against the U.S. and Americans, facilitate the return of stolen assets to Americans, and empower the private sector.

The Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act:

Authorizes the President or a designee to commission private persons to conduct cyber operations against designated cyberthreats through letters of marque and reprisal. The recipients of such letters are required to post a security bond in agreement with the President, and the recipients shall forfeit the posted bond if they violate the terms of the letter. The President may require up to 15% of the total assets recovered to fund bounty programs, which the President may facilitate for holders of such letters to claim. Holders of such letters are prohibited from knowingly conducting operations against U.S. citizens, required to log all their activities, and are limited to conducting only operations that are necessary to the mission.

Limits the definition of “designated cyberthreat” to foreign individuals and entities responsible for cyberattacks against United States persons or assets owned or controlled by United States persons.

Allows the President to issue guidance on qualifications to receive a cyber letter of marque and reprisal, as well as guidance for a holder of a cyber letter of marque and reprisal to operate within traditional domains.

Ensures that a holder of a cyber letter of marque and reprisal shall be authorized to conduct operations in traditional domains of warfare in addition to the cyber domain if Congress authorizes the use of letters of marque and reprisal for such domains.

Ensures that no cause of action authorized in a letter of marque and reprisal shall be maintained against a holder of such letter in any court.

Read exclusive coverage from The Daily Caller here.

Read the full bill text here.

###",1,2026-07-16T07:21:44Z,2026-07-16T07:23:13Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-questions-rideshare-giants-uber-and-lyft-on-pricing-antitrust-concerns,"Lee Questions Rideshare Giants Uber and Lyft on Pricing, Antitrust Concerns",2026-07-15,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) questioned rideshare giants Uber and Lyft with antitrust concerns following recent reports regarding their pricing. Senator Lee, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, questioned the companies on market power and concentration in the rideshare industry, transparency practices, information sharing, driver compensation, and the pricing of rides.

In part, Senator Lee wrote:

“As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, I take seriously Congress’s responsibility to ensure that markets remain competitive and that American consumers benefit from that competition. Given the scale of your platforms, and the importance of rideshare services to the Americans who depend on them, I write regarding concerns about rideshare pricing, driver compensation, and your use of algorithmic systems in app-based rideshare markets.

…

“The Subcommittee intends to monitor these issues closely and may seek additional information.”

Read the full text of the letter here.

###",1,2026-07-16T07:21:44Z,2026-07-16T07:23:13Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-calls-for-countering-chinas-influence-in-western-hemisphere,Curtis Calls for Countering China’s Influence in Western Hemisphere,2026-07-14,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"At the hearing, Curtis highlighted recent successes following Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s engagement with Panama, including Panama’s decision to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the transfer of key Panama Canal port assets from Hong Kong-based operators to a U.S.-led consortium.

He also asked Ambassador Kozak how those developments could serve as a model for reducing China’s influence elsewhere in the hemisphere. Kozak emphasized that many countries have become increasingly aware of the risks associated with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, including predatory lending practices and strategic investments that undermine national sovereignty.

Video of Senator Curtis’ opening remarks and line of questioning can be found here, and a transcript of his opening remarks and initial questioning is below:

Opening remarks, as prepared:

This hearing is to examine how the Trump Administration’s National Security Strategy prioritizes the Western Hemisphere. In other words, what is the “Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine,” as it has been termed.

For too long, American policy has treated our own neighborhood as an afterthought while our adversaries have treated it as an opportunity. The National Security Strategy makes a welcome correction by putting the Western Hemisphere near the center of American national security policy.

It is right that the United States should focus first on the safety, security, and prosperity of the American people, and frequently that means focusing on the security of our region. That means securing our border, stopping deadly drugs before they enter our communities, strengthening supply chains closer to home, and ensuring that hostile powers cannot control strategic assets in our own hemisphere.

In many ways, the real test of our Western Hemisphere strategy is whether it can blunt and roll back the presence of our global adversaries—China, Russia, and Iran—within our backyard. China has spent years building influence through ports, telecommunications, infrastructure, natural resources, surveillance technology, and diplomatic pressure.

Russia has used Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua to project influence and challenge U.S. interests from within the hemisphere. Iran and its proxies have also sought footholds through malign networks and anti-American regimes—which is why the Committee has passed my bills, the No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act and BANNED in Latin America Act, which push back on these networks. The National Security Strategy is right to say that non-hemispheric competitors should not be allowed to position forces, threatening capabilities, or control strategically vital assets in our hemisphere.

The Maduro raid was exactly this principle put into practice. Nicolas Maduro’s regime had been a platform for Russian, Chinese, Iranian, and criminal influence in our hemisphere. His regime destabilized neighbors, fueled migration, enriched corrupt networks, cooperated with malign outside powers, and allowed drug trafficking and other illicit activity to flourish.

We were not going to let what amounted to an illegitimate Russian puppet government corruptly cling to power and operate within our backyard. And now Maduro resides in a prison in New York. And now, we are beginning to see early signs of change inside Venezuela. Hundreds of political prisoners have been released, opposition figures are able to organize more openly, Venezuelan oil is no longer being exclusively used to support China, and there are signs of shifts within the governing structure, including the removal of some Maduro loyalists. Venezuela today is thankfully in a much different place than it was a year ago.

However, Congress is going to be interested in what the path now looks like for Venezuela from here to a democratic transition.

Progress has been made throughout the region on the diplomatic front as well. After Secretary Rubio’s visit, Panama announced that it would move to leave China’s Belt and Road Initiative. We also saw the announced sale of port assets operated by Hong Kong-based entities at both ends of the Panama Canal to a U.S.-led consortium.

Those developments should be seen as examples of the kind of strategic competition the United States can win when we are focused, engaged, and willing to use diplomatic and commercial tools together. We should encourage more countries in the region to take similar steps.

I am broadly supportive of this renewed focus on the Western Hemisphere and the recognition that what happens in our neighborhood directly affects the security of the American people. But support does not relieve us of our responsibility to conduct oversight. Congress has a duty to ask hard questions about strategy, legal authorities, coordination with regional partners, and what comes next. And we must ensure that a stronger focus on our own hemisphere does not come at the expense of American leadership elsewhere. Strength at home and in our neighborhood should reinforce—not replace—our engagement in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East.

The goal is not hemispheric seclusion, but strategic prioritization rooted in American strength.

I look forward to hearing from Ambassador Kozak on how the State Department is implementing this strategy, how we are coordinating across the interagency, and how Congress can help ensure the United States remains the partner of first choice in our own hemisphere.

Questioning:

Senator Curtis: After Secretary Rubio’s visit to Panama, they announced they would move to leave China’s Belt and Road Initiative. We also saw the announced sale of the Panama Canal port assets operated by Hong Kong-based entities to a U.S.-led consortium. Are there lessons we can draw from Panama about how the United States can use diplomacy, commercial engagement, and strategic clarity to roll back China’s influence in the region? And part two: Are there other countries in the hemisphere where you believe a similar approach might be equally successful?

Ambassador Michael Kozak: Yes. Thank you, Chairman. I would say there are some good lessons out of it. Each situation is somewhat different, but Panama had come to its own conclusion that being part of the Belt and Road Initiative was more liability than gain, so they told us they were ready to leave.

They also had their comptroller look into the way those port concessions had been granted and found a great deal of fraud and failure to implement the agreement. So, their Supreme Court took action there. I think what was key, though, was that China then attempted to intimidate them by doing inspections and detaining their Panama-flagged vessels in Chinese ports, and so on.

Panama needed a little backup and got it from countries in the region. The countries that joined the Shield of the Americas, by and large, issued statements standing in solidarity with Panama against that threat from China. But we’ve also seen, in other parts of the region, the Chinese try to move in. For example, in some places they’ll go directly to a university and say, “We’ll donate a telescope to you so you can do high-level research.” It turns out the telescope is really designed to spy on American satellites and other things like that. They bypass the national government. We’ve had some success talking directly with subnational groups. We’ve also had success dealing with national governments or urging national governments throughout the region to adopt investment-screening mechanisms.

Curtis: Yeah, let me bore down on that a little bit. Because you kind of hit on one of the questions I want to ask, which is this China strategy. You’ve mentioned a couple of things. I think the loans that become predatory and that they then foreclose on—I mean, there’s quite a long list. Your answer on Panama is interesting. I guess let me come back to this concept. If that’s what brought clarity to Panama, how do we bring clarity to these other countries—not just with elected officials, but with the voters, the constituents, who tend to see all of this coming from China and know the state’s not doing anything? The reality is that we have this little thing called the rule of law, and we do things differently. We’re far more transparent, and the way we help isn’t always seen the way China seems to be seen. So, what would you suggest, particularly from a congressional role, about how we get better clarity on what China is doing and also get better credit for what we’re doing when we’re doing good things?

Kozak: I think it’s super important to get people sensitized to this. At the beginning, governments didn’t realize how predatory the Chinese loan strategy was. They’ve now learned by adverse experience. What we’ve been trying to do—and this goes back to the last time I had this job—is publicize throughout the region just the facts. We’re not saying don’t engage with China. We still buy things from China. But we’re saying, “Look at what happens to you if you get into this kind of a deal. Don’t enter into it on their terms.”

That’s been quite successful, certainly at the national government level, though not as much with the populations at large. We’ve been trying to do more public relations, and I think anything Congress can do to bring focus to this would help.

One of the things we did, which I mentioned in my testimony, was these restrictions on visas. Basically, members of legislatures, judiciaries, labor unions, and others in foreign countries who take bribes from the Chinese—or other forms of compensation—and act as agents for China by pushing some of this activity… The Administration has said, if you’re going to do that, you’re not welcome here anymore. We’re not going to give you or your family visas to come to the United States. We tried this originally in Central America. It worked very well. We’ve now expanded it to the whole hemisphere.

Curtis: It seems like stronger coordination between Congress and State, as we go into those countries—knowing which messages to carry and which things to point out—might also be helpful.",1,2026-07-16T07:21:44Z,2026-07-16T07:23:13Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-applauds-trump-s-actions-reining-in-monument-overreach,Lee Applauds Trump’s Actions Reining in Monument Overreach,2026-07-13,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, applauded President Donald J. Trump’s proclamation modifying the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monuments.

“Today’s proclamation shows that President Trump listens to Utahns and respects the limits Congress placed on the Antiquities Act,” said Chairman Mike Lee. “For too long, presidents have weaponized monument designations to lock up millions of acres, close roads, restrict grazing, and cut rural communities off from lands their families have lived on and worked for generations. I thank the President for correcting this abuse and keeping his promise to the people of Utah.”

The proclamation reduces Bears Ears National Monument to approximately 121,000 acres and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument to approximately 182,000 acres. The revised boundaries will allow federal agencies to concentrate limited personnel and funding on the cultural, historic, and scientific objects identified within the proclamation.

Lands outside the modified boundaries remain in federal ownership and continue to be protected under existing federal and state laws. The proclamation will provide greater access for recreation, preserve historic roads and trails, and give ranching families and rural communities greater certainty about the lands on which they depend.

Congress enacted the Antiquities Act in 1906 to allow presidents to protect historic landmarks and other objects of historic or scientific interest. The law requires monument reservations to be confined to “the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.”

Previous designations placed approximately 3.2 million acres within the two monuments—more land than all seven of Utah’s other national monuments and all five of its national parks combined and about the combined size of the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut. Those sweeping boundaries strained federal staffing and law-enforcement resources while increasing the burdens placed on rural counties responsible for search-and-rescue operations and other public services.

President Trump’s action returns the monuments to a focused and manageable scale, improves the ability of land managers to protect significant resources, and restores a meaningful voice for the Utah communities closest to these lands.

“These modified boundaries don’t diminish protection, they focus it,” said Governor Spencer Cox. “The new proclamations focus management efforts to better preserve the cultural and archaeological resources that make this part of Utah so special. Management matters, and we are optimistic about the future preservation of Utah’s historic, cultural, and scientific resources in these areas.”

“President Trump’s executive action restores a more balanced approach to managing Utah’s public lands and shows a willingness by this Administration to listen to the state of Utah,” said Senator John Curtis. “While today’s announcement is an important step in the right direction and a more appropriate interpretation of the Antiquities Act, the responsibility remains with Congress to do what executive orders cannot: bring stakeholders together, work through disagreements, and enact lasting solutions. This approach worked in Emery County, which serves as a strong example to build on.”

""Utahns have long supported protecting our state's extraordinary cultural and natural resources,"" said Representative Celeste Maloy. ""This action honors that goal while following the law Congress passed and giving greater consideration to the people who know these lands best.”

""The Antiquities Act is crystal clear: presidential designations meant to protect objects should be 'confined to the smallest area compatible' with the proper care and management of those objects. That mandate was ignored,” said Representative Burgess Owens. “The mess started with Bill Clinton, who acted from a seat in Arizona with his back turned to Utah. It was compounded by Barack Obama in the waning hours of his presidency. Together, they created monuments larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined which is an unmistakable violation of the 'smallest area compatible' standard. I am grateful for President Trump's actions today, and for his willingness to listen to the Utah communities who cherish and honor these landscapes. Utah deserves leaders who respect the rule of law. Today, accountability prevailed.""

“The people of Utah understand these lands better than any distant bureaucracy ever could,” said Representative Mike Kennedy. “Decisions about how they are managed and protected should rest with the communities who live closest to them. The Antiquities 1``111Act was written to protect specific and important areas, and honoring its intent is the rational way to safeguard these treasures while giving Utahns a real voice in their future.”

“This has, unfortunately, become a back-and-forth issue between administrations,” said Representative Blake Moore. “Today’s announcement takes into consideration years of local concern over restricted access and misuse of the Antiquities Act while still protecting our state’s natural and cultural resources for future generations. If the Antiquities Act is going to be used, it needs to be on the smallest area possible—that’s what we’re doing here.”

“The Antiquities Act was never meant to be a tool for locking up millions of acres with the stroke of a pen. Today’s action takes a major step in the right direction of appropriately sized monuments allowing responsible stewardship that works with our communities, not against them. Utah has fought hard to enforce Antiquities Act limits on monument size, and we will continue fighting to ensure the law is applied faithfully — and that Utahns have lasting certainty about the lands they call home,” said Attorney General Derek Brown. “But our work isn’t finished. The long-term answer isn’t found in which president happens to occupy the White House. The answer lies in honoring the textual limits the Antiquities Act already places on monument sizes. Utah will keep pressing until that’s the reality, not just the ideal.”

“Today is an exciting day for the state of Utah and we applaud President Trump’s thoughtful action to modify the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments,” said Utah Speaker Mike Schultz. “These changes will improve management, public access, and recreation opportunities while respecting the traditions, livelihoods, and voices of local communities. By focusing resources where they are needed most, we will ensure these lands are preserved for current and future generations. We continue to push for a long-term solution so these lands are not subject to political back-and-forth. These remarkable places deserve stability, protection, and thoughtful stewardship for decades to come.”

“We don’t have to choose between protecting our heritage and supporting our communities,” said Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams. “We appreciate the Trump Administration’s recognition that local communities deserve a meaningful voice in the stewardship of the public lands that shape their way of life. Today’s action provides a more focused approach to preserving some of Utah’s most treasured landscapes while ensuring these lands remain accessible to the people who rely on them. Historic roads and trails will remain open, ranching families will have certainty, and Utahns and visitors will continue to enjoy these areas through hiking, hunting, camping, biking and other longstanding recreational opportunities. These changes also give land managers greater flexibility to reduce wildfire risk and combat invasive species. By focusing protections where they matter most, we can preserve these cultural and natural treasures while honoring the traditions and livelihoods that have long been part of this region.”

###",1,2026-07-14T07:08:55Z,2026-07-14T07:10:52Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-visits-wildfire-site-urges-passage-of-fix-our-forests-act,"Curtis Visits Wildfire Site, Urges Passage of Fix Our Forests Act",2026-07-10,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"The full transcript is below, and video can be found here.

I’m in Juab County today very near the city of Eureka, where we’ve just had two of our very big fires, and these are under control and doing well.

I had a chance to be briefed by BLM, by wildland firefighters, by the Forest Service, and by the city itself. I’m telling you, one of the things that was just touching was to hear the mayor talk about how he thought his entire city was going to burn, and how they were able to bring resources in—a lot of federal resources—to protect the city and a lot of the resources in the county.

It’s been very interesting. As you all know, we’ve got these severe fires across the entire state.

I’m working really hard on a bill. It’s called Fix Our Forests. It dramatically changes the way we manage our federal lands and our forests—not just federal, but all of our forests—before the fires. It changes the way we fight the fires and then the way we deal with the aftermath. And I’m hoping we can get that bill across the finish line. It’s called Fix Our Forests. Follow it and follow us.

Background:

Utah is experiencing one of its most challenging wildfire seasons, underscoring the need for policies that reduce hazardous fuels, improve coordination across jurisdictions, and accelerate recovery efforts after fires are contained. The bipartisan Fix Our ForestsAct would reform how forests are managed before wildfires occur, improve the nation’s wildfire response, and strengthen post-fire restoration efforts. The legislation streamlines hazardous fuels reduction projects, expands cross-boundary collaboration, and helps federal land managers respond more quickly to growing wildfire threats.",1,2026-07-11T07:10:48Z,2026-07-11T07:14:29Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-religious-liberty-relies-on-civility-mutual-respect,"Curtis: Religious Liberty Relies on Civility, Mutual Respect",2026-07-05,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"The Senator’s remarks were delivered prior to Fourth of July celebrations and his 250-mile walk to commemorate the United States’ semiquincentennial.

Video can be found here, and the remarks as prepared for delivery can be found below:

Almost two hundred and fifty years ago, fifty-six delegates to the Second Continental Congress affixed their signatures to the most influential document in the history of human rights—the American Declaration of Independence. Over succeeding generations, more than one hundred other nations would model their own declarations of independence with statements that followed the American pattern of 1776.

It proclaimed liberty as an inalienable right, in what Walter Isaacson has called “the greatest sentence ever written.” Among our inalienable rights, the document declared, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Defining “liberty,” giving definition, substance and legal guarantees of that right, has been one of America’s greatest ongoing commitments to the betterment of humanity.

And at the forefront of that pantheon of liberties the Declaration affirms has been the right to believe and practice religion according to the sacred dictates of conscience. Four decades ago, 160 of 170 international constitutions were modeled, in whole or in part, on the American model. Freedom of religion is guaranteed—in principle if not in fact—in 97% of constitutions.

When the first colonists arrived in the New World, religious freedom existed in theory (like that of John Locke) but not in political practice. Roger Williams founded Rhode Island on the principle of “soul conscience” in 1636, and 150 years later, in 1786, Thomas Jefferson authored the pioneering Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. “Almighty God hath created the mind free,” he wrote, “and manifested his supreme will that free it shall remain.” The state legislation he proposed therefore decreed that no person “shall … suffer on account of his religious opinions or beliefs … But … all [persons] shall be free to profess … their opinion in matters of religion.”

It was a long journey from Jamestown and Plymouth Rock to that Virginia Statute, the U. S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. America has made great progress, but the road has been at times harrowing for those people at the margins of our mainstream. Quakers were hanged in Massachusetts in 1659; Baptists were imprisoned in Virginia in the 1770s; Catholic convents and schools were burned in 1834; my own people, the Latter-day Saints, were mobbed and murdered in Missouri and Illinois in the decade to follow; and Jewish people have been the victims of discrimination and violence from the founding to the present.

One of the lessons to be learned from this history is that you can legislate religious protections, but you cannot legislate respect or compassion or bonds of charity. Yet religious freedom hinges on these virtues. Our public discourse, however, has never tipped so precariously into what Arthur Brooks has called “a culture of contempt.” If you think you sense something alarming in the air, the statistics say you are correct. A March 2026 Pew Survey reveals the distressing fact that Americans view their fellow Americans with “more hostility and suspicion than is the case in any democracy surveyed.” The United States is the only place … surveyed where more adults describe the morality and ethics of others living in the country as bad (53%) than as good (47%).

We can do better. We can be better.

Yes, as members of this national community, we have the right to espouse our values—religious, moral, or political—without hindrance or constraint. That also means we must accord to others the right to espouse their values, without hindrance or constraint. Religious freedom is distinctly entwined with pluralism, because the free exercise of religion presupposes a mosaic of differing values and life orientations. The words “kindness,” “civility,” and “charity” nowhere appear in our Constitution or our Declaration of Independence, whose anniversary we will commemorate next week.

That is because those values were presupposed by the Founders. This grand experiment in democracy required for its organization, and requires for its continuation, a willingness to build bridges of understanding as well as defend principles to which we are committed. Dr. Matthew Holland has written of how “civic charity” was deeply embedded in the thought of John Winthrop, leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; of Thomas Jefferson, America’s “apostle of religious liberty;” and of Abraham Lincoln, who so powerfully invoked the “better angels of our nature” at a time of national crisis.

We will never achieve consensus on the particulars of our religious commitments—or our lack of religious commitments. Nor should we.

Our pluralism is a source of our strength and should be a source of pride. However, we can honor our founding principles by returning to a particular kind of faith they did have in common. Faith in the essential goodness of one another. The psychologist Jamil Zaki has written, “Cynicism is the lack of faith in people; skepticism is the lack of faith in our assumptions.” Charity is the only way whereby we flourish in our differences even as we work together for a more perfect union.",1,2026-07-06T08:59:18Z,2026-07-06T09:01:25Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-kaine-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-counter-china-secure-supply-chains,"Curtis, Kaine Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Counter China, Secure Supply Chains",2026-06-29,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Securing Partner Supply Chains Act, bipartisan legislation to secure supply chains and counter China’s growing influence. The legislation would help U.S. allies and partners build tools to protect critical infrastructure, supply chains, and sensitive sectors from malign foreign investment and strategic influence operations.

“The Chinese Communist Party is using economic coercion to gain influence over critical industries and infrastructure around the world, and the United States cannot afford to confront these challenges alone,” said Senator Curtis. “Our bipartisan bill will help our allies and partners develop the tools they need to identify and stop malign foreign investment before it threatens economic security or other shared interests.”

“It’s critical for U.S. national security that our partners and allies have safeguards in place to adequately screen foreign investments, especially as China continues to expand its global footprint,” said Senator Kaine. “This bipartisan legislation would help our partners and allies build their own capacity to screen foreign investments and protect their economies, and help ensure China isn’t able to control critical infrastructure and supply chains that the U.S. and our partners and allies rely on.”

Background:

There is a significant gap in ability among the U.S. and its partners, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, to adequately screen foreign investment into critical sectors. The lack of safeguards leaves supply chains, ports, and critical infrastructure open to strategic acquisition and exploitation by China and other adversaries. For example, Chinese state-owned enterprises operate port facilities in Mexico, Brazil, and Panama, and the Chinese government has invested heavily in critical mineral sectors in countries like Bolivia.

The Securing Partner Supply Chains Act would:

Establish a State Department-led Initiative on Foreign Investment Screening to help U.S. allies and partners develop investment screening mechanisms similar to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Provide technical assistance, training, regulatory guidance, and coordination support to partner governments seeking to protect critical infrastructure, supply chains, and sensitive sectors from malign foreign investment.

Strengthen U.S. national security and economic resilience by helping partner countries identify and mitigate strategic investments tied to adversarial actors, particularly the People’s Republic of China.",1,2026-06-30T06:29:10Z,2026-06-30T06:30:42Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-rosen-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-patients-access-to-preferred-doctor-lower-drug-costs,"Curtis, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Patients’ Access to Preferred Doctor, Lower Drug Costs",2026-06-29,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced the Protecting Patient Access Act, bipartisan legislation to protect patients’ access to their preferred doctors and lower out-of-pocket drug costs. The bill would allow patients to change insurance plans mid-year if their doctor or other medical provider is no longer in-network, or if their out-of-pocket drug cost increases during the year. This would apply to Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage, and individual market plans for patients of all ages.

“When a Part D plan makes significant changes between enrollment periods, seniors shouldn’t be forced to live with a plan they didn’t choose for the rest of the year,” said Senator Curtis. “By opening enrollment following a significant plan change, our commonsense, bipartisan legislation ensures American seniors are insulated from uncertainty and receive the care they need and have paid for.”

“Under the current system, Nevadans can be caught off-guard by mid-year increases to prescription drug prices and changes to their in-network doctors. It’s just common sense to allow patients to change their medical insurance to continue seeing the doctors they trust and protect them from getting priced out from the life-saving medicine they need,” said Senator Rosen. “It is crucial that Nevadans have access to the best and most affordable health care options available, which is why I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill. I promise to continue working across the aisle to ensure that everyone has access to the life-saving care that they need.”

“The American Academy of Family Physicians strongly supports the Preserving Patient Access Act, which will help patients prioritize their health and ensure relationships are maintained with trusted physicians and that access to necessary medications go uninterrupted,” said Sarah C. Nosal, MD, FAAFP, President of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “This legislation will allow patients relying on Medicare to change plans when a physician moves out of network or when drug coverage changes and becomes unaffordable. It will also protect continuity of care, strengthen the patient-physician relationship and help Medicare patients stay on track with the care and treatments needed to be well and stay healthy.”

Background:

The Protecting Patient Access Act would help ensure patients are not locked into health plans that no longer meet their health care needs after enrollment. The legislation creates a special enrollment period for Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and individual market enrollees when their plan makes significant mid-year changes—such as removing a trusted doctor from its network or dropping coverage for a prescription drug they rely on. By allowing beneficiaries to switch to a plan that better meets their needs, the bill protects continuity of care and helps patients maintain access to the providers and medications they depend on.",1,2026-06-30T06:29:10Z,2026-06-30T06:30:42Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/icymi-curtis-discusses-250-mile-walk-for-americas-250th-on-fox-news,ICYMI: Curtis Discusses 250-Mile Walk for America’s 250th on Fox News,2026-06-29,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"The full transcript of the interview is below, and video can be found here.

Trey Gowdy: Welcome back to Sunday Night, America. Americans are honoring the 250th anniversary of our independence. I’ll probably celebrate indoors because it’s 90 degrees in South Carolina, watching sports, but not Utah Senator John Curtis. He’s walking 250 miles across his beautiful state, a mile to celebrate each year, 30 miles a day, as he travels through communities across the Beehive State, and he wants you to join him on his journey. We caught up with Senator Curtis earlier today during his walk. Welcome, Senator. I got to be honest, I’m not sure my senior senator has walked 30 miles in his life, and you’re walking 30 miles a day. What are you seeing and hearing in your beautiful state?

Senator Curtis: Well, first of all, Trey, you mentioned it’s too hot there this morning. I woke up to 44 degrees, and so heat is not a problem here, but I’ll tell you, I am seeing the most patriotic, hard-working, family-loving, faith-filled people. And it’s just been so inspiring for me to be on the road and to meet these people.

Gowdy: You know, Senator, if I’m right, you were born in Utah, and you’ve been there your whole life, aside from your mission in Taiwan. Are you learning new things about your state and your country that maybe even you didn’t know as a long-time resident of Utah?

Curtis: Well, you know what, you’re right, and that’s why I wish more of my colleagues could do this, because you really get to know people. And I’ll tell you what, I’ve met some of the best people, a lot of the walk thus far has been in really rural Utah, part of the country where my mother grew up, and these are hardworking people, and they’re good people. They’re people that care about their families, they care about the country. I haven’t met a single person who doesn’t love this country.

Gowdy: You know, Senator, so much I think of what our viewers see just on a daily basis is negativity. They’re negative stories, it’s crime. I am thinking and hoping and expecting that you are seeing the real side of America on this walk, that it’s really 95 percent really, really good people. They just don’t make the news.

Curtis: You are so right. Yes, I wish your crews could come with me on the whole journey, because the country would see people who are good at heart, who actually like each other, who care about each other, who serve each other. That’s one of our biggest values here in Utah, is taking care of each other and making sure that we’re taking care of our brother, and I’ll tell you, I see that everywhere I turn.

And really, the whole purpose for this hike was to highlight these values, because, like you said, too much for our time, we are talking about things that get us off track and kind of make us have animosity in our hearts.

Gowdy: Senator, my home state was one of the original 13. Your home state joined the union a little bit later, is there a story about our founding or a story about Utah joining the United States that especially inspires you?

Curtis: Oh, I love that question. Yes, the answer is, you know, George Washington and our founders, they fought, they sacrificed, and they won our freedom. Seventy years later, my ancestors came out to Utah in pursuit of that freedom, and the reason I think that story is important is every generation has to sacrifice and has to be willing to sacrifice for freedom and liberty, and that now falls on our shoulder, and I think we have to have that same willingness to sacrifice and contribute to that freedom, because it doesn’t come just naturally by itself.

And our founders of our state here came here and pursued a religious freedom and fought and sacrificed to make sure that they had it for generations to come.

Gowdy: Well, Senator, I’m glad you came on, because, as I’ve told you off air, you are one of the kindest, most decent people that I have ever met in politics. I wish more people got to see you. I mean, you’re not loud, you’re not boisterous, but there you are, walking 250 miles across your beautiful state, highlighting our Declaration of Independence. I can’t thank you enough for taking a second out of your walk and joining us.

Curtis: Thanks for telling my story. People can follow on my social media, follow me on the journey, and celebrate this amazing 250-year accomplishment that is just so fantastic.

Gowdy: I’m going to send you a blanket. If it’s 44 almost, that’s kind of nippy for South Carolina. You take care of yourself.

Curtis: I could have used it last night. Thanks, Trey.",1,2026-06-30T06:29:10Z,2026-06-30T06:30:42Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-protect-firefighters-from-harmful-chemicals,"Curtis, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Firefighters from Harmful Chemicals",2026-06-26,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Protecting Firefighters and Advancing State-of-the-Art (PFAS) Alternatives Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation to support the development of next-generation, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-free protective gear to better protect firefighters from the dangers of their work.

“Utah’s firefighters shouldn’t have to worry that the gear designed to keep them safe could expose them to harmful chemicals,” said Senator Curtis. “This bipartisan legislation invests in the research needed to improve turnout gear, helping ensure firefighters have the proper protective equipment they deserve.”

“Our first responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, and too many suffer or lose their lives from cancers caused by toxic exposures on the job — including from harmful PFAS chemicals in their protective gear. Our firefighters shouldn’t have to worry that the gear designed to protect them is putting their health at risk,” said Senator Heinrich. “That’s why I’m leading legislation to invest in next-generation PFAS-free firefighting gear. Because we need to do more to protect the people who protect all of us.”

“Our firefighters put everything on the line to keep us safe, and it’s our job to make sure they are taken care of,” said Senator Fischer. “This bill gives us the resources for producing next-generation protective gear, free of PFAS chemicals, to protect the health and safety of firefighters in Nebraska and across the nation.”

“From Vermont to Idaho and everywhere in between, firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. Their line of work is already hazardous enough without having to deal with toxic chemical exposure from the very gear meant to protect them,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to work across the aisle on this legislation to support investments into developing new, PFAS-free turnout gear that protects firefighters across the country.”

Background:

Firefighters are exposed to carcinogens when they respond to virtually every type of fire or incident. These includes PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, which can be found in firefighters’ turnout gear, firefighting foams, and in the smoke and air firefighters breathe. Exposure to PFAS is linked to an array of health problems, including various cancers, kidney disease, reduced immune function, and reproductive challenges.

Tragically, cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service. Because of their occupational exposure to carcinogens, including PFAS chemicals and other toxins in their own protective gear, firefighters are nearly 10% more likely to develop cancer and almost 15% more likely to die from cancer than the general population. And despite advances in research and materials science, there is no protective gear currently available to firefighters that is proven to be completely hazard-free.

The PFAS Alternatives Act helps address this by creating a new grant program dedicated to the research, development, and testing of turnout gear that maintains effectiveness while improving firefighter safety.

The legislation would:

Establish a grant program within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to fund the research, development, and testing of next-generation, toxin-free turnout gear;

Ensure that such research is done by, and in collaboration with, firefighters and entities that understand the unique demands that firefighters face;

Authorize up to $25 million in Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) through FY31 for that research, development, and testing; and

Authorize an additional $2 million for FY28-FY32 for the development and dissemination of best practices and trainings to ensure that firefighters are equipped with the knowledge to ensure that the next-generation turnout gear is as effective as possible at reducing their risk of potentially harmful exposures.

The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Ed Markey (D-MA). Companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives is led by Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Sam Graves (R-MO).

The PFAS Alternatives Act is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

“The science is clear. Toxic PFAS chemicals are contributing to alarming rates of cancer in the fire service, and we must do everything we can to reduce fire fighters’ exposure to these carcinogens – including in the gear we wear that is supposed to keep us safe. The PFAS Alternatives Act will accelerate the development of next-generation, toxin-free gear, and make sure fire fighters – not corporate interests – are at the center of research into the products we rely on for our safety. The 366,000 members of the IAFF are proud to support this bipartisan legislation, and we thank Sens. Curtis, Welch, Fischer, and Heinrich for their leadership on this critical issue,” said Edward Kelly, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters.",1,2026-06-27T06:16:17Z,2026-06-27T06:17:30Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-colleagues-introduce-resolution-condemning-chinese-suppression-of-ethnic-minorities,"Curtis, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Condemning Chinese Suppression of Ethnic Minorities",2026-06-26,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jim Banks (R-IN), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced a bipartisan resolution that condemns a law passed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that targets ethnic minorities. Once the law takes effect on July 1, it will erode the rights of minority groups in China through the targeting of language and culture in public settings. It also includes a clause allowing the government to target people and groups outside of China it deems accountable for undermining Chinese “ethnic unity,” threatening the sovereignty of nations around the world.

“The CCP’s new ethnic conformity law signals an escalation in Beijing’s longstanding campaign to erase the cultural identities of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, Christians, and other minorities—all while giving the CCP a pretext to intimidate critics far beyond China’s borders,”said Senator Curtis. “As leader of the free world, the United States must stand firmly with those facing persecution and make clear that the CCP’s efforts to export repression, silence those who speak out about its human rights abuses, and undermine our sovereignty will not be tolerated.”

“The CCP continues to violate the rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other minority groups in China with its horrendous attempts at cultural and religious erasure. This new law doesn’t only threaten those within China, but also those living outside its borders,” said Senator Rosen. “Our bipartisan resolution shows support from both sides of the aisle to call out the blatant suppression of minority rights and highlights the importance of protecting cultural and religious freedom everywhere.”

“As long as the People’s Republic of China continues to bulldoze the human rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and other vulnerable groups, the United States must do everything we can to call out this systemic abuse, protect religious freedom, and defend the rights of China’s ethnic minorities,” said Senator Merkley. “Our bipartisan resolution rejects the PRC’s efforts both to codify coercive assimilation and cultural erasure and to expand those policies beyond its borders through transnational repression.”

“Communist China continues to prove that it sees freedom as a threat. The CCP’s Ethnic Unity and Progress Law is a blatant attempt to enforce Chinese law on American shores. I proudly stand with my colleagues in condemning the abuses of the CCP and standing up for human rights,” said Senator Banks.

Curtis and Rosen have been outspoken about their support for all ethnic minorities in China, and religious freedom around the world. The two recently sent a letter urging the State Department to advance U.S. policy towards Tibet and support Tibetans no matter where they reside.",1,2026-06-27T06:16:17Z,2026-06-27T06:17:30Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-schiff-press-cftc-on-reports-of-deceptive-marketing-by-prediction-market-operator,"Curtis, Schiff Press CFTC on Reports of Deceptive Marketing by Prediction Market Operator",2026-06-26,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Letter requests information concerning Wall Street Journal reporting on Polymarket marketing tactics

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) sent a letter to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael S. Selig requesting answers following recent reports that prediction market operator Polymarket used deceptive marketing tactics to promote gambling-style products to U.S. audiences. In their letter, the senators argue that the alleged conduct underscores growing concerns that prediction markets are functioning more like gambling than legitimate financial instruments.

“The CFTC has repeatedly asserted regulatory authority over prediction markets and event contracts, including through its enforcement actions and its rules governing event contracts listed on CFTC-registered entities. Yet with content creators routinely portraying prediction markets as ‘free money,’ there is little basis for treating them differently from gambling. These contracts are not in the public interest and should not be treated as derivative products with hedging value. We remain concerned that the Commission is neither enforcing the law appropriately, nor is equipped to serve as a federal gambling regulator,” the senators wrote.

“The public-facing behavior alleged here does not resemble a sober financial market designed for hedging or price discovery. Instead, it reflects clear regulatory arbitrage, where prediction markets can defy state and tribal gaming regulatory frameworks with ease. Traditional gaming operators are subject to state and tribal licensing, age restrictions, responsible-gaming requirements, advertising rules, integrity monitoring, and enforcement regimes designed to protect consumers and preserve lawful oversight. Prediction market operators should not be permitted to avoid those obligations by rebranding gambling products as federally regulated financial contracts. Nor should the CFTC allow companies to invoke the credibility of federal oversight while engaging in conduct that would raise serious concerns in any regulated gaming market,” the senators continued.

Background:

A recent Wall Street Journal investigation reported that Polymarket orchestrated a social media marketing campaign in which paid content creators posted videos depicting simulated trades and exaggerated winnings on websites designed to resemble the company’s platform. According to the report, many of the creators did not disclose that they were being compensated, and the campaign generated millions of views across major social media platforms while promoting prediction market activity to U.S. audiences, despite Polymarket’s primary platform being unavailable to U.S. users. Following the report, Polymarket said it would review its promotional practices.

The letter requests answers by July 10, 2026, including:

Whether the CFTC is investigating the conduct described in the Wall Street Journal’s reporting;

What steps the agency has taken since its 2022 enforcement action to prevent Polymarket from targeting U.S. users through offshore platforms or affiliated entities;

Whether the Commission believes prediction market operators may lawfully use simulated trades or fake websites in promotional content;

What consumer protection standards currently apply to prediction market advertising, influencer marketing, age verification, and responsible gaming safeguards; and

Whether the CFTC intends to preserve state and tribal authority over sports betting and casino-style gaming products offered as event contracts.

Curtis and Schiff have strongly advocated for prediction market contracts reform, including introducing legislation to ban sports prediction markets gambling and prohibit federal officials from using sensitive information to bet on prediction market contracts.",1,2026-06-27T06:16:17Z,2026-06-27T06:17:30Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-remove-wildfire-fuel,"Curtis, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Remove Wildfire Fuel",2026-06-25,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act, bipartisan legislation to help communities and forest managers remove byproducts of forest thinning operations that counterintuitively increase wildfire risk.

“Across Utah and the West, we know that active forest management is essential to reducing wildfire risk and protecting communities. But when the cost of hauling woody biomass becomes a barrier, hazardous fuels can remain on the landscape and undermine the very restoration work designed to make forests safer,” said Senator Curtis. “Our commonsense, bipartisan bill helps get that material out of our forests, supports rural economies, and gives local partners the tools they need to better steward our public lands.”

“Arizona communities know firsthand the toll of wildfires on natural habitats, the economy, and personal lives, especially after the fires at the Grand Canyon last year,” said Senator Kelly. “Thinning the forest is only half the job. This legislation will help get the material left behind out of the forest to prevent more wildfires and support the jobs, businesses, and forest restoration projects so many Arizona families depend on.”

“For too long, effective management of our national forests has been hampered by litigation and regulatory obstacles, allowing hazardous fuels to accumulate and increase the risk of catastrophic wildfires, pests, and disease,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “Making use of these hazardous fuels, like the storm-damaged trees in Mississippi’s national forest, would be made more affordable through this bipartisan legislation.”

“New Mexico’s forests have become overcrowded with dead trees, brush, and other flammable debris that fuel catastrophic wildfires—and too often, the cost of hauling that material out is what stops the work from getting done,” said Senator Luján. “I’m proud to join Senator Kelly in introducing the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act to break that bottleneck, get this dangerous buildup out of our forests, and support the rural businesses and workers doing the job. This is a commonsense step to reduce wildfire risk and keep New Mexico communities safer.”

“I’m proud to join Senators Kelly and Luján in introducing legislation that will mitigate transportation barriers and facilitate the removal of hazardous fuels materials from the forest floor. Expanding this essential financial support will improve forest management, reduce the frequency and intensity of fires, and help strengthen wildfire mitigation efforts,” said Senator Schiff.

Background:

The Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act would reauthorize the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance program and codify the program by:

Establishing a program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide grants to for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, and other entities to alleviate transportation-related economic barriers to biomass removal from hazardous fuels management activities.

Allowing grants to support:

Transportation of hazardous fuels to processing facilities.

Costs associated with woodyards, loading facilities, scales, and custom chipping.

Purchase, lease, maintenance, or modification of equipment that facilitates the transport of hazardous fuels.

Workforce development, including training and certifications.

Prioritizing projects that would treat hazardous fuels in high-risk firesheds, support development or expansion of wood processing facilities, and encourage collaboration among industrial, state, local, and/or tribal partners.

Authorizing $25 million in funding, consistent with previous appropriations, annually for 2026 through 2030 with a $3 million cap per award, of which up to $250,000 of an award may be used for the purchase of equipment. Grants provide a federal cost-share of 75%, except for Tribes, which are eligible for a 90% federal cost-share.

The legislation is supported by the National Forest Foundation, Eastern Arizona Counties Organization, The Nature Conservancy, Ecological Restoration Institute, Southwest Biochar, Greater Flagstaff Forest Partnership, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Southwest Loggers Association, American Biomass Energy Association, American Loggers Council, National Association of State Foresters, and National Wild Turkey Federation.

“Removing hazardous fuels is one of the most effective long-term investments we can make for the health and resilience of our nation’s forests,” said Dan Stellar, State Director at The Nature Conservancy in Arizona. “Transportation costs are one of the biggest economic hurdles to doing this work at scale, and this legislation helps overcome that barrier so we can protect our forests. We’re grateful for Senator Kelly’s leadership in advancing this commonsense solution to one of the most pressing challenges facing our nation’s forests.”

“The American Biomass Energy Association truly appreciates the leadership of Sen. Kelly and his cosponsors on the Hazardous Fuel Transportation Act. This bill will reduce the costs of transporting low-value wood cleared from forests to biomass power generation facilities. It will enable more biomass to be utilized as fuel for energy production rather than being discarded or open-burned. We are proud to be part of the solution to reducing wildfire risk and we look forward to working with Sen. Kelly and his colleagues to help pass this bill,” saidCarrie Annand, Executive Director,American Biomass Energy Association.

“Hazardous fuels treatment is a proven way to reduce wildfire risk in communities across the country, but the high cost of transporting biomass remains a significant barrier to scaling this work. The National Forest Foundation believes the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act is a meaningful step forward to expand restoration efforts, reduce wildfire risk, support rural economies, and strengthen markets for biomass generated through active forest management,” said Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl, President & CEO,National Forest Foundation.

“The American Loggers Council worked with the American Biomass Energy Association and the U.S. Forest Service to demonstrate that removing hazardous fuels from forests and converting them to renewable energy is feasible and effective. That work led to the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance (HFTA) grant program which scaled up forest treatment across the country. Senator Kelly and the other original cosponsors’ introduction of the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Act will ensure this critical work continues to mitigate wildfire threats and protect property and people,” said Scott Dane, Executive Director,American Loggers Council.

“The National Wild Turkey Federation strongly supports the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Act. Safely and efficiently moving low‑value material generated from forest restoration and wildfire mitigation projects remains one of the greatest barriers to improving forest health and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire. With mills often located far from project areas, transportation costs can be prohibitive. The Hazardous Fuels Transportation Grant Program provides a practical, targeted solution to keep this material moving, support active management and deliver real on‑the‑ground benefits for forests and communities,” said Kurt Dyroff, Co‑CEO,National Wild Turkey Federation.

“Arizona has already utilized substantial funding from this program to treat hazardous fuels across our state. As we scale up forest treatment activities in the coming years, having dedicated transportation assistance for biomass makes the difference between protecting our forests and leaving hazardous fuel on the ground, waiting to ignite. Senator Kelly’s legislation will keep this program running and help us treat more acres, protect more communities, and build more resilient forests across Arizona,” said Thomas Torres, Director and State Forester, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.",1,2026-06-26T06:29:35Z,2026-06-26T06:31:46Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-schatz-warner-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-provide-transparency-on-ai-generated-content,"Curtis, Schatz, Warner Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Transparency on AI-Generated Content",2026-06-25,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Bill would require clear labels on AI-made content

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the AI Labeling Act, bipartisan legislation to provide transparency on digital content generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The bill will help ensure people know when they are viewing AI-made content or interacting with an AI chatbot by requiring clear labels and disclosures.

“As AI-generated content becomes more refined and realistic, people deserve to know whether what they’re seeing is created by a human or generated by artificial intelligence,” said Senator Curtis. “Our bipartisan AI Labeling Act establishes clear, commonsense transparency standards that help consumers make informed decisions, promote trust in digital content, and discourage bad actors from using AI to deceive the public.”

“People deserve to know whether the videos, photos, and content they see and read online are real or not,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill is simple—if any digital content is made by AI, it should be labeled so that people are aware and aren’t fooled or scammed.”

“Jurisdictions around the globe are moving to adopt commonsense rules around labeling AI-generated content—it’s time for the U.S. to catch up and in fact lead the world with a disclosure and anti-circumvention model that should be the global standard,” said Senator Warner.

Background:

In May 2023, an AI-generated photo of an explosion near the Pentagon went viral, triggering a dip in the stock market. Deepfake images of President Trump being arrested were viewed by millions on social media, demonstrating the types of manipulation users could see during elections. And fraudsters are already abusing AI systems to generate scam calls, impersonating a loved one’s voice, and scamming Americans out of their hard-earned money. As generative AI becomes increasingly convincing and widespread, it is critical that companies take steps to ensure that American consumers can identify AI-generated content.

The AI Labeling Act would:

Require both visible and machine-readable disclosures identifying AI-generated digital content, including image, video, or audio content;

Require AI developers and all major social media platforms to collaborate to ensure users can identify the authenticity of shared content; and

Establish a working group to create technical standards so users and social media platforms can identify AI-generated content and support content provenance.

The AI Labeling Act is endorsed by the American Society for Collective Rights Licensing Inc. (ASCRL); Authors Guild; Common Cause; Consumer Action; Consumer Federation of America (CFA); Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE); International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); Music Creators North America (MCNA); National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA); National Consumers League (NCL); Public Citizen; SAG-AFTRA; Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL); Songwriters Guild of America (SGA); Writers Guild of America East (WGAE).

“The National Association of Voice Actors proudly supports the AI Labeling Act. Audiences deserve to know what is real, ensuring consumers can make informed decisions about the content they engage with. Voice actors are already seeing their voices cloned, synthesized, and deployed without any clear disclosure. For audiences and voice actors, transparency is fundamental to protecting trust and preserving the value of human performance while creating a marketplace where authenticity is not left to guesswork. The AI Labeling Act takes an important step toward that goal by establishing clear disclosure and provenance requirements for AI-generated content. We thank Senators Schatz and Curtis for their leadership and look forward to working with Congress to move this legislation forward,” said Tim Friedlander, President and Co-Founder, National Association of Voice Actors.

“The Authors Guild applauds Senators Schatz and Curtis for reintroducing the AI Labeling Act. Readers deserve to know whether what they’re reading was written by a human author or generated by a machine. As generative AI floods the market with synthetic books and articles, clear and conspicuous labeling is essential to protecting both the integrity of authorship and the public’s trust in what they read. We are proud to endorse this commonsense, bipartisan bill,” said Mary Rasenberger, CEO, The Authors Guild.

“AI-generated deception is becoming a routine part of everyday life. Deepfakes and synthetic media increasingly appear in our social media, political discourse, and even messages shared by trusted friends and family. Americans shouldn’t have to play detective every time they open a text, scroll through a newsfeed, or watch a video online. The AI Labeling Act is a commonsense transparency measure that helps restore trust in our information ecosystem by ensuring consumers can identify AI-generated content. In a world where seeing is no longer believing, transparency becomes the prerequisite for trust, accountability, and an informed public,” said J.B. Branch, AI Governance and Technology Policy Counsel, Public Citizen.",1,2026-06-26T06:29:35Z,2026-06-26T06:31:46Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-introduces-end-epa-abuse-act,Lee Introduces End EPA Abuse Act,2026-06-25,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the End EPA Abuse Act to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from exercising undue authority to arbitrarily create and enforce policy decisions that rightly belong to Congress. The legislation is cosponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and its House version was introduced by Congressman Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09). The bill is endorsed by thirteen organizations and twenty Attorneys General from across the country.

“The EPA has overstepped its authority as far as possible to put America’s energy producers in a chokehold,” said Senator Mike Lee. “They’ve exploited any power they can grab to push Biden and Obama’s climate psychosis at the expense of our energy security. They make up and enforce regulations to suffocate America’s energy producers and devastate major sectors of our economy. The End EPA Abuse Act will clarify once and for all that policymaking belongs to Congress, whom the American people have elected – not to the leftwing bureaucracy.”

""The EPA has spent years using the Clean Air Act as a backdoor tool to wage war on fossil fuels and strip Americans of their energy choices,” said Senator Cynthia Lummis. “The End EPA Abuse Act puts Congress back in the driver's seat where we belong. That's why I'm proud to cosponsor this legislation and finally draw a clear line against an agency that has far exceeded the authority Congress ever intended to give it.""

“Under the Biden Administration, the EPA increasingly treated the Clean Air Act as a blank check to push de facto electric vehicle mandates, jeopardize reliable energy sources, and impose costly regulations on American consumers and businesses,” said Congressman Andrew Clyde. “Unelected Washington bureaucrats should never have the power to dictate what kind of car Americans drive or how our country produces electricity. The End EPA Abuse Act puts Congress back in the driver's seat where it belongs, preventing any future Democrat Administration from abusing the EPA’s regulatory authority to advance the Left’s radical, anti-American energy agenda.”

The End EPA Abuse Act is endorsed by twenty Attorneys General who penned a letter of support, as well as the following organizations: Heritage Action, American Energy Institute, American Consumer Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Frontiers of Freedom Institute, Eagle Forum, Less Government, the Heartland Institute, Center for a Free Economy, American Energy Alliance, Truth in Energy and Climate, the John Locke Foundation, and the Center for Energy and Conservation at Independent Women’s Voice.

“The End EPA Abuse Act of 2026 is a win for our States and our residents. We are grateful that the Trump administration has moved aggressively to correct many of the Biden-era and Obama-era excesses described above. EPA Administrator Zeldin has been a skilled partner in unwinding unlawful rules, and we applaud those efforts. But statutory guardrails—not administrative forbearance—provide the durable solution our constituents deserve. Thank you for your commitment to keeping the EPA within its statutory authority. The States recognize that EPA has an important role to play. We ask only that Congress ensure that, in playing that role, the EPA does not again usurp ours.” – A.G. John McCuskey and other Attorneys General

“The EPA was never authorized to engineer America’s transportation system, force fuel switching at power plants, or jeopardize grid reliability in pursuit of political objectives. The End EPA Abuse Act restores important guardrails by prohibiting regulations that effectively ban internal combustion engines, mandate unproven technologies, or threaten reliable electricity generation. Americans deserve affordable, dependable energy and the freedom to choose the products that best meet their needs.” – American Energy Institute

""The CAA has been abused to create electric vehicle mandates, force the grid to shift to renewables, and impose impossible technological standards, all of which inflict burdensome costs and hardship onto consumers. This bill will keep the CAA within the bounds set by Congress, preserving consumer choice and protecting our electric grid from unjustified and unrealistic regulations."" – American Consumer Institute

“The EPA is supposed to be focused on environmental protection, not on trying to stretch the Clean Air Act to change the very nature of our economy. Yet this is exactly what has been happening in recent years. Not long ago, people would have been thought of as wacky if they claimed the EPA would try to use the Clean Air Act to kill off gas-powered cars or try and change how the country produces electricity. But this is exactly what the agency has been doing. The End EPA Abuse Act establishes much-needed guardrails on the EPA. The bill is a means by which Congress would be reasserting its power while still allowing the EPA to do its job to protect the environment. The only thing the bill prohibits is the greatest abuses that common sense tells us Congress never authorized in the first place. Sen. Lee and Rep. Clyde should be commended for introducing this critical reform bill.” – Competitive Enterprise Institute

“Senator Mike Lee has once again shown the kind of principled leadership our country desperately needs with the introduction of the End EPA Abuse Act of 2026. This important legislation directly confronts the Environmental Protection Agency’s relentless overreach by protecting American consumers’ right to choose the vehicles they want and can afford, while also safeguarding the reliability of our electric grid. By reining in the EPA’s ability to impose unrealistic, costly, and anti-consumer mandates — particularly those that target internal combustion engines and force fuel-switching at power plants — Senator Lee is standing up for constitutional limits on federal power and defending the economic freedom of hardworking Americans. This bill is a much-needed corrective to years of regulatory abuse and should be supported by anyone who believes government agencies should serve the people, not dictate to them.” – Frontiers of Freedom Institute

Background

Since its enaction in 1970, the EPA has increasingly interpreted the Clean Air Act not merely as a mandate to protect air quality, but as license to impact major sectors of the American economy. By exploiting statutory ambiguities and stretching its regulatory authority beyond Congress's original intent, the agency has abused the Clean Air Act to impose sweeping policies impacting electricity generation, transportation, and industrial production.

For example, the Obama-era EPA used Clean Air Act regulatory authority to attempt to implement the “Clean Power Plan,” which would have forced power plants to switch from coal to other sources of fuel. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected this overreach in West Virginia v. EPA, arguing that Congress had not authorized the EPA to assert such broad authority that would have carried massive economic and political consequences. The Court rightly recognized that major policy decisions belong to Congress, not a federal agency.

Despite positive court cases and deregulatory actions by President Trump’s EPA, future administrations will continue using the Clean Air Act as a tool to assert authority for major policy decisions that go well beyond the law. Congress should codify in statute clear guardrails to protect Americans from an EPA that imposes excessive rules that drive up prices, restrict consumer choice, and devastate the agency’s disfavored industries.

The End EPA Abuse Act

The End EPA Abuse Act would prohibit the EPA from issuing Clean Air Act regulations that could be reasonably determined to significantly expand the Agency’s authority beyond the intent of Congress.

This includes any regulation that:

a) Restricts the sale or use of internal combustion engine vehicles;

b) Requires power plants to switch fuel sources;

c) Reduces the reliability of the electric grid, or;

d) Requires the use of technology that is economically or practically infeasible.

The bill also clarifies that “regulations” includes waivers like those issued to California for their EV mandate.

Bill Text | One Pager | Endorsements

###",1,2026-06-26T06:29:35Z,2026-06-26T06:31:46Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-cosponsors-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-youth-from-targeted-gambling-ads,Curtis Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Youth from Targeted Gambling Ads,2026-06-25,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) cosponsored bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to combat the rapid and concerning rise in youth gambling. The Gaming Advertisement to Minors Enforcement (GAME) Act would prohibit social media companies and other advertising websites from targeting minors with sports betting through online advertising.

“As online advertising becomes increasingly targeted and sophisticated, we need commonsense protections that keep gambling promotions away from our youth,” said Senator Curtis. “By prohibiting sports betting advertisers from targeting minors, our bipartisan legislation would help protect kids, support parents, and ensure technology is used responsibly.”

“The rise in sports gambling among minors, particularly among young boys, is jarring,” said Senator Britt. “We know targeted advertising from gambling and prediction market websites can serve as the gateway to dangerous habits that too often become crippling addictions. Our legislation takes a critical step toward addressing this problem before it worsens. Our next generation is our greatest asset, and it’s our responsibility to take the necessary steps to protect them from online dangers whenever we can—which is exactly what this bill does.”

“Sportsbooks and prediction markets are treating young people like a gold rush, flooding the internet with advertisements and promotions to hook them on gambling when they’re young,” said Senator Blumenthal. “High schoolers, even middle schoolers, are now gambling on their phones as never before, losing real money and creating life-altering addiction. The GAME Act would create a nationwide ban on targeted advertising of gambling to kids, backed with the force of punishing fines.”

Background:

A 2024 study found that individuals who begin gambling before the age of 18 are 50% more likely to develop a gambling problem, while 1 in 6 parents say they would not know if their child was gambling. Another recent study found that 45% of adolescent boys who gamble see gambling-related content online. Additionally, 59% reported that gambling-related content began appearing in their algorithms without them proactively searching for it.

The Federal Trade Commission would be responsible for enforcing the law, which would begin one year after enactment. Failure to comply could result in civil financial penalties and injunctive relief sought through the courts.

Under the GAME Act, repeat offenders can be referred to the Department of Justice, which could impose financial penalties of up to $100,000 for each advertisement shown to a minor that promotes sports gambling. In cases where thousands of advertisements are shown to minors, the financial penalties could become substantial.",1,2026-06-27T20:01:11Z,2026-06-28T06:33:41Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-schiff-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-children-from-ai-chatbot-risks,"Curtis, Schiff Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Children from AI Chatbot Risks",2026-06-23,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"SAFE KIDS Act establishes a comprehensive federal framework to ensure chatbots prioritize child safety, privacy, and parental empowerment

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) today introduced the Safeguarding AI Features to Ensure Kids’ Informed Digital Safety (SAFE KIDS) Act, bipartisan legislation to protect children from the risks and harms associated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. The commonsense framework addresses growing concerns about kids’ reliance on AI chatbots for emotional support and companionship.

“Parents deserve confidence that AI tools are not exposing their children to harmful content, fostering unhealthy emotional dependence, or exploiting their personal information,” said Senator Curtis. “The SAFE KIDS Act puts commonsense guardrails in place to protect children online while preserving American leadership in innovation. We need clear standards for transparency, accountability, and child safety so families can navigate the opportunities and risks of emerging technologies with confidence.”

“AI chatbots that promote companionship pose significant risks to young and developing minds. Already we have heard tragic stories of kids who have been influenced by the powerful, and still sometimes unpredictable, outputs of an AI chatbot,” said Senator Schiff. “These chatbots can represent the power of the entire internet in a humanlike form, and impressionable kids need to be protected from its worst impulses—and from seeing their data misused by the companies behind them. The SAFE KIDS Act represents a comprehensive bipartisan attempt to protect our children and ensure that their first experiences with this revolutionary technology are free from harm.”

Background:

AI chatbots are increasingly becoming a part of children’s daily lives. While these tools can provide educational benefits, they have already shown to expose children to harmful content, encourage unhealthy emotional dependence, and collect sensitive personal information if not properly safeguarded.

Specifically, the SAFE KIDS Act would:

Require that AI chatbot providers conduct rigorous, ongoing risk assessments and implement robust safety safeguards before making systems available to children;

Prohibit any advertising to child users, as well as all child-targeted behavioral advertising, and ban the sale or sharing of a child’s personal data without verifiable parental consent;

Ban the generation of sexual deepfakes and strictly prohibit AI chatbots from mimicking human emotions to isolate children or foster unhealthy emotional dependence;

Require providers to build documented protocols that offer immediate external crisis resources and prompt parental notifications if a minor is at risk of imminent harm, including suicidal ideation or self-harm;

Mandate annual, independent child safety audits to ensure full compliance with the law, with transparency summaries published for the public; and

Compel providers to utilize secure age estimation technology to properly differentiate accounts held by children from adults while strictly protecting the privacy of that data.",1,2026-06-24T06:25:30Z,2026-06-24T06:26:49Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-cotton-sound-alarm-on-chinese-thieves-in-american-labs,"Lee, Cotton Sound Alarm on Chinese Thieves in American Labs",2026-06-23,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) today sent a letter to alert Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright of Chinese nationals’ access to American National Labs, where they are infiltrating sensitive research facilities to steal American intellectual property and technology to benefit Communist China.

In January 2026, the Senators, along with nine of their colleagues, sent a letter to Secretary Wright urging him to address this issue. In March 2025, they introduced the Guarding American Technology from Exploitation (GATE) Act as a legislative solution. The bill is currently being blocked by Democrats on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

In part, the Senators wrote:

“We write expressing serious concern regarding the Department of Energy’s (DOE) continued practice of permitting foreign nationals from China to access facilities across the National Laboratory complex and work alongside American scientists. Recent DOE data underscores that this practice puts the nation’s research enterprise at risk of foreign intelligence collection and technology transfers that will benefit our adversaries.”

The letter reads as follows:

Dear Secretary Wright:

We write expressing serious concern regarding the Department of Energy’s (DOE) continued practice of permitting foreign nationals from China to access facilities across the National Laboratory complex and work alongside American scientists. Recent DOE data underscores that this practice puts the nation’s research enterprise at risk of foreign intelligence collection and technology transfers that will benefit our adversaries.

According to DOE’s own data, Chinese nationals continue to occupy substantial roles across a variety of access types, including short term visits (approximately 1,900 in FY 2025), long term research assignments (approximately 1,300 in FY 2025), and even formal employment (approximately 2,100 in FY 2025). The Department further reports in FY 2025, on-site user facilities at the National Labs were accessed physically and remotely more than 5,000 times by Chinese nationals. These facts reflect severe vulnerabilities at our nation’s premier and most sensitive scientific environments.

China is our main competitor in research and development and the race for emerging tech, where it seeks to surpass the United States by stealing American intellectual property and technologies. This is widely known and well-documented, and yet for decades we continue to give Chinese national scientists access to our National Laboratories.

These numbers are not small, nor are they incidental. They represent a systemic exposure of our National Labs, including the American scientists who work there and topics they are working on, to an adversary determined to defeat the United States. Given that DOE has not substantially reduced this exposure, we respectfully request answers to the following:

1. How does DOE's risk framework account for China's National Intelligence Law, which legally obligates every Chinese citizen—including those working in our National Laboratories—to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services upon demand, regardless of where they reside?

2. Why does the Department permit Chinese nationals to work inside the National Labs, side by side with American scientists?

3. Are Chinese nationals given access to controlled technologies, export controlled technologies, or any other sensitive research environments within the National Laboratories? If so, how many?

4. What steps is DOE taking to reduce remote access by Chinese nationals, given the Department’s own finding that thousands of users operate remotely with limited oversight?

5. Does DOE intend to reduce or cap Chinese nationals’ participation in unclassified research areas, and if not, why not?

6. What counterintelligence assessments has DOE conducted regarding the concentration of Chinese nationals in specific labs, programs, or user facilities?

The Department’s mission is to advance American scientific leadership, protect national security, and safeguard critical technologies. This mission can’t be achieved when it’s undermined by thousands of Chinese nationals infiltrating the National Labs each year. We look forward to your thoughts on these systemic vulnerabilities affecting our labs.

Read exclusive coverage by the New York Post here.

Read the full text of the letter here.

###",1,2026-06-24T06:25:30Z,2026-06-24T06:26:49Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-applauds-senate-passage-of-housing-affordability-bill,Curtis Applauds Senate Passage of Housing Affordability Bill,2026-06-22,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Road to Housing Act would help increase housing supply amid significant demand, high prices

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) issued the following statement regarding the Senate’s passage of the bipartisan, bicameral 21st Century Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act:

“For decades, owning a home has been a core part of the American Dream, yet housing affordability has become one of the most difficult financial challenges that families face today. And with Utah being one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, our state is experiencing a serious supply crunch, which further puts homeownership out of reach.

“But today, the Senate took a significant step toward delivering meaningful relief for those families by passing the ROAD to Housing Act. This legislation advances practical, commonsense solutions to increase housing supply and expand access to affordable housing and financing opportunities for families, making the dream of homeownership more attainable and the pressures of renting less burdensome.

“Despite all the noise we see, passing this major piece of legislation demonstrates that bicameral cooperation and bipartisanship are alive in Congress and that we are working to address the issues the American people care about most.

“I have been proud to support this effort and will continue working to influence and advance practical solutions that lower costs for families and keep the American Dream a reality.”

Background:

Due to travel delays caused by inclement weather, Senator Curtis was unable to attend the Senate’s final passage vote. He however supported the legislation in preceding votes.

As one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, Utah has experienced significant housing demand in recent years, driving up both home prices and rent for families across the state. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a bipartisan, bicameral package designed to address these affordability challenges by increasing housing supply and reducing barriers that make it harder and more expensive to build new homes.

The legislation modernizes outdated federal housing policies, streamlines requirements that have constrained development, and creates incentives for communities to expand housing production. It also includes reforms to support community banks and local lenders that help finance housing development.

For Utah, where growing communities are working to keep pace with population growth, these reforms aim to make it easier to build the housing needed to keep homeownership and rental opportunities within reach for working families.

The final package was the product of months of negotiations between the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee and reflects priorities from both parties.",1,2026-06-24T06:25:30Z,2026-06-24T06:26:49Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-cosponsors-bipartisan-legislation-to-secure-hazard-pay-for-wildland-firefighters,Curtis Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Secure Hazard Pay for Wildland Firefighters,2026-06-22,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) cosponsored the Wildland Firefighter Hazard Pay Correction Act, bipartisan legislation to provide hazard pay to wildland firefighters and smokejumpers for prescribed burns and training jumps, ensuring these brave first responders are recognized with fair compensation.

“Prescribed burns are one of the many ways wildland firefighters put their lives on the line to prevent wildfires and manage our lands,” said Senator Curtis. “This bill ensures federal wildland firefighters and smokejumpers are fairly compensated for the risks they take to protect our forests, public lands, and communities.”

The legislation was introduced by Senators Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) and is also cosponsored by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).

“Our wildland firefighters and smoke jumpers face incredible risks to defend our communities, and for too long, they have done so without fair compensation. With the bulk of fire season on its way, this bipartisan bill ensures we pay these heroes what they deserve as they continue their dangerous work to protect families, communities, and property from the threat of catastrophic wildfire,” said Senator Sheehy.

“Wildland firefighters put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. As wildfires become more intense and frequent, we need to recruit and retain more firefighters to maintain strong crews on the frontlines. Our bill will ensure that our brave wildland firefighters receive hazard pay for a broader range of high-risk work – delivering a long-overdue raise,”said Senator Padilla.

Background:

Although firefighters receive hazard pay when responding to active wildfires, they don’t receive equivalent compensation when conducting prescribed burns, despite facing similar risks from fire, smoke, and rugged forest conditions. Likewise, hazard pay isn’t provided to smokejumpers conducting regular proficiency jumps needed to maintain readiness, even though parachuting into remote areas is inherently hazardous.

In April, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) took a strong step towards addressing these gaps, issuing a proposed rule that adds prescribed wildland fire duties as a covered activity triggering hazard pay.

The Wildland Firefighter Hazard Pay Correction Act would codify and build on OPM’s efforts by providing hazard pay to wildland firefighters and smoke jumpers for prescribed burns and training jumps. This bill will ensure that risks across the full range of wildfire mitigation and response activities are recognized with fair compensation – supporting the first responders that keep our communities safe.

What the bill does:

Expresses a sense of Congress that firefighters who engage in prescribed fire and smokejumper training activities take on risks comparable to those in wildfire suppression and should receive hazard pay to fairly compensate these risks.

Amends 5 U.S.C. 5545 to require that duties involving the ignition, control, or suppression of a prescribed burn, and smokejumper exercises for training, proficiency, or operational purposes, receive the same pay differential as wildfire response activities.

Directs OPM to issue implementing hazard pay regulations within 90 days of enactment.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

Additional Support:

“America’s wildland firefighters are asked to do some of the toughest and most dangerous work in the country from responding to devastating wildfires to carrying out the prescribed burns and training that help prevent future disasters. They deserve to be fairly compensated for those risks. Megafire Action is proud to support this bipartisan legislation because investing in the people who fight these fires is essential to building a more resilient future. We thank Senators Sheehy and Padilla for their leadership on this legislation and look forward to its passage.”– Matt Weiner, co-founder and CEO of Megafire Action

“Commercial aerial assets work alongside federal ground crews every day — on wildfires, on prescribed burns, and in support of smokejumper operations. Codifying hazard pay for prescribed fire duties into statute gives the workforce — and the agencies — something durable to build on. The bill’s extension of hazard pay to smokejumper training jumps is equally important. Maintaining parachute proficiency is not an administrative exercise; it is operational readiness, and it carries real risk. Compensating it accordingly is overdue. We commend Senator Sheehy and Senator Padilla for their leadership on this bill and urge swift action.” – Paul Petersen, Executive Director, United Aerial Firefighting Association",1,2026-06-24T06:25:30Z,2026-06-24T06:26:49Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-votes-to-protect-americans-from-government-overreach-calls-for-real-affordable-housing-solutions,"Lee Votes to Protect Americans from Government Overreach, Calls for Real Affordable Housing Solutions",2026-06-22,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today voted against the flawed Road to Housing Act to protect Americans from federal overreach and stand for real affordable housing solutions.

“Americans need more affordable housing. Unfortunately, this bill doesn’t do enough to provide it, instead increasing the federal government’s long-running and failed involvement in the U.S. housing market,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Notably, the bill does not do nearly enough to safeguard housing programs for American citizens only. Additionally, the bill includes only a temporary ban on a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) rather than a permanent one, while failing to prohibit any future administration from trampling state and local authorities for social engineering like the Biden and Obama administrations. The process to fix this bill has been nonexistent, with no amendment votes in the Senate. We can do better. To truly improve housing affordability, we must drastically reduce the federal government’s footprint in housing policy, cut federal spending to reduce federal debt, which in turn can lower mortgage interest rates, and continue mass deportations of illegal aliens who are placing a significant burden on housing availability and affordability for American citizens.”

###",1,2026-06-23T06:27:52Z,2026-06-23T06:29:20Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/senator-lee-on-fox-news-debate-save-america-act-until-it-passes-trust-president-trump-on-iran,"Senator Lee on FOX News: Debate SAVE America Act Until it Passes, Trust President Trump on Iran",2026-06-22,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) joined FOX News Sunday with host Shannon Bream to outline a path to passage for the SAVE America Act, call on the Senate to skip vacation, and discuss President Trump’s America-First navigation of the conflict in Iran. Watch the full interview here.

Watch Senator Lee outline the SAVE America Act's path to passage here.

Senator Lee on the SAVE America Act’s Path to Passage:

“It’s important to remember that the original SAVE America Act – the one that was passed by the House of Representatives – does have simple majority support in the Senate. While it’s true that we’re ten votes shy of cloture (forcing debate to a close), that doesn’t mean that we couldn’t pass it.

“There are a couple ways to get there.

“One would be nuking the filibuster, which appears unlikely to happen. But the other way is to exhaust the other side – to continue to debate the bill until it passes. This was a common procedure in the Senate for most of its existence; it needs to be used from time to time in situations like this one.

“Look, the American people overwhelmingly support this – Republicans, Democrats alike. We’re talking about three out of four Americans – regardless of political party – want to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. That’s what the House-passed SAVE America Act does, and the Senate needs to be willing to do that hard work to make sure that happens.

“If we put it on the floor tomorrow, and we announce that we’re going to debate it until it passes, I’m confident that we can get there.”

–

Watch Senator Lee call on the Senate to stop vacationing and start working here.

Senator Lee on the Senate Vacationing Instead of Voting:

“Days or weeks can feel like months or years to United States senators who want to be doing other things. The truth is we haven't tried what I believe it takes to get the Save America Act passed, which is to put it on the floor and to say we're going to debate this for weeks. And we'll stay through weekends, we'll stay through previously scheduled recesses if necessary, but we're going to stay on this bill until it passes.

“Nothing sharpens the mind, nothing hastens agreement, nothing will bring about face-saving and perfecting amendments, quite like the obligation to stay in and debate something that is popular with the American people when filibustering senators trying to slow it down are becoming steadily less popular in their arguments.”

–

Watch Senator Lee discuss President Trump’s navigation of Iran here.

Senator Lee on President Trump’s America-First Leadership on Iran:

“Let's remember that President Trump is not like other presidents who have tried to address this issue. Both President Obama and President Biden negotiated from a position of weakness. President Trump has done everything that is absolutely necessary to make sure that we're negotiating from a position of strength.

“This is the master of the art of the deal – don't count him out.

“In fact, I would bank on the fact that President Trump will make darn sure Iran complies. And if it doesn't, Iran will face very unpleasant consequences. Iran has seen already what happens when you mess with President Trump, and they will see it again if they don't comply.”

###",1,2026-06-23T06:27:52Z,2026-06-23T06:29:20Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-announces-250-mile-walk-for-americas-250th-anniversary,Curtis Announces 250-Mile Walk for America’s 250th Anniversary,2026-06-18,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Journey will honor values highlighted in America’s founding documents, Utah’s pioneer heritage

PROVO, UT—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) today announced his plans to embark on a multi-day, 250-mile walk across Utah in honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Averaging 30 miles of walking per day, the senator will start his journey near the northern border of Utah and end in his hometown of Provo on the Fourth of July.

As previewed in an opinion piece published in the Deseret News, Senator Curtis will use the occasion to highlight the values enshrined in the United States’ founding documents—the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution—and those exhibited by Utah’s pioneer settlers.

The Senator’s remarks as delivered can be found below. The video file can be downloaded here.

As you all know, this year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—America’s semiquincentennial, if you will.

We recognize some of the most consequential moments in human history: A citizens’ army of patriots winning their independence from the greatest empire of the 18th century. And while accomplishing that military miracle, they forged diverse peoples, interests, and cultures into a unified experiment in democracy. Guided by Providence, the cause of those patriots prevailed, and the American experiment thrives even 250 years later.

This moment invites us to look beyond the partisan politics of our time and deeply reflect on the underlying principles and values enshrined in our founding documents that have shaped our nation for generations.

I’ve long thought about how I can best honor this occasion as Utah’s United States Senator. So, I’m announcing that starting next week, I’m going to walk 250 miles starting near the northern border of our state and ending in Provo at the Stadium of Fire on the Fourth of July.

Averaging about 30 miles per day, I will walk through our local communities, having Utahns join me along the way, to reflect on and promote the distinctly American values consecrated in our founding documents, and also those exhibited by Utah’s pioneer settlers.

These values matter now more than ever, and it is our sacred obligation not just to speak of them, but to live them.

I hope you will follow along with me throughout this journey and reflect, yourselves, upon these values that make our families, our state, and our country so great.

Background:

The walk will follow a 250-mile continuous route and happen over the course of nine days, starting on Friday, June 26 and ending on Saturday, July 4.

The route will begin near Bear Lake in Dingle, Idaho, the birthplace of the Senator’s mother. He will conclude the journey by walking into the Stadium of Fire event at BYU’s LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo—the city where he currently resides and previously served as mayor.

Through a series of daily vlogs and other media materials, Curtis will showcase distinctly American values, including liberty, magnanimity, prudence, fortitude, and others, while also highlighting his experiences traversing through the state.",1,2026-06-19T06:50:32Z,2026-06-19T06:53:40Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-padilla-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-rural-water-infrastructure-and-wildfire-readiness,"Curtis, Padilla Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Rural Water Infrastructure and Wildfire Readiness",2026-06-18,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Alex Padilla (D-CA), members of the Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced the FIRE SMART Act, bipartisan legislation to expand funding eligibility for projects with fire suppression benefits in high-risk rural areas. The legislation would help build rural communities’ resiliency by optimizing water infrastructure to provide the flow necessary for emergency responders to save lives and property during an active wildfire.

The legislation amends the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to expand eligibility for water infrastructure projects that have both drinking water and wildfire suppression benefits, and are in communities at high risk for wildfires with fewer than 50,000 residents.

“As wildfires continue to threaten Utah and the West, rural communities need access to the tools and infrastructure necessary to protect lives and property,” said Senator Curtis. “This bipartisan legislation makes targeted, commonsense reforms to allow certain drinking water projects that also strengthen wildfire resilience to qualify for federal support. By helping small, high-risk communities upgrade critical water infrastructure, we can improve public safety while maintaining the core mission of providing reliable drinking water.”

“While we’ve made progress in wildfire mitigation and prevention, too many rural communities still lack the water infrastructure needed to effectively respond when disaster strikes,” said Senator Padilla. “The FIRE SMART Act changes that reality by strengthening water systems and giving rural communities the tools they need to keep homes and families safe. While we can’t predict when wildfires will strike, this commonsense legislation will help ensure rural communities are better prepared when they do.”

The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), John Boozman (R-AR), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

The full text of the bill can be found here.

The FIRE SMART Act is endorsed by several organizations, including the Tahoe Water for Fire Partnership, National Special Districts Association (NSDA), National Association of Emergency and Fire Officials, Arizona Special Districts Alliance, Montana Fire Trustees Association, and Family Farm Alliance.

“The Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership commends Senators Padilla and Curtis for introducing the FIRE SMART Act of 2026 and for their dedication to protecting rural communities from catastrophic wildfire,” said the Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership. “We strongly support this legislation, which modernizes the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to allow rural communities at high risk from wildfire to improve fire flow capacity while maintaining safe drinking water standards.”

“The National Special Districts Association strongly supports the FIRE SMART Act to strengthen water infrastructure in communities at high risk of wildfire,” said the National Special Districts Association (NSDA). “With more than 10,000 special districts nationwide providing fire protection and/or drinking water services, federal investments in water infrastructure—including projects that support fire suppression—are critical to ensuring community safety and resilience. By providing targeted flexibility within the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), this legislation will help local agencies, particularly in rural and high-risk areas, invest in projects that deliver both safe drinking water and reliable fire suppression capacity. NSDA looks forward to working with Congress to advance this practical, locally driven approach to protecting lives, property, and essential water systems.”

“Rural and volunteer fire departments are on the front lines of the wildfire crisis, yet far too often they are asked to do more with less,” said Marvin Hill, Vice President of the National Association of Emergency and Fire Officials. “The FIRE SMART Act is a critical step toward ensuring these departments have the infrastructure and resources needed to protect their communities safely and effectively. The National Association of Emergency and Fire Officials (NAEFO) supports FIRE SMART’s comprehensive approach to wildfire resilience—one that pairs fuel reduction with critical investments in local firefighting infrastructure. Rural and exurban fire districts are on the front lines of a growing wildfire crisis, yet they face systemic infrastructure gaps that must be addressed to ensure effective response and community protection.”

“Special districts providing critical fire protection and water resources in Arizona’s rural, wildland-urban interface communities have long faced increasing fire risk with regulatory barriers preventing existing programs from assisting with adequate fire suppression needs,” said Carol Shrock, Arizona Special Districts Association President. “The FIRE SMART Act is a solution to provide flexibility for small, fire-prone communities to access Drinking Water State Revolving Fund resources to meet local water-for-fire infrastructure demands while advancing the program’s environmental and public health goals. The Arizona Special Districts Association supports the FIRE SMART Act as a tool for rural special districts to enhance their community services and safety, and we applaud Senators Alex Padilla and John Curtis for their leadership for rural, WUI communities.”

“The Montana Fire Trustees Association strongly supports the FIRE Smart Act of 2026,” said Bruce Suenram, Montana Fire Trustees Association Secretary/Treasurer. “This act would enable many of Montana’s fire districts and fire service areas to improve water infrastructure for fire suppression in the rural areas we serve. Many of our members provide fire protection in communities which are a high risk for wildfires.”

“The Family Farm Alliance applauds Senators Padilla and Curtis for introducing the FIRE SMART Act of 2026 and advancing practical solutions to help rural communities prepare for increasingly severe wildfire conditions. Across the West, farmers, ranchers, irrigation districts, and rural water providers depend on reliable water infrastructure to protect both communities and agricultural operations. By allowing investments that improve fire flow capacity through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, this legislation helps ensure that rural areas have the tools they need to respond to wildfire threats while maintaining safe drinking water in rural communities. The Alliance strongly supports this commonsense approach to strengthening community resilience and protecting the people, rural economies, and natural resources that sustain the West,” said Samantha Barncastle, Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance.",1,2026-06-19T06:50:32Z,2026-06-19T06:53:40Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-questions-kari-lake-highlights-growing-ccp-influence-in-caribbean,"Curtis Questions Kari Lake, Highlights Growing CCP Influence in Caribbean",2026-06-18,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"During his questioning, Curtis, chair of the SFRC Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, cited recent statements from Chinese officials describing Jamaica as a “strategic partner” of China and pressed for greater scrutiny of Beijing’s objectives in the region. Curtis also highlighted concerns surrounding Chinese involvement in Jamaica’s port infrastructure and the expansion of Huawei telecommunications technology, noting the potential risks related to data security, supply chain visibility, and regional stability.

The full transcript of the exchange is below, and video can be found here.

Senator Curtis: Ms. Lake, as you know, I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better. If I’m honest, I knew you from your persona, and you and I had really never met. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to get to know the real Kari Lake, and I’m grateful for the visit you made to my office and for the chance that we’ve had to talk about a number of issues.

So, I’m somewhat satisfied on all those questions and would like to turn my attention today to Jamaica, and particularly China. We’ve heard today about drugs and gangs, but also equally concerning to me is China and its relationship with Jamaica. The Chinese ambassador to Jamaica said in May that President Xi Jinping emphasized that Jamaica is a strategic partner of China. What’s your assessment of China’s strategic objectives in Jamaica, and really, what are their true motives there?

Kari Lake: Thank you, Senator Curtis. And yes, thank you for the time that you afforded me in your office. I enjoyed getting to know you as well. I had never met you before, and I sometimes have to go and prove to people I don’t have horns growing out of my head because the media has done a number on me. So, thank you for giving me the chance.

Curtis: I mentioned, as a Utahn, sometimes we have that same problem.

Lake: The media’s tough there, too?

Curtis: Well, people thinking we have horns.

Lake: Well, we appreciate you, and you’re our neighbor, Utah. We love Utah. We have a lot of good friends who live there as well. So, thank you so much.

I think I’m learning a lot more about it. I don’t know as much as you do, and I appreciate your service as Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee. We talked a little bit about it, but there are massive concerns—not just from their strategy of taking a huge section of the ports, but also when you look at 5G and telecom, with Huawei expanding. It’s very concerning what could happen.

You know, there’s always strings attached with China. The question is: Do you want all of the information going through Huawei, where all of a sudden that information would be trickled back to the CCP and China? There are massive concerns. And this need right now to rebuild has created a lot of opportunity for companies to come in. I’d rather see—and I know you would, and everybody here would—American companies coming in to assist, not the continued increase of Chinese companies.

Curtis: Speaking of that, as you know, a Chinese firm won a major contract for the Kingston Port expansion in 2025. What questions should the U.S. be asking about data access, port resilience, logistics, and dual-use risks when it comes to ports?

Lake: Well, in this case, specifically the port. From what I’ve been briefed on, some of the concerns are that when they’re controlling and seeing everything that’s coming in, it puts American security at great risk. When they have access to and control over everything coming into the country, there are huge risks. I think the Department of War is probably looking closely at that. I’m looking forward to getting more briefings on this. As you know, everything I’ve been briefed on is what’s publicly available. As I learn more, I’d be happy to meet with you, or if you want to share concerns, I’d be happy to listen.

Curtis: You have a unique background in communications. How can you use that background to work with Jamaica and help them see exactly what comes with the Chinese relationship versus the U.S. relationship?

Lake: You know, if you’re not putting out your story, somebody else is. The Americans have done such great work with our partners in Jamaica. They’re neighbors. We have a great relationship. Culturally, we’re more similar than China is with Jamaica, and we need to tell the people what we’re doing. We were on the ground in massive numbers after the hurricane. The U.S. military carried out 133 flights in the hours after the hurricane struck, and we brought in almost 500—480-some—humanitarian relief workers.

We brought in search-and-rescue crews and heavy equipment to move debris off roads. Entire communities were cut off, and sadly there were 45 deaths, and many others were hurt. A quarter of a million people were displaced and needed housing. America was there. We need to tell that story. We will continue to be there, but we cannot continue to watch as China makes huge moves right here in our front yard.",1,2026-06-19T06:50:32Z,2026-06-19T06:53:40Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-shaheen-introduce-bipartisan-bill-keeping-foreign-spies-out-of-american-waters,"Lee, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Bill Keeping Foreign Spies Out of American Waters",2026-06-15,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the Arctic Security and Diplomacy Act, a bipartisan bill to keep spy ships from adversarial nations such as China and Russia from conducting research and espionage operations in American waters.

“The United States must not tolerate China’s increasing incursions into US waters under the guise of surveys and research,” said Senator Mike Lee. “This legislation shuts the door to foreign adversaries attempting to commit espionage and exercise influence at our doorstep in the Arctic, affirming the sole right of the American people to determine who may approach their shores, from the Aleutians to the Beaufort Sea.”

“I recently returned from a bipartisan congressional delegation to Canada, Greenland, Norway and Iceland, where we heard firsthand how Russia and China are expanding their presence and influence across the Arctic,” said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen. “As these adversaries deepen their cooperation in the region, the United States must deepen our own partnerships with Arctic allies to protect our waters, critical infrastructure and national security interests. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that foreign vessels linked to China, Russia and other adversaries cannot exploit scientific research as a cover for espionage or intelligence-gathering activities in American waters, while strengthening our ability to identify and respond to emerging threats in the Arctic.”

Background

The Russian Federation and People’s Republic of China – allied adversaries of the United States – are colluding to enhance their competitive presence in the Arctic region. Russia controls approximately 53% of the arctic coastline, and has significantly expanded its military infrastructure in the region. Likewise, the U.S. Department of War reported “an unprecedented number of Chinese military and research vessels operated in or near U.S. Arctic waters” in 2025. The two nations have openly collaborated to establish a “polar silk road” for shipping and resource extraction through the Arctic, and have each used their access to target northern countries such as Canada and the Netherlands in various espionage operations.

This documented threat necessitates a focused and strategic defense by the United States to protect America’s Arctic waters from adversarial espionage.

The Arctic Security and Diplomacy Act codifies a proclamation by President Trump requiring foreign vessels to request authorization from the U.S. Department of State before conducting research in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and on its continental shelf. Furthermore, the bill builds on President Trump’s action by prohibiting foreign vessels from adversarial nations such as China and Russia from conducting such research in American waters at all.

The Arctic Security and Diplomacy Act:

Requires foreign vessels to request and receive consent from the U.S. Department of State prior to conducting maritime research in American waters

Disqualifies all vessels of – or reasonably suspected to be associated with – adversarial nations such as China and Russia from obtaining consent to conduct maritime research in American waters

Requires the U.S. Secretary of State to produce a strategy in collaboration with the Secretary of War and intelligence community leaders to identify and combat espionage and influence operations by foreign adversaries in the Arctic

Requires the U.S. Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress on espionage and influence operations by foreign adversaries in the Arctic and in American waters

Requires U.S. federal agencies to share information related to relevant maritime research with the U.S. Department of State, unless otherwise prohibited by law

Read exclusive coverage by Intelligence Online here.

Access the full bill text here.

###",1,2026-06-16T06:53:21Z,2026-06-16T06:55:02Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-increase-second-amendment-protections-against-frivolous-lawsuits,"Curtis, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Increase Second Amendment Protections Against Frivolous Lawsuits",2026-06-12,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), along with 14 of their Senate Republican colleagues, in introducing the Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts (SHOT) Act, which would strengthen the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) to provide enhanced protections to the firearms industry from frivolous lawsuits brought by anti-gun bad actors.

“For years, bad actors have frivolously litigated the firearms industry in ways that unnecessarily strain our court system and undermine Americans’ Second Amendment rights,” said Senator Curtis. “The SHOT Act helps ensure that lawful firearms manufacturers and sellers are not held liable for crimes committed by third parties, while closing loopholes and reinforcing existing legal protections.”

“I am a proud supporter of the PLCAA, which protects our firearms industry from the constant onslaught of frivolous attacks by the Radical Left, progressive officials, and rogue activist judges,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation would strengthen the PLCAA to ensure it can continue to defend law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights against anti-gun groups’ evolving tactics, and I urge the Senate to bring it to the floor for a vote as soon as possible.”

The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jim Risch (R-ID), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Jim Justice (R-WV), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt (R-KS) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Radical leftists, Democrat politicians, and rogue judges are eroding our Second Amendment rights by supporting baseless lawsuits against law-abiding gun makers,” said Senator Blackburn. “The SHOT Act would put a stop to these harmful lawsuits and protect the firearms industry that is vital to upholding our constitutional right to bear arms.”

“For far too long, radical anti-gun groups have weaponized our courts with meritless lawsuits against America’s firearms industry, aided by activist judges who disregard federal law. I am proud to join Senator John Cornyn in stopping these baseless attacks on our constitutional rights and defending an industry that plays a vital role in our public safety and national security,” said Senator Budd.

“Litigious activists should not be allowed to bankrupt lawful businesses for crimes they did not commit,” said Senator Crapo. “The SHOT Actwould reinforce Congress’s original intent by strengthening federal protections for members of the firearms industry, stopping meritless lawsuits and preventing costly legal abuse.”

“The Constitution makes it very clear: Americans have the right to keep and bear arms. I’m proud to work with Senator Cornyn and our colleagues on the SHOT Act to protect firearm manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits by anti-gun organizations and protect the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Senator Daines.

“The Second Amendment is a fundamental right established by our Founding Fathers. Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped leftist organizations, special interest groups, and foreign governments from attempting to strip Americans of their right to bear arms, including through baseless litigation intended to bankrupt the firearms industry,” said Senator Grassley. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the SHOT Act, which will put a stop to these frivolous lawsuits and help protect Americans’ constitutional rights.”

“Radical anti-gun activists’ attempts to strip Idahoans of their Second Amendment rights and bankrupt our firearm industry must stop,” said Senator Risch. “The SHOT Act will protect our Constitutional right to bear arms by ending frivolous and costly lawsuits.”

“As radical anti-gun groups continue their attacks on the firearms industry through a deluge of nuisance lawsuits and baseless claims, it’s crucial we clarify and strengthen existing protections for the industry to protect Americans’ Second Amendment rights. That’s why I’m pleased to cosponsor the SHOT Act, which makes key updates to the PLCAA–deterring such meritless litigation and defending our constitutional freedoms,” said Senator Sheehy.

“The threats against our right to bear arms run far and wide. When radical gun-grabbing activists lose at the ballot box, they turn to the court room with bogus legal claims,” said Senator Graham. “I’m proud to stand with Second Amendment advocates in supporting the SHOT Act, which will shut the door on absurd lawsuits that seek to put gun dealers across South Carolina out of business.”

Background:

The PLCAA was passed by Congress 20 years ago to stop frivolous lawsuits brought by anti-gun groups against the firearms industry. These lawsuits, premised solely on the actions of third parties who misuse firearms in a manner beyond the industry’s control, sought to bankrupt the firearms industry. In response, the PLCAA provided the firearms industry with basic immunity protections from suits that many other American industries enjoy.

Unfortunately, anti-gun groups, progressive politicians, plaintiffs’ attorneys, and rogue judges have ignored the plain text of the PLCAA and chipped away at its protections. For example, in Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Mexico filed a lawsuit against firearms manufacturers alleging that they caused cartel violence. The District Court judge hearing the case quickly dismissed the suit under the PLCAA, but a panel of liberal judges on the First Circuit ignored the PLCAA’s text and reversed the lower court, necessitating the Supreme Court’s involvement. While a unanimous Supreme Court emphatically dismissed the suit, the suit cost firearms manufacturers an exorbitant amount in legal fees.

The SHOT Act would address tactics the anti-gun lobby has taken to go after firearms manufacturers and undermine the PLCAA’s protections, along with holdings by rogue judges, by establishing new provisions under the law that would:

Delineate a standardized process for removing and dismissing baseless actions brought against the firearms industry;

Require complaints premised on an exception to the PLCAA’s protections to be pled with particularity, including providing the facts necessary to establish scienter and proximate cause;

Create an interlocutory appeal as of right for industry defendants if a motion to dismiss based on the PLCAA’s protections is denied;

Grant a defendant who asserts immunity under the PLCAA and prevails attorneys’ fees and court costs;

Clarify that the PLCAA’s protections preempt state or local laws;

Make plain that foreign governments may not bring a qualified civil liability action against a defendant in U.S. federal or state courts;

Update the definitions of a “qualified product” to include firearms accessories such as magazines and optical devices;

Revise the definition of a “qualified civil liability action” to make clear that any claim premised on an exception to immunity requires the plaintiff to be directly injured by a defendant, and that nuisance or negligence claims do not qualify as an exception; and

Expand the definition of a “seller” of a qualified product.

The SHOT Act is endorsed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).",1,2026-06-13T06:32:19Z,2026-06-13T06:34:27Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-cosponsors-doubled-fines-for-illegal-immigrants-and-employers,Lee Cosponsors Doubled Fines for Illegal Immigrants and Employers,2026-06-12,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today cosponsored the Illegal Immigration Cost Recovery Act with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to double civil financial penalties for illegal aliens residing in the United States and their employers.

“Americans are footing the bill for illegal immigrants who use public services, benefits, and schools intended for citizens,” said Senator Mike Lee. “The law has long required financial penalties for illegal immigrants, but no president other than Donald Trump has stood up for the American people by enforcing them. I’m proud to cosponsor Senator Rick Scott’s Illegal Immigration Cost Recovery Act to double civil financial penalties for illegal immigrants and claw back Americans’ hard-earned money.”

“Illegal immigration is — in fact — illegal and has consequences,” said Senator Rick Scott. “President Trump is working hard to restore law and order, and we in Congress needs to do our part to help. Decades of open border policies have created an enormous and unfair cost burden on Americans that needs to be offset to make things right; meanwhile, those that entered our country illegally should face consequences for their actions. This commonsense bill enforces the law and ensures illegal aliens can’t keep ripping off our country and undermining the hardworking Americans who pay taxes and follow the rules.”

Background

While these penalties were signed into law nearly 40 years ago, President Trump is the first and only president to enforce monetary consequences for illegally entering the country. Under the Biden administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was specifically instructed not to issue these fines. ICE started issuing failure-to-depart fines again as of June 2025.

Higher penalties will force illegal aliens to pay for the burden they have created for American citizens and impose penalties for breaking federal law.

Specifically, this legislation increases penalties for those who:

Enter or attempt to enter the United States unlawfully.

Have a final order of removal who fail or refuse to depart from the United States.

The bill would also assign financial penalties to employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens not authorized to work in the United States. These fines will generate revenue that will cover operational costs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Read exclusive coverage by Breitbart News here.

Access the full bill text here.

###",1,2026-06-13T06:32:19Z,2026-06-13T06:34:27Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-cosponsors-bipartisan-bill-to-better-protect-and-compensate-federal-firefighters,Curtis Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Better Protect and Compensate Federal Firefighters,2026-06-11,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) cosponsored the Support Our Firefighters Act, bipartisan legislation to provide federal wildland firefighters dedicated rest and recuperation leave following extended deployments to major wildfire incidents. The bill aims to improve workforce well-being, reduce burnout, and help agencies retain the experienced personnel required to respond to increasingly complex wildfire threats.

“As Utah and other Western states face increasingly challenging fire seasons, we need to ensure our dedicated firefighters have the support they deserve,” said Senator Curtis. “Providing time to rest and recover after extended deployments is a commonsense step that will help strengthen recruitment, retention, and readiness across the federal firefighting workforce.”

Background:

As wildfire seasons grow longer and more severe across the West, federal firefighters are increasingly spending weeks away from their families and communities while protecting lives, property, and public lands. The Support Our Firefighters Act would establish a formal rest and recuperation leave program for eligible wildland firefighters employed by the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior after lengthy assignments on qualifying wildfire incidents.

The legislation would:

Establish paid rest and recuperation leave for eligible federal wildland firefighters following deployments to qualifying wildfire incidents.

Direct the Departments of Agriculture and Interior to develop uniform policies governing the leave program.

Help address workforce retention challenges by recognizing the physical and mental demands placed on firefighters during extended fire assignments.

Preserve continuity in federal wildland firefighter compensation by providing additional transfer authority related to firefighter pay.

Permanently extend existing waivers of overtime pay caps for federal wildland firefighters.

The Support Our Firefighters Act was introduced by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT).",1,2026-06-12T06:37:16Z,2026-06-12T06:39:00Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-introduces-america-first-bills-cutting-red-tape-for-supply-chain-ports,Lee Introduces America-First Bills Cutting Red Tape for Supply Chain Ports,2026-06-11,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced a package of legislation to strengthen America’s supply chain by cutting red tape around dredging infrastructure. The four bills modernize dredging project and vessel policies to enable resource availability and ensure America remains economically competitive.

“America’s supply chain relies on our ports, which are currently suffocating under century-old red tape,” said Senator Mike Lee. “These bills will free up essential infrastructure and modernize policies to secure America’s economic dominance and keep our ports competitive.”

Background

The Dredging to Ensure the Empowerment of Ports (DEEP) Act repeals the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 and streamline key impediments in the Clean Water Act, as well as the Army Corps’ process for considering dredge projects at American ports. | Read the full bill text here.

The Allied Partnership and Port Modernization Act supports more economic opportunities at our ports. It would amend the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 to allow NATO-affiliated dredging vessels to operate in the United States. | Read the full bill text here.

The Port Modernization and Supply Chain Protection Act repeals the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906’s cabotage requirements and allows all dredge vessels qualified under U.S. law to operate in the United States. | Read the full bill text here.

The Incentivizing the Expansion of U.S. Ports Act amends the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 to allow Americans to purchase foreign-built dredge vessels for operation in the United States, provided that they are crewed by Americans and flagged under U.S. law. | Read the full bill text here.

###",1,2026-06-12T06:37:16Z,2026-06-12T06:39:00Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/utah-wyoming-senators-and-governors-meet-on-colorado-river-negotiations,"Utah, Wyoming Senators and Governors Meet on Colorado River Negotiations",2026-06-10,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT); Mike Lee (R-UT), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; John Barrasso (R-WY), Majority Whip; and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R-UT) and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon (R-WY) for a meeting on Colorado River negotiations. They discussed the future of the Colorado River Basin and the long-term management of critical water resources, including Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Lake Powell.

“Upper Basin states share a strong interest in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Colorado River,” said Senator Curtis. “Meetings like today’s are important as we navigate practical, innovative, and bipartisan solutions to help address our water management challenges.”

“The Colorado River is vital to the people, communities, and economies of the American West,” said Senator Lee. “As the Department of the Interior moves toward a post-2026 operating plan, it is essential that any solution respect existing law, recognize the realities facing the Upper Basin, and protect the ability of our states to develop and use the water to which they are entitled. I appreciate Governor Cox, Governor Gordon, and my colleagues for coming together to ensure the Upper Basin continues to speak with a united voice.”

“Utah remains committed to a seven-basin-state solution that protects the long-term future of the Colorado River,” said Governor Cox. “Any durable agreement must recognize the realities facing the Upper Basin, where communities are already living with significant shortages and doing their part to conserve water. We believe the best path forward is a fair, negotiated solution that keeps all states at the table and avoids years of costly litigation.”

“The Colorado River Basin is a lifeline for Wyoming families, farmers, ranchers, and our economy,” said Senator Barrasso. “Any management plan must address shortages from emergency withdrawals and drought, especially from Wyoming’s Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Wyoming and Utah will continue to fight for a seven-basin-state solution that treats our Upper Basin fairly.”

“The Upper Basin has always managed our water responsibly, and we will not allow that authority to be stripped away or our resources bargained off because others failed to do their job,” said Senator Lummis. “The Upper Basin speaks with one voice and that voice will be heard. I’m proud to work with my Wyoming and Utah colleagues to defend what is ours.”",1,2026-06-13T06:32:19Z,2026-06-13T06:34:27Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-tuberville-introduce-protections-for-homeopathic-medicine-with-fda-approval-framework,"Lee, Tuberville Introduce Protections for Homeopathic Medicine with FDA Marketing Pathway Framework",2026-06-05,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tommy Tuberville (R- AL) today introduced legislation building an FDA framework for homeopathic medicine to protect Americans’ access to natural health solutions. The Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act will provide a pathway for homeopathic medicinal products to be lawfully marketed by the Food and Drug Administration without needlessly banning safe products that simply do not fit into the same legal categories as traditional pharmaceuticals.

“Americans have a right to manage their own health and choose treatments that are right for them, including homeopathic methods,” said Senator Mike Lee. “The current federal regulatory framework is designed around traditional pharmaceuticals, but it is ill-equipped to review the safety and effectiveness of homeopathic products. So we are building a new one. Our legislation answers the concerns of thousands of families across the country who have been calling on Washington to find a better way.”

“I’ve long been an advocate for homeopathic medicine,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville. “The reality is that too many Americans today are hooked on pharmaceuticals when they could be using homeopathic remedies, which are often cheaper and can yield miraculous results. There’s no reason why the FDA shouldn’t be reviewing and approving some of these remedies to help Americans live healthier lives.”

–

The Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act is endorsed by Americans for Homeopathy Choice Action, MAHA Action, the CPAC Foundation, the National Health Federation, the Health Freedom Defense Fund, and the National Products Association.

“Americans for Homeopathy Choice Action and the 120,000 consumers we represent are grateful to Sens. Tuberville and Lee for introducing this bill which, when enacted, will ensure continued access to homeopathy for millions of Americans who use it to restore and maintain their health. Homeopathic medicines are also an important nontoxic option for health practitioners including medical doctors, nurses, dentists and others who appreciate this choice when treating patients with both everyday and serious conditions.” – Paola Brown, President, Americans for Homeopathy Choice Action

“MAHA Action proudly supports Senator Tuberville’s and Senator Lee’s legislation to protect and preserve Americans’ access to homeopathic medicines. We believe individuals should have the freedom to choose the modalities they use to support and maintain their health. For generations, homeopathy has been an important part of the diverse range of options available to American families. Safe, holistic, and effective homeopathy has been used by billions of people around the world as a non-toxic alternative to big pharma.” – Tony Lyons, President, MAHA Action

""CPAC proudly supports H.R. 7050, the Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act. Healthcare freedom is a core conservative value, and for too long Washington bureaucrats have used regulatory overreach to strip Americans of their right to make their own healthcare decisions. This bill cuts through the red tape and puts power back where it belongs — with the patient. We commend Senators Tuberville and Lee for their fearless conservative leadership on this legislation. Their commitment to individual liberty and limited government is exactly what the American people sent them to Washington to fight for."" – Matt Schlapp, Chairman, CPAC

""Homeopathy needs to be recognized for what it is: a safe and inexpensive way for Americans to manage many of their own health needs. We support this bill for bringing regulatory clarity to a time-honored approach that millions of American families rely on for self-care."" – Scott C. Tips, J.D., President, National Health Federation

""Now more than ever, American families want access to natural approaches that support our health and wellbeing. For over two centuries, homeopathy has done just that by providing safe, effective, and affordable healthcare to millions. Homeopathy addresses a spectrum of concerns from coughs and colds, to sprained ankles, and grief. It successfully handled the disease outbreaks that plagued the 18th century. Many of us at Health Freedom Defense Fund have used homeopathy to raise our families and can personally attest to this most amazing medicine. We are thrilled about and wholeheartedly support this bill to ensure that homeopathy is accessible for generations to come."" – Leslie Manookian, President & Founder, Health Freedom Defense Fund

“The Natural Products Association supports the Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act because the legislation would provide long-overdue statutory clarity for the regulation of homeopathic drug products in the United States. The homeopathic legislation offers a thoughtful and balanced solution. It protects consumers, respects the distinct nature of homeopathic drug products, provides clear rules for industry, and reinforces the importance of a predictable federal regulatory framework. NPA urges Congress to advance the Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act and support a regulatory approach that promotes safety, quality, transparency and continued consumer access.” – Daniel Fabricant PhD, President and CEO, National Products Association

Background

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first recognized homeopathic medicines in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1938 and regulated the manufacture and sale of homeopathic drugs for the following eighty years. However, in 2019 the FDA withdrew this regulatory framework for homeopathic products. This created legal and regulatory chaos for the industry as the viability of homeopathic medicine was brought into question.

Senator Lee signed a letter to the FDA in 2021 urging the FDA to provide guidance protecting consumer access to homeopathic drug products for Americans.

The Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act:

Federally acknowledges that homeopathic drug products are distinct from other pharmaceutical products and, as such, require independent regulatory framework.

Creates a standard definition for homeopathic drug products and clarifies that they are not a new drug.

Exempts homeopathic drugs from the traditional premarket approval process established under Section 505 of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Outlines a method for the Secretary to regulate homeopathy safety and quality standards separate from traditional drugs.

Exempts finished homeopathic drug products from the required laboratory test to evaluate strength of each active ingredient.

Clarifies that homeopathic drug products must generally comply with traditional labeling requirements, but that homeopathic drugs may use descriptions/dosage units appropriate to homeopathy and that claims made in compliance with this Act shall not be considered a false advertisement.

Establishes a Homeopathic Drug Product Advisory committee, which shall trigger consultation with the Secretary and provide recommendations on safety, quality, labeling, and regulatory approaches for homeopathy drug products.

Requires the FDA to issue final Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations within three years after enactment.

Deems any drug or supplement that is not homeopathic but uses the word homeopathy in its labeling as misbranded.

Applies federal standards for reporting serious adverse effects of nonprescription drugs to homeopathic drug products.

Clarifies that homeopathic drug products shall not be classified as biosimilars.

Withdraws the FDA’s 2022 guidance that significantly restricted the sale of homeopathic drug product.

Read exclusive coverage by The Daily Caller here.

Access the full bill text here.

###",1,2026-06-06T06:16:30Z,2026-06-09T06:30:10Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-calls-for-infrastructure-funding-formula-reforms-to-support-utahs-rapid-growth,Curtis Calls for Infrastructure Funding Formula Reforms to Support Utah’s Rapid Growth,2026-06-03,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Near the end of the exchange, the Senator highlighted his bipartisan Build Housing, Unlock Benefits and Services (HUBS) Act, which he co-sponsored with Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), which makes several changes aimed at improving the usability of important infrastructure loan programs. The Senator ended his questioning by inviting Administrator McMaster to visit Utah to see the state’s projects firsthand.

The full transcript of the exchange is below, and video can be found here.

Senator Curtis: Thank you, Administrator, for being here. As you and I had a minute to talk before the meeting, we discussed the dynamic growth in Utah. And what I’d like to touch on just quickly, is the formula for funding that’s based upon static historical information and really doesn’t take into account a state like Utah’s rapid growth.

And as you can imagine, that’s very problematic for Utah with the growth that we’re experiencing. So, I guess my question is as Congress considers the next surface transportation reauthorization, how should we think about incorporating projected population growth and travel demand in the formula?

The Honorable Sean McMaster: Yeah, I know the formula is kind of a touchy topic. It hasn’t been adjusted dramatically for a little bit of time. We’d be happy to work closely with you. My understanding is, you know, population, you can kind of back into that a little bit in certain capacities, but I don’t think it directly associates itself with population growth. So, happy to work with you.

Curtis: I would love to work with you. You being familiar with our situation, you can see how frustrating that is to have that rapid growth not taken into consideration as we’re getting funding.

Some of my colleagues have talked about this permitting and state flexibility. As you know, Utah’s participated in the Federal Highway Administration’s NEPA Assignment Program and has demonstrated that states can successfully navigate this in a responsible way and do a good job.

So, my question is, what other flexibilities could Congress authorize, considering the federal permitting process, to help states build roads and bridges more efficiently?

McMaster: I appreciate your focus on permitting and permitting reform. As an administration, we share your interest in this. As we talk to industry and you talk to folks and state partners, stakeholders all across, everybody raises this as a point of interest and a point of necessity. We do require a lot of work on the permitting side in order to build projects.

And I’m sure there are ways that we can reform this. I think we would be happy as an administration to talk further with you and the Committee about ideas that we have put together or that we had considered during the reauthorization process.

Curtis: Would love to do that. I will just tell you, I’d be curious in all ways that we can change it. And just to give you an example, when I was mayor of Provo, Utah, as the third largest city, we had a rule of thumb that if we used $1 of federal money, it increased the cost of our project by 30%. So, we could do all of the same work, all the environmental standards we could meet, but increase the project by 30%.

And imagine a 30% increase in funds, just by simply changing a few policies, how many more roads that we could build. So, beyond just the NEPA and things like that, I would love to explore with you block grants, come to mind. Block grants come from the federal government, and those regulations don’t apply, states then get that 30% extra margin. That’s a big deal.

McMaster: I’ll be happy to work with you on that. And also, I want to give a shout out to your DOT. They are fantastic on environmental work. They are at the head of the pack.

Curtis: And that’s just a really good example that states can do it responsibly and where they can. And they demonstrated they can. The more we can head off, the better.

I’d like to talk just a little bit about transit-oriented development. Congress faces growing fiscal constraints. We should be looking for ways to stretch transportation dollars further and attract additional private and local investment, rather than relying solely on new federal spending.

The TIFIA program has historically been one of the federal government’s most effective tools for leveraging nonfederal capital for major investments.

I’m pleased to sponsor, with Senator Blunt Rochester, the Build Hubs Act, which is intended to help communities maximize the benefits of transportation investments through existing financial tools.

As you know, Utah has this unique situation where 80% of our population lives within about an 80-mile segment there, and the transit-oriented hubs are very effective. So, as we consider the next surface transportation reauthorization, can you discuss the role these programs play in helping communities maximize the long-term value of transportation investment and leveraging private parties?

McMaster: Well, the TIFIA program is run out of the Build America Bureau, which is run out of the Secretary’s office. But what I would say is it’s a fantastic tool for states and localities to leverage to build important infrastructure projects.

There’s not enough federal dollars to go around and loan programs at the Bureau, TIFIA in particular, are fantastically important and well utilized, and they have a long backlog.

And that just speaks to the value of those programs of the Bureau. So, I’m happy to take back the specific comments here, share them with the Bureau, and then follow up with you directly. However, we can be helpful.

Curtis: Good. I couldn’t end without an invitation to come see us in Utah and explore some of these projects together.

McMaster: I’d like that very much, I appreciate that.",1,2026-06-06T06:16:30Z,2026-06-06T06:17:47Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-highlights-need-for-protection-of-olympic-sports-college-athletics-reform,"Curtis Highlights Need for Protection of Olympic Sports, College Athletics Reform",2026-06-03,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Questioning University of Utah football player Lance Holtzclaw, Senator Curtis highlighted the challenges student-athletes face navigating a patchwork of state laws and institutional policies. Holtzclaw emphasized that a national framework would bring “standardization and regulation” while eliminating confusion and uncertainty for athletes.

Senator Curtis also focused attention on the critical role college sports play in developing future Olympians, particularly as Utah prepares to host the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. Speaking with Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua, Curtis noted that many future Team USA athletes are currently training and competing through collegiate programs. Bevacqua agreed that federal legislation should include meaningful protections for Olympic sports, warning that without sustained university investment, the United States’ Olympic pipeline could suffer.

The Senator concluded by discussing the broader purpose of college athletics with legendary coach Nick Saban. Referencing BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake’s observation that the best part of coaching is developing leaders, Curtis stressed that college sports should remain focused on preparing young people for success beyond competition.

The full transcript of the exchange is below, and video can be found here.

Senator Curtis: Mr. Holtzclaw, my colleague alluded to the fact that you have played for a lot of different teams, and this wouldn’t be a good sports hearing without a little banter, so, I’m kind of curious: what is your favorite team? And just in case you need any help… *displays University of Utah cap*

Lance Holtzclaw: I wouldn’t call any team my favorite, but I do represent the team I currently play for, which is the University of Utah.

Curtis: You should be in politics.

Chairman Ted Cruz: Okay, that’s damn diplomatic. Senator Curtis, you better be worried that he may file for election.

Curtis: Oh, he looks far more comfortable in a uniform than he does in that suit, I’ll tell you that. So let me start with you and kind of follow up on this question. Through these different frameworks, you’ve seen different state laws, institutional rules, and constant legal authority changes. From your perspective as a student-athlete, what would be the benefit of having one clear national framework for name and likeness, transfers, eligibility, and athlete protections, rather than asking athletes to figure out a different system depending on where they play?

Holtzclaw: I think what it does is it creates standardization and regulation, and it keeps everybody on the same page regarding what we can and cannot do. It makes things a little easier in some respects. The way I would look at it is that it eliminates a lot of the gray area. That’s a big part of what we should do when we’re dealing with people who don’t always have the knowledge of what they can and cannot do and who may not know the legal frameworks at all times.

Curtis: Mr. Bevacqua, Utah will host the 2034 Olympic Games. I’m sure you’re aware of that. Many of the athletes who will represent Team USA in those games are being developed right now through college sports in Utah. That pipeline includes skiers, runners, and a host of other athletes who rely on college programs to help them achieve their dreams. As an athletic director responsible for making real budget decisions, what signals from Congress would incentivize schools to not only to preserve non-revenue sports but to expand opportunities for these athletes?

Mr. Pete Bevacqua: Well, thank you for that question. I am a tremendous fan of the Olympic movement. It goes back to my days at NBC Sports, which has been the home of the Olympics for so long. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend many Olympic Games. Some of our proudest moments on campus are when our student-athletes represent our country in the Olympics. That’s a moment of pride for Notre Dame, and obviously a moment of pride for their friends and families. I think there does need to be real teeth in the bill to protect Olympic sports and the Olympic movement because, without universities maintaining and investing in their Olympic sports, the U.S. Olympic movement will take a major step backward.

Quite frankly, I think you need to hold our feet to the fire. If universities are going to invest so heavily in sports like football and men’s and women’s basketball, there needs to be a quid pro quo. Where we are also going to demand you don’t take your foot off the gas, you continue to keep those Olympic programs. The overwhelming majority of young men and women student-athletes in this country participate in Olympic sports.

Curtis: Do you think this bill does that and sends those signals?

Bevacqua: I think it sends those signals. As Senator Cruz and Senator Cantwell said, the bill is a work in progress. I think it could do a stronger, more straightforward, and clearer job of protecting Olympic sports, depending on where the remainder of the bill goes.

Curtis: Coach Saban, I was moved by something you said in your written testimony. You talked about young people coming into a program needing structure, discipline, coaching, academic support, and accountability, and leaving with a degree, a career, a family, and a better chance to be successful in life. It reminds me of a comment by BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake, said that the best part of the job is helping develop great leaders. That is exactly what college athletics should be about. Those life-changing experiences are not limited to football. They also occur in sports that generate no revenue and have few fans, yet still transform the lives of young people. So, my question is this: As Congress looks at the future framework of college athletics, what do we need to get right to ensure we not only protect but also help grow non-revenue sports?

Nick Saban: Well, I think a lot of the things we’ve discussed here today are certainly imperative. If we’re going in the direction we are going—making huge investments in football and basketball and paying players increasingly larger amounts—we should stop calling them student-athletes and start calling them students that are athletes. We’re going to end up with professional sports teams sponsored by colleges and universities. That’s what’s going to happen because we’re going to be paying players so much.

I really think the only way to remedy this is to recognize that we have competitive conferences, competitive teams, and competitors all trying to create advantages for themselves in every way that we can. Yet in college athletics, we don’t have a legislative branch that sets the rules. In the NFL, the commissioner can say, “This is what you’re allowed to do. This is the salary cap. This is how we draft players. This is how we create parity. This is how we generate revenue so that we can maintain a level of competition across all sports, including Olympic sports and women’s sports.” We don’t have that in college athletics. People talk about conferences being dismantled and all of that. That would never happen if there were a head of all of this.

Right now, as they say back in West Virginia, it’s not about the money—it’s about how much. Everything that happens is about how much money can we create? The real question is whether we’re deploying that money in the right places to maintain student-athletes’ well-being.",1,2026-06-06T06:16:30Z,2026-06-06T06:17:47Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-cosponsors-bipartisan-email-privacy-act-to-protect-americans-from-warrantless-searches,Lee Cosponsors Bipartisan Email Privacy Act to Protect Americans from Warrantless Searches,2026-06-03,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) cosponsored the bipartisan Email Privacy Act with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) to protect Americans from warrantless searches of their emails and other personalized digital records. The House version of this legislation was introduced by Representatives Warren Davidson (R-OH-08) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01).

“Americans should not lose their Fourth Amendment protections simply because their private communications are stored with a third-party provider,” said Senator Mike Lee. “By eliminating the outdated 180-day rule and requiring the government to obtain a warrant for the contents of emails and other electronic communications, this legislation brings ECPA into line with the realities of the 21st century.”

“Right now, the only thing standing between the government and warrantless access to all of the old emails in your inbox is a federal appeals court decision,” said Senator Ron Wyden. “That's not good enough when it comes to Fourth Amendment protections for one of the fundamental forms of communication right now. I’m proud to partner with a bipartisan coalition to put clear protections for Americans' rights into black-letter law.”

“The Fourth Amendment is clear: the government must get a warrant before searching an individual’s private property, including written communications. As today’s world has grown increasingly digital, that principle should apply just as strongly to an email inbox as it does to a desk drawer or file cabinet,” said Congressman Warren Davidson. “That’s exactly why I’m proud to cosponsor the Email Privacy Act—to ensure our freedoms carry into the digital world and that all communications are protected as the Founders intended. Congress must pass this commonsense legislation so Americans’ rights are fully respected in the 21st century.”

“The current law governing online privacy standards is egregiously out of date, leaving millions of Americans’ private communications and data vulnerable,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene. “Our laws must reflect the capabilities of modern technology rather than being stuck in the past. Personal email communications and physical documents should be protected with the same level of security. This bill makes critical changes that will update email privacy standards and modernize Americans’ civil liberties.”

Background

Currently, law enforcement can obtain private email communications older than 180 days without a warrant because the law is based on outdated storage capabilities. Congress passed the Electronic Communications Privacy Act in the 1980s to establish email privacy standards. In the four decades since, email usage and storage have evolved significantly while protections have not.

The Email Privacy Act would protect Americans’ digital communications by requiring warrants to access emails regardless of their origin date. The bill also allows email providers (Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, iCloud, etc.) to notify users when their data has been accessed, and updates voluntary disclosure language.

The bill is endorsed by Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Association for Competitive Technology, the American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Democracy & Technology, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Consumer Choice Center, Consumer Technology Association, Demand Progress, Due Process Institute, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Engine, Fight for the Future, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Institute for Policy Innovation, Internet Infrastructure Coalition – I2Coalition, NetChoice, Project On Government Oversight, R Street Institute, Restore the Fourth, Software & Information Industry Association, TechFreedom, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Read the full bill text here.",1,2026-06-04T06:38:12Z,2026-06-04T06:39:44Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-calls-for-countering-prc-influence-strengthening-support-for-taiwan,"Curtis Calls for Countering PRC Influence, Strengthening Support for Taiwan",2026-06-02,2026,2026-06,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"The two discussed the State Department’s proposed $245 million Countering PRC Influence Fund and highlighted bipartisan legislation Curtis introduced with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to dedicate a portion of those resources specifically toward strengthening Taiwan’s position and countering Chinese influence in the region. Read more about the legislation here.

The Senator also underscored the importance of language proficiency among American diplomats, particularly regarding Uyghur language training. Referencing provisions from the Uyghur Policy Act, Curtis stressed that Foreign Service Officers serving in Asia and China should have the language skills necessary to communicate directly with affected populations and better understand ongoing human rights abuses against Uyghurs.

Secretary Rubio reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to expanding language training capabilities and recruiting Foreign Service Officers with existing foreign language proficiency, noting the strategic importance of specialized languages such as Uyghur.

The full transcript of the exchange is below, and video can be found here.

Senator Curtis: Mr. Secretary, thank you for being here. I’m always truly impressed with your ability to navigate around the globe so articulately and explain the positions.

Like you previously, I chair the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee. One of the focuses that I’ve had is on Taiwan and Taiwan’s relationship in the Western Hemisphere.

We actually had our first Subcommittee hearing on Taiwan’s allies in the Western Hemisphere. And as you well know, Honduras switched diplomatic recognition away from Taiwan in 2023, in exchange for a lot of promises from China. No surprise—those promises have not been fulfilled. Their current president, during his campaign, talked about returning to Taiwan and restoring that relationship with Taiwan.

In your budget, you have $245 million for the Countering PRC Influence Fund. And I’d like to note, Senator Van Hollen and I have a bill that would actually carve off a portion of that specifically for Taiwan and countering the PRC influence there. So, I guess my question is, what can the U.S. do with the Countering PRC Influence Fund for Taiwan, particularly as it relates to Honduras kickstarting that relationship, developing a joint set of economic priorities for Taiwan in the Western Hemisphere? Anything else we can use that fund for?

The Honorable Marco Rubio: Yeah, well, first of all, the reason why these countries would switch recognition, primarily, was because the Chinese would go in and they would say, “If you switch recognition, we are going to provide you this loan—and in some cases worse than loans, maybe there were even cases of bribery and things of this nature—but we’re going to provide you, you know, free this and free that. We’re going to build an auditorium for you. We’re going to build a bridge. We’re going to build a port.”

And they haven’t kept many of those promises. So, I think the first thing is to just point to the fact that in many cases, these things are not provided.

The other angle is, if it’s loans, they create these debt traps, which is an argument we make all over the world, particularly in the Hemisphere.

But the broader goal of this fund is not just simply Taiwan-related, although that’s an action they took as a result of this leverage that was established on them.

But more broader, in many cases, these countries are trying to develop their telecommunication system. They’re trying to build roads, they’re trying to develop whatever it may be. And frankly, the only companies that show up are the Chinese companies, and they show up with lower cost, a financing mechanism, etc.

Now, there’s a track record of not completing these projects. There’s a track record of flooding the country with Chinese workers that come and do the work. So, I think part of this fund is designed to create alternatives to that, to give these countries alternatives to the Chinese or other foreign malign influence that might be occurring in their country.

Part of that is attracting U.S. commercial ventures to do it. But part of it is providing the resources so these countries can go out and do this without being subject to or vulnerable to this sort of leverage tactic that’s used against them.

Curtis: Thank you. Let me switch to China for just a minute. Your budget notes the merging of the Foreign Service Institute, where a lot of the state language training takes place, with the Human Resource Bureau, and hoping that can improve the language capacity.

But here in the Senate, I’ve picked up the Uyghur Policy Act, which you led when you were here. Part of the bill that I’m especially supportive of is the provision that’s supporting the Uyghur language training for Foreign Service Officers is not only important but required, and that we have Foreign Service Officers in Asia and China that can speak that language.

I think it’s absolutely vital that our diplomats be able to understand the people in their own language as to the abuses that are going on there. Given your previous experience on this bill and the Department’s focus on the CCP’s repression, do you still support this provision and can you just speak to how important this is?

Rubio: Yeah, well, I think—obviously—the Uyghur language is not a widespread language around the world, but it’s incredibly valuable in an important part of the world. So, I think we want to see a language proficiency that’s generally been a challenge writ large over a period of time. One of the goals of the consolidation is to be able to drive language school more effectively and more quickly to Foreign Service Officers before they’re deployed.

Obviously, proficiency in certain languages are very difficult. Some languages are harder to learn than others, especially if the base of the language is, you know, like just to give an example, it’s easy to learn Italian if you speak Spanish; it’s much harder to learn Mandarin or the Uyghur language for that matter. So, language is a priority for us. By the way, in our recruitment tools, is one of the things we also look for is whether potential candidates already bring an existing second or third language, which is a huge benefit.

Curtis: Yes. Very quickly, you want to clarify, the President had a Tweet about speaking with Hezbollah yesterday. Do you want to clarify for people what happened?

Rubio: Well, we received communications via the Lebanese government and the speaker over there on behalf of Hezbollah as early as Sunday about that they would restrain from attacking Israeli territory if Israel did not take strikes, new strikes in Beirut. And so it came from Hezbollah, but through Lebanese authorities.",1,2026-06-06T06:16:30Z,2026-06-06T06:17:47Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/supreme-court-protects-separation-of-powers-following-lee-amicus-brief,Supreme Court Protects Separation of Powers Following Lee Amicus Brief,2026-05-29,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) lauded the United States Supreme Court’s decision to maintain the separation of powers by keeping activist judges from coopting the role of Congress in the case of Daren K. Margolin, Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review v. National Association of Immigration Judges. Following Senator Lee’s urging in an amicus curiae brief, the Supreme Court reversed a ruling by the Fourth Circuit that would have potentially undermined a policy requiring federal immigration judges to obtain approval before taking on speaking engagements in their official capacity.

“I’m glad to see the Supreme Court maintain the separation of powers keeping rogue activist judges from undermining the work of the executive branch,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Our federal immigration judges should be focused on their jobs, not making themselves celebrities via unapproved speaking engagements targeted at undermining the very purpose of their work. When litigants seek to improperly challenge such approval policies in federal court, judges should also respect the administrative processes established by Congress for these types of claims. I’m proud to have spoken for Congress in an amicus curiae brief and pleased to see the Supreme Court listen.”

Background

The amicus brief argued that—contrary to the proceedings in this case—legal challenges to this approval policy should be channeled through the appropriate administrative process established by Congress. Justices Thomas and Barrett, in a separate writing, signaled agreement with this reasoning, stating that “[s]tatutes change only when Congress changes them, not when judges decide that they no longer vindicate Congress’s purposes.""

Read the full amicus curiae brief here.

Read the Supreme Court’s decision here.

###",1,2026-05-30T06:11:53Z,2026-05-30T06:13:24Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-promote-geothermal-in-indo-pacific,"Curtis, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Geothermal in Indo-Pacific",2026-05-22,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Pacific POWER Act seeks to cement U.S. position as global leader in geothermal energy

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, cosponsored the Pacific Promotion of Workable Energy Resources (POWER) Act, bipartisan legislation to promote geothermal exploration and production in the Indo-Pacific by leveraging the United States’ expertise as the world leader in geothermal electricity generation capacity. The bill was introduced by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Dave McCormick (R-PA) and is also cosponsored by Senator Chris Coons (D-DE).

“America’s energy leadership is one of our greatest strategic advantages, and this legislation helps ensure we remain energy dominant in the Indo-Pacific for decades to come,” said Senator Curtis. “By advancing geothermal innovation and strengthening partnerships with our allies, we can bolster energy security, reduce dependence on adversarial supply chains, and create new economic opportunities here at home.”

“With energy demand rising and countries experiencing shortages, we have an opportunity to extend our leadership in geothermal energy and help our allies and partners become more energy secure,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill will harness the expertise, capabilities, and financial tools of the U.S. public and private sectors to promote geothermal research and deployment in the Indo-Pacific in ways that support our economic interests and national security.”

“America has an opportunity to lead the world in the next generation of energy, and geothermal energy can play a major role in that future,” said Senator McCormick. “The Pacific POWER Act will help expand American energy technology and expertise in the Indo-Pacific, strengthen our partnerships abroad, and support more secure energy supply chains. At a time when China is working to expand its influence in the region, this bill helps ensure America remains at the forefront.”

Background:

Geothermal energy has the potential to meet a significant portion of the growth in electricity demand globally over the next few decades. But geothermal development is lagging globally because of challenges including high exploration costs and the need for stronger policy and supply chains. The United States, as the global leader in geothermal electricity generation, has the resources, expertise, and commercial capabilities necessary to help allies and partners develop geothermal capacity and become more energy secure in ways that also benefit U.S. security and economic businesses.

The Pacific POWER Act:

Establishes a new geothermal program at the U.S. Department of State, tasked with working bilaterally and multilaterally to develop goals for geothermal deployment;

Directs relevant agencies to assess global geothermal resources, determine areas of highest potential that benefit U.S. security and economic interests, strengthen geothermal supply chains, and develop financial tools to help advance geothermal projects; and

Requires the Department of State to create public-private partnerships for geothermal research, exploration, and production in at least five countries, three of which must be in the Indo-Pacific.

The Pacific POWER Act is supported by Geothermal Rising Action, the Enhanced Geothermal Systems Deployment Coalition, Fervo Energy, Sage Geosystems, Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals, Quaise Energy, ClearPath Action, the Clean Air Task Force, the World Resources Institute, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Climate Innovation Action, the National Wildlife Federation, and Bipartisan Policy Center Action.

The text of the legislation can be found here.

“The United States leads the world in geothermal energy and technologies. The Pacific POWER Act puts that advantage to work, and enhances it. Our allies in the Indo-Pacific are energy-vulnerable, and if we don’t fill that gap, someone else will. This bill isn’t just about international development. American industry will be servicing these projects in partner nations where demand is surging, creating value abroad and at home while enhancing our geopolitical positioning and supply chain resilience. This is how American energy leadership bolsters our economy and foreign policy,”said Caity Smith, President, Geothermal Rising Action.

“EGS DC applauds Senators Schatz and McCormick for introducing the Pacific POWER Act and for its focus on strengthening U.S. leadership in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). The U.S. has a strong competitive advantage, with leading exploration and production technologies, established supply chains, a skilled workforce, and significant resource potential for EGS development. This bill helps ensure the U.S. maintains that lead as global demand grows by establishing a forward-looking energy security framework that strengthens U.S.-led coordination of EGS deployment with strategic allies across the Indo-Pacific and supports partner countries in developing clean, firm baseload power to diversify their energy mix. EGS DC looks forward to working with Senators Schatz and McCormick to advance this legislation as part of an international energy security strategy that underscores the growing role of EGS,” said Brooke Baum, Devon Energy, Founding Member of the Enhanced Geothermal Systems Deployment Coalition (EGS DC).

“Fervo Energy thanks Senator Schatz and Senator McCormick for their leadership on the Pacific POWER Act and fully supports this legislation. The United States has led the world in developing and commercializing next-generation geothermal technology, and this bill creates a vital pathway to bring that expertise to the Indo-Pacific and unlock geothermal’s potential across the region. We look forward to working with both Senators to advance the bill through Congress,” said Sarah Jewett, Senior Vice President for Strategy, Fervo Energy.

“American geothermal leadership is built here at home, and it can be a key pillar of our international partnerships and efforts to create a more secure global energy system. The Pacific POWER Act advances that goal by leveraging America’s competitive advantage in geothermal innovation to support our allies, open markets overseas, and strengthen American industry. Zanskar thanks Senators Schatz and McCormick for their bipartisan leadership in bringing this bill forward,” said Ben Brenner, Head of Federal Affairs, Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals.

“Geothermal energy is a strategic asset that can deliver clean, reliable power to strengthen energy security and reduce global energy emissions. America has a unique edge in enhanced geothermal systems thanks to the engineering talent, drilling experience and subsurface expertise built over decades in the U.S. oil and gas industry. The Pacific POWER Act can help unlock major global commercial opportunities for innovative American geothermal companies, supporting exports, creating jobs, and reinforcing U.S. leadership in the energy technologies that will shape the future,” said Jeremy Harrell, CEO, ClearPath Action.

“The western U.S. and Asia-Pacific are home to world-leading geothermal resources, but accessing those resources at their full potential will require international and multilateral effort. The Pacific POWER Act supports U.S. collaboration with allies and partners across the Pacific to explore and map geothermal resources, advance research and innovation, and develop geothermal projects. It represents an exciting step forward on global geothermal capacity and deployment,” said Terra Rogers, Senior Director, Superhot Rock Geothermal, Clean Air Task Force.

“Geothermal is a critical technology for meeting growing energy demand both domestically and globally. The Pacific POWER Act, introduced by Sens. Schatz (D-HI) and McCormick (R-PA), gives the United States a tool to strengthen energy security among our Indo-Pacific allies while creating economic opportunities for American businesses,” said Michele Stockwell, President, Bipartisan Policy Center Action.

“The American economy is and will continue to be defined by our ability to innovate. This is especially true in the energy sector, where an extraordinary opportunity has emerged to power a dynamic and rapidly growing global economy. U.S. companies are well-positioned to capitalize on this moment, with next-generation geothermal technologies at the forefront of a growing global energy sector. Congress has an opportunity to support American global technological leadership by accelerating the development and export of this potentially transformative technology. C2ES congratulates Senators Schatz and McCormick for introducing the Pacific POWER Act, which aims to expand these opportunities while supporting the energy resilience of our Pacific allies. We look forward to working with Congress to support the innovators working to realize the enormous potential of the American geothermal industry,” said Brad Townsend, Vice President, Policy and Outreach, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.

“Geothermal provides needed sources of clean heat and electricity, and recent technological advances hold the promise to increase the potential and reach of these resources. WRI is pleased to support this act which strengthens regional partnerships to identify and responsibly develop geothermal resources in the Indo-Pacific, increasing access to these vital energy resources,” said Christina DeConcini, Esq., Director of Government Affairs, World Resources Institute.

“Climate Innovation Action is thrilled to see the introduction of the Pacific POWER Act, which would bolster U.S. leadership and collaboration on geothermal on the global stage. Geothermal technologies, especially next-generation technologies, have the potential to provide 24/7 clean energy across the globe, and we commend Sens. Schatz and McCormick for recognizing the international importance of this resource,” said Roger Ullman, Executive Director, Climate Innovation Action.

“Quaise Energy endorses the Pacific POWER Act for putting superhot, next‑generation geothermal at the center of U.S. energy diplomacy, unlocking the partnerships and market pathways American innovators need to scale geothermal from a decimal point to the dominant energy source worldwide,” said Carlos Araque, CEO & President, Quaise Energy.",1,2026-05-23T06:08:46Z,2026-05-23T06:10:20Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/senate-passes-bipartisan-motorcycle-safety-awareness-month-resolution,Senate Passes Bipartisan Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Resolution,2026-05-22,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution led by U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Angus King (I-ME) to designate May as “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.” The resolution promotes safe practices for the millions of motorcycle riders across America.

“I know firsthand the freedom and enjoyment that comes with riding on America’s roads,” said Senator Curtis. “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is an important reminder that we must properly educate riders and that we all share responsibility for keeping our roads safe, especially heading into the summer months.”

“As an avid motorcycle rider myself, I believe the best way to travel across Michigan is by motorcycle,” said Senator Peters. “Peak riding season is coming soon, which will bring more riders to roadways across the country. That’s why I’m proud the Senate has once again passed this bipartisan resolution that recognizes motorcyclists and brings awareness to safe roadway practices for riders and motorists.”

“There is no better way to see the beauty of my home state than cruising up and down the rolling hills of southwest Iowa on a Harley,”said Senator Ernst. “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity for me to celebrate what I love about the freedom of being out on the open road while also highlighting the importance of safety and rider education.”

“Motorcycles are a part of life for many Americans—and many Maine people—especially during the summer months,” said Senator King. “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is an important reminder that a little extra attention and caution can save lives. Whether you’re behind the handlebars or behind the wheel, we all share the responsibility of keeping our roads safe.”

“The Senate resolution recognizing May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is incredibly meaningful because it helps keep motorcyclists at the forefront of the minds of drivers, riders, and policymakers,” said Christy LaCurelle, President and CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Council and Motorcycle Safety Foundation. “This recognition is an important reminder that awareness and responsible road use can help save lives. We thank Senators Peters and Ernst for their longstanding commitment to motorcyclist safety and for the leadership they have provided over the years. Their dedication has made a lasting difference, and they will truly be missed.”

“Longtime champions of motorcycling, Senators Peters and Ernst have again ensured the Senate recognizes Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month by authoring this resolution,” said Scott Schloegel, Senior Vice President of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and the Motorcycle Industry Council. “They know firsthand the importance of all road users looking out for motorcyclists and their leadership on this issue will be sorely missed when they retire at the end of this Congress. Having had the honor of riding alongside them in their home states of Michigan and Iowa I can attest to their commitment to safe riding and their passion for our sport. May is a time when many riders are returning to the roads after the winter season and it is the perfect time to remind all road users to lookout for motorcycles as we share the roads.”

Background:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 6,228 motorcyclists were killed in 2024, accounting for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities. This is the highest number of motorcyclist fatalities on record since the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) began data collection in 1975. Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month aims to address these safety concerns by promoting roadway education, safety training opportunities, and the use of proper gear for motorcycle operation.",1,2026-05-23T06:08:46Z,2026-05-23T06:10:20Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-colleagues-statement-on-violent-protests-in-bolivia,"Curtis, Colleagues’ Statement on Violent Protests in Bolivia",2026-05-21,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC);Jim Risch (R-ID), SFRC Chairman; Bernie Moreno (R-OH); and Rick Scott (R-FL) released the following statement on the ongoing violent attempts to destabilize Bolivia:

“We strongly condemn the ongoing violent attempts to undermine the democratically elected government in Bolivia, and the humanitarian crisis the violent protests have created.

“The United States strongly supports the democratic institutions of Bolivia, including the democratically elected government of President Rodrigo Paz. It’s imperative the international community joins Bolivian efforts to stabilize its economy and promote economic prosperity. Finally, we urge the people of Bolivia to express themselves peacefully as their country takes serious steps to overcome two decades of failed socialist economic policies.”",1,2026-05-23T06:08:46Z,2026-05-23T06:10:20Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-cramer-introduce-bill-expanding-access-to-dietary-supplements,"Curtis, Cramer Introduce Bill Expanding Access to Dietary Supplements",2026-05-21,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the Dietary Supplements Access Act, which would allow dietary supplements to be purchased using Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). The measure would give families more flexibility to invest in preventive health solutions while helping reduce long-term healthcare costs.

“Dietary supplements are an important part of many Utahns’ health and wellness routines, and are key to making America healthy again,” said Senator Curtis. “By expanding access to supplements through HSAs and FSAs, our legislation empowers individuals to take greater ownership of their health while helping reduce long-term healthcare costs.”

“Nutritional supplements are a crucial form of preventive care, keeping people healthier in the long run and, ultimately, driving down healthcare costs,” said Senator Cramer. “But right now, the rules don’t fully reflect this reality. By modernizing how health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts can be used, this bill gives families more freedom, more choice, and more ability to invest in their own wellbeing.”

Background:

Utah is home to more than 300 nutraceutical companies, and dietary supplements are the state’s third-largest industry, behind just technology and tourism.

Americans are more interested than ever in living healthy, fulfilling lives and are increasingly turning to dietary supplements for proactive health management. Supplements play an important role in Making America Healthy Again by helping to fill nutritional gaps, prevent deficiencies, and support overall health. Yet despite their widespread use and growing role in preventive care, federal law generally prevents Americans from freely using their own HSAs to purchase them.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to designate over-the-counter dietary supplements as qualified medical expenses. Under the proposal, individuals could use up to $250 annually from their health accounts for supplements, while joint filers could use up to $500 per year.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ).

The bill is supported by several organizations, including the Natural Products Association, Consumer Health Products Association (CHPA), and Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).

“The Natural Products Association applauds Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and John Curtis (R-UT) for introducing the Dietary Supplements Access Act,” said Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., President and CEO of NPA. “This commonsense legislation recognizes the important role dietary supplements play in supporting the health and wellness of millions of Americans. At a time when consumers are increasingly focused on proactive, preventive approaches to healthcare, Congress should be empowering Americans to use their own Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) dollars for products that help them maintain and improve their health. The Dietary Supplements Access Act is a practical, consumer-focused step that would expand access to supplements, increase their affordability, and provide families with greater flexibility in making personal healthcare decisions. Dietary supplements are already used daily by millions of Americans as part of their wellness routines, and allowing these products to qualify as eligible medical expenses simply aligns federal policy with how consumers already approach their health. NPA looks forward to working with Congress to advance this important legislation and continue expanding access to safe, regulated dietary supplements for American consumers.”

“At a time when more science is supporting the use of dietary supplements to maintain health and wellness, expanding HSA and FSA eligibility to include supplements is smart healthcare policy,” said Scott Melville, CHPA President and CEO. “Giving consumers the ability to use their own pre-tax dollars to purchase supplements makes healthcare more affordable and accessible and empowers Americans to take a more proactive approach to their health and wellness. This legislation builds on bipartisan efforts to expand access to trusted self-care products, and CHPA applauds Senator Cramer for championing greater flexibility and affordability for consumers.”

“CRN strongly supports the Dietary Supplements Access Act because it reflects a modern understanding of healthcare—one that recognizes the important role dietary supplements can play in supporting health and wellness,” said Steve Mister, President and CEO of CRN. “Consumers increasingly use supplements as part of their proactive health regimens, yet current tax policy has failed to keep pace with how Americans approach preventive care. This legislation helps empower consumers to make health investments using the same tax-advantaged tools already available for many other wellness and medical expenses.”",1,2026-05-22T06:27:39Z,2026-05-22T06:29:18Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/lee-introduces-transparency-protections-for-military-servicemembers-unknowingly-using-restricted-supplements,Lee Introduces Transparency Protections for Military Servicemembers Unknowingly Using Restricted Supplements,2026-05-21,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced legislation protecting military servicemembers from prosecution for accidental violations of ever-changing supplement ingredient rules. The Protecting Enlisted and Recruits from Excessive and Catastrophic Trials (PERFECT) Act institutes needed transparency by requiring the Secretary of War to publish a full list of prohibited ingredients every 90 days, and provides commanding officers flexibility to determine whether first-time violations were accidental and in good faith. This does not apply to dangerous or illicit drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH-08) introduced the House version of the bill.

“Firing our upstanding military servicemembers for unknowingly taking the wrong supplement makes no sense, particularly when its ingredients are fully legal for civilians and likely even purchased on base,” said Senator Mike Lee. “The list of prohibited ingredients for servicemembers is very long, ever-changing, and difficult to access. Our troops need better transparency to avoid breaking these rules in the first place, and they deserve some flexibility for first offenses and honest mistakes. This bill will bring improved transparency to prevent violations, and allow commanding officers to judge good faith when it comes to their own troops.”

“Our trained servicemembers should not be kicked out of the military for the honest mistake of taking the wrong legally available supplement they bought at GNC,” said Congressman Warren Davidson. “Treating an innocent oversight the same as possession of a Schedule I drug is disproportionate and wrong. The PERFECT Act gives COs the flexibility to handle first offenses in-unit and updates the confusing DOD portal that left servicemembers searching ingredient by ingredient and in the dark about newly banned supplements.”

The PERFECT Act:

Requires the Secretary of War to publish a full list of prohibited ingredients every 90 days, allowing servicemembers to view the full list rather than only using a search feature.

Allows commanding officers to elect not to subject servicemembers to discipline or separation if:

The offense was the first such offense by the servicemember

The servicemember agrees to participate in education, counseling, or drug testing

The commanding officer determines that the servicemember was acting in “good faith,” meaning at least one of the following apply:

The servicemember had no knowledge that the dietary supplement contained a prohibited ingredient

The supplement was purchased from a retail facility affiliated with the Department of War

The servicemember reasonably relied on the published list but failed to identify that the ingredient was prohibited due to a misspelling or variation in the name of such ingredients (some manufacturers of prohibited ingredients create chemical analogs or change the name of ingredients, and some use umbrella ingredient names that obscure constituent ingredients identities)

The servicemember demonstrates reasonable belief that such supplement does not contain a prohibited ingredient.

Note: This flexibility does not apply to servicemembers found to be in possession of dangerous or illicit drugs that appear on the Controlled Substances Act, such as heroin, marijuana, cocaine, etc.

Bill Text | One-Pager",1,2026-05-22T06:27:39Z,2026-05-22T06:29:18Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-raises-concerns-about-prediction-markets-gambling,"Curtis Raises Concerns About Prediction Markets, Gambling",2026-05-20,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Senator Curtis also highlighted the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced that is aimed at preventing federally regulated exchanges from offering sports betting and casino-style contracts under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Read more about the legislation here.

The full transcript of the exchange is below, and video can be found here.

Senator Curtis: Mr. McHenry, I’m conflicted whether I call you Chairman, Congressman, Speaker. But I will tell you, it is a delight to see you again and I really enjoyed serving with you. If I’m honest, even a couple of months ago, I would not have been able to tell you what a prediction market was. Just in one sentence, to the man and woman back in Utah, what is a prediction market?

The Honorable Patrick McHenry: It is an open exchange. It is under commodities regulation, called a “swap.” You have folks that have a contract. Some say “yes,” some say “no,” and they determine it. The marketplace, the consumers, and the participants determine what is the ratio on the contract, the likelihood of something happening.

Curtis: What’s exactly happening when an event contract is purchased?

McHenry: The easiest thing for me to explain is in the political setting. The political setting, ‘is John, Jane, or Joe going to win the election?’ And after the election, the contract is certified based off of information on whether or not that happened and then people are paid out based off the ratio of that final contract.

Curtis: Okay. If I were hearing that back in Utah, I would say, “I think something might happen. I’m going to put money down on it, and I have the chance of either making more money or losing money on that.” Is that accurate?

McHenry: Yes. And it’s an uncertain outcome, just like whether or not you’re going to have a crop that comes in this fall or not, based off of weather, unpredictable events along the way.

Curtis: So, if I’m talking to these folks back home in the town hall meeting, they’re going to say to me, “Tell me how that is not gambling,” right? It seems to meet every definition of gambling.

McHenry: Well, I understand how that is viewed. When grain futures came to fruition over 100 years ago, it was viewed much the same. This is an uncertain outcome on whether or not your crop will come in in the fall, and you can hedge against it in the marketplace about an uncertain event that is driven largely by acts of God, Mother Nature, and crop yields.

Curtis: So, can I interrupt you, only because of time? I know what you’re saying is important, but as you know, we have very limited time. My father was an insurance agent and taught me that you buy insurance for things you can’t afford to pay for. And it feels like we’ve moved from the farmer who’s buying crop insurance because he can’t afford it—he’ll be wiped out, right?—versus betting for an income or perhaps loss on that. And I guess my fundamental question is, like, how is that any different than a sports wager or betting?

McHenry: Well, it’s based off the business model. The business models are fundamentally different from a sportsbook. The sportsbook, the house sets the line, and when the consumer loses, they profit. And for an exchange like this, the exchange is based off of two individuals that benefit, and they pay a fee, just a flat fee, for that engagement. The business models are very different.

Curtis: Dr. Levant, you have not had much chance to weigh in. I’d love you to weigh in on the Speaker’s thoughts.

Dr. Harry Levant: It’s difficult to know where to start, but let me take the most recent comment. Poker and horse racing have the exact same business model. No one would dispute they’re gambling. Sports futures contracts are gambling. The business model is just to take the money off the top. The house has to win every time, and the public loses. That’s contracts.

The other part I want to address is the avalanche of unregulated advertising on social media. I’ve, over the last year, spoken in six prep schools in four different states. This is not exactly a scientific survey, but I ask the students in each of these schools at the start, “How many of you know what Kalshi is?” Ninety-five percent of the hands go up. I ask, “What is a same-game parlay?” Ninety-five percent of the hands go up in the room, and it’s all from social media.

Curtis: So, Congressman McHenry, let’s just put that aside for a minute. Just overall, why do we regulate gambling?

McHenry: Because society has determined that this is not in—well, elected officials have determined it’s not in society’s interest, and therefore put weights and measures around it and protections.

Curtis: Great. And Dr. Levant, we know you’re going to agree, so I’m not—

Levant: It’s a known addictive product, just like heroin. That’s why we regulate it.",1,2026-05-22T06:27:39Z,2026-05-22T06:29:18Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/horrifying-misuse-of-american-tax-dollars-lee-calls-to-slash-un-agency-employing-hamas-terrorists-hiding-hostages-and-weapons,"“Horrifying Misuse of American Tax Dollars” – Lee Calls to Slash UN Agency Employing Hamas Terrorists, Hiding Hostages and Weapons",2026-05-19,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and a large Senate Republican coalition urging President Trump to defund a United Nations (UN) agency employing and aiding Hamas terrorists. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) employs several terrorists who participated in the initial attacks by Hamas on October 7th, as well as many others with ties to Hamas, and has repeatedly aided the terrorist organization by hiding hostages and weapons and teaching a pro-terrorism, antisemitic curriculum.

“As if the UN were not already useless and expensive, it is now using American tax dollars to hide hostages and weapons for the Hamas terrorists it employs. Yes, really!” said Senator Mike Lee. “$70 million is funneled yearly from the United Nations to a group in Gaza employing multiple terrorists from the October 7th attacks and their friends. These American-paid employees have used our tax dollars to hide their hostages and weaponry and teach a pro-terrorism, antisemitic curriculum. Americans do not support this horrifying misuse of tax dollars – it must end now.”

The letter reads as follows:

Dear President Trump,

We strongly support your administration’s efforts to preserve Israel’s long-term security and ensure that Gaza has a future free of Hamas’s terrorist influence. Your strong leadership has been instrumental in advancing a comprehensive 20-point peace plan that demands Hamas disarm and play no role in Gaza governance. Achieving stability in Gaza requires ridding Gaza of the military, social, and political infrastructure that fed Hamas’s power. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is one such structure that must be dismantled, not just in Gaza but across the region.

Established in 1949 as a temporary relief agency, UNRWA operates across Gaza, Judea and Samaria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. In defiance of its mission, extensive reports, investigations, and intelligence assessments have confirmed UNRWA’s systemic infiltration by Hamas and other U.S.-designated terrorist organizations. Yet America continued to fund UNRWA.

Israel found that at least twelve UNRWA employees participated in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, and that roughly ten percent of the agency’s employees in Gaza have ties to terrorist groups. Recently, a USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation identified three additional UNRWA employees who participated in the attacks as well as 14 others affiliated with Hamas. The USAID OIG is expanding its probe to examine more than 100 UNRWA employees for potential ties to Hamas and involvement in the attacks.

Since October 7, Hamas has repeatedly diverted UNRWA’s supplies, used its facilities to hide weapons stockpiles and tunnel infrastructure, and even used its buildings to hold hostages. UNRWA’s educational curriculum glorifies terrorism and antisemitism. Yet while the United States has suspended direct funding and Israel has banned the agency from operating on its territory, UNRWA remains active in Gaza. UNRWA continues to receive $70 million annually from the United Nations regular budget – of which the United States provides roughly a quarter.

We strongly urge your administration to take decisive action to fully dismantle UNRWA and eliminate it from the UN budget. Any aid organization in Gaza or otherwise must be demonstrably free of ties to terrorism and committed to transparency, accountability, and peace. We must ensure this failed system doesn’t continue reinforcing the conditions that have fueled terrorism for generations. The time to act is now.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We stand prepared to assist.

The letter is cosigned by Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

Read exclusive coverage by The New York Post here.

Read the full text of the letter here.

###",1,2026-05-20T06:27:31Z,2026-05-20T06:28:54Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/lee-cosponsors-blue-act-with-protections-against-doxxing-police-officers,Lee Cosponsors BLUE Act with Protections Against Doxxing Police Officers,2026-05-18,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) cosponsored the Blocking Leaks Undermining Law Enforcement (BLUE) Act during National Police Week with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to protect law enforcement officers from being doxxed. This legislation would shield federal law enforcement officers and their families from credible violent threats by prohibiting the sharing of their personal information and location with intent to obstruct, interfere with, or retaliate against their lawful duties.

“Violent anti-police protestors are purposely endangering our law enforcement officers and their families with doxxing and threats,” said Senator Mike Lee. “To protect the patriots who keep us safe, the BLUE Act will outlaw sharing their personal information with the intention of obstructing or retaliating against their police work. As politicized threats against their lives increase, this change will provide the legal shield that our law enforcement officers and their families need to continue protecting Americans every day.”

“It is despicable that radical left-wing protesters are routinely attacking federal law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to protect Americans,” said Senator Rick Scott. “Democrats continue protecting criminal illegal aliens and their radical left-wing defenders instead of the law enforcement officers keeping our communities safe. Trump Derangement Syndrome and years of ‘defund the police’ rhetoric has gone too far, and the BLUE Act protects law enforcement officers doing their jobs and keeps their families’ identities safe. I proudly stand with federal law enforcement and against the lunatics putting public safety at risk.”

The BLUE Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), James Lankford (R-OK), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Mike Rounds (R-SD), and endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA).

“It’s increasingly clear that the Radical Left doesn’t believe in law and order and will do anything to stop the law from being enforced,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville. “We’ve seen repeated attacks on our brave law enforcement officers, including the ICE agents who are carrying out President Trump’s agenda to remove illegal criminals. Revealing officers’ personal locations—whether they’re on duty or not—is extremely dangerous to their safety. If you do anything to put a law enforcement officer in harm’s way, your butt needs to be thrown in jail. As we recognize National Police Week this week, I’m proud to join the BLUE Act with Sen. Rick Scott to further protect those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe.

“Attacks on federal law enforcement are at an all time high, with perpetrators becoming increasingly more brazen in targeted physical and doxing attacks on officers and their families. That is why we are grateful to the leadership of Sen. Scott to advance the ‘BLUE Act’ during National Police Week. This is a common sense bill to ensure appropriate penalties for those who seek to undermine public safety, and we urge Congress to swiftly send it to President Trump’s desk.” – Mathew Silverman, National President, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA)

The Blue Act:

Creates a new criminal prohibition: Makes it illegal to share certain protected information about a federal law enforcement officer when done with intent to obstruct, interfere with, or retaliate against their official duties or proceedings.

Expands what information is protected: Clarifies that, for federal law enforcement officers, protected information includes not just personal details but also their current or expected physical locations, whether on or off duty.

Read exclusive coverage by Townhall here.

Read the full text of the bill here.

###",1,2026-05-19T06:31:01Z,2026-05-19T06:32:40Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-rosen-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-protect-drinking-water-infrastructure-during-extreme-heat,"Curtis, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Protect Drinking Water Infrastructure During Extreme Heat",2026-05-15,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced legislation to help protect drinking water infrastructure when faced with extreme heat or cold. The bipartisan Protecting America’s Drinking Water from Extreme Temperatures Act would make extreme temperatures, like extreme heat, an eligible condition for public water systems to apply for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Midsize and Large Drinking Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program. This program is currently only available to bolster water infrastructure against extreme weather, natural disasters, and cybersecurity attacks. The bill would also reauthorize the program—which is set to expire this year—through 2032. The legislation is cosponsored by Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).

“From prolonged heat to freezing winter conditions, extreme temperatures can threaten access to safe, reliable drinking water for communities across Utah and the West,” said Senator Curtis. “This bipartisan bill gives local water systems greater flexibility to strengthen infrastructure before emergencies happen and helps ensure families can continue to count on clean water no matter the weather.”

“Nevada has seen some of the hottest summers ever recorded over the past few years—putting at risk our ability to access clean drinking water when we need it the most,” said Senator Rosen. “Extreme temperatures pose as much of a threat to our infrastructure as other weather events. That’s why I’m glad to introduce this bipartisan bill to ensure our communities can qualify for federal resources to strengthen public water systems.”

“Americans count on their government to ensure they have access to clean water, especially during extreme heat and extreme cold,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “We must properly invest in the resiliency of the infrastructure that makes it happen. I am proud to stand with Senators Rosen and Curtis to introduce the bipartisan Protecting Midsize and Large Drinking Water Systems from Extreme Temperature Act.”

The full text of the bill can be found here.

Background:

Communities facing extreme temperatures are especially vulnerable to drinking water contamination and interruptions. Rapid temperature changes can weaken underground drinking water pipes, and extreme heat can warm drinking water enough to grow toxic microorganisms and expose the water to plastic or metal pollutants from overheated pipes. In the case of extreme cold, pipes can burst and leave many homes without running water.",1,2026-05-16T06:05:00Z,2026-05-16T06:06:37Z
https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/lee-colleagues-demand-answers-from-brown-university-on-failure-to-prevent-tragedy,"Lee, Colleagues Demand Answers from Brown University on Failure to Prevent On-Campus Killings",2026-05-14,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), along with a coalition of his colleagues in the House and Senate, demanded answers from Brown University regarding the school's shocking negligence resulting in a recent on-campus killing. The university sacrificed safety equipment to pacify woke ideologues and adopted a blatantly anti-police posture, leaving students hopelessly vulnerable to an on-campus attack that killed two students and injured nine – all while Brown’s alert system lagged for a stunning and deadly seventeen minutes.

“Brown University abandoned its students, choosing to virtue signal rather than protect them from being killed on their own campus,” said Senator Mike Lee. “In the last five years alone, Brown University has ignored attack threats, undermined their own campus police force, and apologized for using security cameras when woke activists called them a ‘tool of oppression’ – all while dorms were broken into and robbed year after year. This is shockingly ridiculous and abhorrently negligent. The tragic on-campus killings in December may have been averted had Brown not chosen optics over their students’ safety. I demand answers and accountability for these victims and their families.”

Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Representatives Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Barry Moore (R-AL), Mike Rogers (R-AL), Dale Strong (R-AL), and Gary Palmer (R-AL) are the letter’s additional signees.

“We write as concerned Members of the United States Congress to express profound outrage and demand accountability for the tragic and preventable murders that occurred on the Brown University campus on December 13, 2025. The deaths of Ella Cook, Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, and the wounding of nine others were not unforeseeable tragedies. Public reporting, sworn testimony, police union statements, Brown’s public records, and the assailant’s own words clearly establish that these deaths were made possible by more than a decade of deliberate policy decisions that prioritized activists’ radical demands over student safety,” wrote the members of Congress.

The members of Congress go on to recount Brown University’s consistent caving to far-left, anti-law enforcement activists, putting the safety and security of their students at risk, noting the following:

“After more than a decade of poor choices, Brown leadership’s decisions left its campus and students vulnerable on December 13, 2025. The University had only five officers on duty, a system of non-functional or unstaffed security cameras, and ignored multiple warnings from campus employees about the assailant. These alarming failures, compounded by an incomprehensible 17-minute delay in activating the BrownAlert system, allowed the assailant to fire off 44 unchallenged shots – killing two innocent students and injuring nine others. Brown’s mistakes were not isolated lapses; they were the predictable outcome of an institutional culture so corroded that it treated legitimate law enforcement and physical security as ideological threats rather than essential protections.”

Read exclusive coverage by The Free Press here.

Read the full text of the letter here.

###",1,2026-05-15T06:17:41Z,2026-05-15T06:18:51Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-bennet-lead-bipartisan-letter-affirming-u-s-commitments-to-taiwan,"Curtis, Bennet Lead Bipartisan Letter Affirming U.S. Commitments to Taiwan",2026-05-13,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Ahead of President Donald Trump’s summit with China’s President Xi Jinping, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Michael Bennet (D-CO), member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, led 10 colleagues on a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirming congressional support for the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and asserting there should be no unilateral changes to this policy nor any new U.S. declaratory policy on Taiwan.

In addition to Curtis and Bennet, the letter was signed by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

“For nearly five decades, the TRA has been the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan ties, enabling a strong and mutually beneficial relationship. This bipartisan law requires the United States to provide Taiwan—a critical economic and technological partner, and a thriving democracy—defense articles and services necessary to maintain the island’s self-defense capability. The TRA further states that the United States would consider any attempt to determine Taiwan’s future by non-peaceful means to be ‘a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific,’ and of ‘grave concern,’” wrote the senators.

“Our commitment to this legislation has long helped ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait—which is essential to U.S. interests there and across the Indo-Pacific. Maintaining this commitment is necessary to ensure the credibility of U.S. security commitments to allies and partners in the region and beyond,” continued the senators.

“In the spirit of longstanding bipartisan support for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, we stand ready to work with your administration to further strengthen this partnership,” concluded the senators.

The text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write to reaffirm congressional support for the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and our firm belief that there should be no unilateral changes to this policy nor any new declaratory policy on Taiwan, consistent with longstanding U.S. commitments including the Six Assurances President Reagan articulated.

For nearly five decades, the TRA has been the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan ties, enabling a strong and mutually beneficial relationship. This bipartisan law requires the United States to provide Taiwan—a critical economic and technological partner, and a thriving democracy—defense articles and services necessary to maintain the island’s self-defense capability. The TRA further states that the United States would consider any attempt to determine Taiwan’s future by non-peaceful means to be “a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific,” and of “grave concern.”

Our commitment to this legislation has long helped ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait—which is essential to U.S. interests there and across the Indo-Pacific. Maintaining this commitment is necessary to ensure the credibility of U.S. security commitments to allies and partners in the region and beyond.

During your tenure in the U.S. Senate, you consistently demonstrated strong support for U.S.-Taiwan relations and for the TRA. In 2017, you joined a bipartisan letter to President Trump stating that the “One China policy, based on the [Taiwan Relations] Act, the Three Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances […] provides the basis for our enduring relationship with Taiwan.” You further emphasized the “bipartisan commitment that we must not waver in providing necessary support for Taiwan to defend itself in the face of China’s ongoing military aggression and the cross-Strait military imbalance.”

These principles remain true and necessary today. In the spirit of longstanding bipartisan support for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, we stand ready to work with your administration to further strengthen this partnership.",1,2026-05-15T06:17:41Z,2026-05-15T06:18:51Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-highlights-utahs-nuclear-leadership-calls-for-local-empowerment-in-federal-nuclear-policy,"Curtis Highlights Utah’s Nuclear Leadership, Calls for Local Empowerment in Federal Nuclear Policy",2026-05-13,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"The full transcript of the exchange is below, and video can be found here.

Senator Curtis: Chairman Nieh, congratulations. Mayor Wright, thank you for your service and for your leadership during that period of time. Some of you will remember from previous hearings that we both share that title in common. Senator Whitehouse, all those lists of accomplishments that you mentioned, I would attribute to him having been a mayor. And if we could just make every member of the Senate a mayor, we would be in good shape.

Utah, as many of you know, is known as the Beehive State. That’s a reminder that working together produces better outcomes. State and local leaders and industry partners often recognize the potential in their communities long before a federal agency thousands of miles away. That’s why I believe federal policy works best when it empowers states and communities instead of imposing a one-size-fits-all solution across the country.

We also need to acknowledge the reality that comes up repeatedly in these hearings. Our permitting and regulatory processes are too slow, too duplicative, and too unpredictable.

We should recognize the tremendous opportunity in front of us. America has the talent, resources, innovation, capacity to lead the world in next generation energy development and advanced technologies. But leadership requires a government that can move at the pace of innovation.

So, let me start, Chairman Nieh, with a question about rulemaking. As you consider new rules, are you looking at anything for making uranium recovery as a plan for that? If so, maybe a timeline please.

The Honorable Ho K. Nieh: Yes, Senator. The NRC’s efforts for these rulemakings started under the executive order, will cover the entire life cycle of nuclear from the front end to the back end. It’s important that we really look at our regulatory frameworks to make sure that we can enable the entire circle of life in nuclear.

As you already know, America is too dependent on foreign uranium and enrichment, and we need to fix that. And what we are doing with all of these rules is that when the commercial interests align with the capital resources, workforce, and supply chain to bring new facilities all around the fuel cycle to the NRC, we will have a predictable and credible licensing framework to support that.

Curtis: Thank you. Utah has a request to allow conversion to be added to Utah’s agreement in the state status. I hope the NRC is still on track by to give them an answer by the summer. Can you comment on that?

Nieh: I believe we are on track, but I will verify that.

Curtis: Super important. Thank you.

With that, Utah is actively exploring nuclear as a dependable source of clean baseload power. I think it’s been clear Utah wants to be a leader in this. How is the NRC engaging states to provide clarity around the path forward for deploying nuclear?

Nieh: So, Senator, we always stay ready to engage with our state partners through any NRC licensing activities. I would share personally, I’ve been invited to several states to speak about some of the reforms happening at the NRC related to some of the new requirements.

I’ll be, by the end of this month, attending an event in your home state, Senator to do the same. So, we stand ready to engage with the states to ensure that there’s full transparency and awareness about the NRC’s licensing process.

Curtis: Commissioner Wright, please.

The Honorable David A. Wright: If I could add to that, mayor, I mean, Senator, thank you.

Curtis: Mayor works just fine.

Wright: I actually met with the governor’s team, as well as the President of the Senate in Utah and the Speaker of the House, to discuss these things several months ago. I’ve also met personally with Governor Cox and actually appeared in a video with him on the nuclear issues and the nuclear stuff that’s going on in Utah.

So, we are a resource for the states. I think it’s important. And we will assist them as appropriate, to do exactly what Chairman Nieh was talking about to answer the questions, help them better understand the process and all of it consistent with our mission.

Curtis: Excellent. Good. Chairman, or any of you really, comment, really, to the American taxpayers. You’re looking at these changes. These are the things that are upcoming. How can the American taxpayer be assured that we’re on track, that we’re spending their money well? And what is your message to my constituents back home?

Nieh: The message to your constituents is judge us by our actions. We are making our licensing performance more transparent. On our website, there are dashboards that show how we are using resources for licensing. So, there’s increased transparency.

Again, I’ve set priorities for this agency to operate in a more disciplined and efficient manner. So, my message would be the NRC is enabling the safe use of nuclear technologies in America. And I hope that people in your state will be able to judge that and confirm that through our actions and results.

Curtis: Ranking Member Whitehouse, I’m going to paraphrase something you said in remarks, and I’ll get it wrong, so I’ll apologize. But you kind of classified a couple of different applicants to those who are on their game. They know what they’re doing, and when they do so, they interact well with NRC. Others are not so.

I would introduce a third class. I think of Utah Municipal Power Authority and Power and UAMPS, two municipal organizations in the state of Utah who I would say kind of fall in a third category, who really just don’t have the resources to navigate the way that some of these larger organizations do.

And so just a quick question about what you’re doing to ensure applicants who don’t have a wealth of resources know how to navigate this as well, who are good actors and who we want to be players in this in this space.

Nieh: One of the most important things we do, Senator, is our pre-application engagement with applicants. That is one of the most valuable things to ensure that there’s clear expectations on what is expected to be in an application.

And, you know, it’s very clear that the applications have to contain sufficient information that demonstrate NRC requirements are met. So, we do those discussions upfront, and it really is a prioritization tool for us as well as an agency.

We can judge through a pre-application engagement what level of maturity the application may be, in, what type of information gaps may exist, and it helps us really prioritize what to focus on.

Curtis: I’m out of time, but thank you for your answers and really thank you for the good work that all of you do as Commissioners. We don’t get very many hearings—and yes, we have our questions and yes, we have our concerns—we don’t get very many hearings when we have a body in front of us that’s really doing really good work and really at a critical point, not just for nuclear, but for energy throughout our whole country.

So, thank you and I yield my time.

Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse: And I will accept my friend’s characterization of a third category.",1,2026-05-15T06:17:41Z,2026-05-15T06:18:51Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-hosts-small-business-expo-in-utah-highlights-innovation-and-national-competitiveness,"Curtis Hosts Small Business Expo in Utah, Highlights Innovation and National Competitiveness",2026-05-13,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"KAYSVILLE—This week, U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Small Business Committee, brought together entrepreneurs, manufacturers, educators, innovators, and community leaders from across Utah and the federal government for a small business and innovation expo hosted at Davis Technical College in Kaysville, Utah—emphasizing Utah’s leadership in entrepreneurship, advanced manufacturing, and technology innovation.

“Our event highlighted the creativity, determination, and forward-thinking leadership that continue to make Utah one of the most attractive states in the country to do business,” said Senator Curtis following the event. “Our state’s economic success reflects its pioneer spirit: willingness to take risks and invest in our communities. By bringing together business leaders and federal agencies, we sparked new partnerships and meaningful conversations about the future of commerce in Utah.”

During his opening remarks, Senator Curtis highlighted Utah’s strong entrepreneurial culture, noting that small businesses make up 99 percent of all companies in the state. Drawing from his own experience helping build Utah-based company Action Target, Curtis reflected on the challenges and rewards of growing a business from the ground up. Curtis also pointed to the growing importance of supply chain resilience, advanced manufacturing, energy security, and emerging technologies amid increasing global competition from adversarial nations like China.

Find media resources here, details about the event here, and the Senator’s opening remarks here.

The Senator also discussed recent congressional efforts to support innovation through the reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, commonly referred to as “America’s seed fund.” These programs help small businesses develop technologies that address federal priorities in areas such as defense and health care.

Curtis additionally highlighted the RAMP for Innovators Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) designed to help small businesses bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization. A key section of this legislation was included in the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, which was signed into law in April. Read more about the legislation here.

In addition to representatives from Small Business Administration, Department of War, NASA, and five other federal agencies, the event included speakers and booths from the Utah Small Business Association, Utah Manufacturers Association, 47G, Silicon Slopes, and the World Trade Center Utah, among many others.",1,2026-05-15T06:17:41Z,2026-05-15T06:18:51Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-shaheen-welcome-taiwan-legislative-yuan-approval-of-supplementary-defense-budget,"Curtis, Shaheen Welcome Taiwan Legislative Yuan Approval of Supplementary Defense Budget",2026-05-08,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), SFRC Ranking Member, released the belowstatement welcoming the approval by Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan (LY) of a supplementary defense budget that will strengthen Taiwan’s deterrence capabilities against growing People’s Republic of China (PRC) aggression. The vote follows a visit to Taipei by the senators five weeks ago, in which they met LY leaders and urged support for the package. Following that visit, the senators sent abipartisan letter to LY Speaker Han and his colleagues noting support not only for the purchase of U.S. arms but also for investment in speedier domestic production of asymmetric capabilities in Taiwan.

“Taiwan’s approval of this supplementary defense budget sends a strong signal of resolve at a critical moment for peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific. During our visit to Taipei in March, we urged Taiwan’s leaders to move quickly to approve a supplementary defense budget that would accelerate the procurement of critical U.S. defense equipment and strengthen Taiwan’s asymmetric capabilities.

“This vote demonstrates that Taiwan is taking seriously the urgent need to strengthen its defenses in the face of Beijing’s growing military coercion and pressure campaigns. As the PRC continues to test the limits of what it can achieve through intimidation and aggression, Taiwan’s investment in its long-term deterrence makes clear the island’s unity and preparedness. We also look forward to additional steps by Taiwan’s leaders to further strengthen investments in asymmetric capabilities and domestic defense production, which remain essential to long-term deterrence. The United States’ partnership with the people of Taiwan remains rock solid and Congress will continue to support Taiwan’s ability to defend itself and preserve stability across the Taiwan Strait.”",1,2026-05-12T06:07:57Z,2026-05-12T06:09:10Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-highlighting-chinese-threat-to-american-strategic-interests,"Curtis, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Highlighting Chinese Threat to American Strategic Interests",2026-05-04,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined a bipartisan resolution affirming concern over the growing threat China poses to America’s national security and economic prosperity at a pivotal moment for U.S.-China relations. The resolution calls for a continued and steady focus on strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, protecting American workers and businesses from unfair economic practices, maintaining leadership in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, supporting allies and partners, preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and advancing human rights and democratic values.

“At this pivotal moment in U.S.-China relations, we must approach the future with clear eyes and steady resolve,” said Senator Curtis. “China’s actions demand a coordinated and bipartisan response. This resolution reinforces our commitment to strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, standing with our allies, and ensuring American workers and innovators can compete on a level playing field. The United States must lead with both strength and principle to safeguard our security, our prosperity, and the values that define us.”

The resolution was led by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE). Joining Senator Curtis as cosponsors were Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jim Banks (R-IN), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Todd Young (R-IN), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

“In the run-up to next month’s U.S.-China summit, the United States Senate is sending a clear message: remember who Xi Jinping and the PRC are,” said Senator Coons. “Beijing is trying to create a more aggressive, coercive, and lawless international landscape that harms the American people, and the United States cannot give away the store in negotiations in exchange for fig leaves. We must stand with our allies and partners and work with every tool of the U.S. government to combat these aggressive practices.”

“Communist China is the greatest threat to the American way of life,” said Senator Ricketts. “Communist China actively threatens the rules-based system that has maintained peace and prosperity for over 80 years. We must deter Communist China. We must stand with our partners and allies that Beijing threatens.”

The resolution states that the United States should address the security, economic, technological, diplomatic, and strategic threats posed by China as a top foreign policy priority. It also calls for the United States to:

Sustain and strengthen deterrence against China in the Indo-Pacific

Protect U.S. economic interests against predatory trade practices

Maintain American leadership in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and other foundational technologies

Reaffirm U.S. commitments to allies, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines

Preserve peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait

Strengthen support for partners facing military, economic, and gray zone coercion

Counter China’s influence in multilateral organizations and standards-setting bodies

Advance democratic norms, human rights, openness, and civil society in the Indo-Pacific and beyon",1,2026-05-06T06:05:57Z,2026-05-06T06:07:49Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-improve-education-transparency-at-community-colleges,"Curtis, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Improve Education Transparency at Community Colleges",2026-05-04,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) cosponsored legislation that would improve education transparency by ensuring that reported graduation rates accurately reflect the success of community colleges. The Time for Completion Act requires colleges and universities to report graduation and completion rates for a broader range of students, including non-first-time and part-time students.

The bill was introduced by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), and is also co-sponsored by Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Ted Budd (R-NC).

“Often having to balance work, family, and school, many of Utah’s community and technical college students’ success frequently isn’t counted in current graduation metrics,” said Senator Curtis. “The Time for Completion Act brings greater transparency and fairness to our education system, giving students and families the tools they need to make good decisions while ensuring our institutions are recognized for the full impact they have on our workforce.”

“Wyoming is fortunate to have eight wonderful community colleges. These schools represent the future of Wyoming’s workforce. They deserve to have all of their students accurately accounted for in graduation rates,” said Senator Barrasso. “Current reporting requirements do not reflect the unique background of community college students. The Time for Completion Act will make sure prospective students have the most accurate information about graduation rates so they can choose the best school for them.”

“Wyoming’s colleges are training the next generation of skilled workers our state depends on, and they deserve credit for every student they help succeed,” said Senator Lummis. “Far too often the workers earning degrees and certificates while holding down jobs or raising families go uncounted, and that shortchanges both the institutions and the students themselves. This legislation offers a long overdue fix in federal reporting and gives prospective students the honest picture they need to plan for their future.”

Background:

Under current Higher Education Act (HEA) requirements, institutions receiving federal student aid must report graduation and completion rates only for full time, first time, certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduates who start and finish at the same institution. This excludes millions of nontraditional students, such as part-time, transfer, and returning students, from being reflected in this data.

As a result, publicly available graduation rates can significantly underestimate student success and mask gaps across different types of learners. These rates inform state performance-based funding and are required disclosures for institutions receiving federal student aid. They also guide institutional benchmarking, and students and families rely on this data to assess institutional quality and value.

The Time for Completion Act would provide a more accurate and comprehensive picture of institutional performance by counting a wider range of students in graduation and completion metrics. The bill expands disclosure requirements to include the completion or graduation rates of non-first-time and half-time, certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduates. It also amends the HEA so that part-time and other nontraditional students are included in federally reported graduation rate calculations.",1,2026-05-06T06:05:57Z,2026-05-06T06:07:49Z
https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-raises-alarm-on-undersea-cable-threats-pushes-for-stronger-u-s-action,"Curtis Raises Alarm on Undersea Cable Threats, Pushes for Stronger U.S. Action",2026-05-01,2026,2026-05,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Curtis also highlighted bipartisan legislation he is leading with Senator Jacky Rosen, which would mandate the establishment of an initiative, led by the Secretary of State and in coordination with other agencies, to prioritize the protection and resilience of undersea cables near Taiwan.

The full transcript of the exchange is below, and video can be found here.

Senator Curtis: This Committee recently passed a bill that I have with Senator Rosen, the Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resiliency Act. The bill contains an initiative to harden and monitor Taiwan’s undersea cables and proposes new sanctions. I was in Taiwan with the Ranking Member just a couple of weeks ago. We visited one of the factories that actually produces the cable. We were all very curious about what they were doing to prevent breaks, whether it’s undersea monitoring or cameras, and what we found is zero motivation because they produce cables. Their answer was just lay more cables.

And I’m curious what your experience is. Do we have a motivation problem here, and it just feels like there was very little effort to put in equipment that could monitor and see a problem coming before it got there. What’s your experience?

Dr. Benjamin Schmitt: So, this is an energy security question for Taiwan as well as these cables connect to their offshore wind and can interconnect to their outlying islands. One of the things that is this is more from a physics standpoint. If you put a fiber optic cable on the seabed, you can start to monitor the vibro-acoustic environment, the vibrations of subsea vessels, sea surface vessels and things like this around it.

And so, this is actually what happened in the case of the Chunghwa Telecoms line, when last year the Hong Thai 58, this vessel from China, cut the cable. The Taiwanese coast guard was alerted by Chunghwa Telecom right before that cable cut took place because they knew this vessel was sitting there. And then they acted just a few hours later when they got their armada together to seize this vessel.

And what they found, this was an empty Chinese vessel that was a bulk carrier that had no bulk on it. Its cargo doors were actually rusted shut so that it couldn’t be used for that. So, it was only used as a sabotage vessel. And the prosecutor that I talked to likened it to a ‘pawn sacrifice’ from the PRC.

In other words, he is sending out a vessel that he doesn’t care if he loses. I wanted to see that vessel, but it’s already been deconstructed and scrapped.

Curtis: If there’s major disruption to Taiwan with both cables, What’s the impact militarily and economically that potentially could happen?

Schmitt: There was often a discussion that Taiwan does have redundancy—something like 14 cables connecting out to the global internet. There’s also cables to the Penghu Islands, Matsu Islands, Kinmen, others like this. I’ve often been asked, you know, well, we have this redundancy. So, China couldn’t possibly cut all 14 cables. I said, you’ve got another thing coming because guess what? If they can cut 1 or 2 cables by dragging an anchor pretty easily, in an all-out military assault or invasion or even a blockade or a quarantine, those can be cut pretty quickly. What that will have is immediate impact on the global economy.

It’s kind of like the Strait of Hormuz closure by the IRGC for the internet, and it means that all of our economic trade with Taiwan, which is significant, will be cut off not just for us, but for our partners and allies. And I’ll tell you, it will make military coordination more difficult. It won’t stop it because there is satellite backup, but it is something that we really need to think of. And I’ve talked with folks in Taiwan that are in the military. I think that it needs to be part of the military’s doctrine in Taiwan, that rapid cable repair under fire is important as well to deter this.

Curtis: So, another question. We’ve learned a lot from Taiwan, and what’s happening there. What lessons can be applied to the Baltic and what should we be doing in the Baltic that we’ve learned from the Indo-Pacific?

Schmitt: I think that one of the biggest things is, again, repair capabilities. We need more repair capabilities in Europe. We need a legal system that allows for attribution and jurisdictional questions, we’ve mentioned already in this hearing. Again, just like in Taiwan where they’re aware of this, we need European democracies to be ready to act and, and have that capability through NATO to do so.

The Honorable James O’Brien: I will just add, Senator, and thank you for your bill. The motivation problem, I think, is, with the U.S. government, all of the undersea infrastructure, separate companies, others, they’re all doing their work. It’s unrealistic to expect them to monitor the activities of a predatory superpower. Same thing with middle powers. They don’t have the ability to stand up. So, this is for the U.S. government to say the future of our economy depends on this infrastructure.

We have to make sure that we have enough of it and that we can repair it, but that we can protect it. And that involves both more robust sanctions program, I think, more physical presence and coordinating with others who are affected so that they’re able to operate effectively.

Curtis: It feels to me like the technology is not that difficult. It’s the will. You mentioned the one incident in Taiwan where they were able to find the actor. How prepared are we to find the bad actors? Just generally speaking.

Schmitt: I mean, we’re prepared. I think U.S., you know, geospatial intelligence is strong. I think we need more commercial data to make sure that satellite data can be released quickly so that these sort of indictments can happen rapidly. But the other thing I want to point out, and we’re going to want to bring it back to the Nord Stream case really briefly and say we need to listen not only to policymakers, no offense, but technical experts like those that work in the industry, people that build the cables, people that are captains of these ships, people that actually dive to the bottom of the seabed.

We talked with many of these experts, and they said that the idea that using a rental sailboat to blow up Nord Stream is not technically impossible, but that it would never be used in this way, and they said that it’s an insufficient platform. It would have a large radar profile to begin with because of the sail, obviously.

And that you would use a cheap drone, and I’ll tell you what, there’s a lot of media that have gone out there and put a drone on the seabed and looked at the damage site, and they’ve proven you can put a drone down there. You can put one down there with a camera, you can put it down there with explosives.

I went out and actually got seabed sonar data at the Nord Stream two blast site, and you can just go out there. So again, listening to the experts in a way that is integrated not only into our policy but our media and discussions of these, because it takes so long for attribution that disinformation can be sowed. And obviously, in the case of Nord Stream, Russia pointed the finger at the UK, Poland, the United States, of course, and all these different directions, so chaos right after this, this happened again, a disinformation campaign that seems kind of precooked to me.",1,2026-05-02T05:53:08Z,2026-05-02T05:54:44Z