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-joins-dave-ramsey-to-discuss-timeshare-transparency-act,CURTIS JOINS DAVE RAMSEY TO DISCUSS TIMESHARE TRANSPARENCY ACT,2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click here or the image above to watch the interview During the interview, the two highlighted years of consumer complaints and financial data showing the vast majority of timeshare buyers regret their purchases but are locked into long-term contracts with escalating fees and little to no ability to exit. Ramsey concluded the interview calling on his listeners to urge their Representatives and Senators to support the TTA. Curtis on the TTA: It’s pretty simple: first, you should know what you’re buying—there should be transparency; second, you should know if there’s going to be radical changes to what you’ve bought; and third, you should be able to change your mind within an agreed upon period of time. And then, let’s face it, if 85% of the people regret getting into it, there needs to be some way for them to get out of it. On the 14-day penalty-free cancellation period: Ramsey: From my understanding, a 14-day penalty free cancelation period will cut their sales by 70%—you’ll probably put them out of business. Curtis: If any business is dependent upon getting people to do something they don’t want to do, then they perhaps should go out of business. Now, my goal is not to put them out of business, my goal is just to make it so people can trust what they’re getting into. . . . Many of the people that get into these are seniors—they’re away from their normal support structure when they get into these very, very high-pressure sales techniques, then they maybe make a bad decision, and then they don’t have a window to change that decision. That’s just wrong. On the timeshare re-sale market: Ramsey: There’s no backing out, and there’s no way to sell the stupid thing, because nobody wants to buy them. There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of them for sale on eBay for $1 Curtis: Yes, and the reason is, they now come with the liability of these monthly or annually fees that are so exorbitant, far greater than any amount of money that you could spend to have a really great vacation—that’s why they’re worthless.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1818,Rep. Maloy Introduces the Geothermal Tax Parity Act of 2025,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Celeste Maloy,M001228,maloy.house.gov,maloy,https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Representative Celeste Maloy (R-UT) introduced the bipartisan Geothermal Tax Parity Act of 2025, which extends long standing oil and gas tax provisions to geothermal projects to promote one of America’s cheapest and most reliable energy sources. The bill supports a rapidly growing American energy industry delivering reliable, around the clock power. The legislation is cosponsored by Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA), Blake Moore (R-UT), Steven Horsford (D-NV), and Russ Fulcher (R-ID). “Geothermal energy is a reliable resource with enormous potential, especially in the West,” said Rep. Celeste Maloy. “Utah is already proving what next generation geothermal can deliver. This bill removes outdated barriers in the tax code so private investment can keep pace with innovation, strengthen our energy security, and create high quality jobs in rural communities.” The Geothermal Tax Parity Act would allow geothermal projects to qualify for the same passive loss treatment long available to oil and gas investments, enabling investors to deduct project losses against other income. The bill would also extend existing tax treatment for geological and geophysical exploration costs to geothermal development, reducing upfront risk and encouraging private sector investment. In Utah, geothermal innovation is already underway. Fervo Energy is constructing the world’s largest next generation geothermal development in Beaver County. The project is expected to begin operations in 2026 and deliver up to 500 megawatts of power by 2028, supporting growing energy demand across the region. “Geothermal energy is one of the most promising, clean energy resources we have. It provides reliable, round-the-clock power, strengthens our energy security, and creates good-paying jobs,” said Rep. John Garamendi. “The bipartisan Geothermal Tax Parity Act is simple: if oil and gas receive a tax benefit, geothermal should too. By extending long-standing energy tax incentives to geothermal, we can accelerate next-generation clean energy deployment, leverage our existing workforce and engineering expertise, and position the United States as a global leader in geothermal power.” Industry leaders also voiced support for the legislation. Fervo said, “We are grateful for Rep. Maloy and Rep. Garamendi’s leadership on the Geothermal Tax Parity Act. The bill will help attract capital to a rapidly growing industry, further positioning enhanced geothermal to meet our nation’s rising electricity demand with clean, baseload power.” “Quaise Energy strongly endorses the Geothermal Tax Parity Act. This legislation will help unlock America's vast geothermal potential at exactly the moment we need it most,” said Carlos Araque, CEO and President of Quaise Energy. “By creating the right investment climate for next-generation geothermal technologies, Representatives Maloy and Garamendi are positioning the United States to command technological leadership in accessing an energy resource that dwarfs all other sources combined, strengthening our national security and economic competitiveness.” Zanskar stated, “Rep. Maloy’s Geothermal Tax Parity Act will provide an essential market-based tailwind to help ignite an American geothermal boom. By modernizing the tax code to reflect the geothermal's unique value and potential, this bill levels the playing field for investors—attracting private capital and helping secure a future of clean, reliable and American baseload power.” Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions added, ""CRES applauds the introduction of the Geothermal Tax Parity Act, which will accelerate the deployment of geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is an important, home-grown part of the nation's energy mix. By accelerating investments into this industry, America's energy system can become cleaner, more reliable and more affordable."" The Geothermal Tax Parity Act is supported by a broad coalition including Geothermal Rising, Fervo Energy, U.S. Oil and Gas Association, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, the Bipartisan Policy Center, Greenfire Energy, Quaise Energy, and Eavor.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1819,"Maloy, Lummis Introduce CLEAR Act to Protect Local and State Law Enforcement Authority",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Celeste Maloy,M001228,maloy.house.gov,maloy,https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Earlier this week, Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (R-UT), alongside Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), introduced the Community Law Enforcement Authority Restoration Act of 2025, known as the CLEAR Act, to block a Biden-era U.S. Forest Service rule that expands federal involvement in enforcing state and local laws. The Forest Service rule, Law Enforcement; Criminal Prohibitions, was finalized in the final weeks of the Biden Administration and would allow federal land management agencies to administer and enforce certain criminal laws. The CLEAR Act prevents the Forest Service from administering, implementing, or enforcing the rule. “In Utah, local law enforcement knows their communities best,” said Congresswoman Maloy. “Our sheriffs are accountable to the people they serve. The CLEAR Act keeps law enforcement authority where it belongs and prevents unnecessary federal overreach into Utah’s rural counties.” Utah is home to vast areas of federally managed land, making clear lines of law enforcement authority critical for public safety and effective governance. Local sheriffs have long worked cooperatively with federal agencies, but the rule raised concerns about jurisdictional confusion and authority being expanded through administrative action rather than by Congress. “This effort, implemented by the U.S. Forest Service, has been a long-standing issue of contention,” said Tracy Glover, Sheriff of Kane County Utah. “While we seek strong working relationships with federal agencies, we cannot, and will not, abdicate our authority and jurisdiction to the detriment of the people we serve and the Office of Sheriff.”",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/patriots-of-the-caribbean-lee-bill-authorizes-american-privateers-to-seize-cartel-assets-with-president-s-approval/6ed7fad5-5b91-47c0-aa8a-4b64ece3d16d,Patriots of the Caribbean: Lee Bill Authorizes American Privateers to Seize Cartel Assets with President’s Approval,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today that would allow private entities to stop drug cartel smuggling and violence. The Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act authorizes President Trump, as provided under the Constitution, to commission American operators under letters of marque to seize cartel property and persons on land or sea. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN) introduced the House version of the legislation. “The Constitution provides for Letters of Marque and Reprisal as a tool against the enemies of the United States,” said Senator Mike Lee.“Cartels have replaced corsairs in the modern era, but we can still give private American citizens and their businesses a stake in the fight against these murderous foreign criminals. The Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act will revive this historic practice to defend our shores and seize cartel assets.” ""They push millions of dollars in fentanyl into our country with no regard for American lives,” said Congressman Tim Burchett. “It's time to get creative about how we face these threats. These cartels present a serious risk to our national security, and this bill would authorize President Trump to commission Americans to help defend our homeland.” 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. The Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act would give President Trump authority from Congress to allow private citizens and groups to join in defending the United States from cartels on land and sea. The Cartel Marque and Reprisal Reauthorization Act: Authorizes and commissions the President of the United States to issue letters of marque and reprisal, according to the judgment of the President, to employ all reasonably necessary means to seize outside the geographic boundaries of the United States and its territories the person and property of any cartel or conspirator of a cartel or cartel-linked organization. Specifies that cartels or conspirators subject to letters of marque and reprisal must be responsible for an act of aggression against the United States. Requires the President to call for the posting of a security bond to ensure that the letter is executed according to its terms and conditions prior to issuing any letter of marque and reprisal. Read exclusive coverage from Breitbart News here. Read full text of the bill here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/senator-lee-condemns-eu-sanctioning-x-for-refusing-to-censor-americans/c3033ba0-2930-4e49-ba45-92c78d9eec3d,Senator Lee Condemns EU Sanctioning X for Refusing to Censor Americans,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a resolution today condemning the European Union’s recent decision to sanction the social media platform X for its refusal to censor American users’ online speech. The massive $140 million fine is the latest in a string of radical free speech infringement by European governments, including prison sentences for writers and even viewers of social media posts deemed “misinformation” or “hate speech.” U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) cosponsored the resolution. The resolution reads as follows: “Expressing that any attempt by foreign entities to censor or penalize constitutionally protected speech of United States persons shall be opposed. “Whereas freedom of speech is a fundamental, constitutional right of every United States person; “Whereas freedom of speech is a hallmark of American exceptionalism; ""Whereas freedom of speech is necessary to ensure that truth can always be spoken, lies can always be exposed, and important questions can always be asked, and that the strong can always be challenged and the vulnerable can always be heard; “Whereas no person is fit to govern the thoughts or beliefs of another; “Whereas public forums, including social media platforms, give people the opportunity to exercise their right to free speech; “Whereas undue foreign influence threatens the constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech; “Whereas the Digital Services Act of the European Union requires large platforms to remove certain speech based on the incorrect assertion that politicians are entitled to govern the thoughts and beliefs of other persons; “Whereas the European Union is attempting to force United States entities to use products and technology to censor and undermine free speech occurring in the United States; “Whereas the European Union is threatening steep penalties under the Digital Services Act if United States entities do not implement the censorship regime required under the Act; “Whereas, on August 12, 2024, the European Union threatened Elon Musk with penalties under the Digital Services Act for conducting an interview with President Trump on X, insinuating that the conversation between United States citizens on United States soil would produce ‘‘harmful content’’ that would ‘‘spillover’’ from the United States; “Whereas, on December 5, 2025, the European Union announced a $140,000,000 fine against X under the Digital Services Act; “Whereas the European Union is actively investigating and discouraging the use of Community Notes-style policies employed by social media companies to avoid censorship and institutional bias, instead pushing for aggressive content censorship models; “Whereas the Digital Services Act authorizes fines of up to 6 percent of a company’s global revenue for not complying with efforts to target speech by United States persons; “Whereas the actions of the European Union under the Digital Services Act conflict with the sovereign duty of the United States Government to protect the constitutional rights of United States persons; and Whereas such actions by the European Union, if left unchecked, may cause a chilling effect on free speech in the United States: Now, therefore, be it “Resolved, That the Senate— “(1) reaffirms its commitment to protecting the commercial interests and free speech rights of United States persons; “(2) recognizes that the Digital Services Act is incompatible with the free speech tradition of the United States and the commitments that technology companies have made to hosting a diversity of opinions; “(3) disapproves of any attempt by a foreign entity to export censorship or limit the exercise of free speech by United States persons; “(4) disapproves of any attempt by a foreign entity to levy fines or other penalties against United States persons participating in constitutionally protected activities; “(5) disapproves of the attempts by the European Union to force United States entities to develop or use products and technology in ways that undermine free speech or foster censorship; “(6) commits to oppose any implementation of disapproved activities; and “(7) urges the Trump administration to ensure swift and firm rejoinders to any implementation of disapproved activities.” Access the full text of the resolution here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/bipartisan-defense-spending-passes-with-curtis-support,BIPARTISAN DEFENSE SPENDING PASSES WITH CURTIS SUPPORT,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Curtis (R‑UT) today released the following statement after the Senate passed the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “I proudly supported the NDAA because it strengthens our military’s readiness, invests in critical capabilities, and delivers real benefits to Utah’s defense community,” said Senator Curtis. “This bill ensures our armed forces have the tools they need to defend our nation, and it protects and expands the missions that sustain good jobs here at home.” The legislation reflects the evolving security landscape and ensures the U.S. remains prepared to deter adversaries like China and Russia while reinforcing vital partnerships with allies, including Taiwan. Utah Priorities Secured in the FY26 NDAA Reinforces Utah’s role as a national defense hub by supporting missions tied to Hill Air Force Base, depot maintenance, and the state’s defense industrial base Protects programs vital to Utah’s aerospace and missile defense sectors, preserving jobs and maintaining Utah’s position on the cutting edge of defense innovation Improves quality of life for Utah military families through pay raises, housing allowance transparency, and support for sustainable military service at home National Defense Highlights",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-schiff-introduce-bill-to-protect-consumers-from-predatory-timeshare-practices,"CURTIS, SCHIFF INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM PREDATORY TIMESHARE PRACTICES",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Timeshare Pricing Transparency Act (TPT), bipartisan legislation to protect consumers from confusing contracts, hidden fees, and unclear exit options in the timeshare industry. “Our bill is about honesty, transparency, and basic consumer rights,” said Curtis. “Families deserve to know exactly what financial decisions they are making without predatory sales tactics that rely upon deception and manipulative time constraints. This bill ensures that Americans have clear and honest information before committing to a timeshare.” “Americans deserve to have all of the information they need upfront, before entering any timeshare commitment, including any potential surprise fees or contract terms,” said Schiff. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Curtis to enhance consumer protections and ensure that Americans aren’t saddled with hidden junk fees or are the victims of deceptive contracts.” “For many older Americans, a timeshare purchase represents years of hard work and careful saving. Yet according to the FBI, timeshare fraud cost consumers more than $50 million in 2024. That’s why this bill matters—it restores basic fairness by requiring clear, itemized cost disclosures and a 14-day cancellation window, giving people the transparency and time they need to protect their hard-earned dollars,” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at AARP. Click here for a full letter of support from AARP. Resources: Bill text Bill one-pager Millions of Americans purchase timeshares each year, often while on vacation or under high-pressure sales conditions. Too often, buyers later report that they were not fully informed about long-term financial obligations, escalating maintenance fees, or the difficulty of exiting ownership. These practices have led to a surge in consumer complaints—with approximately 85% of timeshare owners regretting their purchase—and financial hardship for families across the country. The TPT establishes clear, commonsense disclosure requirements to ensure consumers understand exactly what they are purchasing. Under the bill, all timeshare agreements must: Include a single document itemizing all acquisition and maintenance costs. Mandate disclosure of modifiable fees and the notice requirements for such changes. Provide clear, documented options to exit ownership. Grant buyers a 14-day penalty-free cancellation period. Allow buyers time to privately review the timeshare agreement. The legislation also empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce these protections and issue additional regulations as needed. Importantly, the bill preserves states’ rights to enact and enforce stronger consumer protections in the timeshare marketplace.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/utah-rep-mike-kennedy-passes-bill-support-wildfire-prevention,Utah Rep. Mike Kennedy Passes Bill to Support Wildfire Prevention,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-Utah-03), Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands; Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; and Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), along with Representatives Burgess Owens (R-Utah-04), Blake Moore (R-Utah-01), and Celeste Maloy (R-Utah-02), have passed the Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act. The bill will create a federal wildfire research institute at Utah State University, dedicated to studying wildfire ecology and developing innovative solutions to mitigate wildfire risks. The institute will partner with local, state, and federal agencies to enhance forest and rangeland management and implement strategies for long-term ecological restoration. “I am proud to be the House sponsor of this bill. The Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act of 2025 will drive critical research to develop and sustain fire-resilient forests, safeguarding our communities. By implementing proven best practices, we anticipate reducing the strain on our firefighters and emergency services, who tirelessly protect both Utah's forests and its residents,” said Rep. Kennedy. “H.R. 1045 will give Utah’s firefighters, land managers and communities better data and tools to combat the growing threat of catastrophic wildfire. By expanding research, improving data collection, and advancing fire modeling capabilities, this bill means more effective mitigation, safer communities, and stronger forest resilience. I commend Rep. Kennedy and Sen. Lee for their leadership on this effort and I am proud to support this forward-looking effort to protect lives, landscapes, and western economies,” said Chairman Westerman ""Robust forest management strategies are essential to protecting Utah’s nearly 22 million acres of forests from catastrophic wildfires. The Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act will significantly enhance our state's wildfire preparedness by bolstering the tools and resources available to proactively manage and protect our forests and communities,"" said Chairman Lee. “Wildfires have increasingly devastated Utah communities, threatened homes, and scarred our cherished lands. The Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act ensures Utah has the cutting-edge research and proactive solutions it needs to better prevent and mitigate fires—protecting our families, forests, and way of life,” said Sen. Curtis. ""Utah responsibly manages its forest land in collaboration with partners at the local and federal levels to prevent and limit the spread of wildfires. This legislation will provide the state with additional resources to build off its existing efforts and increase resiliency. I'm proud to cosponsor this legislation alongside my colleagues in the Utah delegation,"" said Rep. Maloy ""Utah has long been at the forefront of responsible resource management, and it’s time for our state to be included in efforts to prevent wildfires and protect our forests. By establishing the Utah Wildfire Research Institute, we’ll harness local expertise, collaborate with national partners, and strengthen our ability to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing the West,” said Rep. Owens. “This bill will establish a wildfire research institute in the First District where experts and officials can come together and create innovative solutions to keep our forests and communities safe. As the west continues to struggle with devastating wildfires, this effort will help ensure that Utah has resources to research and collaborate on wildfire mitigation, forest management, and watershed projects,” said Rep. Moore Background information: This bill amends the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 to include Utah as a fourth location for the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI) alongside Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. It creates an institute at Utah State University to research and collaborate with partners on projects promoting healthy forests, wildfire prevention, and resilient water supplies. It directs the Chief of the Forest Service and the Secretary of the Interior to designate a university in Utah to host the institute. This legislation requires Utah State University to receive a share of the annually appropriated sums for the program under the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-bill-protects-car-owners-from-data-harvesting,Lee Bill Protects Car Owners from Data Harvesting,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today affording essential data privacy rights to vehicle owners across America. The Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act will give motor vehicle owners control over their personal data by outlawing its sale and collection by car manufacturers without drivers’ consent, and barring data sharing with adversarial nations such as China. Congressman Eric Burlison (R-MO) introduced the House version of the bill. “Carmakers are collecting and selling personal data from millions of American drivers,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Your morning drive to work, your GPS location, and your driving habits could be sold to insurance companies, or even to international adversaries like China. Drivers deserve ownership of their data, so the Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act will enable them to see, delete, and opt out of having their privacy violated in the drive-through line.” ""Auto manufacturers have quietly turned cars into data-harvesting machines,” said Congressman Eric Burlison. “Drivers are being tracked, and their personal information is monetized with little transparency or consent. Your data should never be treated as a corporate asset or an open target for bad actors.” The American Vehicle Owners Alliance endorsed the legislation: “We are excited about the reintroduction of the Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy (ADPA) Act, legislation aimed at ensuring that vehicle data remains with the vehicle owner, not the manufacturers. Motor vehicle fleet owners and operators provide a wide range of essential mobility services. Yet manufacturers are increasingly limiting access to vehicle-generated data, undermining the property rights of consumers and fleet operators alike. Vehicle owners must have access to and control over their vehicle-generated data, which is critical for privacy, safety, innovation, and fair market competition. This legislation represents a significant win for privacy, competition, and consumer choice. We look forward to working with Congress to protect American drivers.” – Richard Ward, Executive Director, American Vehicle Owners Alliance The Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act will protect drivers’ privacy rights by: Requiring Informed Consent: Mandating that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) establish opt-in features for vehicle data collection. Restricting Data Sharing: Prohibiting OEMs from sharing, selling, or leasing collected customer data without explicit consent, with narrow exceptions required by law. Protecting National Security: Barring data sharing with adversarial nations. Ensuring Transparency: Directing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report to Congress on data collection practices. Empowering Owners: Allowing vehicle owners access to their vehicle’s data through technology-neutral standards. Enabling Data Deletion: Giving owners the right to delete their data after connecting to a vehicle. Balancing Interests: Protecting OEM confidential business information while safeguarding consumer rights. Read the full bill text here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-booker-reign-in-runaway-agriculture-waste-to-ensure-small-farmers-get-fair-share,"Lee, Booker Reign in Runaway Agriculture Waste to Ensure Small Farmers Get Fair Share",2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to reign in government spending within the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) to reduce waste on ineffective projects and prevent big agriculture producers from monopolizing funding pools to ensure that small farmers have access to their fair share. “Big Ag is hogging taxpayer dollars for their bloated, ineffective projects,” said Senator Mike Lee. “The EQIP program is meant to benefit small farmers too, but when bigger players monopolize grant pools, fewer farms get their fair share and taxpayers end up funding pointless projects. The EQIP Improvement Act will lower the payment cap for single projects to reduce runaway spending on money pits, give states flexibility to prioritize their critical farming initiatives, and slash spending on ineffective waste. Both farmers and taxpayers will be better off with these changes in place.” “To make the EQIP Program more effective, this bill would re-focus support towards farmers that need it most by targeting funding to more producers and prioritizing conservation practices with significantly greater environmental benefits,” said Senator Cory Booker. “With this bill, we will see more federal funding go toward providing vital financial support to our small family farmers and ranchers.” Background The EQIP Improvement Act will reduce the overall payment cap on EQIP contracts, reduce federal cost-sharing for practices that provide little or no environmental benefits, and eliminate a requirement that 50% of EQIP funding flow to livestock operators. To make the Environmental Quality Incentive Program more effective, this bill would re-focus support towards farmers and ranchers who need it the most by targeting funding to more producers and prioritizing conservation practices with significantly greater environmental and water quality benefits. This bill will eliminate wasteful spending and give states more control over conservation efforts. Currently, over $1.2 billion of EQIP funds are spent on infrastructure practices that often support the largest operations and produce relatively little environmental benefit. Adjusting the cost-share for those practices would have allowed USDA to reinvest $583 million into other practices between 2018 and 2024, or $97 million per year. USDA currently turns away over half of the farmers seeking conservation assistance. The savings from this bill will ensure that more farmers and ranchers have access to the most beneficial practices covered by EQIP. Analysis of EQIP contracts shows that between 2018 and 2021, just 23% of all EQIP funding went towards conservation practices with the most significant environmental benefits. The EQIP Improvement Act would: Support More Farmers and Ranchers – The EQIP Improvement Act will reduce the overall five-year EQIP payment cap from $450,000 to $150,000 – which will free up EQIP funds to serve more farmers. The bill would also end an arbitrary requirement that 50 percent of EQIP funds – over $1.8 billion between 2017 and 2020 – flow to livestock operators. From 2017 through 2022 more than 222,000 contracts were turned away from EQIP due to a lack of funding. This has created an unfunded backlog for EQIP of more than $7.4 billion. Prioritize Most Effective Conservation Practices – According to USDA data, several EQIP conservation practices produce significantly more environmental benefits, including drinking water protection. These practices include cover crops, no-till, crop rotations, nutrient management, and streamside buffers. The EQIP Improvement Act would allow states to have greater flexibility in funding these practices by reducing payments to practices that have little benefit to the environment. Reduce Spending on Least Effective Conservation Practices – According to USDA data, several costly and structural EQIP practices provide very little benefit to taxpayers or the environment. Between 2018 and 2024, taxpayers provided more than $1.2 billion to support these practices, which include cost-sharing for roads, fish ponds, stock ponds, dams, animal waste pits, pipelines, and land clearing. The bill would reduce maximum cost-sharing from 75 percent to 40 percent for these practices. Read full text of the bill here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-legislation-to-preserve-university-of-utahs-research-park-passes-the-house-of-representatives,Congressman Blake Moore's Legislation to Preserve University of Utah’s Research Park Passes the House of Representatives,2025-12-15,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Blake Moore's legislation to protect and preserve the University of Utah’s nearly 600-acre Research Park passed the House of Representatives by unanimous consent. Working alongside University of Utah leadership, Congressman Moore crafted the University of Utah Research Park Act to ensure the U can continue to serve as a premier research incubator. “The University of Utah’s Research Park has been instrumental in putting Utah on the map for innovation, research, and development,"" Congressman Moore said. “This legislation will provide the U with the stability necessary to meet the needs of its students, the community, and industry. I am grateful for the bill's bipartisan support and am thrilled it passed the House! Go Utes!"" “Representative Moore’s bill will make a technical fix to allow the University of Utah full use of their facilities, free from federal interference. As a proud Utahn, Representative Moore’s attention to this legislation shows he has the best interests of his state at heart. I am proud to work alongside him and Senator Lee on this legislation and hope to see it on the President’s desk swiftly,” House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman said. The bill addresses legal uncertainties surrounding the university's use of land initially conveyed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1968 under the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act. At that time, the university requested land on the Fort Douglas Military Reservation for academic and research use--a request approved and granted by BLM. Since then, the university has built a nationally recognized research park, housing over 50 companies and employing nearly 14,000 Utahns. After decades of cooperative engagement between the university and the federal government, BLM has recently questioned whether the long-standing activities at Research Park are consistent with the original land patent under the R&PP Act. The University of Utah Research Park Act resolves that uncertainty by confirming that the development and operation of a university research park is a valid public purpose under the Act. The legislation builds on previous versions negotiated with the Department of the Interior and is supported by the University of Utah and passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources last Congress, with a technical revision to ensure flexibility in land use as authorized. Background: In 1968, BLM issued a land patent to the University of Utah for undeveloped tracts of the Fort Douglas Military Reservation. The land was conveyed under the R&PP Act, which allows for public use of federal land for education, recreation, and other purposes. Recent concerns raised by BLM threatened to call into question the university's ongoing use of the land for a research park. The University of Utah Research Park Act affirms the university's activities are valid and consistent with the original public purpose of the conveyance. The bill text can be found on Congress.gov. ###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-bipartisan-legislation-to-halt-counterfeit-imports-passes-committee,Congressman Blake Moore's Bipartisan Legislation to Halt Counterfeit Imports Passes Committee,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced legislation to halt counterfeit and pirated imports into the United States. The bill changes how Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can share the packing and shipping information of suspected counterfeit products with key intellectual property rights holders, transportation carriers, and e-commerce platforms. This bill passed the Ways and Means Committee by a bipartisan vote of 40-0. “The global economy is flush with threats from counterfeiters, IP thieves, and black-market traders,"" Rep. Moore said. ""This bill will unlock real-time intelligence sharing between CBP and the private sector that will help shut down these networks and cut off the flow of counterfeit products before they reach American shores. This will safeguard American businesses and protect our citizens from dangerous counterfeit goods. I’m thrilled that this bill has generated strong bipartisan support and unanimously passed through the Ways and Means Committee today."" “The United States has well-established and enforceable property rights that have allowed innovation and entrepreneurship to flourish in our country,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). “Unfortunately, there are bad actors that will try to exploit any loophole in our laws – including gaps in our trade enforcement – to steal American intellectual property. Thanks to Representative Moore’s leadership, the Ways and Means Committee is advancing solutions that will improve coordination between law enforcement and the private sector to help stem the tide of IP theft being perpetrated across our nation’s borders.” “Counterfeit goods undercut American businesses, threaten jobs, and endanger public safety. I’m proud to join my colleague on the Ways and Means Committee Rep. Blake Moore and Sens. Chuck Grassley and Maggie Hassan in introducing this legislation that enhances CBP’s ability to disrupt counterfeit trafficking networks and better safeguards our economy and communities,” Rep. Schneider said. “Stopping counterfeits at the border demands a coordinated and collaborative approach,” said Travis Johnson, Vice President of the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition. “This commonsense legislation enhances CBP’s ability to leverage private sector expertise and intelligence, and we applaud the sponsors for their efforts to protect consumers and legitimate businesses from the harms caused by those illicit imports.” “We are thankful for Chairman Grassley’s efforts to call for more information sharing for rights holders to quickly and effectively identify counterfeit and illicit products. Counterfeit goods do not just represent economic losses, lost sales, and lost jobs through brand identity theft; the digital devalue chain of counterfeits exposes consumers and workers to a multitude of dangers that pose real product safety hazards for consumers, workers, and the environment,” said Steve Lamar, President and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association. Background: While CBP’s job is to identify counterfeit products at U.S. ports of entry and flag for businesses when they suspect a particular shipment might be counterfeit or pirated, they are currently only allowed to provide limited information about shipments in question. CBP is not permitted to share packing materials (such as the external container in which goods are shipped), images, labels, invoices, or packing slips that identify the product’s country of origin with key parties such as property rights holders, carriers like DHL, UPS, or FedEx, and e-commerce platforms like Etsy and Amazon. This bill would provide explicit authority for CBP to share all relevant information with companies, carriers, and platforms when a shipment in question contains suspected counterfeit or pirated products. The bill also broadens the range of parties with whom CBP can disclose such information, including shipping companies and e-commerce sites where the product in question may be sold. Under this bill, CBP would be allowed to share: Shipping labels and tracking numbers Sender and recipient addresses Invoices and manifests Outer packaging images, like courier tape, weight notations, and box markings Container-level packaging information and data This means CBP could flag patterns of behaviors such as: Repeat senders across multiple shipments “Drop addresses” used by organized counterfeiters Common entry ports or air routes Example: A counterfeit electronics shipment from Shenzhen repeatedly enters via the Port of Los Angeles using the same fake return address and tracking patterns. With this bill, CBP can share these patterns with carriers like UPS, DHL, and FedEx to intercept future parcels earlier in the pipeline. The Moore-Schneider bill is supported by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies, American Apparel & Footwear Association, Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council, Baby Safety Alliance, International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, International Trademark Association, Partnership for Safe Medicines, Pharmaceutical Security Institute, and Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade. You can read the full bill here and on Congress.gov. ###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-statement-on-final-house-passage-of-the-national-defense-authorization-act-for-fiscal-year-2026,Congressman Blake Moore’s Statement on Final House Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Blake Moore issued the following statement on his vote in support of the final passage of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “As co-chair of the House Military Depot Caucus and the House Air Force Caucus, I am thrilled that several of my bipartisan policy measures to strengthen the defense industrial base and long-term health of facilities like the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill Air Force Base and Tooele Army Depot were included in the final FY26 NDAA. This year’s NDAA provides improved resources for Utah service members and their families, strengthens American leadership and military deterrence against our adversaries, and ensures our armed forces are receiving the tools they need to remain second to none on the global stage. This annual bill is critical to our national security, and I am grateful to have provided a voice from Utah in crafting this legislation.” Congressman Moore directly secured several wins in the FY26 NDAA that help advance the military's mission set and benefit service members at Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) and worked closely with the House Armed Services Committee to include several standalone amendments and bills adopted in the final version, including: An amendment to widen the definition of “direct hire authority” for depots and industrial facilities, led in conjunction with Senator James Lankford (R-OK). This new definition includes supporting staff and units such as program and management analysts, facilities mechanics, training instructors, and those involved in safety/occupational health. It enables facilities like HAFB to use direct hire authority to quickly hire new staff, manage attrition, recruit for increased workload, and reduce reliance on private contractors. The FALCON Act, which requires the U.S. Air Force to incorporate depot-level maintenance planning into at least one annual multinational exercise in the Indo-Pacific. This includes coordination with allies such as Australia and South Korea on maintenance capabilities, airworthiness certification, emergency planning, and logistics sustainment. The full authorization of the Baltic Security Initiative, a DOD initiative to help train and strengthen the armed forces of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to deter Russian aggression, increase NATO interoperability, and support $175 million in military modernization funds for NATO’s Eastern Flank. Increases to the Basic Allowance for Housing and the Basic Allowance for Subsistence, for the purpose of widening eligibility for more lower-enlisted service members and their families to qualify for food assistance. Other wins in the NDAA for HAFB service members, Utah's military community, and military members across the United States: Provides a 3.8% pay raise for all service members. Authorizes over $250 million in military construction projects at Hill Air Force Base, including: $2.6 million in planning and design funds for an F–35 canopy repair facility $22 million for the construction of a new F–35 maintenance facility on the East Campus $113 million for the construction of a new T–7A depot maintenance complex Authorizes $28 million for energy resilience and grid security at Camp Williams. Authorizes $145 million for a Utah Air National Guard-led land conveyance and expansion project at Salt Lake City International Airport. Authorizes $50 million in additional funding for barracks design and $50 million in minor construction for laboratories and demolition. Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to prioritize full sustainment of the Minuteman III program until the Sentinel program, based in Northern Utah, reaches full operational capability. This requires an assessment of aging components, performance shortfalls, test results, inventory status, attrition forecasts, and budget needs. Funds deployment of the National Guard and active-duty troops to the southwest border. Ends Biden-era wokeism in the DOD and dismantles DEI initiatives. Directs the DOD to study an alternative Basic Allowance for Housing calculation methodology, which could positively shift rates to better account for high-cost areas. Key national security-related measures in the NDAA include: Authorizes over $1 billion to fight drug trafficking, including $398 million for DOD support of Counter Narcotics operations and $216 million for National Guard Counter Drug programs—$100 million over the President’s budget request. Authorizes full funding for top Trump administration priorities, including the Golden Dome missile defense system, Sentinel ICBM program, F-47 next-generation fighter aircraft, and autonomous platforms. Reauthorizes U.S. intelligence community activities for FY26, Coast Guard authorities for FY26-FY27, and the Department of State. Provides continued support for the development of the Columbia Class Submarine, a critical pillar of the U.S. nuclear triad and strategic deterrence posture. Prohibits or requires notification of outbound U.S. investments into sensitive technologies in China, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors, quantum technologies, high-performance computing, and hypersonics. This ensures U.S. businesses cannot promote China's military modernization. Ensures that Chinese biotechnology companies of concern are blocked from U.S. federal contracts, grants, or loans, thus benefiting from federal research programs. Requires U.S. military force posture in Europe and South Korea to remain at current levels to deter adversaries like Russia and North Korea from threatening U.S. treaty allies and further destabilizing the national security environment. Imposes new oversight requirements on the Pentagon regarding operations against designated terrorist organizations in the United States Southern Command area of responsibility. You can read the full bill on Congress.gov. ###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-applauds-house-passage-of-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization-act,CURTIS APPLAUDS HOUSE PASSAGE OF SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS REAUTHORIZATION ACT,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ bipartisan passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025, which will help counties with significant federal forest lands offset lost revenue and keep essential local services running. The House vote follows a letter from Senator Curtis and his colleagues to renew the program, and the Senate’s unanimous passage of the bill. “Secure Rural Schools is a promise kept to counties that educate kids, maintain roads, and protect public safety in the shadow of federal forests,” said Curtis. “I am grateful the House made this move with strong bipartisan support, and I look forward to the President signing the bill quickly so Utah’s rural counties can depend on the stable, predictable funding they deserve.” Why This Matters for Utah Utah has large stretches of federally managed forest land that are exempt from local property taxes; SRS payments are a critical backstop that support: Schools and student services in rural districts with limited tax bases. Road maintenance and infrastructure that connect communities and support local economies. Public safety needs, including wildfire mitigation and emergency response. After the program’s authorization lapsed in September 2023, many counties nationwide faced steep drops in expected payments, leading to school closures, delayed road and bridge maintenance, and reduced public safety services. The 2025 reauthorization restores certainty for those affected communities. Background The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act was enacted in 2000, giving counties the option to receive SRS payments to support public services like road maintenance, infrastructure, education, wildfire mitigation, and other efforts to address public safety. Congress has consistently reauthorized these payments with overwhelming bipartisan support, with the most recent reauthorization expiring at the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025: Extends the SRS program through fiscal year 2026. Directs the Department of the Treasury to issue SRS payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 within 45 days of enactment, minus any amounts already received through other federal revenue-sharing mechanisms. Continues the county election framework for allocating funds among eligible uses. Senator Curtis has consistently supported commonsense policies that strengthen rural economies, improve public lands management, and ensure local governments are not left holding the bag for federal land ownership.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-bill-cut-red-tape-and-empower-states-advance-transit,Rep. Kennedy Introduces Bill to Cut Red Tape and Empower States to Advance Transit Infrastructure,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03), alongside Senator Lee introduced the Streamline Transit Projects Act to improve transit project timelines and quality by empowering states – not unelected bureaucrats in Washington– to manage environmental reviews for local transit needs. “Utahns need infrastructure that keeps pace with our rapid growth, and we can’t afford to see critical projects stalled by Washington red tape,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “Utah’s agencies know our communities better than unelected bureaucrats ever will. This bill returns decision-making power to the state so we can deliver results for Utah quickly, responsibly, and without years of needless delay.” “The Streamlining Transit Projects Act will help UTA deliver reliable, accessible public transit service for Utahns by cutting through burdensome regulatory red tape that often slows critical projects,” said Carlton Christensen, Chair, UTA Board of Trustees. “This legislation preserves the rigorous environmental standards, while giving agencies the flexibility to move forward more efficiently. We appreciate Congressman Kennedy’s leadership in introducing this important bill in the House of Representatives.” “The Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) strongly supports the Streamlining Transit Projects Act because it provides additional tools to advance essential transit investments that improve mobility for communities across Utah,” said Andrew Gruber, Executive Director, WFRC. “Providing multimodal transportation choices, including public transit, helps Utah address challenges like traffic congestion, air quality, and housing availability which accompany our state’s rapid growth. By streamlining the environmental review process, while still safeguarding environmental considerations, this bill helps deliver high-quality transportation options more effectively. We thank Congressman Kennedy for championing this legislation and for his leadership in strengthening Utah’s transportation future.” The Streamline Transit Projects Act: Authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation to enter into a memorandum of understanding with interested state transit agencies to assume responsibility under NEPA for one or more transit projects. Requires participating states to determine whether certain activities are included within classes of action identified by the Secretary that are categorically excluded from requirements for environmental assessments or environmental impact statements. Allows the Secretary to terminate the assignment of responsibilities if the transit agency is not adequately carrying them out. Senator Lee is leading a version of this legislation in the Senate.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-introduces-legislation-to-strengthen-western-energy-security,CURTIS INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN WESTERN ENERGY SECURITY,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Western Refined Fuel Reserve (WRFR) Act, legislation to establish a dedicated reserve of refined fuels west of the Rocky Mountains. The bill is designed to protect Western communities, military readiness, and regional economies from fuel shortages during emergencies by ensuring secure, strategically-located storage of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. “Families, first responders, farmers, truckers, and small businesses across the West depend on reliable access to refined fuels every day,” said Curtis. “Right now, our emergency tools are outdated for Western realities. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve stores crude oil—not the fuels people actually use—in a crisis, time lost to refining and transporting fuel can mean real hardship. This bill closes that gap and strengthens our region’s resilience.” Click here for bill text and here for a bill summary. The bill:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/icymi-curtis-talks-algorithms-immigration-healthcare,"ICYMI: CURTIS TALKS ALGORITHMS, IMMIGRATION, HEALTHCARE",2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click here or the image above to watch the interview On the Algorithm Accountability Act: The goal is to get [social media companies] to be accountable. A lot of what happens with social media is very, very good. My daughters will tell you, they like things showing up that they want to buy. That’s not harmful necessarily, but it can be. If you make an automobile and have a bad product, we hold you liable. If you make a medicine and it’s a bad product, we hold you liable. Why don’t we have that same philosophy with our social media companies? Without that, there are no guardrails, right? There’s nothing holding them back. We know some very, very bad things happen with these algorithms. On immigration: Going back to the Biden Administration, we were told it was compassionate to have an open border. It wasn’t. And now what’s happening in our cities also feels like it’s not compassionate. . . . If I were mayor, the very first thing I would do is sit down with ICE and I’d say, “I want the bad guys out of my city, and I want my citizens to feel safe.” Let’s do that. . . . We’ve got to get rid of the bad guys and be compassionate the same time. We can do it. On current debate over Obamacare Enhanced Premium Tax Credits: This is not really a serious effort just to extend them for three years—something that has not been working, and was meant to be temporary from the beginning—this is not a good vote. We know we need a minimum premium for people, even if it’s a couple of bucks. We know we need a cap on income. This is not a serious effort. We know there’s flaws with these and we’re not willing to change those flaws, sadly. There are a lot of Republicans and Democrats talking about both two things: one, how do we actually lower the cost, not just of insurance, but of healthcare; and then what do we do in the interim while we’re waiting to do that. Those are two questions that we’re not having thoughtful conversation about.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-calls-on-epa-to-advance-trump-agenda-by-not-shifting-compliance-costs-to-refineries,Lee Calls on EPA to Advance Trump Agenda by Not Shifting Compliance Costs to Refineries,2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) led a letter today with colleagues from the Senate calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support President Trump’s American energy dominance agenda by preventing unfair reallocation of compliance costs onto oil refineries in Utah and across the country. U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) signed their support. The letter reads as follows: “Thank you for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) work to clear the Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) backlog. The SRE program is essential to advancing President Trump’s energy dominance agenda by ensuring that refiners are protected from burdensome regulations and that American families do not face government-driven price hikes. “We write to express our strong opposition to the proposal to reallocate exempted renewable volume obligations (RVO). Reallocating exempted volumes, whether at 100% or at 50%, poses a serious threat for smaller market and independent refiners that are ineligible for SREs but not large enough to absorb the dramatic increase in costs posed by the updated RVO and newly proposed reallocation costs. Reallocation costs would likely impose tens of millions of dollars of additional Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) compliance burdens on each refiner. This proposal is an existential threat to many refiners and will certainly result in price hikes for American families. “Furthermore, Congress has not authorized the reallocation of exempted volumes. As the EPA itself conceded, “the statute does not specifically require EPA to redistribute exempted volumes,” instead relying solely on its “authority under Chevron” due to alleged ambiguity. As you know, the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision expressly overturned Chevron deference in 2024, completely removing the statutory justification for the proposal. “Even so, Congress was unambiguous on several matters. First, the RVO “shall…be expressed in terms of a volume percentage of transportation fuel sold or introduced into commerce in the United States.” The reallocation proposal manipulates the calculation by changing the denominator required by statute to artificially increase nonexempt refiner obligations. Second, Congress stipulated in the Clean Air Act that adjustments to the percentage must be made “to prevent the imposition of redundant obligations.” Nonexempt refiners are already subject to obligations. The proposal subjects nonexempt refiners to redundant obligations that the nonexempt refiners themselves did not incur. “The reallocation proposal is a relic of the Biden- and Chevron-era. It is contrary to President Trump’s energy dominance and regulatory agenda, including his Executive Order “Directing the Repeal of Unlawful Regulations.” Any regulation that relies on Chevron must be repealed or not implemented. We respectfully request that EPA not move forward with any proposal to reallocate exempted volumes. “Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your work to advance President Trump’s agenda. We eagerly await your response.” Background Senator Lee introduced legislation earlier this year to block the EPA from forcing refineries to shoulder forgiven fines from other refineries that do not meet the EPA’s environmental standards. U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Fetterman (D-PA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), James Risch (R-ID) have cosponsored the legislation, which received endorsements from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and the American Energy Alliance. Currently, the EPA requires refineries in the U.S. to include a minimum volume of renewable fuel (e.g., ethanol, biodiesel, etc.) in all fuel sold, or pay to make up for any level of noncompliance. Small refineries may be granted exemptions if complying would cause “disproportionate economic hardship.” The EPA is currently considering whether to reallocate forgiven payments over to non-exempt refineries, forcing compliant producers to shoulder even more costs despite no authorization from the Clean Air Act to do so. This is an antiquated Bush-era program that originated in a time when there were fears about an “addiction to foreign oil” and a looming cliff for domestic oil production, seeking to turn the industry toward biofuels. Despite those fears proving unfounded, the program escalates its requirements each period, with the most recent Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) being the highest ever proposed. By the EPA’s own calculation, the proposed rule would impose compliance costs of approximately $6.7 billion per year, while returning benefits of only $200 million per year. The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) estimates that compliance costs are closer to $70 billion. This is simply a handout for the biofuel and agriculture industries at the expense of American refineries and consumers, who will see prices at the pump increase if the EPA moves forward with its proposed rule and reallocation of exempted payments. Senator Lee’s proposal would protect Americans from artificially high gas prices by blocking the EPA from forcing refineries to shoulder unfair fines. Access the full text of the letter here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-reintroduces-bill-to-improve-congressional-access-to-economic-data,Congressman Blake Moore Reintroduces Bill to Improve Congressional Access to Economic Data,2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Congressman Blake Moore reintroduced legislation to improve congressional access to economic data. The Increasing Baseline Updates Act will require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to produce at least two baseline updates each year, including one update with economic data. This will ensure Congress has the most up-to-date information on relevant budget and economic figures to inform the appropriations process and other legislation. This legislation was originally introduced during the 118th Congress. It was unanimously passed by the House Budget Committee and out of the House of Representatives in December 2024. ""Americans have made it abundantly clear that they welcome the Trump Administration’s efforts to rein in wasteful federal spending and lower our crippling national debt,” Congressman Moore said. “The Increasing Baseline Updates Act will help this critical initiative by enhancing Congress’s ability to make informed decisions during the budgeting process with more consistently updated data from the Congressional Budget Office."" “We can’t get our fiscal house in order or be good stewards of the taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars if we’re flying blind. Rep. Blake Moore’s smart, commonsense reform ensures Congress has timely, accurate budget and economic data so we can make better decisions and better confront our out-of-control debt. This is a practical fix that strengthens the budget process and serves the American people well,” House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington said. Background: Under the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, CBO is required to publish its baseline before February 15th of each year. The baseline is a projection of federal outlays and revenues under current and future fiscal years according to existing law. Despite the requirement for an annual baseline, there is no statutory obligation for CBO to provide a specific number of baseline updates, which are critical to ongoing policymaking in Congress. The last time CBO published a baseline update after July was 2020. This is problematic considering Congress’s tendency to pass government funding bills at the end of the calendar year. Additionally, the last time CBO published three baselines in a year was 2019. This leaves lawmakers relying on outdated information on the fiscal state of our nation. The Increasing Baseline Updates Act is an important step toward improving our budget process and returning to regular order.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-legislation-crack-down-chinese-intellectual-property,Rep. Kennedy Introduces Legislation to Crack Down on Chinese Intellectual Property Theft,2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03) introduced the Combatting China’s Pilfering of Intellectual Property (CCP IP) Act alongside Senator Curtis (UT) to protect American innovators by imposing sanctions on Chinese individuals, companies, and organizations engaged in intellectual property (IP) theft. The legislation strengthens U.S. authority to block assets, deny visas, and increase diplomatic pressure on the Chinese Communist Party to end its state-directed campaign to steal and replicate protected American technologies. “Utah is home to world-class innovators, from startups to global firms whose ideas power our economy. When foreign actors steal those ideas, they aren’t just taking technology; they’re taking jobs, investment, and the future prosperity of our communities,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. This bill puts real consequences on those who steal American IP and sends a clear message: Utah’s creators and America’s entrepreneurs will be protected.” Background: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) hasfound the annual cost to the U.S. economy of counterfeit goods, pirated software, and theft of trade secrets to be between $225 billion and $600 billion. The FBI has also asserted that China is the “world’s principal infringer of intellectual property,” and that it “uses its laws and regulations to put foreign companies at a disadvantage and its own companies at an advantage.” FBI Agent David Fitzgibbons, who covers national security breaches in Idaho, Montana, and Utah, haswarned that the greatest long-term threat in the United States, including Utah, is the CCP. “[The Chinese Communist Party] have a motto of rob, replicate and replace,” Fitzgibbons said. “They want to steal our trade secrets when it comes to our economy. With our corporations, they want to replicate and eventually replace us in the global marketplace.” To address these economic and national security concerns, the CCP IP Act would: Impose sanctions on any person or entity determined to have engaged in a pattern of significant IP theft from a U.S. person or to have received stolen U.S. IP knowingly. Impose broad visa and immigration restrictions on CCP and government officials until the Chinese government takes meaningful steps to stop IP theft. U.S. visas would be denied to: Senior officials of the CCP and their spouses and children Members of China’s cabinet of government Active-duty officers in the People’s Liberation Army Impose penalties on anyone who attempts or conspires to violate sanctions. Senator Curtis is leading a version of this legislation in the Senate.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-demands-end-of-taxpayer-funded-abortions-for-congressional-staff,Lee Demands End of Taxpayer-Funded Abortions for Congressional Staff,2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) led a bicameral letter today with Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and a large coalition from both the House and Senate urging the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to stop administering taxpayer-funded health care plans that include elective abortion coverage for members of Congress and their staff. Legislation passed in 1984 makes subsidizing elective abortions with federal funds illegal. In violation of this law, nearly every health plan offered for Congressional employees includes coverage for elective abortions. The letter demands that health care options for Congress are brought into alignment with the law. The letter reads as follows: “We urge you to stop the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from administering government contributions for Members of Congress and Congressional staff in connection with health insurance plans that cover elective abortion, in violation of the longstanding Smith (NJ) Amendment. “Since 1984, the Smith Amendment to the Financial Services Appropriations bill has prohibited the use of appropriated funds ""to pay for an abortion, or the administrative expenses in connection with any health plan under the Federal employees health benefits program which provides any benefits or coverage for abortions,"" except in cases ""where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term, or the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest"" (Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, Pub. L. 117-328, Div. D, Title VI, sec. 613, 614, December 29, 2022). This longstanding provision of law restricts OPM from administering government contributions in connection with any health plan for federal employees that covers elective abortion. “However, OPM is currently subsidizing plans that cover elective abortion in clear violation of the Smith Amendment. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) limits Members of Congress and designated Congressional staff to purchasing health plans offered through an Exchange, under a current Obama-era rule in effect since plan year 2014 (5 CFR § 890.501(h), 78 FR 60653, October 2, 2013), OPM administers government contributions under 5 U.S. Code § 8906 for Members of Congress and Congressional staff enrolled in any Gold level health insurance plan offered through the District of Columbia's Health Exchange Small Business Health Options Program (DC SHOP)—also known as DC Health Link—including plans that cover elective abortion. “In its regulatory preamble (78 FR 60654, October 2, 2013) and on its Frequently Asked Questions webpage, OPM claims that these abortion subsidies are allowed by attributing the segregated costs of the elective abortion coverage and associated administrative expenses to the individual's contribution, rather than the taxpayers' contribution. OPM's use of this accounting gimmick to grant abortion subsidies to Congress is not provided for under Section 1303 of the ACA and is blatantly illegal under the Smith Amendment's strict requirement for a complete exclusion of elective abortion coverage for federal employees. By flouting the Smith Amendment, such subsidies also violate the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits the authorization of expenditures or obligations without an appropriation by law. “Taxpayers, who contribute 72 to 75 percent of these health benefit premiums, do not want their hard-earned tax dollars to pay for abortions. The Smith Amendment does not allow Members of Congress and Congressional staff to operate under a different set of rules than other federal employees when it comes to taxpayer funding of abortion. For 2026, there are only two health plans offered through DC Health Link that do not cover abortion, CareFirst’s BluePreferred PPO Gold and United Healthcare’s Choice Plus Gold. “Therefore, we request swift action by OPM to ensure that any health insurance subsidies for members of Congress or Congressional staff are in full compliance with the clear terms of the Smith Amendment. Any DC SHOP plan that covers elective abortion should not be eligible for a government contribution. “Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to working with you to ensure the health and safety of the American people.” Other signers of the letter include U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and U.S. Representatives Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Eric Burlison (R-MO), Ben Cline (R-VA), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Michael Guest (R-MS), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Mark Messmer (R-IN), Mary Miller (R-IL), Barry Moore (R-AL), Keith Self (R-TX), Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), and Daniel Webster (R-FL). Access the full text of the letter here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-address-health-care-workforce,Rep. Kennedy Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Address Health Care Workforce Shortage,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03), along with Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), introduced the bipartisan Fast Track Health Care Apprenticeships Act, which incentivizes innovative approaches to address the health care workforce shortage by streamlining apprenticeships and offering a pathway to good-paying jobs. The Fast Track Health Care Apprenticeship Act amends the National Apprenticeship Act to streamline and update federal and state labor agencies’ health care apprenticeship application process by: Requiring federal and state labor agencies to make determinations on health care apprenticeship applications within 45 days of receipt. Requiring that the Department of Labor digitize apprenticeship agreement forms, modernize the application process and enhance accessibility for applicants. “Utah’s hospitals, clinics, and families feel the strain of our national health care workforce shortage every day. As a family doctor, I know firsthand that strong patient care depends on having enough trained professionals,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “Streamlining apprenticeship pathways is a practical, commonsense step that will help build our workforce and in communities across the country. I’m proud to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver real results for the American people.” “Our health care workforce is stretched to its limit, and families in Texas are feeling it in longer wait times, higher costs, and fewer options for care,” said Congresswoman Julie Johnson. “The Fast Track Health Care Apprenticeships Act strengthens our workforce pipeline by making it easier and faster for aspiring health care professionals to get trained and step into good-paying, stable jobs. By streamlining this process and reducing barriers for employers, we can expand access to care in every community and help bring down costs for patients. This bipartisan, commonsense effort supports workers, supports providers, and ensures that every family can rely on a health care system that’s accessible, affordable, and built to meet their needs.” The American Hospital Association projects a shortage of nearly 100,000 critical health care workers by 2028, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen the workforce pipeline. The Department of Labor’s apprenticeship programs already serve a wide range of professions — from registered nurses and pharmacy technicians to medical and dental assistants, surgical technologists, paramedics, and behavioral health paraprofessionals. By cutting red tape and expanding access to these programs, Congress can help employers train the next generation of health care professionals and bolster the resilience and long-term stability of our health care system.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-blumenthal-introduce-bill-to-silence-new-robocalls,"CURTIS, BLUMENTHAL INTRODUCE BILL TO SILENCE NEW ROBOCALLS",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced the Quashing Unwanted and Interruptive Electronic Telecommunications (QUIET) Act, legislation that would require robocalls to notify consumers when artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in calls or messages. “The innovation that comes with using artificial intelligence has the potential to bring incredible amounts of good to our lives, with the understanding that bad actors will and can take advantage of that,” said Curtis. “Almost all Americans have been affected by scams through robocalls and we must work to ensure that with new technology, we have new safeguards.” “Our bipartisan measure helps protect consumers from bad actors who use AI to scam Americans out of their hard-earned money,” said Blumenthal. “Criminals are increasingly using AI in robocalls and text messages to trick consumers—stealing billions of dollars from their victims each year. Strong safeguards like those in our QUIET Act are necessary to crack down on fraudsters and give Americans the peace of mind they deserve.” “Older adults should be able to answer the phone without fear of being scammed,” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at AARP. “But nearly half say they get scam calls almost every day, draining billions of dollars from people who can least afford it. The QUIET Act will crack down on criminals using AI to trick and defraud, giving older Americans stronger protections and greater peace of mind.” Resources: Bill text One-pager Background: Criminals using robocalls and fraudulent text messages continue to steal billions each year from hardworking Americans, with older adults being disproportionately targeted and harmed. In 2024, U.S. consumers received nearly 53 billion robocalls-an average of 200 per adult. According to a 2025 AARP survey, 95% of adults age 50+ received scam or illegal robocalls in the past year, and two-in-five reported such calls occur daily or almost daily.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-rosen-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-lower-costs-of-medications-medical-devices,"Curtis, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Lower Costs of Medications, Medical Devices",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced a bill to help reduce the cost of prescription drugs and medical devices, prevent drug shortages, boost domestic production, and create more jobs. Their bipartisan Expanding Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs and Medical Devices Act will create a clear pathway for nonprofit drug and medical device manufacturers to receive tax-exempt status, to support this critical industry and bolster nonprofit manufacturer production so more Americans can have access to lower cost medicine. “As Nevadans continue being squeezed by rising costs, I’m working to lower costs any way I can,” said Senator Rosen. “Whether it’s access to cancer-treating medication or insulin pumps, this bipartisan bill would help reduce costs by bringing medications and devices to the market at a reasonable price, while creating jobs right here at home. I will never stop fighting to ensure Nevadans can access the affordable medical care they depend on.” “So much of what is lost in our conversation about healthcare is the true cost associated with medications and medical devices,” said Senator Curtis. “Utahns and their families look to Congress to help cut red tape and streamline innovation, and alongside Senator Rosen, this legislation will help secure the domestic supply chain and empower nonprofit manufacturers to improve our most vulnerable health care markets.” “We appreciate the attention of Congress to the non-profit pharmaceutical model,” said Ned McCoy, President and CEO of Civica Rx. “This helps advance our mission to address drug shortages and ensure fair drug prices for consumers.” “Nonprofit pharmaceutical companies are tackling important public health needs and drug supply challenges—such as drug shortages and high prices—that aren’t being effectively addressed by traditional companies,” said Dan Liljenquist, Chief Strategy Officer at Intermountain Health. “This legislation will help additional companies deliver on their important nonprofit missions.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-introduces-untaxed-act-to-stop-united-nations-from-taxing-americans,Lee Introduces UNtaxed Act to Stop United Nations from Taxing Americans,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the UNtaxed Act to block the United Nations (UN) from imposing taxes on American citizens or businesses. President Trump successfully postponed a vote on the UN’s proposed global carbon tax scheme earlier this fall, and the UNtaxed Act will support the President’s agenda in Congress to ensure Americans are never subject to taxes imposed by international bureaucrats. Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) introduced the House version of this bill. “The United Nations has come up with yet another way to take American tax dollars for their woke climate guilt,” said Senator Mike Lee. “President Trump stood up to the UN to block their global carbon tax, and it’s time for Congress to back him up and put America first. Americans are already the UN’s biggest cash cow – we shouldn’t be forced to pay for anything we don’t agree with, period.” ""The International Maritime Organization buckled under pressure from President Trump and Republicans who unapologetically stood up for American interests. However, this fight isn't over,"" said RSC Chairman August Pfluger. ""This legislation would kill their global carbon tax scheme permanently by depriving all US funding to any UN agency that attempts to impose a tax on the American people and ensuring Congress has a say in all taxes, fees, and penalties on American citizens or companies. America is the largest contributor to the UN, and we should not bankroll an organization that seeks to tax our people and undermine our economy. Unelected international bureaucrats will not dictate to the American people."" Background A subsection of the United Nations has been attempting to force a global carbon tax for the past several years. Earlier this fall, President Trump persuaded the UN to postpone their vote on this burdensome violation of American sovereignty. The UNtaxed Act supports President Trump’s America first agenda with legislative force to keep foreign bureaucrats away from American tax dollars. The UNtaxed Act would: Prevent the United Nations or any of its affiliated bodies, including specialized agencies and commissions, from imposing any taxes, tariffs, fees, or penalties on U.S. citizens or businesses or requiring that such levies be paid. Permits such measures to be implemented only if they are part of an existing agreement with the United States that has been ratified by the U.S. Senate. Prohibit the appropriation or allocation of funds for contributions to the United Nations or any of its affiliated bodies if those funds would be used to impose or enforce a global carbon tax. Read the full bill text here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-congressman-blake-moore-joins-president-trump-to-celebrate-michael-and-susan-dells-625b-investment-in-trump-accounts,ICYMI: Congressman Blake Moore Joins President Trump to Celebrate Michael and Susan Dell’s $6.25B Investment in Trump Accounts,2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Congressman Blake Moore joined President Trump at the White House to celebrate Michael and Susan Dell’s monumental $6.25 billion investment in Trump Accounts for children. Congressman Moore introduced legislation in the House to establish these investment accounts, which was passed and signed into law as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4th, 2025. Alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Speaker Mike Johnson, Senator Ted Cruz, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, Michael and Susan Dell, and other champions of Trump Accounts, Congressman Moore spoke about the meaningful impact these investment accounts will have on the next generation as they experience the power of capitalism and compounding interest, save for the future, and have a better chance at achieving the American Dream. Watch Congressman Moore’s remarks at the White House here: Background: Trump Accounts are tax-deferred savings accounts for American children under 18. American children born between 2025 and 2028 are eligible for a $1,000 government contribution to their Trump Account, and up to $5,000 per year can be contributed to an account from any source, including family, friends, and employers. No money can be withdrawn before a child turns 18 years old. The Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Analysis projects that individual Trump Accounts could grow to as much as $1.9 million by age 28. Learn more about Trump Accounts here and read Congressman Blake Moore’s opinion piece on the importance of these accounts here. ###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1798,Maloy and Auchincloss Introduce Deepfake Liability Act,2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Celeste Maloy,M001228,maloy.house.gov,maloy,https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"On Monday, Representatives Celeste Maloy (R-UT) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) introduced the Deepfake Liability Act, aimed at addressing the rapid rise of nonconsensual deepfake pornography and the online tools that enable it. Women and teenage girls are the overwhelming targets of these abuses, which now make up the vast majority of deepfake content online. “Abusive deepfakes and cyberstalking are harming people across the country, and victims deserve real help. Our bill creates a straightforward duty of care and a reliable process to remove harmful content when victims ask for help,” said Congresswoman Celeste Maloy. “Companies that take this seriously will keep their protections under the law. Those that do nothing will be held accountable.” The bill amends Section 230 by conditioning a platform’s liability protections on meeting a clear duty of care. Platforms would be required to take basic steps to prevent cyberstalking and abusive deepfakes, respond to reports from victims, investigate credible complaints, and remove harmful content that violates individuals’ privacy. The legislation also clarifies that AI-generated content does not qualify for Section 230 immunity. “AI shouldn’t have special privileges & immunities that journalists don’t get,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss. “Using bots or deepfakes to violate or stalk another person is reprehensible, and it needs to be a CEO-level problem for the trillion-dollar social media corporations that platform it. Congress needs to get ahead of this growing problem, instead of being left in the dust like we were with social media.” The Deepfake Liability Act incorporates the notice and removal framework from the Take It Down Act. It outlines requirements for reporting processes, investigation procedures, timely removal of unlawful material, and data logging to ensure victims can access information needed for legal action.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-bipartisan-effort-boost-stem-teaching-rural-schools,Rep. Kennedy introduces Bipartisan Effort to Boost STEM Teaching in Rural Schools,2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03), alongside Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) introduced the ‘Boosting the Rural STEM Pipeline Act,’ a bipartisan bill to help rural schools hire well-trained Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers. The bill strengthens the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, which provides National Science Foundation (NSF) grants to colleges to train STEM majors to become STEM teachers in high-need school districts. “As a representative of Utah's vast rural communities, I understand the vital importance of ensuring our rural communities play a key role in America's fast-growing STEM economy, said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “The Boosting the Rural STEM Pipeline Act reflects a strong, bipartisan commitment to placing high quality STEM teachers in rural school districts to inspire the next generation of innovators. By expanding the pipeline of future STEM educators, we’re taking a practical step to invest in rural classrooms and secure the future success of our students.” “For too long, rural schools have been told to make do with less,” said Congressman Riley. “Not anymore. Students in our small towns have talent, drive, and big dreams, and they deserve the same opportunities as everyone else, but too many rural schools are struggling to recruit and retain enough STEM teachers. Our bill fixes that problem by supporting STEM teachers who work in the rural communities that politicians have overlooked for too long. Our kids deserve a fair shot and our teachers deserve a helping hand — and I’ll be in their corner every day to make sure they have both.” Background: Rural K-12 schools need more STEM teachers, but the colleges that train those teachers haven’t been able to fully participate in the federal Noyce program. For years, Noyce required colleges to contribute matching funds to receive a grant. Many rural colleges do not have the budgets to meet that requirement, so they were effectively shut out. In 2022, the CHIPS and Science Act temporarily removed the matching requirement. Once that barrier was lifted, additional rural colleges began applying for and receiving Noyce grants, and more of their graduates are now teaching in rural classrooms. The Boosting the Rural STEM Pipeline Act makes this fix permanent, so rural colleges can keep training STEM teachers without running into a financial wall — and rural schools can keep hiring the talent they’ve been missing.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/lee-bill-repeals-dc-s-safe-harbor-for-abortionists-and-transgender-surgeons-fleeing-law-enforcement,Lee Bill Repeals DC’s Safe Harbor for Abortionists and Transgender Surgeons Fleeing Law Enforcement,2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today preventing abortionists and gender transition providers from evading law enforcement by fleeing across state lines to Washington D.C. after performing abortions and procedures in states where doing so is illegal. Rep. Andrew Clyde introduced the House version of the bill. “Our nation’s capital should not be a refuge for people who take the lives of children or wreck their bodies with illegal drugs” said Senator Mike Lee. “Criminals on the lam can escape to DC after performing abortions in states where they are illegal, because they know DC will let them get away with it. This bill will repeal DC’s safe harbor for illegal abortionists and peddlers of drugs for transexual procedures, restoring the rule of law to Washington.” “Both abortion and cross gender hormone drugs have serious, irreversible consequences,” said Rep. Andrew Clyde. “We cannot allow the Left’s woke ideology, under the guise of ‘bodily autonomy,’ to infiltrate our states through the shipping of these drugs with zero legal repercussions. Congress must use its constitutional authority over our nation’s capital to hold D.C. providers liable for undermining state laws and to protect women, children, and the unborn.” The bill is endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, and Alliance Defending Freedom. “So-called Shield laws protect abortionists, not women. DC's shield law gives broad immunity to abortionists, shielding them from criminal, civil, and professional consequences even when they violate other state pro-life laws. This includes allowing DC abortionists to prescribe and ship dangerous abortion drugs to people living in pro-life states where they are not licensed. Thank you, Rep. Clyde, for working to protect babies and their mothers by introducing the D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act to repeal this extremely reckless law.” – Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America “FRC is grateful to Rep. Clyde and Sen. Lee for introducing the D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act. Those who harm women and children via abortion or gender transition procedures should not be shielded from the repercussions of violating the law. This bill puts the victims first and helps ensure they can get justice. Washington, D.C. cannot be allowed to shield abortionists and ‘gender transition’ providers from being investigated and, if necessary, prosecuted for trafficking dangerous drugs in violation of state laws. Eleven percent of users experience serious complications, such as hemorrhage and life-threatening infections, after taking the abortion pill. If a woman in a pro-life state receives drugs that will kill her child from D.C. via the mail, the abortionist must be held accountable. If a young person in a pro-family state receives cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers, which can cause blood clots, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, destabilization of certain psychiatric disorders, sterilization, and more, from D.C. via the mail, the provider must be held accountable. D.C. does not have a right to override state laws. States have a right to protect their citizens, and victims must be protected.” – MaryBeth Waddell, Director of Federal Affairs, Family Research Council “Shield laws are an evil loophole created for abortion providers to free themselves from accountability. Not only do these harmful laws undermine state law, they leave women and children helpless and alone with dangerous drugs and no protections. Representative Clyde’s D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act is a necessary step to hold abortion providers accountable for protecting women and children.” – Penny Nance, CEO and President, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee “We are grateful to Rep. Andrew Clyde for introducing this bill to repeal the so-called shield laws in Washington, D.C. These unconstitutional ‘shield laws’ open the door for the illegal and illicit flow of dangerous abortion drugs into prolife states, harm women and their unborn children, and protect abortion drug traffickers from legal liability. We commend Rep. Clyde for his leadership to repeal these pernicious laws that undermine the unalienable right to life.” – Matt Sharp, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom Background The City Council of Washington, D.C. has enacted a “shield law” that legally protects abortionists or prescribers of abortion medication and cross-gender hormones in states where such actions are prohibited. This law prohibits D.C. officials and law enforcement from assisting in out-of-state investigations or prosecutions, providing sanctuary for individuals that break other states’ pro-life or anti-minor transition laws. It also allows individuals and providers to sue for damages if they are targeted by lawsuits originating from out-of-state. The city requires that any subpoena from another state requesting information or testimony must be accompanied by a sworn statement confirming it does not pertain to protected “bodily autonomy” matters before it can be enforced in D.C. The D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act would: Repeal the D.C. Council’s Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022 Remove legal provisions shielding abortion providers and doctors who prescribe cross-sex hormones to minors in states where such medication and procedures are prohibited Read exclusive coverage by The Daily Caller here. Read full text of the bill here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-launches-the-bipartisan-philanthropy-caucus-to-increase-charitable-giving-in-local-communities,Congressman Blake Moore Launches the Bipartisan Philanthropy Caucus to Increase Charitable Giving in Local Communities,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT) launched the bipartisan Philanthropy Caucus with Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) to highlight and enhance the impact of nonprofit work and philanthropic giving in local communities. The bipartisan Congressional Philanthropy Caucus serves as a forum to highlight and enhance the impact that the nonprofit sector and philanthropic giving have on local communities. The Caucus promotes policies that strengthen America’s communities and the philanthropic and charitable sectors by supporting and expanding tax incentives for charitable giving, protecting the ability of foundations, individuals, and businesses to give back, and advancing public–private partnerships that empower and drive local impact. The Caucus also seeks to inform and advance a deeper understanding of the contributions, work, and role of foundations in communities across the country for Members of Congress and their staff. “Utahns are known for investing in our communities, serving our neighbors, leading the nation in volunteerism, and topping the charts for charitable donations. Giving back is something inherent to Utah’s culture, and I have worked to bring these values to policymaking to support those who are uplifting others,"" Congressman Moore said. ""On this Giving Tuesday, I am excited to launch the Congressional Philanthropy Caucus to emphasize the immeasurable impacts local nonprofits and philanthropic organizations have on communities across the country."" “Philanthropy and charitable giving represent the best of American generosity,” Congressman Davis said. “I know the critical role that charitable foundations and nonprofits play in helping people and communities as assistance-providers, economic engines, and employers. I am proud to co-lead the Philanthropy Caucus with Rep. Moore to advance policies to expand philanthropy and strengthen nonprofits to help communities across this nation thrive.” ""On behalf of the United Philanthropy Forum and our nationwide network representing over 7,000 funders, I applaud Representatives Moore and Davis for their leadership in reestablishing the Congressional Philanthropy Caucus. Philanthropy is often the first to respond and the last to leave in communities facing urgent challenges. This bipartisan Caucus is an important step toward ensuring that lawmakers fully understand the vital role of foundations and philanthropic investment in driving local solutions, fostering innovation, and partnering with the public sector. We look forward to working with the Caucus to strengthen charitable giving policy and advance public–private partnerships that improve lives in every corner of the country,” said Deborah Aubert Thomas, President and CEO of United Philanthropy Forum. “Grant Professionals Association members are on the front lines of building community capacity—connecting philanthropic intent with public benefit. As professionals who support both foundation-funded initiatives and federally supported programs, we understand the value of policies that protect philanthropic freedom and improve access to grant funding. The relaunch of the Congressional Philanthropy Caucus is an important step toward strengthening the entire funding ecosystem, and we welcome the opportunity to help inform this work. We look forward to working with Representatives Blake Moore and Danny Davis to help ensure that grantmaking—whether from donors, foundations, or federal agencies—remains a powerful driver of innovation and impact in communities across the country,” said Mike Chamberlain, CEO of Grant Professionals Association. ""The Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA) is pleased to see the bipartisan Congressional Philanthropy Caucus revitalized under the leadership of Representatives Moore and Davis. This Caucus represents the bipartisan collaboration our sector needs to advance policies that strengthen charitable giving and protect nonprofit independence. TNPA looks forward to working closely with the Caucus as they champion the understanding of philanthropy and nonprofits' essential contributions to building stronger communities across America. Together, we can ensure our sector receives the recognition and support it deserves to continue driving meaningful impact nationwide,"" said Shannon McCracken, President and CEO of The Nonprofit Alliance. ""The nonprofit sector is America's backbone, delivering essential services to millions of people and strengthening neighborhoods across the nation in urban, suburban, and rural communities alike. The National Council of Nonprofits looks forward to working with Representatives Moore and Davis to advance bipartisan legislation to further strengthen the nonprofit sector,"" said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of National Council of Nonprofits. ""The launch of the bipartisan Congressional Philanthropy Caucus breaks ground on new ways to strengthen philanthropy, support nonprofits, and build the resilient communities we all depend on—and it opens new doors for Utah’s communities to thrive. When we invest in this ecosystem, we invest in the people and places that make our state thrive. We offer our thanks to Congressman Moore for reflecting the best of Utah’s values—service, stewardship, and caring for community,"" said Jill Bennett, CEO of Utah Nonprofits Association. “We are grateful to Representatives Moore and Davis for their leadership and steadfast support of the bipartisan Philanthropy Caucus where Members of Congress can deepen their understanding of charitable foundations and champion policies that strengthen charitable giving, protect the freedom to give according to personal values, and strengthen the charitable nonprofits that serve communities nationwide. Generosity is a core American value and unifying force that brings people together across differences to solve problems and move forward together. We look forward to working with the Philanthropy Caucus to enhance and expand the American generosity that improves people’s lives,” said Kathleen Enright, President and CEO of Council on Foundations. ""The reinvigoration of the Congressional Philanthropy Caucus couldn't come at a more consequential time. The charitable nonprofit sector plays a vital role in every community in the US, both as an economic engine and major employer and as a source of creating well-being for every resident across the lifespan. As experts about their communities, charitable nonprofit leaders should be at every table where decisions are being made. We're grateful to Reps. Moore and Davis for their commitment to the charitable nonprofit sector, and in particular, to Rep. Davis, who has long been a champion in this space for the foundations and public charities in his district, including Forefront,"" said Monique B. Jones, President and CEO of Forefront. ""Philanthropy is an essential component of America's charitable sector, and the bipartisan Congressional Philanthropy Caucus will play a vital role advancing policies to boost charitable giving, support the nonprofit workforce, preserve the sector's independence, and more. Now more than ever, our nation needs legislators who are educated about and mobilized around policies that help nonprofits and foundations make an even greater impact in their communities. Thank you to Representatives Blake Moore and Danny Davis for their work championing the charitable sector. Independent Sector looks forward to continuing our work with them and their colleagues through this Caucus,"" said Dr. Akilah Watkins, President and CEO of Independent Sector. ""AFP applauds Representatives Danny Davis and Blake Moore for their leadership in launching the bipartisan Congressional Philanthropy Caucus and for championing the Charitable Act—our top legislative priority—which was successfully included in OBBBA. Their commitment to expanding charitable giving and strengthening America’s communities reflects the values of our 25,000 fundraising professionals who work every day to connect generosity with impact. This Caucus creates an important forum to continue advancing policies that empower individuals, foundations, and businesses to give back and support public–private partnerships that drive local results. AFP looks forward to collaborating with the Caucus to ensure strong implementation of the new charitable deduction and to further expand a culture of philanthropy nationwide,"" said H. Art Taylor, President and CEO of Association of Fundraising Professionals. “As Chair of the Charitable Giving Coalition, I commend Representatives Blake Moore and Danny Davis for re-launching the bipartisan Congressional Philanthropy Caucus. Their leadership reflects a deep and consistent commitment to strengthening philanthropy and the charitable sector—most notably through their successful effort to extend the charitable tax deduction to all American taxpayers. The Charitable Giving Coalition looks forward to partnering with the Caucus to elevate the vital role philanthropy plays in communities nationwide and to advance policies that foster generosity and expand charitable impact,” said Brian Flahaven, Chair of Charitable Giving Coalition. Background: The Philanthropy Caucus builds on the growing momentum in Congress for increased access to charitable giving, following the inclusion of Congressman Moore's Charitable Act earlier this year in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Utah has long been recognized as one of the most charitable states, with the highest volunteer rate at 47% and the most volunteer hours per capita at over 46 hours. Families in Utah also donate an average of 3.5% of their adjusted gross income, the second-most in the country, and the state has the third-highest percentage of taxpayers who donate money to charity. ###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-genesis-act-accelerate-scientific-discovery-through,Rep. Kennedy Introduces GENESIS Act to Accelerate Scientific Discovery Through Artificial Intelligence,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03) introduced the Growth, Energy, and National Excellence through Science, Innovation, and Security Act (GENESIS Act) to codify President Donald J. Trump’s newly signed Executive Order launching theGenesis Mission. The legislation empowers the federal government to harnesses artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery, strengthen national security, and keep America ahead in the global AI race. “I am proud to introduce the GENESIS Act to codify President Trump’s Genesis Mission into law. This is a pivotal step toward unleashing American ingenuity through artificial intelligence,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “The GENESIS Act empowers our National Laboratories to integrate artificial intelligence, scientific data, and top researchers into a unified system for breakthrough research."" Background: The GENESIS Act codifies the Genesis Mission, directing the federal government to use AI to transform scientific research: The Secretary of Energy must leverage DOE’s National Laboratories to combine America’s strongest computing power, largest scientific datasets, and leading scientists into a coordinated national AI research platform. DOE is instructed to build a closed-loop AI experimentation system capable of generating scientific foundation models and powering robotic and autonomous laboratories. The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST) will coordinate federal data, infrastructure, and interagency support for the Genesis Mission. Federal agencies will collaborate with academia and the private sector to advance high-priority research fields, including biotechnology, critical minerals, nuclear energy, quantum science, and advanced materials. The Order specifies that the Department of Energy will bear the cost of publishing the Executive Order, ensuring immediate implementation.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-moore-tokuda-bacon-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-requiring-24-hour-notice-of-alleged-abuse-in-military-child-care-programs,"Reps. Moore, Tokuda, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Requiring 24-Hour Notice of Alleged Abuse in Military Child Care Programs",2025-12-01,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced bipartisan legislation requiring military child and youth programs to notify parents or guardians within 24 hours after learning of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect involving their children that occurred at a military child development center or similar program. The Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act codifies a Department of Defense (DOD) policy established after it became known that the Department had no requirement to notify parents in such cases. This legislation also goes beyond current policy by requiring the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, as well as members of Congress who represent the district where the alleged abuse or neglect occurred, to be notified within 72 hours. ""As the congressional representative of Hill Air Force Base and father to four boys, it is an honor to serve our military community and their families. I’m proud to co-lead legislation that would require the DOD to immediately brief parents over suspected abuse or neglect of minors at DOD childcare facilities and create additional congressional oversight mechanisms,"" Rep. Moore said. ""We must do all we can to ensure safe and healthy environments for all children, including those under the DOD’s care.” “Parents who entrust their keiki to a military child care center deserve one guarantee: if something happens, they will be told quickly, clearly, and without exception. No family should ever be kept in the dark when it comes to their child’s health, safety, and well-being,” Rep. Tokuda said. “As the mother of two boys, we must demand nothing less for our military families, and as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, we must ensure effective Congressional oversight and accountability across the military child care system, because no federal agency should be allowed to hide the truth.” “No parent should ever be kept in the dark when it comes to the safety of their child. I’m glad to co-lead the Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act with Rep. Tokuda, which requires programs to notify parents within 24 hours of any suspected abuse or neglect, no exceptions. Our bipartisan bill also requires notifying the Armed Services committees and the Members of Congress for the installation where the incident happened within 72 hours to provide real oversight and ensure these failures are never repeated,” Rep. Bacon said. Language in the Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act is also included in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for transparency and protection of military families. This legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Robert J. Wittman (R-VA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Derek Schmidt (R-KS), Ed Case (D-HI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jennifer A. Kiggans (R-VA), André Carson (D-IN), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), and Donald Davis (D-NC). Full text of the legislation can be found here. ###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/dont-tread-on-our-trax-curtis-lee-bill-gives-transit-environmental-review-back-to-states,"Don’t Tread on Our TRAX: Curtis, Lee Bill Gives Transit Environmental Review Back to States",2025-12-01,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Curtis and Mike Lee introduced bipartisan legislation today to improve transit project timelines and quality by restoring the responsibility for environmental reviews back to state agencies from the federal government. The Streamline Transit Projects Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and endorsed by Utah Transit Authority, Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). “Utah is growing—and for good reason,” said Senator John Curtis. “People are drawn here by our strong economy, vibrant communities, and healthy environment. But with that growth comes challenges we must face head-on. The Streamline Transit Projects Act gives transit agencies the flexibility to meet local needs more efficiently. In Utah, that means we can move faster on projects that connect people, reduce traffic, and protect the environment we all treasure.” “Utah’s transit projects will be better off without the federal government meddling in every decision and holding up construction,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Right now, our local officials take responsibility for environmental reviews on highway construction – but are forced to use the federal government when it comes to transit. My Streamline Transit Projects Act will give this authority back to the states to make construction timelines faster and quality better. Don’t tread on our TRAX!” “Right now, simple transit projects can get tied up in years of red tape. Arizonans shouldn’t have to wait that long for basic upgrades,” said Senator Mark Kelly. “Our bill cuts needless delays for low-impact projects by letting qualified local agencies handle routine environmental work, so commuters see the benefits sooner.” “This bipartisan legislation will give transit agencies new tools to more quickly deliver projects that meet local needs and improve the ridership experience,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “By delivering transit projects faster, we can continue to invest in a brighter, more connected future for all who call Georgia home.” “Utah Transit Authority (UTA) appreciates Senator Lee’s leadership in introducing the Streamlining Transit Projects Act, which will help transit agencies like ours deliver critical infrastructure projects more efficiently while maintaining strong environmental standards. By modernizing the NEPA process, this legislation provides the flexibility needed to advance transit improvements that better serve our growing communities. We thank Senator Lee for his commitment to supporting public transportation and helping streamline the path to better service for Utahns.” – Carlton Christensen, Chair of the UTA Board of Trustees “APTA strongly supports the bipartisan Streamline Transit Projects Act, and commends Senators Lee, Warnock, Curtis, and Kelly for their leadership in advancing a smart, commonsense solution that will strengthen mobility nationwide. This legislation brings long-overdue modal parity by providing public transit agencies with the same authority long afforded to our highway partners. Empowering transit agencies to approve their own categorical exclusions will cut red tape, speed project delivery, and help communities realize the benefits of better public transportation sooner. Public transit agencies have the skilled environmental professionals needed to do this work and it is long-past time to give them this opportunity.” – Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, APTA. The Streamline Transit Projects Act: Authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation to enter into a memorandum of understanding with interested state transit agencies to assume responsibility under NEPA for one or more transit projects. Requires participating states to determine whether certain activities are included within classes of action identified by the Secretary that are categorically excluded from requirements for environmental assessments or environmental impact statements. Allows the Secretary to terminate the assignment of responsibilities if the transit agency is not adequately carrying them out.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/don-t-tread-on-our-trax-lee-bill-gives-transit-environmental-review-back-to-states,Don’t Tread on Our TRAX: Lee Bill Gives Transit Environmental Review Back to States,2025-12-01,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced bipartisan legislation today to improve transit project timelines and quality by restoring the responsibility for environmental reviews back to state agencies from the federal government. The Streamline Transit Projects Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and endorsed by Utah Transit Authority, Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). “Utah’s transit projects will be better off without the federal government meddling in every decision and holding up construction,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Right now, our local officials take responsibility for environmental reviews on highway construction – but are forced to use the federal government when it comes to transit. My Streamline Transit Projects Act will give this authority back to the states to make construction timelines faster and quality better. Don’t tread on our TRAX!” “Utah is growing—and for good reason,” said Senator John Curtis. “People are drawn here by our strong economy, vibrant communities, and healthy environment. But with that growth comes challenges we must face head-on. The Streamline Transit Projects Act gives transit agencies the flexibility to meet local needs more efficiently. In Utah, that means we can move faster on projects that connect people, reduce traffic, and protect the environment we all treasure.” “Right now, simple transit projects can get tied up in years of red tape. Arizonans shouldn’t have to wait that long for basic upgrades,” said Senator Mark Kelly. “Our bill cuts needless delays for low-impact projects by letting qualified local agencies handle routine environmental work, so commuters see the benefits sooner.” “This bipartisan legislation will give transit agencies new tools to more quickly deliver projects that meet local needs and improve the ridership experience,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “By delivering transit projects faster, we can continue to invest in a brighter, more connected future for all who call Georgia home.” “Utah Transit Authority (UTA) appreciates Senator Lee’s leadership in introducing the Streamlining Transit Projects Act, which will help transit agencies like ours deliver critical infrastructure projects more efficiently while maintaining strong environmental standards. By modernizing the NEPA process, this legislation provides the flexibility needed to advance transit improvements that better serve our growing communities. We thank Senator Lee for his commitment to supporting public transportation and helping streamline the path to better service for Utahns.” – Carlton Christensen, Chair of the UTA Board of Trustees ""APTA strongly supports the bipartisan Streamline Transit Projects Act, and commends Senators Lee, Warnock, Curtis, and Kelly for their leadership in advancing a smart, commonsense solution that will strengthen mobility nationwide. This legislation brings long-overdue modal parity by providing public transit agencies with the same authority long afforded to our highway partners. Empowering transit agencies to approve their own categorical exclusions will cut red tape, speed project delivery, and help communities realize the benefits of better public transportation sooner. Public transit agencies have the skilled environmental professionals needed to do this work and it is long-past time to give them this opportunity."" – Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, APTA. The Streamline Transit Projects Act: Authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation to enter into a memorandum of understanding with interested state transit agencies to assume responsibility under NEPA for one or more transit projects. Requires participating states to determine whether certain activities are included within classes of action identified by the Secretary that are categorically excluded from requirements for environmental assessments or environmental impact statements. Allows the Secretary to terminate the assignment of responsibilities if the transit agency is not adequately carrying them out. Read exclusive coverage by Deseret News here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/pinterest-endorses-mike-lee-s-app-store-accountability-act-to-protect-kids-online,Pinterest Endorses Mike Lee’s App Store Accountability Act to Protect Kids Online,2025-12-01,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today announced the endorsement by Pinterest for his App Store Accountability Act. The social media giant voiced support for Lee’s protections for children online, including age verification requirements in app stores and tools for parents to protect their children from harmful content online. “I’m glad that Pinterest is stepping up to protect kids and put parents in charge by supporting the App Store Accountability Act,” said Senator Mike Lee. “App stores need reliable age verification, parental controls, and safeguards against exploitation demanded by concerned parents across America. With the help of Pinterest, we’re one step closer to protecting children online.” “Pinterest is proud to endorse the App Store Accountability Act. Parents need a single, privacy-preserving solution to verify their child’s age and know they’re safe online. Making the app store a one-stop shop for age verification ensures children are protected from the moment they start using a device. We urge Congress to pass this important law.” – Bill Ready, CEO, Pinterest Representative John James (R-MI) introduced the companion bill in the House of Representatives. “Kids cannot consent — and any company that exposes them to addictive or adult material should be held accountable,” said Rep. John James. ""The App Store Accountability Act holds Big Tech companies to the same standard as local corner stores. It safeguards the next generation by empowering parents and ensures that when it comes to protecting children, no one is above the law. I’m grateful that Pinterest and more than 100 others are stepping up and joining this effort to put parents first, hold app stores accountable, and protect kids online.” Pinterest joins Meta, Instagram, and Snapchat in calling for stronger protections for children’s online safety. The App Store Accountability Act empowers parents as decision-makers for their children’s online safety and holds app stores responsible for providing safeguards. The legislation requires app stores and developers to require parental approval for app downloads and provide accurate age ratings for apps. The bill also prohibits any selling or sharing of sensitive data or any act that would restrict freedom of speech. Support for increased parental empowerment online is widespread and bipartisan. Recent polling shows 88% of parents support requiring app stores to obtain parental approval for minors to download apps, and 68% agree that granting approval through app stores would be the easiest way to provide their consent. 101 advocate organizations for children’s online safety endorsed the App Store Accountability Act in a letter of support led by the Digital Childhood Alliance. The letter can be read here. The App Store Accountability Act empowers parents to protect their children online by: Requiring app stores to utilize privacy-protecting age verification methods, and link minor-owned accounts to a parental account—allowing parents to give consent before the minor makes downloads or purchases. Providing a safe harbor for compliant app stores: Platforms can meet minimum standards by offering tools like secure age verification, parental oversight, and accurate app age ratings. Requiring transparency and oversight: Annual certifications and a complaint mechanism will ensure tools are effective and loopholes are closed. Prohibiting data exploitation: The sale of age-related data collected for verification will be strictly prohibited. Read exclusive coverage by The Verge here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1789,Reps. Meng and Maloy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Donated Menstrual Products,2025-11-26,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,UT,Celeste Maloy,M001228,maloy.house.gov,maloy,https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Last week, Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Celeste Maloy (R-UT) introduced the bipartisan Good Samaritan Menstrual Products Act. This legislation establishes liability protections for individuals, businesses, and organizations that donate menstrual products to nonprofit distribution partners. The bill, modeled after the successful Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, will seek to incentivize greater charitable giving by ensuring donors can provide hygiene products without fear of legal risk. “Utahns have a long tradition of stepping up for one another, whether through donations, volunteer work, or direct support in times of need,” said Congresswoman Maloy. “That generosity deserves to be protected. This bill gives donors the clarity and confidence they need to share essential products with nonprofit partners without concern for legal risk, helping them continue strengthening communities across our state, including through donations of hygiene products for women and girls.” “Today, one in four teenagers and one in three adults report struggling to secure menstrual products,” said Congresswoman Meng. “Every day costs are continuing to rise, and it is more important than ever that we ensure everyone who needs menstrual products can access them. Our Good Samaritan Menstrual Products Act would help address this need by easing restrictions on charitable donations of these products. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we fight to end period poverty once and for all.” States like Utah and New York have taken meaningful steps to expand access to menstrual products, demonstrating that targeted policy changes can reduce barriers and improve quality of life. The Good Samaritan Menstrual Products Act builds on this momentum by creating a clear, nationwide framework that protects donors and empowers nonprofits. By codifying these protections, the bill encourages more consistent and reliable support for people experiencing period poverty. “Half the population menstruates, and lack of access to period products has real consequences for health, education, and overall well-being,” said Emily Bell McCormick, President of The Policy Project. “We are thrilled to see Representatives Meng and Maloy bringing national attention to this issue. In Utah, where The Policy Project championed legislation requiring period products in every public and charter school, we’ve already seen the positive impact of increased access to these essential items. The Good Samaritan Menstrual Products Act is a critical step toward ensuring that everyone nationwide can access the period products they need to thrive.” ""Days for Girls is excited about the Good Samaritan Menstrual Products Act and fully supports this bipartisan bill. Individuals and organizations will finally be able to make a broader range of donations without fear of frivolous liability. This will allow people in need to select from a greater product mix, choosing what works best for them."" Diana T. Nelson, Global Advocacy Director.",1,2026-04-07T05:38:05Z,2026-04-07T05:39:14Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/senator-lee-named-taxpayers-friend-receives-a-grade-for-cutting-spending,"Senator Lee Named ‘Taxpayers’ Friend,’ Receives “A” Grade for Cutting Spending",2025-11-24,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has earned the top score from the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) in its latest NTU Rates Congress report, placing Senator Lee among the top 20 lawmakers in Congress working to protect taxpayers and reduce wasteful government spending. As a result of his “A” grade, Senator Lee was given the NTU’s Taxpayers’ Friend Award. “Cutting wasteful government spending and lowering their tax burden is both a priority and personal responsibility I have to the Utahns who sent me to Congress to fight for them,” said Senator Mike Lee. “I thank the National Taxpayers Union for their great work, and for recognizing our victories for hardworking American families.” “If we had a hundred more members like Senator Mike Lee in Congress, the nation would be on much more prosperous and solid financial footing,” said Brandon Arnold, National Taxpayers Union Executive Vice President. “We’re grateful to Senator Lee for always putting taxpayers first when voting.” The NTU Rates Congress scorecard is the nation’s most comprehensive nonpartisan analysis of federal tax and spending votes. In this report, NTU evaluated 39 Senate votes and 130 House votes, assigning greater weight to those with the largest long-term effects on federal taxes, spending, debt, and regulation. According to NTU, members who earn an “A” rating consistently vote to: Reduce wasteful or excessive federal spending Oppose tax increases Limit regulatory burdens that hinder economic growth The full report is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/utah-rep-mike-kennedy-introduces-algorithm-accountability-act-protect-families,Utah Rep. Mike Kennedy introduces the Algorithm Accountability Act to protect families online,2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Reps. Mike Kennedy (UT-03) and April McClain Delaney (MD-06) introduced the Algorithm Accountability Act, legislation intended to hold social media companies accountable for harms caused by content pushed through their algorithms. The bill modernizes Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and establishes a clear duty of care for platforms that design and deploy algorithms capable of amplifying dangerous or harmful content. Under the Algorithm Accountability Act, social media companies must responsibly design, train, test, deploy, and maintain their algorithmic systems in ways that prevent foreseeable bodily injury or death. The legislation also grants individuals a civil right of action in federal court when platforms negligently expose users to harmful or radicalizing content. “As a family doctor, I’ve seen how today’s online environment can overwhelm my patients and contribute to serious challenges. Social media companies have built powerful algorithms that prioritize engagement and profit, too often overlooking their role in amplifying dangerous content,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “The Algorithm Accountability Act is a responsible step that establishes a clear duty of care for these platforms, ensuring they are accountable for preventing foreseeable harm caused by their algorithmic feeds.” ""This legislation is one of the reasons why I came to Congress: to put common sense bumpers and safeguards on how technology impacts our safety, health and well-being,” said Congresswoman April McClain Delaney. “Throughout my career as a communications attorney and nonprofit advocate for children’s online safety, I have consistently held that platforms should be accountable for algorithmic content that could foreseeably result in real-life injuries. As the mother of four daughters, I understand how deeply families worry about the risks children face online and how blanket immunity for social media companies has allowed harm to go unchecked. Big Tech should be responsible to design, test, and operate their platforms safely. When they fail, our nation’s families deserve a clear path to hold them accountable for the harms caused."" “Section 230 was written nearly 30 years ago for a very different internet,” said Senator Curtis. “What began as a commonsense protection for a fledgling industry has grown into a blanket immunity shield for some of the most powerful companies on the planet—companies that intentionally design algorithms that exploit user behavior, amplify dangerous content, and keep people online at any cost. Our bill will hold them accountable.” “Utah has led the nation in passing laws to protect children from the harms of social media, but these challenges don’t stop at state lines. We need a national standard for accountability. I fully support Rep. Kennedy’s Algorithm Accountability Act, said Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox. “By establishing a duty of care for social media platforms, this bill will help protect families across the country from the deceptive and addictive algorithmic designs that put profit above people. It’s time for Congress to act.” “Big Tech has made billions off algorithms that hook our children and harm their mental health,” said Utah Attorney General Derek Brown. “This legislation will help us better protect kids while also upholding our sacred right to free speech. I commend Rep. Kennedy for sponsoring a bill that puts families first, holds platforms accountable, and preserves states' sovereign rights.” Read the full bill text here. ###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-and-merkley-work-to-codify-taiwan-six-assurances,CURTIS AND MERKLEY WORK TO CODIFY TAIWAN SIX ASSURANCES,2025-11-20,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Six Assurances to Taiwan Act, a bipartisan bill to formally codify the Six Assurances as foundational U.S. policy toward Taiwan, reinforce congressional oversight, and prevent any unilateral change in America’s longstanding position without legislative review. The Six Assurances, originally conveyed by the Reagan Administration to Taiwan, are six key foreign policy commitments that have underpinned the U.S.-Taiwan relationship for nearly half a century. This bill gives those assurances the full force of law for the first time and ensures that any attempt to change them must first be reviewed by Congress. “The Six Assurances have been a cornerstone of U.S.–Taiwan policy since President Reagan first outlined them in 1982,” said Senator Curtis. “My bill simply codifies these longstanding commitments, so they carry the full weight of law. As Beijing escalates its pressure campaign, this is about clarity, deterrence, and showing Taiwan that America’s support is principled, bipartisan, and enduring.” “Republicans and Democrats agree that the United States must reinforce our long-standing support for Taiwan,” said Senator Merkley. “Our bipartisan bill codifies a cornerstone of U.S. policy toward Taiwan—ensuring no administration can back away from this commitment behind closed doors—and sends the strong message that members of Congress from both sides of the aisle will not stand for any efforts that undermine this essential partnership.” Background: The Six Assurances, reaffirmed by both Republican and Democratic administrations, are as follows: The U.S. has not agreed to set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan. The U.S. has not agreed to consult with the PRC on arms sales to Taiwan. The U.S. will not play a mediation role between Taiwan and the PRC. The U.S. has not agreed to revise the Taiwan Relations Act. The U.S. has not altered its position on the issue of Taiwan sovereignty. The U.S. will not pressure Taiwan to enter into negotiations with the PRC. The Six Assurances to Taiwan Act strengthens these principles by making them U.S. law and requiring: Congressional Notification and Review: Before any U.S. administration can take action to alter arms sales, revise longstanding policy, or pressure Taiwan into negotiations, it must notify Congress and provide a full justification. Legislative Oversight Period: No such action may proceed until Congress has had up to 60 days to review and potentially block it through a joint resolution of disapproval. Stabilizing Policy Declaration: It reaffirms that maintaining the Six Assurances is in the national, economic, and security interest of the United States and contributes to peace in the Indo-Pacific.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/lee-introduces-automatic-flight-risk-status-for-non-citizen-criminals,Lee Introduces Automatic Flight Risk Status for Non-Citizen Criminals,2025-11-20,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Flight Risk Reduction Act today to prevent non-U.S. citizen criminal defendants from fleeing and failing to appear for trial. The announcement follows the arrest of a non-citizen rideshare driver who announced plans to flee to Peru following the alleged sexual assault of a university student in Salt Lake City this week. “Our communities are unsafe when non-US citizens exploit loopholes to escape our justice system and continually break our laws,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Just this week in Salt Lake, a suspected rapist told our police he plans to return to Peru after his assault of a local university student. Under President Biden, more than 150,000 illegal aliens skipped their criminal hearings in 2023. That is eight times the rate from before he took office. The Flight Risk Reduction Act ensures courts have the necessary power to detain non-citizen criminals before trial, unless they can prove they are not a flight risk.” The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Thom Tillis (R-NC). “The Flight Reduction Act is commonsense: Illegal alien and non-resident criminals are a flight risk, and they must be detained until trial,” said Senator Jim Banks. “Releasing them only puts our communities in danger. This bill is about protecting Americans and enforcing the law.” “It should be common sense that an illegal alien facing federal charges poses a flight risk and a danger to the community and should never be released on bail,” said Senator Marsha Blackburn. “The Flight Risk Reduction Act would prohibit judges from releasing illegal aliens on bail when pending trial and protect the safety of the American people.” “When individuals commit certain crimes in the United States, there are guardrails in place in our justice system to determine if they need to remain in pre-trial detention in order to ensure the safety of the American public,” said Senator Katie Britt. “The Flight Risk Reduction Act takes an important step in amending current law to ensure illegal aliens who have perpetrated serious crimes are detained so that we can continue protecting American citizens and ensure justice is served. I’m proud to cosponsor this bill and look forward to its consideration by the Senate.” “This legislation would alter current law to help ensure criminal defendants who are not U.S. citizens are held pending trial rather than being granted bail and potentially skipping bail or fleeing the country before facing justice for their crimes, and I’m glad to support it,” said Senator John Cornyn. “We need to put the safety of Americans first,” said Senator Josh Hawley. “It’s time to close the loopholes illegal aliens use to exploit our judicial system and get back on the street, which endangers Americans.” “We need to ensure that Pennsylvania communities are safe and that our justice system functions effectively,” said Senator Dave McCormick. “I’m proud to cosponsor the Flight Risk Reduction Act because it requires proof that illegal immigrant defendants do not pose a flight risk or threat to the community to qualify for bail. This is common-sense legislation designed to protect public safety.” “Too often, non-citizen violent criminals vanish before they can be held accountable,” said Senator Pete Ricketts. “By empowering judges, this bill will keep Americans safe.” “Securing our border and keeping our nation safe requires clear, commonsense standards, and this legislation ensures that individuals who enter our country illegally can’t evade the law by exploiting gaps in the system,” said Senator Thom Tillis. “Strengthening pre-trial detention rules is a responsible step that upholds the rule of law and protects our communities.” Background Currently, detention hearings are automatically triggered for certain cases to assess whether a criminal defendant might flee. This bill would add non-U.S. citizenship as an automatic trigger for such hearings. The Flight Risk Reduction Act Categorizes non-citizen criminals as presumed flight risks Requires defendants to present evidence demonstrating they will not flee or harm others Deems family ties and employment as possible evidence of community connections, but not necessarily sufficient factors for release Read the full bill text here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-moore-panetta-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-promote-active-and-healthier-lifestyles,"Representatives Moore, Panetta Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Active and Healthier Lifestyles",2025-11-19,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to promote active and healthier lifestyles and establish reliable guidelines on healthy standards for physicians, lawmakers, educators, and the public. The Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish a decennial document titled ""Physical Activity Recommendations (PAR) for Americans."" “As Chair of the House Budget Committee’s Health Care Task Force, I’m always looking at what drives costs in our health system. Declining physical activity has been linked to over $100 billion in annual health care costs. Beyond the financial implications, sedentary lifestyles also pose a significant threat to Americans’ long-term quality of life,"" Rep. Moore said. ""Young students and adults in many professions often don’t prioritize regular physical exercise or don’t know where to start. The recommendations that will come as a result of this bill will be a tremendous resource for parents, schools, lawmakers, and health providers as we help each other stay active.” “The federal government's physical activity recommendations must be based on the latest science,” Rep. Panetta said. “The Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act would codify regular updates in exercise standards to make sure Americans are able to invest in their health in smart and informed ways. An active lifestyle is one of the best preventative medicines, and by keeping ourselves informed, we can promote healthier habits in California's 19th Congressional District and across the country."" “We applaud and fully support the Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act,” said American College of Sports Medicine President Carrie Jaworski, MD, FACSM. We commend Congressman Blake Moore and Congressman Jimmy Panetta for their commitment to providing the most current, evidenced-informed physical activity recommendations for all demographic groups.” “ACSM and its members have worked tirelessly to ensure the Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act becomes law,” said ACSM Chief Executive Officer Katie Feltman, CAE. “When it does, we will stand ready to lend our scientific expertise to HHS as we work together to facilitate better health through increased physical activity.” PAR for Americans would include: Recommendations on fitness and physical activity for Americans for the general public based on the latest science. Mid-decade addenda on best practices related to a specific issue that may be of contemporary interest or relevance. Background: The Department of Health and Human Services reports that over 40% of adults and 19% of youth are considered obese. Obesity can lead to a variety of chronic or life-threatening diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers. A widespread lack of physical activity is a significant contributor to the increased onset of these conditions, which greatly diminishes Americans’ quality of life and costs health systems over $100 billion annually. In 2008, the Bush Administration published the first-ever “Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG) for Americans.” It includes specific recommendations for children, adults, seniors, pregnant and postpartum mothers, the disabled, and those with chronic mental conditions. It was designed to be a reliable primary source for lawmakers, physical educators, health providers, and the public on the amount, types, and intensity of physical activity needed to lead a healthy life. In 2018, the Trump Administration commissioned the second edition of PAG, though there is no formal administrative process for subsequent revisions. Read the full bill here and on Congress.gov, and find a full list of supporters here. ###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-kelly-introduce-algorithm-accountability-act,"CURTIS, KELLY INTRODUCE ALGORITHM ACCOUNTABILITY ACT",2025-11-19,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Critical legislation to hold tech companies accountable for their part in harming and radicalizing Americans Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced legislation to modernize online protections and hold social media companies accountable for harms caused by content pushed by their algorithmic feeds. The bill, the Algorithm Accountability Act, amends Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 to impose a duty of care on the companies that utilize recommendation-based algorithms. The duty of care requires platforms to responsibly design, train, test, deploy, operate, and maintain their recommendation-based algorithm to prevent foreseeable bodily injury or death. It also gives injured individuals a clear civil right of action to seek relief in federal court. “Section 230 was written nearly 30 years ago for a very different internet,” said Senator Curtis. “What began as a commonsense protection for a fledgling industry has grown into a blanket immunity shield for some of the most powerful companies on the planet—companies that intentionally design algorithms that exploit user behavior, amplify dangerous content, and keep people online at any cost. Our bill will hold them accountable.” “Too many families have been hurt by social media algorithms designed with one goal: make money by getting people hooked,” said Senator Kelly. “Over and over again, these companies refuse to take responsibility when their platforms contribute to violence, crime, or self-harm. We’re going to change that and finally allow Americans to hold companies accountable.” Resources: Bill summary Bill text Section-by-section In a recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece, Curtis outlined the urgent need for accountability for the social media algorithms that contribute to radicalization and violence: “The idea behind the Algorithm Accountability Act is simple: If companies use algorithms to influence the reach of content, they should bear responsibility when those algorithms negligently cause harm. We hold automakers accountable when a design flaw causes an accident. We hold pharmaceutical companies accountable when their products cause injury. There is no reason Big Tech should be treated differently.” Read the full opinion here. What they are saying: “Utah has led the nation in passing laws to protect children from the harms of social media, but these challenges don’t stop at state lines. We need a national standard for accountability. I fully support Senator Curtis’ Algorithm Accountability Act. By establishing a duty of care for social media platforms, this bill will help protect families across the country from the deceptive and addictive algorithmic designs that put profit above people. It’s time for Congress to act.” – Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox. “Big Tech has made billions off algorithms that hook our children and harm their mental health. This legislation will help us better protect kids while also upholding our sacred right to free speech. I commend Sen. Curtis for sponsoring a bill that puts families first, holds platforms accountable, and preserves states’ sovereign rights.” – Utah Attorney General Derek Brown. “Senator Curtis’ Algorithm Accountability Act is crucial for rebuilding public trust in social media platforms by establishing a clear standard of care for social media algorithms, ensuring that these platforms prioritize transparency and accountability. Utah has seen firsthand the harms caused by these companies, having initiated the nation’s first lawsuits against them, and has led the way with pioneering laws to protect minors on social media. We must hold these companies accountable to create a safer online environment for all users.” – Margaret Woolley Busse, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce. “Social media companies are making billions of dollars off of addictive algorithms that are proven to be harmful, especially to young people. At the Arizona’s Attorney General’s Office, we’ve taken to steps to hold these companies accountable, like by suing Meta for knowingly damaging youth mental health with their algorithms and by calling out social media companies when they regularly facilitate crime— including the trafficking of drugs, sharing of child sexual abuse material, and facilitating of human trafficking. I’m so glad to see Senator Kelly take a proactive step and introduce a stronger law that will hold big tech accountable for the devastating harm their purposefully addictive algorithms are causing.” – Kris Mayes, Arizona Attorney General. “Parents are doing everything they can, but we can’t compete with systems designed to know and influence our kids. The Algorithm Accountability Act brings long-overdue responsibility to platforms that have operated without it for far too long. Holding tech companies to a reasonable duty of care finally aligns their power with their responsibility. This legislation finally brings the accountability urgently needed for the algorithms that shape young people’s lives and, too often, their deaths.” – Amy Neville, The Alexander Neville Foundation. “When an algorithm predicts a child’s vulnerabilities and then pushes harmful content anyway, that is not an accident, it is a foreseeable design failure. Parents RISE! supports the Algorithm Accountability Act because companies must be responsible for the tools they create.” – Julianna Arnold, Parents RISE! “For far too long we have known that social media companies are engaging our kids with algorithms that feed them shocking videos on gore, disordered eating, cutting and suicide to name just a few. These teens are NOT looking this information up, it is a design choice by these companies to keep kids online longer solely for profit. The Algorithm Accountability Act will go a long way in holding these companies legally responsible for these dangerous and deadly algorithmic design choices.” – Kristin Bride, The Carson J. Bride Effect. “Annalee, was 18 when we lost her to suicide in 2020. What we discovered afterward was devastating: her social media algorithms repeatedly fed her pro-suicide, depression, and anxiety content, normalizing those ideas and surrounding her in a world we didn’t know she was trapped inside. Parents are up against platforms that study our children more closely than we ever could and use that knowledge to keep them online, even when the content harms them. Annalee was a bright, kind, young woman who deserved protection—not automated systems that exploited her struggles. The Algorithm Accountability Act is exactly the kind of legislation that will stop what happened to my daughter from happening to others, and I am thankful to Senator Kelly for taking this issue seriously.” – Lori Schott, Annalee’s mother. “This bill takes an essential step toward safeguarding children by establishing a duty of care in algorithmic design — an approach strongly supported by families across the country. In Count on Mothers’ nationwide research, we found striking consensus on one issue: social media’s design practices are harming children. Mothers voiced deep concern about the mental and physical toll of addictive, profit-driven algorithms, with 96% supporting federal action to hold platforms accountable. This bill’s ‘duty of care’ provision and liability for foreseeable harm reflect what families nationwide have said they need—meaningful accountability, enforceable safeguards, and design standards that protect children’s wellbeing.” – Jennifer Bransford, Founder of Count on Mothers",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/senator-lee-introduces-audit-of-america-s-gold-reserves,Senator Lee Introduces Audit of America’s Gold Reserves,2025-11-19,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Gold Reserve Transparency Act today supporting President Trump’s historic transparency agenda by mandating long overdue comprehensive audits of all gold reserves held by the U.S. federal government. A similar bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). “For over half a century, there has not been a comprehensive audit of America’s gold reserves,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Americans should know whether their literal national treasure is safe and accurately accounted for. That means passing the Gold Reserve Transparency Act, opening Fort Knox, U.S. Mint Facilities, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to an audit, and then making the results public.” ""I am delighted to see Sen. Lee's Gold Reserve Transparency Act introduced in the Senate. The Federal Reserve and Treasury should not be permitted to operate in secrecy, especially when it comes to the most important monetary asset on the planet, i.e. gold. Restoring trust as to America's goldholdings is more important than ever when foreign central banks are scrambling to stockpile gold at incredible rates."" – Ron Paul, Former Congressman “I applaud Senator Lee for introducing the Gold Reserves Transparency Act! It is high time we have full transparency about our government’s financial status. This is a key step in that direction."" – David McIntosh, President, Club for Growth ""Our nation’s founders understood the need for a stable dollar that conveys accurate price signals and provides a dependable monetary standard. Ensuring that citizens have access to an honest measure of value is not only a moral imperative—it’s an acknowledgment that sound money provides the optimal foundation for maximizing prosperity in an economy based on free markets and free people. America’s gold holdings are a bulwark for the monetary integrity of the U.S. dollar; they must be audited and verified."" – Judy Shelton, Independent Institute ""America's gold hasn't had a credible, comprehensive audit in decades and taxpayers deserve to know the status of their gold holdings -- including whether it has been encumbered via leases, swaps, or other financial transactions. Senator Lee's bill also would increase the quality of the gold itself, given the majority of U.S. gold reserves are unacceptable on the global market due to their low purity levels."" – Jp Cortez, Executive Director, Sound Money Defense League ""Even if a credible audit, inventory, assay, and accounting had been conducted decades ago, this should be an ongoing process. Audits are never a ‘one and done' affair. The U.S. Government's poor stewardship of America's gold reserves wouldn't hold muster in the private sector and has undermined confidence."" – Stefan Gleason, President and CEO, Money Metals Depository ""As the economy continues to slide into another Fed-created downturn, it’s more important than ever we know our gold reserves are fully protected and accounted for. The Federal Reserve and Treasury have a long history of operating in secrecy. This bill brings us one step closer to accountability."" – John McCardell, Executive Director, Campaign For Liberty ""From its beginning in 1999, the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee's objective has been to bring full disclosure and transparency to the involvement of governments with gold and the gold market. This legislation by Sen. Mike Lee goes directly to the public's right to know about its government, so we support it heartily."" – Chris Powell, Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee “Goldback Inc. supports the Gold Reserves Transparency Act because Americans deserve clear insight into the nation’s gold holdings. An independent audit strengthens public trust in the foundation of gold. Transparency is essential to sound money, and this bill delivers needed clarity into the current monetary system.” – Jeremy Cordon, President and CEO, Goldback, Inc. “The Sound Money Trade Association strongly endorses the Gold Reserves Transparency Act. Sound money depends on accountability, and taxpayers deserve to know the status, purity, and encumbrances of their national gold holdings. This legislation provides meaningful transparency and reaffirms that honest money is vital to a healthy, prosperous economy.” – Kim Coleman, Chair, Sound Money Trade Association “Citizens for Sound Money fully supports the Gold Reserve Transparency Act of 2025. For more than sixty years, the American people have been denied a complete and independent accounting of the nation’s gold. This bill restores a basic principle of self-government. The public has the right to know the status, location, purity, and encumbrances of the gold that ultimately belongs to them. Transparency is not optional. It is the foundation of trust in any monetary system. A full audit of U.S. gold reserves will bring clarity into an area that has been obscured for too long, and it will strengthen the case for honest weights, honest accounting, and honest money. Citizens for Sound Money urges swift passage of this critical legislation.” – Daniel Diaz, Executive Director, Citizens for Sound Money ""Phinance.Gold, inc. and the Phinance family of companies supports the passage of the Gold Reserve Transparency Act of 2025. Our Motto is: Real Money is Freedom. Gold is the real money of the American People. The Gold held in our reserves doesn't belong to any political party, or government agency, it belongs to the American people. The Government is only the custodian of these public funds and has a fiduciary responsibility to disclose the state of those funds to the American people. For more than sixty years, the American people have been denied a complete and independent accounting of the nation’s gold. This bill restores a basic principle of self-government: that the Government only obtains its just powers from the consent of the people who are the true possessors of God given human rights and owners of their nation and its reserves. The public has the right to know the status, location, purity, and encumbrances of the gold that ultimately belongs to them. Transparency is not optional. It is the foundation of trust in any monetary system. A full audit of U.S. gold reserves will bring clarity into an area that has been obscured for too long, and it will strengthen the case for honest weights, honest accounting, and honest money. We urge swift passage of this critical legislation."" – Benjamin Schaffer, General Counsel, Phinance Background The U.S. Treasury has long claimed that an audit of the nation’s gold reserves is performed annually. However, the last known comprehensive audits of these reserves are believed to have occurred several decades ago. A full audit of our gold reserves is long overdue, given their critical role in America’s financial and national security. President Trump has deemed an audit necessary to “make sure the gold is there” in our federal reserves. The Gold Reserve Transparency Act would mandate a comprehensive and independent audit of every facility housing gold owned by the federal government and a full accounting of all transactions involving America’s gold occurring in the past 50 years. The findings of these investigations will be publicly published and reported by the Comptroller General to Congress and the Secretary of the Treasury. The Gold Reserve Transparency Act would require: A complete audit and inventory of all gold reserves owned by the United States within nine months of enactment, followed by subsequent audits every five years conducted by an external third-party auditor. An assessment of the adequacy of measures for ensuring the physical security of these reserves. A full accounting of any encumbrances related to these reserves, including those arising from leases, swaps, or similar transactions that have occurred in the past 50 years. A comprehensive account of all gold reserves in which the U.S. Government, including the Federal Reserve, has either a direct or indirect interest. A publicly available report by the Comptroller General to Congress and the Secretary of the Treasury within three months of completing the audit. Read exclusive coverage by Breitbart News here. Read bill text of the Gold Reserve Transparency Act here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-moore-schneider-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-increase-access-to-health-care,"Representatives Moore, Schneider Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Health Care",2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced bipartisan legislation to help health information service providers better connect patients to providers and enhance health care efficiency. The Health Accelerating Consumer's Care by Expediting Self-Scheduling (ACCESS) Act establishes a new safe harbor within the Anti-Kickback Statute to reduce provider barriers to online health care systems while still providing regulatory guardrails to prevent fraud. “Out-of-date red tape has kneecapped Medicare and Medicaid patients’ ability to effectively use online booking platforms for their health services. These platforms are regulated by ambiguous pre-Internet Age laws that complicate booking for providers and limit innovation and widespread use,"" Rep. Moore said. ""I’m excited to introduce the Health ACCESS Act to clear the way for patients to use 21st-century tools to interact with their health providers.” “Scheduling a doctor’s appointment should be simple and easy, yet too often people needing care must jump through hoops simply to get through to a live person. Our bipartisan Health ACCESS Act will help bring our nation’s health care system into the 21st century and make it easier for all Americans to find providers and book medical appointments online,” Rep. Schneider said. “With more patients turning to digital health services than ever before, this bicameral legislation would allow digital health and online appointment booking platforms to work together to enhance the patient experience, appointment efficiency, and provider choice. The Health ACCESS Act proposes necessary amendments to existing statute in order to provide regulatory certainty for digital health tools, aiming to improve access to care while safeguarding patients’ personal health information. ATA Action expresses strong support for this legislation and commends Representatives Blake Moore and Brad Schneider for re-introducing this bill and advancing the modernization of healthcare services for Americans,"" said Kyle Zebley, Senior Vice President, American Telemedicine Association. “The Chronic Care Policy Alliance is the leading network of state and regional advocacy organizations advancing public policy that improves the lives of those living with chronic conditions and diseases,” said Liz Helms, Founding Director of CCPA. “CCPA is dedicated to achieving better access to quality, affordable healthcare, and the Health ACCESS Act does just that. This bill will accelerate and improve patients’ access to specialized and high-quality care. We applaud Representatives Panetta, Schnieder, and Moore for leading the effort, and urge their colleagues to support the bill.” “As the nation’s leading healthcare marketplace, Zocdoc enables patients to search for and instantly book care with nearly 100,000 providers across every specialty, every state and every segment,” said Zocdoc founder and CEO Oliver Kharraz, MD. “By aggregating an unmatched breadth and depth of providers that patients can choose from, all in one place, we empower them and dramatically accelerate their access to care. We support the Health ACCESS Act which will remove barriers to innovation, increase patients' access to care, better utilize a valuable, scarce resource — healthcare providers' time, and create a more efficient healthcare system. We commend Reps. Moore, Schneider, Malliotakis, and Panetta for their leadership on this bill, which will help modernize healthcare — a crucial part of the access imperative."" Background: The Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) governs improper payments for Medicare and Medicaid referrals and offers an important set of measures to prevent fraud and abuse. It prohibits “knowingly and willfully solicit[ing] any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe, or rebate) … in cash or in kind” for referring patients to Medicare or Medicaid providers for federally reimbursed goods or services. Because AKS predates the Internet, it is in some ways incompatible with online platforms, placing unnecessary legal obstructions in the way of patients attempting to connect with their health providers. To have services listed on an online booking platform, providers typically pay the platform for the online listing, which risks triggering AKS if services are provided to federal health beneficiaries. Under current law, there is no distinction between illicit referral practices that incentivize fraud or waste, in contrast to marketing and scheduling services that simply reduce patient barriers to necessary and appropriate care. Read the full bill here and on Congress.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-lujan-kim-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-develop-and-deploy-innovative-wildfire-prevention-technologies,"CURTIS, LUJÁN, KIM INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO DEVELOP AND DEPLOY INNOVATIVE WILDFIRE PREVENTION TECHNOLOGIES",2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-Utah) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the Fire Innovation Unit Act, bipartisan legislation that establishes a deployment and demonstration pilot program for new and innovative wildfire prevention, detection, communication, response, and mitigation technologies. The Fire Innovation Unit Act requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to create a Fire Innovation Unit to coordinate among federal agencies to ensure that piloted wildfire technology is carefully evaluated, deployed, and scaled, including through public-private partnerships. U.S. Representative Young Kim (R-Calif.) leads companion legislation in the House. “Wildfires are growing more intense, and our response must grow smarter. The Fire Innovation Unit Act would give us the tools to develop and deploy cutting-edge technologies that can better protect our communities and first responders. Utahns understand the importance of preparation, stewardship, and innovation. This bill reflects all three. I’m proud to be a part of this bipartisan effort to move from reactive to proactive wildfire management,” said Senator Curtis. “As wildfires continue to wreak havoc on communities across New Mexico and the country, we must find innovative tools and technologies to combat the ever-changing threats posed by wildfires,” said Senator Luján. “That’s why I’m proud to introduce my bipartisan Fire Innovation Unit Act, legislation that would allow us to develop and deploy innovative wildfire prevention and mitigation technologies. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this legislation passed and boost our wildfire prevention and mitigation capabilities.” “Too many in our community know the devastation of wildfires firsthand, and our first responders are already stretched thin,” said Rep. Young Kim. “Our first responders deserve every tool possible to protect lives, property, and our communities. From early detection systems to AI-enabled modeling, innovative technologies can transform wildfire response. The Fire Innovation Unit Act creates a public-private partnership so proven technologies can get into the field faster.” “We need to advance and invest in wildfire science, data, and technology to confront the megafire crisis,” said Matt Weiner, Founder and CEO of Megafire Action. “Senator Luján has long been a champion for the use of technology to prepare for, prevent, and recover from devastating wildfires. Megafire Action is proud to endorse both the Responsible Wildland Fire Recovery Act and the Fire Innovation Unit Act sponsored by Sen. Luján, Sen. Curtis, and Rep. Kim to leverage cutting edge technology to protect communities and lives and to recover in a smart and responsible way when disaster strikes.” “The Association of Firetech Innovation (AFI) applauds the leadership of Senator Ben Ray Luján and Senator John Curtis for introducing the Fire Innovation Unit Act. This legislation marks an important step toward accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies that enhance wildfire detection, prevention, and response. By establishing a pilot program, the bill will help ensure that frontline responders and communities at greatest risk have access to proven, life-saving tools,” said Alexis Oberg, Association of Firetech Innovation. This Fire Innovation Unit Act is based on an amendment Senator Luján successfully secured to the Fix Our Forests Act, which was reported favorably out of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-legislation-rename-moab-federal-building-honor-second,Rep. Kennedy Introduces Legislation to Rename Moab Federal Building in Honor of Second Lieutenant Mitchell Williams,2025-11-17,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03) introduced legislation to designate the United States Post Office located at 50 E 100 N in Moab, Utah, as the “Second Lieutenant Mitchell Williams Post Office Building.” The bill recognizes and preserves the legacy of a decorated World War II veteran, a devoted community leader, and a lifelong resident of Moab. “Second Lieutenant Mitchell Williams represents the very best of Utah,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “His courage, sacrifice, and lifelong service to the Moab community embody the principles that hold our state together. Naming this post office in his honor ensures future generations will remember a man who lived his life in service to others.” Background Second Lieutenant Mitchell Williams served honorably in World War II and returned home to Moab as a respected leader, mentor, and advocate for his community. His legacy spans decades of civic involvement, military service, and contributions to Moab. Renaming the Moab Post Office ensures his story remains a visible reminder of the sacrifices made by Utahns who answered the call to serve and continued giving back long after returning home. The proposal has strong local support and reflects the community’s desire to formally honor Second Lieutenant Williams’ enduring impact on Moab.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/sens-curtis-schiff-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-create-first-ever-respiratory-protection-requirements-for-federal-firefighters,"SENS CURTIS, SCHIFF INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO CREATE FIRST-EVER RESPIRATORY PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL FIREFIGHTERS",2025-11-17,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. John Curtis (R-Utah.) and Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the bipartisan Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act, legislation to create the first-ever respiratory protection standards for wildland firefighters. For decades, federal firefighters were prohibited from wearing respiratory protection despite a growing body of evidence warning about long-term health risks of wildfire smoke. This bill would ensure the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) take long overdue steps to protect the health of these heroes. This legislation is also co-sponsored by Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). “Our wildland firefighters already face some of the most grueling, dangerous conditions imaginable. The least we can do is ensure access to materials that will protect them from the long-term health consequences of breathing toxic smoke. This bill ensures we bring common sense, science, and basic decency to how we equip our firefighters,” said Senator Curtis. “Firefighters are heroes, and it’s critical that we do everything possible to ensure they’re protected from the health risks associated with wildfires. I am proud to introduce this long-overdue bipartisan bill with my Senate colleagues to minimize the toxic exposures that firefighters face when they’re bravely defending our communities and public lands. I’m going to push for Congress to pass this commonsense proposal,” said Senator Schiff. “Wildland firefighters deploy in the most extreme conditions to combat wildfires, preserve vital ecosystems, and save lives. These heroic men and women should not be forced to face long-term illness or premature death due to smoke exposure on the job. Our bill ensures that firefighters are given the critical protective equipment they need to stay healthy during the long, grueling hours on the front lines protecting us all,” said Senator Padilla. Federal wildland firefighters often work 16-hour shifts in grueling conditions, inhaling toxic smoke. Despite this, federal wildland firefighters were prohibited from wearing respiratory protection despite evidence warning about health risks of wildfire smoke. Studies have shown exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to adverse health impacts, including more than a dozen kinds of cancer. The life expectancy of firefighters is 10 years less than the average adult due to lung damage. In September 2025, USFS posted guidance acknowledging for the first time that respiratory protections can protect firefighters against harmful particles in wildfire smoke and reversing a decades-long rule that banned federal wildland firefighters from wearing respiratory protection while performing wildland firefighting activities. The legislation reinforces this action to ensure the agencies develop respiratory protections for firefighters. The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act specifically would: Direct USFS and DOI to work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to develop appropriate respiratory protections that take into account the unique needs of wildland firefighters. Direct USFS and DOI to provide protection to wildland firefighters and require its use when smoke exposure exceeds NIOSH and OSHA exposure limits. The bill is endorsed by National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, FireGen Collaborative, and former U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell. “We strongly support this legislation to modernize and standardize respiratory protection for wildland firefighters. As wildfire seasons grow longer and more dangerous, our federal wildland firefighters deserve safety standards that reflect the extreme conditions they face. Equally important is the bill’s mandate to determine appropriate equipment and regularly review and update all relevant PPE standards. This ensures that respiratory protection keeps pace with evolving science, operational demands, and the realities of modern fire behavior. Wildland firefighters risk their lives to protect our communities. Establishing clear exposure parameters and reliable respiratory protection is the least we owe to those who stand between our nation and catastrophic fire,” said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). “The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act represents a critical and long-overdue step toward protecting firefighters from prolonged smoke exposure during wildfire. The science is clear: structural and wildland firefighters are routinely exposed to dangerous levels of toxic compounds that far exceed permissible limits, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer has reclassified their occupational exposure as carcinogenic to humans. Senator Schiff and Senator Curtis’ bill addresses the gap for all firefighters fighting wildfire regardless of landscape. From the wildland to the interface to community conflagration, firefighters have no respiratory protection as they cannot wear the typical SCBA worn during structural fires. By requiring appropriate respiratory protection aligned with NFPA 1984 standards through collaboration with NIOSH, OSHA, and the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, this Act can close the gap. As we face increasingly severe wildfire seasons, we cannot ask our firefighters to sacrifice their long-term health. This legislation honors their service by ensuring they have the tools to protect themselves while protecting our communities. I strongly support this bill and urge Congress to pass it swiftly,” said Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, Former U.S. Fire Administrator. “Grassroots Wildland Firefighters would like to thank Senators Schiff and Curtis for introducing legislation that recognizes real environmental hazards wildland firefighters face. For too long the physical health and wellbeing of these responders has been ignored by their own agencies. We enthusiastically endorse theHealthy Lungs for Heroes Act of 2025 and urge all committee members to support this bill. Wildland firefighters’ lives literally depend on it,” said Lucas Mayfield, President, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters. “The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) commends Senators Schiff and Curtis for leading the introduction of the ‘Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act’, and thanks Senators Sheehy and Padilla for their critical support. With two-thirds of fire departments reporting insufficient wildland PPE, many firefighters face dangerous gaps in protection against escalating wildfires. This legislation is a vital step to help ensure every firefighter has the gear they need to stay safe while safeguarding our communities,” said Jim Pauley, NFPA President and CEO. “FireGen Collaborative strongly supports the Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act of 2025. As early career fire personnel, we understand the health disparities we face, and the importance of protecting our health to maintain our longevity and livelihoods. Yet, wildland firefighters face some of the most hazardous working conditions in public service, including chronic exposure to smoke and particulates. This legislation takes a crucial step to ensure that those who protect our communities are protected themselves, with strategies and evidence-based safety standards for protective equipment. We commend Congress for prioritizing the well-being of wildland firefighters and we urge swift passage of this critical measure,” said Ryan Reed, Program Director, FireGeneration Collaborative",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-calls-for-lowering-political-temperature-reforming-social-media-algorithms-at-uvu-townhall,"CURTIS CALLS FOR LOWERING POLITICAL TEMPERATURE, REFORMING SOCIAL MEDIA ALGORITHMS AT UVU TOWNHALL",2025-11-14,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Orem, Utah – At a CNN townhall at Utah Valley University, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) urged Americans to lower political tensions and introduced critical social media reforms. Reflecting on the recent shooting of Charlie Kirk and other high-profile attacks, Senator Curtis warned, “If it can happen here in Utah, it can happen anywhere,” calling for the tempering of political tensions from both sides of the aisle. Curtis focused heavily on the role of social media in driving division and harm, describing how platforms have shifted from connecting friends to weaponizing algorithms for profit. He outlined bipartisan legislation he is working on with Senator Kelly to hold companies liable when their algorithms cause harm, while preserving free speech: “Anybody can still post what they want—but when a company chooses to amplify or suppress content, they should own the consequences.” On contentious issues like guns and immigration, Senator Curtis demonstrated how to model disagreement without division. He highlighted areas of common ground on gun violence, especially suicide prevention and safe storage, and expressed openness to nuanced tools that keep firearms out of the hands of those in crisis while protecting due process and constitutional rights. On immigration, he reaffirmed Utah’s long-standing “Utah Compact” principles: “It’s a false narrative that we can’t obey the rule of law and be compassionate at the same time. We can—and we must—keep families together and uphold our values.” Senator Curtis closed by returning to the theme of trust and community over chaos: “If you wake up looking for the bad in people, you’ll find it. If you wake up looking for the good, you’ll find that too. . . My commitment is to keep looking for the good, to keep working across the aisle, and to do my part every day to bring this country together.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1771,Congresswoman Maloy Issues Statement on Government Funding Legislation,2025-11-12,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,UT,Celeste Maloy,M001228,maloy.house.gov,maloy,https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-02) issued the following statement after the passage of the bill to reopen the federal government: ""Tonight, after 42 days of a government shutdown, the House passed a continuing resolution that allows Congress to complete the full-year budget process. This package also approves three full-year appropriations bills for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, the Legislative Branch, and Agriculture. It ensures that SNAP and WIC remain fully funded, takes care of veterans and active-duty military, and guarantees that federal workers and their families are paid. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am ready to finish the remaining nine funding bills and uphold our responsibility to the American people. This vote provides needed stability for families and communities, and I remain committed to delivering a responsible budget.""",1,2026-04-07T05:38:05Z,2026-04-07T05:39:14Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-statement-on-senate-vote-to-fund-government-end-shutdown,"CURTIS STATEMENT ON SENATE VOTE TO FUND GOVERNMENT, END SHUTDOWN",2025-11-10,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Curtis (R-UT) voted to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and advance critical annual appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food and Drug Administration, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs. Following the Senate’s action, Senator Curtis issued the following statement: “I commend the Senate’s action to end the shutdown that has cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars and negatively impacted the lives of millions of Americans. Utahns deserve far better from Washington. “Over the past 51 years, Congress has managed to pass a proper budget only four times. That is completely unacceptable. It is time to reform the process and restore fiscal responsibility. “I am committed to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to create a long-term solution that prevents either party from holding the government—and the American people—hostage again.” As part of the Military Construction portion of the bill, Senator Curtis secured $162.6 million for key military infrastructure projects in Utah, including:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-hosts-virtual-townhall-during-longest-government-shutdown-in-u-s-history,CURTIS HOSTS VIRTUAL TOWNHALL DURING LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN U.S. HISTORY,2025-11-07,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click here or the image above to watch the townhall Curtis outlined several of his top legislative efforts, including the Fix Our Forests Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at improving forest management and reducing wildfire risks. He also emphasized the need for increased bipartisan cooperation and reaffirmed his commitment to addressing national spending and reforming the federal budget process, pointing to his proposed legislation that would prevent future shutdowns. On preventing future government shutdowns: Question: What can you do to meet budget deadlines in the future so temporarily funding the government isn’t necessary? (Lisa, Ogden) Curtis: I have a bill that is brilliant, in my own opinion, and would solve all of this. . . My bill is remarkably simple: it simply says when you do an appropriation, it doesn’t expire until you do the next appropriation, meaning that would always stay active. You can never go into a shutdown, and until there’s enough pressure to do a new appropriation, that previous one stays in place. On protecting the Senate Filibuster (60-vote threshold to pass legislation in the Senate): Question: What is your view on breaking the Senate filibuster to move forward on a [continuing resolution] and an end to the government shutdown? If against a break in the filibuster, what is the path forward you propose to end the shut down? (Todd, Provo) Curtis: A lot of [senators] feel strongly that we need to keep that 60 vote threshold, and I’m one of them. On ensuring SNAP benefits during the government shutdown: Question: Will you encourage the Trump Administration to use available funds to fully fund SNAP benefits for November? (Ella, Provo) Curtis: Yes, of course. I think we all will. The worry is, there are a number of questions about, are the funds adequate, how long will the funds go and where do these funds come from. And so, I know the courts were weighing in on what President Trump could use and what he couldn’t use. I don’t know anyone that does not want to do everything possible to make sure we’re meeting those SNAP benefits, but at some point, as the shutdown goes on, we run out of those options as well, which is just one of the reasons why shutdowns are bad idea to begin with. On the sustainability of Social Security: Question: When will the issues with Social Security be addressed? Do you see this happening before the trust fund is exhausted and benefits begin being automatically reduced? (Lynn, Cottonwood Heights) Curtis: In my maiden speech [in the senate], I talked about this and how we’re really not being honest with the American people when people said we’re not going to touch Social Security in the last election. Well, that’s not true. In 2034, benefits will be cut by 25 percent. I’ve made a commitment to lean into this. We actually are scheduling three different social security roundtables between now and the end of the year, where we’ll pull together some seniors, some young people and some business people in these three different groups, and we have a calculator that says, if we move the age, here’s what happens; if we move the amount that we take for your paycheck, here’s what happens. We want to bring these people in and help them decide which levers we should pull to save Social Security. I also believe this is another false narrative that you can’t save Social Security and—at the same time—not hurt people or endanger Social Security. But if we don’t make changes for people who are in their 20s or 30s and their 40s now, it will break. On public land management: Question: How can we protect our public lands from environmentalists’ overreach, who want to lock up the land and keep anyone from being able to use it? (Stephen, Moab) Curtis: I believe it’s a false narrative to say that we can’t protect and preserve public lands and use them, recreate in them, and enjoy them. . . . I’ve watched firsthand places like Emery County resolve these public lands issues in a way that accommodates both. We did one of the state’s largest public land bills ever, and we brought in all the stakeholders, the ranchers, the extraction the environmentalists, the off-road enthusiasts, and we designated areas where it was appropriate to recreate, where it was appropriate to extract, where it was appropriate to preserve. And you know what we found? That there was enough room for all of it. . . . What happens, unfortunately, is we get into these executive orders that go around Congress, and when you go around Congress, you don’t get consensus. And therefore, as the President comes in, you do this flip flopping back and forth between Republicans and Democrats. And really, the best answer to your question is to not let the executive branch do that, but put it into legislation. Because if it’s in legislation, that means we had to find consensus between these different groups. And I’m telling you; we can find consensus. On tariffs: Question: Will Congress take back the power to create international tariffs if the Supreme Court rules against the president? How would that look? (Brooke, Draper)",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/senator-mike-lee-leads-amicus-brief-urging-supreme-court-to-end-baseball-s-antitrust-exemption,Senator Mike Lee Leads Amicus Brief Urging Supreme Court to End Baseball’s Antitrust Exemption,2025-11-07,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) announced today that he is leading an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn a century-old precedent that has long shielded professional baseball from the nation’s antitrust laws. Senator Lee serves as Chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights and is joined on the amicus brief by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), the subcommittee’s Ranking Member. “For too long, Major League Baseball has enjoyed an exemption from the competition laws that apply to every other professional sport and business in America,” said Senator Mike Lee. “As I’ve said before, baseball understands best of all the benefits of competition. Sadly, our Supreme Court has historically balked at the opportunity to overturn a wrongly decided case, and subject professional baseball to the same competition laws as every other professional sport. It is time for America’s pastime to be revitalized by the laws governing all American businesses.” “For over a century, professional baseball has enjoyed a free pass to break the rules of fair competition because of a flawed Supreme Court ruling—one that the Court itself has acknowledged was a mistake,” said Senator Cory Booker. “The one-of-a-kind antitrust exemption gives leagues the power to artificially control salaries, ticket prices, team relocations, and more, harming players and baseball fans alike. It’s time the Court fix this error and ensure that baseball, like every other sport, plays by the same rules of fair competition.” Background In 1922, the Supreme Court ruled that professional baseball was exempt from federal antitrust laws — a decision that has since been widely criticized as incorrectly decided. Although the Court has repeatedly acknowledged the ruling’s flaws over the years, it has declined to take responsibility for reversing it, leaving Congress or future Courts to act. This exemption has allowed Major League Baseball to suppress player wages, divide markets, and restrict competition in ways that other leagues such as the NFL and NBA are prohibited from doing. The persistence of this outdated judicial carveout continues to distort the free market and disadvantage players, teams, and fans alike. Senator Lee’s bipartisan amicus brief calls upon the Supreme Court to end this anomaly and by applying America’s antitrust laws uniformly across the professional sports industry. The brief argues that the Court has both the authority and the obligation to correct its past error and bring baseball into alignment with modern competition law. Read the full text of the amicus brief here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/lee-bill-deregulates-life-saving-transplants-for-americans-with-diabetes,Lee Bill Deregulates Life-Saving Transplants for Americans with Diabetes,2025-11-05,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today to cut nonsensical bureaucratic red tape preventing life-saving islet transplants for diabetic Americans. The Increase Support for Life-saving Endocrine Transplantation (ISLET) Act corrects a miscategorization of islets as drugs rather than organs – cutting through unnecessary regulations keeping critical surgeries out of reach. The legislation is sponsored by U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) and endorsed by Islets for US Collaborative, The Cure Alliance, and the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. “Americans living with diabetes have been kept from life-saving research by nonsensical red tape from the federal government,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Other countries treat islet transplantation as standard care, but a miscategorization in our law regulates islet as drugs rather than organs. My ISLET ACT fixes this bureaucratic mess to bring America up to speed and make critical care available to those with Type 1 diabetes.” “As the U.S. continues to lead the world in modern medicine, we should expand patient access to effective therapies rather than overregulating treatments,” said Senator Ted Budd. “I am proud to introduce this important legislation alongside Senator Lee to place islets under a less strict regulatory framework to expand access to proven treatment methods for Type 1 Diabetes,” “This long-awaited legislation brings hope to patients with Type 1 diabetes across the United States. It will make a life-saving procedure accessible for those in desperate need, while also enabling further progress in the field and advancing the pursuit of a cure for diabetes. I wholeheartedly support the Islet Act of behalf of the Islets for US Collaborative representing scientific and medical leaders in the field from the leading US academic institutions.” – Piotr Witkowski, M.D. Ph.D, Director, Pancreatic Islet and Pancreas Transplantation Program, Islets for US Collaborative “It is with the highest level of enthusiasm that I endorse the ISLET Act. Finally, Americans with diabetes will be able to benefit from islet transplantation, a treatment that has already been approved, available and reimbursable around the world. We now have a chance to join the rest of the developed world, where islet transplants are regulated similarly to organ transplants, making the treatment available also in the U.S. while further contributing to advancing the field worldwide.” – Camillo Ricordi, MD, FNAI, The Cure Alliance The ISLET Act: Updates the current definition of organ in the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to include “human cadaveric islets.” This would authorize HRSA and OPTN to regulate islets as organs. Prohibits HHS from regulating pancreatic islets as drugs under the Food Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDCA). Prohibits HHS from regulating pancreatic islets as biological products or Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular/Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps) under the Public Health Service Act (PHSA). Requires the Secretary of HHS to update all regulations within a year of enactment to reflect the previously mentioned changes. Requires the Secretary of HHS to submit a report to Congress on its progress within 6 months of the date of enactment.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/lee-introduces-safer-supervision-act-to-reduce-repeat-crime-and-waste,Lee Introduces Safer Supervision Act to Reduce Repeat Crime and Waste,2025-11-05,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Safer Supervision Act to improve efficiency of supervised release programs and reduce repeat crime and government waste. The bipartisan legislation restores Congress’ original intent for law enforcement to focus on high-risk criminals to keep America’s streets safe and for tax dollars to be spent where they are most effective. The Safer Supervision Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chris Coons (D-DE), James Lankford (R-OK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Roger Wicker (R-MS). “Probation officers and judges know exactly which criminals are high-risk repeat offenders in need of monitoring through supervised release,” said Senator Mike Lee. “But when runaway government programs tie judges’ hands and spread officers’ time too thin, our streets become dangerous and the same people return to prison again and again. The bipartisan Safer Supervision Act allows our law enforcement to focus on the most dangerous criminals to reduce both repeated crime and government waste at the same time.” “Supervised release should be based on individual facts to help those who need it most integrate back into society,” said Senator Kevin Cramer. “Our bill ensures supervision is imposed on those who are at higher risk of recidivism and ensures our supervision system is not overburdened.” “For far too long, our federal supervision system has failed to deliver real rehabilitation for those who served their time, harming former prisoners and the public as a whole,” said Senator Chris Coons. “After people complete their sentences, they deserve a fair chance to rebuild their lives. The Safer Supervision Act will help focus our resources where they're needed most, thereby improving public safety and giving all those under supervision an opportunity to succeed. I urge my colleagues and this administration to follow through on the promise of improving our justice and prison systems by taking up this bipartisan effort.” “Oklahomans want a fair justice system that addresses violent crime and focuses on rehabilitation so individuals who are not a threat to public safety can get back to their families, jobs, and communities,” said Senator James Lankford. “I’m glad to partner with my colleagues to make these commonsense adjustments to our nation’s federal supervised release program. Supervised release is an important tool but should be tailored to the individual. We should continue to incentivize good behavior and give people second chances when they earn them.” “Supervised release should help people turn their lives around, not trap them in red tape,” said Senator Thom Tillis. “This bill will ensure supervision is focused where it’s needed most, give people a real opportunity to rebuild their lives, and allow probation officers to focus on keeping our communities safe.” “This legislation would return the supervision system to Congress’ original intent,” said Senator Roger Wicker. “Supervised release should be extended based on individual circumstances to those integrating back into society. Such an approach would channel more resources to improving public safety, supporting rehabilitation, and reducing recidivism.” The bill has been endorsed by a wide range of conservative, law enforcement, and faith groups, including America First Policy Institute, Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Club for Growth, Right on Crime, Major Cities Chiefs Association, National District Attorneys Association, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, American Probation and Parole Association, REFORM Alliance, Unify.US, Americans for Prosperity, Faith and Freedom Coalition, Due Process Institute, Prison Fellowship, United States Conference of Mayors, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Futures Without Violence, Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, and others. “The Safer Supervision Act embodies CPAC’s conservative principles of accountability and redemption,” said Patrick Plein, Director of the Conservative Political Action Conference’s Nolan Center for Justice. “By incentivizing positive behavior and providing a path for early termination of supervision for those who have proven themselves worthy, Congress can help probation officers focus on those who really are in need of intensive supervision. This targeted approach places resources where they belong, helping stop crimes before they happen, shielding families and neighborhoods from preventable victimization. Giving probation officers these tools for success improves public safety. Advancing this legislation will make our neighborhoods safer by ensuring proactive, targeted oversight where it is needed most.” ""NDAA supports the Safer Supervision Act which emphasizes individualized assessments at the sentencing stage, leading to a more tailored and just application of supervised release,” said Nelson Bunn, Executive Director of the National District Attorneys Association. “Additionally, the increased support for federal probation officers enables them to manage their caseloads more effectively and focus on the high-risk individuals who need close supervision. The Safer Supervision Act strikes the right balance of fairness, rehabilitation, and our unwavering commitment to public safety."" ""I am proud to stand with Senator Lee, a true Constitutionalist, in standing up for freedom and public safety,” said David McIntosh, President of Club for Growth. “Senator Lee's SAFER Supervision Act will advance the cause of freedom, enhance safety for American families, and save money for American taxpayers. I applaud Senator Lee for continuing to lead the way.” “Supervised release should serve one clear purpose: to improve public safety,” said Brett Tolman, Executive Director of Right On Crime and former U.S. Attorney. “Today, hundreds of thousands of Americans remain under supervision long after demonstrating rehabilitation. This outdated system wastes taxpayer dollars and strains law enforcement resources. The Safer Supervision Act restores focus and balance—prioritizing accountability, rehabilitation, and the safe reintegration of individuals into their communities.” “The MCCA offers a strong endorsement of the Safer Supervision Act of 2025,” said Chief Harold Medina of the Albuquerque Police Department, President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association. “The legislation strikes the proper balance of reform and public safety. The bill will ultimately ensure the supervised release system provides relief to non-violent offenders while holding repeat and violent offenders accountable. The MCCA thanks the bipartisan cosponsors for their leadership on this issue.” ""The Safer Supervision Act is a commonsense, bipartisan reform that strengthens both public safety and the integrity of federal supervision. By restoring judicial discretion, incentivizing rehabilitation, and ensuring resources are focused where they’re most needed, this legislation helps our system work smarter and fairer,"" said Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) National President Mathew Silverman. ""Just as importantly, it recognizes the vital role of Federal Probation and Pretrial Services Officers by addressing longstanding inequities and improving the support they need to manage growing caseloads. We applaud the bill sponsors for their leadership and commitment to safer, more effective supervision.” “The SAFER Supervision Act aligns with APPA's National Standards for Community Supervision by recognizing what research and experience show — that supervision officers require manageable caseloads to reduce recidivism and keep communities safe,” said American Probation and Parole Association Executive Director and CEO Veronica Cunningham. “When caseloads are smaller, officers can concentrate on developing tailored individualized case plans that include evidence-based interventions and strategies to address underlying challenges. A widely accepted framework in community supervision, the Risk-Needs-Responsivity model, emphasizes individualized assessments as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach, relationship-based supervision, and directing resources where they are most needed. These principles enable officers to foster positive, supportive relationships, ultimately leading to better outcomes. This crucial legislation enables our federal probation officers to use the tools that research has proven to be effective and beneficial to those assigned to supervision and society as a whole.” “Unify.US strongly supports the Safer Supervision Act,” said Timothy R. Head, President of Unify.US. “This conservative proposal updates and modernizes the federal probation system to improve community safety. The legislation was developed by conservative policymakers in the House and Senate in response to an unsustainable increase in the number of people sentenced to federal supervision after they have been incarcerated. If enacted, it would foster accountability, incentivize good behavior, and reduce the number of cases where supervision is no longer necessary. Making the justice system more effective without having to turn to increased spending is a hallmark of sound policy and good governance. Unify.US is proud to stand with the authors of this important proposal."" “The Safer Supervision Act will ensure our justice system continues to hold people accountable while shifting focus to rehabilitation, community success, and breaking cycles of crime,” said Jessica Jackson, Chief Advocacy and Operations Officer at REFORM Alliance. “The evidence-based policies in this legislation build upon supervision reform laws successfully implemented in red and blue states alike that make the system work better for everyone – people on supervision, supervision officers, crime survivors, our workforce, and the entire country. REFORM Alliance is proud to be a member of the Safer Supervision Coalition endorsing this bill and we applaud the authors for taking this important step toward making communities safer, saving taxpayer dollars and improving outcomes for people on supervised release.” “Prison Fellowship supports the Safer Supervision Act because it reflects our belief that every person has God-given dignity and the potential to change,” said Heather Rice-Minus, President & CEO, Prison Fellowship. “This legislation strengthens accountability while advancing public safety, creating a system that restores lives, supports officers, and builds safer, more hopeful communities.” ""The Safer Supervision Act is a responsible, data-driven approach to improving federal probation and supervised release,” said Jason Pye, Vice President of Due Process Institute. “Today, too many low-risk individuals are trapped in a cycle of technical violations that waste taxpayer dollars and distract officers from focusing on real threats to public safety. This bill strengthens accountability by targeting supervision resources where they are most needed. It also reduces unnecessary incarceration and encourages rehabilitation for those who want to work and contribute to society. By modernizing outdated practices and emphasizing evidence-based oversight, the Safer Supervision Act delivers smarter justice, supports victims, and keeps communities secure without growing government or compromising safety."" Background Approximately 110,000 individuals are currently serving federal supervised release, a form of supervision that follows incarceration. As the Supreme Court has explained, Congress designed the supervision system to be used “for those, and only those, who needed it.” In practice, however, supervised release is now imposed in virtually every case, leading to a significantly overburdened system. Probation officers report lacking the time and resources to adequately supervise high-risk individuals as they reintegrate into society. To make matters worse, the supervision system often produces counterproductive effects for low-risk defendants, inhibiting their reintegration and increasing the likelihood of recidivism. The Safer Supervision Act will better allocate resources for improved public safety, rehabilitation, and reintegration to reduce recidivism and better support law enforcement. The Safer Supervision Act: Imposes supervision based on individual case facts. Courts will be required to conduct an individualized assessment of the appropriateness of supervision and to state their reasons on the record. This will ensure supervision is imposed when warranted by the facts rather than being imposed automatically in every case. Creates positive incentives encouraging rehabilitation and good conduct. Current law allows individuals to seek early termination of supervision, but provides little guidance to courts on how to make that determination. This bill will create a rebuttable presumption in favor of early termination when the individual has served 50 percent of their term (or 2/3 for violent offenses), has shown good conduct and compliance, and when termination would not jeopardize public safety. This presumption would further ensure that limited supervision resources are being directed to the cases that warrant it, while also creating strong positive incentives for individuals to take necessary steps to rehabilitate and reintegrate. The bill will also remove an existing bar that prevents early termination from being requested before one year has been served. Provides courts with discretion on minor controlled substance possession violations. Although supervision can always be revoked for any violation of supervision conditions, revocation and reimprisonment is mandatory in certain circumstances, including for any possession of any controlled substance. The bill will create a narrow carveout giving courts discretion regarding reimprisonment or treatment/rehabilitation for minor misdemeanor possession offenses that do not involve intent to distribute. Clarifies earned time credit use parameters. Existing law inadvertently punishes people who are not sentenced to supervised release by prohibiting them from using their earned time credits in the same way as others. The bill addresses this loophole and thus helps ensure resources are directed to the largest public safety threats.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-co-leads-letter-establish-defense-innovation-onramp-hub-utah,Rep. Kennedy co-leads letter to Establish Defense Innovation “OnRamp Hub” in Utah,2025-11-04,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03), alongside the Utah congressional delegation, in a letter urging the Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to give full and fair consideration to the 47G Aerospace and Defense Association's application for an “ OnRamp Hub” designation in Utah. The proposed hub would accelerate the development and deployment of cutting-edge commercial technologies to strengthen the U.S. warfighter, enhance defense capabilities, and expand the national security innovation base in Utah. “Utah has proven it can lead the nation in innovation and defense,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “Continued investment in this industry is critical, not just for our national security, but for Utah’s future as a hub of advanced technology, innovation, and opportunity. I’m happy to support the people and partnerships that keep our state moving forward. ” Background Utah’s aerospace and defense sector supports more than 500,000 jobs, generates over $100 billion in economic output, and contributes $1 billion in annual tax revenue. The 47G Aerospace and Defense Association, a public-private partnership backed by the State of Utah and nearly 200 member organizations, works to sustain Utah’s leadership in aerospace and defense by advancing workforce development, increasing capital access, and spurring innovation. A recent Defense Innovation Unit review identified more than a dozen opportunities across DIU’s seven Technology Portfolio areas that are ready for strategic engagement in Utah’s thriving innovation ecosystem. With industry wages rising 31 percent over the past five years and statewide GDP growth exceeding 60 percent, Utah stands out as a national leader in defense-driven economic growth. The letter encourages full and fair consideration for the establishment of an OnRamp Hub in Utah that would build on the state’s proven growth. An OnRamp Hub is a regional innovation center under the Defense Innovation Unit that connects private-sector innovators with the Department of Defense to test, scale, and deploy new technologies for national security. Utah’s growing defense economy and talent pipeline make it well-suited for this designation, positioning the state to continue leading the nation in innovation and bolstering America’s defense.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-cantwell-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-supercharge-u-s-fusion-manufacturing,"CURTIS, CANTWELL INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO SUPERCHARGE U.S. FUSION MANUFACTURING",2025-10-31,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today introduced the Fusion Advanced Manufacturing Parity Act, innovative bipartisan legislation to strengthen American competitiveness in fusion energy and secure domestic supply chains fusion components. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House by Reps. Carol Miller (R-WV), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Don Beyer (D-VA). The bill enables critical fusion energy technologies to access the federal Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit (Section 45X) to include critical fusion energy technologies, providing a 25% production tax credit for qualifying components. By doing so, it aligns federal tax incentives with the realities of next-generation energy innovation and helps ensure that the United States lead the way in commercializing fusion energy. “Fusion energy represents the kind of bold, American innovation that built the West and can power our future,” said Senator Curtis. “This bill ensures we’re not just competing in the fusion race, we’re winning it by manufacturing these critical components here at home, creating good-paying jobs, and securing our energy independence for the next century.” “The State of Washington is the world’s leading hub for fusion energy, which could one day soon could provide vast amounts of the type of power we need to keep electricity prices down and increase America’s economic competitiveness,” said Senator Cantwell. “Providing tax incentives for fusion components will help ensure that the fusion supply chain will also be manufactured and create jobs in the Pacific Northwest.” Key Provisions of the Fusion Advanced Manufacturing Parity Act: Extends the 45X Tax Credit: Adds a 25% production tax credit for domestically manufactured fusion energy components. Broad Definition of Eligible Components: Covers a wide array of components that benefit the entire fusion industry including superconducting magnets, plasma vacuum vessels, high-voltage capacitors, fusion heating systems, and more. Critical Mineral Expansion: Updates the federal critical mineral list to include fusion-relevant materials such as deuterium, tritium, helium-3, lithium compounds, tungsten, and vanadium. Fusion energy offers the promise of abundant, zero-carbon electricity. Commercializing this potential will require not only scientific breakthroughs, but also a robust domestic manufacturing base to build the advanced systems fusion requires. The Fusion Advanced Manufacturing Parity Act is the latest in a series of bipartisan efforts to align U.S. energy policy with innovation and industrial leadership. By strengthening domestic supply chains and boosting private investment, the legislation helps ensure that fusion becomes a reality—made in America, by Americans. The bill is supported by leaders in the fusion industry, advanced manufacturing sectors, and national security experts who recognize the importance of energy independence and supply chain resilience in an increasingly competitive world. Bill text can be found here. A one-pager can be found here. Additional Reading:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-urges-federal-action-critical-northern-corridor-highway-project,Rep. Kennedy Urges Federal Action on Critical Northern Corridor Highway Project,2025-10-29,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03) joined members of Utah’s congressional delegation in sending a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to move forward with the Northern Corridor Highway alignment through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. In the letter, the delegation highlights that the Northern Corridor was approved in 2020 following a thorough Environmental Impact Statement under the Trump Administration. This decision was grounded in years of planning, consultation, and recognition of the urgent transportation needs facing Washington County. The Utah congressional delegation supports the current Administration’s efforts to restore that commonsense, locally driven solution after it was reversed by the Biden Administration in 2024. “This route was carefully studied and approved back in 2020 after years of local planning and community input,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “The Biden administration’s reversal of this project has only made traffic and safety challenges in Washington County worse. Local leaders know what’s best for their communities, and I am proud to support Washington County in their efforts to meet the needs of their community.” Background In their letter to Secretary Burgum, members of the Utah delegation reaffirm that the Bureau of Land Management’s 2020 approval of the Northern Corridor Highway alignment followed an exhaustive environmental review process led by the Trump Administration. The letter underscores that this decision reflected years of planning, local consultation, and recognition of Washington County’s urgent transportation and safety needs. The Biden Administration’s 2024 reversal of this approval and proposal to expand Red Hills Parkway would increase traffic congestion, displace local businesses, and undermine public safety in one of Utah’s fastest-growing regions. As the letter notes, such an approach would be “bad for business, bad for families, and bad for the long-term health of Washington County’s economy.” The letter reaffirms that Washington County and the State of Utah are best positioned to understand and respond to local infrastructure challenges. The letter calls on BLM to reinstate the Utah Department of Transportation’s right-of-way grant for the Northern Corridor and to move forward with the Trump Administration’s preferred alternative, which offers the most balanced and least disruptive solution to the region’s transportation demands while meeting environmental standards mandated by law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-presses-tech-giants-on-algorithms,CURTIS PRESSES TECH GIANTS ON ALGORITHMS,2025-10-29,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click here or above to watch Curtis’ line of questioning Senator Curtis underscored that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act was crafted to protect platforms acting in good faith as neutral hosts—not to provide blanket immunity for business choices that can intensify harms on debate or potentially radicalize individuals. In a question to the panel, Curtis draws a distinction from the original intent of Section 230 protections and its modern application: “We all know that Section 230 was meant to protect platforms that acted in good faith,” said Curtis. “But when an algorithm downranks speech or drives users towards extremism because it’s good for engagement, is that really good faith moderation? And should Section 230 immunity apply when you as a company or industry make decisions that magnify certain content and downgrade other content?” During questioning, Senator Curtis warned executives that Americans will look back on these hearing as they did when tobacco companies testified that smoking had no negative health impacts. Curtis challenged Markham Erickson, representing Google, about what keeps people on their platforms: “I actually think this is going to be a lot like the tobacco hearings. You’re saying, years from now, when we look back in history, there’s going to be no study or internal conversations that says, ‘it’s good to have people stay on our platform longer?’” To which Erickson replied, “Senator, we want people to stay on our platforms.” View a post on this exchange here. Later, Will Creeley of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression showed weariness of further government regulation, prompting Curtis to state: “The interference starts when [tech companies] apply an algorithm to content… the moment you make a decision to magnify [that content], do you not own that decision?” Curtis concluded his remarks with calls to further discussions on this topic, raising questions on why tech companies’ interference deserves protection from the law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-statement-at-epw-subcommittee-hearing-on-chemical-regulation,CURTIS STATEMENT AT EPW SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON CHEMICAL REGULATION,2025-10-23,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"As prepared for delivery: “Thank you, and welcome everyone to today’s subcommittee hearing on the impacts of the regulatory environment for new and existing chemicals, a subject that lies at the intersection of innovation, safety, and US competitiveness. I will let our Ranking Member introduce Dr. Woodruff in his opening remarks. “Today, we will hear from both sides of the chemical equation, from Huntsman Corporation, represented by President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Huntsman, and from Boeing, represented by Dr. Gwen Gross, Senior Technical Fellow in Composites and Chemical Technology and Chief Chemist. The two witnesses bring critical perspectives. Mr. Huntsman leads a company whose core business is the development of new chemistries that enable the deployment of safer, more efficient, and more effective products in the United States. “Dr. Gross represents a major customer of those materials, an aerospace manufacturer whose ability to incorporate new chemistries into aircraft is essential to maximizing the safety and performance of aircraft and maintaining American competitiveness. “Together, their perspectives embody the essential relationship between chemical manufacturers and their customers – those who depend on chemical innovation to drive American industry forward. Every day, American chemical manufacturers like Huntsman invest billions of dollars in research and development to produce new materials that can reduce emissions, improve safety, and maintain U.S. industrial competitiveness. These new chemistries enable lighter, stronger, and more efficient products to reach the market – from cars to aircraft to medical devices. “However, regulatory delays or ambiguities in the chemical approval process can stifle that innovation, forcing companies to move research overseas or abandon promising materials altogether. That’s not good for workers, consumers, or the environment. On the other end of the supply chain are manufacturers like Boeing, companies that rely on those new chemistries to build world-class products that meet the highest safety standards on earth. “Dr. Gross and her team work every day to integrate next generation replacement materials into aircrafts, a lengthy approval process involving – in this example – EPA in addition to FAA or DoD. When the regulations guiding chemical approvals change faster than the relevant agencies can deliver the chemical approvals and certifications, companies like Boeing are caught in a difficult position, hamstrung by a process that may actually prevent safer or more efficient replacement chemicals from ever reaching final products. “These regulatory bottlenecks can ripple across the entire aerospace supply chain, impacting thousands of suppliers and hundreds of thousands of workers. Our challenge, therefore, is not whether to regulate chemicals, of course we must, but how to do so in a way that protects public health and the environment without stifling American innovation. “We must ensure that our regulatory system keeps pace with modern science, supports collaboration between EPA and other relevant agencies, and gives both chemical manufacturers and their customers the certainty they need to invest, produce, and compete globally. America cannot lead in advanced manufacturing if our innovators do not have a chemical approval system that works.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/10/lee-bill-protects-american-businesses-from-revenge-lawsuits-by-climate-extremists,Lee Bill Protects American Businesses from Revenge Lawsuits by Climate Extremists,2025-10-23,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today to protect Americans from lawfare by climate extremists. The Fair Air Enforcement Act will stop the weaponization of the judicial system by outlawing citizen suits under the Clean Air Act, which has been used by political groups to hurt Americans and their businesses. “Climate extremists are weaponizing our judicial system against Americans and their small businesses,” said Senator Mike Lee. “It’s time for this to stop. Americans deserve the freedom to do as they please with their own property without fearing crushing regulations. The Fair Air Enforcement Act will prevent partisan political groups from abusing the legal process to drag private citizens and industries through frivolous lawsuits.” The Fair Air Enforcement Act: Amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit lawsuits by private citizens alleging violations of its provisions. Requires such enforcement lawsuits to be brought by state governments and relevant agencies. Makes conforming changes to other sections of U.S. code referencing the amended provision. Read full text of the Fair Air Enforcement Act here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-resolution-officially-designate-coal-week,Rep. Kennedy Introduces Resolution to Officially Designate ‘Coal Week’,2025-10-22,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03) introduced a resolution officially designating the week beginning October 19, 2025, as “Coal Week.” The resolution recognizes the vital contributions of America’s coal industry to national energy security, economic stability, and community strength across the country. “For generations, coal has fueled American industry and powered progress,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03). “As we continue to innovate, we should honor the hardworking men and women who keep our lights on and our economy strong. I’m proud to officially designate this week as ‘Coal Week’ and recognize their vital role in America’s energy security and prosperity.” “In West Virginia, coal is more than a natural resource — it’s a way of life. Coal has been the backbone of American energy for generations and will continue to be for generations to come,” said Congressman Riley Moore (WV-02). “I’m proud to cosponsor this resolution designating this week as ‘Coal Week’ to honor the men and women who power this nation every single day. Their work is essential to the American way of life.” “American coal is a cornerstone of our country’s energy history and greatness,” said Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09) . “This resolution to designate this week as ‘Coal Week’ reflects the Republican commitment to honor an industry essential to American energy dominance and manufacturing might.” ""I am introducing a resolution to make this week 'Coal Week' because we must never forget the industry that powers America and sustains Wyoming families with good-paying jobs,"" said Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). ""For years, the Biden and Obama administrations waged a relentless war on American coal, killing jobs, undermining our communities, and driving up energy costs for everyday Americans. Under President Trump's pro-energy leadership, we are fighting back and reversing that destructive agenda. As it gets colder, coal becomes even more important - providing the reliable energy Americans need to heat their homes and keep their lights on through winter. Wyoming coal is reliable American energy, and I won't apologize for celebrating the miners and families who deliver it."" “Nearly half of Utah’s electricity generation is produced from coal and our state boasts some of the lowest electricity costs in the country,” said Senator Mike Lee (R-UT). “Coal fired generation built this country and will continue to provide reliable power for decades to come. I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution supporting the designation of Coal Week and will continue to work as Chairman of ENR to end the war on reliable, affordable energy.” “While AI and data centers drive electricity demands increasingly higher on an already stressed grid, and the world’s steel-hungry infrastructure, construction and emerging markets continue to grow, America’s coal miners are ready to meet the need by supplying abundant, affordable and reliable energy and materials to consumers,"" said National Mining Association President and CEO, Rich Nolan. ""I thank Representatives Mike Kennedy, Morgan Griffith, Dan Meuser, Riley Moore, and Carol Miller for their strong support of the Coal Week Resolution and urge its passage.” Background Coal provided 19.5% of U.S. utility-scale electricity in 2022 and remains the most abundant energy source worldwide, accounting for 36% of global electricity. The industry supports tens of thousands of U.S. jobs across mining, manufacturing, and transportation. Recognizing “Coal Week” reaffirms America’s commitment to reliable, affordable energy and to the communities that keep the lights on. Rep. Kennedy’s resolution officially designates the week beginning October 19, 2025, as “Coal Week,” honoring the men and women of the coal industry and recognizing coal’s vital contribution to energy security, military readiness, and economic stability. The Senate companion resolution is led by Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Mike Lee (R-UT), and the initiative has received support from the National Mining Association and other regional stakeholders.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/recap-fourth-annual-conservative-climate-summit,RECAP: FOURTH ANNUAL CONSERVATIVE CLIMATE SUMMIT,2025-10-22,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"“The Conservative Climate Summit continues to show that conservatives are leading with practical, durable solutions for our environment and economy. Utahns care deeply about clean air, healthy forests, and reliable, affordable energy—and we know those goals are not in conflict,” Curtis said following the summit. “By championing innovation, empowering local communities, and responsible land and resource management, we can protect what makes Utah special without sacrificing our prosperity. The summit is about action over ideology, and this year’s program proved no different. I am grateful to the University of Utah for hosting us again this year and to everyone who came ready to engage in candid, solutions-driven conversation about the future of energy, water, and conservation in our state.” The day’s agenda highlighted Utah’s leadership in next-generation energy and land stewardship, featuring conversations on renewables, nuclear, geothermal, and healthy forests/wildfire mitigation. The summit underscored Senator Curtis’s “all-of-the-above” approach to energy and his bipartisan work on forest management. Background",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/senate-advances-fix-our-forests-act-marking-key-progress-to-combat-wildfires,"SENATE ADVANCES FIX OUR FORESTS ACT, MARKING KEY PROGRESS TO COMBAT WILDFIRES",2025-10-21,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"One of the most significant steps forward in federal wildfire policy in recent decades streamlines processes to protect communities while restoring forest health Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) today applauded the advancement of the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act through the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry by a bipartisan vote of 18-5. The legislation would help combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient. The comprehensive Senate bill reflects months of negotiations to find consensus on how to holistically respond to the wildfire crisis, best improve forest management practices, accelerate efforts to protect communities, advance watershed restoration, and strengthen partnerships between federal agencies, states, Tribes, and private stakeholders. The Senate version of the bill would also bolster coordination efforts across federal agencies through a new Wildfire Intelligence Center, which would streamline the federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combating wildfires. A one-pager on the Senate Fix Our Forests Act is available here. “In Utah and across the West, we face a growing crisis of overgrown, unhealthy forests. Thanks to the cooperation of both parties, we are confronting the challenge head‑on and now one step closer to passing legislation that will deliver essential tools to combat wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive,” said Senator Curtis. “I commend the Committee’s action and look forward to the bill’s swift passage by the full Senate.” “The status quo around wildfires isn’t working and far too many Americans have paid the price,” said Senator Padilla. “The families I’ve met who have lost everything to the devastation in Los Angeles and in wildfire disasters across the country deserve action. That’s why we’re coming together to confront this crisis and rethink how we prevent and respond. Today’s advancement of our bipartisan bill is real progress toward protecting Americans and our environment through forward-thinking, practical wildfire solutions.” “There is a wildfire crisis across much of the country – our communities need action now,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Wildfires won’t wait. After bipartisan committee passage, the next step is a full Senate vote. The Fix Our Forests Act will make our communities and environment more resilient.” “Better stewardship of our forests is not a partisan issue; it’s an imperative to securing a stronger economy, healthier forests, and safer communities. I’m proud to see the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act move forward in the legislative process, and I’ll continue fighting alongside my colleagues to enact commonsense reforms that ensure proper forest management, unleash the resource economy, and protect American communities from the threat of wildfire,” said Senator Sheehy. The American West has long been prone to wildfires, but prolonged drought and the buildup of dry fuels have increasingly intensified these fires and extended fire seasons. Wildfires today are more catastrophic — growing larger, spreading faster, and burning more land than ever before. Nationwide, total acres burned rose from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024, a 231 percent increase. To address these challenges, the Fix Our Forests Act would: Establish new and updated programs to reduce wildfire risks across large, high-priority “firesheds,” with an emphasis on cross-jurisdictional collaboration. Streamline and expand tools for forest health projects (e.g., stewardship contracting, Good Neighbor Agreements) and provide faster processes for certain hazardous fuels treatments. Create a single interagency program to help communities in the wildland-urban interface build and retrofit with wildfire-resistant measures, while simplifying and consolidating grant applications. Expand research and demonstration initiatives — including biochar projects and the Community Wildfire Defense Research Program — to test and deploy cutting-edge wildfire prevention, detection, and mitigation technologies. Strengthen coordination efforts across agencies through a new Wildfire Intelligence Center which would streamline the federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combating wildfires. Improve reforestation, seedling supply, and nursery capacity; establish new programs for white oak restoration; and clarify policies to reduce wildfire-related litigation and expedite forest health treatments. Supporters of the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act include Utah Governor Spencer Cox; California Governor Gavin Newsom; Colorado Governor Jared Polis; Montana Governor Greg Gianforte; Western Governors’ Association; California Natural Resources Agency; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; California State Association of Counties; Rural County Representatives of California; California Fire Chiefs Association; California Fire Service Leadership Alliance; County of Los Angeles; The Nature Conservancy; National Wildlife Federation; Environmental Defense Fund; National Audubon Society; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; California Farm Bureau; Federation of American Scientists; Citizens’ Climate Lobby; The Stewardship Project; Megafire Action; Climate and Wildfire Institute; International Association of Fire Chiefs; Alliance for Wildfire Resilience; Wildfire Alliance; American Forests; Tall Timbers; National Water Resources Association; National Association of State Departments of Agriculture; National Association of State Foresters; American Property Casualty Insurance Association; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation; Hispanics Enjoy Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors; Utah Department of Natural Resources; Colorado Department of Natural Resources; Colorado State Forest Service; Colorado State Fire Chiefs Wildland Section; Colorado Water Congress; Rocky Mountain Elk; and Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. The Western Governors’ Association wrote to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry leadership yesterday to express their strong support for the continued advancement of the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act: “Western Governors are encouraged by the development of bipartisan legislation to improve forest management and mitigate wildfire risk. As the wildfire crisis has worsened in recent years, Western Governors have developed and advocated for a range of policy recommendations to promote healthy western forests that can continue to provide our communities with jobs, recreation, quality of life, and important ecosystem services. S. 1462, the Fix Our Forests Act, advances many of our recommendations, and we are eager to continue to work with the Committee to support critical forest management reforms through the legislative process.” Additional letters of support from elected officials, environmental groups, first responders, and wildfire organizations are available here. A full list of national supporters can be found here. Earlier this year, Senators Curtis, Padilla, Hickenlooper, and Sheehy praised the continued progress of their Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act, as it received a legislative hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The Senators have also announced growing support from state and local government officials, community leaders, and industry stakeholders for the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act. In April, Padilla highlighted the Senate Fix Our Forests Act after joining federal and state emergency officials for a tour of the Pacific Palisades fire recovery area led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-upper-price-river-watershed-project-act-help-price,Rep. Kennedy Introduces Upper Price River Watershed Project Act to Help Price Address Long-Term Drought Challenges,2025-10-17,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Representative Mike Kennedy (R-UT), alongside Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Upper Price River Watershed Project Act to authorize the transfer of 124 acres of Bureau of Land Management land to the City of Price for the construction of a reservoir that will expand water storage and improve drought resilience across central Utah. Nearly 80 percent of Utah remains in severe or extreme drought, and communities throughout the state continue to face recurring water shortages that threaten farms and local economies. The City of Price has developed the Upper Price River Watershed Project to address those shortages by building the Lower Price River Reservoir, a 7,000-acre-foot facility that will increase storage capacity, improve delivery systems, and make better use of the water already available in the watershed. The project requires a small portion of BLM land for the reservoir site and for rerouting the existing Consumers Road around it. Once completed, the reservoir will help stabilize water supplies for both agriculture and residents in one of Utah's driest regions. “Utah’s future depends on smart, forward looking water policy,"" said Congressman Mike Kennedy. ""This bill is a practical, locally driven solution that strengthens communities like Price and helps safeguard our water supply for generations to come.” ""The people of Price have taken the steps necessary to secure their community's water needs and protect against the next cycle of drought,” said Senator Lee. “The years of planning that have gone into this project will provide a stable supply of water for homes, farms, and businesses across the region. I'm proud to be part of an effort that will ensure Utahns have the tools they need to endure and adapt to the realities of a changing West.” “Utah has always led with practical, locally driven solutions and the Upper Price River Watershed Project is no exception,"" said Senator Curtis. ""I’m pleased to support this effort to secure central Utah’s water future with the same foresight and resilience that built our state.” The Upper Price River Watershed Project Act would: Transfer 124 acres of BLM land to the City of Price, Utah. Require that the land be used for public purposes, including water infrastructure and related improvements. Allow the City to complete construction of the Lower Price River Reservoir and reroute Consumers Road around the site.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/10/icymi-lee-s-guarding-readiness-resources-act-adopted-in-ndaa,ICYMI: Lee’s Guarding Readiness Resources Act Adopted in NDAA,2025-10-14,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) received unanimous support last week for the bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act introduced earlier this year mandating that National Guard units receive appropriate federal reimbursements, ensuring their readiness in emergencies. The bill was cosponsored by 20 U.S. Senators and passed unanimously as an amendment to this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). “Our National Guard responds to emergencies, protects our states, and keeps countless American families safe from harm,” said Senator Mike Lee. “While they deserve the best when answering the call, they have not been well served due to copious amounts of bureaucratic red tape and unnecessary hurdles. For the last few years, I’ve been working to solve this problem. Tonight, my bill passed unanimously.” Watch Senator Lee’s remarks here. Cosponsors included U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Justice (R-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jim Risch (R-ID), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Peter Welch (D-VT). “The men and women of the National Guard are committed to the motto of ‘always ready, always there’—which is why it’s important our Guardsmen have the resources they need to stay mission-ready,” said Senator Duckworth. “Our bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act would better ensure the Guard has access to the funds needed for the maintenance and readiness activities that help them keep our country safe.” “The National Guard is America’s first responder, but outdated bureaucracy is draining resources, leaving critical equipment broken and unfunded after State Active Duty missions,” said Congressman Harrigan. “The Guarding Readiness Resources Act fixes this by cutting red tape at the Department of the Treasury—ensuring the National Guard Bureau immediately gets the funds it needs to repair, replace, and maintain equipment. This keeps our Guardsmen mission-ready, whether responding to natural disasters or supporting local law enforcement. I’m proud to lead this effort in the House alongside Senator Lee in the Senate to strengthen the Guard and protect American communities.” “Our National Guard members serve side by side with their active-duty counterparts, answering the call at home and abroad,” “Yet, they continue to face inequities in pay, health care, and benefits that undermine their service and sacrifice. This legislation is a significant step toward correcting these imbalances and ensuring our Guardsmen are properly equipped, trained, and supported—whether they are responding to domestic emergencies or deploying overseas. EANGUS stands ready to work alongside Senator Lee and other congressional leaders to advance this bill. Our members, the backbone of the National Guard, deserve nothing less than full recognition and fair treatment for their dedication to our nation.” – CMSgt. Josh J. Baker, Vice President, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) “The National Guard continuously responds to the dynamic domestic challenges this nation faces. Immediate response often requires significant unforeseen state expenditures. While the law allows for federal reimbursement, it is executed in such a way that states never see those much-needed funds. This creates substantial budget gaps that threaten the readiness of the force. The Guarding Readiness Resources Act corrects this oversight and ensures the National Guard has the necessary resources to effectively fulfill their mission. We are grateful for the work of Senators Lee and Duckworth and ask for full congressional support for inclusion in the FY26 NDAA.” – Retired Maj Gen. Francis M. McGinn, President, National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) The Guarding Readiness Resources Act will: Add a Miscellaneous Receipts exemption to section 710 of title 32, ensuring that: The U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer (USPFO) can direct reimbursement money back to National Guard units. National Guard units will have available funding for maintenance, repair, and replacement costs of federal equipment when needed. National Guard equipment, property, and training funds will remain ready for National Guard federal missions. Read full text of the Guarding Readiness Resources Act here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-champions-utahs-role-in-advancing-clean-reliable-nuclear-energy,"CURTIS CHAMPIONS UTAH’S ROLE IN ADVANCING CLEAN, RELIABLE NUCLEAR ENERGY",2025-10-10,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click here or above to watch Senator Curtis question Mr. Nieh “[Nuclear energy is] clean, it is reliable. I think as we get it up to scale, it will become more and more affordable, and Utah would look to be a leader in it,” said Curtis. While questioning Nieh, Curtis highlighted the importance of early engagement with states and the need to remove regulatory roadblocks that can delay or derail nuclear energy projects. He emphasized the potential for Utah to host pilot programs in partnership with the NRC and industry innovators, stating, “I think Utah would be very interested in participating with you [on pilot programs] and seeing if we can find some new, innovative approaches.” Curtis also discussed the ADVANCE Act, which includes his legislation — the Advanced Nuclear Reactor Prize Act — aimed at creating a more predictable and transparent regulatory pathway for applicants and developers. Nominee Ho Nieh committed to improving transparency and communication with states, pledging to work closely with stakeholders and provide greater clarity around licensing timelines and safety decisions.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1733,Congresswoman Maloy Releases Statement Following Government Shutdown,2025-10-01,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,UT,Celeste Maloy,M001228,maloy.house.gov,maloy,https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-02) released the following statement after the government shut down at midnight: “The House passed a clean 7-week continuing resolution that would have kept the government open, ensured our troops were paid, and allowed time to finish the FY26 appropriations process. It also maintained the very funding levels Democrats supported earlier this year and last year. This shutdown is unnecessary, and the responsibility lies with Senate Democrats who chose to use it as leverage to push for trillions in new spending — an approach they knew would not succeed. This shutdown is not principled, it is purely political.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:10:06Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-no-work-no-pay-act-ensure-lawmakers-are-held-same,Rep. Kennedy Introduces the No Work No Pay Act to Ensure Lawmakers Are Held to the Same Standard as Federal Workers During Shutdowns,2025-10-01,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03) has introduced the No Work, No Pay Act of 2025, legislation that would prohibit Members of Congress from receiving their pay during any period in which the federal government is shut down. “This measure is about restoring fairness and accountability. There are those that want to promote that kind of weaponization of the government being open or not,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “It’s inappropriate. I think it’s a terrible weapon that both sides have used.” Kennedy continued, “If we’re not going to pass a budget, we’re not going to fund the government, we shouldn’t get paid either. I just think that’s totally appropriate.” Under the No Work, No Pay Act, Members of Congress would see their daily pay withheld for every 24-hour period that a government shutdown is in effect. The bill directs the payroll administrators of the House and Senate to exclude shutdown days from congressional pay disbursements, ensuring that lawmakers do not receive compensation until the government is funded again. “It’s time to stop using government shutdowns as a tool for political leverage. We need to come together and find long-term, bipartisan solutions to keep essential government services operating without interruption.” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “Hardworking Americans shouldn’t pay the price for Washington’s dysfunction. This bill is about restoring fairness and accountability, if lawmakers can’t do their jobs, they shouldn’t get paid.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-cortez-masto-push-cftc-for-answers-on-enforcement-of-illegal-gaming-in-event-contracts,"CURTIS, CORTEZ MASTO PUSH CFTC FOR ANSWERS ON ENFORCEMENT OF ILLEGAL GAMING IN EVENT CONTRACTS",2025-10-01,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) led four of their Senate colleagues in a letter to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Acting Chair Caroline Pham reminding the Commission sports betting is regulated by states and tribes, not the CFTC. The Senators underscore that by implicitly allowing some companies to offer sports betting activities as “event contracts,” the CFTC is preventing enforcement of state and tribal gaming laws which inappropriately permits sports betting nationwide. “The CFTC is expressly prohibited from allowing event contracts that involve gaming, are unlawful under federal or state law or are contrary to the public interest,” wrote the Senators. “Despite this prohibition, the CFTC is permitting sportsbook gaming to inappropriately designate themselves as ‘event contracts’ with oversight by the CFTC. For example, some companies are claiming to allow legal sports betting in all fifty states. This action – and the CFTC’s unwillingness to stop it – contradicts both the letter and the intent of the law. The Commission cannot sidestep its statutory obligations by declining to enforce the prohibitions that Congress enacted. Doing so undermines the sovereign authority of states and tribes to regulate gambling within their jurisdictions and risks federalizing an area of law that the Supreme Court has held is reserved to the states.” “The continued availability of illegal sport event contracts in all 50 states further reaffirms the need for the CFTC to enforce its own regulations mandated by Congress. Moreover, by claiming to be federally regulated by the CFTC, issuers of sports event contracts can avoid myriad state laws, including licensing and background investigations, minimum age requirements, federal anti-money laundering rules, and consumer protections such as addiction warnings and integrity monitoring. These rigorous standards are required by state and tribal licensed entities which the CFTC does not have the authority or the capacity to replicate,” theSenators concluded.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-moore-costa-introduce-legislation-promoting-bioenergy-with-carbon-capture-and-storage,"Representatives Moore, Costa Introduce Legislation Promoting Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage",2025-09-30,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Jim Costa (D-CA) introduced bipartisan, innovative legislation bolstering the deployment of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology in the U.S. The BECCS Advancement Commission Act of 2025 establishes a commission of industry and policymakers at the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and the Interior to provide recommendations, guidance, and expertise on the deployment of related projects. ""I’m thrilled to introduce the first-ever bill exclusively promoting Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). BECCS is a novel technology uniquely positioned to promote wildfire mitigation, bolster economic development in rural America, and deliver much-needed baseload power as energy demand for data centers and artificial intelligence continues to grow,"" Rep. Moore said. “From our farms to our forests, the San Joaquin Valley is on the frontlines of both climate challenges and clean energy solutions. This legislation will help us harness new technology to reduce wildfire risks, create good-paying jobs, and keep rural economies like ours growing,” Rep. Costa said. “The Utah Biomass Resources Group (UBRG) strongly supports forest management initiatives that promote healthy ecosystems, mitigate wildfire risk, and enhance carbon sequestration. In addition, UBRG endorses the establishment of a commission dedicated to advancing biomass energy and carbon storage solutions derived from forestlands across the United States. Forest managers are in urgent need of reliable offtake options for hazardous fuels. The Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) Advancement Commission Act represents a positive step toward addressing this need by facilitating the development of sustainable pathways for biomass utilization and carbon removal,” said Darren McAvoy, Chair of Utah Biomass Resources Group at Utah State University. “At Arbor, we believe BECCS has a potential to add over 200GW of baseload power to the electric grid, all while improving forestry health and agricultural waste management,” said Sutton Guldner, Head of Business Development and Policy at Arbor Energy. “This firming power is perfect tool to support the energy dominance required for America to execute on its AI ambitions, all while bringing a huge benefits to rural and WUI economies. While there are a host of exciting new technologies at the plate to execute on this vision, there are key governmental signals that need to be clear to unlock the excited private capital required to deploy these projects. This commission brings together thinking required to make sure this can be achieved quickly and efficiently.” “We commend Congressman Blake Moore and Congressman Jim Costa for introducing bipartisan legislation to promote American leadership on BECCS and provide baseload power to help meet America’s energy demands. This legislation will be critical in enabling efficient federal coordination for accelerated action to support the deployment of BECCS projects across the United States. BECCS will play an integral role in advancing American energy dominance, wildfire mitigation, and economic opportunities in rural communities,” said Will Gardiner, Executive Chair of Elimini. ""Bioenergy with carbon capture is an incredibly underutilized resource that, when fully realized, will reduce atmospheric carbon. Making BECCS more accessible to new and existing biomass power facilities will also incentivize biomass utilization, providing much-needed baseload renewable power, reducing wildfire risk and supporting the forestry supply chain. We are grateful to Rep. Moore and Rep. Costa for introducing this bill, and we look forward to it becoming law,"" said Carrie Annand, Executive Director of American Biomass Energy Association. “We thank Representatives Moore and Costa for their commitment to supporting bioenergy technology and its use in U.S. manufacturing. Wood product mills are leaders in producing low embodied carbon products that are often manufactured using bioenergy produced from mill residuals. Further enhancing these practices could further improve the sector’s already strong efficiency and sustainability profile. As a sector, we look forward to working with the commission and Congress to understand how BECCS can support rural economies, forest health, U.S. wood products manufacturers, and further reduce carbon emissions,” said Will Layden, Vice President of Government Affairs at American Wood Council “Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage can provide multiple benefits across the United States, from economic development in rural communities to wildfire mitigation. Creating a commission of leaders from the public and private sector is an important step to deliver on these benefits with maximum impact and to minimize any potential risks,” said Ben Rubin, Executive Director of Carbon Business Council. “The Carbon Business Council is grateful for the leadership of Congressman Costa and Congressman Moore for introducing the BECCS Advancement Commission Act to help accelerate progress on carbon removal.” “CRES applauds this common sense and practical approach as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy,” said Heather Reams, President and CEO of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. “Expanding BECCS will strengthen America’s energy security, help meet rising energy demand and promote both healthier forests and safer communities. Rep. Moore’s legislation ensures Congress receives the expert guidance needed to unlock the full potential of BECCS, delivering clean energy for our future.” “Substantially increasing active forest management and wildfire mitigation across all landscapes and ownership boundaries – federal, state, and private – remains a national challenge, and our shared success requires existing as well as new forest markets,” said Jason Hartman, President of the National Association of State Foresters and Kansas State Forester. “State Foresters applaud the bipartisan efforts of Representatives Moore and Costa to bring the right people together to explore innovative technology and its potential to deliver markets that help keep our communities safe, local economies prosperous, and forested landscapes thriving.” “We applaud the bipartisan leadership of Representatives Moore and Costa to advance tools and technologies that support forest health, wildfire mitigation, and rural economic prosperity,” said Dave Tenny, President and CEO of National Alliance of Forest Owners. “As private working forest owners, we know that the challenges facing our forests don’t stop at property lines – and neither should the solutions. We stand with all those working to advance the environmental and economic benefits of sustainable forest management. Together, we can create stronger markets, healthier forests, and a more resilient future for the communities that depend on them.” ""RCRC members have been profoundly impacted by wildfire in the past two decades. The biggest hurdle for land managers to treat their lands for fire resilience continues to be lack of infrastructure to process woody byproducts. The BECCS Advancement Commission Act of 2025 would help create opportunities for siting BECCS facilities and provide a valuable tool in the toolbox for forest managers,"" said Geri Byrne, Chair of Rural County Representatives of California. ""The lack of infrastructure to use woody byproducts is continually a barrier to increasing the pace and scale of fuels treatment on California’s forest land. Land managers cannot improve the health of our forests and prevent wildfires without advancing wood utilization,"" said Michael Kobseff, Chair of Golden State Natural Resources. ""The BECCS Advancement Commission Act of 2025 is an important step in building capacity and diversifying how we use the unusable wood from our forest lands."" Background: BECCS is a technology that converts biomass into heat, electricity, or fuel, while capturing and storing carbon emissions produced during the process. The captured CO2 can be stored in geological formations or embedded in long-lasting products. BECCS supports the American forestry industry, healthy forest management, and wildfire mitigation by providing offtake options for hazardous fuels that accumulate and too often result in catastrophic wildfires posing environmental and health risks. The commission would be responsible for providing a report to Congress that: Analyzes the benefits of BECCS on domestic forest health, wildfire mitigation, economic development in rural America and the forestry sector, and the production of firm, clean energy. Provides legislative and regulatory recommendations to advance BECCS deployment—including how to further the use of biomass from federal lands.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-bipartisan-energy-legislation-unleash-american-energy,Rep. Kennedy Introduces Bipartisan Energy Legislation to Unleash American Energy,2025-09-30,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03) introduced three bills to modernize outdated energy policies, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, and strengthen America’s energy independence. Together, the three bills – the Co-Location Energy Act, the Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act, and the Geothermal Royalty Act – deliver practical solutions that lower costs, streamline permitting, and unlock new investment in domestic energy production. “Outdated permitting rules are holding back Utah’s energy potential. Families in Utah and across the country deserve affordable, reliable energy,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy (R-UT). “This bipartisan package cuts through red tape and gives producers the tools to maximize our energy production potential and meet today’s demand while positioning us for the future."" The legislation includes: The Co-Location Energy Act – Modernizes outdated permitting and leasing policies, cutting red tape, and strengthening America’s energy independence through an all-of-the-above energy approach. Read more about the bill here. “At a pivotal time when energy demand is skyrocketing, we must accelerate the deployment of more energy sources. The Co-Location Energy Act is a bipartisan, innovative way to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy with minimal impact to our public lands and natural resources,” said Congressman Mike Levin (D-CA). “Co-locating energy resources will help to streamline project approvals and provide new economic opportunities for local communities. I’m glad to work with my colleague Rep. Kennedy on this bipartisan, bicameral solution.” The Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act – Removes unnecessary compliance burdens that unfairly burden Utah refineries and raise national energy prices. Read more about the bill here. Support: “Make no mistake, RFS reallocation is a mandate for more biofuel imports and higher prices for consumers, neither of which support American energy dominance or affordability. EPA's reallocation proposal would add several billion dollars of new costs on top of a nearly $70-billion annual RFS bill--the most expensive in history, by far. U.S. refiners appreciate Representative Kennedy's swift action introducing legislation to prohibit RFS reallocation outright. This legislation will protect consumers' pocketbooks and ensure American fuel manufacturers are able to put more of their resources toward job creation, facility construction projects, and energy infrastructure"" – Chet Thompson, President and CEO, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) Letter of Support from Utah Petroleum Association. The Geothermal Royalty Reform Act – Reforms outdated federal royalty rules to ensure fair cost distribution, end penalties on new geothermal facilities, and unleash investment in America’s energy future. Read more about the bill here. “Fervo Energy supports Congressman Kennedy’s efforts to modernize geothermal royalties through the Geothermal Royalty Act. This legislation will simplify administrative compliance, foster innovative project development, and accelerate the deployment of next-generation geothermal technologies. We look forward to working with Congressman Kennedy and the House Natural Resources Committee to further ease and streamline the permitting process for enhanced geothermal—a critical technology for advancing America’s energy security and affordability goals.” - Sarah Jewett, VP of Strategy, Fervo Energy Background: Utah is a hub for energy production and innovation, but outdated federal policies drive up costs and slow development. These bills collectively cut red tape, lower fuel and energy costs, and expand opportunities for both traditional and emerging energy producers. By focusing on fair rules, efficient permitting, and practical reforms, the package affirms Utah and America’s competitive edge in energy markets. Read the full bill text below: The Co-Location Energy Act The Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/curtis-statement-on-republican-efforts-to-avoid-shutdown,CURTIS STATEMENT ON REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO AVOID SHUTDOWN,2025-09-30,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Senator John Curtis (R-UT) issued the following statement today on Senate Republicans’ efforts to avoid a federal government shutdown: “Today, I voted to keep the federal government open and to prevent unnecessary harm to hardworking, taxpaying families in Utah and across America. Sadly, the measure failed without enough Democratic support, and once again Washington’s dysfunction has forced a shutdown. “I remain deeply concerned that Congress has grown far too comfortable relying on short-term Band-Aids. Some of my Democratic colleagues asked for over a trillion dollars in new spending just to buy seven more weeks of time. That is not reasonable, sensible, or responsible. “Shutdown showdowns are no way to run the greatest nation on Earth. Utahns know the simple truth: you prepare, you live within your means, and you finish the job. My mission is to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to build a process that reflects those principles, one that ends the cycle of crisis management and restores public trust. “Utahns deserve a government that is more efficient and effective, one that delivers sensible solutions and real results. That is my commitment.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/lee-applauds-department-of-commerce-rescinding-biden-era-anti-firearm-rule,Lee Applauds Department of Commerce Rescinding Biden-Era Anti-Firearm Rule,2025-09-30,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) applauded the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today for rescinding a Biden-era anti-firearm rule that imposed onerous export controls on civilian firearms. Reversing this damaging policy will allow American firearm manufacturers to better compete in overseas markets. “In March, I partnered with 87 colleagues in the House and Senate asking the Department of Commerce to reverse Joe Biden’s anti-firearm export rule and save American businesses,” said Senator Mike Lee. “This rule hurt law-abiding gun manufacturers by severely limiting their ability to export firearms – but today, those regulations are gone. Thank you to President Trump and his cabinet for putting American businesses and our Second Amendment rights first.” “BIS strongly rejects the Biden Administration’s war on the Second Amendment and law-abiding firearms users. With today’s rule, BIS is restoring common sense to export controls and doing right by America’s proud firearms industry, while also continuing to protect national security.” – Jeffrey I. Kessler, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Background In March, Senator Lee urged the Department of Commerce to rescind this Biden-era rule in a letter with the support of 87 colleagues in the House and Senate. He fought against this rule throughout Biden’s term by introducing the Protect American Gun Exporters Act and the STOP the BIS Rule Act to have it rescinded. The now-defunct rule imposed a range of excessive and burdensome requirements, including: A “presumption of denial” for civilian firearms exports to 36 supposedly “high-risk” countries – effectively ceding overseas markets to foreign firearms manufacturers, with no benefit to national security. Export license requirements on sporting shotguns and optics to U.S. allies – despite no evidence of any national security risk. Bureaucratic hurdles on firearms export licenses, such as extensive documentation requirements and short validity periods. Today’s rule revokes these requirements and restores the export rules for civilian firearms that existed under the first Trump Administration. Under the new rules, exports of most pistols, rifles, and non-long-barrel shotguns will remain subject to a worldwide export license requirement. Long-barrel shotguns and most optics can be exported without a license to U.S. allies and certain partners. License application paperwork requirements for firearms will be streamlined and consistent with normal BIS practice. BIS and interagency partners will continue to screen firearms license applications to reduce the risk of weapons ending up in the hands of criminals. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/lee-introduces-safe-transit-accountability-act,Lee Introduces Safe Transit Accountability Act,2025-09-30,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Safe Transit Accountability Act today to keep labor unions from endangering Utahns and blocking public transportation agencies from implementing necessary safety measures. Reps. Burgess Owens (R-UT) and Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) have introduced the bill in the House of Representatives. The legislation has earned endorsements from Utah Transit Authority (UTA), the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). “American families deserve to have safe, reliable public transit,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Under President Biden, labor unions were given a veto over public transit agency safety plans, allowing them to stall projects and interfere with federal funding for safe transit. Just last year, such obstruction threatened resources for the Utah Transit Authority. The Safe Transit Accountability Act ensures that these disputes can be resolved by the executive authority responsible for rider and operator safety.” “The Safe Transit Accountability Act restores common sense by removing bureaucratic roadblocks and putting safety decisions back in the hands of those responsible for running our transit systems,” said Rep. Burgess Owens. “I’m proud to lead this bill with Congressman Smucker in the House and Senator Lee in the Senate to empower agencies like the Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Transit Authority to protect riders and ensure Utah’s growing communities have the safe, reliable service they deserve.” “Millions of Americans rely on public transit every day, and travelers deserve to know their safety is always a priority,” said Rep. Lloyd Smucker. “I am grateful for Senator Lee’s partnership in introducing the Safe Transit Accountability Act, which streamlines transit system operations and cuts red tape to efficiently address risk and safety concerns. I’m committed to ensuring transit systems here in Pennsylvania and across the nation provide the service America’s travelers deserve.” ""Safety is and always will be the Utah Transit Authority’s top priority, and the Safe Transit Accountability Act is an important step forward in strengthening public transit safety across the country. This legislation ensures efficient compliance with federal safety standards while empowering transit systems to best protect our riders and employees. UTA thanks Senator Lee for his leadership in introducing this important bill in the Senate.” – Carlton Christensen, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Utah Transit Authority (UTA) “A strong safety plan is essential—not just for compliance, but to protect riders and operators every day. This legislation brings needed clarity to the process and helps ensure transit agencies can act quickly and responsibly. We appreciate Representative Owens’ and Senator Lee’s leadership and are proud to support this commonsense legislation.” – Carlos Braceras, Executive Director, Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) ""APTA applauds Senator Mike Lee's leadership in introducing the Safe Transit Accountability Act. This bill addresses a real operational challenge by giving public transit agencies the clarity they need to meet Federal safety requirements while ensuring the highest standards for the millions who depend on their services every day"" – Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Background In 2021, Democrats pushed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) through Congress to codify President Biden’s irresponsible spending. The IIJA requires transit agencies who receive certain funds to create “Safety Committees” equally composed of labor unions and agency members. Safety Committees are required to review and approve Public Transit Agency Safety Plans (PTASPs). This gives labor unions the ability to obstruct PTASPs during negotiations, jeopardizing an agency’s federal funding. In December 2024, labor representatives on UTA’s Safety Committee stalled approval of its PTASP. This obstruction by the union threatened Utahns’ safety as well as crucial funding for UTA, as The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) threatened to suspend UTA’s federal funds over the issue. The Safe Transit Accountability Act will protect Utahns by ensuring the timely implementation of safety measures and guard against funding losses used by labor unions to play politics with Utahns’ safety. Read full text of the Safe Transit Accountability Act here. Read UTA’s letter of support here. Read exclusive coverage by Deseret News here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/icymi-statement-from-senator-john-curtis-on-passing-of-russell-m-nelson-president-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints,"ICYMI: STATEMENT FROM SENATOR JOHN CURTIS ON PASSING OF RUSSELL M. NELSON, PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS",2025-09-28,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Few lives have been lived as fully and faithfully as that of President Russell M. Nelson. His remarkable 101 years were a testament to service, faith, and vision. I am grateful for the insight, inspiration, and teachings he shared so generously. As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate a life that lifted countless people and left an enduring legacy of hope and strength. See the post here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/sen-lee-president-nelson-was-a-leader-and-healer-of-hearts-and-souls,Sen. Lee: President Nelson Was a Leader and Healer of Hearts and Souls,2025-09-28,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement on the passing of Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “President Russell M. Nelson was a bold, visionary leader prepared by God to testify of Jesus Christ in the very times in which we now live. “I first acquired my profound respect for him as a seven-year-old boy, when he performed open-heart surgery on both of my maternal grandparents. On the same day Just a few short years ago, President Nelson described to me in exquisite detail how he handled each step of the two surgeries he had performed that day — more than 40 years earlier, and about seven years before he was called into full-time Church service as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “After their surgeries, he told both of my grandparents that they could each expect to live another 10 to 15 years following the surgery. Both of them lived for another 25 years and credited President Nelson for their longevity, with good reason! “Although I first heard his name in the context of his surgical practice, for me that was only the beginning of my countless reasons for admiring President Nelson. “For as long as I’ve known him, he has exuded — and for me, he’s come to personify — the kind of faith, humility, and quiet confidence that tends to be the constant companion of a devoted servant and follower of Jesus Christ. “To the day he died, he remained a healer — of hearts and of souls. “Sharon and I extend our gratitude and heartfelt condolences to President Nelson’s family, and to the millions of Latter-day Saints throughout the world who mourn his passing.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-signs-great-salt-lake-2034-charter,Congressman Blake Moore Signs Great Salt Lake 2034 Charter,2025-09-26,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"FARMINGTON, UT — Congressman Blake Moore joined state leaders, researchers, philanthropists, and advocates for the Great Salt Lake to announce bold new steps to secure its future. The historic roundtable at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center provided an opportunity to outline past and current efforts, as well as a path forward. Congressman Moore joined Governor Cox in signing the Great Salt Lake 2034 Charter, a landmark pledge to restore and protect the lake for future generations. The charter sets 2034—the year Utah will again host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games—as the target for reaching healthier lake levels and showcasing Utah's pioneer spirit on a global stage. ""The Great Salt Lake is getting a much-needed $200 million boost and a streamlined focus to improve conditions. I was grateful to join Gov. Cox and other state leaders to sign the GSL2034 Charter, a public commitment to restore the Great Salt Lake for current and future Utahns,"" Congressman Moore said. “Across the world, saline lakes are in decline,” Gov. Cox said. “Utah will be the exception. This will be one of the greatest environmental success stories of our time, and we are going to write it together. The Great Salt Lake is our lake, our heritage, and our responsibility.” In addition to the signing, two major philanthropic announcements underscored the state's momentum: Great Salt Lake Rising, a coalition led by Josh Romney, committed $100 million to projects that will deliver water to the lake and improve habitat. Ducks Unlimited, the nation's leading wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization, pledged an additional $100 million to restoration and conservation efforts. This commitment builds on substantial progress made in recent years, including a $50 million federal investment for water delivery and conservation in December 2024. Event Signatories: The Great Salt Lake 2034 Charter was signed by Gov. Cox; Speaker Mike Schultz; Senate President Stuart Adams; U.S. Congressman Blake Moore; Joel Ferry, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources; Gail Miller, Owner of Larry H. Miller Company; Greg Miller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at Larry H. Miller Company; Scott Anderson, Non-Executive Chairman of Zions Bank; Derek Miller, President and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber; Brian Steed, Great Salt Lake Commissioner; Josh Romney, President of The Romney Group; Jeff McCreary, Director Of Operations at Ducks Unlimited; Lisa Eccles, President and COO of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation; and other leaders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Read the GSL2034 Charter here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1727,Rep. Maloy Reintroduces SEE Act to Help Veterans Get Eyeglasses Fittings in Rural Areas,2025-09-26,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Celeste Maloy,M001228,maloy.house.gov,maloy,https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Reps. Celeste Maloy (UT-02) and Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) reintroduced the Servicemember’s Eyeglasses Efficiency Act (SEE Act). This bill would add eyeglass lens fittings to the list of medical treatments covered by the Veterans Community Care Program, increasing access to care for millions of veterans in remote areas. “Veterans in rural Utah have expressed frustration about having to travel hundreds of miles just to be fitted for eyeglasses. Making this basic service more accessible is a good step towards improving healthcare for our veterans,” said Rep. Maloy. ""The SEE Act is a great example of how representative government should work: finding a solution to a federal problem raised by the people we represent.” “Veterans in rural Wisconsin should not have to drive hours to Tomah, Madison, or Milwaukee for a simple eyeglass fitting. I have made a commitment to our veterans to improve their healthcare and quality of life, and that is why I am proud to join Rep. Maloy in introducing the SEE Act. This legislation is a practical step toward ensuring veterans can access the care they deserve, without unnecessary barriers,” said Rep. Van Orden. You can find the full text of the bill here. ""I'm a 100% disabled purple heart veteran who's recovering from a back surgery with 3"" screws, and the optometrist in St. George said I needed to drive 300 miles to Salt Lake to get fitted for eyeglasses frames. I can't ride in a car for 5 hours with my back,"" said Utah based veteran Bruce Bissell. Background: A quarter of U.S. vets (6.4 million) live in rural parts of the country and one third wear glasses. VA Community Care Networks (CCNs), created by the Mission Act in 2018, allow some veterans to access basic care in their communities without traveling to VA facilities. However, many VA jurisdictions, including the VA in Utah and other rural areas, do not allow eyeglass fittings in the community. As a result, veterans in rural parts of Utah are forced to drive upwards of 500 miles roundtrip for eyeglass fittings at VA facilities. Adding eyeglass fittings to the list of treatments covered by Community Care Networks would help veterans and save the VA money in travel and lodging reimbursement costs.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:07:37Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-equal-detention-standards-act-standardize-immigration,Rep. Kennedy Introduces Equal Detention Standards Act to Standardize Immigration Detention and Support Local Law Enforcement,2025-09-26,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03) has introduced the Equal Detention Standards Act of 2025, legislation that addresses a disparity in standards for detained illegal immigrants versus American citizens by requiring that immigration detention facilities operate under the same federal standards currently applied to the U.S. Marshals Service detention facilities. In practice, this means uniform rules for safety, care, and custody in all contract detention facilities: whether run by private contractors, or county jails. The current ICE standards discourage local cooperation and lead to fewer available beds. This patchwork system forces ICE to release criminal aliens back onto the streets simply because there is not enough federally approved capacity. By codifying one federal standard nationwide, this commonsense bill will eliminate current disparities between American citizens being held in federal facilities and illegal immigrants being held for ICE in local jails, ensuring consistent conditions across the board and improving federal-local law enforcement collaboration. “Right now, ICE is forced to do more with less — patching together temporary bed space while violent offenders slip through the cracks,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03). “This bill brings ICE onto the same playing field as the U.S. Marshals, giving sheriffs clear rules, improving accountability, and ending Washington’s band-aid approach to detention.” “Utah families deserve safe communities,” Kennedy added. “This bill delivers common-sense reforms that keep criminals off our streets, cuts taxpayer waste, and gives ICE the same tools our U.S. Marshals already use.” Background: Utah has no dedicated ICE detention center. Instead, ICE relies on “rider” agreements through U.S. Marshals contracts to place detainees in limited numbers at local jails—including Salt Lake, Tooele, and Washington Counties. These beds help in the short term but are nowhere near enough. As a result, detainees are frequently transported to the Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump, NV, hundreds of miles away—driving up taxpayer costs and straining enforcement resources. ICE officials have stated that Utah needs 200–400 dedicated beds just to keep up with demand. To ease the burden of long-distance transfers, more than 100 Utah National Guard members were deployed in mid-September to provide administrative and logistical support, including transportation. This mission, scheduled to run through mid-November, allows ICE officers to focus on enforcement rather than escort duties. Still, this temporary fix underscores how strained ICE’s resources are without consistent local capacity. By applying the same detention standards used by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Equal Detention Standards Act will: Expand access to local beds by giving sheriffs confidence that facilities are governed by one clear federal standard Reduce costly out of state transfers, keeping detainees closer to Utah courts and council. Improve accountability by ensuring ICE detention facilities meet the same benchmarks already used by U.S. Marshalls facilities. Strengthen law-enforcement partnerships, reducing the burden on county jails, and ICE officers. The consequences of limited bed space are real. ICE is forced to prioritize which offenders to hold, often releasing or transferring individuals charged with drug trafficking, assaults, and other serious crimes. Federal prosecutors in Utah have recently secured convictions against noncitizens unlawfully present for drug trafficking and immigration violations, underscoring the risks when detention resources are stretched. ICE officials confirm they are targeting criminals first – including DUI offenders, drug traffickers, and fugitives – but a lack of detention capacity means too many offenders slip through the cracks.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-bipartisan-bill-tackle-overuse-and-abuse-prior,Rep. Kennedy Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Overuse and Abuse of Prior Authorization,2025-09-25,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03), along with Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), introduced the bipartisan Patient Access to Autoimmune Treatments Act, which limits prescription drug prior authorizations used by Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans to once per year for patients with autoimmune diseases or blood disorders. Prior authorization requires physicians to get permission from a patient’s insurance company before the patient can get certain treatments or medications. If the insurance company does not approve it, the patient’s insurance will not pay for the medication or treatment. For patients with lifelong conditions like MS, rheumatoid arthritis, or type 1 diabetes, the process just creates unnecessary delays, stress, and paperwork. “The Patient Access to Autoimmune Treatments Act takes a simple step to make Medicare Advantage work better for patients,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03). “By ensuring coverage of critical drugs and limiting prior authorization to once per year, we cut down on needless bureaucracy and give patients the certainty they deserve. This bipartisan reform is about streamlining the system so people can focus on their health, not paperwork."" “Patients battling chronic autoimmune diseases and blood disorders should not have to fight insurance companies just to access the treatments their doctors prescribe,” said Johnson. “Requiring repeated prior authorizations for lifelong conditions does not make care safer—it makes it harder. It forces patients to wait for treatment, drives up costs, and puts their health at risk. Our bipartisan bill cuts through this red tape by ensuring only one prior authorization is required each year, so patients can focus on managing their health instead of filling out mounds of paperwork. This is about fairness, common sense, and making sure people get the care they need when they need it.” The bill has secured endorsements from the American Medical Association (AMA), Autoimmune Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American College of Osteopathic Internists, American Academy of Physician Associates, and Texas Medical Association. “Reforming prior authorization in Medicare Advantage is essential to protecting timely access to high-quality care and reducing the administrative burdens that contribute to physician burnout,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. “Alarmingly, the American Medical Association found that more than one in four physicians report prior authorization has led to a serious adverse event for a patient in their care. Patients living with chronic autoimmune and blood disorders are especially vulnerable to the delays and denials associated with frivolous prior authorization requirements. America’s physicians applaud Reps. Julie Johnson and Mike Kennedy, M.D., for championing this bipartisan, common-sense legislation to put patients before paperwork.” “The Autoimmune Association, which advocates for more than 50 million Americans, is pleased to support the Patient Access to Autoimmune Treatments Act,” said Molly Murray, President and CEO, Autoimmune Association. “The prior authorization process is unpredictable and places an immense burden on both patients and providers. For patients, delays caused by prior authorization can lead to permanent disease progression. We appreciate Congresswoman Johnson’s and Congressman Kennedy’s unwavering leadership addressing this harmful insurance practice.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-dozens-of-leaders-applaud-fix-our-forests-act,WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: DOZENS OF LEADERS APPLAUD FIX OUR FORESTS ACT,2025-09-25,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) today highlighted growing support for the Fix Our Forests Act from governors, state and local officials, community leaders, and industry stakeholders. The bipartisan legislation, introduced earlier this year, combats catastrophic wildfires, restores forest ecosystems, and streamlines federal forest management to be more efficient and responsive. The Fix Our Forests Act is supported by Utah Governor Spencer Cox; Colorado Governor Jared Polis; California Governor Gavin Newsom; American Property Casualty Insurance Association; California Natural Resources Agency; Climate and Wildfire Institute; Utah Farm Bureau Federation; The Nature Conservancy; Association for Firetech Innovation and Convective Capital; Federation of American Scientists; National Audubon Society; Berkshire Hathaway Energy; Arnold Ventures; Utah Department of Natural Resources; The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC); Colorado Department of Natural Resources; Colorado State Forest Service; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; National Wild Turkey Federation; National Wildlife Federation; Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions; American Forests; Colorado Rural Electric Association; Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation; Western Governors’ Association; National Association of State Departments of Agriculture; National Association of State Foresters; United Power; Rocky Mountain Elk; Citizen’ Climate Lobby; Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control; Bipartisan Policy Center Action; International Association of Fire Chiefs; Alliance for Wildfire Resilience; Wildfire Alliance; Tall Timbers; Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition; The Stewardship Project; Megafire Action; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; Hispanics Enjoy Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors; Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society; State of Utah; Environmental Defense Fund; Rural County Representatives of California; Salesforce; Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility; C2ES; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Colorado State Fire Chiefs Wildland Section; Colorado Water Congress; Coalition of 22 Wildfire Organizations; National Water Resources Association What They Are Saying: “A century of fire suppression and decades of reduced forest management have left us with overgrown, unhealthy forests that are more vulnerable to disease and catastrophic wildfire. Thanks to Senator Curtis’s strong leadership on the Fix Our Forests Act, along with the tools provided by President Trump’s executive order, we’re now equipped to do the critical work our forests need. This bill will help us protect watersheds, enhance wildlife habitat, reduce wildfire risk, and provide the timber we need to build strong homes and neighborhoods.” — Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah “Extreme risk of catastrophic wildfires across the West demands urgent action. In California, we’re fast-tracking projects by streamlining state requirements and using more fuel breaks and prescribed fire. The Fix Our Forests Act is a step forward that will build on this progress — enabling good projects to happen faster on federal lands. I’m appreciative of Senators Padilla and Schiff and the bipartisan team of Senators who crafted a balanced solution that will both protect communities and improve the health of our forests.” — Gavin Newsom, Governor of California “I applaud the bipartisan work and leadership of the Senate sponsors of this bill, including Colorado’s Senator Hickenlooper, in crafting a bill that will make Colorado communities safer amidst the urgent and growing wildfire crisis in the West. From supporting responsible and expedited on-the-ground fuel reductions, to bolstering the use and development of the latest wildfire satellite monitoring technology which compliments Colorado’s national leadership in the aerospace sector, and to investing in stewardship practices for local communities to be better prepared for wildfires and reforestation efforts with the state nursery to improve our ability to recover – this bill makes major strides in addressing the country’s wildfire risk and will support Colorado’s continued leadership in wildfire preparedness, response and recovery.” — Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado “As the megafire crisis grows larger and more severe with each fire season, we need policy solutions that reflect the urgency and scale of the problem. Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla and Sheehy have negotiated a Senate companion to the Fix Our Forests Act that will move the federal government towards a science-based, strategic approach to addressing megafires. We look forward to working with the sponsors to advance this bill and enact the most transformative wildfire and land management law in a generation — since the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003, if not the National Forest Management Act of 1976.” — Matt Weiner, CEO, Megafire Action “Wildfires continue to ravage communities igniting homes, businesses, and infrastructure. APCIA commends Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla for their bipartisan leadership of the Fix Our Forests Act. The bill would improve fire assessment and prediction for wildland areas and communities to improve response, reduce hazardous fuels, enable greater vegetation management by utilities in federal rights-of-way to prevent fires, and create a community wildfire risk reduction program to support fire-resistant building methods, codes, and standards, promote ignition-resistant materials, defensible space, and other measures to reduce risk.” — David A. Sampson, President and CEO, American Property Casualty Insurance Association “About half of our lands in California are publicly owned and managed by the federal government,” explained California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “So, reducing catastrophic wildfire risk clearly relies on helping our federal lands become healthier and more resilient to fire. This bipartisan Fix our Forests Act does just this, removing barriers to get more good work done across our federal lands more quickly. This act represents an opportunity for an all-lands, all-hands approach that is urgently needed at this moment.” — Wade Crowfoot, Secretary, California Natural Resources Agency “CWI commends Senator Curtis, Senator Hickenlooper, Senator Sheehy, and Senator Padilla for their bipartisan efforts to meaningfully address the wildfire crisis. The Fix Our Forest Act is an important step towards accelerating proven solutions to reduce catastrophic fire risk, improve forest and ecosystem health, and safeguard our local communities. We are pleased to see many recommendations from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Report included in the updated legislation, including a directive to establish the Wildfire Intelligence Center to serve as the national hub for wildfire data, prediction, and response. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors to help accelerate solutions to the wildfire crisis by incorporating the best available science, data, and management principles into commonsense policy reform and decision-making.” — Marissa Christiansen, Executive Director, Climate and Wildfire Institute “Utah’s farmers and ranchers applaud Senator Curtis’ sponsorship of the ‘Fix Ours Forests Act’, which will enhance forest health, reduce wildfire risks, and protect vital watersheds. We are particularly encouraged by provisions promoting locally-led restoration efforts, targeted grazing as a wildfire mitigation tool, and watershed protection strategies. The Utah Farm Bureau appreciates the bill’s emphasis on active forest management and increasing the pace and scale of treatment projects to address catastrophic wildfire risks. The ‘Fix Our Forests Act’ represents a significant step toward healthier forests and safer communities.” — Valjay Rigby, President, Utah Farm Bureau Federation “TNC appreciates the serious undertaking of Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla to build on legislation targeted at preventing more catastrophic wildfires through improved forest and fuels management and expanded use of prescribed fire. TNC has been working to restore beneficial fire and improve the resilience of forest systems on the ground for more than 60 years. Every year, wildfires continue to grow deadlier and more devastating to communities and the environment, and we remain concerned that the significant cuts to the Forest Service workforce will impede work to protect people and nature from these wildfire risks. We support this legislative effort aimed at improving the forest management process to better address catastrophic wildfires.” — Kameran Onley, Managing Director of North America Policy and Government relations, The Nature Conservancy “AFI supports the Fix our Forests Act and calls on the United States Senate to pass it with the urgency the $100 billion a year wildfire crisis warrants from our elected officials. AFI is particularly supportive of the legislation’s inclusion of a Wildfire Intelligence Center, a long-overdue step to better integrate and coordinate wildfire response efforts and invest in cutting-edge technology. Our country’s wildfire response efforts are antiquated and are leaving us ill-prepared for this growing crisis. FOFA is a critical step to refining our wildfire response efforts and protecting our communities.” — Bill Clerico, Founding Chair of the Association for Firetech Innovation (AFI) and Managing Partner of Convective Capital, Association for Firetech Innovation and Convective Capital “As FAS continues to emphasize, failing to address the root causes of devastating wildfires is a policy choice. And it’s a choice we can no longer afford. Swift passage of the Fix Our Forests Act in the Senate would put us on track to better manage the entire wildfire lifecycle of prevention, suppression, and recovery, including through smart and systematic use of science and technology for decision support.” — Daniel Correa, Chief Executive Officer, Federation of American Scientists “The science is clear: tackling the wildfire crisis requires better forest management, increasing the use of prescribed fire, and investing in and deploying the next generation of wildfire technologies. The Fix Our Forests Act will get this urgently needed work done. Now is the time for the Senate to build on the bipartisan leadership demonstrated by the sponsors and pass this bill.” — James Campbell, Wildfire Policy Specialist, Federation of American Scientists “Wildfires grow more intense and destructive each year, leaving behind immense devastation for our forests, wildlife, and communities. The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act represents an important step in reducing wildfire risks across forested landscapes. Audubon thanks Senators Hickenlooper, Curtis, Padilla, and Sheehy for working together to craft a bill that sets the stage for improved forest management, and we urge Congress to dedicate the resources necessary to ensure federal agencies are well-equipped to reduce wildfire risks, steward our forestlands, and protect wildlife habitat.” — Marshall Johnson, Chief Conservation Officer, National Audubon Society “Berkshire Hathaway Energy applauds the Senate introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act and thanks the bipartisan group of Senators who worked together to move it forward. The bill’s provisions would improve forest management activities on federal and tribal lands in common-sense ways, improving their resilience to wildfire. Passage and enactment of these provisions would be a step to help prevent catastrophic wildfires and lessen their environmental damage. Berkshire Hathaway Energy recognizes the growing threat of wildfires affects everyone and requires holistic solutions with businesses, governments and key stakeholders working together to design and implement constructive, enduring solutions.” — Scott Thon, President and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Energy “Arnold Ventures praises the bipartisan introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act, an evidence-based, constructive proposal to cut red tape and prevent catastrophic forest fires. We applaud Senators John Curtis (R‑UT), John Hickenlooper (D‑CO), Tim Sheehy (R‑MT), and Alex Padilla (D‑CA) for their work to craft and introduce this important and necessary legislation. We encourage all Senators to support and ultimately pass the Fix Our Forests Act.” — Charlie Anderson, Executive VP for Infrastructure, Arnold Ventures “Our forests face serious threats, and this bipartisan bill is a vital step forward in addressing complex forest health challenges,” “It gives land managers the tools to proactively reduce wildfire risk, protect critical watersheds, and restore forest ecosystems through stronger collaboration.” — Joel Ferry, Executive Director, Utah Department of Natural Resources “The Senate’s bipartisan Fix Our Forest Act is a critical step toward restoring forest health and reducing catastrophic wildfire risk. This bipartisan legislation tackles the root causes of catastrophic wildfires by fixing the Cottonwood decision, reforming litigation standards, expanding categorical exclusions up to 10,000 acres, and boosting restoration capacity through long-term stewardship contracts and extended Good Neighbor Authority. Healthy forests require active stewardship — not bureaucratic delay. We thank Senators Hickenlooper, Sheehy, Padilla, and Curtis for bringing forward this bill, and we urge swift passage of this much-needed legislation.” — Brian Yablonski, CEO, The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) “We applaud the efforts made by Senator Hickenlooper in the Fix Our Forests Act to provide federal, state, and local partners with the tools needed to address wildfire mitigation in the most vulnerable areas in Colorado. Wildfires do not abide by our political boundaries. But here in Colorado we have built strong coordination among federal, state, local land managers and stakeholders to help reduce the impact of wildfires on our critical infrastructure and landscapes. We appreciate that this legislation builds upon this important collaboration and draws on existing agreements, such as Shared Stewardship, which will help strengthen our intergovernmental partnerships as we prepare for the next Colorado mega-fire.” — Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources “Forests are central to our way of life in Colorado. They support world-class outdoor recreation and a vital water supply that more than 40 million Americans rely upon. I am grateful to Senator John Hickenlooper for his work on the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act,” “This critical legislation will bolster our shared stewardship ethic in Colorado and enhance our ability as a state to improve forest health, protect lives, communities and water supplies from wildfire, and ensure that the forests that define Colorado endure for generations to come.” — Matt McCombs, Colorado State Forester and Director, Colorado State Forest Service “The declining health of our National Forests and the fish and wildlife habitat that they provide is a concern for America’s hunters and anglers,” “TRCP applauds the leadership of Senators Curtis, Sheehy, Hickenlooper, and Padilla for introducing the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act in the Senate and urges Congress to advance these important forest management provisions and to accompany them with adequate resources and capacity to carry out on-the-ground work.” — Joel Pedersen, President and CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership “The Fix Our Forests Act streamlines collaboration between the National Wild Turkey Federation, the USDA Forest Service, and other partners, cutting red tape to accelerate urgent forest restoration and management on federal lands,” “This bill ensures we can better manage and conserve vital natural resources for wildlife, hunters and anglers. We are grateful to see the Senate introduce this critical piece of legislation and await the signature from the president.” — Matt Lindler, Director of Government Affairs, National Wild Turkey Federation “The health of our nation’s forests is dependent on the rivers, streams, and wetlands that sustain them. Actively conserving and restoring these critical aquatic resources is an important tool that can be used to mitigate the impacts of wildfire and drought, among other threats,” “We’re encouraged to see language in the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act that recognizes the wildfire benefits of aquatic restoration. We look forward to continuing to work with leaders from both sides of the aisle to elevate these common sense and cost-effective approaches to forest and water management for all Americans.” — Alicia Marrs, Director of Western Water, National Wildlife Federation “An antiquated NEPA review system delays environmental progress, whether it is protecting our natural resources from forest fires or deploying innovative technologies. This bill takes important steps to address those obstacles that hinder effective land management. For too long we have tiptoed around meaningful and impactful reforms, leading to habitat and human loss in the process. CRES is proud to support this effort spearheaded by Senators Curtis, Sheehy, Hickenlooper and Padilla.” — Heather Reams, President, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions “There is no time to waste in restoring and reforesting the forests that work every day to be the lungs of our nation. More than ever before successful and timely forest restoration will require strengthened coordination across federal, state, and tribal governments together with non-profit organizations. This bill prioritizes a complementary series of actions that will accelerate wildfire resilience and community resilience including ensuring post-fire reforestation is implemented quickly and with the best available science.” — Brian Kittler, Chief Program Officer-Resilient Forests, American Forests “The Fix Our Forests Act includes vital provisions that would improve wildfire mitigation and grid hardening efforts. Specifically, the bill streamlines federal permitting processes, authorizes the management of hazard trees within 150 feet of power lines, and establishes timelines for approval of vegetation management plans. It also incorporates key reforms from the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act, allowing electric utilities to remove felled timber and slash from rights-of-way in national forests without being subject to time-consuming timber sales procedures. These are common-sense, pragmatic changes that will reduce regulatory barriers and allow electric co-ops to act more quickly to protect their infrastructure and the communities they serve.” — Kent Singer, Executive Director, Colorado Rural Electric Association “The poor health of our federal forests exacerbates the wildfires that negatively impact wildlife habitat, sportsmen’s access, and communities across the country, and comprehensive reforms are needed to actively treat hazardous fuels efficiently and at scale to increase forest resiliency to severe wildfires, insects, and disease. We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Members Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla, and Sheehy for introducing the Fix Our Forests Act to improve forest management through strengthened authorities, collaborative tools, and improved processes. We look forward to working with the bill sponsors to advance the legislation quickly as we approach wildfire season.” — John Culclasure, Senior Director of Forest Policy, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation “Western Governors have long supported several policies which are included in the Fix Our Forests Act. Shared stewardship, prescribed fire, and other management strategies addressed in the bill are imperative to the health and resilience of forests and the communities that live among them. The Western Governors’ Association applauds the bipartisan efforts of U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) to address these issues of critical importance to the West. WGA encourages swift consideration of this important piece of legislation by the full Senate.” —Western Governors’ Association “With more than two-thirds of U.S. forestland held in state and private ownership, the Fix Our Forests Act acknowledges the crucial role of state agencies in forest health, fire prevention, and ecosystem restoration. We particularly appreciate your inclusion of reforms that improve local flexibility and strengthen the role of state foresters and agriculture agencies in managing risk.” — Ted McKinney, CEO, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture “State forestry agencies play a lead role not only in managing and protecting over 550 million acres of state and private forests, but also working to improve the health and resiliency of federal lands through cross-boundary partnerships nationwide. State Foresters are also responsible for wildfire protection on more than 1.5 billion acres and, in collaboration with local fire departments, responding to 80 percent of the nation’s wildland fires. NASF applauds the bipartisan work of Senators Sheehy, Curtis, Hickenlooper, and Padilla to chart a path forward to greatly enhance wildfire management and recovery efforts and stem the tide of disastrous wildfires that threaten our nation’s forests and the livelihood of communities that depend on them. We recognize that many of the key improvements made in the Fix Our Forests Act are nuanced and look forward to continuing our work with Congress to ensure its landmark reforms become law.” — Jay Farrell, Executive Director, National Association of State Foresters “We write to express support of the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act. This legislation is designed to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires that are causing billions of dollars in damages and displacing thousands of people across the United States. Colorado suffered several serious events in the last few years and the state is among the highest in the country for wildfire risk. We are confident the Fix Our Forests Act will help reduce wildfire risk for Colorado communities and speed up mitigation projects while maintaining environmental safeguards and encouraging local involvement in the cooperative community. Further, we believe this will help the availability of liability insurance that has grown difficult to obtain.” — Mark A. Gabriel, President & CEO, United Power “RMEF has long supported reforms of federal policy to actively manage our forests, sagebrush and grasslands for improved wildlife habitat and reduced catastrophic fire risk. That is why we strongly support the passage of the Fix Our Forests Act.” — Kyle Weaver, President & CEO, Rocky Mountain Elk “Last month, after seeing the devastating fires in Los Angeles, CCL volunteers sent 4,509 messages (and counting!) to Congress, urging them to work in a bipartisan way to reduce wildfire risk. Democratic Rep. Scott Peters from California and Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman from Arkansas have now introduced an updated version of the Fix Our Forests Act. The bill is intended to improve forest health, increase resilience to wildfires, boost forest restoration projects, protect communities, and more. If your representative in the House voted in favor of the Fix Our Forests Act, you can send an appreciation to the office or post it on social media.” —Citizen’ Climate Lobby “First of all, thanks to Senators Hickenlooper, Curtis, Sheehy, and Padilla for their leadership in moving all this forward! Having spent so many hours working on the Wildfire Mitigation and Management Commission, it is refreshing to see so many of the recommendations moving forward! Colorado has taken a very aggressive approach in addressing the wildfire challenges we face and we are pleased to see these efforts at the federal level taking a more holistic look at the challenges we all face and in support of the Commission’s recommendations. This bipartisan effort will serve Colorado and America well! I fully support this effort and I am happy to help in any way that would be helpful.” — Chief Mike Morgan, Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control “BPC Action applauds the bipartisan leadership of Sens. Curtis (R-UT), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Sheehy (R-MT), and Padilla (D-CA) on the introduction of the Fix Our Forests Act. By streamlining and improving forest and hazardous fuels management activities on public and Tribal lands, this legislation will help reduce wildfire risks, improve forest health, and protect communities in fire-prone areas. The Fix Our Forests Act also delivers substantial economic and environmental benefits by addressing critical needs to enhance the domestic supply chain of seeds and advance biochar commercialization.” — Michele Stockwell, President, Bipartisan Policy Center Action “We are thrilled to see the Fix Our Forests Act introduced in the Senate through a bipartisan cooperation between Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla, and Sheehy. The bill greatly expands upon the version that passed the House, adding critical details to support wildfire risk reduction in the built environment and provisions for mitigating the health impacts of smoke to communities while promoting expanded use of prescribed fire. Covering a third of the recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, this bill is a significant step forward in wildfire policy and, coupled with sufficient funding and staffing to realize the proposed tools and programs, will make a real difference in our nation’s experience with wildfire.” — Alliance for Wildfire Resilience “The science is clear: tackling the wildfire crisis requires better forest management, increasing the use of prescribed fire, and investing in and deploying the next generation of wildfire technologies. The Fix Our Forests Act will get this urgently needed work done. Now is the time for the Senate to build on the bipartisan leadership demonstrated by the sponsors and pass this bill.” — James Campbell, Wildfire Policy Specialist, Federation of American Scientists “HECHO enthusiastically applauds the impressive bipartisan leadership behind the Senate’s Fix Our Forests Act.” —Hispanics Enjoy Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors “The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society values opportunities to engage with conservation allies, including state agencies and the U.S. Forest Service. The Fix Our Forests Act enables collaborative approaches among federal, state, tribal and other entities to forest management that are grounded in state-of-the-art science and data. It lays the foundation for an approach that will facilitate healthy forests management and healthy habitat. We commend Chair Westerman and Representative Peters for introducing the Fix Our Forests Act and we urge the House and the Senate to advance the bill without delay.” —Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society “For many Americans, catastrophic wildfires are a very real and growing threat to their homes and lives. The U.S. Forest Service needs new tools and more resources now to prevent and control these wildfires, and with the right funding, this bipartisan proposal will help. Protecting people and nature from catastrophic wildfire requires both a robust, science-based plan of forest management and the resources to implement it.” —Environmental Defense Fund “On behalf of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), we are pleased to support the Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462). RCRC is confident that this legislation will provide much needed pathways to improve and expedite forest management and wildfire prevention measures on USDA Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, as well as on tribal lands; and to improve forest resilience, watershed health and resistance to wildfire. RCRC is an association of forty rural California counties and the RCRC Board of Directors is comprised of elected supervisors from each of those member counties.” —Rural County Representatives of California “Healthy forests are critical for the well-being of our communities and the planet. The Fix Our Forests Act is a meaningful step forward in advancing forest resilience, reducing wildfire risk, and protecting lives and ecosystems. As a company committed to sustainability and innovation, we’re encouraged to see bipartisan efforts like FOFA that prioritize forest health and a more sustainable future.” —Sunya Norman , Senior Vice President , Salesforce “We strongly support Senator Curtis’s efforts to modernize the performance of wastewater treatment infrastructure through the use of intelligent/digital technology. This bill will provide a great benefit for Utah. A few years ago, CVWRF started the Digital Water committee which is part of the Water Environment Association of Utah. At CVWRF, we already have many real time sensors and instruments that monitor our processes and feed data into the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system that automates control of the plant. The topic of intelligent water infrastructure is extremely pertinent for us as we are now significantly increasing the number (by around a factor of 10), variety and sophistication of the sensors and the control software we use. This work is being implemented as part of the redesign and construction we are currently undertaking to improve our treatment facilities to lower costs and improve the quality of wastewater we discharge into the Great Salt Lake. We are also starting to use this information for asset management such as triggering maintenance events based on sensor data and not just a simple maintenance schedule. We are also implementing digital twin software models of our process which use real time data and simulate the operation which will allow us for example, to predict the outcome of process changes we want to make prior to implementing them in our physical facility.” — Phil Heck, General Manager, Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility “The accelerating frequency and severity of wildfires are devastating communities, crippling infrastructure, and inflicting enormous losses to our economy. Beyond the immediate destruction and long-term recovery, these fires release large amounts of carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases, threatening human health and undermining hard-won progress on emissions reductions critical to combating climate change. The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) is pleased to endorse the active forest management and resilience strategies outlined in the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, which will remove barriers hindering wildfire prevention, leading to better outcomes for communities and the U.S. economy. Many efforts in the bill closely align with C2ES’s Wildfire Resilience Policy Recommendations drafted with the support of local, state, and business leaders in the West.” — Nat Keohane, President, C2ES “The Fix Our Forests Act will help restore forest health and increase resilience to catastrophic wildfires by: Streamlining environmental reviews to reduce project delays; Encouraging prescribed fire practices and livestock grazing as wildfire mitigation tools; Promoting technology partnerships for wildfire detection and prevention; Supporting research into wildfire- resistant building designs and community layouts, aiming to improve structural resilience; and fostering interagency cooperation to avoid duplication.” — Marty Durbin, Senior Vice President, Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce “The Fix Our Forests Act will help address some of the most pressing challenges facing our landscapes and communities by: accelerating landscape-scale restoration work through revised categorical exclusion (CE) and permitting thresholds that reduce delays and promote proactive land management; driving data-informed decision-making by improving access to intelligence and leveraging existing decision support tools and data infrastructure; leveraging innovative technologies to enhance wildfire response, including the integration and accessibility of commercially available tools at both federal and state levels; and promoting resilience in the built environment by creating a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program and expanding Community Wildfire Defense Grants to include home hardening activities.” — Lief Sackett, Colorado River Fire Rescue; Mark Novak, Vail Fire and Emergency Services; Karl Bauer, Eagle River Fire Protection District; C. Andrew Hoehn, Red, White, and Blue Fire District; Brad White, Grand Fire District #1; Jake Anderson, Aspen Fire Department; Travis Davis, Summit Fire and EMS; David Wolf, Wildland Fire Section Chairman “This legislation outlines a comprehensive approach to improving forest and watershed health by helping to foster a collaborative partnership between federal agencies and local communitas, authorizing common sense environmental streamlining authorities, and expanding important research initiatives.” — Chane Polo, Executive Director Andy Colosimo, Chair of CWC Federal Affairs Committee, Colorado Water Congress “The bill has come a long way since passing on the House floor by a bipartisan vote in January. Thanks to the efforts of the Senate bill’s sponsors, Sens. Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla, important improvements have been made that have allowed for our organizations to back the bill: there are more guardrails around the emergency authorities, clarified forest management activities, broader inclusions of local, state, tribal and stakeholder input, substantially strengthened Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program language, provisions on improving prescribed fire use, and expanded seed nursery and reforestation infrastructure. Further, language has been struck that would limit standing for plaintiffs based on comment period participation, and the statute of limitations has been extended.” — The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, and National Audubon Society The Fix Our Forests Act is a critical step forward. The bill provides an opportunity to speed up the planning and implementation of wildfire risk reduction projects on federal lands while expanding collaborative tools to bring more partners into this vital work. Additionally, it bolsters the use of prescribed fire to help reduce fire severity and restore ecosystems. The bill recognizes that replanting after wildfire and other extreme events goes hand in hand with active forest management and the legislation supports ecosystem and habitat restoration across our public lands and in the priceless white oak forests of the Eastern U.S. The Fix Our Forests Act also takes a broad view of the solutions needed by establishing a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program to address risk in the built environment and creating a Fire Intelligence Center to improve interagency coordination and adoption of new technologies. — Coalition of 22 Wildfire Organizations “We are particularly encouraged by the bill’s designation of Fireshed Management Areas to focus forest health treatments in the highest-risk regions; creation of an Interagency Fireshed Center to coordinate science, data, and planning across jurisdictions; streamlined environmental reviews that maintain safeguards while accelerating action on priority projects; support for Good Neighbor Authority expansion to allow broader participation from states and local partners; investment in local and tribal capacity, data tools, and restoration programs to improve on-the-ground outcomes. Each of these components advances better watershed protection, reduces long-term fire suppression costs, and improves the resilience of the systems our members rely on to deliver clean, reliable water. The Fix Our Forests Act provides a forward-looking framework that strengthens interagency collaboration and delivers common-sense reforms to improve forest and watershed health. NWRA believes this legislation will provide lasting benefits for our environment, public safety, and water quality and infrastructure. We respectfully urge swift passage of the bill and stand ready to support its implementation.” — Greg Morrison, Executive Vice President , National Water Resources Association To address these challenges, the Fix Our Forests Act would: Establish new and updated programs to reduce wildfire risks across large, high-priority “firesheds,” with an emphasis on cross-boundary collaboration. Streamline and expand tools for forest health projects (e.g., stewardship contracting, Good Neighbor Agreements) and provide faster processes for certain hazardous fuels treatments. Create a single interagency program to help communities in the wildland-urban interface build and retrofit with wildfire-resistant measures, while simplifying and consolidating grant applications. Expand research and demonstration initiatives—including biochar projects and the Community Wildfire Defense Research Program—to test and deploy cutting-edge wildfire prevention, detection, and mitigation technologies. Strengthen coordination efforts across agencies through a new Wildfire Intelligence Center, which would streamline federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combating wildfires. Improve reforestation, seedling supply, and nursery capacity; establish new programs for white oak restoration; and clarify policies to reduce wildfire-related litigation and expedite forest health treatments. A version of the Fix Our Forests Act was originally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Scott Peters (D-CA).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-joins-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-disabled-veterans-access-to-affordable-housing,Congressman Blake Moore Joins Bipartisan Bill to Protect Disabled Veterans' Access to Affordable Housing,2025-09-19,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) introduced the bipartisan Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act to ensure that veterans’ service-related disability benefits are not used to deny veterans access to affordable housing. “As the representative of Hill Air Force Base and an active veteran community, improving servicemember housing has been a priority my entire time in Congress. Homelessness among our veteran population is unacceptable, and our veterans are more than deserving of affordable housing – especially when they are injured while serving,” Rep. Moore said. “I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act with my Ways and Means colleagues to exclude service-related disability payments from the income calculation for LIHTC eligibility to ensure that our servicemembers and their families are better able to access affordable housing when they return home.” “Veterans who have sacrificed for our country shouldn’t face barriers when trying to find a safe, affordable place to live,” Rep. Sánchez said. “Disability benefits are meant to cover the costs of injuries sustained during their service – they’re not income. Our bill would ensure that veterans aren’t unfairly disqualified from affordable housing, allowing them to live with the dignity they earned through their service.” “This critical legislation ensures veterans can continue to keep more of their hard-earned money and have the resources they need to purchase an affordable home,” Rep. Kelly said, chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax. “This legislation puts the tax code to work for those who have worn the uniform to protect our great nation.” “Our veterans are being denied access to affordable housing programs because of a flaw in IRS code that classifies their disability benefits as income. Those who served our country, and especially those who sustained a service-connected disability, should never be turned down from the ability to obtain a safe and stable home,” Rep. Gomez said. “With this bill, we’re making sure veterans can access the housing support they deserve after their service and sacrifice to our country.” “VA disability compensation should never be a barrier to accessing stable housing for veterans,” said Jose Ramos, vice president for government and community relations for Wounded Warrior Project. “But currently, wounded warriors are penalized for injuries sustained during service to our country when their VA benefits make them ineligible to rent affordable, stable, and often higher-quality housing created through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. These are often our most vulnerable veterans who need both supports – their VA payments and housing assistance. WWP is grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Representatives Linda T. Sánchez and Mike Kelly in introducing the Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act to address this problem and help veterans across the country.” Background: Currently, these disability benefits are considered income in calculations for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), often pushing disabled veterans above eligibility thresholds and potentially into homelessness. The bill would exclude service-related disability benefits from those income calculations, ensuring veterans are not denied housing assistance. The Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act will amend the Internal Revenue Code to strike consideration of veterans’ service-connected disability and pension payments when determining income qualifications for properties financed with LIHTC and qualified residential bonds.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-to-modernize-access-to-public-roads,Congressman Blake Moore Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Modernize Access to Public Roads,2025-09-18,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jeff Hurd (R-CO), and Susie Lee (D-NV) introduced legislation to help increase accessibility to map and road records. The Modernizing Access to Public (MAP) Roads Act establishes a 5-year pilot program through the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish map standardization, improve access, and resolve user challenges. ""In a time where the vast majority of us carry a digital map in our pocket, many areas around the country still rely on outdated physical maps that lack standardization and are often inaccessible. I’m excited to introduce the MAP Roads Act, which supports map digitization and continues our efforts to make public records more convenient and organized for the public,"" Rep. Moore said. ""By making this data more digitally available, outdoor enthusiasts, emergency response personnel, freight and commerce operators, tourists, and many others will experience greater ease navigating open roads and accessing our public lands."" “Whether it’s for wildfire response, freight delivery, or families simply getting to work, school, or worship, our rural roads are critical,"" Rep. Hoyle said. ""Outdated and incomplete road maps make it harder to keep people safe and connected to their communities. This legislation helps solve that problem by giving states the tools they need to catalog, standardize, and modernize our rural road network for the 21st century while preserving local control. I’m proud to join Representatives Moore and Lee in this bipartisan effort to invest in the future of rural America.” “Colorado’s rural communities depend on safe, reliable roads for everything from emergency response to tourism and commerce. Too many counties are still stuck with outdated, incomplete maps that make planning and access much harder than it should be,” Rep. Hurd said. “The MAP Roads Act will modernize these records, improve public safety, and strengthen local economies, while keeping decision-making authority in the hands of counties and states. It also provides vital information to hunters, anglers, and other outdoor recreationists, giving them better access to the lands their tax dollars go towards and helping reduce unintentional trespassing. It’s a privilege to co-lead this legislation to make sure our communities have the tools they need to use the roads around them.” “Nevadans deserve to safely travel in rural and remote areas. We cannot leave these areas behind,” Rep. Susie Lee said. “Nevada is currently one of the most data-deficient states in the country when it comes to road mapping. This bill will make life easier for travelers and first responders on rural backroads and help folks more easily navigate our public lands.” “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 Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The bipartisan MAP Roads Act will provide funding 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.” “We appreciate Congressman Moore’s introduction of the Modernizing Access to Public Roads Act”, said Judy Camuso, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “This legislation affords the opportunity for states and local governments to utilize technology to improve road access data that will ultimately help improve public access for our hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationalists.” “Too often, outdoor recreationists are left guessing whether a rural road is public or private because county road records have not kept pace with modern navigation technology. This uncertainty can restrict recreational access to public places and can cause conflicts between private landowners and the public. The MAP Roads Act will accelerate the modernization of these records, giving people the confidence to know where they can travel to reach public land. Not only will it expand recreational access, but it also will streamline county operations, all while preserving local authority over road networks,” said Laura Orvidas, CEO of onX. ""In an era where mobile apps and GPS are essential for navigating vast public lands to reach remote hunting grounds, accurate and up-to-date county road data is critical. The MAP Roads Act will reduce inadvertent trespass risks, enhance safety during hunts, and open safer, more reliable access to our nation's public hunting opportunities,” said Kurt Dyroff, Co-CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation. “Accurate and readily available maps are essential for ensuring access to our nation's public lands and waters. We thank Representative Blake Moore for his leadership on the MAP Roads Act which would make it easier to find reliable routes to rivers and streams by bringing outdated road maps into the digital age. This legislation would allow anglers to spend more time on the water and less time worrying about how to get there,"" said Kaden McArthur, Congressional Affairs Director of Trout Unlimited. “The geospatial community stands ready to partner with state and local governments in implementing the MAP Roads Act. Our member firms have the expertise to digitize road inventories, develop standardized geospatial datasets, and ensure compatibility with mapping platforms that the public relies upon every day,” said Renee Walmsley, President of MAPPS. Background: Many counties around the country currently rely on outdated or incomplete maps for official road records. These maps lack standardization, are often inaccessible, and create challenges for emergency response operations, freight and commerce, and outdoor recreation and tourism. Modern mapping technology will improve navigation, economic development, and public access while preserving local authority over roads. The MAP Roads Act establishes a 5-year pilot program through the U.S. Department of Transportation to: Support county road digitization by converting paper or outdated formats into standardized digital data sets. Create statewide road data repositories that are publicly accessible, distinguish between public and private roads, and are compatible with third-party mapping platforms. Allow states to utilize funds for county subgrants, personnel training, or hiring contractors for data conversion. Read the full bill here and on Congress.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-moore-maloy-introduce-legislation-to-convey-federal-land-to-the-city-of-fruit-heights,"Representatives Moore, Maloy Introduce Legislation to Convey Federal Land to the City of Fruit Heights",2025-09-18,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Blake Moore (UT-01) and Celeste Maloy (UT-02) introduced legislation conveying 295.89 acres of undesignated federal land within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest to the City of Fruit Heights in Davis County, Utah. The Fruit Heights Land Conveyance Act of 2025 allows for the expansion of the existing trail system and will provide additional recreational opportunities for Utahns. “Hiking and biking trails have always been a major component of recreation and community events along the Wasatch Front. Unfortunately, federal red tape has made it impossible for necessary trail maintenance to move forward and for the construction of new trails connecting the existing trail network. The Fruit Heights Land Conveyance Act will allow the city to make these improvements and increase recreational access for Utahns,"" Rep. Moore said. “As Mayor of Fruit Heights, I support the Fruit Heights Land Conveyance Act, which will allow our community to build hiking and biking trails and complete the final section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in Davis County. These completed trails will be a benefit to our community and our state for decades to come,” Fruit Heights Mayor John Pohlman said. ""Farmington City has been and remains 100% in support of the proposal regarding the interconnected trail network between Fruit Heights and Farmington over National Forest Service land. The proposal will create greater access to the mountainside so that this rich resource can be more widely experienced and enjoyed. It’s one thing to look at the mountain. It’s quite another to experience it,"" Farmington Mayor Brett Anderson said. ""The opportunity to connect the Bonneville Shoreline Trail from north to south should be acted on promptly so that the public can fully enjoy this beloved natural resource."" Background: For years, Fruit Heights and its surrounding communities have attempted to work with the U.S. Forest Service to both maintain existing trails and develop new multi-use trails. However, bureaucratic red tape at the agency has made collaboration nearly impossible, and trail system maintenance has suffered, limiting public access and resulting in canceled community events, races, and other outdoor opportunities. Conveying this land to the City of Fruit Heights will allow for necessary trail maintenance, timely permitting for events, and enhanced recreation in Davis County. The bill requires the city to cover any costs associated with the conveyance and guarantees the land be used for public purposes; otherwise, ownership of the land will revert to the United States. To see a map of the proposed land, click here. Read the full bill here and on Congress.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moores-bipartisan-legislation-to-increase-access-to-breakthrough-medical-devices-passes-committee,Congressman Blake Moore's Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Breakthrough Medical Devices Passes Committee,2025-09-17,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Lori Trahan (D-MA) introduced the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act to increase access to breakthrough medical devices for Medicare patients. This legislation would create a streamlined pathway for FDA-designated breakthrough devices to receive transitional Medicare coverage while CMS conducts a review for a permanent coverage determination. This bill passed the Ways and Means Committee by a bipartisan vote of 38-3. “There is no reason that Medicare patients should have to wait to access breakthrough medical devices already cleared by the FDA. This legislation ensures patients receive the most advanced treatments on the market as soon as possible,” Rep. Moore said. “Easing the pathway for Medicare approval has been a priority of recent administrations, and I am proud that my colleagues and I were able to work together to help open the door for enhanced access to medical innovations.” “New and innovative medical treatments are of no good to patients who cannot gain access to them,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO). “Delays in the government approval process are an unacceptable threat to the health of America’s seniors. With the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act, Representative Moore is leading the charge to break down barriers to life-saving treatments and fuel the innovative spirit in America’s health care system that will also lead to long-term cost savings for America’s seniors and taxpayers.” “Too often, outdated policies stand between patients and the treatments they need,” Rep. DelBene said. “The Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act will modernize Medicare coverage so that when the FDA approves a safe and effective device, seniors can benefit without unnecessary delays. This legislation strengthens access to care, supports American innovation, & helps ensure Medicare keeps pace with today’s medical advances.” “When a medical device is proven safe and effective, patients shouldn’t have to wait years to access it,” Rep. Yakym said. “This bill ensures that seniors on Medicare can benefit from FDA-designated breakthrough devices right away, while creating a clear path for continued coverage. It’s about cutting red tape, speeding access, and giving hope to those facing serious illnesses. Seniors deserve timely access to the best treatments available, especially when no other options exist.” ""This legislation will help millions of seniors on Medicare by ensuring more timely access to the treatments they need,"" Rep. Bilirakis said. ""Additionally, there are more than 600 medical device companies in our state working to develop innovative and effective products. I've heard from many of these businesses about how these lengthy and unnecessary Medicare coverage delays create a significant barrier in bringing new products to market. This bill is about connecting patients with important devices and technologies quicker. Additionally, it is about encouraging innovation rather than stifling it. Government has to get out of the way and streamline the payment process for effective new devices that can ultimately help improve and save lives."" “When the FDA determines a breakthrough medical device is safe and effective, patients shouldn’t have to wait years to benefit from it,” Rep. Trahan said. “Too often, seniors are left in limbo after FDA approval while Medicare coverage catches up. The Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act fixes that gap – ensuring that the most innovative, lifesaving devices get to the people who need them most, when they need them most.” Background: In 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act created a new pathway for “breakthrough” medical devices to receive expedited Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. To be eligible for the Breakthrough Devices Program, the device must utilize novel technology to treat a condition that has no other approved alternatives or the device’s technology provides a significant benefit above existing therapies. Receiving Medicare coverage following an FDA breakthrough designation remains a barrier. Innovators often call the lag time between FDA clearance and Medicare coverage the “valley of death,” as devices wait up to five years for Medicare coverage. In January 2021, the Trump Administration finalized the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology (MCIT) rule, which created a pathway for breakthrough devices to receive automatic Medicare coverage in a transitional period while awaiting the determination for permanent coverage. In November 2021, days before MCIT was set to take effect, the Biden Administration repealed the rule, citing “operational challenges.” Nearly three years later in August 2024, the Biden Administration released a replacement rule with additional barriers and burdens. The Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act provides a clear pathway for four years of transitional Medicare coverage of breakthrough devices upon the manufacturer's application and requires CMS to make a permanent coverage determination by the end of the temporary period. This expedited coverage pathway will encourage more innovative medical devices to come to market and provide quicker access to treatments for Medicare patients. Supporting organizations: AdvaMed, Biocom California, BioUtah, California Life Sciences Association, MassMEDIC, Medical Device Manufacturers Association, Novocure, AMAC Action, and Research America. You can find bill text here and on Congress.gov. Rep. Moore's comments during the markup can be found below. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/lee-introduces-charlie-kirk-act-to-ban-government-funded-propaganda,Lee Introduces Charlie Kirk Act To Ban Government Funded Propaganda,2025-09-17,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Charlie Kirk Act today to restore protections against government-funded propaganda targeted at American audiences. Named as a tribute to the late conservative leader Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last week during a debate appearance in Utah, this legislation restores protections from the Smith-Mundt Act to block the federal government from propagandizing its own citizens shaping media narratives. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS). “From the end of World War II until the Obama administration, it was illegal for the US government to use the State Department’s foreign broadcasting apparatus to target American citizens with propaganda,” said Senator Mike Lee. “In 2013, these protections were taken away. My legislation restores this safeguard under the name of an American martyr for freedom of speech and freedom of thought: Charlie Kirk. As Charlie’s vital work so ably demonstrated, Americans can figure out the truth for themselves without government telling them what to believe.” “The tragedy we witnessed last week was a sobering reminder of the perils of a population subjected to dangerous propaganda,” said Senator Roger Marshall. “The federal government should never be able to directly target U.S. citizens with propaganda, and this bill takes meaningful steps to remove any semblance of government influence over American media.” Background New survey data revealed in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death that 24% of very liberal Americans find political violence justifiable – a startling revelation on the effects of extremist rhetoric from the ideological left. Vice President JD Vance urged Americans to address “this incredibly destructive movement of left-wing extremism that has grown up over the last few years,” which he believes “is part of the reason why Charlie was killed by an assassin's bullet."" Kirk’s murder was the latest in a growing list of political attacks apparently motivated by extreme leftist rhetoric. The Smith-Mundt Act was enacted during the Cold War and included specific protections against the federal government gaining illegitimate, monopolized influence over the minds of the American people by banning the targeted dissemination of government funded propaganda material to American audiences. Under the Obama administration in 2013, these protections were weakened, opening the door for government control and exploitation of information channels. Now, American audiences are not only vulnerable to, but likely paying for their own propagandization. Given that government funded media outlets like NPR and PBS have proven so incredibly politically biased that Congress revoked their federal funding when Senator Lee led the charge, this is a deeply troubling overstep of tyranny over the American public. In response to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, President Trump expressed support for reenacting Smith-Mundt, and a petition for its passage in memoriam of Kirk has gathered over one hundred thousand signatures. The Charlie Kirk Act will restore media accountability and safeguard freedom of speech and the press from biased government control with Smith-Mundt Act protections against propaganda funded by American tax dollars. Read exclusive coverage by Fox News here. Read bill text of the Charlie Kirk Act here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-moore-costa-introduce-legislation-to-study-impact-of-artificial-intelligence-in-rural-america,"Representatives Moore, Costa Introduce Legislation to Study Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Rural America",2025-09-16,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Jim Costa (D-CA) introduced legislation requiring the U.S. Departments of Energy, Interior, and Agriculture to study the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) data center expansions in rural America. Rising energy demand from AI data centers has led to higher utility costs for consumers, and the Unleashing Low-Cost Rural AI Act will help keep costs down for Utah families. “As a leader in both tech and energy innovation, Utah is a prime location for data centers and AI infrastructure. Cementing our role as an innovation hub will require identifying rural areas ready for data expansion, streamlining permitting for new energy projects, and promoting the co-location of data centers with energy facilities,” Rep. Moore said. “These efforts will power our growing digital demands without passing costs on to families. I’m grateful to partner with Representative Costa to introduce the Unleashing Low-Cost Rural AI Act to identify other areas of the country, like Utah, that will advance solutions to meet our energy needs.” ""AI Data Centers are expanding rapidly and using more energy and water than entire cities. That energy demand is driving up utility costs for consumers,” Rep. Jim Costa said. “My legislation ensures we take a hard look at how this growth impacts rural communities that are powering the AI industry, and make sure families aren’t left paying the price."" Background: Artificial intelligence data centers are increasingly being built in rural areas to power the AI industry. This surge has led to higher energy demand and utility costs for consumers. PJM, the world’s largest energy market that covers 13 U.S. states from Illinois to Washington, D.C., estimates that data centers are responsible for an additional $9.3 billion in costs for ratepayers. The Unleashing Low-Cost Rural AI Act requires the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Energy to conduct a joint study on the impact of AI data center expansions in rural areas. Specifically, it identifies rural areas poised for technological expansions and the impact of such expansion on energy supply, reliability, and costs to consumers. This study also looks at ways to upgrade existing energy infrastructure so that AI and data centers could be built alongside power facilities. This legislation reviews options for nuclear and geothermal energy, hydroelectric dams, solar, wind, battery storage, and carbon capture. Read the full bill here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/senator-curtis-honors-fallen-tremonton-officers-on-the-senate-floor,SENATOR CURTIS HONORS FALLEN TREMONTON OFFICERS ON THE SENATE FLOOR,2025-09-15,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"In his speech, Senator Curtis paid tribute to the officers’ courage and sacrifice, reflecting on the deep impact their loss has had on their families, their department, and the community. Washington, D.C. — Last week, Senator John Curtis (R-UT) visited Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath in honor of Sergeant Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada, two Tremonton-Garland police officers who were killed in the line of duty last month. He later paid tribute to the officers in a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate. “Sergeant Sorensen and Officer Estrada carried the pioneer spirit that defines Utah,” said Senator Curtis. “They chose duty over comfort. They walked into danger so others could walk in peace. Their service, their laughter, their sacrifice lives on in us. May we honor them not only with our words, but with action worthy of their examples.” Curtis noted that the Tremonton-Garland Police Department, made up of just 17 people, has had to carry on despite the tragedy. Thousands of Utahns lined the streets in the rain for the officers’ funerals, tying blue ribbons on homes and storefronts to show their support. Earlier in the day, Senator Curtis laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in honor of Sergeant Sorensen and Officer Estrada. Footage of that ceremony can be found below: The full speech as prepared for delivery is below, and the video file can be downloaded here. Mr. President, colleagues, Tremonton, Utah, is a quiet town in the Bear River Valley, best known for the Box Elder County Fair, now celebrating its 100th year. It’s the kind of place where folks wave as they pass on the road, where neighbors look after each other, and where life feels far from the noise and chaos of other parts of the country. But on Sunday, August 17, that peace was shattered. Sergeant Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada—two devoted public servants—responded to a domestic disturbance call. In the line of duty, both were shot and killed while protecting their community. Their loss has left a hole not just in their families, but in Tremonton, and across Utah. Earlier today, I laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in their honor. It was a humbling reminder that sacrifice—whether on foreign battlefields or the quiet streets of our towns—is what preserves our freedom. We all know policing is never easy. Officers step into the unknown, often with seconds, or less, to decide between life and death. Domestic calls are among the most dangerous. That night in Tremonton, Lee and Eric faced lethal fire. Yet their courage saved lives. A deputy and his K-9 were injured but survived. Others made it home because Lee and Eric did not. Sgt. Sorensen, a 16-year veteran, was known as steady and kind. He checked on grieving neighbors, looked out for late-night grocery store employees, and every year rode his bike in the county fair parade, tossing candy with a smile. Officer Estrada, just 31, was a husband and father, known for his humor and compassion, and for putting people at ease. Together, these men embodied the best of Utah law enforcement—service rooted in responsibility, not authority. To give you perspective, the Tremonton-Garland Police Department has just 17 people—officers and staff together. They didn’t get to stop and grieve. They had to carry on, leaning on each other and on a community that has shown incredible kindness. At their funerals, thousands lined the streets in the rain. Blue ribbons appeared on homes and storefronts. At the fair, more than $260,000 was raised for their families. That is Utah at its best. Neighbors locking arms and lifting one another. Mr. President, Utah has always honored sacrifice. My pioneer ancestors climbed Ensign Peak in 1847. They looked out over a barren desert and imagined what could be—a thriving home built on faith, family, and community. They didn’t have much, but they had courage. They knew the future would demand hardship—and unity. Sgt. Sorensen and Officer Estrada carried that same pioneer spirit. They stood watch so others could rest. They chose duty over comfort. They walked into danger so others could walk in peace. As President Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” Lee and Eric lived that creed. And as President Reagan reminded us, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” On the quiet streets of Tremonton, they stood guard against that extinction. Deputy Allred, who was shot and survived, said while recovering: “If I could ask one thing to come from this senseless tragedy, don’t forget how much love and support is being handed out right now. Communities are coming together. Kindness and love are being shared. Keep this moving forward and don’t stop ever.” That’s the charge before us. My mission is to ensure Lee and Eric are remembered not as headlines, but as symbols of Utah values and American courage. And my commitment is to work for solutions that better support law enforcement, strengthen protections for families, and bring peace of mind to hardworking citizens. So let us pledge today: Sgt. Sorensen and Officer Estrada will not be forgotten. Their service, their laughter, their sacrifice lives on in us. May we honor them not only with our words, but with action worthy of their example. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-moore-joins-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-to-reduce-hunger-among-military-families,"Congressman Moore Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Reduce Hunger Among Military Families",2025-09-12,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), and Josh Riley (D-NY) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Military Food Security Act of 2025 alongside Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). The legislation ensures that military families have better access to affordable and healthy food by excluding the Basic Allowance for Housing from income calculations used to determine eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance. This change would remove an unintended barrier that prevents some military families from qualifying for food assistance. “The Pentagon recently reported that nearly 26% of U.S. military personnel experienced food insecurity in 2023. No military member should have to choose between serving our country and providing food for their families,” Rep. Moore said. “That’s why I’m supporting bipartisan, common-sense legislation that widens eligibility for Basic Needs Allowance for our lower-enlisted servicemembers and ensures that more young families can support themselves in the early stages of military life.” “Too many of our servicemembers and their families struggle to put food on the table because of outdated rules and red tape,” Rep. Panetta said. “Our bipartisan Military Food Security Act fixes the eligibility formula for food assistance so it reflects the real financial challenges military families face. We must ensure that no one who serves our country ever goes hungry.” “Caring for servicemembers and their families is the foundation of military readiness. It is unacceptable that the men and women who serve our country worry about putting food on the table,” Rep. Strickland said. “I am proud to join my colleagues in re-introducing the Military Food Security Act to take care of military families at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and across the nation. We must uphold our end of the promise to our servicemembers and put an end to military hunger.” “Food costs across America are sky-high, and America’s servicemembers are paying the price. Today, more than a quarter of people serving in our Armed Forces can’t afford to put the food they need on the table,” Rep. Goodlander said. “That’s not right. And that’s why I’m working to get this bipartisan bill signed into law.” “As a Navy veteran, military spouse, and Mom of a servicemember, I know firsthand the sacrifices our military families make every day. It is unacceptable that so many of them are struggling with food insecurity,” Rep. Kiggans said. “The Military Food Security Act takes an important step toward fixing that problem by ensuring the Basic Needs Allowance truly reflects the financial realities our families face. We must do everything we can to support the men and women who serve, and the families who stand behind them.” “The San Diego Food Bank already serves 40,000 active-duty military personnel and veteran families every month, and with grocery costs skyrocketing, that number will likely rise even more,” Rep. Jacobs said. “No one who has worn our country’s uniform should struggle to put food on the table and feed their families. That’s why I’m proud to help introduce the Military Food Security Act so we can alleviate military hunger and take care of those who’ve sacrificed so much for all of us.” “If you’re willing to put on the uniform and fight for this country, you shouldn’t be fighting hunger at home,” Rep. Riley said. “I’m proud to help lead the Military Food Security Act because in Upstate New York, we show up for those who serve — and we don’t accept anything less.” “Too many military families struggle to afford food—a betrayal of the tremendous sacrifices they make for our nation,” Senator Blumenthal said. “The Military Food Security Act removes outdated rules and unnecessary obstacles preventing servicemembers from obtaining the benefits they have earned to help buy groceries and make nutritious meals. This critical legislation ensures service members can stay mission-focused—defending our nation—without the added burden of worrying how they’ll put food on the table for their families.” Background: The Pentagon found that 24% of all active duty servicemembers, or approximately 286,800 personnel, experienced food insecurity in 2020 and 2021. More recently, the Office of the Secretary of Defense partnered with the RAND Corporation to find that 25.8% of personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard were experiencing food insecurity.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-mike-kennedy-and-senator-mike-lee-co-lead-resolution-condemning,Representative Mike Kennedy and Senator Mike Lee Co-lead Resolution Condemning Assassination of Charlie Kirk and Honoring His Legacy,2025-09-11,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Representative Mike Kennedy (UT-03) introduced the following House Resolution in response to the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk yesterday on Utah Valley University's Campus: RESOLUTION Condemning the assassination of Charlie Kirk and honoring his life and legacy. Whereas Charlie Kirk was horrifically assassinated on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University while speaking to a large group of college students; Whereas Charlie Kirk was a devoted husband, father, and Christian; Whereas, in 2012, Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a conservative campus advocacy group that quickly became one of the fastest growing college campus chapter organizations in the country; and Whereas Charlie Kirk frequently engaged college students of all political backgrounds in open debates and discussion, encouraging civil discourse on college campuses and among college students: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— (1) condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk in the strongest possible terms; (2) extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to Charlie Kirk’s family, including his wife, Erika, and their two young children; and (3) honors Charlie Kirk’s commitment to the constitutional principles of civil discussion and debate between all people of the United States, regardless of political affiliation. Senator Lee released the following statement yesterday in response to Kirk’s passing: “Charlie Kirk was an American patriot, an inspiration to countless young people to stand up and defend the timeless truths that make our country great. “This murder was a cowardly act of violence, an attack on champions of freedom like Charlie, the students who gathered for civil debate, and all Americans who peacefully strive to save our nation. “The terrorists will not win. “Charlie will. “Please join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/senators-launch-consumer-safety-technology-act-to-strengthen-ai-and-blockchain-safeguards,SENATORS LAUNCH CONSUMER SAFETY TECHNOLOGY ACT TO STRENGTHEN AI AND BLOCKCHAIN SAFEGUARDS,2025-09-11,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, introduced the Consumer Safety Technology Act, bipartisan legislation to modernize consumer protection tools and keep American families safe in a rapidly changing digital world. “The world is changing fast, and consumer protection must keep pace,” said Senator Curtis. “This bill puts the right tools in the hands of experts—employing AI to catch dangerous products before they hurt families, exploring blockchain to strengthen supply chains, and making sure digital tokens don’t become a new avenue for fraud. This is about keeping people safe while helping American innovation thrive.” “Our government must be able to keep up with new and emerging technologies, especially when it comes to consumer safety,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “The Consumer Safety Technology Act would allow the Consumer Product Safety Commission to explore using artificial intelligence to further its critical goals. I am grateful to work alongside Senator Curtis on this legislation and look forward to getting it over the finish line.” As technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and digital tokens become part of everyday life, Americans face new risks—from unsafe products and scams to unfair or deceptive practices. The Consumer Safety Technology Act ensures the U.S. stays ahead of threats by equipping the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other agencies with the tools they need to protect consumers while preserving America’s leadership in innovation. The Consumer Safety Technology Act would: Launch an AI pilot program at the CPSC to analyze injury trends, identify hazards, monitor recalls, and flag unsafe imports more quickly, keeping dangerous products out of American homes. Require a Department of Commerce study on how blockchain can improve product safety, supply chain integrity, and traceability, while identifying potential risks. Direct the Federal Trade Commission and Commerce Department to report on unfair or deceptive practices involving digital tokens, ensuring consumers are protected without stifling responsible innovation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/senator-lee-introduces-resolution-condemning-assassination-of-charlie-kirk-and-honoring-his-legacy,Senator Lee Introduces Resolution Condemning Assassination of Charlie Kirk and Honoring His Legacy,2025-09-11,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a resolution today in response to the assassination of conservative leader and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk yesterday during an event on Utah Valley University’s campus. A companion resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Kennedy (R-UT). RESOLUTION Condemning the assassination of Charlie Kirk and honoring his life and legacy. Whereas Charlie Kirk was horrifically assassinated on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University while speaking to a large group of college students; Whereas Charlie Kirk was a devoted husband, father, and Christian; Whereas, in 2012, Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a conservative campus advocacy group that quickly became one of the fastest growing college campus chapter organizations in the country; and Whereas Charlie Kirk frequently engaged college students of all political backgrounds in open debates and discussion, encouraging civil discourse on college campuses and among college students: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— (1) condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk in the strongest possible terms; (2) extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to Charlie Kirk’s family, including his wife, Erika, and their two young children; and (3) honors Charlie Kirk’s commitment to the constitutional principles of civil discussion and debate between all people of the United States, regardless of political affiliation. Senator Lee released the following statement yesterday in response to Kirk’s passing: “Charlie Kirk was an American patriot, an inspiration to countless young people to stand up and defend the timeless truths that make our country great. “This murder was a cowardly act of violence, an attack on champions of freedom like Charlie, the students who gathered for civil debate, and all Americans who peacefully strive to save our nation. “The terrorists will not win. “Charlie will. “Please join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift.” Read the full text of the resolution here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-blake-moore-secures-key-wins-in-the-national-defense-authorization-act-for-fiscal-year-2026,Congressman Blake Moore Secures Key Wins in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026,2025-09-10,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Blake D. Moore,M001213,blakemoore.house.gov,blakemoore,https://blakemoore.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Blake Moore issued the following statement on his vote in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “As co-chair of the House Military Depot Caucus and the House Air Force Caucus, I have worked to secure numerous bipartisan policy measures in the NDAA that will strengthen the defense industrial base and the long-term health of facilities like the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill Air Force Base and Tooele Army Depot in Northern Utah,"" Congressman Blake Moore said. “This year’s NDAA provides improved resources for our servicemembers and their families, promotes critical Made-In-America equipment manufacturing, and ensures our armed forces have the tools they need to remain second to none on the global stage.” Congressman Moore secured wins in the FY26 NDAA that will help advance the mission set and benefit the servicemembers at Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) and worked with the House Armed Services Committee to include several standalone amendments and bills adopted in the House-passed version: Led a floor amendment, in conjunction with Senator James Lankford (R-OK), to widen the definition of “direct hire authority” for depots and industrial facilities. This new definition will include supporting staff and units, such as program and management analysts, facilities mechanics, training instructors, and those involved in safety/occupational health. It will enable facilities like HAFB to use direct hire authority to quickly hire new staff, manage attrition, recruit for increased workload, and reduce reliance on private contractors. Led the Depot Investment Reform Act, which amends the calculation of minimum required capital investment for DOD depots. Instead of using the average over the past three fiscal years, the requirement will now be based on the preceding, current, and estimated amount for the upcoming fiscal year. This will ensure that annual DOD investments into our depots are more closely tied to future workload and readiness needs and will help our depots better plan, staff, and manage emergency scenarios. Led the FALCON Act, which requires the Air Force to incorporate depot-level maintenance planning into at least one annual multinational exercise in the Indo-Pacific. This includes coordination with allies such as Australia and South Korea on maintenance capabilities, airworthiness certification, emergency planning, and logistics sustainment. Co-sponsored a floor amendment to require the DOD to study the impacts of burdensome Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Class IX recovery rates on depots and industrial facilities. Class IX refers to repair parts and components needed for the maintenance and repair of military equipment. When depots request parts from the DLA, they're often charged through a reimbursable system, essentially buying back their own parts or paying to restock. Since the DLA must recover its operating costs by setting higher prices for depots (which consume more Class IX items than other DOD customers), depots are often at a cost disadvantage. Co-sponsored a floor amendment to enable DOD depots and industrial facilities to write off debt and depreciation for government-directed mission changes. Depots often incur debts and depreciation of assets beyond their control as a result of government mandates from the DOD or respective branch. Co-sponsored a floor amendment to create and authorize the Baltic Security Initiative, a DOD initiative to help train and strengthen the armed forces of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to deter Russian aggression, increase NATO interoperability, and support military modernization on NATO’s Eastern Flank. Co-led legislation to exclude Basic Allowance for Housing from the Basic Needs Allowance, which will widen eligibility for more lower-enlisted servicemembers and their families qualify for food assistance. Other wins in the NDAA for servicemembers, the military, and taxpayers: Provides all servicemembers a 3.8% pay raise. Authorizes $50 million in additional funding for barracks design and $50 million in minor construction for laboratories and demolition. Funds deployment of the National Guard and active-duty troops to the southwest border. Ends Biden-era wokeism in the DOD and dismantles DEI initiatives. Directs the DOD to study an alternative BAH calculation methodology, which could positively shift rates to better account for high-cost areas. Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to prioritize full sustainment of the Minuteman III program until the Sentinel system reaches full operational capability. This requires a strategy to include an assessment of aging components, performance shortfalls, test results, inventory status, attrition forecasts, and budget needs. Authorizes full funding for top Trump administration priorities, including the Golden Dome missile defense system, Sentinel ICBM program, F-47 next-generation fighter aircraft, and autonomous platforms. Provides continued support for the Columbia Class Submarine, a critical pillar of the U.S. nuclear triad and strategic deterrence posture that is set to replace the Navy's current force of aging Ohio-class nuclear submarines. Authorizes up to $1 billion in fiscal year 2026 to support the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, which aims to bolster Taiwan's defense capabilities through DOD resources. For more information on the FY26 NDAA, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/senator-mike-lee-issues-statement-on-murder-of-charlie-kirk-on-uvu-campus,Senator Mike Lee Issues Statement on Murder of Charlie Kirk on UVU Campus,2025-09-10,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement on the murder of conservative leader and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk earlier today at Utah Valley University: “Charlie Kirk was an American patriot, an inspiration to countless young people to stand up and defend the timeless truths that make our country great. “This murder was a cowardly act of violence, an attack on champions of freedom like Charlie, the students who gathered for civil debate, and all Americans who peacefully strive to save our nation. “The terrorists will not win. “Charlie will. “Please join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift.” Kirk was shot during a speech on Utah Valley University’s campus at approximately 12:30pm MDT as a large crowd of students was gathered to hear Kirk speak at the first stop of his American Comeback Tour. No students or other guests have been reported injured at the event. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-legislation-restore-accountability-and-end-waste,Rep. Kennedy Introduces Legislation to Restore Accountability and End Waste in the Federal Protective Service,2025-09-09,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Mike Kennedy,K000403,mikekennedy.house.gov,mikekennedy,https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Representative Mike Kennedy (UT-03) alongside Representative Shomari Figures (D-AL) introduced H.R. 3425, the Personnel Oversight and Shift Tracking (POST) Act, bipartisan legislation that fixes long-standing failures within the Federal Protective Service and improves public safety. “I came to Washington with a goal to hold government accountable and fix broken systems,” said Rep. Mike Kennedy. “The POST Act does exactly that by ending bureaucratic failures at the Federal Protective Service and demanding more from our government agencies.” “The POST Act strengthens oversight and modernizes how we manage contract security at federal buildings,” said Rep. Shomari C. Figures. “It improves accountability, updates outdated systems, and helps ensure federal spaces are safe and well-protected. I’m proud to have co-led this bipartisan practical step in the right direction for public safety.” ""The POST Act will make needed improvements to the way the Federal Protective Service (FPS) oversees, tests, and trains its contract guard personnel,"" said T&I Chairman Sam Graves. ""These reforms will ensure that our federal facilities are safe, secure, and able to serve the American people. I want to thank Congressman Kennedy for his leadership on this important and timely legislation."" Background: The Federal Protective Service (FPS) is responsible for protecting nearly 9,000 federal facilities nationwide. In fiscal year 2024, FPS operated with a $2.2 billion budget and oversaw more than 15,000 contract Protective Security Officers. With that level of funding and manpower, taxpayers expect reliable results. Unfortunately, FPS continues to fall short. A recent Government Accountability Office investigation revealed that contract guards failed to detect prohibited items such as batons and pepper spray in half of all covert tests. While FPS conducts these tests, they lack a standardized system to capture, analyze, and respond to the results. The POST Act addresses these shortcomings by making sure FPS reviews these failures, identifies their causes, and then takes corrective action. The legislation also fixes FPS’s broken guard post-tracking system. In 2018, FPS launched the Post Tracking System (PTS) to modernize its outdated paper-based guard sign-in process. Yet PTS remains unreliable, and FPS is still dependent on paper records as its official standard. In 2025, this means federal leaders cannot verify in real time if a building is staffed and secure, leading to failures that have in some cases forced closures of taxpayer-funded facilities and wasted taxpayer dollars in the process. The POST Act ends years of bureaucratic delay and indecision and gives FPS six months to either repair or replace its failed tracking system.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/lee-supports-trump-energy-agenda-with-protections-for-utah-energy-producers,Lee Supports Trump Energy Agenda with Protections for Utah Energy Producers,2025-09-09,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today to support President Trump’s American energy dominance agenda and shield Americans from artificially high gas prices by protecting Utah oil refineries from unfair fines by the federal government. The Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act would block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from forcing refineries to shoulder forgiven fines from refineries that do not meet the EPA’s environmental standards. U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) cosponsored the legislation, which received endorsements from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and the American Energy Alliance. “The Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act advances President Trump’s growth agenda for American energy and lowers costs for hardworking families, ensuring that refineries in Utah and across the nation are not subjected to unlawful regulations invented by DC lobbyists,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Nowhere in the Clean Air Act does it say that the swampy corn lobby can force Americans to pay more for their products. By jamming through more biofuels and environmental compliance costs, the corn lobby is stifling US energy producers and jacking up the price of fuel. It’s bad for refineries, bad for American families, and bad for American energy independence.” “Our refineries play a critical role in supplying Wyoming families and businesses with affordable energy. Outrageous compliance costs under the Renewable Fuel Standard threaten to raise prices for families across the country,” said Senator John Barrasso. “Our legislation will prevent increased compliance costs and help keep gas prices down for the people of Wyoming.” “The small refinery exemption was meant to provide relief, not shift costs onto larger refineries,” said Senator Cynthia Lummis. “I’m proud to join my western colleagues in introducing legislation that preserves fairness and common sense at the EPA by clarifying Congress’ intent. This will prevent unfair compliance costs, protect Wyoming jobs while keeping gas prices down for people throughout the Cowboy State, and uphold President Trump’s commitment to unleashing American energy.” “As if a $70 billion RFS price tag and a mandate for record imports wasn’t enough, the U.S. EPA is threatening to further undercut the President’s energy dominance agenda by reallocating more than a billion gallons of exempted RFS volumes from small refiners to their competitors. This is akin to your neighbor getting a tax break and the IRS showing up at your doorstep with the bill. It is simply wrong and will not meaningfully change the volume of corn ethanol that gets blended into American gasoline. We’re grateful to Senator Lee for introducing this legislation that will make it explicitly clear that EPA cannot re-assign massive regulatory burdens from one refinery to others. This bill will save American consumers billions of dollars. It will benefit U.S. energy security and help to ensure that American fuel manufacturers use more of their resources on productive things — like jobs, facility construction projects, and energy infrastructure — instead of red tape from the EPA.” – Chet Thompson, CEO and President, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers Background The EPA requires refineries in the U.S. to include a minimum volume of renewable fuel (e.g., ethanol, biodiesel, etc.) in all fuel sold, or pay to make up for any level of noncompliance. Small refineries may be granted exemptions if complying would cause “disproportionate economic hardship.” The EPA is currently considering whether to reallocate forgiven payments over to non-exempt refineries, forcing compliant producers to shoulder even more costs despite no authorization from the Clean Air Act to do so. This is an antiquated Bush-era program that originated in a time when there were fears about an “addiction to foreign oil” and a looming cliff for domestic oil production, seeking to turn the industry toward biofuels. Despite those fears proving unfounded, the program escalates its requirements each period, with the most recent Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) being the highest ever proposed. By the EPA’s own calculation, the proposed rule would impose compliance costs of approximately $6.7 billion per year, while returning benefits of only $200 million per year. The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) estimates that compliance costs are closer to $70 billion. This is simply a handout for the biofuel and agriculture industries at the expense of American refineries and consumers, who will see prices at the pump increase if the EPA moves forward with its proposed rule and reallocation of exempted payments. The Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act would protect Americans from artificially high gas prices by blocking the EPA from forcing refineries to shoulder unfair fines. Read bill text of the Protect Consumers from Reallocation Costs Act here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:10:29Z https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1705,Congresswoman Maloy Introduces Bill to Extend Hazard Pay to Wildland Firefighters for Prescribed Burns and Training Jumps,2025-09-05,2025,2025-09,Republican,House,UT,Celeste Maloy,M001228,maloy.house.gov,maloy,https://maloy.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-02) introduced the Wildland Firefighter Hazard Pay Correction Act to ensure federal wildland firefighters and smokejumpers receive hazard pay for all dangerous activities, including prescribed burns and training jumps. Currently, federal wildland firefighters receive hazard pay when fighting active wildfires but not when conducting prescribed burns—despite facing similar risks from fire, smoke, and hazardous conditions. Smokejumpers, who parachute into remote fire areas, also don't receive hazard pay for regular proficiency jumps required to maintain operational readiness. ""Wildland firefighters haven’t been receiving hazard pay for doing controlled burns or proficiency parachute jumps. They should be. This bill fixes that, and helps recruit and retain firefighters to do hard, hazardous jobs that are critical for land management,” said Congresswoman Maloy. “For far too long, Federal Wildland Firefighters have shouldered extraordinary risks without fair recognition in their paychecks. This legislation sends a powerful message that their service and sacrifice matter. I want to thank Congresswoman Maloy for her leadership and for standing shoulder to shoulder with the firefighters who keep our nation safe,” said Matthew R. Brossard, National Business Representative, National Federation of Federal Employees Read the full text of the bill here. Background: Prescribed burns are a critical tool in active forest management, helping to remove excess vegetation and lessen the intensity and spread of wildfires. These controlled burns create defensible spaces around communities, reduce hazardous fuel loads, and promote healthier forest ecosystems. Despite being carefully planned and executed, they sometimes involve burning hundreds of acres at a time and still expose firefighters to significant dangers including smoke inhalation, unpredictable fire behavior, and hazardous terrain—the same risks they face when fighting active wildfires. Additionally, smokejumpers serve an important role in combating remote wildfires by parachuting into difficult-to-access areas.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:07:37Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/senator-lee-cosponsors-clean-d-c-act,Senator Lee Cosponsors CLEAN D.C. Act,2025-09-03,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and a coalition of their Republican colleagues in introducing the Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now (CLEAN) D.C. Act today. The legislation empowers law enforcement in D.C. by repealing sweeping restrictions made by D.C.’s City Council and Democrats in Congress under President Joe Biden. “For too long, Congress has failed to keep D.C. safe and allowed corrupt local officials to prioritize politics over people’s lives,” said Senator Mike Lee. “The CLEAN D.C. Act is a step in the right direction as Congress reasserts its constitutional duty to safeguard D.C.” “Violent crime has become endemic in Washington DC as a direct result of political and ideological decisions made by Democrats,” said Senator Ted Cruz. “Those decisions included passing and trying to lock in anti-police measures such as the Orwellian-named Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, which undermined police morale, weakened officer retention, and contributed to a still-ongoing public safety disaster. The CLEAN D.C. Act will reverse that decision, and I call upon my colleagues in Congress to pass it.” The CLEAN D.C. Act was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and U.S. Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) introduced companion legislation in the House. “For far too long, our nation’s capital has been plagued by rampant crime and unsafe streets,” said Senator Ted Budd. “I am proud to join Senator Cruz and my colleagues in reaffirming Congressional authority to implement common-sense policing measures in Washington, D.C., to support the President’s agenda — putting safety first.” “For years, the radical liberals on the D.C. Council in Washington have turned their backs on the blue by ushering in new laws and regulations that handicap law enforcement’s ability to do their jobs, spurring rampant, violent crime across our nation’s capital,” said Senator John Cornyn. “This legislation would repeal one of these harmful laws that unfairly targeted police by restricting their ability to pursue a fleeing target or stop a violent protest so our brave law enforcement officers can once again feel empowered to make D.C. safe for all.” “Idaho serves as a model of low crime and safe streets, while Washington, DC’s crime and threats to public safety required President Trump’s intervention to bring law and order,” said Senator Jim Risch. “The CLEAN DC Act will ensure law enforcement can continue to support the President’s efforts to prioritize the safety of all Americans in our nation’s capital.” “Washington, D.C. is the capital of the free world – instead of being a shining example to metro areas across the globe, it has become a cesspool for criminals and illegals to get away with violent crime,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville. “The D.C. police should have every tool in the toolkit to enforce the law and fight crime. We owe it to them, along with the millions of people who live, work, and visit D.C. every year, to keep this city safe. I’m proud to join this legislation with Senator Cruz to remove red tape that’s preventing our police officers from being able to do their jobs. Keeping people safe and locking the bad guys up is common sense and I hope my colleagues can get off their high horse and vote for the wellbeing of our nation’s capital. “Congress must once again exercise our constitutional authority to repeal the D.C. City Council’s anti-police law that has recklessly put criminals first and our men and women in blue last,” said Rep. Andrew Clyde. “Unlike Joe Biden — who vetoed this commonsense legislation in 2023, President Trump stands for law and order. Sending the CLEAN DC Act to President Trump’s desk will further bolster his successful efforts to make our nation’s capital safe again for the American people. I thank Senator Cruz for leading this critical bill in the Senate, and I urge our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put public safety over politics by supporting our efforts to repeal the D.C. Council’s severely misguided law.” This bill is endorsed by the D.C. Police Union and the Fraternal Order of Police. “The D.C. Police Union, representing 3,000 dedicated officers of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), expresses profound gratitude to Senator Ted Cruz for his steadfast leadership in introducing legislation to repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act, a misguided and harmful law that has plagued our city's public safety since its enactment. This new repeal effort is a critical step toward restoring common-sense law enforcement in our Nation's Capital. The Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act has not reformed anything, it has enabled lawlessness, endangered officers and their families, and driven away the very professionals needed to keep D.C. safe. We urge all Senators to pass this repeal with the same bipartisan resolve shown in 2023, and we call on the President to sign it into law. Our city cannot afford another day of this failed experiment."" – Gregg Pemberton, Chairman, D.C. Police Union Background Cosponsoring the CLEAN D.C. Act is part of Senator Lee’s ongoing support for President Donald Trump’s agenda to make Washington D.C. safe and beautiful again by asserting Congress’ constitutional authority to govern the nation’s capital. In February, Senator Lee introduced the Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident (BOWSER) Act. In response to the mayor and city council’s failure to prevent violent crime, corruption, and voting by non-citizens, the BOWSER Act would repeal the District of Columbia Home Rule Act and restore Congress’ constitutional authority to govern D.C. Senator Lee then introduced legislation to block the D.C. City Council from holding secret meetings and circumventing President Trump’s efforts to manage crime and sanitation issues across the city. This bill would provide transparency and prevent corruption by closing the loophole councilmembers use to avoid accountability to their own citizens and Congress. The CLEAN D.C. Act The CLEAN D.C. Act repeals the D.C. City Council’s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, which imposed sweeping restrictions on law enforcement in Washington, D.C. In 2023, the House and Senate passed legislation with bipartisan support to block that measure. President Biden vetoed the resolution, and Democrats sustained his veto the same year. The D.C. Council’s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 weakens D.C. law enforcement by: Banning longstanding and proven police tactics. Stripping legal protections and due process rights for officers. Threatening police officer safety by authorizing public release of records. Imposing restrictions on policing protests and the use of non-lethal crowd control. Law enforcement leaders have warned that these provisions demoralize officers, worsen D.C.’s law enforcement staffing crisis, and embolden criminals. Read bill text for the CLEAN D.C. Act here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:07:37Z https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/9/senator-lee-introduces-department-of-war-restoration-act,Senator Lee Introduces Department of War Restoration Act,2025-09-02,2025,2025-09,Republican,Senate,UT,Mike Lee,L000577,www.lee.senate.gov,mikelee,https://www.lee.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today to restore the original title of the United States Department of War to what is currently known as the Department of Defense. U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) cosponsored the legislation, and Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives. “For the first 150 years of our military’s history, Americans defeated their enemies and protected their homeland under the War Department,” said Senator Mike Lee. “I’m proud to introduce the Department of War Restoration Act to make President Trump’s return to tradition permanent in federal law. It should always be clear to anyone who would harm our people: Americans don’t just play defense.” “From 1789 until the end of World War II, the United States military fought under the banner of the Department of War,” said Rep. Steube. ""Thanks to their courage and sacrifice, the standard of excellence was established for all servicemembers who followed in their footsteps. It is only fitting that we pay tribute to their eternal example and renowned commitment to lethality by restoring the name of the 'Department of War' to our Armed Forces."" Senator Rick Scott said, “The United States military is not a purely defensive force. We are the most lethal fighting force on the face of the planet – and a restoration of the name Department of War reflects their true capabilities to win wars, not just respond when prodded. President Trump has made clear that our nation will pursue Peace Through Strength; we will always protect our freedoms.” Read exclusive coverage by RealClear Politics here. Read the full bill text here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T15:07:37Z https://www.curtis.senate.gov/press-releases/bipartisan-push-to-boost-usfs-firefighting-capacity-amid-utah-wildfires,BIPARTISAN PUSH TO BOOST USFS FIREFIGHTING CAPACITY AMID UTAH WILDFIRES,2025-08-29,2025,2025-08,Republican,Senate,UT,John R. Curtis,C001114,www.curtis.senate.gov,curtis,https://www.curtis.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins this week to address staffing shortages at the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) by expanding firefighting capacity. The request comes as Utah battles nearly ten major fires and other Western states face heightened threats during the ongoing wildfire season. In their letter, the Senators called on Secretary Rollins to increase the number of Incident Qualification Cards, commonly known as “Red Cards,” for USFS wildland firefighters. The Red Card is an essential credential for any firefighter participating in interagency wildland fire operations. “As the 2025 wildfire season intensifies, timely certification is critical to ensuring that qualified firefighting personnel can be mobilized without delay. Unfortunately, the persistent backlogs in Red Card processing are impairing the ability of our states and other Western states to deploy federal, state, and contract crews during periods of high fire activity,” the Senators wrote. “Our wildland firefighters are working in increasingly hazardous and complex conditions as we have already seen this year. Those putting their lives on the line deserve efficient administrative systems that match the urgency and importance of their mission,” the Senators continued. The full text of the letter can be found here and below: Dear Secretary Rollins, We write to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure an adequate level of Incident Qualification Cards—commonly referred to as “Red Cards”—including through their issuance and renewal, for wildland firefighters operating at the United States Forest Service (USFS). The Red Card is an essential credential for any firefighter participating in interagency wildland fire operations, including those under the USFS. Without current certification, even experienced and fully trained individuals are sidelined at a time when every available resource counts. As the 2025 wildfire season intensifies, timely certification is critical to ensuring that qualified firefighting personnel can be mobilized without delay. Unfortunately, over the years, the persistent backlogs in Red Card processing are impairing the ability of our states and other Western states to deploy federal, state, and contract crews during periods of high fire activity. These delays are not only creating operational gaps but also placing additional strain on already-deployed responders. We remain committed to the expeditious rollout of Red Cards and to adequate staffing at USFS to efficiently respond to this fire season. Our wildland firefighters are working in increasingly hazardous and complex conditions as we have already seen this year. Those putting their lives on the line deserve efficient administrative systems that match the urgency and importance of their mission. If we can be helpful in this effort, please let us know how; we stand ready to work with USDA and USFS to ensure a satisfactory number of trained and ready firefighters can be on the line when needed. Additional Reading:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:02:47Z