Hello Utah! Okay, I'm going to give you three highs this week—zero lows. It’s been a good week.

First of all, the high: It is peak time for the cherry blossoms here in Washington, D.C. The temperature is perfect.

The second high: My team and I were rated the fifth most effective legislator in the world. Okay, in the United States. And that’s a shout-out to my team, not to me. It’s a really good team. And I want you to know, almost every one of those bills that we passed—that contributed to that rating—came from a constituent who came to us with a suggestion or a problem. We love solving problems.

The third: This one is going to surprise you that it's a high—it is town halls.

I wrote an opinion piece on town halls in the Salt Lake Tribune, and we’ve scheduled a tele-town hall. You can get that information at curtis.senate.gov. Everyone who knows me knows I’ve done over 400 town hall meetings. I’m not afraid of them. Now, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to try to reinvent them and make them more effective—particularly for those who come with genuine concerns.

So, three highs for you. You all have a good weekend.

Utah has a special relationship with Israel—and it runs deeper than just having a ‘Jordan River’ or a national park called ‘Zion.’ During a Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Senator Curtis emphasized Utah’s enduring connection to Israel—culturally, spiritually, and diplomatically—drawing from his own experience living in a kibbutz as a young student at Brigham Young University and witnessing firsthand the signing of the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty.

Full story by Suzanne Bates here.



As Utahns know, the impacts of a wildfire do not end when the fire is put out. Without swift action to rehabilitate and restore the land, it is left vulnerable to further damage. Senators Curtis and Bennet (D-CO) reintroduced the Making Access to Cleanup Happen (MATCH) Act and the Watershed Protection and Forestry Recovery Act—bipartisan legislation that together improve and expedite emergency watershed recovery efforts. Amid increasing frequency and severity of wildfire, floods, and other natural disasters, these bills remove common bureaucratic barriers that delay disaster response and reflect a proactive, locally partnered approach to forest and watershed recovery.

Utahns love the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, which provides recreational access to over 80% of the Wasatch Front. Senators Curtis and Lee (R-UT) introduced the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Feasibility Study Act, legislation to conduct a feasibility study to evaluate whether the Bonneville Shoreline Trail qualifies to become a National Scenic Trail or another designation under the National Trails System. The study marks the first formal step to unlocking statutory authorities for preservation, maintenance, and public access under the designation.




Full story by Caitlin Keith here.

Senator Curtis, Chair of the Foreign Relations Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, held a hearing on China’s influence and Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the Western Hemisphere. In his opening remarks, Chairman Curtis marked the five-year anniversary of his bipartisan TAIPEI Act, a law he sponsored to strengthen U.S. support for Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and push back against China’s coercive influence. The Senator argued that China’s efforts threaten not only Taiwan’s global position but also U.S. national interests and regional stability.

Unnecessary red tape and outdated restrictions are holding back access to energy development opportunities. Senators Curtis and Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Tribal Energy Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation to expand Tribal access to federal energy programs by removing unnecessary barriers and making technical fixes. It also allows Tribes to directly apply for and manage energy and grid resilience resources without needing to pass funds through utility providers.

During his seven years in Congress, Senator Curtis held over 400 town hall meetings with constituents, and accessibility remains a top priority for him. Amid recent attention given to Congressional town halls, Senator Curtis outlined his vision of how they can be done better in an opinion piece in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Full op-ed by Senator Curtis here.

A few weeks ago, urgency over the budget ruled the day—until a continuing resolution (CR) was passed, the government was funded, and everyone rushed home. In an opinion piece for the Deseret News, Senator Curtis called on Congress to refocus on deficits, the broken budgeting process, and the mounting national debt. In his op-ed, Curtis outlined a proposal to eliminate CRs and prevent government shutdowns by establishing a baseline budget that renews each year at existing spending levels, giving Congress greater flexibility and stability in setting funding timelines.

Full op-ed by Senator Curtis here.

Younger Americans deserve an honest conversation about Social Security—many don’t believe they’ll receive anything at all given the program’s projected insolvency. While no one in Washington is going to touch benefits for those in or near retirement, the sooner we act to save Social Security for future generations, the less dramatic the changes will need to be. In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker, Senator Curtis discussed DOGE-led spending proposals, the urgent need for Social Security reform, and other pressing issues facing the country.

The Center for Effective Lawmaking released its Legislative Effectiveness Scores for the 118th Congress, ranking Senator Curtis among the top five most effective Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives during his final term in that body. Curtis ranked fifth overall among House Republicans, with a Legislative Effectiveness Score of 4.293—placing him well above the average for members of either party and outperforming many committee and subcommittee chairs.

On the recognition, Senator Curtis said, “This recognition is really a tribute to my incredible staff. Behind every policy win is a team of dedicated public servants who care deeply about solving problems the right way. Utahns expect real results. And now, as a Senator, I remain committed to finding consensus and building allies and alliances to continue delivering for the Beehive State.”

Full story by Bridger Beal-Cvetco here.

Utah’s wool industry is an important part of the state’s economy, with Utah ranking fifth in the nation for lamb and wool production. Senator Curtis met with the Utah Wool Growers Association and expressed gratitude for their hard work, stewardship of the land, and contributions to the state’s economy and heritage—and for the fuzzy socks they left behind!

During his weekly “Hangout at the Hive” constituent hour event, Senator Curtis met with several Utah groups including Mountain Heights Academy students from West Jordan to answer their questions and talk a bit about leadership and public service. 

Sen. John Curtis addresses Trump’s clash with judges, Social Security reform on ‘Meet the Press’ (Deseret News)

It's time to reform the broken U.S. permitting system (Washington Times)

Utah Sen. John Curtis ranked Top 5 for most effective lawmaking in last Congress (Deseret News)

Senator John Curtis holds conference with Kanab Area Chamber of Commerce, addresses public protestors (Southern Utah News)

Curtis chairs hearing on China's influence, Taiwan's allies (Utah Policy)

curtis.senate.gov