Greetings from Washington—here are my highs and lows this week!

My high was introducing three bipartisan bills that are important for Utah’s economy:

• The first supports innovation in aviation. It paves the way for Utah to be the leader of what I would call “Uber aircraft,” where you can catch an airplane like you would an Uber.
• The second is a no-nonsense bill that moves federal permitting to electronic systems instead of a paper system. Sounds like a no-brainer, I know.
• And the third strengthens internships and apprenticeship programs to help our small businesses.

My low for the week, once again, is our budgeting conundrums. Uncharacteristically, Congress actually did 95% of our budgeting responsibility, and now we're down to the last percentage that’s not funded and will shut down.

So, this is very different from a normal shutdown. Most of the agencies impacted, like the TSA, are deemed essential and they'll remain operational and it will be a little bit of time before the pressure builds up. I don't think you're going to feel this like you feel the other shutdowns. As soon as a deal is reached, the Senate will vote to resolve the lapse.

I hope you all are well and have a great weekend.

Following a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing to consider the nomination of Jeremy Carl to be Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations, Senator Curtis announced that he will oppose Mr. Carl’s nomination and released the following statement:

“After reviewing his record and participating in today’s hearing, I do not believe that Jeremy Carl is the right person to represent our nation’s best interests in international forums, and I find his anti-Israel views and insensitive remarks about the Jewish people unbecoming of the position for which he has been nominated.”





Read the full story by Cami Mondeaux here. 



American innovators are shaping the future of flight, and Congress must ensure our regulatory framework keeps pace with that innovation. Senators Curtis, Welch (D-VT), Budd (R-NC), Luján (D-NM), Moran (R-KS), Padilla (D-CA), Lummis (R-WY), Sheehy (R-MT), and Young (R-IN) introduced the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act, bipartisan legislation to streamline the Federal Aviation Administration’s type certification process for Advanced Air Mobility aircraft.

The senators’ legislation aims to help American AAM companies succeed and cement the United States’ role as a global leader in aviation. The bill would bolster FAA bandwidth to prevent certification process gridlock by providing more clarity and transparency for industry applicants. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.



Outdated, paper-based permitting systems slow down projects, frustrate communities, and make it harder for agencies to do their jobs. Senators Curtis, Booker (D-NJ), McCormick (R-PA), Kelly (D-AZ), Daines (R-MT), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Budd (R-NC), and Padilla (D-CA) introduced the ePermit Act, bipartisan legislation to modernize and streamline federal environmental reviews and permitting by leveraging interactive, digital, and cloud-based technologies. This action follows the passage of companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.



Read the full story by Kelsey Brugger here. 



Small businesses are the backbone of Utah’s economy, but too many struggle to find workers with the right skills to meet modern demands. Senators Curtis and Rosen (D-NV) introduced a bill to help them train and hire more qualified workers. The bipartisan Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act will provide information and assistance to small businesses through Small Business Development Centers regarding how they can establish registered apprenticeship programs and work-based learning opportunities to train up and staff their businesses. 



Congress must help encourage AI innovation, but not without transparency and accountability. Senators Curtis and Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Copyright Labeling and Ethical AI Reporting (CLEAR) Act, bipartisan legislation that would protect the intellectual property rights of creators and encourage transparency in the development of artificial intelligence. The bill would require companies to disclose their use of copyrighted work to train generative AI models, implementing ethical guidelines and protections to promote transparency. 



Read the full story by Ted Johnson here. 



Senators Curtis; Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Durbin (D-IL); Cruz (R-TX); Kaine (D-VA); and Scott (R-FL) released a statement regarding recent developments in Venezuela:

“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa and all other remaining political prisoners, the ability for María Corina Machado to safely return and freely participate in political activity and a firm commitment to genuine elections.”



Senator Curtis received the 2026 Congressional Champion Award from Shot@Life and United to Beat Malaria at their National Advocacy Summit. The organizations recognized his leadership and strong commitment to global health. 

Senator Curtis shared the below statement following the sentencing of pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong:

“After dismantling democracy and imposing authoritarian rule in Hong Kong, the sentencing of Jimmy Lai is yet another reminder of the true nature of the Chinese Communist Party. Given Mr. Lai’s age and declining health, this punishment is effectively a death sentence for the act of dissent. The U.S. must remain firm in defending freedom and human dignity.”

Senator Curtis met with leaders from Habitat for Humanity, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, the Alzheimer’s Association, Global Down Syndrome Foundation, and others who are doing incredible work serving Utah families and communities. 

A constituent recently reached out to Senator Curtis’ office for help resolving a visa problem for their mother. Our casework team took the necessary steps to address the issue. With the constituent’s permission, we’re sharing their story to highlight how our office works diligently to assist Utah families in urgent situations.



If you can't get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, our office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. While we cannot guarantee you a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem.

What Internal Policies Do You Currently Have?': Curtis Asks Waymo Exec About Data Privacy (Forbes)

Senators introduce legislation to modernize federal permitting process (Utah Policy)

GOP opposition threatens to sink Trump’s nominee for top State Dept. job (Washington Post)

MAGA vs. moderate fight over SAVE Act divides Utah senators (Washington Examiner)

Sen. John Curtis condemns "blatantly racist" Obama video posted by Trump (Axios)

curtis.senate.gov

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