I reflect on this past week with solemnity. A low, of course, was hearing the news of six Army Reserve soldiers who died in the line of duty from an attack on a commercial port in Kuwait. My heart goes out to these fallen heroes and their families. War, in any form, is tragic.

In honoring our service members, we also acknowledge and find pride in their incredible capabilities. In Iran, our military executed strikes at an unbelievable precision rate this week. While there are many discussions right now about the conflict in the Middle East, and those are fair discussions to have, nobody can question the power, might, and precision of our military. I offer a grateful shout out to all of our men and women in uniform who so loyally serve our country.

On Wednesday, Senator Curtis voted on a war powers resolution that would have blocked the President from order further strikes in the Iran conflict. In a video statement, Senator Curtis described both the legal and practical implications of such an action, arguing that the resolution was not the proper way to express disapproval of Congress not being consulted earlier in the process and that halting U.S. engagement now would embolden Iran to retaliate without consequence.



Read his written remarks here.



Full story by Theodoric Meyer here.



Operations targeting sites in Iran are actively destroying Iranian-made drones that Russia uses to kill Ukrainians. Now is the time to further cripple Putin’s war machine by going directly to the source of its funding: energy. Senator Curtis cosponsored the Decreasing Russian Oil Profits (DROP) Act, bipartisan legislation to impose strict sanctions on Russia’s oil sector and target those helping the Kremlin evade existing price caps.



Instability in the regulatory process gives foreign markets an edge and weakens American competitiveness. During an Environment and Public Works hearing on the reauthorization of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Senator Curtis emphasized the need for a regulatory framework that protects public health while ensuring American industries can innovate and compete globally.



Read his remarks here.



Last year, Utah saw nearly 165,000 acres of land burned by wildfires—the most acreage burned since 2020. Pilot programs have shown that strategic grazing and use of public lands for fire mitigation can reduce hazardous fuels and slow the spread of wildfires. Legislation introduced by Senators Curtis and Cortez Masto (D-NV) to reduce the risk of wildfires unanimously passed the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The Strategic Grazing to Reduce the Risk of Wildfire Act now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. The legislation would direct federal agencies to collaborate with grazing allotment holders, states, Tribes, and fire departments to create a strategy to use targeted grazing to manage hazardous flammable vegetation.



Too many rural communities in Utah and across the country struggle to recruit and retain physicians. Senators Curtis and King (I-ME) introduced the Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students (Community TEAMS) Act, bipartisan legislation to help address persistent physician shortages by expanding clinical training opportunities for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities.





Water quantity and invasive species are primary concerns for Utah Lake’s ecosystem and long-term health. Senator Curtis and Representative Kennedy (R-UT) secured funding for a Utah Lake research and education center, which will bolster the Utah Lake Authority’s efforts to improve the lake.



Full story by Jacob Nielson here.



Biden-era gasoline vapor testing regulations are making it harder to keep gas stations stocked. Senator Curtis joined 10 of his Republican colleagues in a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency calling for the repeal of the regulations and a return to previous standards. Reverting to these standards will support fuel supply continuity and ensure that first responders, motorists, farmers, ranchers, and other industries critical to America’s success have reliable access to an adequate fuel supply.

Lowering the temperature in our politics is a responsibility we all share and must take seriously. Senator Curtis joined Senator Kelly (D-AZ) for a discussion hosted by the Herbert Institute at Utah Valley University on promoting civil dialogue and addressing political violence in the wake of the tragic killing of Charlie Kirk on the UVU campus.

The Utah American Legion provides meaningful support for Utah’s veterans and the broader military community. Senator Curtis appreciated the chance to discuss the American Legion’s legislative priorities, including addressing veteran homelessness, improving access to health care, and preventing veteran suicide.





As Moab continues to grow and welcome visitors from around the world, responsible land and water management matters more than ever. Senator Curtis met with Mayor Langianese to discuss key federal issues impacting the city, from water and infrastructure planning to ongoing environmental cleanup work.





This week, Senator Curtis met with many organizations representing Utahns, from the Tourette Association of America and the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance to leaders in agriculture, manufacturing, and energy. He appreciated discussions with advocates working on important social issues, including the YMCA of Northern Utah, whose insights help guide his work on behalf of Utah in the Senate.



Clockwise from top left: Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, Submariners Advocacy Group, Utah Humanities, 4Life



Clockwise from top left: YMCA of Northern Utah, The Utah Wool Growers Association, Intermountain Hospital, Tourette Association of America

One Utah veteran had his military retirement and VA benefits suspended and his bank accounts frozen after being mistakenly declared deceased. After reaching out to Senator Curtis’ office, our casework team worked to correct the error and restore his benefits. With his permission, we’re sharing his story to highlight how our office advocates for constituents when critical federal mistakes threaten their financial security.



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.

Sen. John Curtis speaks out on Iran strikes (Deseret News)

Utah leaders respond to US, Israel strikes in Iran (Daily Herald)

Sen. John Curtis joins congressional resolution affirming support for embattled Ukraine (Cache Valley Daily)

Maloy introduces bill to fix scheduling disparity for rural EMS agencies (Utah Policy)

Utah congressman says oversight needed to keep US out of 'long-term' war in Iran (KSL)

Republicans, including Utah members, support Trump strikes in Iran — but still have questions about what’s next (Deseret News)

Curtis cosponsors legislation to improve VA benefit claims assistance (Ripon Advance)

curtis.senate.gov

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