Highs and Lows: Celebrating Zion National Park

Welcome to another edition of Highs and Lows!

This week, I’m coming to you from Zion National Park, which is a high by any standard. But what makes this experience special is that I joined the local community in celebrating 100 years of Zion Lodge, which has played an integral role in helping people from Utah and around the world form a real bond with this place. As you know, Utahns love the outdoors and our national parks, and we are particularly grateful for the local communities who have, for decades, done an amazing job stewarding these lands.

My low has been the unfortunate headlines highlighting bad actions made by sitting members of Congress and candidates. While it’s important that politicians are held to account for such actions, these stories can dominate the news cycle to the point that folks don’t always get to see the good work happening here.

I wish I could transport you all to Washington, D.C., to see the many people who do behave and work in good faith on behalf of their constituents. I wish we’d see more reporting and social media posts on that.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Consumers deserve transparency and fairness, not high-pressure scenarios that leave them financially vulnerable. During a Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing, Senator Curtis questioned Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson on protecting consumers from predatory timeshare practices and ensuring regulatory stability for the direct selling industry—which is particularly significant to Utah’s economy.

Since the Taiwan Relations Act became law in 1979, Congress has played the leading role in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. Senators Curtis and Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act, bipartisan legislation to mark the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, strengthen congressional oversight, and ensure the United States is fully prepared to uphold its commitments under the landmark law, which has served as the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations since its adoption in 1979.

Amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, primarily from China, this legislation would require the Secretary of War, in coordination with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to submit an annual report to Congress assessing America’s ability to deter aggression against Taiwan and maintain stability in the region.

Full story by Charlie Schill here.

The Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously passed the Alex Gate Safety Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Curtis and Klobuchar (D-MN) to create and enforce a consumer product safety standard for large and potentially hazardous gates often installed in residential, commercial, and recreational settings.

Full story by Jacob Kresse and Allison Mollenkamp here.

U.S. support for Taiwan remains rock solid—built upon shared democratic values, economic ties, and a commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Both the U.S. and Taiwan must continue to do everything in our power to deter China’s aggression.

Senators Curtis, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Shaheen (D-NH), SFRC Ranking Member; Tillis (R-NC); and Rosen (D-NV) sent a letter to Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu and Deputy Speaker Chiang, as well as Legislative Yuan members Mr. Chen Kuan-ting, Mr. Niu Hsu-ting, and Mr. Wang An-hsiang, urging them to approve a supplementary defense budget that would enable Taiwan to both procure critical American defense equipment and boost domestic production of innovative drones and missile defense systems. This follows the Senators’ recent Congressional delegation to Taiwan.

Full story by Michael Martina here.

For 19 years, Utah has ranked first for economic outlook, and that’s not by accident! The pioneer spirit runs deep here, and this recognition reflects the hardworking Utahns who are expanding opportunity, supporting free enterprise, and building strong homes and families.

Full story by Ava Hart here.

For over a century, Zion Lodge has played an integral role in helping people from Utah and around the world form a real bond with Zion National Park. Senator Curtis joined the local community and Utah-based company POWDR to celebrate this longstanding public-private partnership and affirm support for protecting the Park for generations to enjoy.

Speaking to reporters, Senator Curtis denounced a since-deleted social media post from President Trump that portrayed the president as a Jesus-like figure.

Full story by Cami Mondeaux here.

Join Senator Curtis at the Small Business Expo - Made in America on Monday, May 11 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Davis Technical College in Kaysville, Utah. This free event will bring together small businesses, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, federal agencies, and industry leaders to explore new opportunities for growth.

Through networking, expert speakers, and practical conversations on manufacturing, trade, innovation, and federal small business programs, attendees will leave with valuable insights, meaningful connections, and resources to help move their business forward.

Register today at curtis.senate.gov/smallbizexpo to attend this free event and be part of the conversation where small businesses and federal agencies meet.

When issues with Medicare go unresolved, it can be frustrating to navigate the system alone. One Utahn spent months sending letters without making progress before reaching out to Senator Curtis’ office for help. With prompt attention and consistent communication from our casework team, the issue was resolved in a matter of weeks. With their permission, we’re sharing their story to highlight how our office helps constituents find timely solutions to complex federal issues.

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.

Strong partnerships across all levels of government ensure our policies are both effective and complementary. Senator Curtis met with members of the Utah Legislature and hosted them at the Capitol during their visit to Washington.

CRH Americas holds a significant footprint in Utah—employing over 2,600 Utahns across 99 locations. Senator Curtis met with CRH Americas CEO, Jim Mintern, to discuss funding policies for the nation's roads, bridges, public transit, and rail systems.

The City of St. George is a great example of how strong local leadership can make a significant difference for a community. Senator Curtis met with Mayor Jimmie Hughes and the St. George City Council to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing one of Utah’s fastest-growing communities.

Utah is a national leader in refugee settlement, and programs like The International Rescue Committee (IRC) help people affected by conflict and disaster survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. Senator Curtis met with David Miliband, IRC CEO, to talk about the future of the program, the historically bipartisan support for the program, and Utah’s unique role as a compassionate national leader.

Senator Curtis met with more than 40 students and teachers from Vernal and Manila, Utah, for a meaningful discussion on the policy issues top of mind for young people.

Senator Curtis met with Royce Van Tassell, Executive Director of the Utah Association of Charter Schools, for a discussion on the importance of charter schools in Utah and bipartisan legislative support.

Senator Curtis met with Utah’s 4-H Youth Delegates, an impressive group of young leaders who understand the importance of stewardship, innovation, and hard work to keep Utah agriculture strong for generations to come.

Senator Curtis met with members of the Utah Automobile Dealers Association to discuss solutions that can help better support Utah’s new car buyers.