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June 12 – June 16, 2023
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The United States’ reliance on communist China for materials critical to our industrial base poses a great threat to our national security and economic stability. This week, Senator Romney worked to advance legislation to bolster our critical mineral supply chains and led a hearing where he questioned witnesses on our competition with China. He also led a hearing on reducing government waste, introduced legislation to strengthen our nuclear deterrence program, and met with several Utahns who were visiting Washington, D.C. Scroll for more news.
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China is carrying out a strategy to own the supply chains of the critical minerals that are essential for the technologies of today and tomorrow. Our foreign policies and investment programs must consider our competition with China, and work to make us more independent.
While serving as Ranking Member at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he warned of the threat China poses to our national and global security and asked the witnesses how they would approach their service in the face of this threat—whether it be safeguarding U.S. supply chains, obtaining critical mineral independence, and discouraging other countries from partnering with the Chinese Communist Party for investment.
As China and Russia continue to modernize and expand their nuclear forces, it’s essential that we rapidly modernize our nuclear triad. The Sentinel program, with a major presence at Utah’s Hill Air Force Base, will make up the land-based leg of our nuclear triad and is vital to our nuclear deterrent.
Senator Romney and Senators Fischer (R-NE), Lee (R-UT), Lummis (R-WY), Barrasso (R-WY), Ricketts (R-NE), and Daines (R-MT), introduced the Sentinel Nuclear Deterrence Act of 2023, legislation to strengthen and solidify the Sentinel program. The legislation would provide multiyear procurement authority for LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles, help to stabilize key supply chains, and increase program efficiency.
Full story by Tim Vandernack here.
Utah is rapidly growing and we need sufficient transportation infrastructure to maintain our economic vitality. Senator Romney sat down with Utah Department of Transportation Executive Director Carlos Braceras to go over the state’s plans for further infrastructure development aimed at alleviating congestion in high-growth areas.
Over the years, and especially under this Administration, we’ve seen an alarming amount of waste of taxpayer funds by the government, as well as duplication and fraud. It’s essential for the well-being of our economy, and out of respect to hardworking taxpayers, that we account for these issues. Senator Romney served as Ranking Member at a Senate Homeland Security subcommittee hearing on how to reduce duplication, overlap, and fragmentation in the federal government and save taxpayer dollars.
Full story by Gitanjali Poonia here.
Senator Romney’s office has seen a massive increase in passport related inquiries and emergency requests from Utahns. These extreme passport processing delays are unacceptable, and the State Department needs to take immediate action to address them. Senator Romney joined his colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to take immediate action to resolve the massive, unacceptable backlog of passport applications—noting the countless reports from constituents regarding delayed wait times, lack of available in-person appointments, and the inability to communicate with passport agencies.
The United States’ partnership with Kenya is important for our overall security and economic interests. Senator Romney met with U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman for an update on her work and the U.S.– Kenya relationship, including trade and security efforts.
The United States’ reliance on China for critical minerals creates serious vulnerabilities for our national security. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has advanced the Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act, Senator Romney’s bipartisan legislation with Senators Peters (D-MI) and Lankford (R-OK), to reduce the United States’ reliance on China and adversarial nations for critical minerals. Their legislation now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
Salt Lake Community College supports thousands of Utahns in preparing for meaningful careers. Senator Romney sat down with Salt Lake Community College President Deneece Huftalin for a discussion on policies to better support Utah's higher education, including the College Transparency Act and his GRAD Act.
Throughout the week, Senator Romney met with several students from Utah during their trips to Washington, D.C.
Students from Utah discussed a few of the defining moments in American history following their National History Day contest in Washington.
High school students participating in TRIO pre-college programs from San Juan and Salt Lake counties were in town for the National Student Leadership Congress.
Students from Dixie High School discussed their exceptional performance at an American history competition.
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