|
The United States is not being asked to send American troops into battle in Ukraine, only to help Ukrainians defend themselves. If we fail to help Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin will invade a NATO nation. Ukraine is not the end, it is a step—and letting Putin have his way with Europe would jeopardize our security. Sending weapons to Ukraine will help discourage further Russian and Chinese invasions, allow America to remain the leader of the free world, and show that we honor our word to our friends and allies.
Senator Romney spoke on the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to support sending additional aid to Ukraine, warning of the dire consequences that failing to do so would bring. The following morning, the Senate passed a national security package to send aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan by a vote of 70-29.
Transcript of Senator Romney’s remarks here.
Full story by Suzanne Bates here.
Utah has a growing population that includes families and individuals who travel internationally for work, pleasure, and missionary service. Because there’s no passport agency in our state, many Utahns have to travel hundreds of miles for urgent in-person services.
Senator Romney continued his longstanding effort to bring a passport agency to Salt Lake City by welcoming Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter, and representatives from the U.S. Department of State, to Utah. The State Department, in coordination with the Utah Congressional Delegation, hosted five “passport fairs” throughout the state this week to provide Utahns with an opportunity to obtain passport services closer to home. These appointments filled up within days—illustrating the clear demand that Utah has for an agency in Salt Lake City.
Senator Romney and Assistant Secretary Bitter met to discuss the planned expansion of in-person consular affairs services then visited the Salt Lake City passport fair. In December, Romney secured several provisions into law aimed at improving passport services for Utahns.
Social media is making our young people more vulnerable to cyberbullying, addiction, and long-term mental health challenges. Large tech companies have failed to institute measures to adequately protect children and teenagers from these hazards, and we have little indication that things will change without legislative action. Senator Romney cosponsored the Kids Online Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to provide young people and parents with the tools, safeguards, and transparency they need to protect against online harm to minors.
Utah carries a legacy as one of the best-managed states in the country, thanks in part to its hardworking state and local officials. Senator Romney met with members of the Utah legislature to report on his efforts in Washington that serve our state's interests and support our needs.
Before his meetings, Senator Romney photobombed a live KUTV news hit in the state Capitol!
Having had a seat at the negotiating table, Senator Romney was able to make sure that the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act addressed Utah’s needs—like expanding our airports. Senator Romney applauded an announcement from the Department of Transportation that Salt Lake City International Airport has been awarded $20 million in funding from the infrastructure bill to increase flight capacity, including adding 16 new gates.
Full story by Joe St. George here.
|