More than ever, I’m committed to advancing legislative objectives that I believe are most critical—these priorities reflect my perspective on serving in the Senate: I didn’t come to Washington just to “fight” and lose, I came to win and deliver real results for Utah and our nation.
As we enter 2023, I remain grateful for the opportunity to represent Utahns in Washington and help tackle some of the biggest issues facing our great country. To continue being transparent and accountable to you, I’ve put together a report detailing my efforts in Washington this past year.
In 2022, Senator Romney worked effectively to advance his priorities for Utah and for the nation, including efforts to save the Great Salt Lake and address Utah’s drought problem; reign in spending and the national debt; bolster our decaying infrastructure; better support working families; assist Ukraine in its effort to defeat Russia; and counter the rising threat posed by China.
The Christmas season gives us reason to pause and reflect upon the things that matter most in our lives—like our family, friends, faith, and values. It’s also a time to take stock in our blessings—one of the most noteworthy of which is living in the greatest country on Earth. I render my thanks to the men and women across our nation who shape America’s greatness, especially those in our Armed Services who are keeping our country safe and protecting the freedoms that we hold dear.
This week, Senator Romney introduced two pieces of legislation to combat the rise of China—a bill to bolster our critical mineral mining capabilities and a bill to ensure China no longer receives special treatment on the global stage. He also highlighted the urgent need to find solutions to saving the Great Salt Lake and urged the USDA to better support Utah’s farmers and ranchers amid the historic drought.
As Americans, we have much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving season. Despite the differences we may have, each of us share the great blessing of living in a country that continues to be a beacon of hope and freedom for all. I render my thanks to those who came before us, who helped shape America’s greatness—especially to the men and women in uniform who courageously protect our freedoms, values, and quality of life.
With the Senate back in session this week, Senator Romney worked to push one of his top priorities: addressing the threat China poses to our national security and the global order. The Senator urged President Biden to execute a measure he had secured into law to craft a grand strategy on China and pushed Administration officials to bolster our cybersecurity capabilities.
Amidst an historic drought, Utah is facing a rapidly growing population and a booming economy. Senator Romney helped negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill to ensure that Utah had a seat at the table—and that our needs would be addressed at the federal level. Now that the bill is law, Senator Romney spent his week in Utah touring key water and infrastructure projects and meeting with local leaders to discuss how funding provided by the law can best be used to put Utah on a sustainable path.
This week, as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an acceleration of his war effort in Ukraine, Senator Romney warned another nation with malevolent ambitions, China, that its alignment with Russia could result in severe consequences from nations around the world. He also welcomed funding for Utah’s wildfire resilience, which he secured by helping negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and met with several Utahns visiting Washington.
This week, Senator Romney continued to work on several of his key priorities for Utah, including addressing our state’s historic drought, increasingly devastating wildfires, and rapidly growing economy. On the national front, the Senator questioned big tech executives on China’s influence on the American public through social media and joined his colleagues in a proposal for federal permitting reform.
As I’ve traveled the state this month, there is no doubt in my mind that Utah is one of the best managed states in our country. The actions being taken and the decisions being made throughout our state will pay dividends for many, many years to come. When I return to Washington in a few days, I will do my very best to continue helping the people of Utah using the information I’ve gathered.
Utahns have an enormous resource, but it’s being threatened. The Great Salt Lake is currently at the lowest levels ever recorded. Last week, Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives Brad Wilson and I, along with a group of other State officials, were able to tour areas connected to and dependent on the survival of the Great Salt Lake—everything from the world of agriculture to industrial processes to migratory birds. One thing is clear: The need to save the Great Salt Lake is immediate.