Utah Valley Times

Jan 4, 2024

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) has released a report highlighting the policy and constituent services achievements from the past year. The report outlines the major legislative successes and efforts made by Senator Romney to address various challenges and priorities in 2023.

One of the key highlights of the report is the enactment of several bills aimed at countering the rise of China and bolstering the role of Utah in national defense. Senator Romney emphasizes the importance of protecting the United States from the growing threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party. He states, "Around the world, democracy and freedom are under attack, and no entity seeks to benefit from that more than the Chinese Communist Party." The report highlights provisions that strengthen domestic critical mineral capabilities, address the military recruiting crisis, expose China's defense-industrial build-up, and prohibit the government purchase of drones from China.

In addition to national defense, Senator Romney also focused on addressing the negative impacts of social media on children's well-being. He worked on reducing the harmful effects of social media and limiting cellphone use during instructional time. The report mentions bipartisan provisions to understand the impact of smartphones in the classroom and legislation to address the ongoing threat of technology from foreign adversaries.

The bipartisan infrastructure bill played a significant role in benefitting Utah in 2023. The state received substantial funding for improving bridges, roads, highways, public transit, broadband, and water infrastructure. Senator Romney highlights the establishment of the Wildland Fire Commission, which released its report in September. He plans to work with colleagues in the West to act on the Commission's recommendations to prevent, mitigate, suppress, and manage wildland fires.

Another priority for Senator Romney in 2023 was to bring a passport agency to Salt Lake City. He was successful in enacting a requirement for the State Department to produce a strategy for providing urgent, in-person passport services to Americans who live far from the nearest agency. The report also mentions the assistance provided by Senator Romney's team to nearly 2,800 constituents with casework claims, helping them navigate the federal bureaucracy for passport services and veterans' benefits.

Looking ahead to 2024, Senator Romney's top priority is to put the country on a solid economic footing. He aims to address excessive spending in Washington that has fueled inflation and led to a staggering $34 trillion in national debt. Senator Romney is leading a bipartisan bill, the Fiscal Stability Act, to create a fiscal commission that will stabilize public debt and strengthen fiscal health.

Senator Romney concludes the report by expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to represent Utahns in the Senate and work towards tackling the complex challenges facing the nation. He encourages constituents to reach out with suggestions and counsel.

The full 2023 Year in Review report can be accessed for more details on Senator Romney's achievements and efforts.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.romney.senate.gov/romney-highlights-progress-on-top-priorities-in-2023-year-in-review-report/