Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Kushner nomination.

Mr. President, having been a U.S. Senator for exactly 131 days, I am attempting to follow the advice of my great-grandmother. We are very proud of her. She was the first woman school board president of the Salt Lake City School District. Grandma Genevieve. We called her Nana. She said:

Listen first, speak when it matters, and let your actions

carry the weight.

That may sound like it is radical in our social media-driven world here in DC, but I am committed to following her advice.

As I begin my service in the Senate, it matters to me that both what is said and what is done in this body will not just make noise but will actually make a difference for the citizens of the Nation.

Ten days ago, I invited the citizens of Utah and the Nation to join me in my preparation for this maiden floor speech today. I invited them and all of you to join me virtually and go places that speak to the heart and the soul of this Nation.

I visited four places where our bedrock strength and enduring principles are found and where I believe our bold future will begin. I have called it my ``Think Before You Speak: A Pilgrimage to American Principles'' tour.

I began my journey with a hike to Ensign Peak. It is a small hill just above the Salt Lake Valley. It is where my pioneer ancestors went to talk about pioneer values and visions. Just after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, my pioneer ancestors climbed that very peak. What they saw there wasn't what was but what would be.

They looked out over a barren desert--and I am talking not hardly a tree--in the Salt Lake Valley. They envisioned a home for faith and family and a crossroads not just for the West but for the world. President Gordon B. Hinckley, who is a pioneer descendant and a leader of the church, once reflected on that moment atop Ensign Peak. He said if a reporter had been there that July morning of 1847, they would have scoffed at the idea.

Imagine this: a ragtag group of exiles driven from their homes, standing in worn-out boots that they had walked 1,000 miles in, nearly 1,000 miles away from the nearest settlement. They were in an untried climate. They had never raised a crop there. They had not built a structure of any kind.

What were they thinking? Well, they didn't just dream. They came down from that peak and went to work.

As I stood at that summit, I had a strong wind against my face, and I couldn't help but think of my pioneer ancestors, who faced those same winds with much heavier burdens. I saw them pushing forward with courage and faith, laying the foundation for the life we now enjoy.

From that hike, up there on the hill, I couldn't see beneath the green canopy. That same place where there was hardly a tree now had a green canopy. But even though I couldn't see it all, I knew the secret to Utah's success. And if you have been there, you know it too. It is the people--people known for their kindness, for their hard work, for their resilience, for their independence, and for their deep, abiding faith in God. The spirit that built this place is still alive, and it calls us all to be what our pioneer ancestors need us to be for the generations they saw.

We don't get everything right in Utah, but we built something remarkable: a strong economy, a fiscally responsible government, educational opportunities, and real upward mobility. Those aren't accidents. Washington could use a little more Ensign Peak thinking and a lot more pioneer doing.

My listening tour next took me to hallowed ground. When I visited Arlington National Cemetery, I found myself drawn to reading the names and the words on those white stones--Korea, World War I, World War II, Vietnam--and where names should have been: unknown, unknown, unknown; and occasionally, strangely, on the back of the markers, names like Ruth, Ethel, Alta, and the words ``His Wife.''

I paused, and I tried to hear the voices of those who rest in that sacred ground. What would they say to me, to us U.S. Senators, charged with safeguarding the Constitution and the freedom they gave their lives to defend?

Sometimes, those voices whispered gently, but sometimes they speak with striking clarity, and never, ever do they ask my political party. Those honored dead don't care if future generations have the latest gadgets or a life of ease, but they do care deeply that those generations have souls--souls with the strength forged by doing hard things; souls that cherish freedom, pursue peace, and carry the moral courage to stand for what is right.

They remind me that the Constitution was not just a clever document; it was and remains divinely inspired. President Ronald Reagan said:

Freedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of

the human spirit.

Those who rest beneath the white stones at Arlington didn't die just so Americans could live free. They died so that freedom could take root wherever the human spirit longs for it. Their legacy isn't just national; it is universal. Their sacrifice calls us to something higher.

Two headstones right next to each other caught my attention: William W. Kirby and William W. Kirby, Jr. The father had fought in World War I and lived 85 years. The son fought in World War II and died in combat, earning the Purple Heart, at age 20.

Then it hit me: family. I recognized that families fight for freedom. As Americans, we should all stand at Arlington as if we lost our son, our daughter, our wife, our friend--because we have. Our honored dead are indeed our brothers and sisters. So let's remember that we honor best those who have gone before by standing for freedom today.

I walked into the Holocaust Museum alone, but if you have been there, you know I wasn't alone; I was surrounded by thousands of young Americans. And I found myself wondering: Do they see what I see, or do they see without seeing and hear without understanding?

This place forces us to confront the darkest chapters of human history and ask whether we have really learned the lessons. As I walked the halls, I was struck by how easily a human life can be devalued. And I kept asking: How? How did so many participate? How did others stand by? How did some serve to enable? And how have so many already forgotten?

The late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks once identified both the problem and the solution when he warned:

When morality is outsourced to either the market or the

state, society has no substance, only systems. And systems

are not enough.

Today, we are outsourcing more than just governance. We are outsourcing responsibility. Congress outsources lawmaking to the executive branch. Communities outsource compassion to agencies. Parents outsource teaching values to institutions. Citizens outsource critical thinking to curated social media. And far too often, we outsource the truth itself to voices that might be loud but not always wise.

Rabbi Sacks also said:

Morality cannot be outsourced because it depends on each of

us.

The Holocaust Museum reminds us that truth, like morality, must be studied, not streamed; learned, not assigned; and understood with the weight of history, not just the opinions of the moment.

The values our Nation needs--moral clarity, historical understanding, a commitment to peace--can't be manufactured by government or mass- produced by culture. They must be grown, like they always have been, in the cottage industries of family and communities.

For my fourth visit, I went to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, because I believe unity starts with understanding. Like many Americans, I wasn't raised with firsthand experiences of the injustices faced by Black Americans, Native Americans, and others who have endured the heavy burden of prejudice, but I have come to understand that listening and learning are not one- time acts. They require humility, honesty, and a lifetime commitment.

As I walked through the museum, I found myself thinking of and hearing

the voices of my dear friend and former colleague Congresswoman Mia Love. Mia broke barriers as the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress. She used her voice to lift and to call us all to be our better angel. And now she is one.

At her funeral, her children read a final message she had written to the Nation, words that deserve to be remembered. Mia wrote:

Some have forgotten the math of America. Whenever you

divide, you diminish. The goodness and compassion of the

American people is a multiplier that simply cannot be

measured.

She reminded us that America's greatness doesn't come from uniformity; it comes from unity. At a time when division too often drives out decency, Mia's words offer a roadmap back to our shared purpose--not based on race, status, or party, but on the simple truth that we are all Americans.

My visit to the African American Museum also reaffirmed something I deeply believe: that as long as bigotry, discrimination, and unfair treatment still exist, we cannot claim to be united. To fully heal, somehow, America must learn the delicate dance of leaving things behind and, at the same time, never forgetting them. Easy to say, hard to do, and together we must do it.

For her courage and conviction, her voice, her vision for America, Mia absolutely belongs in the African American Museum and even more in the hearts of every American.

Well, thank you for joining me on that journey. We could spend days discussing the principles of each of these locations. If we did, I am afraid I would be on this floor longer than my good friend Cory Booker.

I do want to thank my Senate colleagues and so many citizens who have shared their lessons from these sacred places, and I want you to know your insight will guide my service.

Now, in the very short time I have had to travel my State since becoming a Senator, I have felt something clear and consistent: Citizens want President Trump to be successful. Citizens also want Congress to work, not just show up, not just argue. They want us to succeed.

I have said many times, I want both the President and this institution, the Senate, to be wildly successful. Sometimes that desire requires us to be wildly honest, something that I think we will all agree we could use a little more of in Washington, DC.

The way I see it, the odds of Congress delivering real results for the American people go up dramatically when we start telling each other the truth, not just behind closed doors but out in the open where the public can see it, what I believe is their right to know. Honest policy conversations on issues that are vital to the fundamental of our future matter more than ever.

I have spent most of my time in Congress focused on four major priorities that I believe deserve a fresh and honest look from all of us in the Senate.

The first, energy. So let's be honest, it is time we talk more openly about the importance of clean energy. Consumers are asking for cleaner, more responsible energy choices. At the same time, we need to be realistic about the demands of powering a modern nation. Affordability matters. Reliability matters. And we must protect, not surrender, our energy independence.

President Trump has put America back on the right path when it comes to energy. I am also convinced that a healthy economy and a healthier environment are not mutually exclusive. I actually believe they are compatible and inseparable. The simple truth is, Americans want energy that is more affordable, reliable, and cleaner. They deserve honest, commonsense policies that deliver all three.

No. 2, our local communities. All right. My colleagues from the East, bear with me. It may be hard to grasp just how deeply Federal overreach affects daily life in Utah. Think about this. In some counties, over 90 percent of the land is owned and controlled not by local leaders in communities but by a distant Federal Government. That is not theoretical. It is daily life for most of us in the West.

I often say that the best environmentalists in the world are Utah's farmers and ranchers. By the way, they hate when I say that, but we live closest to the land. We know it; we care for it; and we depend on it. We don't want to be managed. We want to be trusted. We want stewardship, not control. I look forward to working with President Trump to restore local control and stewardship over the land we love.

No. 3, China. For decades, we have operated under the hope that bringing China to the economic table--even as they stole our intellectual property, cheated on labor practices, and manipulated trade--would somehow lead them toward democracy. Let's be honest. It hasn't. In fact, they have moved further away from our values.

This isn't just about trade or technology. It is about national security, economic freedom, and a commitment to the rule of law. We need fact-based policies with meaningful and measurable consequences. It is time to protect the American dream, not subsidize the Chinese one.

No. 4, debt and deficit. OK. Here is some wildly honest, equal- opportunity offender talk. We, and I mean we, Democrats and Republicans in this body, are not being honest with the American people when we pretend that Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare don't need reform. And we are equally dishonest when we weaponize fear, telling seniors and the most vulnerable that reform means abandonment. It doesn't. It never has.

If we act now, we can protect those most in need, preserve programs for future generations, and avoid the harsher consequences of doing nothing. It is time to deliver sensible solutions and real results rather than just blame politics. Utahns understand thrift, accountability, and the value of doing hard things. It is time Congress caught up with that wisdom.

Here is our choice: We can have an honest conversation about these challenges now or we can be the ones who will have to deliver the devastating, draconian, harmful cuts that will inevitably come if we don't.

So, yes, I am convinced that honest conversations received with humility are what will make us truly successful in the U.S. Senate, and our success as a nation depends on each of us and all of us in this Chamber being unflinchingly honest and working together to make America wildly successful.

Now, hang in there. I am almost done. I have to point out one more thing. Fortunately, the Senate has provided each of us something to remind us of all the principles I have shared today. What is it? The tradition of awarding pins to the Members of the Senate began in 1965.

At first glance, these pins seem little more than a way for security to wave us through security. But as my colleague the senior Senator from Utah likes to joke, his pin is his ``Sorry, Senator'' pin.

When Senator Lee was first elected, he may have looked just a little bit more like a page than a Senator. Whenever security stopped him, he would simply point to his pin, and the guard would inevitably reply, ``Sorry, Senator. Come on in.''

Maybe it is my years in the jewelry business, but this little pin means much more. You know, it is crafted from 14-karat gold, the jeweler's favorite. Pure gold, though beautiful, is too soft. It bends under pressure, but 14-karat gold has the right balance: beauty with strength and practicality. It is a fitting symbol for our role here; strong, balanced, and practical.

Each morning as I fasten the pin to my jacket, the gold reminds me of the standard we should uphold. And the tiny diamond? In the industry, we call it a ``canardly'' diamond. Wait for it. That means you can hardly see it.

But even the smallest diamond reflects light. That sparkle reminds me daily of our responsibility to radiate the light of truth, to be guided not by partisan squabbles but by simple truth.

I encourage all of my colleagues to occasionally pause and examine your pin. At its heart, the official Senate seal, rich with symbolism-- peace and strength, freedom protected by law, authority tempered by responsibility--all guided by the light of truth and the words ``E Pluribus Unum'' to remind us of unity.

And that familiar image, sticks bound together, which, by the way, it was my great-grandmother Genevieve Curtis--Nana--who established that bundle of sticks as the Curtis family's pioneer symbol, a reminder that we are stronger when bound together in unity.

I hope that each of us as individual Senators, and all of us collectively as the U.S. Senate, will strive to uphold the values reflected in this tiny yet powerful symbol, principles that have made Utah strong and America extraordinary.

Mr. President, with lessons learned from the principles found in important locations and sacred sites, let us commit to the values that unite us as a nation. To my colleagues and friends, I hope you see these principles not just in historic places but in the spaces you walk and work every day.

Together, we can pursue a vision for America that continues to be as bold and audacious as our beginning while delivering dignity, freedom, and opportunity for all.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and honor Representative Ludmya ``Mia'' Love, who has been battling glioblastoma.

Mia and I were first elected as mayors together in 2010, and from the very beginning, I saw firsthand the energy,

passion, and optimism she brings to public service. I always say that there is an understanding amongst mayors, and we make some of the best legislators. Together in Utah, we worked on projects that shaped our communities, and I had the privilege of watching her take that same determination to a national stage when she ran for and won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, something I shared with her after I joined her in Washington in 2017.

Mia is young, vibrant, and full of life. She carries herself with an infectious energy, always greeting me in a way that lifts my spirits. No matter the challenges she has faced--whether in governance or as a trailblazer in politics--she meets them with grace and determination. Being a Black woman in the Republican Party comes with its own set of hurdles, but Mia has never let barriers define her. Instead, she breaks them. Her memoir was appropriately titled, ``Qualified.'' Mia was qualified to break barriers and inspire people to see great possibilities--not because of her heritage, gender, faith tradition, or political party--Mia was qualified because of the content of her character.

In Congress, she was deeply respected by her colleagues and admired by her constituents, not just for her policies, but for the way she made people feel: valued, heard, and empowered. Her decision to stop treatment and cherish the time she has left with her family is a reflection of the strength and clarity with which she has always lived her life.

I am grateful for the time I have known Mia, for the work we have done together, and for the example she continues to set for so many. My thoughts are with her, her family, and all who love her during this difficult time.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and honor the distinguished career of Dr. Brian Fontes, who recently announced his decision to step down as chief executive officer of NENA: The 9-1-1 Association after a remarkable decades-long career in public service, telecommunications, and 9-1-1.

Dr. Fontes received his undergraduate and master's degrees at Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. at Michigan State University. He then began his career as a communications professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, establishing the groundwork for his future contributions to the field.

Transitioning from academia to public service, Dr. Fontes served as senior adviser and chief of staff to FCC Commissioner James H. Quello. In this role, he was instrumental in shaping telecommunications policy during a time of rapid technological advancement.

In 1994, Dr. Fontes joined the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association as senior vice president for policy and administration, where he continued his involvement with international telecom policy. He was tasked with developing policies and guiding regulation for wireless services in South Africa, working with the transitioning new government under F. W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela.

In 1995, President Clinton appointed Dr. Fontes as the head of the U.S. Delegation to the International Telecommunication Union's World Radio Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, granting him the rank of Ambassador. Following the 1995 Dayton agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Dr. Fontes served as chairman of the Communication Regulatory Agency Council, working to develop policies and ensure wireless spectrum access in the newly formed country, thus guaranteeing wireless availability for its public.

Before joining NENA, Dr. Fontes was vice president of Federal relations for Cingular Wireless, continuing in that role following its merger with AT&T.

In 2008, Dr. Fontes took the helm at NENA, where he has been instrumental in advocating for the development and adoption of Next Generation 9-1-1 technologies and services. His leadership has helped ensure that Americans have access to reliable emergency services, that 9-1-1 centers have access to state-of-the-art technologies, and that 9- 1-1 professionals receive best-in-class training.

As Dr. Fontes moves on to an exciting future, we reflect on his legacy of service, innovation, and dedication to public safety. His visionary leadership has left an indelible mark on emergency communications systems at home and abroad, and his work will continue to benefit future generations.

I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our deepest gratitude to Dr. Brian Fontes for his unwavering commitment to enhancing public safety and telecommunications.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, the Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act, a critical piece of legislation addressing a longstanding challenge to the people of Utah.

High salinity levels in the Colorado River have far-reaching consequences. They threaten the beauty and the integrity of Utah's national parks, impact our ranchers and farmers, and jeopardize drinking water for millions of Americans.

Decades ago, Congress recognized the urgency of this issue. In 1974, the Colorado River Salinity Control Program was established to combat harmful effects of salt discharged into the river from natural saline rock formations.

However, we now face new challenges, including reduced water flows and increasing pressures on the Federal budget. The Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act makes vital adjustments to this program, ensuring its continued effectiveness while adapting to modern realities.

I am pleased to see this important bill before us today. It represents a significant step toward preserving Utah's iconic landscapes, safeguarding our water resources, and ensuring a clean and reliable water supply for Utahns and all who depend on the Colorado River.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical bill and join me in protecting one of our Nation's most important resources.

Mr. Speaker, I first would like to return the appreciation to the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and for the opportunity to work with him. I think he is a great example of what a chairperson should do in Congress. To my good friend from Michigan, I thank her. I am not going that far away, and I look forward to continuing to work with her. She is a wonderful example to me of passion and love for what she does, and the people of Michigan are fortunate to have her represent them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Recognizing the Importance of Critical Minerals in Healthcare Act. I also thank Congresswoman DeGette for her partnership in advancing this important initiative.

This legislation addresses a critical gap in the process for identifying minerals essential to our Nation.

Under current law, the U.S. Geological Survey collaborates with various government agencies to assess and designate critical minerals vital to our national security. However, one key agency is glaringly absent from this process: the Department of Health and Human Services,

Mr. Speaker, I was delayed due to travel conflicts. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 442 (S. 3764); YEA on Roll Call No. 441 (H.R. 8958); and YEA on Roll Call No. 440 (S. 2228).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Spanish Fork's Keir A. Scoubes, who was recently promoted to Land Component Commander with the Utah Army National Guard. Scoubes served in Iraq and Afghanistan and has been serving as a Lieutenant Colonel with the National Guard. In addition to his military career, Scoubes has also been a City Councilman and a teacher at Spanish Fork's Larsen Elementary. He is a perfect example of someone bringing their talents to the community and finding a way to contribute.

I congratulate Colonel Scoubes on his tremendous accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the GEO Act. Utah is a leader in geothermal energy, but many companies are being held back by the current regulatory environment.

My bill simply requires the Department of the Interior to continue issuing all authorizations as long as the underlying lease remains unchallenged. Geothermal energy is affordable, reliable, and clean energy.

After companies have invested substantial time and resources in obtaining permits, the Department of the Interior sometimes withholds notices to proceed, drilling permits, and other authorizations due to litigation threats against the project.

To be clear, these pauses have occurred without any evidence of wrongdoing by the Department of the Interior or the operators. Instead, they result from unsubstantiated threats made by private organizations. This isn't sustainable if we want geothermal to be part of our clean- energy future.

The chart to my right demonstrates how important this is throughout the West, particularly rural parts of the West, where economic development can be enhanced dramatically by these projects.

The Department of Energy projects that enhanced geothermal systems could contribute up to 90 gigawatts of electricity by 2050, accounting for almost 9 percent of U.S. energy-generation capacity.

Utah is a case study in geothermal energy, and I was proud to support the establishment of Utah FORGE in southern Utah, a dedicated underground field laboratory sponsored by the Department of Energy focused on developing, testing, and accelerating geothermal breakthroughs.

Mr. Speaker, the GEO Act is a critical step toward ensuring that Utah and the United States lead in geothermal energy and technology.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act.

The Great Salt Lake is essential to the ecological and economic fabric of Utah. Residents have worked tirelessly to protect the lake, but severe drought now threatens its long-term survival.

Recognizing this urgent challenge, the Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act would extend the existing Colorado River Water Conservation Program to include the Great Salt Lake. This would grant the Secretary of the Interior greater flexibility to allocate unused funds from other sections of the Central Utah Project Completion Act, also known as CUPCA, to the water conservation program.

By expanding the program's geographical scope to cover the entire Great Salt Lake drainage basin, the bill would support State government of Utah, local communities, and water districts north of Salt Lake County in their conservation efforts to replenish the lake.

The Great Salt Lake is a national treasure and a vital part of Utah's way of life. The bill demonstrates our commitment to protecting this valuable resource without requiring new Federal funds.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Russell M. Nelson Day in my home state of Utah as well as President Russell M. Nelson's 100th birthday.

President Russell Marion Nelson was born on September 9, 1924, in Salt Lake City. While a student at the University of Utah, he met and married Dantzel White. They shared nearly sixty years together, raising ten children before Dantzel's passing in 2005. He later married Wendy L. Watson in April 2006, and together they are grandparents to 57 and great-grandparents to over 100.

President Nelson is an internationally renowned heart surgeon and medical researcher. Dr. Nelson received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Utah. He served his residency in surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and the University of Minnesota, where, in addition to earning his Ph.D., he served on the research team that developed the heart-lung machine which successfully aided the first human open-heart surgery in 1951.

During the Korean War, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and worked with surgeons focused on improving treatment methods for the wounded. He left with the rank of Captain.

His accolades include the American Heart Association's Heart of Gold Award and the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. He has held prestigious positions such as president of the Society for Vascular Surgery and chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery.

Russell M. Nelson was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 7, 1984. He was called again as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints in 2018. Under his leadership, the church has played a large role in both domestic and international humanitarian aid efforts, with the faith often being among the first groups to respond with food, medical, and other practical aid for those enduring the effects of conflict and natural disaster.

I again thank President Russell M. Nelson for a lifetime of achievement, service, and leadership and invite myself and my colleagues to look to his exemplary behavior as we find ways to better the lives of those we serve as members of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 155th anniversary of John Wesley Powell's daring expedition of the Green and Colorado Rivers. These findings literally put Utah's Canyonlands on the map. These rivers and canyons are vital to Utah's economy, agriculture, and recreation.

First, the expedition successfully navigated Flaming Gorge. The expedition then mapped and survived the vast canyons and open sagebrush flats of the present-day Uintah County and the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservations.

The expedition continued through Desolation Canyon, into eastern Utah, before meeting the confluence of the Colorado River in present- day Canyonlands National Park in San Juan County.

This year, Uintah County will commemorate the expedition with a musical, ``Let's Go--a John Wesley Powell Story,'' in addition to the sixth annual John Wesley Powell River Festival.

These Western heroes created the records for the lands and rivers we are now so grateful to recreate in and enjoy safely.

Mr. Chair, I rise in favor of the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, which establishes a much- needed regulatory framework for digital assets.

Currently, the lack of clear direction from Congress, combined with broad definitions of securities and commodities, has allowed the SEC to insert itself into the regulation of cryptocurrency. This has created uncertainty and hindered innovation.

Meanwhile, other countries like Singapore, UAE, and even China have capitalized on our unclear regulatory environment. They have developed their own framework, positioning themselves as hubs for the digital asset ecosystem.

I believe the United States, and particularly Utah's Silicon Slopes, which boasts a growing and thriving blockchain industry, should be the global center for digital assets.

This bill creates an appropriate framework for cryptocurrency regulation that fosters innovation and ensures U.S. leadership in blockchain technology while also protecting against bad actors like

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Police Week.

For me, Police Week started solemnly. On Monday, I attended the funeral of Santaquin Police Officer Bill Hooser. Sergeant Hooser is a hero, killed in the line of duty by a felon with a 20-year criminal history who had no right to be on Utah's roads.

At the funeral service, the Santaquin police chief said Hooser was the best field training officer he had ever seen. His work and dedication to other officers on the force undoubtedly have kept many safe.

This Police Week, I also remember Master Officer Joseph Shinners of the Provo Police Department, who I worked alongside during my time as mayor. He was tragically killed in the line of duty in 2019.

I would like the family to know I still keep his picture on my desk in Provo in remembrance of his sacrifice and contribution. The Provo police chief described Shinners as one of his all-star officers.

These men, and all of our officers killed in the line of duty, are heroes who gave their ultimate sacrifice to keep our communities and our families safe.

We owe our deepest gratitude to police officers and their families who wonder every morning if that will be the last time they see them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of H.J. Res. 109 which would repeal the SEC's unnecessary regulations on cryptocurrency and the banking industry.

The SEC and its chairman, Gary Gensler, have repeatedly overstepped their authority and targeted cryptocurrencies.

The SEC's latest unnecessary regulation was implemented outside of the regular rulemaking process and bypassed established procedures, and it shows.

This rule will limit banks' ability to offer digital assets as part of their custodial services. This makes it more challenging for Americans to safely engage with digital assets under the advisement of their local banks who are able to accurately inform them of risks of investments.

Crypto is a legitimate market used by millions of Americans. Hundreds of thousands of those are in my district. Unfortunately, today they have been referred to as ``criminals and drug dealers,'' and I take offense to that.

We should be giving investors opportunities to take part in cryptocurrencies, not putting up artificial barriers.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and repeal the regulation.