As Utah’s 45-day legislative session ends, I want to commend the Legislature, Governor Herbert, Lieutenant Governor Cox, Attorney General Reyes, and the countless Utahns who played an active role in this process.

I believe that maintaining a strong relationship between my office and our state government is crucial.  For this reason, I sent my mobile office to hold regular hours at the State Capitol during every day of the legislative session.  Several hundred Utahns—elected officials, advocates, families, and countless students—interacted personally with me and my staff at our mobile office, which was a few feet from the Capitol Rotunda.  I received valuable feedback from those who engaged with us, and I also received important insight into many important issues facing our state and our country. 

For many of those who visited my mobile office, including many veterans, we have been able to begin the process of helping them resolve personal issues they have involving an agency of the federal government.

I am also excited that two members of the Utah House of Representatives have now officially joined my full-time staff here in Utah.  Representative Derek Brown (Sandy/Cottonwood Heights) will be my new Deputy Chief of Staff, and Representative Ryan Wilcox (North Ogden) will be my new Northern Utah Director.  Many of you know these two former legislators, and they will be invaluable in helping me stay aware of the issues that matter most to you.

It was also a pleasure to directly address our Legislature in mid-February, where I was able to discuss many aspects of the conservative reform agenda.  Many of the proposals I have introduced as part of this agenda would decrease the role played by bureaucracies in Washington, and shift that role to the state of Utah, so that we can craft a “Utah solution” to Utah problems.  I am proud as I watch our state legislators—year after year—balance our budget and live within our means.

During the remainder of 2014, my mobile office will continue to travel throughout Utah to make it easier for you to access me and my staff.   Please sign up to receive alerts so that you know when my mobile office is near your home.  In addition to visiting our mobile office when it is in your city, please feel free to call, e-mail or write to me at any time with your comments, questions, and ideas so that I may continue to represent our Utah values and Utah solutions to my colleagues here in the Senate.

Thank you again to all who have sacrificed so much to the State of Utah during the Legislative Session, and please join us this year us when my mobile visits your city.