Tagged

I am aware of recent efforts within the state of Utah to empower local agencies with greater roles in protecting endangered species such as the Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle, the Gunnison Sage Grouse, the Greater Sage Grouse, and the Utah Prairie Dog. I am hopeful that the US Fish and Wildlife Service will recognize the value of working with local and state officials to actively manage protected species as opposed to protecting species through top-down mandates from Washington that can't take into account local nuances like the locations of cemeteries, the safety needs of airports, or private property values.

As of this afternoon, senators have received only a set of talking points promoting the new immigration proposal. Once it has been released, I strongly encourage my colleagues to read the bill and then decide for themselves whether this reform will accomplish what proponents are promising. It is unfortunate that we have so little time to digest and evaluate such an expansive piece of legislation before we hold our initial committee hearing. As senators, it is our duty to read the bill and fully understand the impact it will have on our immigration system before casting votes.

the gun control proposals we've seen would serve primarily to limit the rights of law-abiding citizens while doing little, if anything, to actually prevent tragedies like this from occurring in the future.

As I have argued on this floor, in the national media, and back home in Utah, we should not be legislating by using closed door, back room deals away from the eyes of the American people. We should not be voting before we understand exactly how these proposals will affect the rights of law abiding citizens and whether we can say with any level of certainty that they will reduce crime.