John Curtis

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. 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. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. 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. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. 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. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. 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. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. 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. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. 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 FTX. The Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act realigns the SEC with its appropriate regulatory role and designates the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as the primary regulator of cryptocurrency as a commodity. It also clarifies the SEC's role in regulating digital assets.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. 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. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. 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.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor an exemplary figure in education from Utah, Mr. Ed Mulick, of Park City High School. Just like the Olympians who go for gold on the mountains of Park City, Mr. Mulick has achieved the Sarah and Stephen Doilney Teaching Excellence Award for an unparalleled fifth time. Awarded by the Park City Education Foundation, this achievement is not just a testament to his excellence but his enduring impact on generations of students. Like a champion returning to the field season after season, Mr. Mulick has continually elevated educational standards and inspired countless students through his dedication and passion for biology. Mr. Mulick has not always been a teacher. After college, he worked as a weekend recreation counselor in Alaska. He then transferred to the State's Municipal Parks and Recreation Department. Ed and his wife, Dana, moved to Park City after he completed his teaching degree at the University of Utah. Dana grew up in Heber, where her father worked as a miner. They fell in love with Park City, where they purchased their home. Mr. Mulick has worked solely at Park City High School during his 34- year career. On receiving the award for a fifth time, Mr. Mulick was humbly quoted as saying: ``It is quite an honor because there are so many great and deserving teachers in the school district.'' I commend Mr. Mulick for his outstanding contributions to education and the lives he has positively shaped.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Western Economic Security Today Act of 2023, or the WEST Act. My bill, as has been discussed, would require the Bureau of Land Management to withdraw their proposal regulating conservation of landscape health. Utah's farmers and ranchers for generations have worked on this land, leaving it better than they found it. They understand how to live in a way that strengthens the landscape but allows for them to provide for their family and their community. I like to tease them that they are the original environmentalists. They don't always like that term. Ironically, this rule also undermines the work of these individuals who keep the land in good health and help prevent the risk of wildfires to instead lock the public out of Utah's lands. Let me be clear: I have immense respect for Utah's local land managers who do their best with the resources they have. I appreciate their commitment to integrating into each unique community and working hard to find consensus. They are not the problem. The problem is Washington politicians who think they know better than the generations of families who actually live in Utah. The question isn't whether or not we want to protect these lands but who gets to make the decisions. Since coming to Congress, one of my favorite experiences has been connecting with Utah's rural communities. They give so much and ask for so little. They work hard to feed our families, protect American energy, and lead in manufacturing. We should be making it easier for them. Instead, the Biden administration is pushing this rule to allow environmental groups funded by Swiss billionaires who pretend to be representing Utahns to lock up public lands. This is completely backward. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two stories about how this foreign dark money is funding environmental groups in Utah. ADVENTURE . . . What's in a Name? Recently I Googled ``Moab'' and ``adventure'' on my computer and came up with 480,000 hits. Apparently there are adventures enough to be found in Moab to keep tourists entertained and spending their money until the next Millennium. Just to mention a handful, I found the Moab Adventure Center, Moab Adventure Xstream, Moab Adventure Headquarters, Moab Adventure Inn, Moab Adventure Package, Moab Adventure Guide, Moab Desert Adventures, Adventure Xscapes, Adventure Racing Retreats, Moab Resort Adventure Package and a link to the Moab Adventure Park, from WWTI Newswatch50 in, of all places. Watertown, New York. They reported the following: MOAB, Utah--Riding down the ski lift from the highest point on the red-rock rim overlooking the Moab Valley in Utah, our feet dangled some 800 feet in the air as Scott McFarland talked about the latest project for his Moab Adventure Park. ``We're applying for permits for a zip-line, a 2,500-foot- long cable that goes from the top of the hill to the bottom.'' McFarland said. ``You get into a harness on the top and cruise to the bottom, kind of like you're flying. ``Without a braking system, you'd hit about 145 miles per hour. With the system, you'll go 50 or 60. That's on the computer, anyway. We'll see.'' One of the city's concerns in considering the permits is its noise ordinance. Nearby residents are worried about screams coming from riders zipping down the cliff.'' Sad to say that's one adventure we'll never have to embrace, thanks to one of my favorite environmental groups, The Nature Conservancy, who bought the tram and removed it from the face of the earth. By comparison, if you travel just 55 miles south to the sleepy Mormon/cowboy hamlet of Monticello, the ``adventure'' falls off dramatically, to just 759. What do you expect nom a town without a brew pub? I kept searching for an adventure- free town and the best I could hope for was Benkelman, Nebraska that could only muster 154 hits and Gnaw Bone, Indiana with a paltry 64. At the other end of the adventure scale, nearby Aspen, Colorado kicks Moab's relatively passive as with 1,890,000 adventure hits and New York City, the Gotham of all Thrills, generates an incredible 8,370,000 hits. But if you can believe this, according to Google, you can find four times as many adventures in New York as You can in Baghdad, which produced less than 2 million hits. That is a telling piece of information. Just what kinds of adventures are we talking about? And what exactly is an ``adventure?'' According to one internet dictionary, an adventure is ``an undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature,'' or ``an undertaking of a questionable nature (both sound like Baghdad to me as well as certain areas of the Big Apple).'' Or . . . ``an unusual or exciting experience.'' This is the definition I was looking for. This is the kind of adventure that tourists are in search of when they come to places like Moab. Most if not all of the ``Moab Adventure'' Google hits are commercial enterprises, anxious and eager to provide an ``exciting and unusual experience'' for the paying public. Their businesses certainly CANNOT be, to even a modest degree, ``hazardous in nature.'' I doubt if any adventure tour company could survive if its owners faced their first customers of the day and announced, ``Listen up people . . . we want all of you to understand that there's a real good chance only half of you will survive this hike to the Fiery Furnace . . . the rest of you will probably die in free falls or rock collapses. So call your friends and family now and tell them how much you love `em.'' And forget about experiences of a ``questionable nature.'' Add to the previous warning this addendum: ``And don't forget our climbing equipment is as old as my granny and she passed on in 1965, so don't be surprised if that ol' rotten frayed rope we use snaps like a dry twig.'' No . . . none of this would pass muster. Instead, the adventure tour companies must endure all kinds of inspections, meet various federal standards, and pay substantial insurance premiums, to insure that the ``adventure'' is as free of hazards as humanly possible. It's okay for the customer to get excited, and compared to the workaday/cubicle life he or she leaves behind to come on this adventure vacation, how could it be anything but? But is it really an adventure? I have my own adventure definition--I would call it a ``spontaneously sought, poorly planned, even stupidly conceived exploration of a mystery.'' Spontaneity is critical to an adventure. How can an adventure be planned and scheduled? And a real adventure should have an unknown component to it . . . maybe there will be hazards ahead . . . maybe not. Who knows? It's a Mystery!! But this is what it's become: ``Now let's see Kimberly . . . I'm thinking . . . an adventure that starts around 10am would be perfect because I want to have a leisurely breakfast at the Jailhouse Cafe. Love the eggs benedict! Then maybe a rappel somewhere? Or would you rather do a boat thing? No more than $100 . . . $150 tops. And back here by four for drinks at McStiff's . . . does that sound perfect or what?'' I know . . . I know! Once again, I'm out of touch with Mainstream Adventure America and how can I argue with 480,000 Google hits and a booming adventure economy? (I think even a couple of my advertisers have ``adventure'' in there somewhere). But like so many other words--wilderness--for instance, an adventure just isn't what it used to be, or even mean, I'll take my adventures as they come, unplanned, unscheduled, free, and if it kills me, I just hope I don't die with a cell phone clutched in my hand, frantically punching 911 as I hurtle toward the greatest adventure of them all.

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, the link to the second story can be found here: https://www.eenews.net/articles/quietly-philanthropic-tycoon- makes-his-mark-in-the-west/. Mr. Speaker, the Biden administration didn't even pretend to care what rural Utahns thought about this rule. I sent a letter nearly a year ago with my Natural Resources Committee colleagues, asking the agency to hold more public listening sessions on this rule, including a session in Utah. Instead, the agency ignored this request and finalized the rule. Over 60 percent of Utah's land is federally managed. I have counties with 90 percent, yet no public listening session was held in Utah. This rule has an oversized impact on our State. That is why the WEST Act must pass today. We must fight to stop this rule and then immediately repeal it under the next administration. It is critical that Utah's lands remain under the stewardship of those who have tended it for generations. There is a lot of hyperbole in Washington, and I am genuine when I say this is one of the most offensive attacks on rural Utah I have seen in my career. I will continue to work tirelessly to repeal this disastrous effort. My bill, the WEST Act, is pushing against this flawed rule. We should be empowering local communities, not punishing them.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6976, the Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act. I have personally been to the southern border and seen the crisis firsthand. I don't care your political persuasion, all of us know what is happening down there is wrong and needs to be corrected. The first duty of the Federal Government is to protect American citizens, and this cannot be done without securing our border. I am pleased that the House has taken the steps this week to do so. It is not clear under current law that individuals illegally in this country can be deported for driving while intoxicated. This legislation would ensure any noncitizen convicted or admitting to driving under the influence would no longer be allowed to remain in the United States. This shouldn't be controversial. When you drive drunk, you are putting your neighbors and the broader community at unacceptable risk, and that we cannot allow. Also, this week, we passed legislation that would allow law enforcement to prosecute criminals who intentionally refuse to stop for Border Patrol agents. The practice of running from Border Patrol agents is dangerous for residents, patrol officers, and the fugitive. I hold deep compassion for those who are in circumstances that they feel the need to enter the United States illegally. However, we are a country of laws and need to ensure individuals know they need to enter the United States only through the legal manners. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self).

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, as the dean of the Utah delegation, I have the distinct honor to rise today to introduce the newest Member of the House of Representatives, Celeste Maloy. Celeste was born in southern Utah, raised in rural Nevada, and then, as an adult, chose Utah as her home. Celeste earned an agricultural degree from Southern Utah University in Cedar City which she now calls home. She began her career in public service as a soil conservationist at the USDA in Beaver, Utah, also located within her district, where she worked for 10 years. She left Beaver to go to law school at BYU, where she got her law degree, in my hometown, and she was a law student there, in fact, while I was her mayor. Since beginning her late career, she has worked as a deputy county attorney, a public lands attorney for the Utah Association of Counties and, most recently, as the chief legal counsel to former Congressman Chris Stewart. In a special election, Celeste assembled a coalition of both rural and urban voters. She was unafraid to stand for conservative principles, calling for debate in each of her 13 counties. In her district, she is known to be a hard worker, levelheaded, and consistently conservative. We were all a little surprised that she won the election since the last thing she won was her 7th grade spelling bee, but the secret to her heart is simple: offer her a Dr. Pepper and her number one food staple, cottage cheese. Better yet, ask her about her 90-year-old grandmother, who is her biggest political fan and best critic, or her other grandmother who was her roommate when she was in high school and they worked at the same truck stop. She is the fourth of six kids--this is how we do families in Utah-- which means that most of her life she has been in a bunk bed. Finally, my colleagues will remember her predecessor, Chris Stewart. He was known for having several speed records around the world in his plane. Celeste does not have a flight speed record, but I hear, unbeknownst to the Utah Highway Patrol, she has several speed records on I-15 in her district. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield to my fellow Utahn, Celeste Maloy.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from Utah, the Honorable Celeste Maloy, be permitted to take the oath of office today. Her certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to her election.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Taiwan International Solidarity Act, which I co-lead with my good friend from Virginia (Mr. Connolly). This legislation amends the TAIPEI Act, my bill that was signed into law in March of 2020, which countered China's poaching of Taiwan's allies and China's efforts to exclude Taiwan from international organizations. I am proud that my bill has greatly strengthened our relationship with Taiwan. However, since the bill's signing in 2020, China has mounted pressure on international organizations to claim that Taiwan is part of China. The Taiwan International Solidarity Act expands on the TAIPEI Act to further counter China's attempt to use international organizations to claim that Taiwan is part of China by distorting the language, policies, and procedures of international organizations. We all witnessed this in an infamous interview at the height of COVID where a reporter asked a representative of the World Health Organization a question about Taiwan. The WHO officer initially refused to answer and then said: ``Well, we've already talked about China,'' implying that Taiwan is part of China. It is unacceptable for international institutions, funded largely by U.S. taxpayer dollars, to be repeating the CCP narrative. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, the NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act. This bill would streamline the development of cybersecurity policy at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NTIA, through the establishment of an office of policy development and cybersecurity. This office would work with industry and stakeholders to recommend the cybersecurity practices and policies of the internet and communications technology sectors. The office of policy development and cybersecurity would also carry out the communications supply chain risk information partnership to facilitate information sharing on cybersecurity risks to small and rural communities. State and nonstate actors are working overtime to find vulnerabilities in our networks and infrastructure. We must work even harder to ensure Americans are protected from cyberattacks. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Wild for joining me on this bill in the House and Senator Hickenlooper for leading in the Senate. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a good friend and dedicated public servant. Last week, Wayne Parker, Provo City's chief administrative officer for two decades, announced his retirement. Having served with Mr. Parker for 8 years, I know firsthand how impossible it is to fully grasp the positive impact of Wayne Parker on Provo City. His touch for good can be found in everything we like about Provo. For many years he has worked without fanfare or attention. Those of us that know his work best know that everything from our vibrant economy to our fun downtown and so much more have been blessed by Wayne's hard work and dedication to Provo City. Because of his great leadership skills, Wayne was awarded the 2020 Award for Career Excellence from the International City/County Management Association. This award was a recognition of Wayne's impact on the quality of life in Provo. I hope that his retirement brings joy and happiness. Those of us that call Provo home will never forget all he has done for us as a city. I know I will never forget all he has done for me.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise with a profound sense of reverence and humility to honor the legacy of a true American hero, Mr. Ken Potts. Mr. Potts was one of the last two USS Arizona survivors who recently passed away at 102. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Ken Potts answered the call of duty. As a crane operator, Mr. Potts had the responsibility of ferrying supplies to the USS Arizona. Upon reaching the harbor, he was confronted with a scene of devastation. Mr. Potts stood as a beacon of hope. With dauntless courage, he wielded his crane as an instrument of salvation, plucking survivors from the jaws of peril and guiding them to the sanctuary off Ford Island. To the Potts family, and especially Doris, Ken's beloved wife, our hearts are with you as you honor his memory today in this esteemed Chamber. I am profoundly privileged to pay homage to the indomitable spirit of Ken Potts.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 1. I stand before you like everybody in this Chamber who is a father and a grandfather, somebody who wants to leave this Earth better than we found it. Some in the past have argued that we must sacrifice affordable energy and reliable energy so that we can be clean. We have seen Europe go down this path. They pushed back on fracking, and they pushed back on nuclear power. Today, they buy fracked fuel from an enemy. We have been told that we must give up affordability and reliability so that we can be clean. This is a false choice, and H.R. 1 is a path to affordable, reliable, and clean energy. Let's be honest. The U.S. energy sector is not the enemy. They are the answer to our energy future. I ask my colleagues, why do you hate fossil fuels? Let's hate emissions. Let's hate the emissions and not the source. This is why H.R. 1 is so important. It is an opportunity to accomplish all three of these goals. At its core, H.R. 1 is about responsibly building America's energy infrastructure. The rest of the world is dying for American energy. We can replace dirty Russian, Venezuelan, and Iranian petroleum products. We can reduce more emissions than any proposal on the left simply by using U.S. energy products. H.R. 1 pushes back on the narrative that has been spun about Republicans not caring about the Earth. More importantly, without the permitting reforms in H.R. 1, none of us can accomplish our climate or energy goals.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address my bill before us on the floor, the Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act. This commonsense and bipartisan bill would require the creation of reasonable disclosure guidelines for products that have audio or visual recording components that are not clearly obvious to a reasonable person, such as household appliances. This emerging smart technology will provide unknown benefits and conveniences to modern life, but along with this new technology, we need to update transparency for consumers. My bill balances protecting American consumers with continuing to foster innovation. By working with a broad range of stakeholders, my legislation will ensure consumers are aware of the capabilities of items they are putting in their homes without hamstringing the technology pioneers in places like Silicon Slopes in my district who are developing smart technologies. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Representative Moulton, Senator Cantwell, and Senator Cruz, for their bipartisan and bicameral support of this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the Strategic Production Response Act. The President sold an unprecedented amount of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which was constructed to be used solely during national emergencies. I regret that the President has instead used it as a political tool to attempt to lower gas prices. Perhaps the most frustrating thing is this administration's constant demonization not just of fossil fuels but of the very men and women who work so hard to produce them. It is vital for a business to have regulatory certainty to ensure price stability, and President Biden's lack of guidance has created the most unclear times for the energy industry in modern history. You can't attack the oil and gas industry, say you want to put them out of business, and then complain when gas prices go up. It is critical for the SPR to be accessible to the most vulnerable citizens at times of crisis: wildfires, flooding, tornadoes, and hurricanes. All over the country, including in my home of Utah, there are abundant fossil fuels that can be cleanly and responsibly developed on Federal lands that could be used to replenish the SPR for times of real crisis. This is why I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 22. This morning, I listened very carefully to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about this bill, many of whom I have great respect for their expertise in energy. I have, however, heard terms like ``political,'' ``political games,'' ``partisan.'' While this may be their perspective, I wish for just a moment that we could transport all of us to my district to see the perspective there, which is one of great hypocrisy. On the one hand, instead of utilizing the vast American resources we cleanly produce, including in Utah, the President chose to use this country's strategic reserve to try to lower prices. On the other hand, in fact, the President did this while attacking energy jobs in Utah by suspending energy development on Federal lands and raising the royalty to produce oil, two contributing factors to rising gas prices. Not only did this release from the reserve barely make a dent in the cost of gas and weaken our national security, but it also directly strengthened our number one geopolitical adversary, China. Under no circumstances should our reserve be used to fund our adversaries. Regardless of our views in this Chamber on the use of the reserve by the Biden administration, we should all agree our emergency supplies shouldn't be sent to our adversaries.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the passage of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act. Today, the Bonneville Shoreline Trail extends over 100 miles and will one day go from the Idaho border to Nephi, Utah, over 280 miles. Unfortunately, the vision is limited in some areas, and my bill would fix this problem and support its completion. In particular, my bill would release very small and targeted parcels of wilderness, often where the trail already has been constructed, and in turn designate other more deserving lands for protection. This win- win ensures the protection of this area while allowing for the trail to exist in appropriate areas without wilderness characteristics. This commonsense approach is why my bill is supported by Utah's Governor, the entire Utah delegation, multiple surrounding local governments, Trails Utah, the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee, Outdoor Alliance, The Trust for Public Land, IMBA, and, most importantly, my grandson Jett, who is an avid bike rider on this trail. With the rapid growth in and around Salt Lake City, it is more important than ever to support new recreation opportunities such as the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of one of my constituents, Ashley Rees, who has been awarded the American Fork High School Visual Arts Sterling Scholar Award. The Sterling Scholar Award recognizes the talent of students gifted in the arts and sciences in my home State of Utah. This is an impressive award, and I can only think of a few who are as worthy of this award as Ashley. I have been personally impressed with Ashley's artwork, but also her hard work and her dedication to her growth as an artist. I am thankful to have such young, talented artists like Ashley in my district. As the Representative for the youngest congressional district in the United States, few things make me prouder than seeing the talent of some of these young constituents. Congratulations, Ashley. I look forward to seeing you flourish more and more.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the following Utah State Legislature Resolution: Concurrent Resolution to Work Together to Address the Climate, Public Lands, and Carbon Sequestration, 2022 General Session, State of Utah Chief Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins