News Releases
Bestselling author Dr. Timothy Shriver named Gardner Institute Impact Scholar
Special Olympics Chairman and bestselling author Dr. Timothy Shriver has been named an Impact Scholar at the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, where he will spend several days each semester participating in guest lectures, roundtable discussions with state and local officials, and consult with university and community leaders. Dr. Shriver is also the Chair and Co-Founder of UNITE, an initiative to promote national unity and solidarity across differences. (Read More)
Gardner Institute honors community leaders with “Informed Decision Maker of the Year” Award
Each year, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute recognizes individuals and entities that work, often behind the scenes and with little fanfare, to help our community prosper. We call them “Informed Decision Makers” and select them based on criteria consistent with the Institute’s committable core values: Responsibility to the community; Research integrity and relevance; accountability; collaboration; and positivity and passion. “The Gardner Institute is pleased to honor five outstanding individuals and organizations who exemplify a genuine commitment to their community through their work,” said Gardner Institute director Natalie Gochnour. (Read More)
Curtis on the urgent need to prevent US default and restore fiscal health
Today, Representative John Curtis (UT-03) released the following statement addressing the critical need for the United States to avoid defaulting on its debts and to restore fiscal responsibility. The statement comes in response to the introduction of a debt limit plan by House Republicans that grows the economy and limits spending: “Point blank, there is too much on the line for the United States to default on its debts. The bill released today is a good-faith effort by House Republicans to begin reining in reckless spending,” said Rep. Curtis. (Read More)
Congressmen Blake Moore and Marc Veasey introduce legislation to place Medal of Honor Memorial on the National Mall
During the 117th Congress, Congressmen Moore and Veasey successfully led the bipartisan National Medal of Honor Monument Act through the legislative process to authorize the creation of a new monument in Washington, D.C., to honor Medal of Honor recipients. The bill was signed by President Biden in December of 2021. The Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act is the next and final legislative step in establishing a location for the monument on the National Mall. (Read More)
Owens, Costa reintroduce the bipartisan Mining Schools Act
Today, Reps. Burgess Owens (UT-04) and Jim Costa (CA-16) reintroduced The Mining Schools Act, bipartisan legislation to increase and improve opportunities for America’s university and college mining and geological programs to prepare students to meet future energy needs. (Read More)
Weber State building design program inspires redesign of grad’s future
When Abigail Trejo began looking into Weber State University’s Building Design & Construction program, she didn’t realize she already had a special connection to it. In 2019, Trejo and her family were recipients of a home built by Habitat for Humanity of Weber and Davis Counties — a home that students and faculty from Weber State’s construction program had spent the last year working on. “I didn’t know that they were working on it,” she said. “I didn’t know that I was going into a program that does similar projects, so it’s pretty cool.” Though it took time for her to settle on a major at Weber State, building design turned out to be right up her alley. (Read More)
Lee introduces SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act (SRUMA), a bold piece of legislation aimed at strengthening work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and closing loopholes that have contributed to its rapid expansion. The number of SNAP beneficiaries has grown from 17.1 million in 2000 to 41.1 million in 2022, while the cost of providing benefits has risen from $17 billion to $119 billion. Meanwhile, SNAP continues to experience fraud and abuse that undermines the program’s integrity. (Read More)
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