John Curtis - Meet the Freshmen

John Curtis

John Curtis
PARTY:
Republican
CHAMBER:
Senate
STATE:

REPLACING:

Mitt Romney (R) [i]

WORK HISTORY:

U.S. House of Representatives (Member, UT-03); City of Provo, Utah (Mayor); Action Target (Consultant, Chief Operating Officer, Part Owner); O C Tanner Company (Regional Manager); Brazil International (Overseas Lead Buyer); Citizen Watch Company (Territory Representative) [ii] [iii]

EDUCATION:

BS, Brigham Young University; University of Utah, Salt Lake City; Diploma, Skyline High School [iv]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Public Lands; China; Southern Border; Energy; Utah Values; Crypto [v]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Curtis has urged for policies that support children in the foster care system, grant access to contraceptives, and provide resources for unplanned pregnancies. [vi] He was “proud” of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, appreciating that state lawmakers could “enact laws that align with their values,” including the “preservation of life.” Curtis has co-sponsored the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act for the past four congressional terms; this bill establishes federal protections for infants born alive after an attempted abortion. [vii] [viii] [ix] [x] During the 117th Congress, he voted against significant reproductive health legislation, including the Women’s Health Protection Act and the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act. [xi] [xii] Curtis has received a 100% rating from the prominent pro-life group, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, for the 118th congressional term. [xiii]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

While serving in the House, Curtis co-sponsored the Dignity Act, an immigration reform bill that would implement a 10-year framework to provide undocumented citizens work authorizations and a pathway to permanent legal status.[xiv] Curtis has campaigned on securing the southern border by “stopping the cartels’ deadly flow of fentanyl, human trafficking, and illegal immigrants” into the U.S. [xv] Curtis has raised concerns that an open southern border directly impacts his district by allowing cartels to traffic drugs in Southern Utah, leading to increased fentanyl overdose deaths. [xvi] In 2024, he introduced the Border Security State Reimbursement Act to reimburse states for costs associated with “securing the United States border.” [xvii]

ECONOMY & JOBS:

On his campaign website, Curtis promotes cryptocurrency and digital assets as significant actors for “future economic growth.” He argued that the crypto industry lacks “the regulatory and tax structure to be successful” and has committed to supporting such industries in Congress. [xviii] Curtis has also touted voting for the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, saying he had not voted for an omnibus spending bill or debt ceiling increase since entering Congress. He argued that this reduction spending bill would help balance the federal budget. [xix]

TAXES:

In February 2024, Curtis voted for the bipartisan Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act that provides tax relief to families and workers though increased refundable Child Tax Credits and enhance business tax provisions. [xx]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Curtis supports law enforcement officers’ work to “reduce crime, to eradicate gang violence, and to end the opioid epidemic.” In 2021, he voted against the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. [xxi] [xxii]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

Curtis founded the Conservative Climate Caucus in 2021 for “climate solutions that align with Republican principles.” In June 2024, President Biden signed the Advanced Nuclear Reactor Prize Act introduced by Curtis in October 2023. The bill allows the Secretary of Energy to “award grants to cover fees assessed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.” [xxiii] [xxiv]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Curtis has served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House subcommittees on the Middle East and Europe. He supports providing aid to Taiwan and is committed to holding China “accountable.” He co-sponsored the House-passed Taiwan International Solidarity Act that required reporting on China’s undermining of Taiwanese international relationships. He argued that legislation is the “biggest step taken to counter China since Ronald Reagan.” [xxv] [xxvi] Curtis also supported legislation that would force TikTok to divest from its parent company, which he claims is affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party.[xxvii] In June 2024, Curtis touted submitting amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act that “targets China,” including mandating required SEC disclosures for companies interacting with Chinese military companies and sanctioning Hong Kong judicial officials for aiding the Chinese Communist Party in creating its national security law. The amendments also would prohibit the Secretary of Defense from completing business transactions with companies that boycotted Israel and require updated reports on “Iranian involvement in the narcotics trade.” [xxviii] [xxix]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Curtis has insisted that the American healthcare system is “broken.” He argued against the medical device tax, claiming it would burden Utah medical manufacturers who could create “breakthroughs in patient care and treatment.” [xxx] Curtis has worked across the aisle to introduce the Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act, which would expand access to private dental coverage. In February 2020, Curtis led a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in support of its Heath Adult Opportunity proposal that allowed customized state Medicaid programs. [xxxi] [xxxii]

DEMOCRACY:

Curtis supported the creation of a commission to investigate the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack to help America “heal and finally move forward.” [xxxiii]

SOCIAL ISSUES:

Curtis has expressed support for the LGBTQ community while stressing the importance of maintaining the protections of religious liberties in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In 2021, he voiced concerns about the Equality Act, which he believed did not balance these protections. Curtis was among the republican minority who voted to codify same-sex marriage into federal law in 2022. [xxxiv] [xxxv]


[i] Senator Mitt Romney, Congress.gov, accessed November 4, 2024, available at https://www.congress.gov/member/mitt-romney/R000615.

[ii] “John R. Curtis,” Biography, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, accessed November 4, 2024, available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C001114.

[iii] “John Curtis’ Biography,” Professional Experience, accessed November 4, 2024, available at https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/123390/john-curtis.

[iv] “John R. Curtis,” Biography, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, accessed November 4, 2024, available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C001114.

[v] “Issues,” John Curtis for Senate, accessed November 4, 2024, available at https://www.johncurtis.org/issues/.

[vi] “Rep. Curtis Reacts to Supreme Court Ruling,” Press Releases, Office of Congressman John Curtis, June 24, 2022, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1455.

[vii] “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” HR 4712, Congress.Gov, December 17, 2017, available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4712/cosponsors?s=3&r=22&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22%5C%22Born-Alive+Abortion+Survivors+Protection+Act%5C%22%22%7D.

[viii] “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” HR 962, Congress.Gov, February 7, 2019, available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/962/cosponsors.

[ix]“ Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” HR 619, Congress.Gov, January 28, 2021, available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/619/cosponsors?s=3&r=3&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22%5C%22Born-Alive+Abortion+Survivors+Protection+Act%5C%22%22%7D.

[x] “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” HR 26, Congress.Gov, January 9, 2023, available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/26/cosponsors.

[xi] “Roll Call 295,” Bill Number HR3755, Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, September 24, 2021, available at https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2021295.

[xii] “Roll Call 362,” Bill Number HR 8297, Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, July 15, 2022, available at https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022362.

[xiii] “Rep. John Curtis,” Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, National Pro-Life Scorecard, accessed November 4, 2024, available at https://sbaprolife.org/representative/john-curtis.

[xiv] “Curtis, Salazar, And Colleagues Introduce Complete Immigration Reform Programs,” Office Congressman John Curtis, February 9, 2022, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1474.

[xv] “Issues,” John Curtis for Senate, accessed November 4, 2024, available at https://www.johncurtis.org/issues/.

[xvi] “‘My District Is Not Safe’ — Curtis Gives Remarks During E&C Border Hearing,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, January 17, 2024, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2204.

[xvii] “Curtis Introduces State Border Reimbursement Plan,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, February 7, 2024, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2218.

[xviii] “Issues,” John Curtis for Senate, accessed November 6, 2024, available at https://www.johncurtis.org/issues/.

[xix] “Curtis Stands For Fiscal Responsibility, Votes In Favor Of Spending Reduction Bill,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, May 31, 2023, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2085.

[xx] “Curtis Supports Passage Of Bipartisan Tax Package,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, February 1, 2024, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2211.

[xxi] “Roll Call 60,” Bill Number HR 1280, Office of the Clerk of the US House of Representatives, March 3, 2021, available at https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202160.

[xxii] “Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, accessed November 5, 2024, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?IssueID=15262.

[xxiii] “Conservative Climate Caucus Gains Wide Support,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, June 23, 2021, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1497.

[xxiv] “Curtis Nuclear Bill Heads To President’s Desk,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, June 20, 2024, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3281.

[xxv] “Issues,” John Curtis for Senate, accessed November 4, 2024, available at https://www.johncurtis.org/issues/.

[xxvi] “Taiwan International Solidarity Act,” Congress. Gov, accessed November 5, 2024, available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/1176?overview=closed.

[xxvii] “Curtis, Lawmakers Advance Bill To Protect U.S. User Data From CCP,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, Mary 7, 2024, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2237.

[xxviii] “Foreign Affairs & Trade,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, accessed November 6, 2024, available at https://curtis.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=15267.

[xxix] “Rep. Curtis Targets China With Strategic Amendments To NDAA,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, June 10, 2024, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2279.

[xxx] “Curtis Declares Impending Medical Device Tax ‘Devastating’ For Utah,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, July 24, 2019, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1674.

[xxxi] “Curtis, Dingell Fight For Increased Dental Insurance On Federal Marketplace,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, December 15, 2022, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1989.

[xxxii] “Curtis, Bishop, Stewart Send Letter To Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services Administrator,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, February 6, 2020, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1630.

[xxxiii] “Curtis Votes In Favor Of January 6 Commission To ‘Help Our Country Heal And Finally Move Forward’,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, May 19, 2021,available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1505.

[xxxiv] “Rep. Curtis: ‘Equality Is Not A Zero-Sum Game’,” Office of Congressman John Curtis, May 16, 2019, available at https://curtis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1681.  

[xxxv] Erin Doherty and Andrew Solender, “House passes bill to codify marriage equality with large bipartisan support,” AXIOS, July 19, 2022, available at https://www.axios.com/2022/07/19/house-repeal-defense-of-marriage-act.

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