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Congressman Chris Stewart tells Utah House to prioritize growth, debt reduction and national security
Summary
U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart addressed the Utah House Jan. 28, urging faster economic growth, entitlement and deficit reform, and stronger national-security engagement abroad. He cited recent attacks in Tunisia and pressed for training support and continued federal commitments to western counties via PILT.
Congressman Chris Stewart spoke to members of the Utah House of Representatives on Jan. 28, warning that the nation faces “an extraordinarily perilous time” and urging state legislators to consider how federal policy affects Utah’s economy and security.
Stewart opened by saying the decisions lawmakers make this year will shape the country for generations and highlighted three priorities: increasing economic growth above the roughly 2% average since the last recession; addressing the coming "tsunami" of federal debt and annual deficits; and restoring U.S. credibility and national-security capacity. “We are at an extraordinarily perilous time in our nation's history right now,” he said.
On the economy, Stewart argued that growth depends on workforce participation and productivity and said a discouraged labor force understates unemployment statistics. He warned the federal deficit remains large — citing an annual deficit figure of about $426,000,000,000 — and said entitlement reform is necessary to reverse the trajectory.
Stewart framed national security as the core federal responsibility and described recent travel and meetings with allied leaders as evidence of eroding U.S. credibility. He recounted a recent conversation with Tunisia’s president after attacks on cultural sites and beaches and urged limited, focused U.S. assistance: “It would only take a very small footprint for The United States to provide the training for those individuals…to more effectively control their border with Libya.”
When representatives questioned him, Stewart elaborated on the omnibus budget vote, saying he and the Utah delegation supported the bill because it increased defense spending, reduced certain insurance-company bailouts under the Affordable Care Act and fully funded Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for counties that contain significant federal land. “PILT was fully funded in the omnibus,” he said, calling that predictability for local governments an important consideration for his vote.
Lawmakers also pressed Stewart on energy and land-management policy. He said policy should reflect the will of the people and defended holding congressional hearings in southern Utah to let affected communities express concerns about federal resource-management decisions.
Stewart closed by thanking the House for the invitation. “I’m honored and humbled and I appreciate what you and your colleagues do,” he said. The House then returned to regular business.
