Mike Kennedy
RThe relocation of the U.S. Forest Service to Utah is pragmatic, effective governance. We know by bringing leadership to the West, we would better align federal efforts with those who truly understand our lands and the solutions they require. Instead, a judge has blocked Utah’s opportunity to lead and deliver—not just for the West and our unique needs, but for the benefit of all America.
I’m grateful for the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As a small business owner, I understand the work it takes to build a business and the responsibility that comes with it. Utah families benefit when businesses have room to grow, hire, and invest in our communities. I’ll keep working to support job creators, encourage innovation, and strengthen the infrastructure Utah depends on. Making Washington Smaller and Utah Stronger.
Our pioneers crossed plains and mountains with faith, courage, and a determination to build something better. They planted crops, raised families, built communities, and sacrificed for generations they would never meet. Our pioneers did their part… Now it’s time to do ours… America’s next great chapter is ours to write and with your support, I’ll fight every day to ensure it’s a story worth telling.
America has all the energy we need and the hardworking people to harness it. Too often, Washington is what’s standing in the way. I believe in an all-of-the-above approach: oil and gas, geothermal, nuclear, solar and wind where it makes sense. But you can’t produce energy if it takes years to get a permit. And producing it doesn’t do much good if you don’t have the infrastructure and transmission capacity to get that energy where it needs to go. That’s why I helped pass the SPEED ACT to reform permitting and remove unnecessary delays.
Heading to the debate stage. No one else I would want by my side fighting for Utahns. Let’s go! https://t.co/LTs2OXYURE
My License to Drill Act passed the House and Senate and is headed to the President. It will help lower energy costs for families and power American Energy Independence.
This photo is a family heirloom given to my father, signed by President Ronald Reagan. As a child I went to Detroit, Michigan where my father was naturalized as a citizen of the United States. I didn’t understand at the time what was happening, but I just felt a sense of pride and I knew that something important was taking place. The American dream is alive and well. I know because I have lived it as a first generation American.
Right now, our country faces serious problems, but I believe every generation has a responsibility to leave this country stronger than we found it… As a physician, I learned to diagnose the problem, tell the truth, and do the work to fix it. As an attorney, I learned to advocate for those that I represent. And as a small business owner, I learned that decisions have consequences and you can’t spend more than you take in. I’ve brought those lessons to Washington where I am working to lower costs, rein in Washington, defend your freedoms, and deliver results for Utah. I don’t just think about you when you vote. I think about you when I vote.
Utah’s strength starts right here at home. I appreciated the opportunity to visit with the South Jordan City Council yesterday and hear directly from local leaders working on the issues that affect our community every day. Maintaining strong Utah roots is a core part of how I serve in Congress. Washington doesn’t need to have the answer to every problem—and it shouldn’t. Our cities, our counties and our citizens understand Utah and its needs better than federal bureaucrats thousands of miles away. That’s why I’ll keep showing up, listening and working to keep decision-making closer to the people it affects.
Since taking office, I’ve hosted a bi-annual meeting with our state and federal delegations. It’s a meeting where state legislators, local leaders, and federal officials unite around our common goal of making Utah as strong as possible. America wins when Utah leads Thank you to those who work tirelessly to make Utah the best state in the nation.
As Utah leads the way in protecting our children from the harms of social media and AI, I am working to ensure the federal government is an active partner in those efforts. That is why I am co-leading the Protecting Kids from Human-Like Chatbots Act. Human-like AI chatbots pose significant emotional, psychological and safety risks by mimicking real human relationships. AI needs to be a tool, not a friend. This bill sets clear boundaries for how chatbots interact with our children and puts parents fully in charge of these features.
Today Senate Democrats failed to advance the Stop Insider Trading Act, which I co-sponsored, and Americans deserve better. Members of Congress should serve the people, not their personal stock portfolios. I support strong, enforceable limits on congressional stock trading and secure elections with voter ID. Senate Democrats chose to play politics, leaving the existing rules in place and stopping this legislation from moving forward. I’ve already helped pass this legislation in the House, and I will continue working to hold government accountable and deliver results for the American people.
Washington shouldn’t be standing between American energy and the American people. My License to Drill Act has now passed the House and Senate and is headed to the President’s desk. Utah and America have the energy resources we need and the hardworking people ready to harness them. We just need Washington to get out of the way. This legislation is a big step in that direction.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mike Kennedy’s (UT-03) License to Drill Act has officially passed through both the House and the Senate by unanimous consent and is now waiting for the President's signature. The License to Drill Act will allow the federal government to have the resources to process energy permits efficiently and without unnecessary delay. This legislation will reauthorize the Application for Permit to Drill (APD) fee program, cutting red tape and keeping our critical American energy development moving. “We know the effects of overreliance on foreign nations for our energy; it is a risk that we must mitigate. We also know that permitting delays cost jobs and drive up energy prices for everyday Americans,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “America needs an all-of-the-above energy strategy, and that starts with a government that can keep up with demand. The License to Drill Act will streamline permitting so our critical energy projects stop waiting on Washington and start delivering the domestic production this country needs to remain independent and secure.” “BLM’s Project Offices in Utah are essential to keeping up with a high volume of drilling permits, rights‑of‑way, and complex environmental reviews,” said Rikki Hrenko-Browning, President of the Utah Petroleum Association. “The Vernal office in particular processes the second highest number of APDs in the U.S., right after Carlsbad. When these offices have the resources to coordinate with other agencies and stay staffed up, projects move forward more predictably and our rural communities benefit from stable investment and jobs. We’re grateful to Rep. Kennedy for recognizing how important this program is to Utah and for leading the effort to ensure PPIF doesn’t lapse just when the country needs more reliable American energy.” “The Permit Processing Improvement Fund is one of the quiet success stories of federal energy policy,” said Melissa Simpson, Western Energy Alliance President. “It speeds up permits, cuts backlogs, and gives BLM the dedicated staff and tools they need to do their jobs well. Reauthorizing PPIF is about making government work better, reach decisions faster, shorten timelines, and support frontline BLM staff in offices across the West. We’re grateful for Rep. Kennedy’s leadership on this issue and for introducing a bill to extend the program for another 10 years.” “The independent American producers we represent operate on tight margins and long timelines,” said Dan Naatz, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. “When federal permits get bogged down, so do investments into critical energy infrastructure. The Permit Processing Improvement Fund has proven that when Congress gives BLM resources and direction, the agency can move projects forward efficiently while maintaining strong environmental safeguards. Extending this bipartisan program is a common‑sense way to support American energy production and the small and midsize companies that anchor it. Thank you, Rep. Kennedy, for working to ensure this important program does not expire later this year.” “The world is seeing once again how geopolitical crises can send energy markets into turmoil,” said Tim Stewart, President of the U.S. Oil & Gas Association. “With attacks in the Middle East and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, it is more important than ever that America can rely on its own oil and natural gas. The Permit Processing Improvement Fund is a practical, bipartisan way to keep federal permitting from becoming a weak link in our energy security. Rep. Kennedy understands that by strengthening BLM’s permitting capacity, PPIF helps ensure that American barrels can reach consumers when global supplies are at risk.” “Behind every drilling permit are engineers, technicians, and skilled workers whose livelihoods depend on predictable, timely decisions from federal agencies,” said Tim Tarpley, President of the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. “In addition to helping directly support BLM staff, it ultimately helps the professionals in the field who produce the energy our nation needs. Rep. Kennedy recognizes that reauthorizing PPIF is an investment in the workforce that keeps American energy reliable, affordable, and responsibly developed.” "North Dakota's BLM State Office is one of the busiest permitting offices in the country, and the Permit Processing Improvement Fund has been a key reason it can keep pace with demand,” said North Dakota Petroleum Council President, Ron Ness. “This program is entirely industry-funded and has delivered faster permit approvals, reduced backlogs, and better interagency coordination. For our members operating in the Bakken, that translates directly into investment certainty and jobs. We commend Rep. Kennedy for his leadership in ensuring this proven program continues, and we urge Congress to act before the September deadline." “Colorado knows firsthand how important it is to balance protecting the environment with permitting energy projects. Achieving timely permitting at the federal level helps support jobs, tax revenue, and responsible development,” said Lynn Granger, President and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association. “The Permit Processing Improvement Fund gives BLM field offices the staff and tools they need to stay ahead of backlogs while still doing thorough environmental reviews. Rep. Kennedy’s legislation to extend PPIF ensures that Colorado communities can continue to count on federal partners that are responsive, professional, and equipped to keep critical projects moving.” “Communities across Montana count on a federal process that is predictable, timely, and grounded in good stewardship,” said Sonny Capece, Executive Director of the Montana Petroleum Association. “The Permit Processing Improvement Fund helps BLM field offices in our state keep permits moving on energy projects and maintains strong environmental safeguards. By championing PPIF reauthorization, Rep. Kennedy is helping to preserve a bipartisan tool that supports Montanans and public lands alike.” “Small, independent producers in New Mexico don’t have the luxury of sitting on permits for years,” said Jim Winchester, Executive Director of the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico. “When federal approvals stall, local jobs, small businesses, and state revenues all feel it. Rep. Kennedy’s bill keeps a proven, industry‑funded tool in place so that producers in New Mexico can continue to invest, hire, and deliver affordable energy to consumers.” “In New Mexico, oil and natural gas produced on BLM’s multiple‑use public lands in turn fund our public schools, roads, and essential community services,” said Missi Currier, President and CEO of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. “That’s because nearly half of the federal royalties flow back to the state. That revenue depends on BLM’s ability to process permits in a timely, predictable way. The Permit Processing Improvement Fund helps ensure federal offices like Carlsbad and Farmington have the staff and expertise to keep responsible development moving, even when workloads spike. We appreciate Rep. Kennedy’s leadership in reauthorizing PPIF so New Mexico’s students and communities can continue to benefit from energy produced on nearby federal lands.” Background The Application for Permit to Drill (APD) fee program was first established by Congress in 2004 to help the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) process drilling permits more efficiently using industry-funded fees. Since its creation, the program has helped reduce backlogs, streamline approvals, and support domestic energy production across sectors that everyday Americans depend on. Under current federal law, companies seeking to drill for oil or gas on public lands must submit an APD to the BLM. That process includes environmental reviews and coordination across multiple agencies. The APD fee program requires applicants to pay a fee at the time of submission, directly funding the staffing and resources the BLM needs to review and process those permits efficiently. Americans feel permitting inefficiency at the pump, in their utility bills, and in the jobs that never get created. Meeting America's growing energy demands requires investment across all sectors, and that starts with a permitting system that can keep pace. This bill directs 100% of APD fees to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund (PPIF) for fiscal years 2027 through 2037, ensuring every dollar collected goes directly toward faster, more efficient permitting for domestic energy development. ###
PASSED: My bill, the License to Drill Act, has officially passed through both the House and Senate unanimously and is now on its way to the President's desk for his signature. This is a major win for Utah and America. This bill will help reduce permitting delays, strengthen American energy production, help improve energy affordability, and make sure the U.S. can keep up with growing energy demand.
Growing up, I learned firsthand that understanding money isn't just a useful skill—it’s the foundation for building a stable, confident future. That is why the mission behind the Utah Community Credit Union resonates so strongly with me. What started in 1955 with seven BYU faculty members pooling $35 of their own money to support local families has grown into an institution employing over 600 people. Through all that growth, UCCU has stayed true to its core purpose of empowering Utahns with the financial literacy they need to strengthen their lives and achieve lasting financial security.
Senate Democrats chose to play politics, leaving the existing rules in place and stopping this legislation from moving forward.
Today the Senate failed to advance the Stop Insider Trading Act, which I co-sponsored, and Americans deserve better. Members of Congress should serve the people, not their personal stock portfolios.
ARUP Laboratories is the nation’s largest non-profit reference lab. Their thousands of staff process tens of thousands of specimen tests daily for hospitals and health systems nationwide. Once again, America wins when Utah leads. Thank you to their leadership team for having me out to see the lab and learn about the comprehensive testing being done there.
Thank you to locally owned Wheeler CAT in Lindon for inviting me out for a facility tour. We had a productive conversation on key issues impacting our community and economy, including surface transportation, the agricultural economy, tariffs and trade, workforce development, and technician training pipelines. Appreciate their dedication to supporting local workforce growth and keeping Utah moving forward.
For 70 years, BD Sandy has been a valued member of Utah’s business and life sciences community. As a practicing physician, I have a deep appreciation for their IV lines and other vascular products critical for patient care. Their commitment to innovation and healthcare has helped create jobs, strengthen our economy, and improve the lives of patients, not just in Utah, but around the world.
Congratulations to Vernal native Master Sgt. Brian Rust on his retirement from the U.S. Marine Band. Thank you for being a part of the “President’s Band” for 20 years. You made Utah proud. https://t.co/HEhsgpCj9Y
I was honored to attend Hill Air Force Base for the 2026 Team Hill Air Force Ball celebrating the anniversary of the U.S. Air Force. What a wonderful reminder of the deep gratitude and respect I have for all military members and their families. May God bless them. https://t.co/FGYTxs7vxq
Today marks an important milestone for Castleview Hospital in Price as they open Utah's first rural inpatient Behavioral Health Unit. Expanding access to mental health care in our rural communities is a major step forward ensuring that individuals and families throughout the region have convenient, direct access to the specialized support. Thank you for inviting me to be an apart of an exciting day for rural Utah.
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