Happy Friday from #OneUtah, a weekly update from the office of Gov. Spencer J. Cox. Reply to this email with any questions or suggestions regarding the newsletter. And thank you for subscribing!

Utah stands with Israel

This week we gathered with Jewish leaders, legislators and fellow Utahns in solidarity and support of Israel at the Utah State Capitol. Like all of you, I was horrified when I learned of the depraved terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against innocent women and children and men, the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Israel has every right to defend their right to exist.

As I spoke with the Israeli consul general and told him we were allies, he corrected me: “We are not allies, we are family,” he said. He was right. We’ll continue to pray for peace and support our friends in Israel. Read our full remarks from the rally here. 

As a show of solidarity with Israel and Utah’s Jewish community, we will be lighting the State Capitol in blue and white lights on Sunday evening from 7:30-11 p.m.

Suing TikTok

Social media companies are illegally baiting our children into addictive and unhealthy use of their platforms. In Utah, we place a high priority on protecting the mental health of our youth, so we’re taking action. This week we announced a lawsuit against TikTok for this exact reason, their blatant misrepresentation of the app’s safety and deception of independence from TikTok’s China-based parent company.  

This announcement follows the landmark legislation we signed requiring social media companies to protect children. With rates of depression, anxiety, exposure to hate-based contents and sleep issues on the rise, we must do everything in our power to protect our kids. You can learn more about the lawsuit against TikTok here. Parents can visit https://socialharms.utah.gov/  to learn more about the harms of social media.

Aerospace technology in Utah

Utah leads the nation in aerospace technology development and is home to prestigious aerospace and defense companies that help keep our nation safe. We joined the Utah Aerospace and Defense Association this week to discuss their new vision and strategy for the industry. Thinking big and supporting the development of America’s Deep Tech Frontier are important and important for the safety of our nation. Thanks for having us, UADA!

Lt. Gov. Henderson wins Utah Business’ ‘Women of the Year’ Award

Congratulations to Lt. Gov. Henderson! Utah Business awarded the lieutenant governor with a 2023 Women of the Year Award. The award celebrates pillars of the community for their contributions to building our state.

“In this role, I’ve relished visiting every corner of the state and seeing where we can do better,” Lt. Gov. Henderson said. “We have to expand who we are looking after in our state. We need to make sure we are not leaving anyone behind.” 

Read more about the award and see her full interview here.

2023 Governor’s Award for Excellence

We were honored to present 26 state employees with the Governor’s Award for Excellence this week at a ceremony held at the Governor’s Mansion. Since 2007, the awards are an annual event intended to recognize the many contributions of state employees in the categories of innovation and efficiency, energy and environment, heroism, leadership and outstanding public service. 

Utah’s fortunate to have such dedicated public servants who love this state and the people we serve. The awardees exemplify distinguished service and dedication to our state. We could not be more proud and grateful for their efforts. Read more about the Governor’s Award for Excellence winners here.

Diplomacy: Welcoming the Mexican Ambassador to Utah

We were honored to welcome Ambassador Moctezuma of Mexico to the Utah State Capitol! Utah and Mexico have many diplomatic and cultural ties, with approximately 10% of Utah’s population being people from Mexican descent. The Mexican Consulate is the oldest consulate in Utah, and will be celebrating its 111th anniversary in November. Many Mexican cultural celebrations occur throughout the state, including Día des los Muertos, Festival Latino Americano, Mexican Independence day and the Hispanic Heritage Festival. 

Our Joint Utah Mexico Partnership initiative focuses on four key areas: business and trade; workforce and talent; foreign language acquisition; and culture and belonging. These focus areas will promote trade based on Utah’s targeted industries, build bridges between Utah and Mexico, amplify opportunities for Mexican nationals living in Utah to connect with employers, ensure Utah schools offer diverse language programs, and promote bilateral tourism. Thanks for visiting, Ambassador Moctezuma! 

Water Quality Restoration & Protection Survey

The Division of Water Quality is asking for input on ways to restore and protect Utah’s waters. Take the Water Quality Restoration & Protection Survey to contribute your insights on preserving our rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs. 

This effort will serve as a guide for DWQ's Watershed Protection Section, aiming to streamline monitoring efforts, enhance collaboration with partner agencies and stakeholders, and provide transparency in safeguarding Utah's waters. 

Learn more and take the survey.

ICYMI

• We attended the University of Utah Health’s Population Center ribbon cutting! Grateful for the work DHHS and University of Utah are doing to serve some of our state’s most high-cost and high-need patients. 

• Lt. Gov. Henderson welcomed Emma Wade-Smith, the United Kingdom’s Trade Commissioner for North America, to the Capitol this week. They provided an update about the MOU signed in June between Utah and the United Kingdom meant to promote investment and trade between our economies. We value their partnership and cooperation. See more about the MOU here.

   

Coming up

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