What a difference one year makes, and what a transformative year at that. America voted to change directions and say goodbye to the disastrous border policies that overwhelmed our communities and threatened public safety. We are no longer tolerating failed economic tactics that created one of the biggest affordability crises in modern history, and we are slamming the door on nonsensical energy policies that ignore the very real benefits of reliable, baseload power. We are ushering in a new era of American greatness, and we are just getting started.

Joe Biden and his administration unleashed more than seven million illegal aliens into our neighborhoods, making every state a border state. President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security are working overtime to make our communities safe, and 70% of the more than 650,000 illegal aliens deported by the administration have been charged with or convicted of crimes. The severity of the border crisis formed at the hands of the Biden administration cannot be understated, but thanks to President Trump, public safety is back in the focus of American policymaking, and we are protecting our communities from the influx of drugs and cartel members that flooded through our open borders.

After years of the previous administration denying the very real inflation costs that everyday Americans felt at the grocery store and the gas pump, President Trump is tackling affordability and bringing down prices. The cost of eggs declined 20.6%, and gas prices are hitting five-year lows. President Trump recognizes the affordability crisis snowballed when American energy was locked away, forcing U.S. companies to outsource power from our adversaries. By backing reliable, baseload energy sources, President Trump is lowering costs across the board, from the price at the gas pump to produce at the grocery store.

One year ago, our nation felt a new sense of hope when President Trump was inaugurated as 47^th President of the United States. Reminiscent of the “Golden Age,” we immediately began working on legislation that would change the course of American history and restore common sense back to our country. The Laken Riley Act became the first piece of policy President Trump signed into law, signaling the end of open borders. The Senate held more votes this year than any time in modern history, and we confirmed the president’s cabinet nominees at unprecedented rates. Washington began working for the people, putting public safety and affordability at the heart of policy.

Happy Trails,

I had the pleasure of meeting with German students participating in the U.S. State Department’s Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Program. It was great to hear about their experiences living in Wyoming and how they have embraced the cowboy lifestyle!

It was a joy to spend an evening at the grand opening of Pubkey in Washington, D.C. 

I was thrilled President Trump signed my Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act into law, effectively preserving this vital program that motivates young Americans to achieve their personal goals and give back to their communities. This move reauthorizes the board that administers the Congressional Award Program through FY2028. Wyoming’s own Senator Malcolm Wallop helped to establish the Congressional Award in 1979, which is now the highest honor bestowed by Congress on young Americans from ages 14 to 24. For more than 40 years, this award has served to inspire numerous young people to embrace service, personal development, and civic responsibility. I am proud to see this Wyoming tradition continue and encourage America’s youth to flourish as future leaders in this great country.

I co-sponsored the Recovering Excess Communications Appropriations while Protecting Telecommunications Upgrades, Reinvestment, and Expansion Act, or theRECAPTURE Act, introduced by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA). For years, the previous administration allowed the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding to sit idle, but as soon as President Trump took office, he deployed rural broadband, and saved billions in the process. This legislation claws back all unused BEAD funding to reduce the deficit. With our national debt at a staggering $39 trillion, I am committed to pursuing any solution that addresses balancing the budget and prevents Wyoming’s future generations from being saddled with this financial burden.

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and I introduced the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, which clarifies that software developers and infrastructure providers who do not control user funds are not considered money transmitters under federal law. For too long blockchain developers have lived under the threat of being classified as money transmitters when they have simply written code and maintained open-source infrastructure. This bill establishes clear federal standards for exempting blockchain developers and service providers from harmful money transmitter regulations. Currently, many developers are subjected to conflicting state regulations and face regulatory uncertainty that has only driven innovation offshore. We need to stop treating software developers like banks just because they write code and instead give them the clarity they deserve to continue building the future of digital finance.

Cheyenne’s own Karen Delbridge recently received Wyoming’s 2026 Secondary Principal of the Year award by the Wyoming Association of Secondary Principals (WAASP)! By encouraging students to embrace working together and foster connections, she has proven to be a valuable mentor and true talent to Wyoming’s educational community. Congratulations Karen!

Photo courtesy of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle