WATCH: Senator John Curtis’ calls for ‘wildly honest’ conversations in maiden Senate floor speech

WASHINGTON (ABC4) — Senator John Curtis, R-Utah, gave his first Senate floor speech since taking office in January, calling for “wildly honest” conversations from his colleagues about tough but vital issues facing Americans, including entitlements, public lands, China, and clean energy.

“The way I see it, the odds of Congress delivering real results for the American people go up dramatically when we start telling them the truth, not just behind closed doors but out in the open where I believe the public has a right to know,” Curtis said.

Curtis highlighted four main issues that he believes need a “fresh and honest look:” clean energy, Washington’s role in public lands, China, and the nation’s debt and deficit.

“Okay, here’s some wildly honest equal opportunity offender talk,” Curtis said, speaking about the debt and deficit. “We — and I mean we, Democrats and Republicans in this body — are not being honest with the American people when we pretend that Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare don’t need reform.”

“And we’re being equally dishonest when we weaponize fear, telling seniors and the most vulnerable that reform means abandonment. It doesn’t. It never has,” Curtis said. 

Curtis’s speech began by highlighting visits he recently made to Ensign Peak, in Salt Lake, the Holocaust Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and Arlington National Cemetery. He outlined his impressions and the lessons he believes Americans should learn from each of the historic sites.

“As long as bigotry, discrimination, and unfair treatment still exist, we cannot claim to be united,” Curtis said, describing his visit to the African American History Museum. He also called for late Utah Rep. Mia Love to be honored there.

Curtis wrapped up his speech to cheers and a “hear-hear” from another member of the body after urging Congress to unite.

“Mr. President, with lessons learned from the principles found in important locations and sacred sights, let us commit to the values that unite us as a nation,” Curtis said.

“Together we can pursue a vision for an America that continues to be as bold and audacious as our beginning, while delivering dignity, freedom, and opportunity for all,” he concluded.