It's August and the U.S. Congress is in recess.

That means Utah's congressional delegation is receiving fewer letters and comments on world and national events. But Utahns nevertheless want their legislators to know how they feel on several issues.

Rep. Rob Bishop's letters have been more random than usual. Bishop's staff said that many letters they have received have dealt with the issue of Internet neutrality. Congress is looking at changing a current law preventing major Internet providers from favoring their own services, and most Utahns are wary of a change. Other letters have dealt with the minimum wage issue, with most writers favoring raising the minimum wage, a few letters have been on Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians and the congressman still hears about the federal marriage act. Bishop is also now beginning to receive more letters regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Sen. Orrin Hatch continues to receive letters on immigration and gas prices, and is also now receiving more letters on the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, as well as some on cable television.

Hatch's staff said the majority of letter-writers are opposed to blanket amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Hatch voted against the immigration reform bill in May and will be on the negotiating team that will reconcile the house's strict immigration bill with the senate's more lenient version.

Not surprisingly, Utahns are still asking the senator what can be done to reduce gas prices. The senator voted to approve bill S3711, which will open more than 8.3 million acres on the outer continental shelf in Texas, the gulf coast of Florida and Louisiana for oil and gas leasing.

Many Utahns have expressed interest in cable a la carte, allowing Americans to subscribe only to channels free of indecent material.

Both men have received letters hoping for an end to the violence between Lebanon and Israel.

mwilliams@davisclipper.com