The resolution reads as follows:

This week, Utahns will celebrate Pioneer Day, which commemorates the arrival of the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.

For many outside of Utah, Pioneer Day may seem like a uniquely local observance. But the values it commemorates are profoundly American and can resonate with all of us. We recognize not only a historic journey, but the enduring pioneer spirit that helped shape the American West—and continues to shape our country today.

The early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sought to actualize our first freedom, and something every American should cherish: religious liberty.

Instead, they were driven from their homes, stripped of their property, and forced to flee into an uncertain wilderness.

Thousands traveled more than 1,300 miles across plains, deserts, and mountains. My recent walk across the state spanned only 250miles, and our pioneers did not have the luxury of spare shoes and an RV to sleep in at night.

Parents buried children. Children buried parents. Spouses buried their soulmates.

Yet, they sang “All is well”—from a hymn still a favorite in our church buildings today—for they had a vision of a land “Far away in the West, Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid; [where] the Saints will be blessed.”

When they finally reached that place, the Salt Lake Valley, they didn't dwell on what they had lost.

They focused on what they could build.

Within days, they were planting crops, digging irrigation canals, laying out streets, and creating communities where none had existed before.

Over the decades that followed, they established hundreds of settlements across the Mountain West, built roads and bridges, and helped countless other emigrants traveling west.

That is the pioneer spirit. That is the American spirit.

It is resilience in the face of hardship.

It is self-reliance married with cooperation.

It is choosing to build instead of surrender.

As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, I believe those values are as relevant today as they were nearly 180 years ago.

Every generation faces its own frontier. Ours may not be crossing the plains, but we are still called to solve difficult problems, contribute meaningfully to our communities, and leave a better nation for those who inherit it.

Americans still want to build something meaningful.

They still want to provide for their families.

They still want their children to inherit greater opportunities than they themselves received.

Those aspirations haven't changed.

What has changed is that sometimes we forget the virtues and sacrifices required to achieve them. May we all, this Pioneer Day, recommit ourselves to remembering that heritage, and channeling that spirit in our own hearts. 

Because the American story has never belonged to just one generation. It is written by each generation willing to work, sacrifice, and build for the next.

That is why the resolution I’m introducing with my colleagues today is about more than honoring the past. It is about carrying forward the virtues that made those pioneers successful: faith, sacrifice, community, industry, and perseverance. 

May we honor their legacy by living those same values and continuing to move our nation forward—one faithful step at a time.

Read the full resolution text here.

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“Pornography sites need to do more to prevent the rampant child exploitation that is occurring on their platforms. The PROTECT Act is a step in that direction,” said Senator Mike Lee. “This bill will verify the ages and consent of the people appearing in explicit content – stopping abusive material from ever getting uploaded in the first place.”

Background

The online pornography market has quickly become one of the most lucrative industries, but much of the material in circulation is the product of sex trafficking and child exploitation. Though law enforcement diligently investigates and prosecutes individuals who distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM), pornography platforms regularly fail to verify the age, identity, or consent of depicted individuals. This carelessness allows human traffickers and websites to profit from underage or non-consenting individuals forced or coerced to participate.

Senator Lee advocates for greater accountability in the online pornography market by proposing legislation that requires platforms to vet the content they distribute. Each safeguard imposed by the PROTECT Act creates an additional barrier to the circulation of exploitative material, reducing online sexual exploitation and image-based sexual abuse.

Why This Matters

Existing security measures demonstrate the technological and operational feasibility of implementing safeguards. Federal statutes such as 18 U.S.C. § 2257 prevent minors from appearing in sexually explicit material by mandating age verification and recordkeeping. Additionally, pornography platforms have begun incorporating independent compliance systems to protect the individuals whose content generates their profits. OnlyFans requires uploaders to present government-issued identification and complete facial recognition before distributing their content. Pornhub also requires uploaders to verify the identities of each individual featured in the content and provide corresponding consent documentation.

The PROTECT Act will shield children and victims from the distribution of nonconsensual or exploitative material that has previously circulated without oversight or intervention.

The PROTECT Act:

• Requires pornography platforms to verify the age and identity of individuals uploading pornographic images. Failure to comply with this section would result in a $10,000 per day per image civil penalty and additional criminal penalties.
• Require pornography platforms to verify that each individual appearing in uploaded content is (1) not a minor, (2) has provided written consent for each depicted sex act, and (3) has consented to the distribution of the content. Failure to follow these regulations results in civil penalties for both the uploader and the host platform of up to $10,000 per day per image and additional criminal penalties.
• Require pornography platforms to reasonably engage in the fight against human trafficking by eliminating the ability of traffickers to upload and monetize nonconsensual content involving both children and adults on pornographic platforms.

“Schools are discriminating against religious kids and targeting their families over vaccine exemptions,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Keeping a kindergartner out of class over a vaccine is cruel – and it’s unconstitutional when the reason is their family’s religion. The GRACE Act will keep federal tax dollars out of schools that refuse religious exemptions for vaccines, and will outlaw targeting families to prove their beliefs. These schools need to learn we don’t all worship Fauci.”

“This is a free country and parents have every right to make personal decisions about what vaccines they choose to give their children,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville. “Last time I checked, parents are in charge of a child’s healthcare decisions, not the federal government. Taxpayer funded K-12 schools have no right to turn students away at the door because of their vaccination status – especially if they have a religious exemption. The GRACE Act is an incredibly important bill that protects religious liberty and puts parents back in charge.”

“Freedom of speech and religion is the most sacred right guaranteed under our Constitution,” said Congressman Greg Steube. “No student or their family should ever be coerced into sacrificing their faith or jumping through loopholes to comply with a vaccine requirement. The GRACE Act reaffirms our country’s commitment to protecting religious freedom in the classroom.”

The GRACE Act is supported by families and endorsed by over fifty organizations including Guiding The Impact, Family Research Council, First Liberty, Children’s Health Defense, MAHA Action, Moms for Liberty, Global Wellness Forum, and many others. 

Read the experiences of American families impacted by discriminatory vaccine mandates at a recent hearing and below:

"I am very thankful for Senator Lee's legislation to provide equal opportunities for children and to restore religious liberty. The repeal of the religious exemption has become etched into every part of who I am. No child should ever have to go through the exclusion and isolation that my sister and I did. Without my parents' sacrifices, we would have lost important parts of our childhood. Though I love my new school, I always worry whether I will lose my place in class if religious exemptions are repealed again. I worry about losing my access to learning, friends, teachers, self esteem – everything that took so long to build back. All children in the United States should have equal access to education, regardless of their faith. That is what our founding fathers envisioned so many years ago.” – Isabella, 14-year-old student who was denied her right to an education on her 7th birthday

"We are incredibly thankful for Senator Lee's courage and leadership. Our family continues to sacrifice education, privacy, financial stability, and the peaceful enjoyment of our lives in order to maintain our religious convictions as we raise our children. A truly inclusive society offers every child a seat in the classroom, which many states have safely accomplished. This legislation would bring desperately needed relief to our children and to families who have endured great harm and sacrifice as a result of their commitment to faith.” – Nancy, mother to Isabella and parent impacted by discriminatory vaccine mandates

“Since California eliminated its religious exemption for school immunization requirements in 2015, my daughter has been unable to attend the neighborhood school she would otherwise attend today. We live near the school, so she regularly sees children her age walking through the gates with their backpacks. She looks at me and asks, "Mom, why can't I go to school like the other kids?" There is no easy way to explain to a 7-year-old that she can't attend because California no longer recognizes our family’s sincerely held religious beliefs.” – Karen, parent impacted by discriminatory vaccine mandates

"When New York repealed its religious exemption in 2019, our oldest son was forced out of the high school he loved, our younger children were denied access to daycare and school, and my husband and I spent three years homeschooling while working full-time. Ultimately, we had no choice but to uproot our family and move to Florida – leaving behind our home, careers, friends, extended family, and even our oldest son and grandson – so our younger children could receive an education without requiring us to violate our Christian faith. No American family should ever be driven from their home state simply to exercise a God-given right protected by the First Amendment." – Elyse Young, Founder, Guiding the Impact

Background

Vaccine mandates for children in K-12 schools began in 1855, with all 50 states requiring a variety of student vaccines by 1980. These mandates require children to receive state-selected vaccinations in order to enroll in classes, and sometimes to participate in extracurricular activities.

While students may receive an exemption from one or more vaccines for medical, religious, or personal reasons, religious exemptions are often viewed as less legitimate than medical exemptions and are the most challenging for students to obtain. Requirements to receive an exemption range from providing a note signed by a legal guardian to showing explicit documentation proving religious affiliation. These hurdles for non-medical vaccine exemptions have caused some parents to withdraw their child from school – sometimes neglecting to provide education entirely. Other students in California, Connecticut, Maine, and New York are not allowed any form of religious exemption and must be vaccinated at the expense of their beliefs in order to attend school.

Before removing their religious freedom exemptions in recent years, California and New York reported that approximately 1-3% of their students held religious freedom exemptions, and Maine saw approximately double the national rate for non-medical exemptions. Thousands of American children are now blocked from attending the schools their tax dollars pay for, solely because of their sincerely held religious beliefs. 

The GRACE Act would rectify this injustice by ensuring that the federal government does not financially support school policies that supersede students’ First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion.

The Guaranteeing Religious Accommodation in Childhood Education (GRACE) Act:

• Prohibits federal education funds from any educational institutions and agencies that do not allow religious exemptions to vaccine requirements.
• Prevents institutions from requiring documentation or other information to be submitted by the student or family obtaining a religious exemption.

Read exclusive coverage by Breitbart News here.

“Americans living with diabetes have been kept from life-saving research by nonsensical red tape,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Other countries treat islet transplantation as standard care, but a miscategorization in our law regulates islets as drugs rather than organs. I’m asking HHS to rectify this issue and make critical care available to Americans living with Type 1 diabetes.”

The letter is endorsed and championed by leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization Breakthrough T1D:

“For decades, other countries have successfully treated eligible people with type 1 diabetes using deceased donor islet transplants. Yet a simple regulatory classification has kept such treatments relatively inaccessible to the U.S. T1D community. It is past time for that to change. Breakthrough T1D thanks Senator Lee for his leadership in calling on HHS to reclassify deceased donor islets as organs for transplantation. This one adjustment can bring life-changing relief to more people living with T1D in the U.S. while catalyzing the research that will ultimately cure us all. We urge Secretary Kennedy to quickly take up this much-needed policy change.” – Breakthrough T1D

The letter reads as follows:

Dear Secretary Kennedy,

Re: Please Act to Reclassify Deceased Donor Islet Cells as Organs to Improve Diabetes Treatment Availability

I write to urge HHS to take administrative action to improve access to deceased donor islet cell transplantation for individuals living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Scientific progress has brought the 1.6 million Americans living with T1D closer to transformative and potentially curative therapies than ever before, but outdated regulatory classifications continue to limit patient access to this safe and effective treatment option. This must be fixed.

Recognizing the need to expand access to deceased donor islet cell transplantation for individuals living with T1D, I introduced the ISLET Act. This legislation would reclassify unmodified deceased donor islet cells as organs for purposes of transplantation—rather than continuing to regulate them solely as biological products requiring approval through a Biologics License Application (BLA)—so more centers across the United States can offer this therapy option. However, it is also possible for this reclassification to be made under existing HHS authority. Such administrative action, consistent with the policy goals of the ISLET Act, could simplify the transplant process, help align oversight with the biological nature of these cells, and ensure patients are not denied access to a potentially transformative therapy.

Deceased donor islet cell transplantation has been studied for decades, and clinical research shows meaningful benefits for individuals with T1D who experience severe hypoglycemia and hypoglycemia unawareness. Yet, despite FDA approval of a deceased donor islet cell product in 2023, patient access remains extremely limited. This suggests that the current US regulatory pathway is not functioning in a way that supports broad, practical availability of this therapy for the patients most likely to benefit from it. Reclassifying unmodified deceased donor islet cells under the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), while maintaining FDA oversight for manufactured cell therapies and any deceased donor islet products that undergo further modification, is a sensible and targeted solution.

Importantly, this approach would not require compromising patient safety. Rather, it could be implemented through a carefully designed framework that includes qualified transplant centers, appropriate quality controls, clear distribution protocols, and a pathway for responsible expansion to additional accredited sites. Such an approach would also better align the United States with the regulatory treatment of deceased donor islet cell transplantation in other developed nations and help strengthen American leadership in diabetes innovation and cure-focused research.

I urge HHS to act now, within its existing authority, so eligible patients are not forced to wait for access to a therapy that could significantly improve their lives, and I welcome the opportunity to work with you and your team on a swift path forward.

Read the full text of the letter here.

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“Four years ago now, the bodies of five preborn children were found in D.C., apparently victims of infanticide or illegal partial-birth abortions. Those babies have still not received justice or proper investigations,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Americans cannot tolerate rogue abortion clinics performing gruesome murders and casting helpless victims aside like garbage, especially not in our Nation’s capital. This crime demands attention and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. I urge the Department of Justice to give this alarming case the full investigation it deserves, and the victims the proper autopsies and burials they are owed.”

“The Biden Administration’s deliberate and callous mishandling of the ‘D.C. Five’ case has been a stain on the Department of Justice for over four years now,” said Congressman Chris Smith. “These five beautiful, innocent babies—who were violently exterminated—deserve justice, accountability, and respect. All those involved and complicit in these children’s barbaric deaths must be held to account, and we are calling upon President Trump’s Department of Justice to ensure that these battered baby victims receive their day in court.”

Background 

In the letter, first obtained by the Daily Wire, the 57 members of Congress explain that the desecrated bodies of these children — one of which bore deep lacerations and injuries consistent with illegal partial-birth abortion procedures — were “recovered by the Metropolitan Police Department in 2022, after they were allegedly aborted in the Washington Surgi-Clinic operated by the late-term abortionist Dr. Cesare Santangelo.”

“For four years, members of Congress have remained alarmed at this clear violation of life and law, but the Biden Administration Department of Justice refused to act,” the Republican lawmakers write.

The letter follows an April 2022 letter led by Senator Lee and Congressman Smith and signed by 67 other members of Congress, which called upon Biden-era Attorney General Merrick Garland to conduct a “comprehensive investigation on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of each preborn baby.” 

The latest letter explains that President Biden’s DOJ “never provided a substantive response or indicated that any investigation had occurred,” and reports indicated that the agency even went as far as to advise “the Chief Medical Examiner to discard the bodies of the infants.”

In the letter, the members of Congress relay the expert findings of neonatal specialist Dr. Robin Pierucci, M.D. — who, upon viewing the publicly shared photographs of the deceased babies, said that she could “‘say with confidence that [four of] these babies died at an age when they were viable, premature people’” — and neonatologist Dr. Kendra Kolb, M.D., who posited that at least one child may have been killed from an illegal partial-birth abortion method, as one 28-30 week-old baby had “‘deep lacerations to the posterior neck, which presumably correlates to the method of abortion used to end her life.’”

The Republican lawmakers further argue that “if this baby girl was alive when the abortionist made these lacerations, then her death directly violated the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 (18 U.S. Code § 1531), which criminalizes the partial deliverance of a living child for the purpose of performing an overt act that intentionally takes the life of the child.”

Urging a renewed review of these tragic cases, the GOP co-signers note that former Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed in a June 2025 House budget hearing that the DOJ “was conducting an ongoing investigation into this case” and recall that a report signed by President Donald Trump encouraged the agency to “‘provide a briefing to the Committees on all actions previously taken by the Department on this issue within 180 days after the enactment of this act,’” which would fall on July 22, 2026.

“After years of inaction by the Biden Administration, we write to you again to reiterate these concerns and request that DOJ promptly complete a thorough investigation into the death of each child, including autopsies of the infants and the preservation of all collected evidence. Additionally, we request that you ensure these children receive a proper and respectful burial once the investigation is complete and all responsible parties have been brought to justice,” the members of Congress write.

“We cannot undo the grievous, barbaric acts that killed these children in their most vulnerable stage, but we equally cannot allow such lawlessness and inhumanity to evade our justice system any longer. Under President Trump’s and your leadership, we are hopeful that these children will finally receive the justice they deserve,” the GOP lawmakers conclude.

Read exclusive coverage by the Daily Wire here.

Read the full text of the letter here.

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In part, Senator Lee wrote:

Read the full text of the letter here.

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“Our legislation allows American digital privateers to raid cartels, cybercriminals, and foreign adversaries, disrupting their operations and seizing their assets,” said Senator Mike Lee. “This is the ultimate in white hat hacking: stealing from America’s enemies at the direction of the President, and splitting the profits with the federal government.”

"Widespread cybercrime has become an existential threat to our national security," said Congressman Tim Burchett. "Allowing private operators to aid the federal government in combatting these crimes will strengthen our ability to defend the United States against terrorism."

Background

Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution authorizes Congress to “grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal.” Once a commonly used tool against piracy, letters of marque authorized private citizens to seize enemy vessels with their cargoes and crew. In December 2025, Senator Mike Lee introduced a bill authorizing President Trump to allow private citizens and groups to join in defending the United States from cartels on land and sea.

Building on that legislation, the Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act will allow the President to arm America’s hackers with authority to combat foreign cyberattacks against the United States. The bill authorizes the President to issue cyber letters of marque and reprisal to strategically deter and disrupt cyber operations against the U.S. and Americans, facilitate the return of stolen assets to Americans, and empower the private sector.

The Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act:

• Authorizes the President or a designee to commission private persons to conduct cyber operations against designated cyberthreats through letters of marque and reprisal. The recipients of such letters are required to post a security bond in agreement with the President, and the recipients shall forfeit the posted bond if they violate the terms of the letter. The President may require up to 15% of the total assets recovered to fund bounty programs, which the President may facilitate for holders of such letters to claim. Holders of such letters are prohibited from knowingly conducting operations against U.S. citizens, required to log all their activities, and are limited to conducting only operations that are necessary to the mission.
• Limits the definition of “designated cyberthreat” to foreign individuals and entities responsible for cyberattacks against United States persons or assets owned or controlled by United States persons.
• Allows the President to issue guidance on qualifications to receive a cyber letter of marque and reprisal, as well as guidance for a holder of a cyber letter of marque and reprisal to operate within traditional domains.
• Ensures that a holder of a cyber letter of marque and reprisal shall be authorized to conduct operations in traditional domains of warfare in addition to the cyber domain if Congress authorizes the use of letters of marque and reprisal for such domains.
• Ensures that no cause of action authorized in a letter of marque and reprisal shall be maintained against a holder of such letter in any court.

Read exclusive coverage from The Daily Caller here.
Read the full bill text here.

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“Today’s proclamation shows that President Trump listens to Utahns and respects the limits Congress placed on the Antiquities Act,” said Chairman Mike Lee. “For too long, presidents have weaponized monument designations to lock up millions of acres, close roads, restrict grazing, and cut rural communities off from lands their families have lived on and worked for generations. I thank the President for correcting this abuse and keeping his promise to the people of Utah.”

The proclamation reduces Bears Ears National Monument to approximately 121,000 acres and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument to approximately 182,000 acres. The revised boundaries will allow federal agencies to concentrate limited personnel and funding on the cultural, historic, and scientific objects identified within the proclamation. 

Lands outside the modified boundaries remain in federal ownership and continue to be protected under existing federal and state laws. The proclamation will provide greater access for recreation, preserve historic roads and trails, and give ranching families and rural communities greater certainty about the lands on which they depend.

Congress enacted the Antiquities Act in 1906 to allow presidents to protect historic landmarks and other objects of historic or scientific interest. The law requires monument reservations to be confined to “the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.”

Previous designations placed approximately 3.2 million acres within the two monuments—more land than all seven of Utah’s other national monuments and all five of its national parks combined and about the combined size of the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut. Those sweeping boundaries strained federal staffing and law-enforcement resources while increasing the burdens placed on rural counties responsible for search-and-rescue operations and other public services.

President Trump’s action returns the monuments to a focused and manageable scale, improves the ability of land managers to protect significant resources, and restores a meaningful voice for the Utah communities closest to these lands. 

“These modified boundaries don’t diminish protection, they focus it,” said Governor Spencer Cox. “The new proclamations focus management efforts to better preserve the cultural and archaeological resources that make this part of Utah so special. Management matters, and we are optimistic about the future preservation of Utah’s historic, cultural, and scientific resources in these areas.”

“President Trump’s executive action restores a more balanced approach to managing Utah’s public lands and shows a willingness by this Administration to listen to the state of Utah,” said Senator John Curtis. “While today’s announcement is an important step in the right direction and a more appropriate interpretation of the Antiquities Act, the responsibility remains with Congress to do what executive orders cannot: bring stakeholders together, work through disagreements, and enact lasting solutions. This approach worked in Emery County, which serves as a strong example to build on.”

"Utahns have long supported protecting our state's extraordinary cultural and natural resources," said Representative Celeste Maloy. "This action honors that goal while following the law Congress passed and giving greater consideration to the people who know these lands best.”

"The Antiquities Act is crystal clear: presidential designations meant to protect objects should be 'confined to the smallest area compatible' with the proper care and management of those objects. That mandate was ignored,” said Representative Burgess Owens. “The mess started with Bill Clinton, who acted from a seat in Arizona with his back turned to Utah. It was compounded by Barack Obama in the waning hours of his presidency. Together, they created monuments larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined which is an unmistakable violation of the 'smallest area compatible' standard. I am grateful for President Trump's actions today, and for his willingness to listen to the Utah communities who cherish and honor these landscapes. Utah deserves leaders who respect the rule of law. Today, accountability prevailed."

“The people of Utah understand these lands better than any distant bureaucracy ever could,” said Representative Mike Kennedy. “Decisions about how they are managed and protected should rest with the communities who live closest to them. The Antiquities 1``111Act was written to protect specific and important areas, and honoring its intent is the rational way to safeguard these treasures while giving Utahns a real voice in their future.”

“This has, unfortunately, become a back-and-forth issue between administrations,” said Representative Blake Moore. “Today’s announcement takes into consideration years of local concern over restricted access and misuse of the Antiquities Act while still protecting our state’s natural and cultural resources for future generations. If the Antiquities Act is going to be used, it needs to be on the smallest area possible—that’s what we’re doing here.”

“The Antiquities Act was never meant to be a tool for locking up millions of acres with the stroke of a pen. Today’s action takes a major step in the right direction of appropriately sized monuments allowing responsible stewardship that works with our communities, not against them. Utah has fought hard to enforce Antiquities Act limits on monument size, and we will continue fighting to ensure the law is applied faithfully — and that Utahns have lasting certainty about the lands they call home,” said Attorney General Derek Brown. “But our work isn’t finished. The long-term answer isn’t found in which president happens to occupy the White House. The answer lies in honoring the textual limits the Antiquities Act already places on monument sizes. Utah will keep pressing until that’s the reality, not just the ideal.”

“Today is an exciting day for the state of Utah and we applaud President Trump’s thoughtful action to modify the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments,” said Utah Speaker Mike Schultz. “These changes will improve management, public access, and recreation opportunities while respecting the traditions, livelihoods, and voices of local communities. By focusing resources where they are needed most, we will ensure these lands are preserved for current and future generations. We continue to push for a long-term solution so these lands are not subject to political back-and-forth. These remarkable places deserve stability, protection, and thoughtful stewardship for decades to come.”

“We don’t have to choose between protecting our heritage and supporting our communities,” said Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams. “We appreciate the Trump Administration’s recognition that local communities deserve a meaningful voice in the stewardship of the public lands that shape their way of life. Today’s action provides a more focused approach to preserving some of Utah’s most treasured landscapes while ensuring these lands remain accessible to the people who rely on them. Historic roads and trails will remain open, ranching families will have certainty, and Utahns and visitors will continue to enjoy these areas through hiking, hunting, camping, biking and other longstanding recreational opportunities. These changes also give land managers greater flexibility to reduce wildfire risk and combat invasive species. By focusing protections where they matter most, we can preserve these cultural and natural treasures while honoring the traditions and livelihoods that have long been part of this region.”

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“The EPA has overstepped its authority as far as possible to put America’s energy producers in a chokehold,” said Senator Mike Lee. “They’ve exploited any power they can grab to push Biden and Obama’s climate psychosis at the expense of our energy security. They make up and enforce regulations to suffocate America’s energy producers and devastate major sectors of our economy. The End EPA Abuse Act will clarify once and for all that policymaking belongs to Congress, whom the American people have elected – not to the leftwing bureaucracy.”

"The EPA has spent years using the Clean Air Act as a backdoor tool to wage war on fossil fuels and strip Americans of their energy choices,” said Senator Cynthia Lummis. “The End EPA Abuse Act puts Congress back in the driver's seat where we belong. That's why I'm proud to cosponsor this legislation and finally draw a clear line against an agency that has far exceeded the authority Congress ever intended to give it."

“Under the Biden Administration, the EPA increasingly treated the Clean Air Act as a blank check to push de facto electric vehicle mandates, jeopardize reliable energy sources, and impose costly regulations on American consumers and businesses,” said Congressman Andrew Clyde. “Unelected Washington bureaucrats should never have the power to dictate what kind of car Americans drive or how our country produces electricity. The End EPA Abuse Act puts Congress back in the driver's seat where it belongs, preventing any future Democrat Administration from abusing the EPA’s regulatory authority to advance the Left’s radical, anti-American energy agenda.”

The End EPA Abuse Act is endorsed by twenty Attorneys General who penned a letter of support, as well as the following organizations: Heritage Action, American Energy Institute, American Consumer Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Frontiers of Freedom Institute, Eagle Forum, Less Government, the Heartland Institute, Center for a Free Economy, American Energy Alliance, Truth in Energy and Climate, the John Locke Foundation, and the Center for Energy and Conservation at Independent Women’s Voice.

“The End EPA Abuse Act of 2026 is a win for our States and our residents. We are grateful that the Trump administration has moved aggressively to correct many of the Biden-era and Obama-era excesses described above. EPA Administrator Zeldin has been a skilled partner in unwinding unlawful rules, and we applaud those efforts. But statutory guardrails—not administrative forbearance—provide the durable solution our constituents deserve. Thank you for your commitment to keeping the EPA within its statutory authority. The States recognize that EPA has an important role to play. We ask only that Congress ensure that, in playing that role, the EPA does not again usurp ours.” – A.G. John McCuskey and other Attorneys General

“The EPA was never authorized to engineer America’s transportation system, force fuel switching at power plants, or jeopardize grid reliability in pursuit of political objectives. The End EPA Abuse Act restores important guardrails by prohibiting regulations that effectively ban internal combustion engines, mandate unproven technologies, or threaten reliable electricity generation. Americans deserve affordable, dependable energy and the freedom to choose the products that best meet their needs.” – American Energy Institute

"The CAA has been abused to create electric vehicle mandates, force the grid to shift to renewables, and impose impossible technological standards, all of which inflict burdensome costs and hardship onto consumers. This bill will keep the CAA within the bounds set by Congress, preserving consumer choice and protecting our electric grid from unjustified and unrealistic regulations."  – American Consumer Institute

“The EPA is supposed to be focused on environmental protection, not on trying to stretch the Clean Air Act to change the very nature of our economy. Yet this is exactly what has been happening in recent years. Not long ago, people would have been thought of as wacky if they claimed the EPA would try to use the Clean Air Act to kill off gas-powered cars or try and change how the country produces electricity. But this is exactly what the agency has been doing. The End EPA Abuse Act establishes much-needed guardrails on the EPA. The bill is a means by which Congress would be reasserting its power while still allowing the EPA to do its job to protect the environment. The only thing the bill prohibits is the greatest abuses that common sense tells us Congress never authorized in the first place. Sen. Lee and Rep. Clyde should be commended for introducing this critical reform bill.” – Competitive Enterprise Institute

“Senator Mike Lee has once again shown the kind of principled leadership our country desperately needs with the introduction of the End EPA Abuse Act of 2026. This important legislation directly confronts the Environmental Protection Agency’s relentless overreach by protecting American consumers’ right to choose the vehicles they want and can afford, while also safeguarding the reliability of our electric grid. By reining in the EPA’s ability to impose unrealistic, costly, and anti-consumer mandates — particularly those that target internal combustion engines and force fuel-switching at power plants — Senator Lee is standing up for constitutional limits on federal power and defending the economic freedom of hardworking Americans. This bill is a much-needed corrective to years of regulatory abuse and should be supported by anyone who believes government agencies should serve the people, not dictate to them.” – Frontiers of Freedom Institute

Background

Since its enaction in 1970, the EPA has increasingly interpreted the Clean Air Act not merely as a mandate to protect air quality, but as license to impact major sectors of the American economy. By exploiting statutory ambiguities and stretching its regulatory authority beyond Congress's original intent, the agency has abused the Clean Air Act to impose sweeping policies impacting electricity generation, transportation, and industrial production.

For example, the Obama-era EPA used Clean Air Act regulatory authority to attempt to implement the “Clean Power Plan,” which would have forced power plants to switch from coal to other sources of fuel. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected this overreach in West Virginia v. EPA, arguing that Congress had not authorized the EPA to assert such broad authority that would have carried massive economic and political consequences. The Court rightly recognized that major policy decisions belong to Congress, not a federal agency.

Despite positive court cases and deregulatory actions by President Trump’s EPA, future administrations will continue using the Clean Air Act as a tool to assert authority for major policy decisions that go well beyond the law. Congress should codify in statute clear guardrails to protect Americans from an EPA that imposes excessive rules that drive up prices, restrict consumer choice, and devastate the agency’s disfavored industries.

The End EPA Abuse Act

The End EPA Abuse Act would prohibit the EPA from issuing Clean Air Act regulations that could be reasonably determined to significantly expand the Agency’s authority beyond the intent of Congress.

This includes any regulation that:

a) Restricts the sale or use of internal combustion engine vehicles;

b) Requires power plants to switch fuel sources;

c) Reduces the reliability of the electric grid, or;

d) Requires the use of technology that is economically or practically infeasible.

The bill also clarifies that “regulations” includes waivers like those issued to California for their EV mandate.

Bill Text | One Pager | Endorsements

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In January 2026, the Senators, along with nine of their colleagues, sent a letter to Secretary Wright urging him to address this issue. In March 2025, they introduced the Guarding American Technology from Exploitation (GATE) Act as a legislative solution. The bill is currently being blocked by Democrats on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

In part, the Senators wrote:

“We write expressing serious concern regarding the Department of Energy’s (DOE) continued practice of permitting foreign nationals from China to access facilities across the National Laboratory complex and work alongside American scientists. Recent DOE data underscores that this practice puts the nation’s research enterprise at risk of foreign intelligence collection and technology transfers that will benefit our adversaries.”

The letter reads as follows:

Dear Secretary Wright:

We write expressing serious concern regarding the Department of Energy’s (DOE) continued practice of permitting foreign nationals from China to access facilities across the National Laboratory complex and work alongside American scientists. Recent DOE data underscores that this practice puts the nation’s research enterprise at risk of foreign intelligence collection and technology transfers that will benefit our adversaries.

According to DOE’s own data, Chinese nationals continue to occupy substantial roles across a variety of access types, including short term visits (approximately 1,900 in FY 2025), long term research assignments (approximately 1,300 in FY 2025), and even formal employment (approximately 2,100 in FY 2025). The Department further reports in FY 2025, on-site user facilities at the National Labs were accessed physically and remotely more than 5,000 times by Chinese nationals. These facts reflect severe vulnerabilities at our nation’s premier and most sensitive scientific environments.

China is our main competitor in research and development and the race for emerging tech, where it seeks to surpass the United States by stealing American intellectual property and technologies. This is widely known and well-documented, and yet for decades we continue to give Chinese national scientists access to our National Laboratories.

These numbers are not small, nor are they incidental. They represent a systemic exposure of our National Labs, including the American scientists who work there and topics they are working on, to an adversary determined to defeat the United States. Given that DOE has not substantially reduced this exposure, we respectfully request answers to the following:

1. How does DOE's risk framework account for China's National Intelligence Law, which legally obligates every Chinese citizen—including those working in our National Laboratories—to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services upon demand, regardless of where they reside?

2. Why does the Department permit Chinese nationals to work inside the National Labs, side by side with American scientists?

3. Are Chinese nationals given access to controlled technologies, export controlled technologies, or any other sensitive research environments within the National Laboratories? If so, how many?

4. What steps is DOE taking to reduce remote access by Chinese nationals, given the Department’s own finding that thousands of users operate remotely with limited oversight?

5. Does DOE intend to reduce or cap Chinese nationals’ participation in unclassified research areas, and if not, why not?

6. What counterintelligence assessments has DOE conducted regarding the concentration of Chinese nationals in specific labs, programs, or user facilities?

The Department’s mission is to advance American scientific leadership, protect national security, and safeguard critical technologies. This mission can’t be achieved when it’s undermined by thousands of Chinese nationals infiltrating the National Labs each year. We look forward to your thoughts on these systemic vulnerabilities affecting our labs.

Read exclusive coverage by the New York Post here.

Read the full text of the letter here.

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“Americans need more affordable housing. Unfortunately, this bill doesn’t do enough to provide it, instead increasing the federal government’s long-running and failed involvement in the U.S. housing market,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Notably, the bill does not do nearly enough to safeguard housing programs for American citizens only. Additionally, the bill includes only a temporary ban on a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) rather than a permanent one, while failing to prohibit any future administration from trampling state and local authorities for social engineering like the Biden and Obama administrations. The process to fix this bill has been nonexistent, with no amendment votes in the Senate. We can do better. To truly improve housing affordability, we must drastically reduce the federal government’s footprint in housing policy, cut federal spending to reduce federal debt, which in turn can lower mortgage interest rates, and continue mass deportations of illegal aliens who are placing a significant burden on housing availability and affordability for American citizens.”

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Watch Senator Lee outline the SAVE America Act's path to passage here.

Senator Lee on the SAVE America Act’s Path to Passage:

“It’s important to remember that the original SAVE America Act – the one that was passed by the House of Representatives – does have simple majority support in the Senate. While it’s true that we’re ten votes shy of cloture (forcing debate to a close), that doesn’t mean that we couldn’t pass it.

 “There are a couple ways to get there.

 “One would be nuking the filibuster, which appears unlikely to happen. But the other way is to exhaust the other side – to continue to debate the bill until it passes. This was a common procedure in the Senate for most of its existence; it needs to be used from time to time in situations like this one.

 “Look, the American people overwhelmingly support this – Republicans, Democrats alike. We’re talking about three out of four Americans – regardless of political party – want to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. That’s what the House-passed SAVE America Act does, and the Senate needs to be willing to do that hard work to make sure that happens.

“If we put it on the floor tomorrow, and we announce that we’re going to debate it until it passes, I’m confident that we can get there.”

Senator Lee on the Senate Vacationing Instead of Voting:

“Days or weeks can feel like months or years to United States senators who want to be doing other things. The truth is we haven't tried what I believe it takes to get the Save America Act passed, which is to put it on the floor and to say we're going to debate this for weeks. And we'll stay through weekends, we'll stay through previously scheduled recesses if necessary, but we're going to stay on this bill until it passes.

“Nothing sharpens the mind, nothing hastens agreement, nothing will bring about face-saving and perfecting amendments, quite like the obligation to stay in and debate something that is popular with the American people when filibustering senators trying to slow it down are becoming steadily less popular in their arguments.”

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Senator Lee on President Trump’s America-First Leadership on Iran:

“Let's remember that President Trump is not like other presidents who have tried to address this issue. Both President Obama and President Biden negotiated from a position of weakness. President Trump has done everything that is absolutely necessary to make sure that we're negotiating from a position of strength.

“This is the master of the art of the deal – don't count him out.

“In fact, I would bank on the fact that President Trump will make darn sure Iran complies. And if it doesn't, Iran will face very unpleasant consequences. Iran has seen already what happens when you mess with President Trump, and they will see it again if they don't comply.”

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“The United States must not tolerate China’s increasing incursions into US waters under the guise of surveys and research,” said Senator Mike Lee. “This legislation shuts the door to foreign adversaries attempting to commit espionage and exercise influence at our doorstep in the Arctic, affirming the sole right of the American people to determine who may approach their shores, from the Aleutians to the Beaufort Sea.”  

“I recently returned from a bipartisan congressional delegation to Canada, Greenland, Norway and Iceland, where we heard firsthand how Russia and China are expanding their presence and influence across the Arctic,” said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen. “As these adversaries deepen their cooperation in the region, the United States must deepen our own partnerships with Arctic allies to protect our waters, critical infrastructure and national security interests. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that foreign vessels linked to China, Russia and other adversaries cannot exploit scientific research as a cover for espionage or intelligence-gathering activities in American waters, while strengthening our ability to identify and respond to emerging threats in the Arctic.”

Background

The Russian Federation and People’s Republic of China – allied adversaries of the United States – are colluding to enhance their competitive presence in the Arctic region. Russia controls approximately 53% of the arctic coastline, and has significantly expanded its military infrastructure in the region. Likewise,  the U.S. Department of War reported “an unprecedented number of Chinese military and research vessels operated in or near U.S. Arctic waters” in 2025. The two nations have openly collaborated to establish a “polar silk road” for shipping and resource extraction through the Arctic, and have each used their access to target northern countries such as Canada and the Netherlands in various espionage operations.

This documented threat necessitates a focused and strategic defense by the United States to protect America’s Arctic waters from adversarial espionage.

The Arctic Security and Diplomacy Act codifies a proclamation by President Trump requiring foreign vessels to request authorization from the U.S. Department of State before conducting research in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and on its continental shelf. Furthermore, the bill builds on President Trump’s action by prohibiting foreign vessels from adversarial nations such as China and Russia from conducting such research in American waters at all.

The Arctic Security and Diplomacy Act:

• Requires foreign vessels to request and receive consent from the U.S. Department of State prior to conducting maritime research in American waters
• Disqualifies all vessels of – or reasonably suspected to be associated with – adversarial nations such as China and Russia from obtaining consent to conduct maritime research in American waters
• Requires the U.S. Secretary of State to produce a strategy in collaboration with the Secretary of War and intelligence community leaders to identify and combat espionage and influence operations by foreign adversaries in the Arctic
• Requires the U.S. Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress on espionage and influence operations by foreign adversaries in the Arctic and in American waters
• Requires U.S. federal agencies to share information related to relevant maritime research with the U.S. Department of State, unless otherwise prohibited by law

Read exclusive coverage by Intelligence Online here.

Access the full bill text here.

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“Americans are footing the bill for illegal immigrants who use public services, benefits, and schools intended for citizens,” said Senator Mike Lee. “The law has long required financial penalties for illegal immigrants, but no president other than Donald Trump has stood up for the American people by enforcing them. I’m proud to cosponsor Senator Rick Scott’s Illegal Immigration Cost Recovery Act to double civil financial penalties for illegal immigrants and claw back Americans’ hard-earned money.”

“Illegal immigration is — in fact — illegal and has consequences,” said Senator Rick Scott. “President Trump is working hard to restore law and order, and we in Congress needs to do our part to help. Decades of open border policies have created an enormous and unfair cost burden on Americans that needs to be offset to make things right; meanwhile, those that entered our country illegally should face consequences for their actions. This commonsense bill enforces the law and ensures illegal aliens can’t keep ripping off our country and undermining the hardworking Americans who pay taxes and follow the rules.”

Background 

While these penalties were signed into law nearly 40 years ago, President Trump is the first and only president to enforce monetary consequences for illegally entering the country. Under the Biden administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was specifically instructed not to issue these fines. ICE started issuing failure-to-depart fines again as of June 2025.

Higher penalties will force illegal aliens to pay for the burden they have created for American citizens and impose penalties for breaking federal law.

Specifically, this legislation increases penalties for those who:

• Enter or attempt to enter the United States unlawfully.
• Have a final order of removal who fail or refuse to depart from the United States.

The bill would also assign financial penalties to employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens not authorized to work in the United States. These fines will generate revenue that will cover operational costs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Read exclusive coverage by Breitbart News here.

Access the full bill text here.

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“America’s supply chain relies on our ports, which are currently suffocating under century-old red tape,” said Senator Mike Lee. “These bills will free up essential infrastructure and modernize policies to secure America’s economic dominance and unleash American trade.”

Background

The Dredging to Ensure the Empowerment of Ports (DEEP) Act repeals the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 and streamline key impediments in the Clean Water Act, as well as the Army Corps’ process for considering dredge projects at American ports. | Read the full bill text here.

The Allied Partnership and Port Modernization Act supports more economic opportunities at our ports. It would amend the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 to allow NATO-affiliated dredging vessels to operate in the United States. | Read the full bill text here.

The Port Modernization and Supply Chain Protection Act repeals the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906’s cabotage requirements and allows all dredge vessels qualified under U.S. law to operate in the United States. | Read the full bill text here.

The Incentivizing the Expansion of U.S. Ports Act amends the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 to allow Americans to purchase foreign-built dredge vessels for operation in the United States, provided that they are crewed by Americans and flagged under U.S. law. | Read the full bill text here.

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“Americans have a right to manage their own health and choose treatments that are right for them, including homeopathic methods,” said Senator Mike Lee. “The current federal regulatory framework is designed around traditional pharmaceuticals, but it is ill-equipped to review the safety and effectiveness of homeopathic products. So we are building a new one. Our legislation answers the concerns of thousands of families across the country who have been calling on Washington to find a better way.”

“I’ve long been an advocate for homeopathic medicine,” said Senator Tommy Tuberville. “The reality is that too many Americans today are hooked on pharmaceuticals when they could be using homeopathic remedies, which are often cheaper and can yield miraculous results. There’s no reason why the FDA shouldn’t be reviewing and approving some of these remedies to help Americans live healthier lives.”

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The Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act is endorsed by Americans for Homeopathy Choice Action, MAHA Action, the CPAC Foundation, the National Health Federation, the Health Freedom Defense Fund, and the National Products Association.

“Americans for Homeopathy Choice Action and the 120,000 consumers we represent are grateful to Sens. Tuberville and Lee for introducing this bill which, when enacted, will ensure continued access to homeopathy for millions of Americans who use it to restore and maintain their health. Homeopathic medicines are also an important nontoxic option for health practitioners including medical doctors, nurses, dentists and others who appreciate this choice when treating patients with both everyday and serious conditions.” – Paola Brown, President, Americans for Homeopathy Choice Action

“MAHA Action proudly supports Senator Tuberville’s and Senator Lee’s legislation to protect and preserve Americans’ access to homeopathic medicines. We believe individuals should have the freedom to choose the modalities they use to support and maintain their health. For generations, homeopathy has been an important part of the diverse range of options available to American families. Safe, holistic, and effective homeopathy has been used by billions of people around the world as a non-toxic alternative to big pharma.” – Tony Lyons, President, MAHA Action

"CPAC proudly supports H.R. 7050, the Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act. Healthcare freedom is a core conservative value, and for too long Washington bureaucrats have used regulatory overreach to strip Americans of their right to make their own healthcare decisions. This bill cuts through the red tape and puts power back where it belongs — with the patient. We commend Senators Tuberville and Lee for their fearless conservative leadership on this legislation. Their commitment to individual liberty and limited government is exactly what the American people sent them to Washington to fight for." – Matt Schlapp, Chairman, CPAC

"Homeopathy needs to be recognized for what it is: a safe and inexpensive way for Americans to manage many of their own health needs. We support this bill for bringing regulatory clarity to a time-honored approach that millions of American families rely on for self-care." – Scott C. Tips, J.D., President, National Health Federation

"Now more than ever, American families want access to natural approaches that support our health and wellbeing. For over two centuries, homeopathy has done just that by providing safe, effective, and affordable healthcare to millions. Homeopathy addresses a spectrum of concerns from coughs and colds, to sprained ankles, and grief. It successfully handled the disease outbreaks that plagued the 18th century. Many of us at Health Freedom Defense Fund have used homeopathy to raise our families and can personally attest to this most amazing medicine. We are thrilled about and wholeheartedly support this bill to ensure that homeopathy is accessible for generations to come." – Leslie Manookian, President & Founder, Health Freedom Defense Fund

“The Natural Products Association supports the Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act because the legislation would provide long-overdue statutory clarity for the regulation of homeopathic drug products in the United States. The homeopathic legislation offers a thoughtful and balanced solution. It protects consumers, respects the distinct nature of homeopathic drug products, provides clear rules for industry, and reinforces the importance of a predictable federal regulatory framework. NPA urges Congress to advance the Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act and support a regulatory approach that promotes safety, quality, transparency and continued consumer access.” – Daniel Fabricant PhD, President and CEO, National Products Association

Background

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first recognized homeopathic medicines in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1938 and regulated the manufacture and sale of homeopathic drugs for the following eighty years. However, in 2019 the FDA withdrew this regulatory framework for homeopathic products. This created legal and regulatory chaos for the industry as the viability of homeopathic medicine was brought into question.

Senator Lee signed a letter to the FDA in 2021 urging the FDA to provide guidance protecting consumer access to homeopathic drug products for Americans.

The Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act:

• Federally acknowledges that homeopathic drug products are distinct from other pharmaceutical products and, as such, require independent regulatory framework.
• Creates a standard definition for homeopathic drug products and clarifies that they are not a new drug.
• Exempts homeopathic drugs from the traditional premarket approval process established under Section 505 of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
• Outlines a method for the Secretary to regulate homeopathy safety and quality standards separate from traditional drugs.
• Exempts finished homeopathic drug products from the required laboratory test to evaluate strength of each active ingredient.
• Clarifies that homeopathic drug products must generally comply with traditional labeling requirements, but that homeopathic drugs may use descriptions/dosage units appropriate to homeopathy and that claims made in compliance with this Act shall not be considered a false advertisement.
• Establishes a Homeopathic Drug Product Advisory committee, which shall trigger consultation with the Secretary and provide recommendations on safety, quality, labeling, and regulatory approaches for homeopathy drug products.
• Requires the FDA to issue final Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations within three years after enactment.
• Deems any drug or supplement that is not homeopathic but uses the word homeopathy in its labeling as misbranded.
• Applies federal standards for reporting serious adverse effects of nonprescription drugs to homeopathic drug products.
• Clarifies that homeopathic drug products shall not be classified as biosimilars.
• Withdraws the FDA’s 2022 guidance that significantly restricted the sale of homeopathic drug product.

Read exclusive coverage by The Daily Caller here.

Access the full bill text here.

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“Americans should not lose their Fourth Amendment protections simply because their private communications are stored with a third-party provider,” said Senator Mike Lee. “By eliminating the outdated 180-day rule and requiring the government to obtain a warrant for the contents of emails and other electronic communications, this legislation brings ECPA into line with the realities of the 21st century.”

“Right now, the only thing standing between the government and warrantless access to all of the old emails in your inbox is a federal appeals court decision,” said Senator Ron Wyden. “That's not good enough when it comes to Fourth Amendment protections for one of the fundamental forms of communication right now. I’m proud to partner with a bipartisan coalition to put clear protections for Americans' rights into black-letter law.”

“The Fourth Amendment is clear: the government must get a warrant before searching an individual’s private property, including written communications. As today’s world has grown increasingly digital, that principle should apply just as strongly to an email inbox as it does to a desk drawer or file cabinet,” said Congressman Warren Davidson. “That’s exactly why I’m proud to cosponsor the Email Privacy Act—to ensure our freedoms carry into the digital world and that all communications are protected as the Founders intended. Congress must pass this commonsense legislation so Americans’ rights are fully respected in the 21st century.”

“The current law governing online privacy standards is egregiously out of date, leaving millions of Americans’ private communications and data vulnerable,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene. “Our laws must reflect the capabilities of modern technology rather than being stuck in the past. Personal email communications and physical documents should be protected with the same level of security. This bill makes critical changes that will update email privacy standards and modernize Americans’ civil liberties.”

Background

Currently, law enforcement can obtain private email communications older than 180 days without a warrant because the law is based on outdated storage capabilities. Congress passed the Electronic Communications Privacy Act in the 1980s to establish email privacy standards. In the four decades since, email usage and storage have evolved significantly while protections have not.

The Email Privacy Act would protect Americans’ digital communications by requiring warrants to access emails regardless of their origin date. The bill also allows email providers (Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, iCloud, etc.) to notify users when their data has been accessed, and updates voluntary disclosure language.

The bill is endorsed by Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Association for Competitive Technology, the American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Democracy & Technology, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Consumer Choice Center, Consumer Technology Association, Demand Progress, Due Process Institute, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Engine, Fight for the Future, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Institute for Policy Innovation, Internet Infrastructure Coalition – I2Coalition, NetChoice, Project On Government Oversight, R Street Institute, Restore the Fourth, Software & Information Industry Association, TechFreedom, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Read the full bill text here.

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“I’m glad to see the Supreme Court maintain the separation of powers keeping rogue activist judges from undermining the work of the executive branch,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Our federal immigration judges should be focused on their jobs, not making themselves celebrities via unapproved speaking engagements targeted at undermining the very purpose of their work. When litigants seek to improperly challenge such approval policies in federal court, judges should also respect the administrative processes established by Congress for these types of claims. I’m proud to have spoken for Congress in an amicus curiae brief and pleased to see the Supreme Court listen.”

Background

The amicus brief argued that—contrary to the proceedings in this case—legal challenges to this approval policy should be channeled through the appropriate administrative process established by Congress. Justices Thomas and Barrett, in a separate writing, signaled agreement with this reasoning, stating that “[s]tatutes change only when Congress changes them, not when judges decide that they no longer vindicate Congress’s purposes."  

Read the full amicus curiae brief here.

Read the Supreme Court’s decision here.

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“Firing our upstanding military servicemembers for unknowingly taking the wrong supplement makes no sense, particularly when its ingredients are fully legal for civilians and likely even purchased on base,” said Senator Mike Lee. “The list of prohibited ingredients for servicemembers is very long, ever-changing, and difficult to access. Our troops need better transparency to avoid breaking these rules in the first place, and they deserve some flexibility for first offenses and honest mistakes. This bill will bring improved transparency to prevent violations, and allow commanding officers to judge good faith when it comes to their own troops.”

“Our trained servicemembers should not be kicked out of the military for the honest mistake of taking the wrong legally available supplement they bought at GNC,” said Congressman Warren Davidson. “Treating an innocent oversight the same as possession of a Schedule I drug is disproportionate and wrong. The PERFECT Act gives COs the flexibility to handle first offenses in-unit and updates the confusing DOD portal that left servicemembers searching ingredient by ingredient and in the dark about newly banned supplements.”

The PERFECT Act:

• Requires the Secretary of War to publish a full list of prohibited ingredients every 90 days, allowing servicemembers to view the full list rather than only using a search feature.

• Allows commanding officers to elect not to subject servicemembers to discipline or separation if:

• The offense was the first such offense by the servicemember

• The servicemember agrees to participate in education, counseling, or drug testing

• The commanding officer determines that the servicemember was acting in “good faith,” meaning at least one of the following apply:

• The servicemember had no knowledge that the dietary supplement contained a prohibited ingredient

• The supplement was purchased from a retail facility affiliated with the Department of War

• The servicemember reasonably relied on the published list but failed to identify that the ingredient was prohibited due to a misspelling or variation in the name of such ingredients (some manufacturers of prohibited ingredients create chemical analogs or change the name of ingredients, and some use umbrella ingredient names that obscure constituent ingredients identities)

• The servicemember demonstrates reasonable belief that such supplement does not contain a prohibited ingredient.

• Note: This flexibility does not apply to servicemembers found to be in possession of dangerous or illicit drugs that appear on the Controlled Substances Act, such as heroin, marijuana, cocaine, etc.

Bill Text | One-Pager

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“As if the UN were not already useless and expensive, it is now using American tax dollars to hide hostages and weapons for the Hamas terrorists it employs. Yes, really!” said Senator Mike Lee. “$70 million is funneled yearly from the United Nations to a group in Gaza employing multiple terrorists from the October 7th attacks and their friends. These American-paid employees have used our tax dollars to hide their hostages and weaponry and teach a pro-terrorism, antisemitic curriculum. Americans do not support this horrifying misuse of tax dollars – it must end now.”

The letter reads as follows:

The letter is cosigned by Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

Read exclusive coverage by The New York Post here.

Read the full text of the letter here.

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