Press Releases

I am an original cosponsor of S.699, the Court Efficiency Act, which will reallocate unneeded judgeships from the D.C. Circuit to other federal appellate courts whose caseloads are many times higher. The President’s refusal to respect Senate precedent regarding the D.C. Circuit and his opposition to legislation that would distribute judgeships to courts that actually need them makes clear that today’s nominations are nothing more than a political ploy to advance a partisan agenda.

I appreciate the letter I received from several of Utah’s mayors urging action on immigration reform, and I could not agree more. Our current immigration system serves neither America’s economic or social interests and undermines respect for the rule of law. That’s why I have sponsored or cosponsored several reforms, both as stand-alone legislation and amendments to the current Senate proposal, that would improve high-skilled immigration, address agricultural and seasonal workers, and create new incentives for tourism – many of which enjoy bipartisan support.

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the Senate Democrats’ attempt to move the budget bill to conference without assurance that the debit limit increase will not be included in the final report.

Today, Senator Mike Lee launched the “Balance in 10/#My50k” project to highlight the need for Washington to balance the federal budget. After neglecting to submit a budget for four years, Senate Democrats finally introduced a plan that never balances and adds trillions of dollars to the national debt. In contrast, several Republicans have submitted budgets that balance in ten years or less, without raising taxes or damaging the economy.

Senator Mike Lee shared the following statement today ahead of funeral services for Sister Frances Monson, wife of President Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Today, Senator Lee, ranking Republican on the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee, led a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to the International Trade Commission (ITC) requesting that it carefully assess public interest considerations in cases involving standard essential patents.

Members of the Utah Congressional Delegation – U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Reps. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), and Chris Stewart (R-Utah) – today met with General Mark Welsh, the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, to discuss a number of issues important to Utah, including sequestration and delivery of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) regrettably was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.

Today, Senators Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, and Rand Paul called for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass a budget without using any procedural tricks to raise taxes or increase the debt limit. The Majority Leader does not deny that his intent to use a back-door procedure that would allow the Democrats to raise taxes and the debt limit under a 50-vote threshold, rather than the typical 60-vote threshold.