Press Releases
LEE, DURBIN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN SAFE ACT TO REFORM FISA SECTION 702
Mar 14, 2024
With the April 19 sunset of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) approaching in just a few weeks, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the bipartisan Security and Freedom Enhancement (SAFE) Act, a bipartisan compromise bill that protects Americans from foreign threats and from warrantless government surveillance.
LEE, DURBIN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN INSPECTOR GENERAL ACCESS ACT
Feb 27, 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General to include alleged DOJ attorney misconduct. Currently, the DOJ Inspector General (IG) has no authority to investigate professional misconduct by DOJ lawyers. DOJ is the only agency whose IG has such a jurisdictional carve-out. The Inspector General Access Act would simply strike this loophole, which leads to an unfair double standard where every DOJ employee—including FBI and DEA agents, U.S. Marshals, and federal prison guards—can be investigated by the DOJ IG except DOJ lawyers.
Lee Calls Out Commerce: Time's Up on Pause for Gun Export Licenses
Feb 21, 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) led a letter urging the Biden Administration to end the unilateral pause on issuing new export licenses for American firearms manufacturers by the Department of Commerce. This pause, initiated on October 27, 2023, purportedly to enhance national security interests, has instead inflicted financial harm on numerous businesses without tangible security benefits. Despite indicating that the pause would last only approximately 90 days, the moratorium on issuing new export licenses remains in effect, and the Commerce Department refuses to clarify when they will lift the pause.
Lee Leads Call for Senate Trial on Mayorkas Impeachment
Feb 20, 2024
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has led his colleagues calling for Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to demand a Senate trial for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, noting the Senate's constitutional responsibility to conduct a thorough trial following the House's impeachment articles.
