Press Releases

WASHINGTON - Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Air Traffic Control Safe Operations and Readiness Act Monday, a bill designed to decrease the number of applicants that flunk out of the air traffic control academy. “When employers look to hire a new employee, common sense suggests they should look for qualified candidates with job-relevant experience,” Sen. Lee said. “Currently federal law forbids the FAA from doing this for half of their air traffic controller hire. This is ridiculous. We need to let the FAA hire experienced candidates that have the best skills to keep us safe.” The ATC SOAR Act would restore common sense hiring to the FAA by eliminating the requirement that approximately 50% of open controller positions go to “off the street” applicants and would instruct the FAA to give preference to veterans, national guard members, and candidates with previous controller experience or training.

WASHINGTON - Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Global Trade Accountability Act Thursday, a bill that would subject unilateral actions by the president to increase trade barriers to congressional approval. “Congress has ceded far too much law making power to the Executive branch including the power to unilaterally raise tariffs,” Lee said. “Sudden hikes in trade barriers could wreak havoc on many small and midsize manufacturers in my home state of Utah that rely on imports and globally connected supply chains. Congress must be involved in any decision that would increase barriers to trade.” The Global Trade Accountability Act would require both chambers of Congress to affirmatively approve of any “unilateral trade actions” by the president before they could take effect. The bill would only cover unilateral trade actions by the President to increase trade barriers. “Unilateral trade actions” in this legislation are defined as any increases in tariffs or duties, tightening of tariff-rate quotas or quantitative restrictions on imports, and other restrictions or prohibitions on imports.

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Senator Sanders, Senator Paul, Congressman Ro Khanna, and others on a letter asking President Trump to sign a resolution pursuant to the War Powers Act calling for the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen after the House passed it earlier on Thursday.

WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Voluntary Check-Off Program Participation Act Thursday, a bill that give would give farmers and ranchers the freedom not to participate in Department of Agriculture check-off programs. “If farmers and ranchers want to get together and pool their resources to better promote their products, then that is the free market at its best,” Lee said. “But as soon as the power of the federal government is used to force people into a program they do not want to participate in, then that is crony capitalism at its worst.”