Press Releases
Sen. Lee Supports Belated FTC Action Against Facebook
Dec 9, 2020
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday after the Federal Trade Commission announced it suing Facebook for illegally maintaining a social networking monopoly.
“I am glad to see that our antitrust enforcers are finally taking the threats posed by Big Tech seriously,” Sen. Lee said. “If Facebook faced greater competition, it might be more reticent to engage in the draconian censorship it has become fond of. At the same time, the FTC previously cleared both the Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions, and I hesitate to congratulate it now for trying to clean up its own mess. This is one more reason that antitrust enforcement should be consolidated at the Department of Justice, as I’ve proposed in the One Agency Act. I’ll be following this case closely, and look forward to continuing to exercise oversight in this area.”
You can read more about the One Agency Act here.
Sen. Lee Statement on UAE Arms Sales
Dec 9, 2020
“The signing of the Abraham Accords creates a rare and historic opportunity for diplomacy in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates – by committing to and taking action to normalize relations with Israel - demonstrates an appetite in the region that seeks stability and peace, and presents a counterbalancing front against the Iranian regime. I believe the arms sale to the UAE under consideration will contribute to this movement in the region, and will allow the United States to continue reducing our military presence throughout the Middle East. Because of these shared strategic goals, I’ve decided to support the proposed arms sale and oppose the resolutions of disapproval considered by Congress today.”
Sen. Lee Thanks Sen. Hatch for His Service with Courthouse Renaming
Dec 8, 2020
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Tuesday, after the House of Representatives passed legislation to name the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City in honor of former-Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT):
“Senator Hatch dedicated his life to serving Utah and his impact on the state of Utah cannot be overstated. As one of the longest serving chairmen of the Senate Judiciary Committee he left a lasting legacy on our nation’s federal judiciary so it is only appropriate that Utah’s federal courthouse be named in his honor.”
Sen. Lee Introduces PROMISE Act to Hold Big Tech Accountable
Dec 8, 2020
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Promoting Responsibility Over Moderation In the Social Media Environment (PROMISE) Act Tuesday, a bill designed to hold Big Tech companies accountable for their promises to not operate their social medial platforms with political bias. The legislation is cosponsored by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS).
“The billionaires who own our nation’s Big Tech companies have every right to be partisan political actors,” Sen. Lee said.
Senate Passes Bill Fighting Immigration Discrimination and Protecting American Workers
Dec 3, 2020
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) secured passage by unanimous consent of an amended version of HR 1044, a bill designed to fight discrimination in our nation’s immigration system while also increasing protections for American workers.
Sen. Lee Reintroduces Screening Partnership Reform Act
Dec 1, 2020
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Screening Partnership Reform Act, a bill that would make changes to the Transportation Safety Administration’s Screening Partnership Program.
“Our travel industry needs all the help it can get,” Sen. Lee said. “The Screening Partnership Program is a proven secure way for travelers to save money but it has been underutilized by our nation’s airports. This bill would clear some of the bureaucratic red-tape surrounding this program in an attempt to unleash the potential cost-saving benefits of these private screening contractors.”
Sen. Lee Signs Letter Requesting State Led Sage-Grouse Conservation
Nov 20, 2020
WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) signed a bicameral letter led by Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) to House and Senate leadership urging the continued Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing prohibition for greater sage-grouse.
Without an ESA listing prohibition, greater sage-grouse remain subject to a cycle of activist litigation that costs taxpayers and undermines states’ conservation efforts. In an effort to combat this, a listing prohibition has been included in every annual appropriations bill since 2014 to allow state conservation efforts to proceed.
Sen. Lee Introduces One Agency Act to Streamline Antitrust Enforcement
Nov 19, 2020
WASHINGTON - Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the One Agency Act Wednesday, legislation that would improve antitrust enforcement by putting all antitrust enforcement under one roof, at the Department of Justice.
“When no one knows who is in charge, bad things happen, and sophisticated players like Facebook, Twitter, and Google—who can afford an army of lawyers, lobbyists, and consultants—can game the system to their own advantage, and thereby avoid accountability for engaging in anticompetitive behavior,” Sen. Lee said. “It’s clear that our current dual agency antitrust enforcement arrangement isn’t working. The Justice Department is more politically accountable, and its structure is better suited to decisive enforcement.”
You can read Sen. Lee’s Wall Street Journal oped on the One Agency Act here.
Sen. Lee Commends President Trump for Bringing Troops Home
Nov 18, 2020
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday in response to news that President Trump is withdrawing an additional 2,000 troops from Afghanistan and 500 from Iraq.
“I support the President’s decision to bring our brave men and women home, and commend him and Acting Defense Secretary Miller for their leadership. For too long, U.S. engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq has operated without a clear mission or end strategy. In the new year, I hope to see a full withdrawal of forces and a Congress ready to repeal the outdated 2001 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force. It is long past time to bring our troops home.”
Senate Approves Bill to Name Utah’s Federal Courthouse in Honor of Sen. Orrin Hatch
Nov 17, 2020
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate today approved legislation introduced by Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) to name the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City in honor of former-Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). Sens. Romney and Lee issued the following joint statement after the bill was agreed to:
“Senator Orrin Hatch dedicated his life to serving our country and our state. As one of the longest serving chairmen of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he played a pivotal role in the confirmation of many current and retired Supreme Court justices. Senator Hatch’s positive impact on the state of Utah and the nation’s federal judiciary cannot be overstated, and it is only appropriate that Utah’s federal courthouse be named in his honor.”
