Press Releases
Sen. Lee Introduces Working Families Flexibility Act
Feb 4, 2021
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) today introduced the Working Families Flexibility Act, a bill that would give employees more flexibility on how to use their overtime benefits. Sen. Lee was joined by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), along with eleven of their colleagues.
“For many families, especially those with young children, their most precious commodity is time with each other – and that has never been more challenging to balance with work than during the current pandemic,” said Sen. Lee. “For decades, federal labor laws have unfortunately restricted the way parents and workers can use their time, while giving special exemptions from these laws to government employees. This is unacceptable: the same work-life options available to government employees should be available to private-sector workers as well, especially during these challenging times.”
Sen. Lee Introduces Parental Rights Bills
Feb 3, 2021
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Parental Accessibility Rights for Emergency and Negligent Treatment (PARENT) Act and the Parental Right to Know Act Wednesday, a pair of bills designed to ensure that parents have access to the policies regarding the care and medical records of their children from hospitals and organizations that use taxpayer funding.
“Parents play the most important role in caring for the health of their children,” Sen. Lee said. “It is critical that they have information about the policies of the health organizations to which they bring their children for care, and that they have the ability to access their medical records. These bills would ensure that parents are afforded the right to remain informed and involved in their children’s care.”
Sen. Lee Introduces Cancel the Coin Act to Eliminate Debt Limit Loophole
Feb 3, 2021
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday after introducing the Cancel the Coin Act earlier this week. The bill would remove the Treasury Secretary’s ability to mint coins of any value.
“If the current budget resolution shows anything, it is that this Administration does not see the ballooning federal deficit as a problem,” Sen. Lee said. “A modern monetary theory-inspired spending spree would be disastrous for the American economy and the American way of life.
Sen. Lee Comments on Biden Budget Vote
Feb 2, 2021
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Tuesday after voting against the motion to proceed on a budget resolution:
“The $2 trillion dollar Biden stimulus package that the Democrats are starting to ram through this week has nothing to do with recovery from COVID and everything to do with bailing out and rewarding interest groups.”
Sen. Lee Introduces Pro-Life Legislation
Jan 28, 2021
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced three pieces of pro-life legislation: the Abortion is not Health Care Act, the Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act, and the Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act.
“Each human life, born and unborn, has immeasurable dignity and worth. The lives of both an unborn baby and her mother matter; and healthcare should heal, protect, and preserve both their lives. Our laws and use of taxpayer money should reflect that truth, which is why I have introduced these bills,” Sen. Lee said.
Sen. Lee Comments on DHS Secretary Mayorkas Vote
Jan 28, 2021
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Thursday after voting against Alejandro Mayorkas’s nomination to become Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security:
“Not only is Mr. Mayorkas the chief architect of the illegal and unconstitutional DACA and DAPA programs, but he also was found by the DHS Inspector General to have given special access to wealthy Democratic donors for the corrupt EB-5 visa program. The combination of Mr. Mayorkas’s expansive view of unlimited executive power coupled with his established track record of favoritism for partisan allies makes him a very dangerous choice to head the Department of Homeland Security for the American people.”
Sen. Lee Comments on 4th Quarter Economic Growth
Jan 28, 2021
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Thursday in response to the Department of Commerce’s 4th Quarter Gross Domestic Product estimate.
“The economy demonstrated enduring strength in the final quarter of 2020, and this news should be applauded in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. GDP grew at a pace of 4.0 percent, personal income remained above pre-pandemic levels, and Americans are saving more. For the economy to fully recover, however, Americans and their families must feel completely safe resuming the activities they do together. As medical professionals in the United States continue administering life-saving vaccines and treatments, I hope that consumer confidence will continue rising and that we will soon be able to return to the in-person activities that connect us.”
Sen. Lee Introduces PPP Protection Legislation
Jan 28, 2021
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Thursday after introducing legislation earlier in the week to ease the regulatory burden on banks participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
“The Paycheck Protection Program has become an essential vehicle for protecting millions of small businesses and hundreds of millions of jobs. The CFPB unauthorized attacks on banks participating in this program is putting all of these businesses and jobs at risk. Congress needs to act now to prevent CFPB meddling from creating any further delay in PPP lending and loan forgiveness,” Sen. Lee said.
Lee and Romney Join Effort to Prevent President from Unilaterally Suspending Energy Leases on Federal Lands
Jan 28, 2021
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) joined their colleagues, led by Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), in introducing the Protecting our Wealth of Energy Resources (POWER) Act of 2021. The POWER Act would prohibit the president or his secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and Energy departments from blocking energy or mineral leasing and permitting on federal lands and waters without Congressional approval.
“President Biden’s energy moratorium has already done considerable damage to Utah’s economy. President’s should not have the unilateral power to kill jobs like this. The POWER Act will check the president’s power by giving Congress a say in future leasing disruptions,” Sen. Lee said.
Sen. Lee Comments on President Biden’s Job Killing Energy Order
Jan 28, 2021
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday, after President Biden signed an executive order halting oil and gas leasing on federal lands.
“Today the Biden Administration has taken yet another step to force their elitist coastal values on the rest of America. President Biden’s moratorium on oil and gas leasing on federal lands, will impact states across the west like Utah deeply, affecting education budgets, civil services and much more.