Press Releases

Sens. Lee, Rubio Call for Fair Taxes for Families

Jan 19, 2017

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Ways and Means Committee encouraging them to make tax reform a priority in the 115th Congress and to consider the Economic Growth and Family Fairness Tax Reform Plan.

Sens. Lee, Paul Call on Pres.-Elect Trump to Increase Congressional Involvement in National Security, Foreign Affairs

Jan 17, 2017

WASHINGTON - Today, Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) sent a letter to President-Elect Donald Trump regarding the importance of rebalancing the relationship between Congress and the Presidency on issues of national security and foreign policy. The letter addresses the need to require Congressional approval for specific military actions before the President can undertake them in the Middle East, and it encourages president-elect Trump to review and work with Congress in repealing or reforming the 2001 and 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMFs). The letter also addresses the need for the President to engage with the legislative branch and build consensus with Congress and the American people on important issues to our national security, such as our relationships with Russia and China.
 
The letter states, “While members of Congress have disagreements on many domestic and foreign policies, we all agree that the most fundamental duty of the federal government is to protect the safety, security, and freedoms of the American people. The constitutional powers to carry out this duty are shared between the President and Congress so that our military and diplomatic policies are informed by a long-term vision of American interests – forged through the kind of open debate and patient deliberation that is the province of Congress – while remaining flexible enough to respond to threats as they appear.”
 
"The complexity of the security questions we face as a nation calls for robust debate, prudence, and cooperation,” the letter continues. “The challenges are too great and the risks too high to simply defer to yesterday’s status quo. Now is the time for bold leadership and sober judgment.  You have an opportunity at the beginning of your presidency to help recommit the Executive Branch to preserving this constitutional balance that has always defined our government at its best, and we stand ready to work with your administration toward that end."
 
The letter can be found in its entirety here:

Sens. Lee, Paul Call on Pres.-Elect Trump to Increase Congressional Involvement in National Security, Forei... by Senator Mike Lee on Scribd

Lee Letter Seeks Accountability for US Ambassador in Macedonia

Jan 17, 2017

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) sent a letter to US Ambassador to Macedonia Jess Baily today, asking for clarity on; the mission’s assistance to the new government; the involvement of George Soros’ Open Society Foundation; and the implementation US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs. Sen. Lee eagerly awaits a reply from the State Department and hopes that the new administration will hold executive branch officials accountable for the way our tax dollars are spent.

Sens. Lee, Klobuchar Comment on FTC Chair Departure

Jan 13, 2017

WASHINGTON – Today, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the chairman and ranking members of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, released the following statements on Edith Ramirez’s departure from the Federal Trade Commission.

Lee Introduces Local Zoning Decisions Protection Act

Jan 12, 2017

WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) released the following statement Thursday after introducing the “Local Zoning Decisions Protection Act,” a bill which denies all federal funding for implementing the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Final Rule.” “Every American should be free to choose where to live, and every community should be free to zone its neighborhoods and compete for new residents according to its distinct values,” Lee said. “We don’t need a National Zoning Board. Washington should let Americans ‘govern local.’” “A better debate would be about how Americans could better spend the money that is wasted every year by the dysfunctional Community Development Block Grant Program,” Lee added. A study by the Reason Foundation found examples showing how this program contributes to cronyism by channeling taxpayer dollars to politically connected groups while doing absolutely nothing to combat poverty or housing segregation. The Local Zoning Decisions Act would restrict any federal funding from being used to implement, administer, or enforce HUD’s housing rule. The bill also prohibits any funds from being used for HUD’s “Fair Housing” database which could be used to further the administration’s radical pursuit of using “disparate impact theory” to punish communities that are not as demographically diverse as the administration would like. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) has introduced a companion bill in the House.

Sens. Lee, Rubio, and Cruz Send Letter Supporting Obamacare Repeal Resolution

Jan 4, 2017

WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) sent a letter to Senate Republican leaders Tuesday supporting their efforts to repeal Obamacare within the first weeks of the 115th Congress.

Sen. Lee Pledges To Fight Obama’s San Juan County Land Grab

Dec 28, 2016

“This arrogant act by a lame duck president will not stand. I will work tirelessly with Congress and the incoming Trump administration to honor the will of the people of Utah and undo this designation.”

Sen. Lee Welcomes Jillian Wheeler to Communications Team

Dec 15, 2016

WASHINGTON—Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) announced that Jillian Wheeler has accepted the position of press assistant in his Washington, D.C. office. Wheeler will replace Emily Long, who has served as Senator Lee’s press secretary since January 2011.

Lee, Klobuchar Call For “Careful Consideration” of Three Agribusiness Mergers

Dec 14, 2016

WASHINGTON - Today, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez and Department of Justice Antitrust Division Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Renata Hesse calling for “careful consideration” of three recent proposed agribusiness mergers.

Sen. Lee Issues Statement on National Defense Authorization Act

Dec 9, 2016

I voted no on the final version 2017 National Defense Authorization Act because it doubles down on irresponsible defense budget gimmicks that ultimately harm the men and women serving in our military and removed key Utah priorities such as religious liberty protections for government contractors and blocking the sage grouse from being listed as an endangered species. It also reauthorizes the DoD’s Syria Train and Equip program for another two years despite past failures and risks to our interests in the Middle East.