Press Releases

GOP Senators Call on Sec. Tillerson to Investigate State Department Meddling

Mar 14, 2017

WASHINGTON  - Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and a group of Senators called on Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson today to immediately investigate how US funds are being used by the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support left-of-center political groups and impress left-leaning policies on sovereign nations, regardless of their desire for self-determination. One such group is USAID multi-grant recipient, the George Soros-backed Open Society Foundations. Sen. Lee and his colleagues believe this behavior is unacceptable and must be halted immediately. Sens. Inhofe (R-OK), Tillis (R-NC), Cruz (R-TX), Perdue (R-GA), and Cassidy (R-LA) join in signing the letter. “Over the past few months, elected officials and political leaders of foreign nations have been coming to me with disappointing news and reports of US activity in their respective countries. This includes reports of diplomats playing political favorites, USAID funds supporting extreme and sometimes violent political activists, and the US Government working to marginalize the moderates and conservatives in leadership roles,” Sen. Lee said. “This sort of political favoritism from our missions around the world is unacceptable and endangers our bilateral relationships.” The letter calls on Secretary Tillerson to, “…investigate all funds associated with promoting democracy and governance and review the programs, accounts, and multiplicity of US entities involved in such activities. We must … review how all our tax dollars are being utilized in order to halt activities that are fomenting political unrest, disrespecting national sovereignty and civil society, and ultimately undermine our attempts to build beneficial international relationships.” The most damaging consequence of the United States weighing in so heavily on one side of the political spectrum abroad is that we ostracize many foreign citizens who have traditionally supported strong relations with the United States. Such division allows aggressive opportunists like Russia space to operate and cause further damage. Sen. Lee is hopeful Secretary Tillerson acts quickly on this issue and looks forward to continuing to work with him in the future.

Lee Statement on American Health Care Act

Mar 7, 2017

“This is not the Obamacare repeal bill we’ve been waiting for. It is a missed opportunity and a step in the wrong direction,” Sen. Lee said.

Lee Finalizes Joint Economic Committee Staff

Feb 22, 2017

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) finalized his new Joint Economic Committee staff Wednesday, hiring Scott Winship as a project director. Winship was most recently a visiting fellow at The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity and formerly served as a fellow at the Brookings Institution and the Manhattan Institute, as well as a research manager at Pew Charitable Trusts.

Sens. Lee, Paul Introduce Military Humanitarian Operations Act

Feb 16, 2017

WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Military Humanitarian Operations Act today, a bill previously introduced by Sen. Lee and former-Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) in 2012. The Military Humanitarian Operations Act would require the president to receive congressional authorization before ordering the United States military on a humanitarian mission where hostilities are anticipated.

Lee Statement on Air Force Secretary Nominee Heather Wilson

Feb 15, 2017

I am grateful to Dr. Wilson for her willingness to take on this job and I was pleased with our discussion this morning on matters important to the Air Force. She is highly qualified and her wealth of experience in the Air Force, Congress, and private sector will serve her well at the helm of a large organization.

Sen. Lee Introduces Agency Accountability Act

Feb 3, 2017

WASHINGTON – Senator Lee (R-UT) introduced the “Agency Accountability Act of 2017” Friday, a bill that would direct most fines, fees, and other unappropriated proceeds to the Treasury, making them subject to the appropriations process.

Sens. Lee, Wyden To Lead New Public Lands Subcommittee

Feb 2, 2017

WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced they will be leading the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forestry, and Mining Thursday. The jurisdiction of the subcommittee includes oversight and legislative responsibilities for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, as well as management of the Outer Continental Shelf and the National Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Lee Praises President Trump’s Supreme Court Pick

Jan 31, 2017

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) gave the following statement Tuesday after President Trump nominated 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Neil Gorsuch to replace Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.
 
“Judge Gorsuch is a tremendous pick for the Supreme Court and I look forward to doing everything I can to make sure he is confirmed by the Senate,” Lee said.
 
“I’ve had the privilege of arguing before Judge Gorsuch and he is extremely impressive. He is a prepared, thoughtful, and careful jurist, who has demonstrated a strong commitment to textualism and originalism. His opinions are well-reasoned and brilliantly written, and he has enriched the Tenth Circuit’s jurisprudence in a number of areas during his ten years on the court. He is a judge’s judge, who is well within the mainstream and always decides cases based on what the law says. He also always treats the parties appearing before him with dignity and respect.”
 
“Throughout 2016, I said the next President should pick the next Supreme Court justice. This vacancy was a central issue during the 2016 campaign and the people have spoken by electing President Trump and returning a Republican Senate majority. I applaud the President for his excellent choice, and I look forward to enthusiastically working toward Judge Gorsuch’s confirmation.”

Lee Introduces Bill to Lower Federal Construction Costs

Jan 30, 2017

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act Monday, a bill that would save American taxpayers billions in construction costs.

Lee Praises President Trump’s “One In, Two Out” Regulatory Order

Jan 30, 2017

“President Trump’s ‘one in, two out’ regulatory order is exactly what the American economy and the American people need. Last year I introduced the Regulatory Budget Reform Act, which would have accomplished much of what this executive order does, and would make the policy permanent.”