Press Releases

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.”

Sens. Lee, Grassley Introduce Balanced Budget Amendment

Jan 25, 2017

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced an amendment to the United States Constitution that would require the federal government to balance its budget each year. This amendment would put a stop to the current “status quo” of Congress spending far more money than the federal government takes in and would place strict limitations on the federal government’s ability to increase taxes, raise the debt limit, and carry out other actions that threaten our long-term fiscal sustainability.

Lee Applauds President Trump’s Action on Modernized Mexico City Policy

Jan 23, 2017

WASHINGTON - Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) – leading Republican voice in the Senate on Mexico City Policy - applauds President Trump’s bold, pro-life action taken today to reapply an updated version of the Reagan-era Mexico City Policy.

Lee Introduces Global Trade Accountability Act

Jan 20, 2017

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Global Trade Accountability Act Friday, a bill that would subject all Executive Branch trade actions (including raising tariffs) to congressional approval.

Senators Ask President Trump to Reapply Modernized Mexico City Policy

Jan 20, 2017

WASHINGTON  - Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a resolution Friday expressing the sense of the Senate that the Mexico City policy, or a modernized version thereof, should be permanently established in statute. The resolution also encourages President Trump to immediately take action to reapply the policy.

“There is long-standing statute limiting US foreign assistance from being spent on the promotion or provision of abortion services. Through executive memorandum, Mexico City Policy was created almost 33 years ago. During more than half of the time since the policy’s creation, it has been enforced as standing US foreign aid policy – for a total of 17 years,” Sen. Lee said. “The resolution is a Congressional support document, rooted in legislative and executive history, representing the will of the majority of Americans to see more restrictions on funding for abortion – restrictions President Trump can immediately impose – applied to our foreign aid expenditures of taxpayer dollars.”  

The resolution encourages a new executive memorandum from President Trump today or in the coming days, reapplying the policy and its family planning foreign aid restrictions as it was during the Bush administration, while leaving the opportunity for the new administration to review the policy and apply an “improved version thereof.” This language lays the predicate for future legislative action to codify whatever policy the executive applies.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan established the ‘‘Mexico City Policy,’’ which prohibits foreign aid for family planning purposes from being given to foreign nongovernmental organizations that provide or promote abortion as an option for family planning, regardless of the source of funding. When applied, this prohibits any foreign private or nonprofit entity from receiving US family planning foreign assistance that provides or promotes abortion.

The resolution states, “That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) the President should immediately reapply and consider improving the Mexico City Policy; and (2) Congress should expeditiously consider statutory changes that permanently codify the Mexico City Policy or an improved version thereof.”

The resolution text can be found here:

Senators Ask President Trump to Reapply Modernized Mexico City Policy by Senator Mike Lee on Scribd

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.