Press Releases

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.

Lee Praises Pruitt Pick for EPA

Dec 8, 2016

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Thursday in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as his nominee for Environmental Protection Agency Administrator:

Senators Introduce the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act of 2016

Dec 6, 2016

WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act, Monday, a bill that would improve the business of Congress and increase the public’s understanding of its work by establishing a structured congressional clerkship program for recent law school graduates and young lawyers.

Lee Backs Sessions Appointment as Attorney General

Nov 18, 2016

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Friday in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) as his nominee for U.S. attorney general: “Sen. Sessions’ solid understanding of the Constitution and firm commitment to the rule of law is exactly what the Justice Department needs. I have worked closely with Sen. Sessions on the Judiciary Committee over these past six years and I have every confidence that he will make a great Attorney General for all Americans."

Sen. Lee Introduces Poverty Measurement Improvement Act

Nov 17, 2016

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Poverty Measurement Act today, a bill designed to improve the income and demographic data available to lawmakers when analyzing our nation’s safety net programs.