Waters of the United States

Jun 22, 2018

In the movie The Lion King, Mufasa is teaching young Simba about the lands he will eventually rule by saying “Look, Simba, everything the light touches is our kingdom…” While this moment is fine when played out by a cartoon monarchy, it is gross federal overreach when it’s perpetuated by a federal bureaucracy in the United States. Yet that is essentially what is happening under the Waters of the United States, or WOTUS, rule that was imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corp of Engineers in 2015. These bureaucrats essentially said “everything the water touches is our jurisdiction…” The rule allowed them to claim regulatory control over even “ephemeral” or “intermittent” water flows, meaning that even man-made ditches or patches of dry land that retain water only a few days a year are subject to the administrative control of this agency. This would increase EPA jurisdiction over state lands by as much as 400%. While the Trump administration wisely delayed the rule’s implementation until 2020, Congress needs to act to provide certainty that this rule will not go into effect. It was Congress that allowed this rule to come into being, and Congress needs to fix it. When Congress passed the Clean Water Act of 1972, it granted ambiguous authority over the waterways of the United States to the EPA. In the kind of horrible lawmaking that often happens in Washington, D.C., the legislative branch gave up their lawmaking authority by setting a broad, vague standard and allowing an administrative agency - filled with unaccountable, unelected bureaucrats - to figure out the rest. The mess that is WOTUS is a perfect example of this. WOTUS was crafted by the EPA in a flawed - and actually illegal - process. Not only did the EPA disregard the comments of ranchers, farmers, and others who would be most affected by this rule, but the Government Accountability Office ruled that the EPA broke the law when advocating for support of this rule while it was being developed. Additionally, water that is sourced on private property could require property owners to obtain EPA permits for routine actions such as landscaping, farming, or building on their own land. Many people that would be affected by this rule wouldn’t even be aware of it, and could be subject to thousands of dollars a day in fines. This is why I attempted to attach a WOTUS repeal amendment to this week’s appropriations bill. This kind of policy attachment to an appropriation bill is not uncommon. Yet, despite the WOTUS repeal amendment having a recent history of bipartisan, majority support in Congress and actually passing in the House’s appropriation bill, 20 of my GOP colleagues joined with the majority of Democrats in voting to table the measure. This was done solely for political purposes and continues Congress’s pattern of legislative abdication. While the King of Pride Rock may have authority to broadly claim governance of land unimpeded, the EPA does not have that right. It is Congress’s responsibility to make sure this does not go unchecked, and it is past time we enact legislation to repeal the expansive WOTUS rule.

Sens. Lee, Markey Release Statement on Facial Recognition Technology Uses at Airports

Jun 22, 2018

WASHINGTON - Today, Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Ed Markey (D-MA) released the following joint statement regarding Orlando International Airport’s recent commitment to use facial recognition technology on all international travelers traveling through their airport.

Sen. Lee Applauds End of Family Separations at Border

Jun 20, 2018

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday in response to President Trump’s Executive Order ending the separation of migrant families who cross the border illegally while seeking asylum. “Ending the separation of migrant families who cross the border illegally is a step in the right direction,” Sen. Lee said. “But to make this change permanent, Congress needs to act. We need to pass legislation to make sure the federal government has the proper authority and funding to house migrant families. We need to pass legislation to make sure the federal government has the resources needed for a swift and fair asylum adjudication process. I hope the Senate will do its job and take up a bill that addresses these issues.”

Sen. Lee Saddened by Republican Votes for Higher Spending

Jun 20, 2018

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday after two Republicans voted against President Trump’s $15 billion spending reduction rescissions package. “I thought we all campaigned on cutting wasteful spending,” Sen. Lee said. “I thought our party was about lowering federal deficits by lowering federal spending. It saddens me to see people who campaigned on lower spending break their promise and vote with Democrats against President Trump.”

Floor Speech on Rescissions Package

Jun 20, 2018

Over the next ten years, our national debt is set to balloon from $21.16 trillion today to more than $33.9 trillion in 2028. American taxpayers are currently responsible for 77% of that national debt. And the percentage is projected to rise to almost 100% in that same period of time. On top of that, with interest rates set to increase, the payments on the debt will also likely double over the next 10 years as a percentage of total economic output.

Sen. Lee Urges Quick Action to End Family Separations at Border

Jun 20, 2018

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) urged the United States Senate to do their job and take quick action on Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) Protect Parents and Kids Act, which would end the separation of children from their parents when families are caught crossing the border illegally. “Securing our nation’s border is among the federal government’s top priorities,” Sen. Lee said, “but we should also never lose sight of the values that make us Americans. The Protect Parents and Kids Act will end the separation of children from their parents while also improving the tools law enforcement agencies need to secure the border and adjudicate asylum claims. It is vitally important that the Senate swiftly pass this legislation which will bring great relief to thousands of people on our southern border."

Sen. Mike Lee's letter supporting the Falun Gong

Jun 20, 2018

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) released a letter supporting the Falun Gong, a banned religion in China whose followers are routinely persecuted, even to the point of death, for their religious beliefs. Sen. Lee is a consistent advocate of religious freedom at home and internationally, and the letter will be read at a rally supporting followers of the Falun Gong being held at the U.S. Capital today. Similar rallies are being held across the country today. The letter reads, in part: “I applaud the efforts of each of you who continue to raise awareness of the plight of the practitioners of the Falun Gong, and I condemn the actions of the Chinese government. No person should have to fear repercussions for the faith they choose to practice, and we join in voicing support for your efforts to protects the innocents being persecuted.”

Sen. Lee Applauds U.S. Exit from Fraudulent U.N. Council

Jun 20, 2018

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday after US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley announced the United States would no longer participate on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “Yesterday, the United States took a bold, much needed step to roll back some of the illegitimate authority we have allowed the UN to wield in its failed attempts to govern the world,” Sen. Lee said. “I applaud our US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley for withdrawing the U.S. from the UN Human Rights Council, which has proved to be a total farce. It is long past time for us to refocus our efforts on action, and not just talk, to protect human rights.”

Senators Call for Vote on Rescissions Bill

Jun 18, 2018

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, June 19th, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) will be joined by the Senate cosponsors of the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act (S. 2979) for an 11:30am ET press conference, calling on the Senate to vote on the rescissions package this week. The bill would formally rescind almost $15 billion in unneeded spending identified by the White House on May 8, 2018. A press release on the bill can be found here. The press conference will be held in the Senate Radio & TV Gallery, S-325. Sen. Lee and his colleagues will be addressing the need to pass this bill and cut spending.

Sens. Lee, Sanders Call on Sec. Mattis to Disclose Full US Involvement in Yemen

Jun 15, 2018

WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) sent a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis today asking for details on the United States’ involvement in the Saudi’s war in Yemen, and to do so before US involvement in those hostilities intensifies. The letter expresses concern that Congress’s attempt to play their proper Constitutional oversight role may be impeded by Pentagon officials withholding information, leading to a violation of the War Powers Act of 1973.