NDAA Highlights you Might have Missed
Jul 23, 2020
Congress recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. I am proud to announce several important amendments to the final bill that are sure to benefit Utah and the nation.
My Allied Burden Sharing Report amendment, adopted into the NDAA, will require the Department of Defense (DoD) to submit a report on the contributions made by our allies to our common defense. It will allow Congress to perform its oversight over U.S. defense agreements with our allies to know whether they are paying their share of the costs associated with our mutual defense strategy.
Sen. Lee Introduces NEPA Data Transparency and Accountability Act
Jul 22, 2020
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the NEPA Data Transparency and Accountability Act Wednesday, a bill that would empower Americans to know the bureaucratic costs of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by requiring each federal agency to report to Congress on their NEPA activity every year.
Sens. Lee, Leahy Demand Answers From Trump Administration On Potentially Unauthorized And Illegal Mass Surveillance Programs
Jul 21, 2020
Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) wrote to Attorney General William Barr and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe on Tuesday, demanding information on whether and how the Trump administration has halted mass surveillance programs authorized by now-expired Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) provisions under the USA FREEDOM Act. The senators also demanded information on whether the administration is conducting surveillance that bypasses their statutory authorities, under any illegal claim of inherent surveillance powers.
Mob Violence Resolution
Jul 2, 2020
Before we break for the Fourth of July recess, I thought it would be important to get the Senate on record condemning the rising tide of mob violence we see across the country, and the increasingly prevalent mob-mentality that is fueling it.
The violence struck home for me this week when a constituent of mine was shot after an armed mob surrounded his truck in Provo, Utah.
Sen Lee address Supreme Courts June Medical Decision
Jul 1, 2020
Madam president, I come to the floor today wanting to discuss a case called June Medical Services v. Russo. This was a decision announced by the Supreme Court yesterday. This is a decision that hasn’t gotten enough attention as many cases that have come before the Supreme Court. It is, nonetheless, a significant decision. It is a decision that I believe is deeply flawed and betrays many of the legal and constitutional principles that the Supreme Court reports to apply and is supposed to be bound by as it decides cases and controversies properly brought before its jurisdiction.
Sen. Lee Backs Bipartisan Bill to Reform Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws
Jun 26, 2020
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Angus King (I-ME), and Mike Crapo (R-ID) to reintroduce the bipartisan Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act, S. 4074, to protect property owners’ rights, defend innocent Americans, and restore the Fifth Amendment’s role in civil forfeiture proceedings.
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Durbin, Lee Inspector General Access Act
Jun 25, 2020
WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee today on a 21-1 vote reported the Inspector General Access Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) that would expand the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (IOG) to include alleged DOJ attorney misconduct. Currently, the DOJ Inspector General (IG) has no authority to investigate professional misconduct by DOJ lawyers.
Sen. Lee Comments on FTC Contact Lens Regulation
Jun 23, 2020
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Tuesday after the Federal Trade Commission issued a new regulation designed to improve competition in the contact lens market.
“I have urged the FTC to pursue updates to its Contact Lens Rule for years and am looking forward to thoroughly reviewing these updates issued today,” Sen. Lee said. “It is essential that consumers be made aware of their rights regarding access to their contact lens prescription allowing them to shop for lenses in a competitive market.”
Sen. Lee Cosponsors Bill Expanding Federal Tax Deduction for Charitable Giving
Jun 23, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Sens. James Lankford (R-OK), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today introduced the bipartisan Universal Giving Pandemic Response Act to expand the current above-the-line deduction for charitable giving made available by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March, The bill would ensure that Americans who donate to charities, houses of worship, religious organizations, and other nonprofits are able to deduct that donation from their federal taxes at a higher level than the current $300 deduction.
The Facts about Google, Antitrust, and the First Amendment
Jun 19, 2020
Many of you have asked about claims made by Tucker Carlson that Sen. Mike Lee “has taken the side of big tech companies over your constitutional rights.”
Nothing could be further from the truth.
To better understand what is really going on, please do read the following fact check of Tucker Carlson’s claims below.
