Senators Respond to Pentagon’s Yemen War Letter
Mar 13, 2018
WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) responded to a Department of Defense letter last week that outlined the Pentagon’s opposition to a War Powers Resolution motion that would end United States involvement in Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen.
“For too long, and under both parties, Congress has abdicated its responsibility to provide authorization for the use of military force,” the senators’ letter reads. “S.J. Res. 54 begins the process of reasserting congressional responsibility for the decision to commit U.S. armed forced to military conflict. Regardless of what one thinks of our involvement in Yemen, as we enter a fourth year of helping the Saudis prosecute this war it is important that Congress either provides express authorization for our involvement in the conflict or calls on the president to cease operations.”
Intermountain Healthcare?—?Opioid Crisis
Mar 12, 2018
I participated in a roundtable discussion with representatives from Intermountain Healthcare to discuss the opioid crisis in Utah, including the role the medical community can play.
Discussing the Opioid Crisis in Utah
Mar 12, 2018
I met with Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and Utah DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Besser to discuss efforts to combat the opioid crisis in Utah. Together we developed an action plan to address the root causes of this issue.
My staff is doing great work researching the numbers and causes behind the opioid crisis as part of the Social Capital Project. You can view their work here.
Annual Report to the Legislature and People of Utah
Mar 12, 2018
Each year, I give an accounting of my work in Congress to the Utah Legislature and the People of Utah. My annual report can be viewed on my website or you can obtain a copy by visiting one of my offices in Utah or in Washington, D.C.
The Other Side Academy
Mar 12, 2018
I met with some of the leadership and students at The Other Side Academy in Salt Lake. I was blown away by their stories, turning away from lives of crime and drug use toward lives of meaning and purpose. Their model is one that I believe could be emulated to the benefit of individuals across the nation.
The Other Side Academy does this with no government funding, giving them the freedom to run their program in the way they feel is most effective in the lives of their students.
Payment in Lieu of Taxes
Mar 12, 2018
I was able to be on the Utah House floor for a vote on legislation urging Congress to keep its promise to provide fair payment in lieu of taxes for all the federal land in the state of Utah. This legislation passed both the Utah House and Senate unanimously.
Women’s State Legislative Council
Mar 12, 2018
I had the opportunity to speak to the Women’s State Legislative Council of Utah about issues I’m working on in Washington as well as address a number of questions they had. The WSLC is a bipartisan organization that meets weekly during the state legislative session.
UAC Rural Caucus
Mar 12, 2018
I was able to attend the Utah Association of Counties Rural Caucus meeting where we discussed a variety of issues including: Antiquities Act reform, wild horse and burro management, and water shed management.
Utah Manufacturers Association
Mar 12, 2018
I met with manufacturers from around the state to discuss issues critical to the future success of manufacturing in Utah.
Tariffs Are Tax Hikes
Mar 9, 2018
If you work in manufacturing, your job was just put at risk.
Yesterday, President Trump signed an order imposing a 10% tariff on aluminum imports and a 25% tariff on steel imports.
The official rationale behind the tariffs is that a reduction of skilled smelters in the United States threatens national security. Supposedly, we don’t have the requisite domestic steel and aluminum production capacity to build the weapons of war needed to defend the country. Never mind the fact the Pentagon currently uses just 3 percent of our domestic steel output and 5 percent of our domestic aluminum output.
