Flexibility for Working Families
Apr 5, 2019
There are few commodities on this earth more precious than time. And this is particularly true for working parents, who are constantly trying to manage the juggle between work and time with their children. Many American families know this struggle all too well.
A law passed in 1978 aimed to help hourly-paid government employees with this struggle by allowing them to choose between taking overtime pay or paid time off. So, if they worked more than 40 hours one week, they could take a bigger paycheck home for that week or instead bank that time to use for family priorities when needed.
Let Judges Judge
Apr 5, 2019
Congress passes laws, the executive branch enforces laws, and the courts interpret the law. That is how we were all taught the United States government was supposed to work in civics class.
Unfortunately, the progressive movement has so warped Washington’s understanding of the Constitution that some federal bureaucrats think they have the authority to make law, enforce law, and interpret it.
Sen. Lee Asks President to Sign Yemen War Powers Resolution
Apr 4, 2019
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Senator Sanders, Senator Paul, Congressman Ro Khanna, and others on a letter asking President Trump to sign a resolution pursuant to the War Powers Act calling for the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen after the House passed it earlier on Thursday.
Sen. Lee Introduces Working Families Flexibility Act
Apr 4, 2019
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee reintroduced the Working Families Flexibility Act Thursday, a bill that would give employees more flexibility on how to use their overtime benefits.
“For many families, especially those with young children, their most precious commodity is time,” said Sen. Lee. “But today, federal labor laws restrict the way moms and dads and everyone else can use their time. For decades, Congress has given a special exemption from these laws to government employees. This is unacceptable. The same work-life options available to government employees should be available to private-sector workers, as well.”
U.S.-U.K. Live UC Statement
Apr 2, 2019
Mr./Madam President,
As the deadline for Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union fast approaches, there is an enormous opportunity before us – an opportunity for true free trade with the U.K.
Such an agreement would provide tremendous economic and trade benefits to both our nations, and would strengthen and preserve our special relationship.
Sen. Lee Introduces Allied Burden Sharing Report Act
Apr 2, 2019
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) re-introduced the Allied Burden Sharing Report Act today, a bill that would require the Department of Defense to resume submitting an extensive report that includes the common defense contributions of NATO countries and other defense partners, including GCC countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, and signatories of the Rio Treaty.
Dilly Dilly for Farming Fairness
Mar 29, 2019
“Oh, brewers of Miller Lite, we received your corn syrup by mistake,” a king accompanied by a blue knight emblazoned with “Bud Light” shouts to a man in a castle tower.
“That’s not our corn syrup, we received our shipment this morning,” the Miller Lite brewer replies. “Try the Coors Light castle,” the Miller Lite brewer continues, “they also use corn syrup.”
State Work Week Recap — March 2019
Mar 29, 2019
During the Senate’s state work period last week, I was able to visit 7 of Utah’s 29 counties. Listening to the diverse perspectives found in our great state helps me to better represent the people of Utah in the US Senate.
Here’s a recap of some of my visits.
Yes, Babies Are A Better Solution to Climate Change Than The Green New Deal
Mar 29, 2019
One doesn’t bring posters of tauntauns, Aquaman, and President Reagan riding a velociraptor while firing a submachine gun to the Senate floor without expecting a little bit of controversy. If you are going to poke fun at the prevailing pieties of progressivism on a national stage, a little pushback should be expected.
But what was surprising about the reaction to my speech on the Green New Deal, has been which chart garnered the most vehement anger. It wasn’t Ronald Reagan riding a dinosaur or Utah Gov. Gary Herbert battling tornado-propelled sharks or Speaker Nancy Pelosi asserting that the resolution’s own supporters don’t know what is in it. No, the most controversial poster of the 14-minute speech turned out to be a simple image of six smiling babies.
Sens. Lee And Paul Introduce The Voluntary Check-Off Program Participation Act
Mar 28, 2019
WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Voluntary Check-Off Program Participation Act Thursday, a bill that give would give farmers and ranchers the freedom not to participate in Department of Agriculture check-off programs.
“If farmers and ranchers want to get together and pool their resources to better promote their products, then that is the free market at its best,” Lee said. “But as soon as the power of the federal government is used to force people into a program they do not want to participate in, then that is crony capitalism at its worst.”
