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    <title>Mike Lee US Senator for Utah</title>
    <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov</link>
    <description/>
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    <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:36:59 +0000</pubDate>
    <lastBuildDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:36:59 +0000</lastBuildDate>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Lee Asks HHS to Cut Red Tape for Life-Saving Diabetes Treatment]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-asks-hhs-to-cut-red-tape-for-life-saving-diabetes-treatment</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to cut red tape around life-saving diabetes treatment. Building on the framework of Senator Lee’s ISLET Act, the letter urges HHS to reclassify islets to facilitate their use in treatment for Americans with diabetes.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/FF2F49BC-E281-4D56-9BFE-BA0093AF5991" target="_blank">called on</a> the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to cut red tape around life-saving diabetes treatment. Building on the framework of Senator Lee&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/lee-bill-deregulates-life-saving-transplants-for-americans-with-diabetes" target="_blank"><em>ISLET Act</em></a>, the letter urges HHS to reclassify islets to facilitate their use in treatment for Americans with diabetes.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Americans living with diabetes have been kept from life-saving research by nonsensical red tape,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong><em> &ldquo;Other countries treat islet transplantation as standard care, but a miscategorization in our law regulates islets as drugs rather than organs. I&rsquo;m asking HHS to rectify this issue and make critical care available to Americans living with Type 1 diabetes.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">The letter is endorsed and championed by leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization<em> Breakthrough T1D:</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span><em>&ldquo;For decades, other countries have successfully treated eligible people with type 1 diabetes using deceased donor islet transplants. Yet a simple regulatory classification has kept such treatments relatively inaccessible to the U.S. T1D community. It is past time for that to change. Breakthrough T1D thanks Senator Lee for his leadership in calling on HHS to reclassify deceased donor islets as organs for transplantation. This one adjustment can bring life-changing relief to more people living with T1D in the U.S. while catalyzing the research that will ultimately cure us all. We urge Secretary Kennedy to quickly take up this much-needed policy change.&rdquo;</em> <strong>&ndash; Breakthrough T1D</strong></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The letter reads as follows:</strong></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Dear Secretary Kennedy,</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Re: Please Act to Reclassify Deceased Donor Islet Cells as Organs to Improve Diabetes Treatment Availability</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>I write to urge HHS to take administrative action to improve access to deceased donor islet cell transplantation for individuals living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Scientific progress has brought the 1.6 million Americans living with T1D closer to transformative and potentially curative therapies than ever before, but outdated regulatory classifications continue to limit patient access to this safe and effective treatment option. This must be fixed.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Recognizing the need to expand access to deceased donor islet cell transplantation for individuals living with T1D, I introduced the ISLET Act. This legislation would reclassify unmodified deceased donor islet cells as organs for purposes of transplantation&mdash;rather than continuing to regulate them solely as biological products requiring approval through a Biologics License Application (BLA)&mdash;so more centers across the United States can offer this therapy option. However, it is also possible for this reclassification to be made under existing HHS authority. Such administrative action, consistent with the policy goals of the ISLET Act, could simplify the transplant process, help align oversight with the biological nature of these cells, and ensure patients are not denied access to a potentially transformative therapy.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Deceased donor islet cell transplantation has been studied for decades, and clinical research shows meaningful benefits for individuals with T1D who experience severe hypoglycemia and hypoglycemia unawareness. Yet, despite FDA approval of a deceased donor islet cell product in 2023, patient access remains extremely limited. This suggests that the current US regulatory pathway is not functioning in a way that supports broad, practical availability of this therapy for the patients most likely to benefit from it. Reclassifying unmodified deceased donor islet cells under the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), while maintaining FDA oversight for manufactured cell therapies and any deceased donor islet products that undergo further modification, is a sensible and targeted solution.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Importantly, this approach would not require compromising patient safety. Rather, it could be implemented through a carefully designed framework that includes qualified transplant centers, appropriate quality controls, clear distribution protocols, and a pathway for responsible expansion to additional accredited sites. Such an approach would also better align the United States with the regulatory treatment of deceased donor islet cell transplantation in other developed nations and help strengthen American leadership in diabetes innovation and cure-focused research.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>I urge HHS to act now, within its existing authority, so eligible patients are not forced to wait for access to a therapy that could significantly improve their lives, and I welcome the opportunity to work with you and your team on a swift path forward.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Read the full text of the letter <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/FF2F49BC-E281-4D56-9BFE-BA0093AF5991" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><em>###</em></p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-asks-hhs-to-cut-red-tape-for-life-saving-diabetes-treatment</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee Urges DOJ Investigation of Five Gruesome DC Abortion Victims with Rep. Chris Smith]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-urges-doj-investigation-of-five-gruesome-dc-abortion-victims-with-rep-chris-smith</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-04) led 55 of their Republican colleagues in a letter urging the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate five gruesome apparent late-term abortion victims discovered outside of a D.C. clinic in 2022. Known as the “D.C. Five,” these victims have yet to receive proper investigations, autopsies, or justice. The letter is endorsed by National Right to Life, SBA Pro-Life America, Family Research Council, and Students for Life Action.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-04) led 55 of their Republican colleagues in a <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/E17B603B-16B7-4C16-9616-EE06D8E1AA33" target="_blank">letter</a> urging the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate five gruesome apparent late-term abortion victims discovered outside of a D.C. clinic in 2022. Known as the &ldquo;D.C. Five,&rdquo; these victims have yet to receive proper investigations, autopsies, or justice. The letter is endorsed by National Right to Life, SBA Pro-Life America, Family Research Council, and Students for Life Action.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Four years ago now, the bodies of five preborn children were found in D.C., apparently victims of infanticide or illegal partial-birth abortions. Those babies have still not received justice or proper investigations,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong> <em>&ldquo;Americans cannot tolerate rogue abortion clinics performing gruesome murders and casting helpless victims aside like garbage, especially not in our Nation&rsquo;s capital. This crime demands attention and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. I urge the Department of Justice to give this alarming case the full investigation it deserves, and the victims the proper autopsies and burials they are owed.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;The Biden Administration&rsquo;s deliberate and callous mishandling of the &lsquo;D.C. Five&rsquo; case has been a stain on the Department of Justice for over four years now,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Congressman Chris Smith.</strong><em> &ldquo;These five beautiful, innocent babies&mdash;who were violently exterminated&mdash;deserve justice, accountability, and respect. All those involved and complicit in these children&rsquo;s barbaric deaths must be held to account, and we are calling upon President Trump&rsquo;s Department of Justice to ensure that these battered baby victims receive their day in court.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Background&nbsp;</strong></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In the letter, first obtained by the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-republican-senators-make-big-demand-of-todd-blanche-ahead-of-confirmation-vote" target="_blank"><em>Daily Wire</em></a>, the 57 members of Congress explain that the desecrated bodies of these children &mdash; one of which bore deep lacerations and injuries consistent with illegal partial-birth abortion procedures &mdash; were <em>&ldquo;recovered by the Metropolitan Police Department in 2022, after they were allegedly aborted in the Washington Surgi-Clinic operated by the late-term abortionist Dr. Cesare Santangelo.&rdquo;</em></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span><em>&ldquo;For four years, members of Congress have remained alarmed at this clear violation of life and law, but the Biden Administration Department of Justice refused to act,&rdquo;</em> the Republican lawmakers write.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The letter follows an April 2022 letter led by Senator Lee and Congressman Smith and signed by 67 other members of Congress, which called upon Biden-era Attorney General Merrick Garland to conduct a <em>&ldquo;comprehensive investigation on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of each preborn baby.&rdquo;&nbsp;</em></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The latest letter explains that President Biden&rsquo;s DOJ <em>&ldquo;never provided a substantive response or indicated that any investigation had occurred,&rdquo;</em> and reports indicated that the agency even went as far as to advise <em>&ldquo;the Chief Medical Examiner to discard the bodies of the infants.&rdquo;</em></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In the letter, the members of Congress relay the expert findings of neonatal specialist Dr. Robin Pierucci, M.D. &mdash; who, upon viewing the publicly shared photographs of the deceased babies, said that she could <em>&ldquo;&lsquo;say with confidence that [four of] these babies died at an age when they were viable, premature people&rsquo;&rdquo;</em> &mdash; and neonatologist Dr. Kendra Kolb, M.D., who posited that at least one child may have been killed from an illegal partial-birth abortion method, as one 28-30 week-old baby had <em>&ldquo;&lsquo;deep lacerations to the posterior neck, which presumably correlates to the method of abortion used to end her life.&rsquo;&rdquo;</em></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The Republican lawmakers further argue that <em>&ldquo;if this baby girl was alive when the abortionist made these lacerations, then her death directly violated the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 (18 U.S. Code &sect; 1531), which criminalizes the partial deliverance of a living child for the purpose of performing an overt act that intentionally takes the life of the child.&rdquo;</em></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Urging a renewed review of these tragic cases, the GOP co-signers note that former Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed in a June 2025 House budget hearing that the DOJ <em>&ldquo;was conducting an ongoing investigation into this case&rdquo;</em> and recall that a report signed by President Donald Trump encouraged the agency to <em>&ldquo;&lsquo;provide a briefing to the Committees on all actions previously taken by the Department on this issue within 180 days after the enactment of this act,&rsquo;&rdquo;</em> which would fall on July 22, 2026.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span><em>&ldquo;After years of inaction by the Biden Administration, we write to you again to reiterate these concerns and request that DOJ promptly complete a thorough investigation into the death of each child, including autopsies of the infants and the preservation of all collected evidence. Additionally, we request that you ensure these children receive a proper and respectful burial once the investigation is complete and all responsible parties have been brought to justice,&rdquo;</em> the members of Congress write.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span><em>&ldquo;We cannot undo the grievous, barbaric acts that killed these children in their most vulnerable stage, but we equally cannot allow such lawlessness and inhumanity to evade our justice system any longer. Under President Trump&rsquo;s and your leadership, we are hopeful that these children will finally receive the justice they deserve,&rdquo;</em> the GOP lawmakers conclude.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Read exclusive coverage by the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-republican-senators-make-big-demand-of-todd-blanche-ahead-of-confirmation-vote" target="_blank"><em>Daily Wire</em></a> here.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Read the full text of the letter <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/E17B603B-16B7-4C16-9616-EE06D8E1AA33" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><em>###</em>&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-urges-doj-investigation-of-five-gruesome-dc-abortion-victims-with-rep-chris-smith</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee Questions Rideshare Giants Uber and Lyft on Pricing, Antitrust Concerns]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-questions-rideshare-giants-uber-and-lyft-on-pricing-antitrust-concerns</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) questioned rideshare giants Uber and Lyft with antitrust concerns following recent reports regarding their pricing. Senator Lee, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, questioned the companies on market power and concentration in the rideshare industry, transparency practices, information sharing , driver compensation, and the pricing of rides.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/45B94F3D-27F1-477F-8959-8711B918B848" target="_blank">questioned</a> rideshare giants Uber and Lyft with antitrust concerns following recent <a href="https://spectrumlocalnews.com/us/snplus/transportation/2026/06/15/consumer-reports-uber-lyft-fares-fake-discounts" target="_blank">reports</a> regarding their pricing. Senator Lee, who serves as Chairman of the <em>Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights</em>, questioned the companies on market power and concentration in the rideshare industry, transparency practices, information sharing, driver compensation, and the pricing of rides.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>In part, Senator Lee wrote:</strong></p>
<div dir="ltr" style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>&ldquo;As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, I take seriously Congress&rsquo;s responsibility to ensure that markets remain competitive and that American consumers benefit from that competition. Given the scale of your platforms, and the importance of rideshare services to the Americans who depend on them, I write regarding concerns about rideshare pricing, driver compensation, and your use of algorithmic systems in app-based rideshare markets.</em></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>&hellip;&nbsp;</em></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>&ldquo;The Subcommittee intends to monitor these issues closely and may seek additional information.&rdquo;</em></div>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Read the full text of the letter <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/45B94F3D-27F1-477F-8959-8711B918B848" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span></span>###</p>
<div><span>&nbsp;</span></div>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-questions-rideshare-giants-uber-and-lyft-on-pricing-antitrust-concerns</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee Bill Authorizes American Hackers to Fight Foreign Cyberattacks]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-bill-authorizes-american-hackers-to-fight-foreign-cyber-attacks</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced legislation that would allow private American entities to prevent foreign cyber-attacks against the United States. The Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act authorizes President Trump to issue letters of marque and reprisal to strategically deter and disrupt cyber operations against the U.S. The bill continues Senator Lee’s recent work to revive the use of traditional letters of marque and reprisal under the Constitution. Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) introduced the House version of this legislation.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/17C391BC-09B5-4C07-8B29-057ACE104399" target="_blank">legislation</a> that would allow private American entities to prevent foreign cyberattacks against the United States. The Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act authorizes President Trump to issue letters of marque and reprisal to strategically deter and disrupt cyber operations against the U.S. The bill continues Senator Lee&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/patriots-of-the-caribbean-lee-bill-authorizes-american-privateers-to-seize-cartel-assets-with-president-s-approval/6ed7fad5-5b91-47c0-aa8a-4b64ece3d16d" target="_blank">recent work</a> to revive the use of traditional letters of marque and reprisal under the Constitution. Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) introduced the House version of this legislation.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Our legislation allows American digital privateers to raid cartels, cybercriminals, and foreign adversaries, disrupting their operations and seizing their assets,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong><em> &ldquo;This is the ultimate in white hat hacking: stealing from America&rsquo;s enemies at the direction of the President, and splitting the profits with the federal government.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><em>"Widespread cybercrime has become an existential threat to our national security," </em><strong>said Congressman Tim Burchett.</strong><em> "Allowing private operators to aid the federal government in combatting these crimes will strengthen our ability to defend the United States against terrorism."</em></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Background</strong></span></p>
<p>Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution <a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#1-8" target="_blank">authorizes</a> Congress to &ldquo;grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal.&rdquo; Once a commonly used tool against piracy, letters of marque authorized private citizens to seize enemy vessels with their cargoes and crew. In December 2025, Senator Mike Lee introduced a <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/patriots-of-the-caribbean-lee-bill-authorizes-american-privateers-to-seize-cartel-assets-with-president-s-approval/6ed7fad5-5b91-47c0-aa8a-4b64ece3d16d" target="_blank">bill</a> authorizing President Trump to allow private citizens and groups to join in defending the United States from cartels on land and sea.</p>
<p>Building on that legislation, the <em>Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act</em> will allow the President to arm America&rsquo;s hackers with authority to combat foreign cyberattacks against the United States. The bill authorizes the President to issue cyber letters of marque and reprisal to strategically deter and disrupt cyber operations against the U.S. and Americans, facilitate the return of stolen assets to Americans, and empower the private sector.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The <em>Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act:</em></strong></span></p>
<p></p>
<ul>
<li>Authorizes the President or a designee to commission private persons to conduct cyber operations against designated cyberthreats through letters of marque and reprisal. The recipients of such letters are required to post a security bond in agreement with the President, and the recipients shall forfeit the posted bond if they violate the terms of the letter. The President may require up to 15% of the total assets recovered to fund bounty programs, which the President may facilitate for holders of such letters to claim. Holders of such letters are prohibited from knowingly conducting operations against U.S. citizens, required to log all their activities, and are limited to conducting only operations that are necessary to the mission.</li>
<li>Limits the definition of &ldquo;designated cyberthreat&rdquo; to foreign individuals and entities responsible for cyberattacks against United States persons or assets owned or controlled by United States persons.</li>
<li>Allows the President to issue guidance on qualifications to receive a cyber letter of marque and reprisal, as well as guidance for a holder of a cyber letter of marque and reprisal to operate within traditional domains.</li>
<li>Ensures that a holder of a cyber letter of marque and reprisal shall be authorized to conduct operations in traditional domains of warfare in addition to the cyber domain if Congress authorizes the use of letters of marque and reprisal for such domains.</li>
<li>Ensures that no cause of action authorized in a letter of marque and reprisal shall be maintained against a holder of such letter in any court.</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p>Read exclusive coverage from <em>The Daily Caller</em> <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2026/07/15/exclusive-mike-lee-bill-digital-privateers-hackers-cartels-terrorists-donald-trump/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />Read the full bill text <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/17C391BC-09B5-4C07-8B29-057ACE104399" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">###</p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-bill-authorizes-american-hackers-to-fight-foreign-cyber-attacks</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee Applauds Trump’s Actions Reining in Monument Overreach]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-applauds-trump-s-actions-reining-in-monument-overreach</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, applauded President Donald J. Trump’s proclamation modifying the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monuments.

]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; Today, U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, applauded President Donald J. Trump&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/07/modifying-the-bears-ears-national-monument/" target="_blank">proclamation</a> modifying the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase&ndash;Escalante National Monuments.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s proclamation shows that President Trump listens to Utahns and respects the limits Congress placed on the Antiquities Act,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Chairman Mike Lee.</strong> <em>&ldquo;For too long, presidents have weaponized monument designations to lock up millions of acres, close roads, restrict grazing, and cut rural communities off from lands their families have lived on and worked for generations. I thank the President for correcting this abuse and keeping his promise to the people of Utah.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The proclamation reduces Bears Ears National Monument to approximately 121,000 acres and Grand Staircase&ndash;Escalante National Monument to approximately 182,000 acres. The revised boundaries will allow federal agencies to concentrate limited personnel and funding on the cultural, historic, and scientific objects identified within the proclamation.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Lands outside the modified boundaries remain in federal ownership and continue to be protected under existing federal and state laws. The proclamation will provide greater access for recreation, preserve historic roads and trails, and give ranching families and rural communities greater certainty about the lands on which they depend.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Congress enacted the Antiquities Act in 1906 to allow presidents to protect historic landmarks and other objects of historic or scientific interest. The law requires monument reservations to be confined to <em>&ldquo;the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.&rdquo;</em></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Previous designations placed approximately 3.2 million acres within the two monuments&mdash;more land than all seven of Utah&rsquo;s other national monuments and all five of its national parks combined and about the combined size of the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut. Those sweeping boundaries strained federal staffing and law-enforcement resources while increasing the burdens placed on rural counties responsible for search-and-rescue operations and other public services.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>President Trump&rsquo;s action returns the monuments to a focused and manageable scale, improves the ability of land managers to protect significant resources, and restores a meaningful voice for the Utah communities closest to these lands.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;These modified boundaries don&rsquo;t diminish protection, they focus it,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Governor Spencer Cox.</strong><em> &ldquo;The new proclamations focus management efforts to better preserve the cultural and archaeological resources that make this part of Utah so special. Management matters, and we are optimistic about the future preservation of Utah&rsquo;s historic, cultural, and scientific resources in these areas.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;President Trump&rsquo;s executive action restores a more balanced approach to managing Utah&rsquo;s public lands and shows a willingness by this Administration to listen to the state of Utah,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator John Curtis.</strong><em> &ldquo;While today&rsquo;s announcement is an important step in the right direction and a more appropriate interpretation of the Antiquities Act, the responsibility remains with Congress to do what executive orders cannot: bring stakeholders together, work through disagreements, and enact lasting solutions. This approach worked in Emery County, which serves as a strong example to build on.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>"Utahns have long supported protecting our state's extraordinary cultural and natural resources," </em><strong>said Representative Celeste Maloy.</strong> <em>"This action honors that goal while following the law Congress passed and giving greater consideration to the people who know these lands best.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>"The Antiquities Act is crystal clear: presidential designations meant to protect objects should be 'confined to the smallest area compatible' with the proper care and management of those objects. That mandate was ignored,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Representative Burgess Owens.</strong> <em>&ldquo;The mess started with Bill Clinton, who acted from a seat in Arizona with his back turned to Utah. It was compounded by Barack Obama in the waning hours of his presidency. Together, they created monuments larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined which is an unmistakable violation of the 'smallest area compatible' standard. I am grateful for President Trump's actions today, and for his willingness to listen to the Utah communities who cherish and honor these landscapes. Utah deserves leaders who respect the rule of law. Today, accountability prevailed."</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;The people of Utah understand these lands better than any distant bureaucracy ever could,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Representative Mike Kennedy.</strong> <em>&ldquo;Decisions about how they are managed and protected should rest with the communities who live closest to them. The Antiquities 1``111Act was written to protect specific and important areas, and honoring its intent is the rational way to safeguard these treasures while giving Utahns a real voice in their future.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;This has, unfortunately, become a back-and-forth issue between administrations,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Representative Blake Moore.</strong> <em>&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s announcement takes into consideration years of local concern over restricted access and misuse of the Antiquities Act while still protecting our state&rsquo;s natural and cultural resources for future generations. If the Antiquities Act is going to be used, it needs to be on the smallest area possible&mdash;that&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re doing here.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;The Antiquities Act was never meant to be a tool for locking up millions of acres with the stroke of a pen. Today&rsquo;s action takes a major step in the right direction of appropriately sized monuments allowing responsible stewardship that works with our communities, not against them. Utah has fought hard to enforce Antiquities Act limits on monument size, and we will continue fighting to ensure the law is applied faithfully &mdash; and that Utahns have lasting certainty about the lands they call home,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Attorney General Derek Brown.</strong> <em>&ldquo;But our work isn&rsquo;t finished. The long-term answer isn&rsquo;t found in which president happens to occupy the White House. The answer lies in honoring the textual limits the Antiquities Act already places on monument sizes. Utah will keep pressing until that&rsquo;s the reality, not just the ideal.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Today is an exciting day for the state of Utah and we applaud President Trump&rsquo;s thoughtful action to modify the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Utah Speaker Mike Schultz.</strong><em> &ldquo;These changes will improve management, public access, and recreation opportunities while respecting the traditions, livelihoods, and voices of local communities. By focusing resources where they are needed most, we will ensure these lands are preserved for current and future generations. We continue to push for a long-term solution so these lands are not subject to political back-and-forth. These remarkable places deserve stability, protection, and thoughtful stewardship for decades to come.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have to choose between protecting our heritage and supporting our communities,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams.</strong><em> &ldquo;We appreciate the Trump Administration&rsquo;s recognition that local communities deserve a meaningful voice in the stewardship of the public lands that shape their way of life. Today&rsquo;s action provides a more focused approach to preserving some of Utah&rsquo;s most treasured landscapes while ensuring these lands remain accessible to the people who rely on them. Historic roads and trails will remain open, ranching families will have certainty, and Utahns and visitors will continue to enjoy these areas through hiking, hunting, camping, biking and other longstanding recreational opportunities. These changes also give land managers greater flexibility to reduce wildfire risk and combat invasive species. By focusing protections where they matter most, we can preserve these cultural and natural treasures while honoring the traditions and livelihoods that have long been part of this region.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><em>###&nbsp;</em></p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/7/lee-applauds-trump-s-actions-reining-in-monument-overreach</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Lee Introduces End EPA Abuse Act]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-introduces-end-epa-abuse-act</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the End EPA Abuse Act to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from exercising undue authority to arbitrarily create and enforce policy decisions that rightly belong to Congress. The legislation is cosponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and its House version was introduced by Congressman Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09). The bill is endorsed by twelve organizations and twenty Attorneys General from across the country.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/251F50DF-5F19-4A22-9CA7-1CB32E6F0696" target="_blank"><em>End EPA Abuse Act</em></a> to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from exercising undue authority to arbitrarily create and enforce policy decisions that rightly belong to Congress. The legislation is cosponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and its House version was introduced by Congressman Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09). The bill is endorsed by thirteen organizations and twenty Attorneys General from across the country.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;The EPA has overstepped its authority as far as possible to put America&rsquo;s energy producers in a chokehold,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong><em> &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve exploited any power they can grab to push Biden and Obama&rsquo;s climate psychosis at the expense of our energy security. They make up and enforce regulations to suffocate America&rsquo;s energy producers and devastate major sectors of our economy. The End EPA Abuse Act will clarify once and for all that policymaking belongs to Congress, whom the American people have elected &ndash; not to the leftwing bureaucracy.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>"The EPA has spent years using the Clean Air Act as a backdoor tool to wage war on fossil fuels and strip Americans of their energy choices,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Cynthia Lummis.</strong><em> &ldquo;The End EPA Abuse Act puts Congress back in the driver's seat where we belong. That's why I'm proud to cosponsor this legislation and finally draw a clear line against an agency that has far exceeded the authority Congress ever intended to give it."</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Under the Biden Administration, the EPA increasingly treated the Clean Air Act as a blank check to push de facto electric vehicle mandates, jeopardize reliable energy sources, and impose costly regulations on American consumers and businesses,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Congressman Andrew Clyde.</strong> <em>&ldquo;Unelected Washington bureaucrats should never have the power to dictate what kind of car Americans drive or how our country produces electricity. The End EPA Abuse Act puts Congress back in the driver's seat where it belongs, preventing any future Democrat Administration from abusing the EPA&rsquo;s regulatory authority to advance the Left&rsquo;s radical, anti-American energy agenda.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>The <em>End EPA Abuse Act</em> is endorsed by twenty Attorneys General who penned a <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/D4827DFA-BCCC-4832-A045-4A8E548CE6F4" target="_blank">letter of support</a>, as well as the following organizations:</strong>&nbsp;Heritage Action, American Energy Institute, American Consumer Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Frontiers of Freedom Institute, Eagle Forum, Less Government, the Heartland Institute, Center for a Free Economy, American Energy Alliance, Truth in Energy and Climate, the John Locke Foundation, and the Center for Energy and Conservation at Independent Women&rsquo;s Voice.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;The End EPA Abuse Act of 2026 is a win for our States and our residents. We are grateful that the Trump administration has moved aggressively to correct many of the Biden-era and Obama-era excesses described above. EPA Administrator Zeldin has been a skilled partner in unwinding unlawful rules, and we applaud those efforts. But statutory guardrails&mdash;not administrative forbearance&mdash;provide the durable solution our constituents deserve. Thank you for your commitment to keeping the EPA within its statutory authority. The States recognize that EPA has an important role to play. We ask only that Congress ensure that, in playing that role, the EPA does not again usurp ours.&rdquo; </em><strong>&ndash; A.G. John McCuskey and other Attorneys General</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;The EPA was never authorized to engineer America&rsquo;s transportation system, force fuel switching at power plants, or jeopardize grid reliability in pursuit of political objectives. The End EPA Abuse Act restores important guardrails by prohibiting regulations that effectively ban internal combustion engines, mandate unproven technologies, or threaten reliable electricity generation. Americans deserve affordable, dependable energy and the freedom to choose the products that best meet their needs.&rdquo; </em><strong>&ndash; American Energy Institute</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>"The CAA has been abused to create electric vehicle mandates, force the grid to shift to renewables, and impose impossible technological standards, all of which inflict burdensome costs and hardship onto consumers. This bill will keep the CAA within the bounds set by Congress, preserving consumer choice and protecting our electric grid from unjustified and unrealistic regulations."&nbsp; </em><strong>&ndash; American Consumer Institute</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;The EPA is supposed to be focused on environmental protection, not on trying to stretch the Clean Air Act to change the very nature of our economy. Yet this is exactly what has been happening in recent years. Not long ago, people would have been thought of as wacky if they claimed the EPA would try to use the Clean Air Act to kill off gas-powered cars or try and change how the country produces electricity. But this is exactly what the agency has been doing. The End EPA Abuse Act establishes much-needed guardrails on the EPA. The bill is a means by which Congress would be reasserting its power while still allowing the EPA to do its job to protect the environment. The only thing the bill prohibits is the greatest abuses that common sense tells us Congress never authorized in the first place. Sen. Lee and Rep. Clyde should be commended for introducing this critical reform bill.&rdquo; </em><strong>&ndash; Competitive Enterprise Institute</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Senator Mike Lee has once again shown the kind of principled leadership our country desperately needs with the introduction of the End EPA Abuse Act of 2026. This important legislation directly confronts the Environmental Protection Agency&rsquo;s relentless overreach by protecting American consumers&rsquo; right to choose the vehicles they want and can afford, while also safeguarding the reliability of our electric grid. By reining in the EPA&rsquo;s ability to impose unrealistic, costly, and anti-consumer mandates &mdash; particularly those that target internal combustion engines and force fuel-switching at power plants &mdash; Senator Lee is standing up for constitutional limits on federal power and defending the economic freedom of hardworking Americans. This bill is a much-needed corrective to years of regulatory abuse and should be supported by anyone who believes government agencies should serve the people, not dictate to them.&rdquo; </em><strong>&ndash; Frontiers of Freedom Institute</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Background</strong></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Since its enaction in 1970, the EPA has increasingly interpreted the <em>Clean Air Act</em> not merely as a mandate to protect air quality, but as license to impact major sectors of the American economy. By exploiting statutory ambiguities and stretching its regulatory authority beyond Congress's original intent, the agency has abused the <em>Clean Air Act</em> to impose sweeping policies impacting electricity generation, transportation, and industrial production.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>For example, the Obama-era EPA used <em>Clean Air Act</em> regulatory authority to attempt to implement the <em>&ldquo;Clean Power Plan,&rdquo; </em>which would have forced power plants to switch from coal to other sources of fuel. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected this overreach in <em>West Virginia v. EPA</em>, arguing that Congress had not authorized the EPA to assert such broad authority that would have carried massive economic and political consequences. The Court rightly recognized that major policy decisions belong to Congress, not a federal agency.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Despite positive court cases and deregulatory actions by President Trump&rsquo;s EPA, future administrations will continue using the <em>Clean Air Act</em> as a tool to assert authority for major policy decisions that go well beyond the law. Congress should codify in statute clear guardrails to protect Americans from an EPA that imposes excessive rules that drive up prices, restrict consumer choice, and devastate the agency&rsquo;s disfavored industries.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The <em>End EPA Abuse Act</em></strong></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The <em>End EPA Abuse Act</em> would prohibit the EPA from issuing <em>Clean Air Act</em> regulations that could be reasonably determined to significantly expand the Agency&rsquo;s authority beyond the intent of Congress.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>This includes any regulation that:</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>a) Restricts the sale or use of internal combustion engine vehicles;</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>b) Requires power plants to switch fuel sources;</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>c) Reduces the reliability of the electric grid, or;</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>d) Requires the use of technology that is economically or practically infeasible.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The bill also clarifies that &ldquo;regulations&rdquo; includes waivers like those issued to California for their EV mandate.</span></p>
<span><span><br /></span></span>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/251F50DF-5F19-4A22-9CA7-1CB32E6F0696" target="_blank">Bill Text</a> | <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/79DF06AF-9D80-49D4-BE5E-A07DB9CB7995" target="_blank">One Pager</a> | <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/D4827DFA-BCCC-4832-A045-4A8E548CE6F4" target="_blank">Endorsements</a></span></p>
<span><span><br /></span></span>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span>###</span>&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-introduces-end-epa-abuse-act</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee, Cotton Sound Alarm on Chinese Thieves in American Labs]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-cotton-sound-alarm-on-chinese-thieves-in-american-labs</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) today sent a letter to alert Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright of Chinese nationals’ access to American National Labs, where they are infiltrating sensitive research facilities to steal American intellectual property and technology to benefit Communist China.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) today sent a <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/EAC0C85D-FEB1-47E5-AF2A-DA7B4732506B" target="_blank">letter</a> to alert Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright of Chinese nationals&rsquo; access to American National Labs, where they are infiltrating sensitive research facilities to steal American intellectual property and technology to benefit Communist China.</p>
<p>In January 2026, the Senators, along with nine of their colleagues, sent a <a href="https://www.energy.senate.gov/2026/1/lee-senators-to-wright-ban-chinese-nationals-from-american-laboratories" target="_blank">letter</a> to Secretary Wright urging him to address this issue. In March 2025, they introduced the <em>Guarding American Technology from Exploitation (GATE) Act</em> as a legislative solution. The bill is currently being blocked by Democrats on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.</p>
<p>In part, the Senators wrote:</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;We write expressing serious concern regarding the Department of Energy&rsquo;s (DOE) continued practice of permitting foreign nationals from China to access facilities across the National Laboratory complex and work alongside American scientists. Recent DOE data underscores that this practice puts the nation&rsquo;s research enterprise at risk of foreign intelligence collection and technology transfers that will benefit our adversaries.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The letter reads as follows:</span></p>
<p><em></em></p>
<p><em>Dear Secretary Wright:</em></p>
<p><em>We write expressing serious concern regarding the Department of Energy&rsquo;s (DOE) continued practice of permitting foreign nationals from China to access facilities across the National Laboratory complex and work alongside American scientists. Recent DOE data underscores that this practice puts the nation&rsquo;s research enterprise at risk of foreign intelligence collection and technology transfers that will benefit our adversaries.</em></p>
<p><em>According to DOE&rsquo;s own data, Chinese nationals continue to occupy substantial roles across a variety of access types, including short term visits (approximately 1,900 in FY 2025), long term research assignments (approximately 1,300 in FY 2025), and even formal employment (approximately 2,100 in FY 2025). The Department further reports in FY 2025, on-site user facilities at the National Labs were accessed physically and remotely more than 5,000 times by Chinese nationals. These facts reflect severe vulnerabilities at our nation&rsquo;s premier and most sensitive scientific environments.</em></p>
<p><em>China is our main competitor in research and development and the race for emerging tech, where it seeks to surpass the United States by stealing American intellectual property and technologies. This is widely known and well-documented, and yet for decades we continue to give Chinese national scientists access to our National Laboratories.</em></p>
<p><em>These numbers are not small, nor are they incidental. They represent a systemic exposure of our National Labs, including the American scientists who work there and topics they are working on, to an adversary determined to defeat the United States. Given that DOE has not substantially reduced this exposure, we respectfully request answers to the following:</em></p>
<p><em>1. How does DOE's risk framework account for China's National Intelligence Law, which legally obligates every Chinese citizen&mdash;including those working in our National Laboratories&mdash;to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services upon demand, regardless of where they reside?</em></p>
<p><em>2. Why does the Department permit Chinese nationals to work inside the National Labs, side by side with American scientists?</em></p>
<p><em>3. Are Chinese nationals given access to controlled technologies, export controlled technologies, or any other sensitive research environments within the National Laboratories? If so, how many?</em></p>
<p><em>4. What steps is DOE taking to reduce remote access by Chinese nationals, given the Department&rsquo;s own finding that thousands of users operate remotely with limited oversight?</em></p>
<p><em>5. Does DOE intend to reduce or cap Chinese nationals&rsquo; participation in unclassified research areas, and if not, why not?</em></p>
<p><em>6. What counterintelligence assessments has DOE conducted regarding the concentration of Chinese nationals in specific labs, programs, or user facilities?</em></p>
<p><em>The Department&rsquo;s mission is to advance American scientific leadership, protect national security, and safeguard critical technologies. This mission can&rsquo;t be achieved when it&rsquo;s undermined by thousands of Chinese nationals infiltrating the National Labs each year. We look forward to your thoughts on these systemic vulnerabilities affecting our labs.</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>Read exclusive coverage by the <em>New York Post</em> <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/23/us-news/sens-tom-cotton-mike-lee-demand-trump-cut-off-chinese-from-national-labs/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>Read the full text of the letter <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/EAC0C85D-FEB1-47E5-AF2A-DA7B4732506B" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>###</em></p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-cotton-sound-alarm-on-chinese-thieves-in-american-labs</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee Votes to Protect Americans from Government Overreach, Calls for Real Affordable Housing Solutions]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-votes-to-protect-americans-from-government-overreach-calls-for-real-affordable-housing-solutions</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today voted against the flawed Road to Housing Act to protect Americans from federal overreach and stand for real affordable housing solutions.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today voted against the flawed <em>Road to Housing Act</em> to protect Americans from federal overreach and stand for real affordable housing solutions.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Americans need more affordable housing. Unfortunately, this bill doesn&rsquo;t do enough to provide it, instead increasing the federal government&rsquo;s long-running and failed involvement in the U.S. housing market,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong> <em>&ldquo;Notably, the bill does not do nearly enough to safeguard housing programs for American citizens only. Additionally, the bill includes only a temporary ban on a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) rather than a permanent one, while failing to prohibit any future administration from trampling state and local authorities for social engineering like the Biden and Obama administrations. The process to fix this bill has been nonexistent, with no amendment votes in the Senate. We can do better. To truly improve housing affordability, we must drastically reduce the federal government&rsquo;s footprint in housing policy, cut federal spending to reduce federal debt, which in turn can lower mortgage interest rates, and continue mass deportations of illegal aliens who are placing a significant burden on housing availability and affordability for American citizens.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><em>###</em></p>
<div><span>&nbsp;</span></div>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-votes-to-protect-americans-from-government-overreach-calls-for-real-affordable-housing-solutions</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Senator Lee on FOX News: Debate SAVE America Act Until it Passes, Trust President Trump on Iran ]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/senator-lee-on-fox-news-debate-save-america-act-until-it-passes-trust-president-trump-on-iran</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) joined FOX News Sunday with host Shannon Bream to outline a path to passage for the SAVE America Act, call on the Senate to skip vacation, and discuss President Trump’s America-First navigation of the conflict in Iran.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) joined <em>FOX News Sunday</em> with host Shannon Bream to outline a path to passage for the <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/1/senator-mike-lee-introduces-save-america-act-with-congressman-chip-roy" target="_blank"><em>SAVE America Act</em></a>, call on the Senate to skip vacation, and discuss President Trump&rsquo;s America-First navigation of the conflict in Iran. Watch the full interview <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwm50gZlyDM" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/2068713173801189718" target="_blank"><em><img src="https://www.lee.senate.gov/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;File_id=2A16E550-AA67-44C5-BD50-B4B20F757BAA" width="618" height="344" /></em></a></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><em>Watch Senator Lee outline the SAVE America Act's path to passage&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/2068713173801189718" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
<em><br /></em>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Senator Lee on the SAVE America Act&rsquo;s Path to Passage:</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s important to remember that the original SAVE America Act &ndash; the one that was passed by the House of Representatives &ndash; does have simple majority support in the Senate. While it&rsquo;s true that we&rsquo;re ten votes shy of cloture (forcing debate to a close), that doesn&rsquo;t mean that we couldn&rsquo;t pass it.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&nbsp;&ldquo;There are a couple ways to get there.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&nbsp;&ldquo;One would be nuking the filibuster, which appears unlikely to happen. But the other way is to exhaust the other side &ndash; to continue to debate the bill until it passes. This was a common procedure in the Senate for most of its existence; it needs to be used from time to time in situations like this one.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&nbsp;&ldquo;Look, the American people overwhelmingly support this &ndash; Republicans, Democrats alike. We&rsquo;re talking about three out of four Americans &ndash; regardless of political party &ndash; want to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. That&rsquo;s what the House-passed SAVE America Act does, and the Senate needs to be willing to do that hard work to make sure that happens.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;If we put it on the floor tomorrow, and we announce that we&rsquo;re going to debate it until it passes, I&rsquo;m confident that we can get there.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>&nbsp;</span></p>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span>&ndash;</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span>&nbsp;</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/2069091622785007978" target="_blank"><span><img src="https://www.lee.senate.gov/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;File_id=6BD67326-63A1-4524-ACD8-A2B8DC634C74" width="600" height="333" /></span></a></div>
<span><span><br /></span></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><em>Watch Senator Lee call on the Senate to stop vacationing and start working <a href="https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/2069091622785007978" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></div>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Senator Lee on the Senate Vacationing Instead of Voting:</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Days or weeks can feel like months or years to United States senators who want to be doing other things. The truth is we haven't tried what I believe it takes to get the Save America Act passed, which is to put it on the floor and to say we're going to debate this for weeks. And we'll stay through weekends, we'll stay through previously scheduled recesses if necessary, but we're going to stay on this bill until it passes.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Nothing sharpens the mind, nothing hastens agreement, nothing will bring about face-saving and perfecting amendments, quite like the obligation to stay in and debate something that is popular with the American people when filibustering senators trying to slow it down are becoming steadily less popular in their arguments.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span>&ndash;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/2068750318544834609" target="_blank"><em><img src="https://www.lee.senate.gov/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&amp;File_id=118E1B38-0844-462A-831A-B91C5A876F2B" width="600" height="335" /></em></a></p>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><em>Watch Senator Lee discuss President Trump&rsquo;s navigation of Iran <a href="https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/2068750318544834609" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></div>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Senator Lee on President Trump&rsquo;s America-First Leadership on Iran:</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Let's remember that President Trump is not like other presidents who have tried to address this issue. Both President Obama and President Biden negotiated from a position of weakness. President Trump has done everything that is absolutely necessary to make sure that we're negotiating from a position of strength.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;This is the master of the art of the deal &ndash; don't count him out.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;In fact, I would bank on the fact that President Trump will make darn sure Iran complies. And if it doesn't, Iran will face very unpleasant consequences. Iran has seen already what happens when you mess with President Trump, and they will see it again if they don't comply.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><em>###</em></p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/senator-lee-on-fox-news-debate-save-america-act-until-it-passes-trust-president-trump-on-iran</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Lee, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Bill Keeping Foreign Spies Out of American Waters]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-shaheen-introduce-bipartisan-bill-keeping-foreign-spies-out-of-american-waters</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the Arctic Security and Diplomacy Act, a bipartisan bill to keep spy ships from adversarial nations such as China and Russia from conducting research and espionage operations in American waters.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/F76DD2C0-9AA8-441A-9F24-80469E805725" target="_blank"><em>Arctic Security and Diplomacy Act</em></a>, a bipartisan bill to keep spy ships from adversarial nations such as China and Russia from conducting research and espionage operations in American waters.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;The United States must not tolerate China&rsquo;s increasing incursions into US waters under the guise of surveys and research,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong><em> &ldquo;This legislation shuts the door to foreign adversaries attempting to commit espionage and exercise influence at our doorstep in the Arctic, affirming the sole right of the American people to determine who may approach their shores, from the Aleutians to the Beaufort Sea.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;I recently returned from a bipartisan congressional delegation to Canada, Greenland, Norway and Iceland, where we heard firsthand how Russia and China are expanding their presence and influence across the Arctic,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen.</strong> <em>&ldquo;As these adversaries deepen their cooperation in the region, the United States must deepen our own partnerships with Arctic allies to protect our waters, critical infrastructure and national security interests. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that foreign vessels linked to China, Russia and other adversaries cannot exploit scientific research as a cover for espionage or intelligence-gathering activities in American waters, while strengthening our ability to identify and respond to emerging threats in the Arctic.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Background</strong></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The Russian Federation and People&rsquo;s Republic of China &ndash; allied adversaries of the United States &ndash; are colluding to enhance their competitive presence in the Arctic region. Russia controls approximately 53% of the arctic coastline, and has significantly expanded its military infrastructure in the region. Likewise,&nbsp; the U.S. Department of War <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-unprecedented-number-ships-us-arctic-waters/" target="_blank">reported</a> &ldquo;an unprecedented number of Chinese military and research vessels operated in or near U.S. Arctic waters&rdquo; in 2025. The two nations have openly collaborated to establish a &ldquo;polar silk road&rdquo; for shipping and resource extraction through the Arctic, and have each used their access to target northern countries such as Canada and the Netherlands in various espionage operations.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>This documented threat necessitates a focused and strategic defense by the United States to protect America&rsquo;s Arctic waters from adversarial espionage.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The <em>Arctic Security and Diplomacy Act</em> codifies a <a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-revision-united-states-marine-scientific-research-policy/" target="_blank">proclamation</a> by President Trump requiring foreign vessels to request authorization from the U.S. Department of State before conducting research in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and on its continental shelf. Furthermore, the bill builds on President Trump&rsquo;s action by prohibiting foreign vessels from adversarial nations such as China and Russia from conducting such research in American waters at all.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The <em>Arctic Security and Diplomacy Act:</em></strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span></span><span>Requires foreign vessels to request and receive consent from the U.S. Department of State prior to conducting maritime research in American waters</span></li>
<li><span></span><span>Disqualifies all vessels of &ndash; or reasonably suspected to be associated with &ndash; adversarial nations such as China and Russia from obtaining consent to conduct maritime research in American waters</span></li>
<li><span></span><span>Requires the U.S. Secretary of State to produce a strategy in collaboration with the Secretary of War and intelligence community leaders to identify and combat espionage and influence operations by foreign adversaries in the Arctic</span></li>
<li><span></span><span>Requires the U.S. Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress on espionage and influence operations by foreign adversaries in the Arctic and in American waters</span></li>
<li><span></span><span>Requires U.S. federal agencies to share information related to relevant maritime research with the U.S. Department of State, unless otherwise prohibited by law</span></li>
</ul>
<span><span><br /></span></span>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Read exclusive coverage by Intelligence Online <a href="https://www.intelligenceonline.com/americas/2026/06/15/washington-seeks-to-bolster-arsenal-in-arctic-against-chinese-and-russian-espionage,110799380-art" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Access the full bill text <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/F76DD2C0-9AA8-441A-9F24-80469E805725" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><em>###</em></p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-shaheen-introduce-bipartisan-bill-keeping-foreign-spies-out-of-american-waters</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee Cosponsors Doubled Fines for Illegal Immigrants and Employers]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-cosponsors-doubled-fines-for-illegal-immigrants-and-employers</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today cosponsored the Illegal Immigration Cost Recovery Act with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to double civil financial penalties for illegal aliens residing in the United States. ]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today cosponsored the <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/6C496EDF-7834-4F9B-A13A-B162EDA08DCB" target="_blank"><em>Illegal Immigration Cost Recovery Act</em></a> with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to double civil financial penalties for illegal aliens residing in the United States and their employers.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Americans are footing the bill for illegal immigrants who use public services, benefits, and schools intended for citizens,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong><em> &ldquo;The law has long required financial penalties for illegal immigrants, but no president other than Donald Trump has stood up for the American people by enforcing them. I&rsquo;m proud to cosponsor Senator Rick Scott&rsquo;s Illegal Immigration Cost Recovery Act to double civil financial penalties for illegal immigrants and claw back Americans&rsquo; hard-earned money.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Illegal immigration is &mdash; in fact &mdash; illegal and has consequences,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Rick Scott.</strong><em> &ldquo;President Trump is working hard to restore law and order, and we in Congress needs to do our part to help. Decades of open border policies have created an enormous and unfair cost burden on Americans that needs to be offset to make things right; meanwhile, those that entered our country illegally should face consequences for their actions. This commonsense bill enforces the law and ensures illegal aliens can&rsquo;t keep ripping off our country and undermining the hardworking Americans who pay taxes and follow the rules.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Background&nbsp;</strong></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>While these penalties were signed into law nearly 40 years ago, President Trump is the first and only president to enforce monetary consequences for illegally entering the country. Under the Biden administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was specifically instructed not to issue these fines. ICE started issuing failure-to-depart fines again as of June 2025.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Higher penalties will force illegal aliens to pay for the burden they have created for American citizens and impose penalties for breaking federal law.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Specifically, this legislation increases penalties for those who:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span></span><span>Enter or attempt to enter the United States unlawfully.</span></li>
<li><span></span><span>Have a final order of removal who fail or refuse to depart from the United States.</span></li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The bill would also assign financial penalties to employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens not authorized to work in the United States. These fines will generate revenue that will cover operational costs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Read exclusive coverage by Breitbart News <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/06/11/exclusive-sen-rick-scott-introduces-bill-to-double-civil-penalties-on-illegal-aliens-employers-who-hire-them/" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Access the full bill text <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/6C496EDF-7834-4F9B-A13A-B162EDA08DCB" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span>###</span></p>
<div><span>&nbsp;</span></div>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-cosponsors-doubled-fines-for-illegal-immigrants-and-employers</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee Introduces America-First Bills Cutting Red Tape for Supply Chain Ports]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-introduces-america-first-bills-cutting-red-tape-for-supply-chain-ports</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced a package of legislation to strengthen America’s supply chain by cutting red tape around dredging infrastructure. The four bills modernize dredging project and vessel policies to enable resource availability and ensure America remains economically competitive.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced a package of legislation to strengthen America&rsquo;s supply chain by cutting red tape around dredging infrastructure. The four bills modernize dredging project and vessel policies to enable resource availability and ensure America remains economically competitive.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;America&rsquo;s supply chain relies on our ports, which are currently suffocating under century-old red tape,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee. </strong><em>&ldquo;These bills will free up essential infrastructure and modernize policies to secure America&rsquo;s economic dominance and unleash American trade.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Background</strong></span></p>
<p>The <strong><em>Dredging to Ensure the Empowerment of Ports (DEEP) Act</em></strong> repeals the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 and streamline key impediments in the Clean Water Act, as well as the Army Corps&rsquo; process for considering dredge projects at American ports. <strong>|</strong> Read the full bill text <a href="%20https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/58933707-279E-4424-BC14-E673578C2052" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>The <em><strong>Allied Partnership and Port Modernization Act</strong> </em>supports more economic opportunities at our ports. It would amend the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 to allow NATO-affiliated dredging vessels to operate in the United States. <strong>|</strong> Read the full bill text <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/D8E91A96-D1F1-426F-AE17-9FA58F36E51B" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>The <em><strong>Port Modernization and Supply Chain Protection Act</strong> </em>repeals the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906&rsquo;s cabotage requirements and allows all dredge vessels qualified under U.S. law to operate in the United States. <strong>|</strong> Read the full bill text <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/3B70603B-D26C-40B6-807A-8A94A3B137C2" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>The <em><strong>Incentivizing the Expansion of U.S. Ports Act</strong> </em>amends the Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 to allow Americans to purchase foreign-built dredge vessels for operation in the United States, provided that they are crewed by Americans and flagged under U.S. law. <strong>|</strong> Read the full bill text <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/BB56E511-4DF4-49EE-92EC-41BFDA45AD95" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">###</p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-introduces-america-first-bills-cutting-red-tape-for-supply-chain-ports</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee, Tuberville Introduce Protections for Homeopathic Medicine with FDA Marketing Pathway Framework]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-tuberville-introduce-protections-for-homeopathic-medicine-with-fda-approval-framework</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tommy Tuberville (R- AL) today introduced legislation building an FDA framework for homeopathic medicine to protect Americans’ access to natural health solutions. The Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act will provide a pathway for homeopathic medicinal products to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration without needlessly banning safe products that simply do not fit into the same legal categories as traditional pharmaceuticals. The bill is co-led by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and endorsed by several health organizations.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tommy Tuberville (R- AL) today introduced legislation building an FDA framework for homeopathic medicine to protect Americans&rsquo; access to natural health solutions. The <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/32BABE1D-9BAE-4C49-B066-A7BB5C24D8F4" target="_blank"><em>Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act</em></a> will provide a pathway for homeopathic medicinal products to be lawfully marketed by the Food and Drug Administration without needlessly banning safe products that simply do not fit into the same legal categories as traditional pharmaceuticals.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Americans have a right to manage their own health and choose treatments that are right for them, including homeopathic methods,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong> <em>&ldquo;The current federal regulatory framework is designed around traditional pharmaceuticals, but it is ill-equipped to review the safety and effectiveness of homeopathic products. So we are building a new one. Our legislation answers the concerns of thousands of families across the country who have been calling on Washington to find a better way.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve long been an advocate for homeopathic medicine,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Tommy Tuberville.</strong> <em>&ldquo;The reality is that too many Americans today are hooked on pharmaceuticals when they could be using homeopathic remedies, which are often cheaper and can yield miraculous results. There&rsquo;s no reason why the FDA shouldn&rsquo;t be reviewing and approving some of these remedies to help Americans live healthier lives.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&ndash;</p>
<p>The Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act is endorsed by Americans for Homeopathy Choice Action, MAHA Action, the CPAC Foundation, the National Health Federation, the Health Freedom Defense Fund, and the National Products Association.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Americans for Homeopathy Choice Action and the 120,000 consumers we represent are grateful to Sens. Tuberville and Lee for introducing this bill which, when enacted, will ensure continued access to homeopathy for millions of Americans who use it to restore and maintain their health. Homeopathic medicines are also an important nontoxic option for health practitioners including medical doctors, nurses, dentists and others who appreciate this choice when treating patients with both everyday and serious conditions.&rdquo; </em><strong>&ndash; Paola Brown, President, Americans for Homeopathy Choice Action</strong></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;MAHA Action proudly supports Senator Tuberville&rsquo;s and Senator Lee&rsquo;s legislation to protect and preserve Americans&rsquo; access to homeopathic medicines. We believe individuals should have the freedom to choose the modalities they use to support and maintain their health. For generations, homeopathy has been an important part of the diverse range of options available to American families. Safe, holistic, and effective homeopathy has been used by billions of people around the world as a non-toxic alternative to big pharma.&rdquo; </em><strong>&ndash; Tony Lyons, President, MAHA Action</strong></p>
<p><em>"CPAC proudly supports H.R. 7050, the Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act. Healthcare freedom is a core conservative value, and for too long Washington bureaucrats have used regulatory overreach to strip Americans of their right to make their own healthcare decisions. This bill cuts through the red tape and puts power back where it belongs &mdash; with the patient. We commend Senators Tuberville and Lee for their fearless conservative leadership on this legislation. Their commitment to individual liberty and limited government is exactly what the American people sent them to Washington to fight for." </em><strong>&ndash; Matt Schlapp, Chairman, CPAC</strong></p>
<p><em>"Homeopathy needs to be recognized for what it is: a safe and inexpensive way for Americans to manage many of their own health needs. We support this bill for bringing regulatory clarity to a time-honored approach that millions of American families rely on for self-care." </em><strong>&ndash; Scott C. Tips, J.D., President, National Health Federation</strong></p>
<p><em>"Now more than ever, American families want access to natural approaches that support our health and wellbeing. For over two centuries, homeopathy has done just that by providing safe, effective, and affordable healthcare to millions. Homeopathy addresses a spectrum of concerns from coughs and colds, to sprained ankles, and grief. It successfully handled the disease outbreaks that plagued the 18th century. Many of us at Health Freedom Defense Fund have used homeopathy to raise our families and can personally attest to this most amazing medicine. We are thrilled about and wholeheartedly support this bill to ensure that homeopathy is accessible for generations to come." </em><strong>&ndash; Leslie Manookian, President &amp; Founder, Health Freedom Defense Fund</strong></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;The Natural Products Association supports the Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act because the legislation would provide long-overdue statutory clarity for the regulation of homeopathic drug products in the United States. The homeopathic legislation offers a thoughtful and balanced solution. It protects consumers, respects the distinct nature of homeopathic drug products, provides clear rules for industry, and reinforces the importance of a predictable federal regulatory framework. NPA urges Congress to advance the Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act and support a regulatory approach that promotes safety, quality, transparency and continued consumer access.&rdquo; </em><strong>&ndash; Daniel Fabricant PhD, President and CEO, National Products Association</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Background</strong></span></p>
<p>The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first recognized homeopathic medicines in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1938 and regulated the manufacture and sale of homeopathic drugs for the following eighty years. However, in 2019 the FDA withdrew this regulatory framework for homeopathic products. This created legal and regulatory chaos for the industry as the viability of homeopathic medicine was brought into question.</p>
<p>Senator Lee signed a <a href="https://homeopathychoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/9.3-Letter-to-the-FDA-regarding-Homeopathic-Guidelines.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a> to the FDA in 2021 urging the FDA to provide guidance protecting consumer access to homeopathic drug products for Americans.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The <em>Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act:</em></strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li>Federally acknowledges that homeopathic drug products are distinct from other pharmaceutical products and, as such, require independent regulatory framework.</li>
<li>Creates a standard definition for homeopathic drug products and clarifies that they are not a new drug.</li>
<li>Exempts homeopathic drugs from the traditional premarket approval process established under Section 505 of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.</li>
<li>Outlines a method for the Secretary to regulate homeopathy safety and quality standards separate from traditional drugs.</li>
<li>Exempts finished homeopathic drug products from the required laboratory test to evaluate strength of each active ingredient.</li>
<li>Clarifies that homeopathic drug products must generally comply with traditional labeling requirements, but that homeopathic drugs may use descriptions/dosage units appropriate to homeopathy and that claims made in compliance with this Act shall not be considered a false advertisement.</li>
<li>Establishes a Homeopathic Drug Product Advisory committee, which shall trigger consultation with the Secretary and provide recommendations on safety, quality, labeling, and regulatory approaches for homeopathy drug products.</li>
<li>Requires the FDA to issue final Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations within three years after enactment.</li>
<li>Deems any drug or supplement that is not homeopathic but uses the word homeopathy in its labeling as misbranded.</li>
<li>Applies federal standards for reporting serious adverse effects of nonprescription drugs to homeopathic drug products.</li>
<li>Clarifies that homeopathic drug products shall not be classified as biosimilars.</li>
<li>Withdraws the FDA&rsquo;s 2022 guidance that significantly restricted the sale of homeopathic drug product.</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p><em>Read exclusive coverage by The Daily Caller <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2026/06/04/exclusive-gop-senators-americans-health/" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
<p><em>Access the full bill text <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/32BABE1D-9BAE-4C49-B066-A7BB5C24D8F4" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
<p></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>###</em></p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-tuberville-introduce-protections-for-homeopathic-medicine-with-fda-approval-framework</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee Cosponsors Bipartisan Email Privacy Act to Protect Americans from Warrantless Searches]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-cosponsors-bipartisan-email-privacy-act-to-protect-americans-from-warrantless-searches</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) cosponsored the bipartisan Email Privacy Act with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) to protect Americans from warrantless searches of their emails and other personalized digital records. The House version of this legislation was introduced by Representatives Warren Davidson (R-OH-08) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01).]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) cosponsored the bipartisan <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/5E8EE8AA-E44C-4B76-9116-ECCF83D773C9" target="_blank"><em>Email Privacy Act</em></a> with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) to protect Americans from warrantless searches of their emails and other personalized digital records. The House version of this legislation was introduced by Representatives Warren Davidson (R-OH-08) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01).</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Americans should not lose their Fourth Amendment protections simply because their private communications are stored with a third-party provider,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong> <em>&ldquo;By eliminating the outdated 180-day rule and requiring the government to obtain a warrant for the contents of emails and other electronic communications, this legislation brings ECPA into line with the realities of the 21st century.&rdquo; </em><br /> <br /><em>&ldquo;Right now, the only thing standing between the government and warrantless access to all of the old emails in your inbox is a federal appeals court decision,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Ron Wyden.</strong> <em>&ldquo;That's not good enough when it comes to Fourth Amendment protections for one of the fundamental forms of communication right now. I&rsquo;m proud to partner with a bipartisan coalition to put clear protections for Americans' rights into black-letter law.&rdquo; </em><br /> <br /><em>&ldquo;The Fourth Amendment is clear: the government must get a warrant before searching an individual&rsquo;s private property, including written communications. As today&rsquo;s world has grown increasingly digital, that principle should apply just as strongly to an email inbox as it does to a desk drawer or file cabinet,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Congressman Warren Davidson.</strong> <em>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s exactly why I&rsquo;m proud to cosponsor the Email Privacy Act&mdash;to ensure our freedoms carry into the digital world and that all communications are protected as the Founders intended. Congress must pass this commonsense legislation so Americans&rsquo; rights are fully respected in the 21st century.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;The current law governing online privacy standards is egregiously out of date, leaving millions of Americans&rsquo; private communications and data vulnerable,&rdquo;</em><strong> said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene.</strong><em> &ldquo;Our laws must reflect the capabilities of modern technology rather than being stuck in the past. Personal email communications and physical documents should be protected with the same level of security. This bill makes critical changes that will update email privacy standards and modernize Americans&rsquo; civil liberties.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Background</strong></span></p>
<p>Currently, law enforcement can obtain private email communications older than 180 days without a warrant because the law is based on outdated storage capabilities. Congress passed the Electronic Communications Privacy Act in the 1980s to establish email privacy standards. In the four decades since, email usage and storage have evolved significantly while protections have not.<br /> <br />The <em>Email Privacy Act</em> would protect Americans&rsquo; digital communications by requiring warrants to access emails regardless of their origin date. The bill also allows email providers (Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, iCloud, etc.) to notify users when their data has been accessed, and updates voluntary disclosure language.</p>
<p>The bill is endorsed by Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Association for Competitive Technology, the American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Democracy &amp; Technology, Computer &amp; Communications Industry Association, Consumer Choice Center, Consumer Technology Association, Demand Progress, Due Process Institute, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Engine, Fight for the Future, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Institute for Policy Innovation, Internet Infrastructure Coalition &ndash; I2Coalition, NetChoice, Project On Government Oversight, R Street Institute, Restore the Fourth, Software &amp; Information Industry Association, TechFreedom, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.<br /> <br /><em>Read the full bill text <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/5E8EE8AA-E44C-4B76-9116-ECCF83D773C9" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
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      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/6/lee-cosponsors-bipartisan-email-privacy-act-to-protect-americans-from-warrantless-searches</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Protects Separation of Powers Following Lee Amicus Brief]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/supreme-court-protects-separation-of-powers-following-lee-amicus-brief</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) lauded the United States Supreme Court’s decision to maintain the separation of powers by keeping activist judges from coopting the role of Congress in the case of Daren K. Margolin, Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review v. National Association of Immigration Judges. ]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) lauded the United States Supreme Court&rsquo;s decision to maintain the separation of powers by keeping activist judges from coopting the role of Congress in the case of <em>Daren K. Margolin, Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review v. National Association of Immigration Judges.</em> Following Senator Lee&rsquo;s urging in an <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/70C3D43E-617D-4EFF-885F-36D453E5833A" target="_blank">amicus curiae brief</a>, the Supreme Court reversed a ruling by the Fourth Circuit that would have potentially undermined a policy requiring federal immigration judges to obtain approval before taking on speaking engagements in their official capacity.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad to see the Supreme Court maintain the separation of powers keeping rogue activist judges from undermining the work of the executive branch,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong> <em>&ldquo;Our federal immigration judges should be focused on their jobs, not making themselves celebrities via unapproved speaking engagements targeted at undermining the very purpose of their work. When litigants seek to improperly challenge such approval policies in federal court, judges should also respect the administrative processes established by Congress for these types of claims. I&rsquo;m proud to have spoken for Congress in an amicus curiae brief and pleased to see the Supreme Court listen.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Background</strong></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">The amicus brief argued that&mdash;contrary to the proceedings in this case&mdash;legal challenges to this approval policy should be channeled through the appropriate administrative process established by Congress. Justices Thomas and Barrett, in a separate writing, signaled agreement with this reasoning, stating that &ldquo;[s]tatutes change only when Congress changes them, not when judges decide that they no longer vindicate Congress&rsquo;s purposes."&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Read the full amicus curiae brief <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/70C3D43E-617D-4EFF-885F-36D453E5833A" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Read the Supreme Court&rsquo;s decision <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/BC8B5723-6134-40ED-B743-EA3F917D39B2" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><em>###</em></p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/supreme-court-protects-separation-of-powers-following-lee-amicus-brief</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee Introduces Transparency Protections for Military Servicemembers Unknowingly Using Restricted Supplements]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/lee-introduces-transparency-protections-for-military-servicemembers-unknowingly-using-restricted-supplements</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced legislation protecting military servicemembers from prosecution for accidental violations of ever-changing supplement ingredient rules. The Protecting Enlisted and Recruits from Excessive and Catastrophic Trials (PERFECT) Act institutes needed transparency by requiring the Secretary of War to publish a full list of prohibited ingredients every 90 days, and provides commanding officers flexibility to determine whether first-time violations were accidental and in good faith. This does not apply to dangerous or illicit drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH-08) introduced the House version of the bill.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced <a href="urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/21A55460-45B0-4A08-99C8-3163AFDA27AD__;!!BSgrhSFG!DgcZnMa2MsXQAtyxs_DwcaabTiYr1vfoKOrGvBb1JJYcGM9luABk8FwAeioi2gQUe_4Wg0DXTYj1mFp9XjDjnfn10LMsHykRPTivaCPp$" target="_blank">legislation</a> protecting military servicemembers from prosecution for accidental violations of ever-changing supplement ingredient rules. The <em>Protecting Enlisted and Recruits from Excessive and Catastrophic Trials (PERFECT) Act</em> institutes needed transparency by requiring the Secretary of War to publish a full list of prohibited ingredients every 90 days, and provides commanding officers flexibility to determine whether first-time violations were accidental and in good faith. This does not apply to dangerous or illicit drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH-08) introduced the House version of the bill.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Firing our upstanding military servicemembers for unknowingly taking the wrong supplement makes no sense, particularly when its ingredients are fully legal for civilians and likely even purchased on base,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong> <em>&ldquo;The list of prohibited ingredients for servicemembers is very long, ever-changing, and difficult to access. Our troops need better transparency to avoid breaking these rules in the first place, and they deserve some flexibility for first offenses and honest mistakes. This bill will bring improved transparency to prevent violations, and allow commanding officers to judge good faith when it comes to their own troops.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Our trained servicemembers should not be kicked out of the military for the honest mistake of taking the wrong legally available supplement they bought at GNC,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Congressman Warren Davidson.</strong><em> &ldquo;Treating an innocent oversight the same as possession of a Schedule I drug is disproportionate and wrong. The PERFECT Act gives COs the flexibility to handle first offenses in-unit and updates the confusing DOD portal that left servicemembers searching ingredient by ingredient and in the dark about newly banned supplements.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The <em>PERFECT Act:</em></span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Requires the Secretary of War to publish a full list of prohibited ingredients every 90 days, allowing servicemembers to view the full list rather than only using a search feature.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Allows commanding officers to elect not to subject servicemembers to discipline or separation if:</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>The offense was the first such offense by the servicemember</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>The servicemember agrees to participate in education, counseling, or drug testing</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>The commanding officer determines that the servicemember was acting in &ldquo;good faith,&rdquo; meaning at least one of the following apply:</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>The servicemember had no knowledge that the dietary supplement contained a prohibited ingredient</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>The supplement was purchased from a retail facility affiliated with the Department of War</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>The servicemember reasonably relied on the published list but failed to identify that the ingredient was prohibited due to a misspelling or variation in the name of such ingredients (some manufacturers of prohibited ingredients create chemical analogs or change the name of ingredients, and some use umbrella ingredient names that obscure constituent ingredients identities)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>The servicemember demonstrates reasonable belief that such supplement does not contain a prohibited ingredient.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Note: This flexibility does not apply to servicemembers found to be in possession of dangerous or illicit drugs that appear on the Controlled Substances Act, such as heroin, marijuana, cocaine, etc.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/21A55460-45B0-4A08-99C8-3163AFDA27AD" target="_blank">Bill Text</a> | <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/3696DBFA-DCCB-46BE-9A33-5B8FA4220036" target="_blank">One-Pager</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br />###</p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/lee-introduces-transparency-protections-for-military-servicemembers-unknowingly-using-restricted-supplements</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[“Horrifying Misuse of American Tax Dollars” – Lee Calls to Slash UN Agency Employing Hamas Terrorists, Hiding Hostages and Weapons]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/horrifying-misuse-of-american-tax-dollars-lee-calls-to-slash-un-agency-employing-hamas-terrorists-hiding-hostages-and-weapons</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and a large Senate Republican coalition urging President Trump to defund a United Nations (UN) agency employing and aiding Hamas terrorists. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) employs several terrorists who participated in the initial attacks by Hamas on October 7th, as well as many others with ties to Hamas, and has repeatedly aided the terrorist organization by hiding hostages and weapons and teaching a pro-terrorism, antisemitic curriculum.

]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and a large Senate Republican coalition <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/D7D7E07B-33CE-457E-AC64-046B8E704FF9" target="_blank">urging</a> President Trump to defund a United Nations (UN) agency employing and aiding Hamas terrorists. The <em>United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)</em> employs several terrorists who participated in the initial attacks by Hamas on October 7th, as well as many others with ties to Hamas, and has repeatedly aided the terrorist organization by hiding hostages and weapons and teaching a pro-terrorism, antisemitic curriculum.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;As if the UN were not already useless and expensive, it is now using American tax dollars to hide hostages and weapons for the Hamas terrorists it employs. Yes, really!&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong> <em>&ldquo;$70 million is funneled yearly from the United Nations to a group in Gaza employing multiple terrorists from the October 7th attacks and their friends. These American-paid employees have used our tax dollars to hide their hostages and weaponry and teach a pro-terrorism, antisemitic curriculum. Americans do not support this horrifying misuse of tax dollars &ndash; it must end now.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The letter reads as follows:</span></p>
<div dir="ltr" style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Dear President Trump,</em></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>We strongly support your administration&rsquo;s efforts to preserve Israel&rsquo;s long-term security and ensure that Gaza has a future free of Hamas&rsquo;s terrorist influence. Your strong leadership has been instrumental in advancing a comprehensive 20-point peace plan that demands Hamas disarm and play no role in Gaza governance. Achieving stability in Gaza requires ridding Gaza of the military, social, and political infrastructure that fed Hamas&rsquo;s power. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is one such structure that must be dismantled, not just in Gaza but across the region.</em></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Established in 1949 as a temporary relief agency, UNRWA operates across Gaza, Judea and Samaria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. In defiance of its mission, extensive reports, investigations, and intelligence assessments have confirmed UNRWA&rsquo;s systemic infiltration by Hamas and other U.S.-designated terrorist organizations. Yet America continued to fund UNRWA.</em></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Israel found that at least twelve UNRWA employees participated in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, and that roughly ten percent of the agency&rsquo;s employees in Gaza have ties to terrorist groups. Recently, a USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation identified three additional UNRWA employees who participated in the attacks as well as 14 others affiliated with Hamas. The USAID OIG is expanding its probe to examine more than 100 UNRWA employees for potential ties to Hamas and involvement in the attacks.</em></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Since October 7, Hamas has repeatedly diverted UNRWA&rsquo;s supplies, used its facilities to hide weapons stockpiles and tunnel infrastructure, and even used its buildings to hold hostages. UNRWA&rsquo;s educational curriculum glorifies terrorism and antisemitism. Yet while the United States has suspended direct funding and Israel has banned the agency from operating on its territory, UNRWA remains active in Gaza. UNRWA continues to receive $70 million annually from the United Nations regular budget &ndash; of which the United States provides roughly a quarter.</em></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>We strongly urge your administration to take decisive action to fully dismantle UNRWA and eliminate it from the UN budget. Any aid organization in Gaza or otherwise must be demonstrably free of ties to terrorism and committed to transparency, accountability, and peace. We must ensure this failed system doesn&rsquo;t continue reinforcing the conditions that have fueled terrorism for generations. The time to act is now.</em></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Thank you for your attention to this matter. We stand prepared to assist.</em></div>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The letter is cosigned by Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Read exclusive coverage by <em>The New York Post</em> <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/19/us-news/sen-tom-cotton-leads-24-gopers-in-urging-trump-to-dismantle-unrwa-cut-it-from-un-budget/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Read the full text of the letter <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/D7D7E07B-33CE-457E-AC64-046B8E704FF9" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><em>###</em></p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/horrifying-misuse-of-american-tax-dollars-lee-calls-to-slash-un-agency-employing-hamas-terrorists-hiding-hostages-and-weapons</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee Cosponsors BLUE Act with Protections Against Doxxing Police Officers]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/lee-cosponsors-blue-act-with-protections-against-doxxing-police-officers</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) cosponsored the Blocking Leaks Undermining Law Enforcement (BLUE) Act during National Police Week with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to protect law enforcement officers from being doxxed. This legislation would shield federal law enforcement officers and their families from credible violent threats by prohibiting the sharing of their personal information and location with intent to obstruct, interfere with, or retaliate against their lawful duties.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p dir="ltr">WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) cosponsored the <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/54628152-23C8-4BBF-9D97-989CC8BFEC2B" target="_blank"><em>Blocking Leaks Undermining Law Enforcement (BLUE) Act</em></a> during National Police Week with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to protect law enforcement officers from being doxxed. This legislation would shield federal law enforcement officers and their families from credible violent threats by prohibiting the sharing of their personal information and location with intent to obstruct, interfere with, or retaliate against their lawful duties.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Violent anti-police protestors are purposely endangering our law enforcement officers and their families with doxxing and threats,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong> <em>&ldquo;To protect the patriots who keep us safe, the BLUE Act will outlaw sharing their personal information with the intention of obstructing or retaliating against their police work. As politicized threats against their lives increase, this change will provide the legal shield that our law enforcement officers and their families need to continue protecting Americans every day.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;It is despicable that radical left-wing protesters are routinely attacking federal law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to protect Americans,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Rick Scott.</strong> <em>&ldquo;Democrats continue protecting criminal illegal aliens and their radical left-wing defenders instead of the law enforcement officers keeping our communities safe. Trump Derangement Syndrome and years of &lsquo;defund the police&rsquo; rhetoric has gone too far, and the BLUE Act protects law enforcement officers doing their jobs and keeps their families&rsquo; identities safe. I proudly stand with federal law enforcement and against the lunatics putting public safety at risk.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The BLUE Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), James Lankford (R-OK), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Mike Rounds (R-SD), and endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA).</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s increasingly clear that the Radical Left doesn&rsquo;t believe in law and order and will do anything to stop the law from being enforced,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Tommy Tuberville.</strong> <em>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve seen repeated attacks on our brave law enforcement officers, including the ICE agents who are carrying out President Trump&rsquo;s agenda to remove illegal criminals. Revealing officers&rsquo; personal locations&mdash;whether they&rsquo;re on duty or not&mdash;is extremely dangerous to their safety. If you do anything to put a law enforcement officer in harm&rsquo;s way, your butt needs to be thrown in jail. As we recognize National Police Week this week, I&rsquo;m proud to join the BLUE Act with Sen. Rick Scott to further protect those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>&ldquo;Attacks on federal law enforcement are at an all time high, with perpetrators becoming increasingly more brazen in targeted physical and doxing attacks on officers and their families. That is why we are grateful to the leadership of Sen. Scott to advance the &lsquo;BLUE Act&rsquo; during National Police Week.&nbsp; This is a common sense bill to ensure appropriate penalties for those who seek to undermine public safety, and we urge Congress to swiftly send it to President Trump&rsquo;s desk.&rdquo; </em><strong>&ndash; Mathew Silverman, National President, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The <em>Blue Act</em>:</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span></span><span>Creates a new criminal prohibition: Makes it illegal to share certain protected information about a federal law enforcement officer when done with intent to obstruct, interfere with, or retaliate against their official duties or proceedings.</span></li>
<li><span></span><span>Expands what information is protected: Clarifies that, for federal law enforcement officers, protected information includes not just personal details but also their current or expected physical locations, whether on or off duty.</span></li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Read exclusive coverage by Townhall <a href="https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/05/13/exclusive-sen-rick-scott-to-introduce-bill-criminalizing-the-doxxing-of-federal-law-enforcement-n2675986" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Read the full text of the bill <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/54628152-23C8-4BBF-9D97-989CC8BFEC2B" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span>###</span></p>
<div><span>&nbsp;</span></div>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/lee-cosponsors-blue-act-with-protections-against-doxxing-police-officers</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee, Colleagues Demand Answers from Brown University on Failure to Prevent On-Campus Killings]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/lee-colleagues-demand-answers-from-brown-university-on-failure-to-prevent-tragedy</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), along with a coalition of his colleagues in the House and Senate, demanded answers from Brown University regarding the shocking negligence resulting in a recent on-campus killing. The university sacrificed safety equipment to pacify woke ideologues and adopted a blatantly anti-police posture, leaving students hopelessly vulnerable to an on-campus attack that killed two students and injured nine – all while Brown’s alert system lagged for a stunning and deadly seventeen minutes.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), along with a coalition of his colleagues in the House and Senate, <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/90138236-18EC-484C-9063-92689239D22E" target="_blank">demanded answers</a> from Brown University regarding the school's shocking negligence resulting in a recent on-campus killing. The university sacrificed safety equipment to pacify woke ideologues and adopted a blatantly anti-police posture, leaving students hopelessly vulnerable to an on-campus attack that killed two students and injured nine &ndash; all while Brown&rsquo;s alert system lagged for a stunning and deadly seventeen minutes.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Brown University abandoned its students, choosing to virtue signal rather than protect them from being killed on their own campus,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong> <em>&ldquo;In the last five years alone, Brown University has ignored attack threats, undermined their own campus police force, and apologized for using security cameras when woke activists called them a &lsquo;tool of oppression&rsquo; &ndash; all while dorms were broken into and robbed year after year. This is shockingly ridiculous and abhorrently negligent. The tragic on-campus killings in December may have been averted had Brown not chosen optics over their students&rsquo; safety. I demand answers and accountability for these victims and their families.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p>Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Representatives Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Barry Moore (R-AL), Mike Rogers (R-AL), Dale Strong (R-AL), and Gary Palmer (R-AL) are the letter&rsquo;s additional signees.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;We write as concerned Members of the United States Congress to express profound outrage and demand accountability for the tragic and preventable murders that occurred on the Brown University campus on December 13, 2025. The deaths of Ella Cook, Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, and the wounding of nine others were not unforeseeable tragedies. Public reporting, sworn testimony, police union statements, Brown&rsquo;s public records, and the assailant&rsquo;s own words clearly establish that these deaths were made possible by more than a decade of deliberate policy decisions that prioritized activists&rsquo; radical demands over student safety,&rdquo; </em><strong>wrote the members of Congress.</strong></p>
<p>The members of Congress go on to recount Brown University&rsquo;s consistent caving to far-left, anti-law enforcement activists, putting the safety and security of their students at risk, noting the following:</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;After more than a decade of poor choices, Brown leadership&rsquo;s decisions left its campus and students vulnerable on December 13, 2025. The University had only five officers on duty, a system of non-functional or unstaffed security cameras, and ignored multiple warnings from campus employees about the assailant. These alarming failures, compounded by an incomprehensible 17-minute delay in activating the BrownAlert system, allowed the assailant to fire off 44 unchallenged shots &ndash; killing two innocent students and injuring nine others. Brown&rsquo;s mistakes were not isolated lapses; they were the predictable outcome of an institutional culture so corroded that it treated legitimate law enforcement and physical security as ideological threats rather than essential protections.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p>Read exclusive coverage by <em>The Free Press</em> <a href="https://www.thefp.com/p/brown-university-shooting-congress-letter" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>Read the full text of the letter <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/90138236-18EC-484C-9063-92689239D22E" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">###</p>]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/5/lee-colleagues-demand-answers-from-brown-university-on-failure-to-prevent-tragedy</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Lee Introduces Repeal of Inflated Government Spending Models]]></title>
      <link>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/4/lee-introduces-repeal-of-inflated-government-spending-models</link>
      <description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced legislation to repeal the outdated Davis-Bacon Act to curb inflated government spending on construction projects. U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), and Ted Budd (R-NC) cosponsored the legislation. Representative Eric Burlison (R-MO-07) introduced the House version of the bill.]]></description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>WASHINGTON &ndash; U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/A8DA96F8-1FDD-41A6-8344-9614AE57FBC5" target="_blank">legislation</a> to repeal the outdated Davis-Bacon Act to curb inflated government spending on construction projects. U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), and Ted Budd (R-NC) cosponsored the legislation. Representative Eric Burlison (R-MO-07) introduced the House version of the bill.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;When big government offers to help, it usually creates more problems than it fixes. The Davis-Bacon Act is no exception,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Mike Lee.</strong> <em>&ldquo;It is an antiquated piece of legislation that hurts middle class workers and every American taxpayer. Repealing this single bill would save tens of billions of tax dollars. It is high-time that Congress passes the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><em>"Texans reject government interference in the labor market,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Ted Cruz.</strong> <em>&ldquo;Repealing the Davis-Bacon Act will save billions of taxpayer dollars, expand competition, and ensure that federal projects are awarded based on merit, not dictated by bureaucrats in Washington.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;For too long, government&rsquo;s burdensome regulations bog down good work and our small businesses while hardworking Americans pay the price, which is why the Davis-Bacon Act must go,&rdquo;</em><strong> said Senator Joni Ernst.</strong><em> &ldquo;I&rsquo;m proud to join Senator Lee&rsquo;s effort to repeal this outdated red tape and save taxpayers over $17 billion.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;The Davis-Bacon Repeal Act is a necessary step toward ensuring our federal construction policies reflect today&rsquo;s economic realities,&rdquo; </em><strong>s</strong><strong>aid Senator Tim Scott.</strong> <em>&ldquo;The current law drives up project costs, imposes unnecessary administrative burdens, and limits opportunities for small businesses and entry-level workers to compete. At a time when we should be building more and maximizing every taxpayer dollar, this approach falls short. Repealing the Davis-Bacon Act will help lower costs, expand competition, and ensure our federal investments deliver greater value for the American people.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;The Davis-Bacon Act is a nearly century-old, outdated law,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Katie Britt.</strong> <em>&ldquo;It drives up federal costs, hurts American workers, and unfairly advantages organized labor. Repealing this antiquated law would provide relief for taxpayers and improve government efficiency by instituting more accurate prevailing wage calculations on federal construction projects.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;The Davis-Bacon Act is an outdated mandate that limits opportunities for small contractors and drives up construction costs,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Ron Johnson.</strong> <em>&ldquo;CBO estimates that repealing the Davis-Bacon Act would save $18 billion in taxpayer dollars. It should be repealed to ensure taxpayer dollars are better utilized and not wasted.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;The Davis-Bacon Act has been on the books for decades, and it is holding Oklahoma back,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator James Lankford.</strong> <em>&ldquo;It drives up costs, slows down projects, and makes it harder for our local contractors and workers to compete. At the end of the day, taxpayers are paying more for less while Washington piles on red tape. It is time to get rid of outdated mandates and make it easier for hardworking Oklahomans to build, work, and get the job done.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;The Davis-Bacon Act discriminates against non-unionized construction workers and increases construction costs for the federal government at a time when we need to rein in federal spending,&rdquo; </em><strong>said Senator Ted Budd.</strong><em> &ldquo;These outdated requirements have held back our government&rsquo;s deployment of new technologies and federal investments in American manufacturing. North Carolina is a proud right-to-work state, and I am glad to join Senator Lee and our colleagues in this common-sense effort to repeal these harmful prevailing wage requirements.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p>The legislation is endorsed by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, the Associated Builders and Contractors, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;ABC proudly supports the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act, introduced by Sen. Mike Lee. For too long, the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts have created significant burdens for small businesses, discouraging them from competing for federal projects due to excessive compliance costs, confusing wage determinations and unnecessary bureaucratic red tape. By repealing Davis-Bacon, Congress can restore competition and entrepreneurship and support workforce growth.&rdquo; </em><strong>&ndash; Kristen Swearingen, Vice President of Government Affairs, Associated Builders and Contractors</strong></p>
<p><em>&ldquo;SBE Council strongly supports the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act, legislation that would eliminate an outdated mandate that continues to burden taxpayers, small businesses, and America&rsquo;s construction workforce. We applaud Senator Mike Lee for leading on this important bill to bring fairness, common sense, and inclusive competition within the federal procurement system.&rdquo; </em><strong>&ndash; Karen Kerrigan, President and CEO, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Background</strong></span></p>
<p>The Davis Bacon Act is a 95-year-old wage subsidy law requiring all federally funded construction projects worth over $2,000 pay workers the &ldquo;prevailing wage&rdquo; rate from private construction projects in the same locality. In practice, the application of this law uses inaccurate wage estimates and flawed calculation mechanisms, inflating costs so much that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) revealed a repeal would <a href="https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/60936#:~:text=The%20Davis%2DBacon%20Act%20requires,small%20reduction%20in%20mandatory%20outlays" target="_blank">save $17.8 billion</a> over the next decade.</p>
<p>Rather than using average local pay rates for its estimations, the Department of Labor (DOL) adopted a rule under the Biden administration that if 30% of a local workforce is paid a particular rate, this is used as the prevailing wage. This method distorts the prevailing wage away from actual averages, elevates union influence over the calculations, and punishes urban workers.</p>
<p>Furthermore, despite having access to accurate prevailing wage rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Department of Labor has instead tasked an enforcement department with estimating prevailing wages &ndash; which reportedly made 832 errors across 49 contractors in <a href="https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/reports/oa/2019/04-19-001-15-001.pdf" target="_blank">an investigation</a> by the DOL Inspector General.</p>
<p>Senator Lee&rsquo;s repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act would eliminate this outdated, inefficient payment model to bring government spending down from its artificially inflated height.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/46EF86FB-D2C7-446C-BF5E-36AEC1BB21A6" target="_blank">One-Pager</a> | <a href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/services/files/A8DA96F8-1FDD-41A6-8344-9614AE57FBC5" target="_blank">Bill Text</a></div>
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      <category>Press Releases</category>
      <guid>https://www.lee.senate.gov/2026/4/lee-introduces-repeal-of-inflated-government-spending-models</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
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