Press Releases
Lee Urges Senate to Pass Meaningful Spending Restriction
Dec 12, 2011
Ahead of this week’s vote in the Senate on two competing versions of a balanced budget amendment, Senator Lee urged his colleagues to support S. J. Res 10, the only version that will lead to meaningful spending restraint.
Lee Land Bill Clears Congress
Dec 8, 2011
Yesterday, legislation introduced by Senator Mike Lee passed both chambers of Congress for the first time. The House voted unanimously in approval of its version of a bill that authorizes the transfer of vacant and virtually unused federal land in Utah to the growing city of Mantua. The Senate version has already been passed, also unanimously.
Lee Calls for Iran Sanctions
Dec 2, 2011
"The United States needs to send a clear message to the government of Iran that we will not tolerate the threats posed by the Iranian regime’s actions," said Senator Lee, who sites on the Foreign Relations committee. "Their pursuit of nuclear weapons poses a serious threat to the United States, Israel, and other allies. This amendment sends a clear signal to the Iranian regime that they will not be allowed to participate in the global economic system if they continue to destabilize the region."
Lee cosponsors the North American Energy Security Act
Dec 1, 2011
Today, Senator Mike Lee cosponsored the North American Energy Security Act, which would authorize the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
Lee Supports Detainee Protections for American Citizens
Nov 30, 2011
Today, Senator Mike Lee announced his support for legislation that would prevent any American citizen from being held indefinitely by the military without trial. The provision is an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which is currently being considered by the U.S. Senate.
Lee Statement on Failure of Super Committee
Nov 21, 2011
Even after the failure of the Super Committee, Congress still has an obligation to cut spending, balance the budget, and make the necessary reforms to restrain its ability to do significantly greater damage to our
economy. I still believe the principles established in the Cut, Cap, and Balance legislation I introduced earlier this year provide the way forward for
Congress to achieve these goals, get its fiscal house in order, and regain our triple-A credit rating.
Senators Demand Details On Kagan’s Health Law ‘Role’
Nov 18, 2011
Members of Congress have been trying to determine whether Justice Elena Kagan has a conflict of interest with respect to participating in litigation in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) due to her involvement with and support for this legislation while a member of the Justice Department.
Republicans Announce Welfare Reform Act of 2011
Nov 16, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) announced that he would soon introduce the Welfare Reform Act of 2011 with original cosponsors including U.S. Senators Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), and David Vitter (R-Louisiana). Companion legislation has been offered in the U.S. House by U.S. Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
Over the past two decades the growth in means-tested welfare spending (292%) has outpaced the combined growth of Medicare and Social Security spending (213%) as well as the growth in education (143%) and defense spending (126%). The Welfare Reform Act of 2011 would save $2.43 trillion by 2021 by gradually reducing the costs of the 77 existing welfare programs as unemployment decreases.
Senator DeMint said: “With record levels of federal spending and record levels of Americans in poverty and using food stamps, it’s hard not to conclude that federal welfare programs are failing,” said Senator DeMint. “We don’t help Americans by making them dependent on Washington for a handout, we need more Americans empowered to stand on their own with a job in a vibrant economy. We need to reform our welfare programs to encourage self-sufficiency. We can also save taxpayers trillions of dollars that they can use to invest in our economy to create jobs and donate to local charities that have better success at lifting Americans out of poverty.”
Senator Vitter said: “One of the most significant substantive accomplishments coming out of the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress was welfare reform. But as significant as this reform was, we are overdue to renew welfare reform efforts and make additional gains because the welfare state has grown enormously since then – even factoring out recessions.”
Senator Lee said: "Failure to reform these programs puts them at risk. The spending is unsustainable and it will affect our ability to afford other national priorities. Making reasonable changes today will allow us to avoid much more painful decisions in the future."
Senator Inhofe said: “Our nation’s welfare programs are in desperate need of reform, and this measure provides a good approach. Welfare programs are costing American taxpayers far too much while providing little benefit beyond keeping individuals and families dependent. These reforms will empower individuals to improve their situation by encouraging and promoting greater self sufficiency. It also holds the federal government accountable for how it spends taxpayer dollars. I am pleased to join my colleagues in this effort to improve the situation many Americans have found themselves in during a difficult economy.”
In fiscal year 2011, total government spending on means-tested welfare spending will reach $909 billion per year. Federal spending comprises about three-quarters of this spending at $701 billion, with states contributing an additional $208 billion. This spending spans more than 70 means-tested programs for the poor including health programs like Medicaid and CHIP, housing programs, TANF, food stamps, and education programs, including HEAD Start.
The Welfare Reform Act of 2011 would:
· Place an aggregate spending cap on all means-tested welfare spending at pre-stimulus 2007 levels (indexed for inflation) effective by 2015 or when unemployment falls below 7.5%.
· Enforce a spending cap through the budget resolution, and saves $2.43 trillion over 10 years relative to President Obama’s Budget according to the Heritage Foundation.
· Provide for transparency in our welfare state by requiring the President’s budget to disclose the total means-tested welfare expenditures contained in the 77 existing programs.
· Require the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) limits the use of food stamps to essential foods, ending the use of food stamps at fast food restaurants.
· Remove the 13.6% increase in food stamp benefits created by the President’s 2009 Stimulus law.
· Reallocate $300 million of current welfare spending towards grants to states that successfully reduce poverty and increase self-sufficiency.
· Prevent federal funding of abortion in any of the 77 means-tested welfare programs.
Lee Statement on New Wilderness Recommendations
Nov 14, 2011
Last week, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recommended to Congress that three areas in Utah—Desolation Canyon, Westwater Canyon, and Mill Creek Canyon—be federally designated as "wilderness areas." In response, Senator Mike Lee is reiterating his position on federal land use.
Lee Cosponsors Legislation to Reverse Rule on 'Mini-Unions'
Nov 10, 2011
U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) today introduced legislation that would reverse the National Labor Relation Board’s recent decision allowing as few as two or three employees to form micro bargaining units, or “mini-unions,” to engage in collective bargaining with employers. Isakson’s legislation, the Representation Fairness Restoration Act, has 28 cosponsors.
