Press Releases
Bipartisan Letter Urges Leadership to Have Full Senate Consider ARTICLE ONE Act
Oct 18, 2019
WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of 15 senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Thursday, requesting that the “Assuring the Robust, Thorough, and Informed, Congressional Leadership is Exercised Over National Emergencies Act” (ARTICLE ONE Act) be considered by the full Senate as soon as possible.
“The ARTICLE ONE Act’s proposition is simple but fundamental: Congress cannot continue to cede its powers to another branch, regardless of who is President or which party holds a majority,” the senators wrote in the letter. “The ARTICLE ONE Act is a small, nonpartisan step toward re-establishing the appropriate checks and balances between the Congress and the Executive that results in a federal government that is truly accountable to the people.”
U.S. Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Krysten Sinema (D-AZ), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tom Udall (D-NM), Rob Portman (R-OH), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Johnny Isakson (R-OK), and Tom Carper (D-DE) all signed the letter.
Sens. Lee, Romney Welcome Advancement of Utah Judicial Nominee
Oct 17, 2019
WASHINGTON— U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Mike Lee (R-UT) today released the following statement after David B. Barlow of South Jordan, nominee to serve as United States District Judge for the District of Utah, was successfully reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. His nomination now heads to the full Senate. In July, Romney and Lee introduced Barlow at his nomination hearing before the Judiciary Committee.
“We have full confidence that David will serve Utah and the country with honor and integrity, faithfully applying the law and our Constitution to all matters and parties that come before him. We urge our colleagues to enthusiastically support his confirmation when he comes before the Senate for a vote.”
Sen. Lee Reintroduces the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act
Oct 17, 2019
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) re-introduced the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act Thursday, a bill designed to repeal the wage subsidy law requiring all federally-funded projects worth more than $2,000 to pay workers the “prevailing wage” rate on non-federal projects in the same locality.
“The Davis Bacon Act exemplifies how big government hurts the people it purports to help, gives unfair advantages to favored special interests, and squeezes the middle class,” Sen. Lee said. “The Davis-Bacon Repeal Act would remove these government-imposed obstacles to economic opportunity facing low-skilled workers, and return wasted taxpayer dollars back into the hands of the American people.”
Sen. Lee Introduces Drone Integration and Zoning Act
Oct 16, 2019
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Drone Integration and Zoning Act Wednesday, a bill to establish a regulatory framework for drones based on the principles of local governance and cooperative federalism.
“The FAA cannot feasibly or efficiently oversee millions of drones in every locality throughout the country,” Sen. Lee said. “The reason that the states have sovereign police powers to protect the property of their citizens is because issues of land use, privacy, trespass, and law enforcement make sense at the state and local level. The best way to ensure public safety and allow this innovative industry to thrive is to empower the people closest to the ground to make local decisions in real time and that is exactly what the Drone Integration and Zoning Act does.”
Fighting Fake News on H-1B Reform
Oct 2, 2019
SALT LAKE CITY – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday after Lou Dobbs falsely claimed on cable television that S. 386 “would double the size of H-1B visas.”
Sen. Lee Issues Statement Regarding Newly Appointed National Security Adviser
Sep 18, 2019
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday after President Trump appointed Robert C. O’Brien as national security advisor.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Mr. O’Brien during his time in the State Department on issues regarding religious liberty and Utahns abroad in Russia, China, and throughout the world,” Sen Lee said.
“He is an incredible champion of religious freedom around the globe and I am confident that he will excel in his role as National Security Advisor to the President.”
Sen. Lee Calls for Clarity in Antitrust Enforcement
Sep 18, 2019
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday after yesterday’s Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on antitrust.
“Yesterday’s oversight hearing illustrated the dysfunction that comes with having two federal agencies responsible for civil antitrust enforcement.” Sen Lee said.
“We need robust investigations and enforcement of the antitrust laws, especially in the tech arena. That objective is likely to be hindered if the agencies are stumbling over each other trying to investigate the same companies for the same conduct,” Sen. Lee continued. “Such efforts will be wasteful and could very well undermine their ability to enforce the antitrust laws. I wouldn’t recommend that they get any additional resources until they demonstrate their willingness to put the interests of consumers above their bureaucratic gamesmanship.”
Sens. Lee and Romney Comment on Emergency Funding Diversions Impacting Utah
Sep 4, 2019
WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) issued the following statements Wednesday after the Air Force informed both senators that funding appropriated by Congress for military construction projects at Hill Air Force Base would instead be spent to construct a wall on the southern border, as a result of the February 2019 emergency declaration. Lee and Romney previously urged the Department of Defense to protect funding for these Utah projects.
Sens. Lee, Klobuchar Announce Hearing on Digital Platform Mergers
Sep 3, 2019
WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, will hold a subcommittee hearing September 24th examining concerns relating to acquisitions of nascent or potential competitors by digital platforms.
Sen. Lee Comments on Qualcomm Antitrust Stay
Aug 23, 2019
WASHINGTON - Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Friday after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed a lower court antitrust ruling that would have forced Qualcomm to end certain patent licensing practices.
“Today’s decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to stay a district court ruling relating to the Federal Trade Commission’s case against Qualcomm highlights yet again the oddity of us having two federal agencies responsible for civil antitrust enforcement,” Sen. Lee said.
