Press Releases

ICYMI: Sen. Lee's Solution Summit

Oct 15, 2018

In case you missed it, last Friday Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) joined with Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, DEA District Agent in Charge for the State of Utah Brian Besser, the DEA 360 Program, and others to host the 5th Annual Solutions Summit: Instead – Connecting for a Cure. Senator Lee has hosted the Solutions Summit annually since 2013, focusing on a different topic each year. This year, Sen. Lee chose to work with his fellow co-chairs on the Utah Opioid Task Force to put together an all-day event focusing on the opioid crisis. The decision was made to focus on the crisis as it touches all states, all classes, and affects all of us.

Utah Opioid Solutions Summit a Success

Oct 12, 2018

SALT LAKE CITY – Today, the co-chairs of the Utah Opioid Task Force hosted the 5th Annual Solutions Summit: Instead – Connecting for a Cure. Over 5,000 students, educators, healthcare officials, and community members were in attendance at the event presented by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, DEA 360 Program Director Brian Besser, and others.

The summit, which was held in two parts, focused on combatting the opioid epidemic in the state of Utah.

The morning session was created with the intent to educate high schoolers on the dangers of opioid use and give them real-time resources to stop addiction before it starts. Students enjoyed musical numbers, educational videos, and stories from families who had lost loved ones to the crisis.

The general session, which was held in the afternoon, focused on enabling communication and support across the various communities involved in combating the crisis.

While the co-chairs were pleased with the success of the summit, they stressed the importance of continuing this effort beyond today’s events. “The way we keep the momentum going is by connecting to the communities,” DEA District Agent in Charge for the State of Utah Brian Besser said. “We are wearing our tires out traveling around the state. We spend most of our time finding those who are hardest hit, listening, and learning how we can help."

The Utah Solutions Summit was made possible by the following partnerships: US Senator Mike Lee, Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes, Utah Opioid Task Force, DEA 360 Strategy, Sutherland Institute, Utah Anti-Bullying Coalition, The 525 Foundations, Salt Lake Chamber, and The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation.

More information about the Utah Solutions Summit can be found here.

Release as prepared by the Utah Attorney General's Office on behalf of the Utah Opioid Task Force co-chairs.

5th ANNUAL SOLUTION SUMMIT FOCUSES ON OPIOID SOLUTIONS AND RESOURCES

Oct 11, 2018

SALT LAKE CITY – On Friday, October 12th, Utah Opioid Task Force co-chairs Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), DEA District Agent in Charge for Utah Brian Besser, and Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes will host the 5th Annual Solution Summit – Instead: Connecting for a Cure addressing solutions and resources available to fight the opioid crisis in Utah.

Sen. Lee Statement on Kavanaugh Confirmation

Oct 6, 2018

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. “Judge Kavanaugh is a good man,” Sen. Lee said. “He is eminently qualified to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. I was pleased to vote in favor of cloture, and I was honored to vote for his confirmation.”

Sen. Lee Statement on Supplemental FBI Report

Oct 4, 2018

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Thursday after reading the FBI’s supplemental background investigation into Supreme Court nominee Judge Kavanaugh. “The new information in the supplemental FBI report does not corroborate the allegations made against Judge Kavanaugh. I look forward to voting for his confirmation imminently.”

Sen. Lee Comments on New Free Trade Agreement

Oct 1, 2018

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Monday after President Trump announced a new trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. “While NAFTA laid an important foundation for trade liberalization, the decades-old agreement needed an update in light of our rapidly changing global economy,” Sen. Lee said. “I welcome news that President Trump has reached a new agreement with Canada and Mexico and I look forward to studying it closely.”

Sen. Lee Statement on Kavanaugh Nomination

Sep 28, 2018

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Friday after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to favorably recommend the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Kavanaugh. “The Senate Judiciary Committee completed a professional investigation of Dr. Ford’s allegation this week. But since some of my colleagues believe one more week of FBI investigation will bring us closer to truth I support that investigation and I look forward to voting for Judge Kavanaugh soon.”

Sen Lee Comments on Today’s Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing

Sep 27, 2018

WASHINGTON - Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement after today’s Judiciary Committee Hearing. “Today’s hearing was heart wrenching. Both witnesses have suffered, and both offered brave and compelling testimony. “The Judiciary Committee has conducted an investigation into Dr. Ford’s allegation. Despite deliberate obstruction of that investigation by Committee Democrats, we now have sworn statements from all those named by Dr. Ford at the alleged incident. None of them remembers the incident ever happening. “I believe Dr. Ford was the victim of a crime. I do not believe Judge Kavanaugh committed it, and no corroborating evidence suggests he did. “Brett Kavanaugh is a good man, and a great judge. He belongs on the Supreme Court for the fall term, and back on the sidelines at Blessed Sacrament for the fall basketball season. Judge Kavanaugh has my vote.”

Sen. Lee Votes Against Unaccountable Opioid Spending

Sep 18, 2018

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement after voting against the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018.

“There are some very good elements in this opioid response bill, including strengthening U.S. Customs and Border Protection authority to discover and destroy packages containing illegal controlled substances. Unfortunately, the bill also includes dozens of new grant programs with little accountability for how the dollars will be spent and minimal measurement or analysis on their effectiveness. Good intentions are not enough. In the face of a crisis such as this, we cannot afford to waste precious funds on programs which likely won’t work.”

“What we ought to do is focus our efforts on the state and local level – where we can best tailor our solutions and effectively reach people succumbing to the grip of the opioid crisis. American lives depend upon it.”

Sen. Lee Introduces the Screening Partnership Reform Act

Sep 18, 2018

WASHINGTON – Yesterday. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Screening Partnership Reform Act, a bill that would make changes to the Transportation Safety Administration’s Screening Partnership Program.