Sen. Lee Questions International Court Attack on State Sovereignty
Jan 17, 2018
“Given that the United States is the predominant funder of the Organization of American States it is of great concern that one of its international courts has issued an opinion recommending Costa Ricans to change their law,” Sen. Lee said. “The United States must do more to safeguard religious liberties around the world, prevent taxpayer dollars from funding ineffective international organizations, and most importantly uphold national sovereignty and the principles of subsidiarity.”
Sen. Lee Disappointed in FISA Vote
Jan 16, 2018
WASHINGTON - Today, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to invoke cloture on reauthorizing FISA surveillance provisions.
“I am deeply disappointed by the vote tonight which empowered Senate leadership to forbid any amendments to our nation’s surveillance system. The new warrant provisions in this bill are filled with loopholes that any biased government agent can exploit, and tonight’s vote has made it much more likely that improperly obtained private conversations will be used for political gain."
A Good Start Towards Draining Washington’s Housing Swamp
Jan 12, 2018
One of the primary goals of the Obama administration was to use the full force of the federal government to force red state, suburban, and rural areas to adopt policies designed to change them into urban blue state communities.
On the environmental side this policy invasion took the form of punitive regulations against the mining industry and million-acre land grabs that undermined the grazing industry.
The Truth About FISA Reauthorization
Jan 12, 2018
This Friday, the House of Representatives passed the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017, a bill that proponents claim adds key privacy protections to our nation’s foreign surveillance system.
Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.
For example, proponents of the House bill claim that their legislation includes a new provision that requires the federal government to obtain a warrant before searching their spying database for domestic targets. And it is true; there is a new provision that requires a warrant to search the federal government’s dragnet databases under in certain circumstances.
Sens. Lee, Leahy Release Joint Statement on Upcoming Debate on Section 702 Legislation
Jan 11, 2018
Today the House of Representatives passed the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017, by a vote of 256 to 167. The bill would reauthorize Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act. The House also rejected an amendment offered by Congressman Amash (R-Mich.) -- by a vote of 233 to 183 — which would have provided an overhaul of Section 702 with reforms intended to protect Americans’ privacy rights. Statutory authorization for Section 702 will expire after January 19, 2018. Following is the joint statement today of Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the principal Republican and Democratic authors and sponsors of the USA Liberty Act, which reauthorizes and reforms Section 702
Sen. Lee Statement on Passing of Bruce Cole
Jan 10, 2018
"Yesterday, our republic lost a devoted friend.
Bruce Cole dedicated his life to forming responsible and patriotic American citizens. Dr. Cole was the longest-serving chairman of the National Endowment of the Humanities, who served in that role from 2001 to 2009. He was a distinguished scholar of Renaissance art and a recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal.
Sen. Lee Statement on Utah Retaining Apache Battalion
Jan 9, 2018
“I am delighted that the Army has publicly announced its stationing decision for the AH-64 Apache Attack-Reconnaissance Battalions, allowing Utah’s airmen to continue their mission for our nation and contributions to total Army end strength,” Senator Lee stated. “After fighting for performance-based decision making for four years on the Senate Armed Services Committee, it is appropriate that Utah’s guardsmen and women will continue fulfilling their commitments to our country through their contributions to readiness with the Apache.”
Speech in Memory of President Thomas S. Monson
Jan 4, 2018
Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of a remarkable man: Thomas S. Monson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
On Tuesday night, at age 90, President Monson was called home by his Heavenly Father.
I expect his reunion with his wife Frances was a joyous occasion, and I am confident that reunion provides comfort to his three children and eight grandchildren.
Sen. Lee Statement on Passing of President Monson
Jan 3, 2018
SALT LAKE CITY – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement today regarding the death of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Monson.
“President Thomas S Monson was a dedicated disciple who spent almost eight decades in the service of his fellow men and his God. He was a strong advocate for Christlike love and the principle of eternal families, and his years as prophet were marked by a massive expansion of the missionary system and the temple network. He led by example, and his messages of love, redemption, and optimism will continue to inspire and shape those he leaves behind, both in and outside the church. My prayers and the prayers of many others are with him and his family today.”
A Future Without Kin?
Jan 3, 2018
At the Joint Economic Committee’s hearing on social capital in America, Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam highlighted a looming problem that has flown under the policy radar. Many people know that we face a challenge of providing elder care for baby boomers. But what is less recognized, according to Putnam, is the burden that deficits of social capital in this generation will place on paid forms of care. The boomers “will almost certainly require substantially more paid eldercare per person than their parents’ generation.”
