The Facts on Supreme Court Vacancies
Feb 26, 2016
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was an extraordinary man whose contributions to this country and its people are so prodigious that it will take generations for us to fully comprehend our debt to him. His untimely death is a tragedy, and his legacy a blessing to friends of freedom everywhere.
Bringing Freedom Back to the Internet
Feb 26, 2016
A year ago today, five unelected bureaucrats at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decided to exploit an 80-year-old law meant for regulating radio, telephone, and telegraph operations, in order to begin regulating the Internet.
Sen. Lee Introduces The Restoring Internet Freedom Act
Feb 25, 2016
WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Restoring Internet Freedom Act, which would repeal the Federal Communication Commission's net neutrality rules and prevent the agency from promulgating similar rules in the future.
“The economic burden of these regulations will fall squarely on the backs of the consumers the FCC purports to help,” Lee said.
“The threat of anticompetitive behavior should always be taken seriously. But it makes no sense for a five-person panel of presidential appointees to write a sweeping law aimed at solving a problem that might someday exist. There are more effective, more democratic, and less intrusive ways to address anticompetitive behavior, including existing antitrust and consumer-protection laws,” Lee continued.
The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-TN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Sasse (R-NE), and Tom Tillis (R-NC).
Read full text of the bill here:
Sen. Lee Introduces The Only Congress Can Change The Draft Act
Feb 25, 2016
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced the Only Congress Can Change The Draft Act, which would ensure that only Congress can change current law controlling whether or not women must sign up for the Selective Service System.
“When it comes to whether or not women should be forced to fight in combat, there are honest differences of opinion on the issue,” Lee said.
“Some say the right policy now is to end selective service altogether. Some want to add women, but only as a contingency. Some say women might be drafted, but precluded from combat positions. This is an unsettled debate. So it’s a decision that should be made by the American people’s elected representatives – not unelected bureaucrats or judges,” Lee continued.
Under current law, only men between the ages of 18 and 25 must register with the Selective Service System. But there is a real danger that either the Obama administration or federal courts could try and change current policy.
This bill, cosponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Sasse (R-NE), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), would ensure that neither federal courts nor unelected bureaucrats could change current policy and force American women into combat.
“When it comes to whether or not women should be forced to fight in combat, there are honest differences of opinion on the issue,” Lee said.
“Some say the right policy now is to end selective service altogether. Some want to add women, but only as a contingency. Some say women might be drafted, but precluded from combat positions. This is an unsettled debate. So it’s a decision that should be made by the American people’s elected representatives – not unelected bureaucrats or judges,” Lee continued.
Under current law, only men between the ages of 18 and 25 must register with the Selective Service System. But there is a real danger that either the Obama administration or federal courts could try and change current policy.
This bill, cosponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Sasse (R-NE), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), would ensure that neither federal courts nor unelected bureaucrats could change current policy and force American women into combat.
Bringing freedom back to the Internet
Feb 25, 2016
A year ago today, five unelected bureaucrats at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decided to exploit an 80-year-old law meant for regulating radio, telephone, and telegraph operations, in order to begin regulating the Internet.
Floor Remarks on the Senate’s “Advice and Consent”
Feb 24, 2016
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was an extraordinary man whose contributions to this country and its people – whom he faithfully served from the bench – are so prodigious that it will take generations for us to fully comprehend our debt to him.
Sen. Lee: Don’t Force Women to Fight
Feb 22, 2016
If you haven’t been paying attention lately, you might have missed a controversy crop up about an issue that I imagine most Americans did not realize was controversial.
Over the last week, prominent military and political leaders have called for requiring all American women to register for the selective service – that is, potential military conscription.
Lee, Klobuchar Call For Review of Proposed Charter, Time Warner, Bright House Merger
Feb 18, 2016
WASHINGTON—On Wednesday, Senators 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, sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Chairman of the FCC Tom Wheeler, requesting a close review of Charter Communications’ proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.
“We are on the threshold of a dramatic transformation of the way consumers obtain video content that should increase competition and benefit American consumers,” the letter states.
“American consumers will benefit if we cross this threshold to increased competition, and we believe that your agencies play a role in making sure that transformation occurs. As Chairman and Ranking Member of the Antitrust Subcommittee, we have carefully examined consolidation in these industries to ensure that existing market leaders to not block or co-opt new options for receiving video content or exercise disproportionate control over the video content market.”
The Senators note concern that the merged companies and comcast would control 70 to 90 percent of the broadband internet connections to American homes, which could hinder the ability of online video distributors to offer a viable alternative to cable services. Regional cable companies could also find it difficult to compete. Additionally, they cite that maintaining a robust marketplace of ideas, news, and entertainment relies in part on the viability of independent programmers, who could end up being discriminated against if the merged companies are able to pay less for content.”
The full letter is available here.
“We are on the threshold of a dramatic transformation of the way consumers obtain video content that should increase competition and benefit American consumers,” the letter states.
“American consumers will benefit if we cross this threshold to increased competition, and we believe that your agencies play a role in making sure that transformation occurs. As Chairman and Ranking Member of the Antitrust Subcommittee, we have carefully examined consolidation in these industries to ensure that existing market leaders to not block or co-opt new options for receiving video content or exercise disproportionate control over the video content market.”
The Senators note concern that the merged companies and comcast would control 70 to 90 percent of the broadband internet connections to American homes, which could hinder the ability of online video distributors to offer a viable alternative to cable services. Regional cable companies could also find it difficult to compete. Additionally, they cite that maintaining a robust marketplace of ideas, news, and entertainment relies in part on the viability of independent programmers, who could end up being discriminated against if the merged companies are able to pay less for content.”
The full letter is available here.
Lee, Klobuchar Announce Hearing on Oversight of Antitrust Laws
Feb 18, 2016
WASHINGTON—Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights will hold a hearing on March 9 at 2:00 p.m., in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, entitled “Oversight of the Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws.”
Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez and Justice Department Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General William Baer will both testify at this customary oversight hearing.
Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez and Justice Department Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General William Baer will both testify at this customary oversight hearing.
Providing Equal Treatment to Home Educators
Feb 12, 2016
One of America’s most distinctive and exceptional qualities is the spirit of liberty embodied in our people and in our institutions. And there is perhaps no better expression of the American ethos of liberty than the belief that parents have the inalienable right – and indeed the responsibility – to direct the education of their children. Nowhere else in the world will you hear from parents what is widely held as a self-evident truth in households across America: that no one is in a better position to make decisions about a child’s education than his or her parents or guardians.
