June 2014 - Mobile Office Visit to North Ogden Veterans
Jun 24, 2014
Mobile Office Visit to North Ogden Veterans
When: Thursday June 26 2014 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: North Ogden, Utah @ George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home at 1102 N. 1200 W. Ogden, UT 84404
June 2014 - Mobile Office Visit to North Ogden
Jun 23, 2014
Thursday 26 June 2014
Mobile Office Visit to North Ogden
When: Thursday June 26 2014 @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: North Ogden, Utah @ North Ogden City Council Chambers at City Hall - 505 E. 2600 N. North Ogden, UT 84414
Building a Majority for a Conservative Reform Agenda
Jun 19, 2014
Our ultimate goal is to enact conservative policies that restore the proper role of government, reenergize our economy, and create the conditions in which all Americans have a fair chance to pursue happiness—and find it.
Lee to Offer Amendment to Keep Housing Decisions in Local Hands
Jun 17, 2014
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee announced his plans to offer an amendment that would block funding for a regulation that allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to dictate local zoning requirements in any community across the country.
“Even for our highly centralized federal government, this rule represents an extreme step in consolidating government decisions over distinctly local matters within the hands of distant, unaccountable bureaucrats,” said Lee. “Local authorities are far more attuned to the unique conditions and needs of their communities, and they have a personal stake in their success. In every state across the country, there is no doubt that a mayor and city council officials will be more personally invested and more effective in improving the lives of the people in their community than a federal official located in Washington, D.C.”
Senator Lee plans to offer his amendment to the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act should it be brought to the floor this week.
If funded, the “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” rule would empower federal officials to assert the authority to force any community that receives a Community Development Block Grant to comply with zoning plans written in Washington. This rule effectively allows HUD to carve up the country, block by block, according to its own priorities and preferences.
Community Development Block Grants are allocations of federal tax dollars, issued to local governments by HUD, to address a variety of community development needs. One of the primary uses of these resources is to provide affordable public housing for individuals and families in need. Sadly, the inevitable consequence of federal management over how local officials spend this money will only make it harder for communities to provide adequate low-cost housing for their neighbors in need.
To protect the ability of local officials to serve low-income communities, Senator Lee’s amendment would prevent this egregious power grab by the federal government and would keep housing decisions closest to the people who are affected by them.
Rep. Paul Gosar is the original sponsor of a similar amendment in the House, which was successfully added to H.R. 4745, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2015.
Lee Urges Senate to Address the Threat of Western Wild Fires
Jun 11, 2014
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee sent a letter to Senator Mary Landrieu, Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, urging the Committee to promptly schedule oversight hearings to review federal wildland fire management activities and address the threat of catastrophic wildland fire in the West. Senator Lee expressed grave concerns about the ability of the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to protect public safety during what is projected to be a severe and destructive wildfire season.
Along with five other Senators who signed the letter, Senator Lee explained, “One of the greatest challenges facing our western forests is the growing severity of the fire season. Extreme fire behavior has become the new normal, due in no small part, to the mismanagement or lack of management of our public lands. This mismanagement has resulted in the loss of property, natural resources, wildlife habitat, as well as jobs and economic opportunities in rural communities.”
The Senators urged the Committee to follow the lead of the House of Representatives, which has “already approved legislation to restore active forest management,” and act quickly on this urgent matter. “Given that this fire season is off to an early and destructive start, it is critical that the Committee hear from the land-management agencies and examine and evaluate the agencies’ capacity to respond appropriately to wildfires, reduce fire risk to communities, and improve forest, watershed, and rangeland health.”
These oversight hearings represent the crucial first step in advancing “national forestry, rangeland, and watershed management reforms that will reduce wildland fire risks through more active management.”
Along with five other Senators who signed the letter, Senator Lee explained, “One of the greatest challenges facing our western forests is the growing severity of the fire season. Extreme fire behavior has become the new normal, due in no small part, to the mismanagement or lack of management of our public lands. This mismanagement has resulted in the loss of property, natural resources, wildlife habitat, as well as jobs and economic opportunities in rural communities.”
The Senators urged the Committee to follow the lead of the House of Representatives, which has “already approved legislation to restore active forest management,” and act quickly on this urgent matter. “Given that this fire season is off to an early and destructive start, it is critical that the Committee hear from the land-management agencies and examine and evaluate the agencies’ capacity to respond appropriately to wildfires, reduce fire risk to communities, and improve forest, watershed, and rangeland health.”
These oversight hearings represent the crucial first step in advancing “national forestry, rangeland, and watershed management reforms that will reduce wildland fire risks through more active management.”
Lee Attends SASC Briefing on Bergdahl
Jun 10, 2014
Senator Mike Lee, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), attended a meeting of SASC members this morning to receive a classified briefing from senior Pentagon officials on the prisoner exchange of five high-level Taliban leaders for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
The transfer of these detainees from Guantanamo Bay violated federal law requiring the Department of Defense to notify Congress 30 days prior to the transfer of any detainees from that facility. Following the briefing, Senator Lee remained concerned that the administration did not fully recognize the security implications of transferring these detainees and allowing them to eventually return to Afghanistan.
Said Senator Lee, "These five detainees were important leaders of the former Taliban government and had previously been deemed too dangerous to transfer, as recently as 2010. We still have serious questions about why suddenly they were no longer dangerous, and whether their return to Afghanistan could result in undermining over a decade of American work in that country that cost the lives of thousands of our service members."
Senator Lee will continue to push for answers to these questions and ensure that these decisions are being made more responsibly and with greater oversight.
The transfer of these detainees from Guantanamo Bay violated federal law requiring the Department of Defense to notify Congress 30 days prior to the transfer of any detainees from that facility. Following the briefing, Senator Lee remained concerned that the administration did not fully recognize the security implications of transferring these detainees and allowing them to eventually return to Afghanistan.
Said Senator Lee, "These five detainees were important leaders of the former Taliban government and had previously been deemed too dangerous to transfer, as recently as 2010. We still have serious questions about why suddenly they were no longer dangerous, and whether their return to Afghanistan could result in undermining over a decade of American work in that country that cost the lives of thousands of our service members."
Senator Lee will continue to push for answers to these questions and ensure that these decisions are being made more responsibly and with greater oversight.
The Ceremonial Release of the 2014 Arches National Park quarter
Jun 6, 2014
Today a member of my staff attended the ceremonial release of the 2014 Arches National Park quarter, the 23rd coin of the United States Mint America the Beautiful
Quarters Program. The America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar
Coin Act of 2008 requires the United States Mint to design, mint, and issue quarter-dollar coins emblematic of a national park or other national site in each state, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. Territories. The Arches National Park quarter follows the
release of the quarters honoring Shenandoah National Park (Virginia), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee), Mount Rushmore National Memorial (South Dakota), and Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (Maryland). Under the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, the United States Mint will issue five new quarters each year in the order in which each honored national park or other national site was first
established, with one final coin in 2021. Richard Peterson, U.S. Mint Deputy Director made the presentation to the state, with participation from Lt. Governor Spencer Cox and Kate Cannon, Arches National Park Superintendent. Quarters ceremonial packets were issued to all the children present and then to participants. The official issuance to the
public will be today.
Maintaining an Open Dialogue with Utah Businesses, Local Officials and Media
May 30, 2014
Meeting Utah Businesses
During the last week, I have been meeting with various groups across the state of Utah. I had a few meetings with various business leaders, employees, and industry leaders in Utah's thriving private sector.
thank you to @SenMikeLee for participating in the @NASDAQOMX executive roundtable this morning in SLC pic.twitter.com/oBHpggVNXD
— Michael Bartels (@ekimsletrab) May 28, 2014
On Wednesday morning I was part of an executive roundtable with several dozen heads of companies that are listed on NASDAQ. Many of these companies are technology companies. We had a very engaging conversation about the patent reform bill I am co-sponsoring with Senator Leahy and how “patent trolls” are crippling many companies in their industries.
I also met with regional Comcast representatives to discuss Utah-specific issues regarding infrastructure and access. As Utah continues to be one of the world's foremost locations for new businesses, entrepreneurship, and the tech industry, it was important to hear from one of our state's internet providers regarding the importance of high-speed internet access to these different sectors and to Utahns.
On Thursday I met with over 60 Salt Lake City-based employees of the Williams Company. I provided a report of the current issues facing Congress, and I was able to hear from these hard-working Utahns about their industry, their concerns, and their accomplishments.
I also had a very productive discussion with the Utah Steel Fabricators Association. This group comprises most of the distributors, processors, and fabricators of steel in the state of Utah, which represents many thousands of Utah jobs. We discussed the future of American manufacturing, and how certain reforms can help continue job growth in Utah.
Meeting with Local Officials
On Thursday morning, I met with a group of legislators from the Utah House of Representatives. It was an engaging and lively discussion with many of our state legislators, and we spent several hours discussing issues such as healthcare and education, and how I can best be a resource to our state legislature.
I also spoke at the investiture of Judge Carolyn McHugh to the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. I supported Judge McHugh’s nomination, the first female member of this court to be appointed in over 20 years.
Meeting with Utah's Media
My interview w/ @ABC4Glen will air this evening. I look forward to following his work as new reporter at @abc4utah. pic.twitter.com/ADpSYzDAFH
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 29, 2014
I had an enjoyable tour of ABC4 Studios in Salt Lake City by Richard Jones, the General Manager. I met with many of the employees of Channel 4, and had an in-depth interview with Glen Mills, Channel 4’s political reporter, who asked me questions about my bipartisan Smarter Sentencing Act, which I am co-sponsoring with one of my Democratic colleagues in the Senate.
Sentencing reform
Transportation Reform
Senator Lee Honors Academy Nominees for U.S. Military Academies
May 29, 2014
I hosted a dinner to honor high school graduates that I personally nominated to attend U.S. military academies.
These students go through a very rigorous interview process, they have impeccable grades, outstanding test scores, and they've also demonstrated and aptitude for leadership and high performance in every aspect of their lives. I expect great things from this bright young group of students, and I am grateful that they are choosing to apply their talents to the service of our country.
Of the seven high school graduates from all over the state of Utah that have been accepted into these academies, four are going to the Naval Academy, two to West Point, and one to Air Force Academy. I wish them the best in their future endeavors.
Pictured left to right: Dexter Clark, Seth White, Sen. Lee, Amy Johnston, Zerek Olson, & Keven Yeh
Honoring a Utah Veteran
May 28, 2014
On Tuesday the 27th of May, the staff in my St. George office hosted an awards ceremony for Sidney Ingram (Ski). LTC Anderson conducted the ceremony along with SGT Larsen and SGT Ogden of the SFC US Army 222. They presented Ski with three ribbons he had earned during the Vietnam War.
It is important that we all remember our Veterans that have served this country and that we ensure they receive the awards and recognition that they deserve. I salute the efforts made by these men, and I appreciate the efforts of my staff to serve them.
