Lee Statement on Letter to the International Trade Commission on Standard Essential Patents
May 21, 2013
Today, Senator Lee, ranking Republican on the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee, led a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to the International Trade Commission (ITC) requesting that it carefully assess public interest considerations in cases involving standard essential patents.
Too Big to Manage
May 16, 2013
The three events of the last few days – the IRS, the AP, and Benghazi – tend to confirm our worst fears about our government. They tend to tell us what we don't want to believe, but what sometimes turns out to be true. That your government is targeting you. That your government is spying on you. And that your government is lying to you.
Remarks on the Late Term Abortion Resolution
May 16, 2013
I rise to once again ask my colleagues to join me in expressing the sense of the Senate that governments at all levels have a compelling interest in preventing and punishing the practice of late-term abortions under unsafe, unsanitary, and illegal circumstances.
The Obama Scandals Aren’t About Bad Government, but Big Government
May 16, 2013
The more power any government has, the more power it will abuse. The more money it spends, the more money it will mis-spend. Dysfunction and corruption grow on government like mold on otherwise perfectly good bread.
Lee, Cruz, Paul: Don’t Use Procedural Tricks to Raise Taxes, Increase Debt Limit
May 16, 2013
Today, Senators Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, and Rand Paul called for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass a budget without using any procedural tricks to raise taxes or increase the debt limit. The Majority Leader does not deny that his intent to use a back-door procedure that would allow the Democrats to raise taxes and the debt limit under a 50-vote threshold, rather than the typical 60-vote threshold.
LEE: IRS Scandal More Than Just Partisan Fighting
May 15, 2013
It would be a mistake for Republicans to view the latest IRS scandal as a typical partisan squabble between political parties. The real lesson is that our massive federal government bureaucracy is inherently dysfunctional, corrupt, and intolerant regardless of who is in charge.
Let's Avoid Another Train Wreck and Fix Immigration the Right Way
May 14, 2013
If the goal of Monday's immigration hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee was to create the appearance of motion and evoke emotion then it was a success. I am not interested simply in motion, however. I want forward movement on comprehensive immigration reform.
Lee Statement on Gosnell Verdict
May 13, 2013
This case has always been about more than one man. It’s about an unaccountable industry that for too long has preyed upon the vulnerable and the innocent. We must take steps in coming months and years to end the decades of corruption and violence in America's late-term abortion industry. Whatever our views on abortion rights, we can all agree no one has the right to operate an unsanitary, unsafe abortion clinic, and government at all levels has a compelling interest in protecting innocent women and children from anyone who would.
Lee Responds to IRS Targeting Conservative Groups
May 13, 2013
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee released the following statement regarding revelations that the Internal Revenue Service had been targeting conservative groups:
“I am deeply troubled by reports that the IRS targeted certain conservative groups for political purposes. Americans of all political backgrounds are rightfully calling for a thorough investigation to find out who was directing this effort, and for the individuals involved to be held accountable. Concerns regarding this shameful abuse of power transcend partisan differences. This should not be dismissed as just another conflict between left and right; it is a conflict between the federal government and the American people, who -- regardless of their political leanings -- should be free to exercise their constitutionally protected rights without fear of political retribution from the world's most powerful tax-collection agency. We need to find out how this happened, why the underlying facts remained concealed until now, and what we can do to prevent the increasingly powerful IRS from targeting any group or individual based on political ideology.”
“I am deeply troubled by reports that the IRS targeted certain conservative groups for political purposes. Americans of all political backgrounds are rightfully calling for a thorough investigation to find out who was directing this effort, and for the individuals involved to be held accountable. Concerns regarding this shameful abuse of power transcend partisan differences. This should not be dismissed as just another conflict between left and right; it is a conflict between the federal government and the American people, who -- regardless of their political leanings -- should be free to exercise their constitutionally protected rights without fear of political retribution from the world's most powerful tax-collection agency. We need to find out how this happened, why the underlying facts remained concealed until now, and what we can do to prevent the increasingly powerful IRS from targeting any group or individual based on political ideology.”
Priorities for the Immigration Reform Bill
May 9, 2013
On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee begins consideration of the Gang of 8’s comprehensive immigration proposal. Though I believe the only way to achieve success in reforming our immigration system is through a step-by-step approach, I intend to use this opportunity to engage in constructive debate about how to make our border more secure, our immigration system more efficient and reliable, and our country more prosperous.
I have submitted 23 amendments to the bill that serve to highlight reforms I believe we must make to our immigration system.
One of my top priorities is to increase congressional oversight of executive branch activities as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and others work to secure our border. One of my amendments would require congressional approval of DHS plans to secure the border and a congressional vote to certify that all the metrics and “triggers” are met before allowing anyone to apply for Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) status. This amendment is key to ensuring we have real protections in place to prevent further widespread illegal immigration before beginning any legalization process.
I have also circulated several amendments that would narrow the scope of those who are allowed to apply for RPI status, as well as amendments that strengthen certain enforcement provisions. For example, one provision would make it a crime to attempt to use fraudulent documents to enter the United States. Under the proposed bill, only those who are successful in using fraudulent documents to enter the country could be punished. One of my amendments strengthens the requirement that illegal immigrants pay back taxes, and another clarifies that certain penalties may not be waived by DHS.
Another priority for me is to make our legal immigration system more efficient and more responsive to the changing needs of our economy, while taking special care not to give an incremental benefit to anyone who broke the law. I have several amendments that would reform the H1B visa system, which pertains to high-skilled labor, as well as a provision that would significantly widen the door for those who are outside the country and are seeking to use the proper channels to work here legally. Finally, I submitted an amendment that would make filing E-Verify documentation easier and less prone to errors.
While I am skeptical that all our immigration challenges can be solved in a single, comprehensive bill, I want to use this opportunity to discuss how best to fix our system and offer constructive proposals that make needed reforms. If this comprehensive bill proves unsuccessful, those challenges must still be addressed. I look forward to beginning this process.
