Senator Lee offers ‘Pay Less, Build More’ Amendment to Infrastructure Bill

Aug 3, 2021

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has put forth an alternative to the “bipartisan infrastructure bill.” Lee’s amendment #2255 is a combination of the Transportation Empowerment Act, the UNSHACKLE Act, and the Davis-Bacon Repeal Act. The amendment would reduce the federal gas tax by more than eleven cents per gallon, return the national Highway Trust Fund to solvency, speed-up and simplify burdensome National Environmental Policy Act requirements, and remove Davis-Bacon wage rules. Each of these reforms will allow more federal infrastructure projects to be built more quickly and more affordably. Of the amendment Sen. Lee said, “We cannot pour money into a broken pitcher. Without these reforms, spending trillions of dollars on infrastructure will not only exacerbate inflation, it will not substantially improve our infrastructure standing. The ‘Pay Less, Build More’ Amendment is a way to cut taxes and burdensome regulation to improve our infrastructure standing while spending less.”

Sen. Lee Votes in Favor of National Guard

Jul 29, 2021

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) voted for a measure that would provide funding to the National Guard to satisfy a debt incurred by security services provided post-January 6th. Passage of this legislation is aimed at preventing the cancellation of vital training missions planned by National Guards in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Without this reimbursement, numerous trainings and drill weekends would be cancelled, resulting in guardsman not receiving pay for those previously scheduled activities.

Senator Lee Rejects New Irresponsible Infrastructure Spending

Jul 28, 2021

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) voted against the motion to proceed to the $1.2-trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act today. The full text of the large bill and Congressional Budget Office Score have yet to be released.

Sen. Lee, Rep. Curtis Introduce Legislation to Rename Provo Vet Center After “Candy Bomber” Gail Halvorsen

Jul 28, 2021

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) today introduced legislation to rename the Provo Vet Center in Orem, Utah after Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen, the “Candy Bomber.” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT), Burgess Owens (R-UT), and Chris Stewart (R-UT) joined as cosponsors of the legislation. The delegation also wrote a letter to the Chairman John Tester and Ranking Member Jerry Moran of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in support of the name change. “Col. Gail Halvorsen exemplifies the best of the Utah spirit of service,” said Sen. Lee. “His creativity and compassion helped to heal the wounds of the Second World War, and softened the relationship between occupied Germany and the United States. Renaming the Provo Vet Center in his honor is a fitting and deserved recognition of this American hero.”

Sen. Lee Urges FTC To Change Course

Jul 27, 2021

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) today sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan expressing concerns regarding several recent developments at the agency. Sen. Lee said in part, “The unifying theme of these developments is a progressive putsch to consolidate power and burden American businesses. For the sake of our antitrust enforcement regime, competitive markets, and the American economy, I hope you will change course.”

Sen. Lee Launches New Website

Jul 23, 2021

WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) launched his new website at Lee.Senate.gov. The new site features a Spanish version, a streamlined design, easier access to information, and an improved constituent comment system. For years, Sen. Lee’s website has helped constituents communicate with Sen. Lee, schedule meetings and tours, learn about his background and policy stances, and stay up-to-date on his efforts to serve the people of Utah.

Sen. Lee Speaks Against Runaway Spending

Jul 22, 2021

The consequences of reckless spending are no longer something we are facing in the distant future. They have caught up to us.

We are facing the consequences right now

Jul 16, 2021

For too long, the federal government has been borrowing and spending money that it simply does not have. This is not just a problem facing us in the future – we are facing the consequences right now. Because politicians in Washington vote for enormous spending packages in exchange for short-term praise and political gain, hardworking families in Utah and across America are forced to pay the price through inflation which makes life more expensive – especially for the poor and middle class.

Critical race theory attacks what it means to be an American

Jul 14, 2021

I learned as a child it is much easier to tear down than to build something worthwhile. It seems our political discourse has forgotten this simple lesson. Critical race theory is seeping into our foundational institutions and attacking what it means to be American. This dangerous philosophy undermines our founding principles, institutions, social mobility and history itself — threatening to take us backward in time, not forward.

IRS Changes Course after Sen. Lee and Rep. Owens Send Letter on Religious Liberty

Jul 8, 2021

WASHINGTON – After a June letter to the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) and colleagues, the IRS reversed course on a determination removing tax-exempt status of a religious values group. The letter called out the IRS determination that “the sanctity of life, biblical marriage, and biblical justice” were associated with political party platforms.