Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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464 rows where chamber = "House", state = "UT" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending
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| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ContentRecord_id=8826bd89-1c86-470a-a14b-5099ebe326b6 | Senator Lee has 100,000 Followers on Twitter - Top Tweets of 2013 | 2013-12-31 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | Early this morning, my following on Twitter surpassed 100,000. I would like to thank everyone that has joined the dialogue with me on Twitter. I have compiled a list of my most popular tweets from 2013. As you read through this list of tweets, you will see the important role you have all played in this dialogue. This year we have had important debates about controlling federal spending, protecting constitutional rights, protecting Americans from the negative effects of Obamacare, reforming immigration, and a variety of other topics. On January 1, 2013, I had ~15,700 followers on twitter. Surpassing 100,000 followers is a great benchmark, and it verifies that more and more Americans are becoming engaged in the debate about the future of our country. I am hopeful that we can continue to carry this dialogue forward into 2014 to even more people. I look forward to being a part of this debate. Here are the Twitter highlights from 2013. Retweet your favorites: Everything about the #fiscalcliff deal was a failure: what Congress did, how Congress did it, and what Congress failed to do. — Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 2, 2013 Senator Ted Cruz has created his official Twitter account @SenTedCruz. You should follow him. Please RT #tcot #tlot #tgdn #txpol #pjnet — Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 15, 2013 Unfortunately, the president is using Newtown tragedy to advance proposals that would do little to prevent such acts: http://t.co/SX7SjSKe — Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 16, 2013 The president’s approach is inconsistent w/ #2ndAmendment rights, and it encroaches on state and local governments: http://t.co/7cRF13GR — Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 16, 2013 #NLRB decision represents vindication of principled stand I've taken against President’s disregard of Constitution: http://t.co/jTHPsxr4 — Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 25, 2013 The Budget Act requires president to submit budget to Congress by today. Not surprisingly, he failed to do so: http://t.co/Y6RqI4cT #tcot — … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=319af966-7663-425f-aac9-1c43d411f61b | Hatch Praises Passage of Defense Bill that Includes Utah Provisions | 2013-12-20 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which includes two significant provisions Hatch worked on that impact Utah. NDAA authorizes all budget expenditures for the Department of Defense. The NDAA includes a land transfer of the United States Air National Guard facility at Francis Peak from the federal government over to the State of Utah, which plans to use the structures to support emergency public safety communications such as 9-1-1 emergency response for Northern Utah. Also included in the NDAA is an authorization of funds to construct facilities at Hill Air Force Base critical to the housing and maintenance of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet. “Providing for the defense and security of our nation is one of the most important responsibilities Members of Congress have, and I was proud to vote today to ensure our Defense Department and Utah have the tools they need to fulfil their responsibilities to our nation,” Hatch said. “I’m especially grateful to House and Senate Leadership on the Armed Services Committees for including these two provisions important to Utah. By turning over the facility at Francis Peak to the State, we’re ensuring that Northern Utahns in emergency situations can get access to the emergency care they need. And the new construction at Hill will guarantee that the hardworking men and women at Hill have the state of the art equipment they need to service the state-of-the-art next generation aircraft, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.” The Francis Peak land conveyance is outlined in section 2836 of NDAA, and the military construction projects at Hill AFB is authorized in section 4601. The full bill text of the NDAA can be found HERE. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=5f87ff62-a487-48ce-80a9-fab242422536 | Hatch: Obamacare's Problems Are Deeply Rooted in DNA | 2013-12-20 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | In a speech on the Senate floor today, Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) outlined ongoing challenges that have plagued the implementation of ObamaCare and said recent updates to the HealthCare.gov website will not resolve the fundamental flaws of the President’s signature domestic policy. Hatch also reacted to the Obama Administration’s announcement that Americans will be allowed to replace their canceled health care plans with “catastrophic” coverage plans. “The Administration has admitted that it bungled the rollout and tried to cover up for what Politifact dubbed Lie of the Year by passing the buck to states and insurers as to whether individuals would be able to keep their plans for the next year. But, let’s be clear about this: Obamacare’s problems are deeply rooted in its DNA and are far bigger than just a website,” said Hatch. Hatch further noted that the Administration’s recent announcement to allow Americans with canceled insurance plans to either buy catastrophic plans or avoid the requirement that they buy health insurance altogether is leading to significant confusion. “It’s been less than a full day and already this decision is causing confusion among insurers. It will almost certainly do the same for consumers,” said Hatch. “It seems that the Obama Administration is just making all of this up as they go along. Undoubtedly, many people will suffer the consequences of this ineptitude.” Below are Hatch’s full remarks delivered on the Senate floor today: Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the debacle that is the so-called Affordable Care Act. I don’t think there’s anyone in this chamber – Republican or Democrat – that would dispute that, thus far, the implementation of this law has been a disaster, particularly with regard to the healthcare.gov website and the President’s promise that “if you like your health care plan you can keep it. The Administration has admitted that it bungled the rollout and tried to cover up for what Poli… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221001036/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364797 | Bishop Notes the Importance of Budget’s Passage and Stopping Defense Sequester | 2013-12-18 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON— Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01) today noted the importance of the U.S. Senate’s passage of the budget measure, which avoids another government shutdown, protects military and civilian defense workers in Utah, and reduces the deficit by more than $23 billion. The bill will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. According to a study conducted by George Mason University, defense sequestration in the State of Utah hit more than 8,000 jobs in the defense and aerospace sectors, which had a significant impact on our nation’s military readiness capabilities. "With today’s passage, we are ensuring that jobs and critical components of our national defense capabilities aren't crippled as the result of sequestration and another government shutdown. Congress has a responsibility to uphold the fundamental tenet of the Constitution to provide for the common defense of our country. This budget was far from perfect but it does protect our national defense. If we had more reasonable leadership amongst Senate democrat leaders, this bill would have likely turned out far better. The bottom line is that our country needs a budget and to get one done, we had to get past Senator Harry Reid. The fact that we have been able to avoid a shutdown, curtail the defense sequester, and reduce the deficit is significant," said Congressman Bishop. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221011348/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364783 | IN THE NEWS: In a Do-Nothing Congress, Rob Bishop Got Stuff Done | 2013-12-18 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | IN THE NEWS: In a Do-Nothing Congress, Rob Bishop Got Stuff Done f t # e Washington, Dec 18, 2013 by Bryan Schott, Today At Utah Policy A new analysis of the 113th Congress finds Rep. Rob Bishop on a very short list of members who were able to get legislation acted on. The Huffington Post calculated "efficiency ratings" for each member of Congress based on the number of bills a member was able to get out of committee in relation to the total amount of legislation they sponsored. Bishop scores a 71% rating for having 12 of his 17 bills pass out of committee. READ MORE HERE: Utah Policy.com HuffingtonPost.com f t # e | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/stewart-statement-on-the-retirement-of-rep-jim-matheson | Stewart Statement on the Retirement of Jim Matheson | 2013-12-17 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Chris Stewart | S001192 | stewart.house.gov | legacy | Contact: Allison.Barker@mail.house.gov Washington, D.C. – After the announcement that Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) will retire next year, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) released the following statement: "I was surprised to hear the news that Rep. Jim Matheson will be retiring next year. While we may not always agree on legislation, he is a public servant whom I respect and have enjoyed working alongside. He has always worked hard to do what he believes is best for his constituents and the state of Utah. I wish him and his family the best in their future endeavors and know that he will be greatly missed within our delegation." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=a248b1ac-4545-4466-bc41-e8ff55153824 | Hatch Statement on Jim Matheson Retirement | 2013-12-17 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the most senior member of the Utah Congressional delegation, issued the following statement after Congressman Jim Matheson (UT-04) announced he will retire at the end of this Congress: “During my 37 years in the United States Congress, I’d be hard pressed to name someone who I’ve enjoyed serving alongside of more than Jim Matheson. While we didn’t agree on everything, you always knew that Jim was doing what he sincerely felt was best for our state. From public land rights to standing up for Hill Air Force Base to fighting against Obamacare, I’ve been proud to stand with Jim on behalf of Utahns and the values we hold dear. Jim and I have represented Utah together for 13 years, and I’ve had the pleasure of knowing him and his family for much longer. I wish Jim, his beautiful wife Amy, and their sons Will and Harris much love and success in whatever comes next for their family.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ContentRecord_id=092b83f6-d0e3-4a0c-b6ef-ed112fbc61aa | December 2013 Tele-townhall: A Year in Review | 2013-12-17 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | A Year in Review On the night of Wednesday, December 18 at 7:00 p.m. MT, I will be holding my final tele-townhall of the year. We have had a busy year in Washington and there is much I want to discuss with the people of Utah. As I look forward to where we are headed as a country, I believe we need to come together in an open dialogue about how to best chart a course toward a better future. I look forward to having a discussion about your questions and concerns, observations and insight. Below is a list of major developments from the last year that I hope we can touch on during our discussion. Read the bill before you vote One of the first things that Congress did in 2013 was pass a deal to avert the "fiscal cliff." Many Americans were alarmed to find that Congress approved this legislation after only having 6 minutes to read the bill. We saw similar tactics employed when the Senate tried to pass new gun control laws and when it passed the Gang of 8 comprehensive immigration reform bill. On October first, millions of Americans started experiencing first-hand the consequences of a law that was passed without many members of Congress ever reading it as Americans across the country started reading the cancelation notices for their health insurance plans because of Obamacare. Unfortunately, Americans spent more time reading these cancelation notices than those who voted for Obamacare spent reading the bill. Americans are right to be outraged. Americans deserve proposals that offer simplicity instead of complexity, that work by promoting freedom and flexibility instead of mandates and coercion, and that can be debated in the open, not negotiated in secret. Cut This, Not That Throughout the year, Congress has continued to debate spending, deficits and our debt ceiling. At the beginning of this year, we experienced our first round of sequester cuts. Unfortunately, the Administration decided to intentionally make these cuts as painful as possible. Americans saw through this charade, and together … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=46ab19ac-62bc-4f26-948b-74653b2818ee | Hatch on Budget Agreement: "Sometimes the Answer Has to be Yes" | 2013-12-16 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement announcing that he will support the consensus budget agreement negotiated by House and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.): “This agreement isn’t everything I’d hoped it would be, and it isn’t what I would have written. But sometimes the answer has to be yes. The reality is that Republicans only control one-half of one-third of government. Ultimately, this agreement upholds the principles conservatives stand for and, with Democrats controlling the White House and the Senate, it is the best we could hope for. I know that crafting this budget was hard fought, and it’s built on the necessary consensus that reflects divided government. “I appreciate the hard work of Paul Ryan, Speaker Boehner, and House Republicans in crafting this commendable compromise that reduces our debt over the long-term, prevents another government shutdown, and stops the budget battles that have rocked America with economic uncertainty and political pessimism. Much more work needs to be done to address the number one drivers of our country’s debt – our entitlement programs. But my hope is that this budget agreement paves the way to greater stability, lasting deficit reduction, and the political will to tackle those challenges in the near future.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=cbe99252-c98c-4a88-b9a2-5b3b4761eb41 | Lee: Utah to Lose $32 Million in Budget Deal | 2013-12-16 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee announced that under the recent Senate-House budget deal, the state of Utah would lose approximately $32 million in payments from the federal government. Under the Mineral Leasing Act, the federal government leases federal land for the development of energy, minerals and other materials, and shares the revenue with the states in which the leases are held. The revenue is currently split evenly between the states and the federal government. Section 302 of the budget deal would only decrease what the states receive, leaving the federal portion intact. That would mean a total reduction of $415 million for the states, with roughly $32 million coming from Utah. “It is unfortunate that the budget targets the mineral leasing program,” said Sen. Lee, who sits on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Many of Utah’s rural communities depend on this funding and we shouldn’t be pulling the rug out from under them when there are so many other wasteful and ineffective programs in the federal government to reform.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://chaffetz.house.gov/press-release/chaffetz-supports-budget-deal | Chaffetz Supports Budget Deal | 2013-12-13 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Jason Chaffetz | C001076 | chaffetz.house.gov | legacy | The press release you requested is no longer available. Please see below for a complete list of House vacancy details. 115th Congress, 1st Session State, District Reason for Vacancy, Successor Pennsylvania, 18th The Honorable Tim Murphy resigned from the 115th Congress on October 21, 2017. Utah, 3rd The Honorable Jason Chaffetz resigned from the 115th Congress on June 30, 2017. The Honorable John R. Curtis was elected November 7, 2017, in special election. Representative Curtis was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on November 13, 2017. Kansas, 4th The Honorable Mike Pompeo resigned from the 115th Congress on January 23, 2017. The Honorable Ron Estes was elected April 11, 2017, in special election. Representative Estes was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on April 25, 2017. Montana, At Large The Honorable Ryan K. Zinke resigned from the 115th Congress on March 1, 2017. The Honorable Greg Gianforte was elected May 25, 2017, in special election. Representative Gianforte was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on June 21, 2017. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://chaffetz.house.gov/press-release/chaffetz-responds-agreement-between-wireless-carries-and-fcc | Chaffetz Responds to Agreement between Wireless Carriers and FCC | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Jason Chaffetz | C001076 | chaffetz.house.gov | legacy | The press release you requested is no longer available. Please see below for a complete list of House vacancy details. 115th Congress, 1st Session State, District Reason for Vacancy, Successor Pennsylvania, 18th The Honorable Tim Murphy resigned from the 115th Congress on October 21, 2017. Utah, 3rd The Honorable Jason Chaffetz resigned from the 115th Congress on June 30, 2017. The Honorable John R. Curtis was elected November 7, 2017, in special election. Representative Curtis was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on November 13, 2017. Kansas, 4th The Honorable Mike Pompeo resigned from the 115th Congress on January 23, 2017. The Honorable Ron Estes was elected April 11, 2017, in special election. Representative Estes was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on April 25, 2017. Montana, At Large The Honorable Ryan K. Zinke resigned from the 115th Congress on March 1, 2017. The Honorable Greg Gianforte was elected May 25, 2017, in special election. Representative Gianforte was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on June 21, 2017. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://chaffetz.house.gov/press-release/chaffetz-wyden-ask-holder-release-unredacted-geolocation-memos | Chaffetz, Wyden Ask Holder to Release Unredacted Geolocation Memos | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Jason Chaffetz | C001076 | chaffetz.house.gov | legacy | The press release you requested is no longer available. Please see below for a complete list of House vacancy details. 115th Congress, 1st Session State, District Reason for Vacancy, Successor Pennsylvania, 18th The Honorable Tim Murphy resigned from the 115th Congress on October 21, 2017. Utah, 3rd The Honorable Jason Chaffetz resigned from the 115th Congress on June 30, 2017. The Honorable John R. Curtis was elected November 7, 2017, in special election. Representative Curtis was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on November 13, 2017. Kansas, 4th The Honorable Mike Pompeo resigned from the 115th Congress on January 23, 2017. The Honorable Ron Estes was elected April 11, 2017, in special election. Representative Estes was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on April 25, 2017. Montana, At Large The Honorable Ryan K. Zinke resigned from the 115th Congress on March 1, 2017. The Honorable Greg Gianforte was elected May 25, 2017, in special election. Representative Gianforte was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on June 21, 2017. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/stewart-votes-in-favor-of-the-bipartisan-budget-act | Stewart Votes in Favor of the Bipartisan Budget Act | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Chris Stewart | S001192 | stewart.house.gov | legacy | Contact: Allison.Barker@mail.house.gov Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) voted in favor of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. Following the vote, he released the following statement: “I voted in favor of the budget deal Chairman Paul Ryan has negotiated. Chairman Ryan is negotiating with a partner that fails to recognize the gravity of the situation our great country is facing and refuses to make the hard choices to put our country on a real path to fiscal sustainability.” “The sequester was a blunt instrument that indiscriminately cut defense spending in an irresponsible manner. This deal reverses those cuts that were focused largely on our defense spending. While I acknowledge that we can, and should, address wasteful spending in our defense department, the sequester was a poor way to address the need for more responsible spending.” “Chairman Ryan was able to keep in place most of the overall spending cuts from the Budget Control Act while relieving the cuts to defense spending that have hurt our national security and military readiness over the past five years. This deal also allows us to return Congress to regular order--stopping Washington from governing crisis to crisis. Having a budget in place will allow Republicans to hold the President and his federal agencies accountable through the appropriations process." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221004303/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364275 | House Passes NDAA | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON– The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes three provisions benefitting Northern Utah that were included at the request of Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee. “It is important that we pass the NDAA each year. The bill authorizes just about every aspect of our national defense infrastructure and capabilities. This year I am especially pleased that provisions to support Utah’s National Guard, Air National Guard, and Hill Air Force Base have been included. The land conveyance for Camp Williams and the transfer of ownership of Francis Peak Radar Site are important to the state. I am also pleased that we continue to prepare for the arrival of the F-35 at Hill Air Force Base. Hill will not only be home to the first F-35s but will oversee much of the maintenance on all of the other F-35s in the country,” said Bishop. The NDAA directs the Secretary of Interior to convey 420 acres of federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land located within Camp Williams to the State of Utah. The land will permit the Utah National Guard to conduct ongoing military training and readiness exercises and will streamline the management and utilization of the property. In addition to securing land for the Utah National Guard, the NDAA authorizes the Utah Air National Guard to transfer the Francis Peak Radar Site to the State of Utah. Allowing the state to save this infrastructure from demolition ensures the continuation of emergency communications (including 911 services to Davis County) and relieves the Utah Air National Guard of its obligations now that its mission for the site has ended. Should this not have happened, the Guard would have been obligated under existing Department of Defense (DOD) regulations to dismantle existing infrastructure at a cost to the taxpayers of nearly $2 million dollars. This would have resulted in the loss of communications to the Utah Emergency Network. The NDAA also funds new i… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221011352/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364311 | House Passes Two Year Budget | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON— The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the budget to authorize the funding of the federal government during fiscal years 2014 and 2015. The budget importantly reduces the deficit by $20-23 billion and protects the military from drastic sequester cuts over the next two years. Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01) joined with 332 colleagues in support of the measure, noting the relief it will bring to our national defense. “Passing a budget is important and just like families and businesses across the country realize, sacrifices are necessary. In this instance, I would have liked to have seen deeper spending cuts. However, the House, Senate, and White House don’t share the same outlook on fiscal conservatism. The key point, though, is that for the next couple of years this bill relieves the burden of sequester on our nation’s military while still reducing the deficit over the long-term. The hard working men and women who serve our country have shouldered more than their fair share from President Obama’s draconian cuts to defense as well as the President’s sequester cuts to defense. You can’t balance the budget on the back of our military. Stopping these looming sequester cuts is the right thing to do. If we want to get serious about addressing the budget and curbing spending, we need to expand our sights beyond the Department of Defense,” Bishop stated. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=1169fd46-3030-49ea-b12d-8f0c776ea717 | Hatch, Baucus Laud Finance Committee Action on Proposals to Strengthen & Improve Child Welfare in America | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) today applauded Committee action on a bipartisan package of legislative proposals to improve child welfare in America. The Supporting At-Risk Children Act strengthens and renews adoption incentive and foster care policies; works to combat child sex trafficking; and improves the collection of meaningful child support payments from noncustodial parents living overseas. The Chairman’s Mark, which was favorably reported out of the Committee overwhelmingly by voice vote, included key provisions from Baucus that address increased permanency options for kids in foster care, creates a National Advisory Committee on Domestic Sex Trafficking to disseminate best practices, and child support enforcement provisions that help collect funds for tribal children and promote responsible fatherhood. The mark also contains key elements from Hatch’s bill, S. 1518, the Improving Outcomes for Youth At Risk for Sex Trafficking, IO YOUTH. The measure further draws from a number of bipartisan proposals, including trafficking legislation (S. 1118) sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Wis.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) as well as child support legislation introduced by Senators Robert Menendez (S. 508) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa.) “Given the challenges plaguing America’s child welfare and foster care systems, today the Finance Committee acted in a bipartisan way with smart policies that will better protect and improve the well-being of our nation’s most vulnerable children,” said Senator Hatch. “These proposals – from improving adoption assistance to taking steps to put to an end to domestic youth sex trafficking – will help foster a safer environment for our young people to put them on a path to leading happy, healthy, and successful lives. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure these policies are enacted into law. “The most important factors in a child’s life are a strong family and supportive community. Unfortunately, … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ContentRecord_id=dda0cc37-84d9-466c-aec5-94a3435f8b27 | Shutting the American People Out of the Political Process | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | Mr. President, I'd first like to thank my distinguished colleague, the senior senator from Wyoming, who is a good friend and a fine example to all those who know him. People from both sides of the aisle can learn and benefit from my friend from Wyoming who as a businessman, later as a mayor, as a devoted husband and father, has served his country well and has served his colleagues in the Senate well. His remarks on the Senate floor tonight have been especially insightful and I've learned something from him this evening as I do every time he speaks. He's one who reached out to me shortly after I arrived here in the united states senate and one who has always shown to me great kindness. And I've always been grateful for that and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the Senate. You know, Mr. President, what's happening in the senate right now is more than just an attempt by the majority to end debate on nominees. It's an attempt to shut out the American people from the political process. You see, President Obama and the majority party in the Senate are so dedicated to enacting their progressive agenda that they'll do anything, even if it means running roughshod over the minority and ignoring the will of the people. Our founding fathers drafted the Constitution to prevent this sort of thing from happening and to protect the rights of all Americans. They devised a constitutionally limited government with a system of checks and balances so that no one branch of government would wield unlimited power. You see, the whole idea of this system was to prevent the excessive aggregation of power, the excessive accumulation of power within the hands of a few. Under our Constitution, the president's representative function is to faithfully execute the law and not to make it. Congress as a whole alone makes the laws, including a deliberative Senate whose majorities reflect minority views. Senate Democrats' recent actions are an assault on republican institutions and the protections they provide to all Americans. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=13c4f685-47e6-408f-a8c9-053a324217a5 | Lee Names Derek Brown as Deputy Chief of Staff/State Director | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | SALT LAKE CITY – Today, Senator Mike Lee announced that current Utah State Representative Derek Brown has accepted the position of Deputy Chief of Staff and State Director for the senator’s office. Rep. Brown will resign his seat in the Utah Legislature effective January 2, 2014 and will assume his new role on January 3rd. Senator Lee’s Chief of Staff Boyd Matheson had been filling the State Director duties for the past year. Senator Lee commented, “I am thrilled to have Derek Brown on board. I have known him since I helped recruit him to Sidley & Austin 11 years ago and look forward to what he will contribute to our staff, our constituents and leaders within the State of Utah. Derek is a great talent and understands the legislative process as well as critical functions of a senate office.” In addition to his stellar legal career, Derek Brown served as legal counsel to U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch and former U.S. Senator Robert Bennett (Full biography below). “Derek’s appointment is another important step in the strategy we began last year to move Senator Lee’s positive reform agenda forward,” said Senator Lee’s chief of staff Boyd Matheson. “Derek will be an integral part of our senior staff in executing our strategy and connecting it to the people of Utah.” “While it was a difficult decision to step down from the state legislature, joining Senator Lee and his team at this time with this agenda is an amazing opportunity,” said Brown. “The Senator has established himself as a national thought leader and important player in the Republican Party. I am excited to work with community, government and business leaders around the state to help them engage with the senator on this important agenda for Utah and the country. It is a critical time in our history and Senator Lee has put forward positive solutions I believe are certain to be part of solving many of the challenges we face as a nation. ” Senator Lee concluded by saying, “I have extraordinary staff in Washington and Utah who are all committed to servi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1e3f965f-0aec-45f2-827b-ccdec0af9815 | Lee Introduces Act to Protect Religious Liberty | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee and eleven original cosponsors introduced legislation to protect religious organizations from discrimination by the federal government for supporting traditional marriage. The “Marriage and Religious Freedom Act” bars the government from denying any person or group tax-exempt status for exercising their religious conscience rights. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Vitter, Rubio, Roberts, Hatch, Coburn, Blunt, Inhofe, Wicker, Risch, Cochran and Graham. “This bill protects the rights of individuals and organizations from religious discrimination by the federal government,” said Senator Lee. “Those who believe in the traditional definition of marriage deserve respect and tolerance. It is critical that we clarify the law to ensure that their fundamental civil liberties are not at risk.” A companion bill, HR 3133, was introduced in the House by Rep. Raul Labrador and has 92 cosponsors. The “Marriage and Religious Freedom Act” has been endorsed by the United States Conference Of Catholic Bishops, Family Research Council, National Organization For Marriage, Heritage Action, Concerned Women For America, The Ethics And Religious Liberty Commission Of The Southern Baptist Convention, and Liberty Counsel Action. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6c80f890-66af-4bcc-aff0-ecd144cb0aac | Lee Opposes House-Senate Budget Deal | 2013-12-11 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Lee released the following statement on the budget deal recently announced by the Chairs of the House and Senate Budget Committees:“Rather than enacting reforms to make government more efficient, the budget deal makes more government more expensive. Sequestration is far from ideal, but at least it forced Congress get serious about excessive spending. This deal cuts into the modest gains taxpayers have won since 2011, by trading concrete spending reductions over the next two years for theoretical spending cuts a decade from now. In the meantime, the deal raises taxes on all air travellers, so that Congress can continue to ignore both waste in discretionary spending and the ticking fiscal time-bomb of our entitlement programs. “I do not envy House Republicans in their task of negotiating a budget with a Senate majority and president hostile to the very idea of having one. But the deal they have struck is not one I can support. “If there is a silver lining in this deal, it at least further confirms the need for Republicans to finally develop a comprehensive conservative reform agenda. Real reform involves not simply cutting dysfunctional programs, but fixing them so government doesn’t cost so much in the first place. And as Democrats continue to hide from those reforms at the behest of their special-interest clients, Republicans must begin to advance our ideas openly and transparently, not behind closed doors up against artificial deadlines set by the forces of the status quo.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=267cfef6-86a3-4fb6-b651-88eeeaabb9d2 | Hatch Statement at Senate Finance Committee Hearing Considering John Koskinen For IRS Commissioner | 2013-12-10 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, today delivered the following remarks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing considering the nomination of John Koskinen to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS): (Click the image above to watch Hatch’s remarks) Today we are here to discuss the future of the Internal Revenue Service and to hear testimony from President Obama’s nominee to head that agency, John Koskinen. Mr. Koskinen, I don’t think that I have to tell you that, if you are confirmed, you will have a difficult job ahead of you. The IRS is one of the most powerful agencies in our government. Consequently, it is both feared and loathed by millions of Americans. That being the case, it is vital that the IRS maintain its credibility. The American people should be able to trust that the IRS will enforce our nation’s tax laws without bias or prejudice. Any hint of impropriety on the part of the IRS or its leadership damages its credibility and that of our entire government. Unfortunately, over the last few years, the credibility of the IRS has been eroded through actions taken by the IRS itself and the agency has, in large part, lost the trust of the American people. As proof, one needs to look no further than the IRS political targeting scandal currently under investigation by this committee. When this scandal was revealed, President Obama said, “I have got no patience with it, I will not tolerate it, and we will make sure that we find out exactly what happened on this." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressed similar views on the Senate floor, stating: “I have full confidence in the ability of Senator Baucus and the Finance Committee to get to the bottom of this matter and recommend appropriate action.” I share both President Obama’s desire to find out exactly what happened and Leader Reid’s view of the Finance Committees investigative abilities. Indeed, if there is one thing we should all be able to agree on… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=a261beb0-21b7-46d7-871a-03cbaf2635fe | The Greatest Snow on Earth | 2013-12-09 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | With record breaking snowfall over the past few weeks, it’s no wonder Utah is said to have “The Greatest Snow on Earth.” The Utah ski season is here and along with the holidays, comes the famous powder snow that brings so much joy while providing attractions for Utahns and visitors throughout the state. Although many winter events are available, the popular legacy of downhill skiing always seems to be a Utah favorite. Before skiing became a sport for Utah, it acted as a means of travel across Utah’s mountains. In the early 1870’s, miners and trappers would navigate their way across the snow covered canyons. This rich heritage brought over by Norwegian immigrants quickly transformed into a recreational activity for those seeking the thrill of speed or even the beautiful landscape views of the valleys below. Utah is especially lucky to have 14 world-class ski and snowboard resorts. Most of these resorts are within close proximity of each other, allowing skiers to visit several throughout the season. For 2013-2014, Forbes Magazine named four Utah ski resorts among the top 10 in the nation while Ski Magazine named eight Utah ski resorts among the top in the west. Along with these awards, we are also grateful for the boost skiing gives to Utah’s economy through tourism and the need for equipment to help carry out the ski season. Although skiing is the most popular winter activity, there is much more to snow sports for Utah. Cross-country skiing, ice skating, downhill tubing and snowmobiling are some other winter sports available. Over a decade ago, Salt Lake City, Utah was proud to host the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Being chosen for the ability to hold games with the conditions needed, Utah became the center of the sports world and since then, the legacy venues used are still available. The Utah Olympic Park, located near Park City, was the home of the training site for many Olympic athletes. Still acting as an official US Olympic Committee facility, visitors can watch aspiring Olympians train, participate in a … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/stewart-statement-on-the-passing-of-nelson-mandela | Stewart Statement on the Passing of Nelson Mandela | 2013-12-05 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Chris Stewart | S001192 | stewart.house.gov | legacy | Contact: Allison.Barker@mail.house.gov Washington, D.C. – Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) released the following statement regarding the passing of Nelson Mandela: "I'm saddened to hear of the passing of Nelson Mandela. He was a courageous leader who did so much for South Africa and was an example to so many around the world. On a personal note, I'll always remember some great words spoken by Mr. Mandela, 'I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.' I send condolences to his family and to the people of South Africa." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221004329/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363564 | Bishop Calls on Secretary Jewell to Further Examine the National Park Service’s Erroneous Comments on Hydraulic Fracturing | 2013-12-05 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON—Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Sally Jewell today received a letter from Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee, requesting further information about the protocol and review process for the submission of official comments by the DOI and related agencies. The letter stems from the recent discovery that the National Park Service used unsubstantiated data from a New York Times opinion piece in official comments made to the Bureau of Land Management. In a September 05, 2013 letter to NPS Director Jon Jarvis, Congressman Bishop highlighted that the comments from the NPS to the BLM used the erroneous information to make a case against hydraulic fracturing. Congressman Bishop recently received a letter from Director Jarvis stating that the comments were made in error and would be withdrawn. Excerpts of the letter: The NPS comments enabled the false narrative that hydraulic fracturing is not regulated and is unsafe. On August 29, 2013, just six days after the NPS comments were filed, the Independent Petroleum Association of America outlined, in a letter to the NPS, the plethora of inaccuracies included in the NPS comments. On September 6, 2013, I sent a letter to NPS Director Jarvis requesting the withdrawal of the comments because of the well-documented inaccuracies. It’s further troubling that the NPS lacks a system of data accountability and quality control. Director Jarvis wrote in the November 13, 2013 letter: “I did not, nor did anyone from management, review the comments”. This is very puzzling and raises further questions and concerns. view the letter here | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221044459/http://chaffetz.house.gov/press-release/house-passes-innovation-act-make-reforms-our-patent-system | House Passes Innovation Act to Make Reforms to our Patent System | 2013-12-05 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Jason Chaffetz | C001076 | web.archive.org | legacy | Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 325-91. This bipartisan bill takes steps to combat the ever increasing problem of abusive patent litigation. House Judiciary Committee Chairman and chief sponsor of the Innovation Act Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Representative Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Chairman Howard Coble (R-N.C.), Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), and Representative Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) applauded the bill’s passage. Chairman Goodlatte: “In recent years, we have seen an exponential increase in the use of weak or poorly-granted patents by so-called patent trolls to file numerous patent infringement lawsuits against American businesses with the hopes of securing a quick payday. Everyone from independent inventors, to start-ups, to mid and large sized businesses face this constant threat. “The enactment of the Innovation Act is something I consider central to U.S. competiveness, job creation, and our nation’s future economic security. The bipartisan legislation takes meaningful steps to address the abusive practices that have damaged our patent system and resulted in significant economic harm to our nation. I am encouraged by the overwhelming support the Innovation Act received in the House and I look forward to working with the Senate to see that patent litigation reform legislation is signed into law.” Representative DeFazio: “I started working on the patent troll issue a few years ago when a small company in my district was forced to delay a product launch and put off hiring because the owner was fighting a patent troll that wanted several hundred thousand dollars to make their lawsuit go away. This is not a unique situation. Patent trolls extract at least $29 billion a year from innovators. Today’s passage of the Innovation Act in the House brings us a step closer to stopping this lucrative extortion racket. I… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/stewart-appointed-to-the-house-appropriations-committee | Stewart Appointed to the House Appropriations Committee | 2013-12-04 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Chris Stewart | S001192 | stewart.house.gov | legacy | Contact: Allison.Barker@mail.house.gov Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) was appointed as a new member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. “I’m excited for the chance to serve on the appropriations committee and for the opportunities it offers to better oversee federal spending,” Stewart said. “As outlined in the Constitution, one of the primary functions of Congress is to manage federal funds. Specifically, the appropriations committee plays a critical and constitutionally mandated role in holding the President and his federal agencies accountable for the people’s money. It has already held more than 150 hearings this year, with a focus on making every aspect of the government justify its existence or else lose its funding. I’m excited to be a part of this effort.” Joining Stewart on the committee are Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-02) and Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02). “I am pleased to welcome Representatives Amodei, Roby, and Stewart to the Committee, and look forward to working side-by-side with them as we tackle our formidable work ahead,” said Rep. Hal Rogers, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “Members of the Appropriations Committee have tough jobs to do, and have a great responsibility to properly fund the federal government and support the well-being of the nation. These dedicated public servants have proven their commitment to the responsible shepherding of federal tax dollars, to the regular Appropriations process, and to both the people of their districts and the American people as a whole.” “I have been extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve on the House Natural Resources Committee, the House Homeland Security Committee and as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment under the House Science, Space and Technology Committee,” Stewart continued. “These committees are all working on meaningful legislation, which I will continue to support.” The slots on the Appropriations Committee opened following the resignations of Congressmen Rodney Alexander and Jo Bonn… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=010d3292-e0d0-4599-ada1-870ba4f84a2c | Sen. Lee Hosts Poverty Roundtable | 2013-12-04 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | SALT LAKE CITY – Today, Senator Mike Lee hosted a roundtable with Utah citizens, experts, government officials, and community activists on the growing crisis of immobility among the poor. The event is a continuation of Sen. Lee’s “Let’s Talk” series he began in August, taking him around the state to hear directly from Utahns about the critical issues facing the state and the country. Today’s panel, held at the Sutherland Institute, presented an opportunity for those who work in Utah communities to fight poverty to discuss their work with Senator Lee and present ideas for solving the problems they face in promoting upward mobility among the disadvantaged. The roundtable included representatives from Utah Department of Work Force Services, Calvary Baptist Church, Utah Food Bank, 4th Street Clinic, United Way, and Standing Together. “America's true war on poverty began at the founding of this country,” said Senator Lee after the event. “It was our dedication to economic freedom and voluntary civil society that liberated millions of American families, opening up opportunities for the pursuit of happiness never known before or since. In that tradition, it should be government’s role today to give struggling Americans greater access to the benefits of free enterprise, the greatest weapon against poverty ever conceived by man.” With Senator Lee, the group discussed changes in federal and state policy to remove barriers that trap people in poverty and make upward mobility all but impossible. Topics included welfare reform, access to quality affordable health care, removing anti-marriage biases in federal policy, ways to help keep families intact, increasing educational opportunities, and Medicaid reform. “As the family goes, so goes society. We need to focus on the role of the father in the family,” said a representative of Standing Together. “It’s time that someone in Washington speak about moral issues. Poverty is a moral issue.” “Having federal funds helps, but the regulations that come with those… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://chaffetz.house.gov/press-release/chaffetz-sponsored-provo-river-bill-passes-house | Chaffetz Sponsored Provo River Bill Passes the House | 2013-12-03 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Jason Chaffetz | C001076 | chaffetz.house.gov | legacy | The press release you requested is no longer available. Please see below for a complete list of House vacancy details. 115th Congress, 1st Session State, District Reason for Vacancy, Successor Pennsylvania, 18th The Honorable Tim Murphy resigned from the 115th Congress on October 21, 2017. Utah, 3rd The Honorable Jason Chaffetz resigned from the 115th Congress on June 30, 2017. The Honorable John R. Curtis was elected November 7, 2017, in special election. Representative Curtis was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on November 13, 2017. Kansas, 4th The Honorable Mike Pompeo resigned from the 115th Congress on January 23, 2017. The Honorable Ron Estes was elected April 11, 2017, in special election. Representative Estes was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on April 25, 2017. Montana, At Large The Honorable Ryan K. Zinke resigned from the 115th Congress on March 1, 2017. The Honorable Greg Gianforte was elected May 25, 2017, in special election. Representative Gianforte was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on June 21, 2017. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003817/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363288 | Hatch, Bishop, Lee Applaud Air Force Announcement on F-35 | 2013-12-03 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee, and U.S. Representative Rob Bishop applauded the U.S. Air Force’s official announcement that Hill Air Force Base will be the first operational squadron of the F-35 stealth fighter starting in 2015. The Air Force issued its final record of decision this morning at the conclusion of a 30-day waiting period that followed the completion of the Environmental Impact Statement. The decision signals the continuation of the enduring partnership between the Air Force and the state of Utah that has mutually benefited U.S. National Security and the Utah community for decades. “Today’s announcement is the final step before the first operation squadron of the U.S. Air Force’s next generation of aircraft comes to Utah,” Hatch said. “The review process for the delivery of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was extensive, and the world class facilities and wonderful personnel at Hill Air Force and throughout our state make this the right choice for our state and our country. I’ve been proud to stand with the Utah congressional delegation and state leaders to continue pushing for this opportunity for Utah and our country, and I look forward to seeing the F-35 at Hill soon.” “The Air Force’s final record of decision is a clear vote of confidence in the future of Hill Air Force Base. The F-35 has been referred to as the ‘backbone of U.S. air combat for the next generation’ and today’s announcement confirms that Hill Air Force Base, the Ogden Air Logistics Center, and the Utah Test and Training Range remain the preeminent training grounds for air combat technologies. The unique capabilities of the support systems at Hill AFB, comprised of active duty and reserve military personnel as well as civilian defense workers, are second to none. This decision is very good news for Utah and I look forward to the arrival of the new squadrons,” said Congressman Bishop, a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee. "I am pleased to hear the announcement by the Air Force today to bas… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221004803/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363198 | IN THE NEWS: Park Service director orders fracking comments withdrawn | 2013-12-03 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis asked that comments the US Department of the Interior agency submitted about the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed hydraulic fracturing and well stimulation regulations on public and Indian lands be withdrawn, Jarvis said in a Nov. 12 letter to US Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah). Bishop released the letter on Nov. 26. “The inclusion of a quote from an article on the New York Times op-ed page was inappropriate,” Jarvis wrote Bishop in response to a Sept. 6 letter the chairman of the House Natural Resource Committee’s Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee sent him. Citations of peer-review scientific studies did not include references to support technical comments that were submitted, Jarvis continued. “In addition, the comments did not receive appropriate review and were not signed,” he told Bishop. “For these reasons, I have asked that these comments be withdrawn from the record.” As he released Jarvis’ letter, Bishop said, “It concerns me that the National Park Service attempted to pass off unsubstantiated information as ‘science.’ This thinly veiled attempt to vilify energy production and hydraulic fracturing on our public lands illustrates a shared agenda between the administration and anti-energy special interest groups.” He said he was pleased the NPS director was having the comments rescinded, and hoped that, moving forward, the agency “will direct [its] efforts toward promoting the responsible use of our diverse lands and resources and away from misleading the American people.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=1e0c4ada-f3b9-43e2-8d50-3c1fbd24652e | Hatch, Bishop, Lee Applaud Air Force Announcement on F-35 | 2013-12-03 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Today, U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee, and U.S. Representative Rob Bishop applauded the U.S. Air Force’s official announcement that Hill Air Force Base will be the first operational squadron of the F-35 stealth fighter starting in 2015. The Air Force issued its final record of decision this morning at the conclusion of a 30-day waiting period that followed the completion of the Environmental Impact Statement. The decision signals the continuation of the enduring partnership between the Air Force and the state of Utah that has mutually benefited U.S. National Security and the Utah community for decades. “Today’s announcement is the final step before the first operational squadron of the U.S. Air Force’s next generation of aircraft comes to Utah,” Hatch said. “The review process for the delivery of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was extensive, and the world class facilities and wonderful personnel at Hill Air Force and throughout our state make this the right choice for our state and our country. I’ve been proud to stand with the Utah congressional delegation and state leaders to continue pushing for this opportunity for Utah and our country, and I look forward to seeing the F-35 at Hill soon.” “The Air Force’s final record of decision is a clear vote of confidence in the future of Hill Air Force Base. The F-35 has been referred to as the ‘backbone of U.S. air combat for the next generation’ and today’s announcement confirms that Hill Air Force Base, the Ogden Air Logistics Center, and the Utah Test and Training Range remain the preeminent training grounds for air combat technologies. The unique capabilities of the support systems at Hill AFB, comprised of active duty and reserve military personnel as well as civilian defense workers, are second to none. This decision is very good news for Utah and I look forward to the arrival of the new squadrons,” said Congressman Bishop, a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee. "I am pleased to hear the announcement by the Air Force today to base the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=9c44ba21-8c68-40ce-ba98-cb31e4a1df36 | Hatch On Treasury IG Report On Obamacare Tax Credit Fraud | 2013-12-03 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement today after the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) issued a report that found that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has an inadequate system in place for preventing fraudulent Affordable Care Act premium subsidy payments from occurring and that people’s personal information would be at risk: “The ObamaCare premium subsidies are a fraudsters dream come true. As TIGTA found today, the very nature of these credits – pay first, verify a person’s income later - will lead to potentially hundreds of billions of dollars of improper payments and could put millions of American’s personal information at risk. While the IRS needs to do more to ensure more safeguards are put in place, the fact is that the problems with these tax credits are deeply rooted in the law itself. I fear the IRS will never be fully capable of ensuring that these refundable tax credits got to those who are truly eligible.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6cbaf8ae-ff6c-465a-881c-1a0dbd908b24 | Hatch, Bishop, Lee Applaud Air Force Announcement on F-35 | 2013-12-03 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee, and U.S. Representative Rob Bishop applauded the U.S. Air Force’s official announcement that Hill Air Force Base will be the first operational squadron of the F-35 stealth fighter starting in 2015. The Air Force issued its final record of decision this morning at the conclusion of a 30-day waiting period that followed the completion of the Environmental Impact Statement. The decision signals the continuation of the enduring partnership between the Air Force and the state of Utah that has mutually benefited U.S. National Security and the Utah community for decades. “Today’s announcement is the final step before the first operation squadron of the U.S. Air Force’s next generation of aircraft comes to Utah,” Hatch said. “The review process for the delivery of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was extensive, and the world class facilities and wonderful personnel at Hill Air Force and throughout our state make this the right choice for our state and our country. I’ve been proud to stand with the Utah congressional delegation and state leaders to continue pushing for this opportunity for Utah and our country, and I look forward to seeing the F-35 at Hill soon.” “The Air Force’s final record of decision is a clear vote of confidence in the future of Hill Air Force Base. The F-35 has been referred to as the ‘backbone of U.S. air combat for the next generation’ and today’s announcement confirms that Hill Air Force Base, the Ogden Air Logistics Center, and the Utah Test and Training Range remain the preeminent training grounds for air combat technologies. The unique capabilities of the support systems at Hill AFB, comprised of active duty and reserve military personnel as well as civilian defense workers, are second to none. This decision is very good news for Utah and I look forward to the arrival of the new squadrons,” said Congressman Bishop, a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee. "I am pleased to hear the announcement by the Air Force today to bas… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003639/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363141 | IN THE NEWS: Park Service Director Pulls Back Criticism of Hydraulic Fracturing | 2013-12-02 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | In Case You Missed It… “I have requested that the comments be withdrawn from the record,” Mr. Jarvis [NPS Director] said in the letter, dated earlier this month, in which he said nobody “from management” at the agency or at the White House Office of Management and Budget ever reviewed the document before it was submitted. National Journal: Park Service Director Pulls Back Criticism of Hydraulic Fracturing Park Service pulls objection to fracking; used op-ed instead of scientific evidence By Stephen Dinan, The Washington Times November 26, 2013 The National Park Service has officially withdrawn a controversial document objecting to fracking, scrubbing the record and acknowledging that it broke its own rules on sticking to strict science in its zeal to pressure a fellow federal agency. The embarrassing admission, which came from Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis in a letter to Rep. Rob Bishop, said the comments never should have been submitted, went out without his review, and shouldn’t have cited a New York Times op-ed as scientific evidence. “I have requested that the comments be withdrawn from the record,” Mr. Jarvis said in the letter, dated earlier this month, in which he said nobody “from management” at the agency or at the White House Office of Management and Budget ever reviewed the document before it was submitted. Mr. Jarvis didn’t acknowledge that the science his agency relied upon was bad, but Mr. Bishop said withdrawing the document is a tacit admission that the Park Service was “misleading” Americans. “It concerns me that the National Park Service attempted to pass off unsubstantiated information as ‘science,’” the Utah Republican said. “This thinly veiled attempt to vilify energy production and hydraulic fracturing on our public lands illustrates a shared agenda between the administration and anti-energy special interest groups.” …continued here Park Service Director Pulls Back Criticism of Hydraulic Fracturing By Clare Foran, National Journal November 27, 2013 The National … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221014011/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363005 | National Park Service Admits Comments About Hydraulic Fracturing are Wrong | 2013-11-26 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON— Congressman Rob Bishop, Chairman of the Natural Resources Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee, today received a letter from National Park Service (NPS) Director Jon Jarvis admitting that comments recently issued by the NPS to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) about hydraulic fracturing are wrong. Director Jarvis conceded that information used to support the National Park Service’s positions on hydraulic fracturing, which they obtained from a New York Times opinion piece, was inappropriate and that the NPS will withdraw its comments. In a letter sent to Director Jarvis on September 06, 2013, Bishop noted that the NPS’s comments to the BLM were inconsistent with the policy on Integrity of Scientific and Scholarly Activities. Bishop also raised several other concerns in the letter that were addressed by Director Jarvis in his response letter. “It concerns me that the National Park Service attempted to pass off unsubstantiated information as ‘science’. This thinly veiled attempt to vilify energy production and hydraulic fracturing on our public lands illustrates a shared agenda between the Administration and anti-energy special interest groups. I’m pleased that Director Jarvis will rescind the comments and hope that, moving forward, the NPS will direct their efforts toward promoting the responsible use of our diverse lands and resources and away from misleading the American people,” said Congressman Bishop. Sept. 06, 2013 letter from Bishop to Dir. Jarvis November letter from Dir Jarvis to Bishop | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=cf3b6392-4fc3-4735-82dc-f496f51d8f0b | Hatch Statement on Supreme Court Taking up Hobby Lobby Case on Religious Freedom | 2013-11-26 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), current member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today applauded the Supreme Court’s decision to hear the Hobby Lobby Stores v. Sebelius case. Hobby Lobby Stores, a Christian-owned chain of retail stores, sued the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), arguing that the HHS rule mandating that women’s preventative services be covered by all health insurance plans – as a requirement of the President’s health law – is a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Hatch was an author of RFRA, and in February led a group of Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief in support of Hobby Lobby when the case was before U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit (that brief can be found here). “Last week marked the 20th anniversary of Religious Freedom Restoration Act becoming law, and over the last 20 years the law has stood for the principle that religious freedom is more important that any particular political priority,” Hatch said. “I’ve long argued that Obamacare violated the religious liberty protections Americans hold dear, regardless of political party. The simple fact is that one of our country’s founding principles was religious freedom for all, and I hope the justices on the court understand that this case will determine how important religious freedom is in American today and whether our country still stands for that guiding principle.” Under the Obamacare contraceptive mandate, employers who fail to provide this coverage must pay $100 per day per employee, which Hobby Lobby argued would cost the company approximately $1.3 million per day (about $475 million per year). One of the issues the Supreme Court will decide is whether this penalty amounts to a “substantial burden” under RFRA. The 10th Circuit ruled 5-3 in favor of Hobby Lobby that for-profit companies can be “persons” exercising religion within the meaning of RFRA and that the choice of violating religious belief or paying heavy fines is a substantial burden. The case… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=ec9413b7-efd5-43bc-aaee-b9fd3c57f2b4 | Hatch on Proposed 501(c)(4) Rule Change | 2013-11-26 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Nov 26 2013 Utah Senator Says, “Given the IRS' recent track record, I pledge to thoroughly oversee this process to ensure politics aren't brought to bear.” U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced proposed new rules governing 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organizations: "There is much in these proposed rules to scrutinize. Any change should be carefully considered in a fair, equitable and non-partisan manner. Given the IRS' recent track record, I pledge to thoroughly oversee this process to ensure politics aren't brought to bear. However, I find it unfortunate that the Administration decided to move ahead with these new rules before the Finance Committee could conclude its bipartisan investigation into the targeting of those applying for tax-exempt status. Waiting would have been wiser and would have offered some critical guidance that would have benefited this process. Furthermore, the uptick in applications over recent years was not just isolated to 501(c)(4)s, but to union tax-exempt 501(c)(5) organizations as well. I hope the Administration understands that what's good for the goose is good for the gander and looks at these union groups moving forward." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/mobile-office?ContentRecord_id=9a621835-580e-4749-95ef-1ceee3119c39 | December 2013 - Mobile Office Schedule | 2013-11-26 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | Tuesday 3 December 2013 – Davis County Mobile Office Visit to West Bountiful When: Tuesday 3 December 2013 @ 10:00 AM – Noon Where: West Bountiful @ West Bountiful City Hall, 550 North 800 West, West Bountiful, UT 84087 (Small Conference Room) Mobile Office Visit to Syracuse When: Tuesday 3 December 2013 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Where: Syracuse, Utah @ Syracuse City Hall, 1979 West 1900 South, Syracuse, UT 84075 (TBD Room in City Hall) Wednesday 4 December 2013 – Davis County Mobile Office Visit to Woods Cross When: Wednesday 4 December 2013 @ 10:00 AM – Noon Where: Woods Cross, Utah @ Woods Cross City Hall, 1555 South 800 West, Woods Cross, UT 84087 (Multi-Purpose Room – enter through East glass doors) Mobile Office Visit to Clearfield When: Wednesday 4 December 2013 @ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Where: Clearfield, Utah @ Clearfield Municipal Building, 55 South State Street, Clearfield, UT 84015 (Multi-Purpose Room – 2nd Floor) Friday 6 December 2013 – Salt Lake County Mobile Office Visit to Cottonwood Heights When: Friday 6 December 2013 @ 10:30 AM – Noon Where: Cottonwood Heights, Utah @ Whitmore Library, 2197 E. Ft Union Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 (Meeting Room) Mobile Office Visit to MIllcreek When: Friday 6 December 2013 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Where: Millcreek, Utah @ Millcreek Community Library, 2250 E. Evergreen Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84109 (Room C) Monday 9 December 2013 – Wasatch County What: Mobile Office Visit to Heber City When: Monday 9 December 2013 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Where: Heber City, Utah @ Heber City Office, 75 N Main, Heber City, UT 84032 (Council Chamber) Who: Robert Axson, Larry Shepherd How: POC: Michelle Kellogg, 435-654-0757 (Confirmed) Tuesday 10 December 2013 – Morgan County What: Mobile Office Visit to Morgan City When: Tuesday 10 December 2013 @ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Where: Morgan, Utah @ Morgan City Building, 90 West Young Street, Morgan, UT 84050 (Special Collections Room) Who: Robert Axson How: POC: Julie Bloxham, 801-829-3461 ext.1 (Confirmed) Tuesday 10 December 2013… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://chaffetz.house.gov/press-release/chaffetz-goodlatte-demand-more-information-dhs-libya-policy | Chaffetz, Goodlatte Demand More Information from DHS on Libya Policy | 2013-11-25 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Jason Chaffetz | C001076 | chaffetz.house.gov | legacy | The press release you requested is no longer available. Please see below for a complete list of House vacancy details. 115th Congress, 1st Session State, District Reason for Vacancy, Successor Pennsylvania, 18th The Honorable Tim Murphy resigned from the 115th Congress on October 21, 2017. Utah, 3rd The Honorable Jason Chaffetz resigned from the 115th Congress on June 30, 2017. The Honorable John R. Curtis was elected November 7, 2017, in special election. Representative Curtis was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on November 13, 2017. Kansas, 4th The Honorable Mike Pompeo resigned from the 115th Congress on January 23, 2017. The Honorable Ron Estes was elected April 11, 2017, in special election. Representative Estes was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on April 25, 2017. Montana, At Large The Honorable Ryan K. Zinke resigned from the 115th Congress on March 1, 2017. The Honorable Greg Gianforte was elected May 25, 2017, in special election. Representative Gianforte was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on June 21, 2017. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://stewart.house.gov/PARCAct | Stewart’s PARC Act Discussed in House Committee Hearing | 2013-11-21 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Chris Stewart | S001192 | stewart.house.gov | legacy | Contact: Allison.Barker@mail.house.gov Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing discussing the PARC Act. The Provide Access and Retain Continuity Act, introduced last month by Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), would enable states to continue operating National Parks and other federal facilities in the event of a future government shut down, if the states so choose. “It is my hope in proposing this legislation that it will protect the hard working citizens of this nation from the uncertainties of politics,” Stewart said. “ To offer Governors and state governments the ability to develop contingency plans with the Department of the Interior before future government shutdowns take place. It is not just good economic policy, it is humane policy.” Utah’s Lt. Governor, Spencer Cox, testified before the committee saying that the effects of the national park closures were immediate and dramatic during the shutdown of the federal government. Cox noted that national parks and monuments, which add approximately $100 million per month to Utah’s economy, should continue to operate during any future government shutdowns. “[In October], the State of Utah and the Department of the Interior were able to quickly negotiate an agreement in which the state would upfront the money to the National Park Service in order to operate Utah’s national parks and monuments until federal budget crisis was resolved,” Cox said. Cox believes the PARC Act would help ensure continuity of operations. During the hearing, the committee also discussed, H.R. 3286, a bill that would reimburse states like Utah for paying to operate National Parks during the October government shutdown. “The important principle is that when states agree to help in a time of need, they should be fully compensated for this assistance in a timely fashion,” Cox said. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee, supports the PARC act and said that Congress should reevalu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003643/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362499 | Bishop Holds Legislative Hearing to Examine State and Federal Management of National Parks and Other Public Lands | 2013-11-21 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON– Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee, today held a legislative hearing to examine bills pertaining to state and federal management of national parks and other public lands. Utah’s Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox was among the guests testifying at the hearing today. “The common thread among the legislation we considered and of the testimony we heard today was that the centralized soviet-style management of our public lands and resources should be abandoned. It’s the ‘old’ way of doing things and we’re in an era where that simply no longer works. I’m not sure that it ever worked and we need to reevaluate how we go about managing federal land. States have proved that they are better equipped with regards to land and resource management. The notion that the federal government is the only entity that can oversee our resources is asinine and is regularly debunked. I am grateful to those who testified today about these important issues and was especially thankful for the testimony of Utah’s new Lieutenant Governor Cox,” said Congressman Bishop. The following bills were reviewed today by the subcommittee: Protecting States, Opening National Parks Act [H.R. 3286] introduced by Congressman Steve Daines (MT-At Large): To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to reimburse States that use State funds to operate National Parks during the Federal Government shutdown, and for other purposes. State-Run Federal Lands Act [H.R. 3294] introduced by Congressman Don Young (AK- At Large): To establish a streamlined process through which a State may claim authority over and responsibility for management of Federal lands located in the State without claiming ownership of the land, and for other purposes. Providing Access and Retain Continuity (PARC) Act [H.R. 3311] introduced by Congressman Chris Stewart (UT-02): To direct the Secretary of the Interior to enter into agreements with States to allow continued operation of facilities and … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=e2614e95-9e81-41d0-a8da-509a533132a2 | Hatch On The Nuclear Option | 2013-11-21 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a current member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today blasted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for initiating the so-called “nuclear option” to change Senate rules. After Majority Leader Reid moved forward with using the nuclear option – which would end the right to filibuster by allowing each judicial nomination to only need a simple majority to be confirmed – Hatch issued the following statement: “Today we face a real crisis in the confirmation process, a crisis concocted by the Democrat majority to distract attention from the Obamacare disaster and, in the process, consolidate more power than any majority has had in more than 200 years. This crisis was created by a majority that wants to win at all cost, for whom the political ends justify any means whatsoever.” NOTE: Hatch has long opposed the filibustering of judges. To read Hatch’s statement entered for the record today, click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221011205/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362423 | House Sends Senate a Bill to Improve Energy Leasing and Permit Process | 2013-11-20 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON– The House of Representatives today passed legislation to improve the current leasing and permitting process for resource development on federal land. Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman of the House Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee, has been a leading proponent of the - Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act [H.R. 1965] and lauded the House’s support for the measure. The average time for lease holders to obtain a state-issued permit to drill on approved state land is 12-15 days. According to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) the average time for lease holders to obtain a permit on federal land is 307 days. It currently takes 30% longer to develop resources on federal land than on state land. “It’s time for the Administration to take their stranglehold off of western states. In states like Utah, federal land accounts for nearly 67% of the state. Federal land means no property tax revenue and no tax revenue means no funding for education and other essential community programs. Revenue from recreation and conservation is not enough and I challenge anyone who says that it is. It’s unfair that children whose families cannot afford private school don’t have access to the same educational resources as states like New York and Connecticut. The only way western states can generate funding for education is to utilize the diverse resources found on federal land. There has to be a fair balance between recreation, conservation, and development. I support conservation where it makes sense and it’s time that the Administration support energy development where it also makes sense,” said Congressman Bishop. Specifically, H.R. 1965 · Eliminates unnecessary delays regarding the leasing process for oil and natural gas projects on federal lands · Reforms the permitting process so that once a lease is in hand energy companies will be able to more easily complete the requirements necessary to begin development of the resources, · Seeks to set clearer rules f… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=061f4c3f-5cd4-4482-b432-7a21e49089bf | Hatch Introduces Legislation to Let States Regulate Hydraulic Fracking, Stop Duplicative Federal Regulations | 2013-11-20 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today introduced common-sense legislation to protect American jobs and domestic energy production from costly and duplicative regulation from Washington. The Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act (S.1743) would ensure that oil and gas producing states are protected from fracking regulations from Washington if states are already regulating the practice. Duplicative regulations over American energy production will lead to higher energy costs and job losses in an already struggling economy. Similar legislation passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 235 to 187. “Many states such as Utah are doing the responsible thing and listening to stakeholders and communities around where hydraulic fracturing is taking place and regulating this activity responsibly. The last thing we need is costly and duplicative regulation from Washington on top of what’s already in place in Utah,” Hatch said. “This bill does nothing to stop the federal government from implement fracking standards in states where none exist – it simply says that regulations from the federal government cannot trump state action already in place. This bill is an opportunity to stand up for American energy production and protect the jobs that come with it, and I hope the Senate will vote on this bill soon to stand up for American workers and lower energy costs.” Hatch’s bill is cosponsored by Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho). | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=f1bc08ef-8ae7-4de6-aa04-7d24d474766b | Hatch, Lee Support Effort To Repay Utah For Reopening National Parks During Government Shutdown | 2013-11-20 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Utah’s U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee are both supporting an effort to fully refund Utah and other states that reopened national parks in their states during the recent government shutdown. Several states entered into individual agreements with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) allowing the state to pay for reopening parks closed during the shutdown, and Hatch and Lee have cosponsored an amendment introduced by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) to the National Defense Authorization Act that would fully repay states that came to this agreement with the NPS. “Refunding states for doing the work of the federal government just makes sense,” Hatch said. “I applauded state leaders last month for taking the strong step to front the operating costs for the national parks while the government was shut down, and the state and Utah taxpayers deserve to be reimbursed.” “It is crucial that the National Park Service and the State of Utah continue to be good partners, and refunding the State of Utah for their remarkable efforts certainly is in keeping with that partnership,” Lee stated. “We will continue to work with the delegations of Arizona and Utah to create a positive resolution to this issue." A copy of the Flake Amendment can be viewed here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/november-19-2013-weekly-congressional-update | November 19, 2013 - Weekly Congressional Update | 2013-11-19 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Chris Stewart | S001192 | stewart.house.gov | legacy | Thank you for the opportunity to update you on the work of the 113th Congress. I trust this finds you and your family well. Today marks the 150th annivesary of the Gettysburg Address, a two minute speech that has forever changed our nation. I am grateful for Abraham Lincoln and all he did for our country. Take a moment and read his address here. The Week Ahead: I’m happy to announce that this week, the House Natural Resources Committee will be holding a hearing discussing my PARC Act. This bill would ensure that in the event of a future government shut down, an agreement is in place to allow states to quickly continue funding and operating national parks and federal programs that are vital to their economies. There is no reason that hardworking American families and communities should be punished due to circumstances over which they have no control. We are excited to have Utah’s Lt. Governor, Spencer Cox, come to Washington to testify at this hearing on Utah’s behalf. For a PDF of the full text of the PARC Act, click here. Visit the House Majority Leader’s website for the most up-to-date information on the legislation the House is voting on. Last Week: To alleviate some of the negative impacts of the botched Obamacare rollout, including increased premiums and cancelled health insurance plans, the House passed the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013. This bill allows health insurances companies to continue offering cancelled health plans through 2014. If the implementation of Obamacare has impacted you or your family, please share your story with me by filling out this survey on my website. It’s important for me to share your stories with my colleagues here in Washington. I remain committed to market healthcare solutions that get the government out of the way, allowing the economy to grow and Americans to make their own choices about their healthcare. I also had the chance to question the EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, to advocate for clean air solutions that work for Utah. Watch the clip of me qu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=47507fe5-7faf-499e-9bfe-818b341752d5 | Hatch, Thune, Alexander Introduce Bill To Prevent Special Union Exemption From Obamacare Reinsurance Tax | 2013-11-19 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Following media reports that the Obama administration is once again trying to find a way to exempt unions from ObamaCare’s numerous taxes and mandates, U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Thune (R-S.D.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and eight of their Republican colleagues today introduced the Union Tax Fairness Act (S. 1724), a bill to prevent union health care plans, known as Taft-Hartley plans, from being exempted from the ObamaCare reinsurance tax. “The Obama Administration can't just circumvent Congress whenever it wants to curry favor with its political allies,” said Hatch. “Since the overwhelming majority of self-administered health insurance plans are run by unions, let's call this what it is: a political payback by the Administration to its union friends for backing this disastrous law. But the fact is, the White House doesn’t have the authority to change the law on its own and, as this bill makes clear, any attempt at a Big Labor carveout from ObamaCare must be approved by Congress.” “Unions should not be granted a special exemption from ObamaCare’s reinsurance tax just because the president fears further union backlash on his signature law,” said Thune. “These unions agreed to pay this tax when they endorsed ObamaCare, but now that they are finding out what the law means for them and their plans, they want out. Rather than granting special backroom deals to political allies, the administration should support fairness for all by permanently delaying the law for every American.” Alexander said, “The Obama Administration should not reward its labor union friends and allies who helped pass the health care law by giving them a carveout from the law’s worst provisions. This hefty reinsurance fee is one of the many job-killing taxes that helped pay for the passage of the law—the administration should be embarrassed that it would consider exempting their union cronies without providing similar relief to our nation’s employers and faith-based and charitable organizations.” The ObamaCare reinsurance t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221014014/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361833 | Bureau of Land Management Cancels Oil and Gas Leases in Utah | 2013-11-18 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON– Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee, and Congressman Jason Chaffetz (UT-03) today responded to the Bureau of Land Management’s announcement that it will defer an additional 99,960 acres of land in Southern Utah from its quarterly oil and gas lease sale. This latest deferment brings the total number of acres withdrawn from the lease sale to over 800,000. The BLM’s Price and Vernal Field Offices will instead offer a mere 44,021 acres for oil and gas leases, a mere 5% of what could have been offered. “It’s silly of the BLM to think that it can pass this arbitrary decision off as anything other than what it really is, which is an appeasement of special interest groups that are opposed to all resource development in this area. Their motives are thinly veiled. It is no coincidence that the areas withdrawn from the lease sale are located within the boundaries of a proposal introduced by New Jersey Congressman Rush Holt (NJ-12) that seeks to lock up more than nine million acres as new wilderness. The irony of the situation is that the deferred lease areas are within, or adjacent to, existing federal and state oil and gas leases, which currently coexist in harmony with outdoor recreation. By succumbing to fear mongering from special interest groups, the BLM is further demonstrating the need for locally-driven solutions that support balanced use of the public lands. Revenue from recreation is important to the state of Utah and helps support some communities, but it alone won’t pay the bills. We absolutely must have a balanced land-use portfolio that includes resource development and conservation for recreation. I remain committed to working with all interested parties to build consensus over land-use policies, thereby giving communities and land users the certainty they need and deserve,” said Congressman Bishop. "Too often, opponents of high-paying energy jobs argue that we can't have both energy development and r… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=305fd9e1-44e1-4985-b424-bcbff52e1776 | Lee, Hatch Respond to Administration's Last-Minute Delay of Nearly 100,000 Acres in Utah For Energy Leasing | 2013-11-18 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Today, Utah Senators Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch responded to the announcement by the Bureau of Land Management that it will be deferring nearly 100,000 acres from the proposed oil and gas lease auction on Tuesday, November 19. The BLM announcement that it will reduce the land available at auction by nearly 70% comes just days before sale was scheduled; once again proving the administration's repeated promises of transparency and open communication are empty. “At a time when the State of Utah, local counties, and Utah's federal delegation are participating in a large scale initiative to resolve many long-standing public land issues, this last-minute bait and switch only reinforces the widespread belief that, under this Administration, BLM is becoming a vehicle for policies created by radical environmentalists,” said Senator Lee. “This bureaucratic maneuvering does more than hurt the companies that were ready, willing, and able to participate in Tuesday's auction. It discourages companies from participating in future auctions, and perhaps ever investing in states that are dominated by federal land ownership. The cumulative impact of this and other similar actions serves to drive investment away from the families and communities that live near lands managed by the federal government. In order to thrive, these communities need a good faith partner in the BLM.” “This misguided announcement by the Bureau of Land Management to defer the leasing of 100,000 acres for energy production because of pressure from environmental elites ironically comes on the heels of news last month that the United States produced more oil than it imported,” said Hatch. “The fact that our nation is a global leader in energy production seems lost on the President and his Administration who’s doing everything to stop that from happening. This hurts American jobs and American energy independence and must stop.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=831a3eab-3f1b-462f-899f-cd586d67dd16 | Leahy & Lee Introduce Legislation To Protect Innovators Against Patent Lawsuit Abuse | 2013-11-18 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Committee member Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) joined together Monday to introduce legislation to protect businesses and innovators who are being improperly targeted by patent trolls. The Patent Transparency and Improvements Act of 2013 would increase transparency in patent ownership, protect customers who are sued for patent infringement by allowing the case against them to be stayed while the manufacturer litigates the suit, target the widespread sending of frivolous demand letters, and improve resources for small businesses that are targeted in patent infringement suits, among other provisions. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) is an original cosponsor of the bill. “America’s patent system is the envy of the world, but unfortunately some bad actors are misusing the system to sue unsuspecting consumers or extort monetary settlements by making misleading demands,” Leahy said. “When small businesses in Vermont and across the country are threatened with lawsuits for offering wi-fi to their customers or using document scanners in their offices, we can all agree the system is not being used as intended. The bipartisan legislation I am introducing today takes important steps to protect those who are targeted by patent trolls while preserving what has made America’s patent system great.” Leahy added: “I thank Senator Lee and Senator Whitehouse for joining me in this effort and I applaud Chairman Goodlatte and members from both parties who are working to address this problem. I look forward to working through the Committee process with other Senatorsto develop effective legislation that will help innovators and inventors succeed.” “Congress has a constitutional responsibility to ensure that our system of intellectual property ‘promote[s] the progress of science and the useful arts.’ Our patent system must protect legitimate property rights and encourage innovation,” Lee said. “Recently, we have seen increased abuse of the patent sy… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://chaffetz.house.gov/press-release/bureau-land-management-cancels-oil-and-gas-leases-utah | Bureau of Land Management Cancels Oil and Gas Leases in Utah | 2013-11-15 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Jason Chaffetz | C001076 | chaffetz.house.gov | legacy | The press release you requested is no longer available. Please see below for a complete list of House vacancy details. 115th Congress, 1st Session State, District Reason for Vacancy, Successor Pennsylvania, 18th The Honorable Tim Murphy resigned from the 115th Congress on October 21, 2017. Utah, 3rd The Honorable Jason Chaffetz resigned from the 115th Congress on June 30, 2017. The Honorable John R. Curtis was elected November 7, 2017, in special election. Representative Curtis was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on November 13, 2017. Kansas, 4th The Honorable Mike Pompeo resigned from the 115th Congress on January 23, 2017. The Honorable Ron Estes was elected April 11, 2017, in special election. Representative Estes was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on April 25, 2017. Montana, At Large The Honorable Ryan K. Zinke resigned from the 115th Congress on March 1, 2017. The Honorable Greg Gianforte was elected May 25, 2017, in special election. Representative Gianforte was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on June 21, 2017. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221004958/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361682 | Bishop Supports Bill Allowing Americans to Keep Their Current Healthcare Coverage | 2013-11-15 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON– Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013 to address the fallacy told by President Barack Obama that the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) would allow the American people to retain their health insurance plan if they chose to do so. The legislation [H.R. 3350] will allow health insurance issuers to continue offering plans in 2014 that don’t necessarily meet the Obamacare requirements, ensuring that Americans who like their plans can keep their plans as the President promised. On August 15, 2009, President Barack Obama stated: I just want to be completely clear about this; I keep on saying this but somehow folks aren't listening — if you like your health care plan, you keep your health care plan. Nobody is going to force you to leave your health care plan. (source: whitehouse.gov) Despite assurances from President Obama and other Obamacare backers that “you can keep your health care plan,” more than three and a half million Americans on the individual insurance market have received notices that their health insurance plans are being cancelled and that they in fact will not be able to retain their current coverage. “President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid sold the American people a bill of goods. They lied and now they expect us to trust them to fix it. The roll out of this law has been so fraught with error, it could be fodder for a tragic comedy theater production,” said Congressman Bishop. President Obama has signed seven bills into law that have repealed portions of Obamacare since it was first passed in 2010. Additionally, the President has unilaterally issued administrative fixes to the law. “It is unlikely that Harry Reid will ever agree to repeal this disastrous law, but a full repeal is the best solution. In the meantime, the House will continue to roll back some of the most egregious components of the bill. Changes to existing law should be the result of an open and legal constitutional process and not the President’s capitulation to curren… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221134054/http://chaffetz.house.gov/press-release/chaffetz-johnson-send-letter-dhs-oig-regarding-usss-culture-report | Chaffetz, Johnson Send Letter To DHS OIG Regarding USSS Culture Report | 2013-11-15 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Jason Chaffetz | C001076 | web.archive.org | legacy | Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jason Chaffetz (UT-3) and Sen. Ron Johnson (WI) released the following statement regarding a letter recently sent to the Department of Homeland Security Deputy Inspector General Edwards: Eighteen months ago the DHS OIG promised Congress it would conduct an independent review of the culture of the United States Secret Service (USSS). Just this week, we learned that one of the supervisors involved in investigating the sexual misconduct in Cartagena, Colombia last year has himself been disciplined for sexual misconduct. This type of misconduct threatens the security of the president of the United States. Our ongoing investigation has found that the DHS OIG has been inappropriately influenced to soften language in independent reports. We want to know when this report will be released and where it has been for the past year and a half. Senator Johnson made the following comments: “Yesterday we learned that two senior level United States Secret Service (USSS) agents assigned to the president’s detail were recently disciplined for sexual misconduct. According to whistleblowers, one of these men helped lead the USSS internal investigation of the sexual misconduct in Cartagena in April of last year. This is like the fox guarding the hen house. “Charles Edwards, DHS Deputy Inspector General, promised an independent review of the USSS culture 18 months ago. Since that time, my subcommittee has received information regarding similar sexual misconduct by USSS personnel in 17 countries. This type of behavior jeopardizes the security of the president of the United States and makes U.S. government personnel susceptible to coercion and blackmail. We can’t wait another 18 months for answers.” Representative Chaffetz commented: “Reported misconduct of senior-level US Secret Service agents is dangerous, irresponsible, unprofessional, and completely inappropriate. These agents are supposed to be the best of the best. We expect more from them. That those tasked to protect the President would jeopardize … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6cac954c-f345-4e1f-b8b9-b0ac71547db1 | Lee, Hatch Respond to Administration’s Last-Minute Delay of Nearly 100,000 Acres in Utah for Energy Leasing | 2013-11-15 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON - Today, Utah Senators Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch responded to the announcement by the Bureau of Land Management that it will be deferring nearly 100,000 acres from the proposed oil and gas lease auction on Tuesday, November 19. The BLM announcement that it will reduce the land available at auction by nearly 70% comes just days before sale was scheduled; once again proving the administration's repeated promises of transparency and open communication are empty. “At a time when the State of Utah, local counties, and Utah's federal delegation are participating in a large scale initiative to resolve many long-standing public land issues, this last-minute bait and switch only reinforces the widespread belief that, under this Administration, BLM is becoming a vehicle for policies created by radical environmentalists,” said Senator Lee. “This bureaucratic maneuvering does more than hurt the companies that were ready, willing, and able to participate in Tuesday's auction. It discourages companies from participating in future auctions, and perhaps ever investing in states that are dominated by federal land ownership. The cumulative impact of this and other similar actions serves to drive investment away from the families and communities that live near lands managed by the federal government. In order to thrive, these communities need a good faith partner in the BLM.” “This misguided announcement by the Bureau of Land Management to defer the leasing of 100,000 acres for energy production because of pressure from environmental elites ironically comes on the heels of news last month that the United States produced more oil than it imported,” said Hatch. “The fact that our nation is a global leader in energy production seems lost on the President and his Administration who’s doing everything to stop that from happening. This hurts American jobs and American energy independence and must stop.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221011208/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361531 | Speaker Boehner Appoints Negotiators to Water Resources Reform Conference Committee | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | Speaker Boehner Appoints Negotiators to Water Resources Reform Conference Committee Bishop Named Natural Resources Conferee f t # e Washington, Nov 14, 2013 WASHINGTON, DC – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) today named the following House Republican negotiators to serve on the House-Senate Conference Committee charged with resolving differences over the Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA). “Reforming the way our country develops and maintains vital ports and waterways will strengthen our economy and help create new jobs,” said Speaker Boehner. “The vote for the House bill was nearly unanimous. It cuts red tape, increases accountability, and protects taxpayers – all without earmarks.I’m confident our negotiators will come to a quick resolution that includes these reforms – one that both the House and Senate can pass and the president can sign.” NOTE: Here are the House Republicans the Speaker is naming to serve on the House-Senate conference committee: Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Conferees: Natural Resources Committee Conferees: | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=1de2c132-efa8-41fe-b9ae-c973575402ca | GOP Senators to Administration: No Union Carveouts from Obamacare | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Thune (R-S.D.) and 18 of their Republican colleagues today urged the Obama administration against moving forward with a proposed regulation that would exempt unions from an Obamacare fee that applies equally to employers, charities, and faith-based organizations. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a regulation on October 30, 2013, stating that the agency intends to propose further rulemaking which would aim to exempt certain Taft-Hartley union health plans from the reinsurance fee mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). In a letter to Sylvia Burwell, director of the Office of Management and Budget, the senators write: “The [reinsurance] fee is undeniably expensive for unions, employers, charities and faith-based organizations whose health plans are not available in the new health insurance exchanges and will not see any of those dollars returned to them. For the year 2014, the fee is $63 per covered life—a multi-million dollar levy for larger organizations.” They continue: “The regulation makes no justification as to why union members should be exempted from this fee while other similarly situated organizations (and, ultimately, their beneficiaries) must continue to pay it. “It has been widely reported that labor unions recently sought an exemption from the reinsurance fee through Congress but were rightly rebuffed. To think that the Obama Administration would consider such an action that benefits one group over another can only be characterized as cronyism at its worst. “Self-insured health insurance plans—whether or not they also self-administer—are all facing the same dilemma of being forced to subsidize insurance companies participating in the new exchange. The regulatory process is meant to implement the law as written, not as the Administration wishes it were. If the law will unfairly hurt certain groups, it should be repealed or amended through Congress. Click here to see the let… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=4fb99a25-6482-48dc-ace5-5587228689e9 | Hatch Statement on Judiciary Committee Approval of Judge Carolyn McHugh for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), current member and former Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, today applauded the Judiciary Committee’s unanimous approval of Utah Court of Appeals Presiding Judge Carolyn B. McHugh to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Judge McHugh’s nomination now must be voted on by the full Senate before she can be sworn in to replace 10th Circuit Judge Michael Murphy, who took senior status on 12/31/12. “Judge McHugh is an extremely well-respected jurist and I know she will do an outstanding job in this new role,” Hatch said. “Her varied legal experience to date has given her a great foundation for serving on the federal court, and I hope the Senate will act quickly so Judge McHugh can begin her service on the 10th Circuit.” NOTE: Hatch introduced Judge McHugh at her confirmation hearing before the Judiciary Committee in September. To read his remarks introducing Judge McHugh then, click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=a3150847-93b7-4cd2-8e12-034161a4aff6 | Hatch, Tester to FCC: Protect Television Reception Across Rural America | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prepares for the sell-off of television broadcast airwaves nationwide, Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) are making sure rural, over-the-air TV signals remain strong. The FCC’s upcoming voluntary broadcast “spectrum” auction will re-package the frequencies used by cell phones companies and television broadcasters to expand mobile broadband services and develop better public safety networks. But if the re-packing of the nation’s airwaves is not done carefully, rural Americans who rely on relay stations – known as translators – and low-power stations to send broadcast signals to their homes could face reception problems. Hatch and Tester, both supporters of the auction, want FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to ensure that the sale of television airwaves will not worsen broadcast quality for millions of rural viewers who depend upon translators and smaller stations for local news and public safety information. “Across our vast prairies and mountain ranges, our constituents rely on over-the-air television to access vital news programming, weather updates, emergency announcements and educational and entertainment content,” Tester, Hatch and a group of Senators told Wheeler in a letter. “While we recognize that the repacking process will inevitably lead to changes for translators and low-power television stations, we urge the FCC to ensure that access to quality over-the-air television is preserved.” Tester and Hatch are joined by Max Baucus (D-Mont.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Mark Udall (D-Colo.). The letter Hatch and Tester led to FCC Chairman … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=b20a664b-fd1c-4d3d-9be4-45af67229600 | Hatch Says President's So-Called Obamacare Plan Will Be Another Broken Promise | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, today issued the following statement after the President announced a proposal to grandfather insurance plans: “The President can’t fix a broken promise by making more empty promises today that will be broken tomorrow. The difference this time is that he’s hoping to shift the blame to states and insurance companies. That’s not the answer the American people deserve. Doubling-down on the same policy that’s responsible for more than four million Americans losing their health plans is irresponsible and does nothing to solve the problem. Americans should be able to keep the insurance – and the doctors and hospitals – of their choosing, as the President promised. Dressing up the same failed policy and pushing it past the 2014 elections is cynical Washington politics at its worst. The President needs to get in the game and work with Congress to replace this law that has become the source of so many problems for too many Americans. The status quo is simply not an option.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=c9cbebe4-6217-4d9d-96a3-646bd93b7086 | Hatch Shares Stories From Utahns on Cost & Consequences of Obamacare | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Senate Republicans on the Senate floor today and shared stories from Utahns on the costs and consequences of the President’s health law. (Click the image above to watch Hatch’s remarks) Hatch delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Mr. President, I have received letters from my constituents all over Utah who are scared, angry, and confused about the changes they’re already facing under ObamaCare. I’ve heard countless stories from Utahns that are losing their coverage and will be forced into more expensive plans thanks to the so-called Affordable Care Act. One such story came from Kathy in Salt Lake City. I spoke briefly about Kathy here on the floor a couple weeks ago. Kathy wrote to tell me how she was notified by mail that her existing health care plan was no longer going to be offered. Instead, she was presented with an ObamaCare-compliant policy that will increase her deductible from $3000 to $5000, increase her copays for doctor visits to 30 percent, and increase her copays for prescription drugs to as much as 50 percent. As a result of these changes, Kathy’s health care expenses will exceed her income. To quote Kathy, “the claim that only substandard policies were canceled is a lie – the plan I was on was a good policy.” She does not trust the new HealthCare.gov website and feels that there is not adequate security to protect her personal information. In her words, “I wouldn’t touch the exchange with a ten-foot pole.” She is not alone in feeling this way, which spells trouble for these new health care exchanges and for the President’s health law. I yield the floor. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=f8cfc117-f984-4034-b035-8284c7fc9222 | Hatch, Alexander Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Worker Rights | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), current member and former Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), current Ranking Member of the HELP Committee, introduced legislation today to significantly reform labor laws for the first time in more than 50 years to improve worker rights. The Employee Rights Act gives workers the freedom to choose to unionize or not and be free from intimidation or retribution for their choice, mandates a secret ballot in elections on whether to form a union, requires unions to be periodically recertified via a secret-ballot vote, prevents “quickie” elections, prevents employees’ dues and fees from being used for political activities without their consent, and takes other important steps to level the playing field for workers against powerful labor unions. The Employee Rights Act is cosponsored by 22 of Hatch and Alexander’s Senate colleagues. “This isn’t a Republican or a Democrat issue – this is a matter of fairness and basic worker rights,” Hatch said. “Employees should have the right to join a union or not, and they should be able to decide without being fearful of that decision. They should be able to cast a ballot in secret, just like Americans do at ballot boxes across the country. If there is turnover in the workforce, there should be vote to determine if the union still has the support of current employees. Workers also deserve a say in how their union spends their dues and whether to go on strike. This common-sense bill takes critical steps in giving individual workers the rights they deserve.” “The single biggest problem facing the American worker today is a persistently high unemployment rate, and yet union leaders insist on further weakening workers’ opportunities,” said Alexander. “This bill empowers employees by giving them a say in whether or not they want to join and pay dues to a union, ensuring the privacy of that decision and allowing employees to opt out of having all of their personal contact inf… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ContentRecord_id=7fa3e54b-72f7-4348-ad6b-ca6ceeecff23 | The Transportation Empowerment Act | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | The Transportation Empowerment Act The “Transportation Empowerment Act” opens up America’s transportation system to greater local control, better targeted projects, and a more efficient way to maintain and improve the nation’s infrastructure. The law allows states to respond to the needs of their communities and develop systems that result in less traffic, shorter commutes, more affordable homes, and help families better manage the work-life balance. How it Works Transfers almost all authority over federal highway and transit programs to the states over a five-year period Lowers the federal gas tax to 3.7 cents from 18.4 cents over the same time period During the five-year phase out, states will receive block grants that come with vastly fewer federal strings attached What It Does Immediately lessens the bureaucratic burden on states to construct critical transportation projects Results in a faster administrative response to the transportation problems Americans face, such as traffic, commuting, and access Gives states greater flexibility in their tax structure Connects where people want to work with where they want to live Opens opportunities to develop new mass-transit solutions, innovate environmental protections, and improve the financing of projects Creates jobs and grows the economy | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=b7804c0b-f9bd-4106-a061-0360e67852ea | Lee, Graves, Rubio Introduce Major Highway Funding Reform Bill | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Transportation Empowerment Act, a bill to open up America’s transportation system to greater local control, better targeted projects, and a more efficient way to maintain and improve the nation’s infrastructure. The bill allows states to respond to the needs of their communities and develop systems that result in less traffic, shorter commutes, more affordable homes, and help families better manage the work-life balance. "Under the Transportation Empowerment Act, Americans would no longer have to send significant gas-tax revenue to Washington, where sticky-fingered politicians, bureaucrats, and lobbyists take their cut before sending it back with strings attached,” said Sen. Lee. "Instead, states and cities could plan, finance, and build better-designed and more affordable projects. Local communities should finally have the flexibility to develop the kind of transportation system they want, for less money, without politicians and special interests from other parts of the country telling them how, when, what, and where they should build. For the country as a whole, our plan would mean a better infrastructure system, new jobs and opportunities, diverse localism, and innovative environmental protection. And for working families, it could mean more access to quality, affordable homes, less time on the road – and making it home in time for dinner with the kids.” “People want to spend less time in traffic and more time enjoying life,” said Rep. Graves, who is introducing the TEA Act in the House for the second time. “Our bill will streamline the highway program, allowing more projects to be completed at a lower cost. This means commuters can move more easily between home and work, freeing up important family time and cutting out hours of frustration behind the wheel.” “We must empower states to develop the transportation systems they need and remove roadblocks created by Washington, which is why I have joined Senator Lee… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20131202211328/http://chaffetz.house.gov/press-release/chaffetz-aims-fix-broken-border-patrol-pay-system | Chaffetz Aims to Fix Broken Border Patrol Pay System | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Jason Chaffetz | C001076 | web.archive.org | legacy | Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jason Chaffetz introduced H.R. 3463, The Border Patrol Pay Reform Act of 2013. This bipartisan legislation aims to fix inadequacies in Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO) – the overtime component within the Border Patrol pay system – by creating a consistent and reliable pay system. These reforms will also enhance border security and save taxpayers more than $1 billion over 10 years according to initial estimates. “In addition to saving $125 million a year, we are looking to bring more consistency to those who risk their lives everyday protecting the border. This new pay scale is a long term solution that will iron out the kinks of the current system through old-fashioned planning and time management. These changes will both reduce opportunities to abuse the system and provide compensation for unanticipated emergencies such as capturing criminals,” said Chaffetz. The Border Patrol pay system was established almost 40 years ago and is different from the system covering other federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI or Secret Service. A recent report released by the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) detailed the misuse of the AUO system by agents in the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Situation Room. H.R. 3463 would address this problem by replacing AUO with three options: work 100 hours per pay period and receive a 25 percent differential, work 90 hours and receive a 12.5 percent differential, or work no overtime (80 hours per pay period). Additional unscheduled overtime will be treated as compensatory time off. Scheduled overtime will be paid. In total, CBP would save $7,000 per agent per year in lower overtime costs while gaining the ability to legally schedule Agents for shift changes. According to initial estimates, this will save approximately $125 million per year or roughly $1.25 billion over 10 years. The Border Patrol Pay Reform Act is strongly endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council and Border Patrol Agents nationwide. Nearly identical … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=382e7f99-1406-4e22-b682-badb90c1eca0 | Hatch, Matheson, Bishop, Chaffetz, Stewart Push For Application Approvals To Export More Natural Gas | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and U.S. Representatives Jim Matheson (UT-4), Rob Bishop (UT-1), Jason Chaffetz (UT-3), and Chris Stewart (UT-2) signed onto a letter sent to Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz urging support for pending applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-Free Trade Agreement countries. Currently, there are only two LNG export terminals proposed for the West Coast, which limits the amount of LNG that can be exported from Utah and other Western states. “Revenues to Rocky Mountain states, such as Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, depend significantly on the production of energy resources within their borders,” the lawmakers wrote. “The Department’s approvals of LNG exports from east coast and Gulf coast facilities will encourage future natural gas production in eastern and Gulf coast communities. We believe the Department should provide the people of the Rocky Mountain states and Indian tribes the same opportunity.” In addition to Hatch, Matheson, Bishop, Chaffetz and Stewart, the letter was signed by seven other Members of Congress representing Western states. The full text of the letter is below: November 12, 2013 The Honorable Ernest MonizSecretaryU.S. Department of Energy1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.Washington, D.C. 20585 Dear Secretary Moniz: We write to express our support for Jordan Cove’s application to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries. While we applaud the Department of Energy’s approval of applications to export LNG from facilities located along the east coast and the Gulf of Mexico, it is imperative that the Department quickly review and act on applications to export LNG to non-FTA countries from facilities on the west coast. West coast facilities are essential to ensuring that Rocky Mountain states and Indian tribes have greater access to international markets and thus the opportunity to enjoy the economic benefits of LNG exports. Revenues to Rocky Mountain states, such as Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, d… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=490afe84-b4a2-4cb8-a432-442a3cac835e | Hatch Statement on Obamacare Enrollment Numbers | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Today, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement after the Obama Administration announced only 106,000 individuals have selected a health insurance plan through the ObamaCare exchanges, as of November 2nd: “A far cry from the hundreds of thousands of Americans the Administration said would sign-up for ObamaCare by the end of the month, these numbers are a lot worse than advertised. The reason is simple: the Administration is over inflating the numbers by including folks shopping for a plan – not just looking at who’s signed up. At this pace, the Obama Administration will never be able to meet their enrollment goals. In fact, in state after state, the number of people whose health insurance is being dropped because of ObamaCare’s insurance mandates and requirements far exceeds the numbers of those who are signing up. In fact in Utah alone a mere 357 people signed up. This isn’t what the American people were promised.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=d78be4d9-04ca-4c80-a26e-360b9401e2a1 | Hatch, 74 Members of Congress Call on Obama Admin to Fully Delist the Gray Wolf | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) joined with 74 other Members of Congress in sending a letter today to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe in support of the June 2013 proposed rule to nationally delist the Gray Wolf as “endangered” or “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, and in opposition to a proposal to list the Mexican wolf as a separate, endangered sub-species. This is the second letter that Hatch, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee Doc Hastings (WA-4), Rep. Cynthia Lummis (WY-At Large), and more than five dozen other bipartisan and bicameral Members of Congress and Senators to Director Ashe calling for the delisting of the gray wolf. Despite issuing a proposed rule to delist the wolves five months ago, the Administration has yet to issue a final decision. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delisted the wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains in 2009 and in the Great Lake States in 2011. The current situation has created a confusing management and regulatory scheme that has left some states – including Washington, Oregon and Utah – in the unsustainable and random situation of having wolves listed on one side of a highway and delisted on the other. “The statutory purpose of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is to recover species to the point where they are no longer considered ‘endangered’ or ‘threatened.’ The gray wolf is currently found in 46 countries around the world and has been placed in the classification of ‘least concern’ globally for risk of extinction by the International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission Wolf Specialist Group. This is a clear indication that this species is not endangered or threatened with extinction.” wrote the Members in the letter. In the letter, Members also express opposition to the proposed provision to list the Mexican wolf as an endangered sub-species: “Since wolves were first provided protections under the ESA, uncontrolled and unmanaged growth of wolf populations has resulted in devastating … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ContentRecord_id=7f0bdfce-22c7-4e84-aeef-435dc3368bf9 | Bring Them In | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | It’s always great to join with the Heritage Foundation in any context. But being a part of this Anti-Poverty Forum is a true privilege. Members of my staff have been here all day, taking copious notes, and hopefully collecting all the business cards and white papers they can get their hands on. It is of course a tragedy that we have to be here at all. Though the Bible says the poor will always be with us, it’s still hard to accept why, in a nation with a $15 trillion economy, the poor are still with us. And yet, as we approach the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson’s famous “War on Poverty” speech, we all know the statistics. Despite trillions of taxpayer dollars spent to eradicate poverty since the late 1960s, the poverty rate has hardly budged. And just last week, the Census Bureau reported that today, more than 49 million Americans still live below the poverty line. Today, a boy born in the bottom 20% of our income scale has a 42% chance of staying there as an adult. According to the O.E.C.D., the United States is third from the bottom of advanced countries in terms of upward economic mobility. A recent study in Oregon found that the Medicaid program – which provides health insurance to the poor – produces basically no health improvements for its beneficiaries. A study last December on the Head Start program, issued by the Obama Administration itself, found that what few academic benefits three- and four-year olds do gain from the program all but disappear by end of the first grade. We know that poor men and women are less likely to get married and stay married, that 30% of single mothers are living in poverty, and that their children are less likely to rise out of poverty themselves when they grow up. We know that participation in civil society, volunteering, and religion are deteriorating in poor neighborhoods – compounding economic hardship with social isolation. And we know these trends cut across boundaries of race, ethnicity, and geography. All of this might lead some to the depressing … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=181167d7-c23e-4b85-a362-e8bb1b148196 | Lee Outlines Conservative Anti-Poverty Agenda | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee outlined a conservative anti-poverty agenda to address the growing opportunity crisis in America. His speech, at a forum sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, detailed the causes of social immobility among the working and middle class and charted several reforms that clear a path to help individuals and families stuck in poverty. “Nineteen-sixty-four wasn’t the year Americans started fighting poverty; it was the year we started losing that fight,” said Sen. Lee. “To start winning again, conservatives are going to have to lead the way - not simply by offering criticism, but alternatives. Our job is to identify the obstructions that impede Americans’ access to our market economy and civil society and clear them.” Lee previewed several pieces of legislation, some with bipartisan support, that could be part of a conservative anti-poverty agenda, such as changing the current incentive structure to today’s welfare programs, increasing flexibility for states in Medicaid and Head Start, expanding access to higher education through accreditation reform, as well as improving our criminal justice and prison systems. “What makes America exceptional – and life worth living - is not simply individual freedom, but the heroic, empowering communities that free individuals form… Organic communities formed within the free market and civil society’s networks of opportunity are not threats that poor families need more protection from. They are blessings that poor families need more access to,” said Lee. “Properly considered, then, the war on poverty is not so much about lifting people up. It’s about bringing people in. And so the challenge to conservatives today is to rethink the war on poverty along these lines, to bring into our economy and society the individuals, families, and communities that have for five decades been unfairly locked out.” Read the full speech (html version) here: https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2013/11/bring-them-in Bring Them In: Senator Lee Outlines Co… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=2748a4db-f623-47d9-8b5c-83f2d78962e6 | Bring Them In | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | It’s always great to join with the Heritage Foundation in any context. But being a part of this Anti-Poverty Forum is a true privilege. Members of my staff have been here all day, taking copious notes, and hopefully collecting all the business cards and white papers they can get their hands on. It is of course a tragedy that we have to be here at all. Though the Bible says the poor will always be with us, it’s still hard to accept why, in a nation with a $15 trillion economy, the poor are still with us. And yet, as we approach the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson’s famous “War on Poverty” speech, we all know the statistics. Despite trillions of taxpayer dollars spent to eradicate poverty since the late 1960s, the poverty rate has hardly budged. And just last week, the Census Bureau reported that today, more than 49 million Americans still live below the poverty line. Today, a boy born in the bottom 20% of our income scale has a 42% chance of staying there as an adult. According to the O.E.C.D., the United States is third from the bottom of advanced countries in terms of upward economic mobility. A recent study in Oregon found that the Medicaid program – which provides health insurance to the poor – produces basically no health improvements for its beneficiaries. A study last December on the Head Start program, issued by the Obama Administration itself, found that what few academic benefits three- and four-year olds do gain from the program all but disappear by end of the first grade. We know that poor men and women are less likely to get married and stay married, that 30% of single mothers are living in poverty, and that their children are less likely to rise out of poverty themselves when they grow up. We know that participation in civil society, volunteering, and religion are deteriorating in poor neighborhoods – compounding economic hardship with social isolation. And we know these trends cut across boundaries of race, ethnicity, and geography. All of this might lead some to the depressing … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/videos?ContentRecord_id=1e39edb2-d423-4dbc-a533-ef0b1323a711 | What's Next for Conservatives | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Vekeo About Mike Utah First Mobile Offices Town Hall Meetings Utah Veterans and MIlitary The Utah First Blog 2016 Annual Report Services Academy Nominations Flag Requests Tour Requests Senate Internships Federal Assistance Request a Meeting Eagle Scout Recognition Issues Conservative Reform Agenda Protecting the First Amendment Protecting the Second Amendment Protecting Life Honoring Our Veterans Public Lands Article I Project … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=c2ba0fdf-5d65-4196-9057-db94d8ba16af | What's Next for Conservatives | 2013-11-12 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | In the wake of the effort to defund Obamacare, conservatives around Washington and around the country are wondering, “Where do we go from here?” In Washington, insiders say we must choose either to become simply an obstructionist, ideological rump, or moderate our views and submit to the establishment’s leadership. These have always been Washington’s acceptable versions of conservatism: marginalized or squishy. The challenge for conservatives today is to reject that false choice, and choose our own way forward: a way that is at once principled, positive, and confident. Anti-establishment conservatives and libertarians don’t have to choose between being revolutionaries or reformers – history says we ought to be both. After all, it was Ronald Reagan who authored the famous “11th Commandment” (“Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.”) and also primaried a sitting president of his own party. There is nothing inconsistent between support for competitive Republican primaries, and for a unifying, inclusive, positive, ideas-based politics. There is nothing that prevents us from fighting to the last breath to repeal Obamacare, for example, while simultaneously developing the policies we want to replace it with. Calvin Coolidge was right when he said it was more important to stop bad laws than pass good ones – but his own place in history was confirmed by what his administration did – cut taxes, reformed the budget, spurred tremendous economic growth – not what it didn’t do. Indeed, putting the two together – having both the courage of our convictions as well as the policies of our convictions – is what real conservative leadership has always looked like. Reagan refused to accept the media’s narrative about Republicans – that you have to either be a “thoughtful,” “serious” centrist, or a reckless, ignorant conservative. That’s why he was successful, and the Left hated him for it. But Reagan’s victory was not just about his sunny personality. In the years between Reagan’s 1976 primary defeat and his 1980 victory, h… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/veterans-day-message | Veterans Day Message | 2013-11-11 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Chris Stewart | S001192 | stewart.house.gov | legacy | Today, we celebrate Veterans Day. It’s a day we set aside to honor our true American heroes who have served in the military to protect our great nation. I come from a family with deep roots in our Military. I was an Air Force Pilot for 14 years, which I really do feel was the coolest job in the world. My father served as a pilot in World War II and 4 of my 5 brothers also served in the military. I have always said that the military is the greatest incubator for leadership and I believe some of the best men and women in our country have worn the military uniform. This Veterans Day, I am incredibly humbled to pay tribute our nation’s veterans. It’s because of their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families, that we are able to enjoy the freedoms of the United States of America. Last week, I paid tribute to Veterans in a speech on the House Floor. Click on the picture below to watch the video. Stay Connected: For me to better represent you in Congress, I hope that you will stay connected to my office. Follow me onFacebook, where I regularly post updates and give you a forum to voice your opinion. Click here to see a full list of the legislation I am sponsoring or co-sponsoring. You can also view many of my House floor speeches and interviews where I discuss the work of Congress on my youtube channel. As always, feel free to email me if you have any concerns our comments. Your Congressman, Chris Stewart Utah's 2nd Congressional District | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=6eabdd64-463d-471c-ad89-2dab290534f4 | Hatch to Honor Utah Veteran at Saturday's University of Utah Football Game | 2013-11-10 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | In advance of Veterans Day, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) will present 95-year-old retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel H. Grant Keeler Layton, Utah with a Prisoner of War (POW) Medal during the first quarter break at the University of Utah game this Saturday at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Lt. Colonel Keeler was a prisoner of war for almost six months during World War II after the plane he was piloting was shot down over Germany. “World War II veterans are some of the greatest Americans we’ve ever known, and as we honor our nation’s veterans this weekend, it’s my true privilege to stand with Lt. Colonel Keeler and present him with this great honor,” stated Hatch. “Lt. Colonel is a truly courageous and patriotic American. Even after being held in two POW camps, he continued to serve in the United States military for more than 26 years. I am truly humbled by our nation’s veterans, and it is because of Lt. Colonel Keeler and so many others like him that we can continue to enjoy the sacred gift of freedom.” The plane Lt. Colonel Keeler was piloting was shot down over Merseburg, Germany on November 2, 1944. Lt. Colonel Keeler and his crew were immediately captured by German troops, and he was first held at the POW Camp Stalag LUFT III, 60 miles southeast of Berlin. Then, because of the advancing Russian Army, Lt. Colonel Keeler was moved to Stalag VII A at Moosburg, Germany, 30 miles northeast of Munich. He was freed on April 29, 1945 by U.S. General George Patton’s 3rd Army Corps. He continued to serve in the United States Air Force, ultimately retiring from active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel at the Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam in 1971. The Prisoner of War Medal was not established until 1985; many years after Lt. Colonel Keeler had been in captivity. Hatch was able to procure this medal after it was brought to his attention that this Utah Veteran had not received all the medals he had earned. Joining Hatch on the field for the presentation will be members of Lt. Colonel Keeler’s family, … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221011228/http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361532 | Bishop Welcomes Neil Kornze as BLM Director | 2013-11-08 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Rob Bishop | B001250 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON— Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman of the House Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Subcommittee, today released a statement regarding President Barack Obama’s official nomination of Neil Kornze as Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Kornze has been serving as Interim Director since the departure of Director Mike Pool. “I enjoyed working with Director Pool and found him to be responsive, professional, and knowledgeable. I was disappointed to see him leave the BLM and hope to have a similar working relationship with Mr. Kornze. I have heard some very good things about him from people I respect. I look forward to working with him on matters concerning Utah and our nation’s public lands and hope he will be open-minded about the importance of multiple use.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=d659976d-30f4-4f3f-8ff3-cb07fea7363f | Grassley, Hatch Release Enrollment Data from Four Health Insurance Companies | 2013-11-08 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah today released enrollment data from the four health insurance companies participating in the Washington, D.C., exchange set up via the President’s health care program. The Obama Administration has refused to provide enrollment numbers to the American people. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield: two enrollees from Oct. 1, 2013, through Oct. 30, 2013. Kaiser Permanente: three enrollees from Oct. 1, 2013, through Oct. 31, 2013. UnitedHealthcare: no enrollment data from the exchange as of Nov. 4, 2013. Aetna: no enrollment data as of Oct. 24, 2013. “A lot of Americans are getting cancellation notices from their current health care plan but they haven’t been able to enroll in a new plan,” Grassley said. “The limbo and uncertainty are stressful for them, as they’ve been describing in emails to my office. The chaos imposed on so many people is reason to at least delay the individual mandate, if not outright repeal it.” “With numbers like these, it's no wonder the Obama Administration hasn't wanted to release how many people have signed up for ObamaCare,” said Hatch. “With data from DC's four participating health plans in, there's been a whopping five people enrolled in the city’s exchange. That’s right five. Whether it's significant problems with the website, people being forced off the coverage they had or skyrocketing costs, these numbers are even more proof of what a disaster ObamaCare is and why it should be delayed.” On Oct. 24, 2013, Grassley and Hatch wrote to the four companies participating in the Washington, D.C., health care exchange. The Washington, D.C., exchange has four major plans and so provides a snapshot of how Americans fare in trying to join the new exchanges. Grassley and Hatch said news reports show problems with what are called “834 forms” that contain individual information that insurers use to enroll the individual in a health care plan. Inaccurate or corrupted data would interfere with successful enrollment. That has implicat… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=cdab5e9d-32c2-46bd-ba6c-4dc6c35feeac | Hatch Joins Effort to Protect Unborn Children | 2013-11-07 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a longtime supporter of protecting the rights of unborn children, is cosponsoring the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, introduced today by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), which would ban most abortions nationwide for children over 20 weeks old. Scientific and medical evidence have indicated that 20 weeks is the point in which unborn children can feel pain. The legislation includes exemptions for cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life would be in danger. “Simple human compassion requires that we protect unborn children from the pain of abortion,” Hatch said. “Even abortion supporters say that the debate should be based on medical science, and we now know that each of us could feel pain as early as 20 weeks after conception. I hope that protecting children from pain can be a basis for common ground and that this bill can become law.” Companion legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives in June. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/sponsored-legislation?ContentRecord_id=e76aab49-e043-4374-9e6f-b4409baadd7f | Sponsored and Co-Sponsored Legislation | 2013-11-07 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | 8402 Federal Building 125 South State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84138 Tel: (801) 524-4380 If you are seeking help with a problem involving a federal agency, and if it is an emergency, (e.g. Visas, passports, disability services and benefits, etc.), please call the Salt Lake City office to ensure prompt assistance. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=9c6fe64e-1284-495c-a734-497716ab95e5 | Hatch Statement At Finance Committee Hearing Examining Challenges With Obamacare Exchanges | 2013-11-06 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, delivered the following opening statement at a committee hearing examining the challenges of the health law’s insurance exchanges with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius: It’s been nearly six months since you last appeared before the committee. Given all that’s gone on in that time – particularly with the implementation of Obamacare – I’d say that today’s appearance is long past due. When you were here way back in April, you assured us that that the implementation was on track, that it was all going smoothly, and that the exchanges would be ready to go live on October 1st. Now, it appears that your statements from the previous hearing were, at best, misinformed. From where I sit, things do not seem to be going smoothly at all. In fact, I think we would all agree that thus far, the implementation of the so-called Affordable Care Act has been an absolute debacle. You admitted as much last week when you testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee when you said "hold me accountable for the debacle, I’m responsible.” Madame Secretary, while I am glad that you are accepting responsibility for this disastrous rollout, I would have preferred that you and the rest of the administration were honest with us to begin with. Perhaps in April you really did believe that things were on track. But, you had to have had several indications before October 1st that there were problems with the website and with the exchanges It is simply inexcusable that the members of this committee were not told earlier that these problems were occurring. And, it wasn’t for want of asking. I personally sent you a number of letters asking for details on the implementation of the health care law, many of which were ignored entirely. This cavalier attitude toward a Senate committee with oversight jurisdiction over your agency is, put simply, appalling and needs to be rectified. If the pa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=9619eb69-ecc1-4664-bf63-9fe1d4f69c84 | Hatch, Coburn Warn Of Potential Obamacare Subsidy Fraud; Cite Problems With Earned Income Tax Credits | 2013-11-05 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | On the heels of a new Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) report that found the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has failed to reduce improper Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) payments, Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) today pressed the IRS for additional answers on how the agency will manage ObamaCare’s premium subsidies, complex tax credits designed to defray the cost of purchasing health insurance, based on household income. In a letter to Principal Deputy Commissioner Daniel Werfel, the Senators questioned whether the IRS was equipped to process the subsidies which are both advanceable and refundable – meaning pay out first and verify later – and asked for details on the policies that are in place to curb improper payments to taxpayers. “This [TIGTA] audit raises serious concerns about the IRS’s unwillingness or inability to successfully prevent billions of taxpayer dollars being wasted on erroneous tax credit claims. We are particularly worried about these findings, given the IRS’s role generally as the primary agency administering a range of credits and specifically in overseeing and implementing the premium tax credits under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA),” wrote the Senators. “Similar to the EITC, the Affordable Care Act offers refundable tax credits for certain eligible individuals. However, we believe that a range of provisions in federal law, regulations, and administrative practices actually leave the health care overhaul even more seriously susceptible to fraud or abuse than the EITC program already is.” The text of the letter to Principal Deputy Commissioner Werfel is below and a signed copy can be found HERE: Daniel WerfelPrincipal Deputy CommissionerInternal Revenue Service1111 Constitution Avenue, NWWashington, D.C. 20230 Dear Principal Deputy Commissioner Werfel: Recently, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) reporte… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ContentRecord_id=6d0e09c0-dc4a-45c5-9b85-034bd5984c43 | Feedback for the Working Families Flexibility Act | 2013-11-05 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | I have received some great feedback about the Working Families Flexibility Act since I introduced it last week. Since government employees already enjoy the benefits that this law would create, there were those from the public sector who wanted to share their experience with these benefits: Love, love, love this!! I think one should be able to save more than 160hrs. My brother (state employee) had 3 months of comp/sick time together which saved his family when he got cancer. It took about 3 months to get through treatment. Thank u for doing this! -Carolyn A., Oregon I like your working family flexibility legislation. I was lucky enough to work where I could take comp time, and even though they didn't treat it as overtime at 1 1/2 hrs per hours worked, it still made it possible for me to work and raise my family. -Diann M. I have never understood in my 35 years of Human Resources and now small business owner, why public employees can utilize comp time off and private cannot. Every department of labor law should apply equally to public and private sector. Sharon O., Utah As this is a new proposal, there were those who just had more questions about how it would work. Hi Senator Lee, I am totally for this. Sometimes time is worth more than the pay. I do have one question. Is there any stipulation on how you use that time. For example, can you take a week, two weeks or a month (160 hours) at one time? Can your employer take any action against you i.e. layoff, firing or cutting your hours back if you do? I can see that this also could be on an individual company basis. -Christina G., Nevada That’s a great question. How comp time is handled will be entirely decided by employers and employees. The purpose of the law is to give both companies and workers flexibility in determining the best use of comp time. The law requires employers and employees to establish a written agreement outlining the comp time options and to allow each employee to voluntarily choose the option that best fits his or her needs. Once w… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=64c5b382-6343-4402-93fa-ff03f77b4f25 | Hatch: Trade Negotiations Taking Place in Utah a Sign of Beehive State's Impact Around the World | 2013-11-01 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee which has jurisdiction over all international trade matters, today welcomed the upcoming Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) discussions scheduled to take place in Utah from November 18-23, 2013. The TPP is a proposed regional, Asia-Pacific free trade agreement currently being negotiated by the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The Asia-Pacific region represents more than forty percent of the world’s trade, and as a group, TPP countries represent the largest goods and services export market for the United States.The November meetings will be an important part of a series of ongoing negotiations between the participating countries as they work towards concluding an agreement, which would then be subject to Congressional approval. “From the medical device and dietary supplement industries, to farmers and ranchers, trade has an enormous impact on Utah and our entire country,” Hatch said. “Trade supports more than 350,000 jobs in Utah, so to have the chief negotiators from the 12 participating nations in our state to continue working towards an agreement on this monumental trade initiative is significant. Utah exports billions of dollars in goods and services around the world, and it’s a testament to the great people and businesses leading Utah’s economy. As negotiations on the TPP continue, I will continue to highlight the importance of open markets to Utah’s economy and ensure that Utah’s interests are fully represented.” A longtime advocate of breaking down trade barriers, Hatch has championed efforts to enhance America’s global competitiveness and increase access for American farmers, workers and job-creators into international markets. Most recently, Hatch helped to successfully enact job-creating trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. He has long fought to preserve intellectual property (IP) standards within international t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ContentRecord_id=3d46386f-f613-4505-bd8a-7aec2eb0cc0d | What Others are Saying about Senator Lee's "What's Next for Conservatives?" Speech | 2013-11-01 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | A series of welfare, education and criminal justice reform proposals from Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Mike Lee of Utah and Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin represent serious, conservative reflection on the task of governing. That doesn’t mean that Lee’s strategy would be the first choice of every conservative. Some conservatives might place less priority on expanding health care coverage through tax credits. Other conservatives might place a higher priority on cutting taxes on high-earners. The problem is that every faction of conservatives, even if united, add up to less than a majority. If limited government politics is to have a reasonable chance to succeed, conservatives will have to work together on a strategy they can all live with and that is designed to appeal to persuadable voters who are either middle-class or struggling to enter the middle-class. The thread that runs from Lee’s prior remarks at Heritage is worth considering. It seems to me that the Utah Senator is attempting something important and useful – building a philosophical bridge between the hardcore populists and the more traditional structure of Washington conservatism, attempting to prove that these tribes can coexist and actually work together. Though Lee’s speech is not meant to offer a detailed reform agenda for the right, he does identify a number of policy initiatives that are in tune with his vision of a family-friendly conservatism that speaks to the interrelated problems of entrenched poverty, middle-class squeeze, and pervasive rent-seeking. Inviting his fellow Republicans to join in a “Great Debate” over their platform, Lee proceeded to lay out his own vision for the future of the party, a sort of compassionate conservatism 2.0 aimed at fixing the social problems that preoccupy progressives — income inequality, access to higher education, deteriorating infrastructure — with policy initiatives that the tea party can love. But if you follow Lee closely, then you would know that yesterday's speech was part of a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=06c452f2-9edd-430f-9443-c9af3d679349 | Hatch Praises Treasury Dept. for Changing FSA "Use-or-Lose" Rule, Says More Must Be Done | 2013-10-31 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Today, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, said he’s pleased that the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have changed the so called “use-or-lose” rule for Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs) so that a $500 portion can now be rolled over to the following year. Hatch, who has introduced legislation allowing $500 to roll over for FSAs and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as well, believes FSAs and HSAs should be expanded since they are critical tools to help millions of Americans save and help pay for out-of-pocket health care costs. “This was a good decision by the Treasury Department. Allowing Americans who have one of these accounts to roll $500 over to the following year just makes sense and will give people more help to pay for out-of-pocket health care costs,” said Hatch. “I’d like to see more done to expand these critical accounts that empower the individual to make informed health care decisions using money they saved.” Under the Affordable Care Act, FSA contributions were reduced from $5,000 to $2,500. The law also created new limitations on HSAs and FSAs that prevent consumers from using those savings to purchase over the counter treatments like aspirin and cold medicine without a prescription. Hatch’s legislation, the Family and Retirement Health Investment Act, will streamline and simplify HSAs and FSAs for American families, seniors, and entrepreneurs. Specifically, the legislation will: allow a husband and wife to make catch-up contributions to the same HSA; remove the onerous new restrictions on the use of HSA and FSA dollars for the purchase of over-the-counter drugs; allow individuals to roll-over up to $500 from their FSA accounts; clarify the use of prescription drugs as preventive care that will not be subject to an HSA-eligible plan deductible; reauthorize the use of Medicaid health opportunity accounts; promote wellness by expanding the definition of qualified medical expenses to encourage more exercise and bet… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=1de00975-65bf-4f31-a0b3-f4ffbf6757f9 | Hatch: State Water Laws Must Trump Federal Permitting | 2013-10-31 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today cosponsored the Water Rights Protection Act, legislation introduced by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), that prevents federal agencies from requiring privately held water rights be turned over to the federal government. Over the past few years the U.S. Forest Service has attempted to require multiple use permit holders to turn over their privately owned water rights to the federal government as a condition of their permit renewal, prompting the legislation introduced today to protect state and individual water rights. “Water is the lifeblood in communities throughout Utah, and this common-sense bill simply ensures our farmers and ranchers are not forced to give up their private property rights without fair compensation,” Hatch said. “Requiring private individuals to turn over their privately owned water rights to the federal government would hurt Utah’s economy and give the Washington more authority over Utahns, and I’m going to work hard to stop it.” The Water Rights Protection Act specifically prohibits the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from requiring the transfer of privately held water rights to the federal government as a condition of a special use permit, lease or other land use arrangement. In addition to Hatch and Barrasso, Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) are co-sponsors of the Water Rights Protection Act. Background: In 2011, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) attempted to implement a water clause for ski area permit holders that required ski areas to turn over privately held water rights without compensation in order to receive a renewed USFS land permit. On December 19, 2012 a federal district court in Colorado struck down the USFS’s water clause. Now, the USFS is trying once again to implement this controversial policy through a revised water clause. If the USFS is allowed to move forward with this policy, it will open the door for other federal agencies … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=99d0e7fd-5862-44fc-a6de-36dfda353480 | Senate, House Health Leaders Introduce Bipartisan Medicare SGR Replacement Proposal | 2013-10-31 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Today, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT), House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI), and House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), released a discussion draft outline to permanently fix the broken Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. The bipartisan, bicameral framework — released in a discussion draft —corrects a decade-long problem that has created uncertainty for millions of Medicare providers and beneficiaries. The leaders of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee have collaborated closely to develop a framework to solicit input to begin the committee process for a full repeal of the flawed formula. The discussion draft is available here. Below is a summary of the SGR discussion draft. “After much input from key stakeholders we have come together to create a permanent fix to the Medicare physician payment formula,” said Chairman Baucus. “For years, Medicare payments to doctors have been at risk of being slashed, limiting seniors’ access to high quality care. Enough with the quick fixes. Our proposal is for a new physician payment system that rewards value over volume. It will go a long way in improving the efficiency and quality of care for America’s seniors.” “For too long the flawed Medicare physician payment formula has jeopardized seniors' access to the high quality health care they deserve,” said Ranking Member Hatch. “With short-term fixes, Congress for years didn't meet the challenge with a real solution. That changes with this bipartisan framework we are unveiling today. We have put forward a permanent solution that repeals the current broken doctor payment system and replaces it with an innovative, new way that rewards physicians who provide quality health care.” “Providing a permanent solution to the broken SGR formula is vital to ensuring that seniors continue to have access to high quality care,” said Chairman Camp. “This discussion d… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ContentRecord_id=38b18368-a3a3-4c21-bbdc-978396f7338d | Working Families Flexibility Act | 2013-10-31 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | The “Working Families Flexibility Act” helps workers handle the constant challenge of work-life balance by allowing private-sector employers to offer all individuals who work overtime to choose between monetary compensation or comp-time. Particularly for families, the law would help alleviate the difficulties of juggling work, home, kids, and community. How It Works Gives employers the ability to offer their employees the option of comp time or overtime pay, both accrued at 1½ times the overtime hours worked. Requires employers who decide to offer this option to their employees to establish a written agreement with the employee outlining the options and to allow each employee to voluntarily choose the option that best fits his needs. Requires that comp time agreements be included in the collective bargaining agreement negotiated between the union and the employer for any employee represented by a union. Allows employees who choose to accrue comp time to accrue up to 160 hours each year. Allows employees to “cash out” their accrued comp time at the traditional overtime pay rate at any time throughout the year. Maintains all existing employee protections, including the current 40-hour workweek and overtime accrual, and provides additional safeguards to ensure that the choice to use comp time is voluntary. Requires employers to pay employees at the traditional overtime rate for any unused comp time at the end of each calendar year. What It Does Ends the unfair discrimination against private-sector employees Enables parents to better balance work and family obligations Frees all workers to choose which commodity – time or money – is the more important resource at a given time Lessens the burden of unnecessary federal regulation | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ContentRecord_id=88afe9d6-83ad-4d78-a3dd-192e04d59779 | Utah Honor Flight Veterans Visit DC | 2013-10-31 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | I was privileged to welcome several dozen veterans from Utah and their family members to DC, who were participating in an Honor Flight visit to our national memorials. I am deeply grateful for their service to our country and for the sacrifices they made to protect our freedom and way of life. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=70da23d4-5beb-40da-a53a-88d8a6665ece | Lee Introduces Comp-Time Bill to Help Working Families | 2013-10-31 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a bill to help workers handle the constant challenge of work-life balance by allowing all individuals who work overtime to choose between monetary compensation or comp-time. The “Working Family Flexibility Act” would free workers to choose the best way to alleviate the difficulties of juggling work, home, kids, and community. Sen. Lee’s bill is a companion to legislation first introduced by Rep. Martha Roby (AL) in the House.“For many families, especially with young children, their most precious commodity is time,” said Sen. Lee. “But today, federal labor laws restrict the way moms and dads and everyone else can use their time. For decades, Congress has given a special exemption from these laws to government employees. This is unacceptable. The same work-life options available to government employees should be available to private-sector workers, as well.” “I am excited about the Working Families Flexibility Act gaining traction in the Senate, and I appreciate Sen. Mike Lee stepping forward to introduce a companion bill,” said Rep. Roby. “Talk to any working mom and dad and they’ll tell you they need more time – just one more hour in the day to make life work. We can’t legislate another hour in the day, but we can help working people better balance the demands of family and work by removing an unnecessary federal restriction on utilizing comp time in the private sector.” Rep. Roby’s “Working Families Flexibility Act”, H.R. 1406, passed the House of Representatives in May. Sen. Lee’s bill is cosponsored by Sens. Coburn, Cruz, Hatch, Johnson, Paul, Risch, Roberts, and Rubio. More Information: How It Works Gives employers the ability to offer their employees the option of comp time or overtime pay, both accrued at 1½ times the overtime hours worked. Requires employers who decide to offer this option to their employees to establish a written agreement with the employee outlining the options and to allow each employee to voluntarily choose the option that b… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://chaffetz.house.gov/press-release/chaffetz-and-staff-enter-obamacare-exchanges | Chaffetz and Staff to Enter Obamacare Exchanges | 2013-10-30 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Jason Chaffetz | C001076 | chaffetz.house.gov | legacy | The press release you requested is no longer available. Please see below for a complete list of House vacancy details. 115th Congress, 1st Session State, District Reason for Vacancy, Successor Pennsylvania, 18th The Honorable Tim Murphy resigned from the 115th Congress on October 21, 2017. Utah, 3rd The Honorable Jason Chaffetz resigned from the 115th Congress on June 30, 2017. The Honorable John R. Curtis was elected November 7, 2017, in special election. Representative Curtis was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on November 13, 2017. Kansas, 4th The Honorable Mike Pompeo resigned from the 115th Congress on January 23, 2017. The Honorable Ron Estes was elected April 11, 2017, in special election. Representative Estes was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on April 25, 2017. Montana, At Large The Honorable Ryan K. Zinke resigned from the 115th Congress on March 1, 2017. The Honorable Greg Gianforte was elected May 25, 2017, in special election. Representative Gianforte was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office on June 21, 2017. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=6f22f0c5-aa23-47ce-9f30-7d0bfb15491a | Hatch Introduces Legislation to Combat Patent Trolls | 2013-10-30 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), current member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced legislation to address the growing threat of so-called “patent trolls.” Patent trolls purchase existing broad patents and then threaten businesses of infringing on those patents, in search of a financial settlement or litigation. Hatch’s legislation, the Patent Litigation Integrity Act (S. 1612), gives judges more opportunity to shift the costs and expenses of litigation, and gives defendants the opportunity to request a bond up front to prove the party seeking a claim on the patent has the adequate resources to turn over to the prevailing party if that party is successful in defending its claim. “Patent trolls are a drain on the innovation in our country and their practices need to end,” Hatch said. “Many small businesses in Utah and throughout the country simply don’t have the resources to fight back against the predators in our patent system, and my bill gives them adequate resources to fight back. Fee shifting without the option to seek a bond is like writing a check on an empty account, and that’s why it’s important to include both in any legislation dealing with patent trolls. It’s my hope the Senate will act soon to put a stop to the patent trolls draining the innovation in our country and weakening our economy.” A one-page summary of S.1612 can be found HERE. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=2f4f7c4d-dc0e-4740-afe3-d368831e94ab | Lee Introduces Family Fairness Tax Reform Plan | 2013-10-30 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Today Senator Mike Lee introduced a tax reform plan that would replace much of today’s complex tax system with a new, simple structure that provides solutions for America’s ongoing opportunity crisis and ends the discrimination of parents in the tax code. The Family Fairness and Opportunity Tax Reform Act is a pro-family, pro-growth plan that incentivizes social mobility, promotes middle-class economic security, and improves opportunity for all Americans. “If there is any single group of people in the entire country whose equal opportunity to pursue happiness we should make sure to protect, it is our ultimate entrepreneurial and investor class: America’s moms and dads,” said Sen. Lee. “The family has emerged as perhaps the most important institution in our economy. It is an incubator of economic opportunity, an indicator of economic success, and grows more economically important every day.” “The current tax code singles out parents of young children for unfair and extremely expensive discrimination. It is what I call the ‘parent tax penalty,’ a glitch in the federal tax code that forces parents to contribute to senior entitlement programs not once, but twice. My plan levels the playing field to treat all taxpayers more equally. For a middle-class family, this is an immediate, potentially life-changing reform.” Under this plan, a married couple with two children making the median national income of $51,000 would see a tax cut of approximately $5,000 per year. “In short, the Family Fairness and Opportunity Tax Reform Act would restore opportunities to working parents and their children to pursue happiness that right now federal policy unfairly denies them,” Lee added. Praise for Senator Lee’s Tax Reform Proposal Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush:“Senator Mike Lee and others here are proposing incredibly sound policies to provide incentives for child rearing families to give them the kind of support that they need through our tax code.” National Review Editorial Board: “Senator Mike Lee, the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=adcf6bcc-67ce-4c47-9cfc-179d9ac99770 | Hatch Joins Efforts To Delay Obamacare Until Health Law's Websites Are Functional | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, has cosponsored legislation introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) today that will delay the individual mandate under ObamaCare until six months after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) certifies that the exchange website is fully functional. “The rollout of the Obamacare exchanges has been nothing short of a disaster,” Hatch said. “Republicans have warned that the Obamacare exchanges weren’t ready for prime time, and this legislation is a common-sense step forward while the mess with the exchanges is straightened out. The Administration is now saying the law’s websites won’t be ready until Thanksgiving, which means that Utah families and Americans everywhere will have only a few weeks to make an extremely complicate decision of picking the best health care plan that matches their needs. Delaying the mandate just makes sense, and if Democrats are truly interested in working to address the American people's concerns they’ll support this bill.” The “Delay Until Fully Functional Act” would delay the ObamaCare individual mandate and require that GAO study and report to Congress on the websites within 30 days. If the GAO study says the American Health Benefit Exchange is not fully functional and operating in a manner consistent with the role envisioned for exchanges under this act, GAO will do subsequent studies and reports every 60 days until the Comptroller General determines that the exchanges are fully functional. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) inspector general would then issue a certification based on the results of the GAO report. The individual mandate would be reinstated 6 months after the HHS inspector general certification. The full text of the bill is available here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=ec4613a6-d76d-4a81-87e0-d23ee6e0de64 | Hatch on Debt Limit Resolution of Disapproval | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | In a speech on the Senate floor today, Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) reiterated the need for concrete, structural reforms to the nation’s entitlement programs a means of reducing the debt and urged his colleagues to join him in supporting S. J. Res. 26, a resolution to disapprove of the President’s exercise of authority to suspend the debt limit. The Senate is slated to vote on the measure later today. “The debt limit debate provides us with an opportunity to reexamine our nation’s fiscal course and take steps to correct it,” said Hatch. “Sadly, we have a President who appears unwilling to have that conversation. Instead, he apparently wants to press forward full steam ahead on our already unsustainable course, saddling future generations with unheard of debts and broken entitlement promises in the process.” Hatch continued, “Quite simply, it would be folly to approve of yet another debt limit increase without also working to address these programs, which are the main drivers of our debts and deficits. Therefore, I disapprove of the President’s exercise of an authority to suspend the debt limit, and I urge all of my colleagues to similarly disapprove.” Earlier this year, Hatch introduced five bipartisan reform ideas that he has presented to President Obama, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew. Below is the text of Hatch’s full speech delivered on the Senate floor today: Mr. President, during debate over a debt limit increase in 2006, then-Senator Obama stated that: “The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure.” Leadership, he said: “means the buck stops here. Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.” Mr. President, at that time, our gross debt was $8.3 trillion. It is now well above twice that, currently standing at $17.1 trill… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=f4565444-ef7a-4ca6-bc36-37801820a3eb | Hatch: Obamacare Woes Bigger Than a Tech Problem | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today slammed the President’s health law, saying it would be a “huge mistake to simply write off the problems with ObamaCare as a simple IT problem.” During a speech on the Senate floor, Hatch again called for the delay of the flawed health law that is now forcing millions of Americans to lose their existing health insurance coverage. “The healthcare.gov website has been a debacle and the President is right to recognize it as such. But, it would be a huge mistake to simply write off the problems with Obamacare as a simple IT problem,” said Hatch. “My own position on Obamacare is very clear. I support repealing the law in its entirety. As more and more Americans lose their health coverage – coverage they shopped for and liked – and face outlandish costs as a result of the law, I believe that position will eventually be vindicated.” “But, in the meantime, I think we can all agree that the law is simply not ready for prime time and that, at the very least, it should be delayed so that we can protect the American people from further harm. I’ve made this call before and I’m sure I’ll make it again,” Hatch concluded. A staunch opponent of the President’s health law, Hatch has introduced legislation that would repeal the two central pillars of the Affordable Care Act, the employer and individual mandates, and has bipartisan legislation repealing the medical device tax that partially funds the law. This Fall, Hatch introduced the Trust But Verify Act, to delay the launch of the exchanges, where people will buy their Washington-mandated insurance, until the Government Accountability Office (GAO) can certify that the Data Hubs, the online market place to buy insurance is secure. Below is the text of Hatch’s full speech delivered on the Senate floor today: Mr. President, here in Washington and, indeed, throughout the country, everyone is talking about the Obamacare website. No doubt, that is a serious concern. The healthcare.gov website has been, to put it … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=f5e42641-9f64-48db-b913-e98cd549aae4 | Senators Ask Secretary Sebelius Whether Privacy, Security Standards Met For Obamacare Website | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Orrin Hatch | H000338 | www.hatch.senate.gov | legacy | Today the eleven Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee, led by Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), wrote to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking whether all federal privacy and security standards were met prior to the launch of HealthCare.gov, the website to sign up for ObamaCare. In a letter to Secretary Sebelius, the Senators wrote, “[W]e are troubled that day after day more issues arise which illustrate that the website was simply not ready to launch on October 1. While we recognize that the website’s operational issues are being worked on and will likely be resolved eventually, serious questions remain as to the privacy and security of the very detailed personal information being transmitted through the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) and what testing, if any, occurred or is occurring to ensure that information is secure.” The Senators asked Sebelius to provide answers and information to a series of questions detailing what level of security and privacy measures were undertaken prior to the launch of the website to safeguard the privacy of those Americans signing up for coverage through healthCare.gov. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) joined Hatch in sending the letter today. The letter to the Secretary is below and can be found HERE: The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201 Dear Secretary Sebelius: As Members of the Committee on Finance (Committee), which has jurisdiction over implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), we are seeking information about the various types of testing which were utilized to ensure that the healthcare.gov website and underlying system (hereinafter collectively referred to as “websi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ContentRecord_id=ff8b0792-6805-455d-a886-ec544bd6c15e | The Need for a Conservative Reform Agenda | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | Senator Mike Lee delivered the following speech at The Heritage Foundation as he introduced four legislative proposals that are part of a larger conservative reform agenda: Whats Next For Conservatives | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=29547372-2514-4890-a102-f75656a424b4 | Excerpts from Lee’s Speech on a New Conservative Reform Agenda | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) will give a speech at the Heritage Foundation at 2:30 pm EST on the way forward for conservatives and the need for a new conservative reform agenda. The following are selected excerpts from the speech: “The ideas that defined and propelled the Reagan Revolution did not come down from a mountain etched in stone tablets. They were forged in an open, roiling, diverse debate about how conservatism could truly meet the challenges of that day. That debate invited all conservatives and as we know, elevated the best… Together, that generation of conservatives transformed a movement that was anti-statist, anti-communist, and anti-establishment, and made it pro-reform. Contrary to the establishment’s complaints, conservatives in the late 1970s did not start a “civil war.” They started a (mostly) civil debate. Because of that confident and deeply conservative choice – to argue rather than quarrel, to persuade rather than simply purge - the vanguards of the establishment never knew what hit them. The bottom line was that in 1976, the conservative movement found a leader for the ages, yet it still failed. By 1980, the movement had forged an agenda for its time and only then did it succeed.” … “It’s time for another Great Debate, and we should welcome all input. Grassroots and establishment. Conservatives and moderates. Libertarians and traditionalists. Interventionists and non-interventionists. Economic conservatives and social conservatives. All are part of our movement, and all are vital to our success – so all should be welcome in this debate. There are still nearly three years before Republicans will have a chance to select a new, unifying conservative leader. But together we can start debating and developing a new, unifying conservative agenda right now.” … “I submit that the great challenge of our generation is America’s growing crisis of stagnation and sclerosis - a crisis that comes down to a shortage of opportunities. This opportunity crisis presents itself in three p… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=a752e38d-3589-4320-811f-2187636b377c | What's Next for Conservatives | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | UT | Mike Lee | L000577 | www.lee.senate.gov | legacy | Whats Next For Conservatives “What’s Next for Conservatives” Remarks to the Heritage Foundation U.S. Senator Mike Lee October 29, 2013 Thank you very much. It’s wonderful to be back at the Heritage Foundation.It has been quite a month in Washington. It began with our effort to stop Obamacare — a goal that all Republicans share even if we have not always agreed about just how to pursue it. And it is ending with powerful practical proof of just why stopping Obamacare is so essential. This law is unaffordable and unfair; it’s getting worse all the time. As of today, President Obama’s policy is to fine any American who does not buy a product that his bungled website will not sell them. And they call us unreasonable. Every week, thousands of Americans get letters from their insurance companies, announcing their suspension of coverage, or shocking price increases. Because of Obamacare, Americans are losing their jobs, wages, and hours. And when in July the president exempted big businesses from the hardships of this law, but not ordinary Americans, I felt I had to take a stand. I am proud of my friend Ted Cruz and the dozens of others – including Speaker John Boehner and the House Republicans – who fought Obamacare, continue to fight it, and will not stop fighting it. But a month like the one we have been through should lead us not only to re-commit to this essential, ongoing struggle, but also to step back and ask ourselves where we should be headed more generally. What do we do next, not only to stop Obamacare but also to advance a larger, positive vision of America, and craft a practical plan to get us there? What’s next for conservatives? That is the question I would like to try to answer today. One of conservatives’ defining virtues is our insistence on learning from history. And to help answer the question, “what’s next?,” I think the most instructive history that conservatives can learn from today is our own. In particular, I refer to the history of the conservative movement and the Republic… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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