Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I appreciate the insight offered by my friend and colleague, the distinguished senior Senator of the State of California. He is someone I enjoy working with on multiple committees. He is a brilliant scholar and statesman, and I appreciate his arguments today. Now, I want to point out what we didn't hear in his argument. At no point do we have any effort to address the merits of this legislation, the merits of voter ID laws. Instead, what we have heard from Senate Democrats so far this year on this issue has been: This isn't necessary.
Mike Lee
Mike Lee
Recent comments in the Senate
Mr. President, American voters deserve to have an election system that they can trust. Fair, safe, secure elections are a key hallmark of any society's ability to be able to claim the status of democratic self-rule. If you don't have safe, secure, independent, reliable elections, you have a widespread set of problems that will cascade and ultimately constrain liberty. Americans intuitively understand this. But at the moment, our elections are far less secure than they should be. Why? Well, because so much of it operates on the honor system. Now, an honor system is great.
Mr. President, I would like to address the Senate today regarding a bill that has been passed by the House of Representatives known as H.R. 7008. H.R. 7008 performs two badly needed functions to restore faith and integrity in our system of government: Firstly, it bans Members of Congress from using their unique access and knowledge to profit through stock market speculation; secondly, it requires something very simple, a voter ID.
- J.D., Brigham Young University, Provo, UT1997
- B.S., Brigham Young University, Provo, UT1994
U.S. Senator
2011–PresentSenator from Utah. 3 terms.
General Counsel, Office of the Governor of Utah
2005–2006Served as general counsel to Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. in the Utah governor's office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Utah
2002–2005Worked as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah.
Law Clerk to Associate Justice Samuel Alito, U.S. Supreme Court
Clerked for Justice Samuel Alito after his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Law Clerk to Judge Samuel Alito, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Served as a law clerk to Judge Samuel Alito on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Law Clerk, U.S. District Court for the District of Utah
Began his legal career clerking for the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.
Key legislative actions from Mike Lee's record in Congress.
Criminal Justice Reform
Co-sponsored the First Step Act, which reformed federal sentencing laws and expanded rehabilitation programs.
Balanced Budget Advocacy
Introduced a constitutional amendment proposal requiring the federal government to balance its budget annually.
Public Lands Legislation
Sponsored the OPEN Act to increase transparency and local input in federal land management decisions.
Antitrust and Big Tech Oversight
Led Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearings on competition and antitrust issues involving major technology companies.
- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesChairman
- Senate Committee on the Judiciary
- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
- Senate Committee on the Budget
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