Two Years Later: Hatch Reunites with Utah Refugee Scout Troop
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Two years after helping refugees obtain travel visas to visit their home countries, Senator Hatch reunited with one of Utah’s refugee Boy Scout troops, Troop 3253, in his Washington office this morning. The young boys are Karen and Karenni refugees who came to Utah from refugee camps in Thailand after fleeing from Myanmar. The troop is in Washington for the National Scout Jamboree later this week.
For Pictures and Videos from the meeting click here
Since Senator Hatch first met the Scouts in July 2015, the program has grown tremendously as refugees become actively involved in scouting in an effort to strengthen ties with the larger Utah community.
Chairman Nebeker said, “Without Senator Hatch and his team getting us to Japan, we would be nowhere near where we are today. Refugee Scouting is now springing up all over the country thanks to the example set in Utah. Once again, Utah leads the way for a better country, better citizenry and work ethic.”
There are now 250 refugee scouts and there will be 500 by the end of 2017. Michael Nebeker serves as chairman under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America and the Salt Lake Council, along with six Vice-Chairs. These leaders have recruited 70 men and women adult Scout Leaders to direct the following Troops:
These troops have received funding from the LDS Church, The Larry H. Miller Foundation, Utah Senate Appropriations, the Yamagata Foundation, the Eccles Foundation, 100 Women Who Care, and private donors.
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Update on New Developments in Josh Holt Case
Washington, D.C.—Following the announcement this evening that the Venezuelan Attorney General’s office had requested a conditional release for Josh Holt, the Utahn being held in prison in Venezuela, the Hatch office released the following statement:
“We have been in communication with the Holt Family and the State Department this evening. We will defer to the Holt family for any announcements about important developments, but ask that you keep Josh and Thamy in your prayers as we hope to see movement towards their release.”
For the past year Hatch has worked closely with the State Department, the Obama administration and now the Trump administration to secure the release of Josh Holt and his wife Thamy from prison in Venezuela. The latest development involving the Venezuelan Attorney General has come after months of negotiation and pressure from Hatch himself and leaders at the highest levels of government in the United States. We wil continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide more information whenever possible.
Last week Hatch joined the Holt family in Riverton for a rally for Josh.
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Hatch Fights to Secure Better Healthcare for Service Members
Washington, D.C.— The 2018 Defense Authorization Bill introduced in the Senate includes legislation, authored by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), which increases healthcare choices for service members while also saving taxpayers more than a billion dollars over ten years.
Under current law, National Guard or Reserve service members who are federal employees are not eligible for military healthcare or TRICARE Reserve Select. Instead, these men and women are required to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan. Senator Hatch’s bill removes this restriction to provide a more affordable option and continuity of care for these service members and their families.
“I wish to thank Senator McCain for including my bill in the baseline text of the National Defense Authorization Act,” Hatch said. “This proposal will expand healthcare choices for our service members, reduce government spending, and strengthen the military’s ability to recruit and retain talented individuals. I look forward to voting on this important piece of legislation when it comes to a Senate vote. For the good of the nation, I urge my colleagues to pass this critical improvement to military readiness."
Frank Yoakum, retired Sergeant Major and Executive Director of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, wrote in a letter to Senator Hatch:
On behalf of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States which represents the interests of over 400,000 enlisted men and women of the Army and Air National Guard, we endorse, S. 1086 to remove the prohibition on eligibility for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) of Reserve Component (RC) service members who are eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP) Expanding TRS coverage to this constituency would provide a continuity of care to the service member and family members before, during, and after deployments…Thank you for your hard work to support the active and reserve components, Veterans, and family members.
Jeffrey E. Phillips, retired Major General and Executive Director of the Reserve Officers Association, wrote in a letter to Senator Hatch:
Currently Guard and Reserve technicians go in and out of their civilian and military health plans when they go on active duty orders. This causes disruptions to medical care in the form of different treatment strategies and prescriptions. They also have difficulty maintaining continuity of care when they change doctors or health care plans. Your bill will allow technicians to participate in TRICARE Reserve Select and maintain the same provider by selecting a TRICARE-authorized provider…Thank you for your efforts on this issue, and your support of our veterans
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Hatch Designates July 13 as Summer Learning Day
Washington, D.C.— Today, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)—a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee—cosponsored the bipartisan resolution that designates July 13 as Summer Learning Day to ensure that young people return to school with the skills necessary to succeed in the year ahead.
“The summer is a great time for families to reconnect and for young people to take a break from school, but that doesn’t mean they should take a break from learning,” Hatch said. “During the summer, students lose approximately two months of grade-level equivalency in math and low-income students lose an additional two months in reading achievement. Not enough young people are engaged in summer learning or employment programs, which contribute to their academic and personal growth. I am pleased to join the resolution designating July 13 as Summer Learning Day—a day to reflect on the importance of providing students with safe, productive, and enriching activities throughout the summer.”
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