ADVISORY: Hatch to speak on the broken state of the Senate and the path forward
Washington, D.C.—Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, and one of the most effective legislators in modern history, will speak briefly on the Senate floor this afternoon on the current state of the Senate.
An excerpt from Senator Hatch’s prepared remarks:
The Senate is capable of so much more than it is today. I know because I’ve seen the Senate at its best. I’ve seen the Senate when regular order was the norm, when legislation was debated in committee, and when members worked constructively with one another for the good of the country. I’ve seen the Senate when it truly lived up to its reputation as the world’s greatest deliberative body.
I believe we can again see this body at its best. But restoring the Senate to its proper function requires real change on all sides. It begins by recognizing that all of us here—Democrats and Republicans alike—are to some extent culpable for the current dysfunction. If we want to break free of the current gridlock, we have to be honest with ourselves. And we have to recognize that laying all the blame on the other side is as counterproductive as it is disingenuous.
Who:
Senator Orrin Hatch
What:
Senate floor speech on the broken state of the United States Senate.
When:
Tuesday August 1, 2017 at 2:15 p.m.
Where:
The Senate floor
Follow the speech live here. We will distribute the video immediately following the speech.
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Hatch, Coons Introduce International Communications Privacy Act (ICPA)
Washington, D.C.— Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced the International Communications Privacy Act (ICPA)—bipartisan legislation that will better protect consumer privacy and clarify U.S. law enforcement’s ability to obtain global electronic communications while respecting the data privacy laws of other countries.
Whether and when U.S. warrants extend extraterritorially is the central issue in Microsoft Corp. v. United States, a landmark case that the U.S. Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court to hear earlier this summer. The Microsoft case highlights the pressing need for Congress to modernize data privacy laws.
“It is past time for Congress to address the critically important issue of international data privacy and the need to establish a sensible legal framework for law enforcement to access extraterritorial communications,” Senator Hatch said. “The potential global reach of government warrant authority has significant implications for multinational businesses and their customers. Failing to address this issue in a reasonable, comprehensive way will only continue to cause problems between American businesses and the U.S. government. ICPA will aid US law enforcement while safeguarding consumer privacy, striking a much-needed balance in today’s data-driven economy.”
"In a globalized world, we need clear rules governing access to data stored abroad," said Senator Coons. "Courts who have examined these issues continue to encourage Congress to fix this problem, and our legislation does just that. I am proud to, once again, join Sen. Hatch to help advance this common-sense bill that will protect our data across borders and encourage fair treatment by our international partners."
ICPA Overview –
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Hatch: It’s time to move on from Healthcare Gridlock
Washington, D.C.--Following the Senate's failure to take action on healthcare last week, Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, announced that he plans to move on to tax reform. Hatch left the door open to return to healthcare before the end of the year, but cited a lack of consensus on how to best address the issues of our healthcare system, and a need for the Senate to address other critical issues facing the American people.
Hatch will speak on the state of the Senate today at 2:15 PM EST. Tune in here.
Hatch spoke about Healthcare and tax reform in a wide-ranging interview with Reuters
“There’s just too much animosity and we’re too divided on health care,” Hatch told Reuters. “I think we ought to acknowledge that we can come back to healthcare afterwards but we need to move ahead on tax reform.” Speaking of the need to address healthcare issues eventually, Hatch later told reporters, “we’re going to have to face it and try and do what needs to be done,” but also said that he would inform the White House that the Senate will be moving on to address other parts of their agenda for the time being.
Other members of the Senate leadership team soon followed suit, with Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) saying “it’s time to move on and put wins on the board.” Senator John Thune (R-SD), the Senate’s third-ranking Republican, said “until somebody shows us a way to get that elusive 50th vote, I think it's over.”
On the issue of the cost-sharing subsidy payments the administration has been making, Hatch said the Senate would need to appropriate that money to meet prior obligations. President Trump had previously threatened to cut off these subsidies, which help insurers keep deductibles down for low-income people who get health insurance through the Obamacare exchanges.
“I'm for helping the poor, always have been. And I don't think they should be bereft of healthcare,” Hatch said.
