Hatch Remembers Senator Bob Bennett, a “Model of Selfless Service”
Washington, D.C.—Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, spoke on the Senate floor today in memory of his friend and former colleague, Senator Bob Bennett, who passed away last week.
Both in public office and in private life, Bob Bennett was a model of selfless service. We were blessed by his work in the Senate and will continue to benefit from his example of humble leadership. I pray that we might always remember Bob’s humility and kindness, and seek to emulate these qualities ourselves as we work together to overcome the challenges facing our country.
The full speech, as prepared for delivery, is below:
Mr. President, I rise today to honor the memory of a humble statesman, an admired colleague, and a dear friend—Senator Bob Bennett. Bob passed away peacefully in his home last week with his wife and children gathered by his bedside. In the wake of his passing, the Bennett family has witnessed an outpouring of love as thousands of individuals from across the country have reached out to pay their respects to a man who served selflessly to the very end.
To the many expressions of love and admiration that have already been offered in Bob’s honor, I wish to add a few words of my own. I had the distinct privilege of serving alongside Bob Bennett for nearly two decades as we jointly represented the State of Utah here in the Senate. During our many years of service together, Bob became more than a respected partner; he was a trusted confidante and a cherished friend.
In this chamber, Senator Bennett was widely revered as a wise and thoughtful leader committed to finding innovative solutions to the most difficult challenges of the day. But above all else, he was a passionate fighter for the people of Utah, who were always foremost in his mind. I have never met someone so committed to his constituency as Senator Bennett was to the people of Utah. It is no exaggeration to say that every Utahn has benefited from Bob’s public service. You cannot ride the train, take public transportation, or drive on the freeway in our state without seeing the fruits of Bob’s labor in the Senate.
As Utah faced unprecedented expansion and economic growth, Senator Bennett worked tirelessly to ensure that our state’s infrastructure kept pace with the demands of a booming population. Were it not for Bob and the indispensable role he played in securing much-needed funding for transportation projects in Utah, our state would not be the prime destination for business, entrepreneurship, and innovation that it is today.
I need not rehearse all of Senator Bennett’s accomplishments in the Senate because his public legacy speaks for itself. The TRAX and FrontRunner public transportation systems in Utah are perhaps the most tangible symbols of that legacy, but there are plenty more. I join all Utahns in thanking Senator Bennett for his many years of loyal service to the Beehive State. We love him, and we will miss him dearly.
Mr.President, in addition to fighting tirelessly for the people of Utah, Senator Bennett exercised remarkable prudence as an appropriator and provided principled leadership on the Banking Committee and as the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee. He was a talented lawmaker, skilled at forging consensus and reaching compromise without sacrificing his core conservative values.
Over the 18 years that Senator Bennett served in this chamber, he consistently demonstrated sound judgment and strong leadership. In short time, he gained the trust of his Republican colleagues, who considered him a trusted resource on matters of strategy and policy. After seeing Bob’s rapport with other legislators, then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist asked him to serve on the leadership team. Senator Bennett also served in leadership positions alongside Majority Leader McConnell, with whom he shared a deep and meaningful friendship.
While Senator Bennett was well known for his quiet, contemplative demeanor, he was also highly regarded as an orator. He came frequently to the floor to engage his colleagues on the most complex issues of the day. He was exceptionally articulate, speaking with an eloquence and ease that reflected the brilliance of a well-cultivated mind. Whether he was giving a public address or holding a private conversation, Bob could explain even the most complicated policies in simple, understandable terms. He was a preeminent communicator whose talents will be sorely missed.
Mr.President, up to this point, I have spoken at length about how Senator Bennett will be remembered as a public figure. But I also wish to speak about how I will remember him as a personal friend.
Bob Bennett was one of the most humble men I have ever met. In a chamber teeming with outsized egos and rampant self-importance, Bob stood apart. He always eschewed the spotlight and never esteemed himself above anyone. On some days, you could even find him riding the Metro in to work. When a staffer asked him why he opted for public transportation instead of a personal driver, Bob simply said, “Because the metro is more convenient.”
This anecdote is indicative of Bob’s character: He resisted the trappings of public office and truly saw himself as a servant of the people. Perhaps most importantly, he never let the office of Senator define him. Maybe that’s because he came to Congress with such a rich and varied background: Prior to his work here, he had already served as a Mormon military chaplain, a congressional liaison in the Nixon administration, a public relations director for billionaire Howard Hughes, and as the Chief Executive Officer of FranklinCovey. For Bob, being a Senator was never something that was central to his personal identity; it was merely a job title that allowed him to serve others in a greater capacity.
Allow me to share a simple story that illustrates Bob’s humility and willingness to serve. Many years ago, Bob befriended a blind couple in his local Mormon congregation. Every single Sunday, Bob would pay this couple a personal visit, drive them to church, and stay by their side for the duration of meetings—always ready and eager to help. For Bob, faithfully serving this elderly couple was just as important as fulfilling his duties in the Senate. That, Mr.President, is heartfelt humility and love unfeigned.
I often wondered what it was that enabled Bob to serve so selflessly. I believe the answer is simple: it was his faith in and love for Jesus Christ, whom he looked to as a model of servant leadership. Bob believed in the Christian teaching that when you are in the service of your fellow men, you are only in the service of your God. This belief animated his service until the very end. For as long as Bob was physically able, he was an active volunteer in his church congregation. In fact, just three weeks ago, he hosted a doctrinal discussion with dozens of Latter-day Saints seeking to build their faith. In this meeting, Bob bore testimony of Jesus Christ and his perfect example of love and sacrifice. The next day, Bob suffered a stroke and was admitted to the hospital for the last time.
Mr.President, both in public office and in private life, Bob Bennett was a model of selfless service. We were blessed by his work in the Senate and will continue to benefit from his example of humble leadership. I pray that we might always remember Bob’s humility and kindness, and seek to emulate these qualities ourselves as we work together to overcome the challenges facing our country.
Mr.President, I yield the floor.
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Legendary Basketball Team Visits the White House with an Assist from Senator Hatch
Washington, D.C.—This morning, Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, participated in a special White House ceremony honoring the championship-winning 1983 North Carolina State basketball team. Hatch contacted President Obama personally to arrange the meeting. He did so at the request of a fellow Utahn, Thurl Bailey—a member of the 1983 team who later played professionally for the Utah Jazz.
The team’s visit to the White House was more than 30 years in the making. Following the Wolfpack’s unlikely victory in the 1983 NCAA Championship, players were unable to visit the White House due to NCAA travel restrictions at the time. Thirty-three years later, Thurl Bailey reached out to Senator Hatch for assistance in scheduling the long-awaited White House visit. After hearing Bailey’s request, Hatch contacted the President, who was eager to meet with the athletes of the legendary 1983 team.
(Hatch comments on White House ceremony-- Via YouTube)
Actual video of the White House ceremony may be available through the White House pool, please let us know if you have any problems.
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President Obama Signs Hatch Trade Secret Bill into Law
The bipartisan Defend Trade Secrets Act will help U.S. businesses combat trade secret theft
WASHINGTON – This afternoon, President Barack Obama hosted Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, at the White House for an Oval Office ceremony to sign into law the Defend Trade Secrets Act—a bill authored by Senator Hatch to help businesses in Utah and across the country protect their valuable trade secrets.
The legislation, which passed the House on April 27 and passed unanimously in the Senate on April 4, has received widespread bipartisan and bicameral support.
“Enacting the Defend Trade Secrets Act is the most significant intellectual property development in years, and it demonstrates that Republicans and Democrats can work across the aisle in seeking to advance important public policies that will benefit the American people and boost our nation’s economy,” said Senator Hatch.
Trade secrets—such as customer lists, formulas, and manufacturing processes—are an essential form of intellectual property, but they are the only form of U.S. intellectual property lacking protection under federal civil law. As a result, trade secret owners must often rely on state courts or federal prosecutors to protect their rights.
Defend Trade Secrets Act Materials
Video: What the Defend Trade Secrets Act means for Utah Companies
Speech: Hatch: Trade Secrets Bill a “Critical Victory”
Colloquy: Co-Sponsors Hatch and Coons Speak on Trade Secrets Bill
Press Releases
- Senate, House Leaders Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Protect Trade Secrets
- Senators Hatch, Coons: Trade Secrets bill ready for markup, floor vote
- Hatch Lauds Passage of Trade Secrets Bill as a “Critical Victory for IP and Business Communities”
- Senators Hatch, Coons applaud House Committee passage of Defend Trade Secrets Act
Background
In today’s electronic age, trade secrets can be stolen with the click of a mouse and a few keystrokes. Increasingly, they are stolen at the direction of a foreign government or for the benefit of a foreign competitor. These losses put U.S. jobs at risk and threaten incentives for continued investment in research and development.
Current federal criminal law is insufficient. Although the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 made trade secret theft a crime, the Department of Justice lacks the resources to prosecute many such cases. State-level civil trade secret laws alone have not been sufficient to stop interstate theft. Federal courts are better suited to working across state and national boundaries to facilitate discovery, serve defendants or witnesses, or prevent a party from leaving the country. Laws also vary state-to-state, making it difficult for U.S. companies to craft consistent policies.
The Defend Trade Secrets Act:
Senator Coons Praises Senator Hatch (Speech on the Senate Floor, April 4, 2016)
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Higher Premiums, Fewer Choices
Negative Consequences of Obamacare Continue with Projected Premium Hikes, Exodus of Insurers
With health care premiums expected to rise yet again in 2017, American families and businesses will continue to experience the effects of the President’s broken promises for his signature domestic policy achievement, Obamacare.
According to Gallup’s latest poll, American families cite the cost of health care as their top financial concern, and with Obamacare’s well-documented failings in 2016, such as the many mismanaged health insurance co-ops and disappointingly low enrollment numbers, it’s easy to understand why.
Unfortunately, Americans in search of relief from high costs will find nothing to ease their burden under Obamacare. Instead, the status quo advocated by the Obama Administration will continue to strap them with higher premiums.
What’s worse, they will also have less choice. Over the last few years, insurers in many states have abandoned the poorly managed Obamacare exchanges.
Recent headlines and polls tell the story of the health law’s continued failures and highlight the need for patient-centered reforms to drive down costs and provide better access to quality care for all Americans.
Here’s a look at more disastrous Obamacare headlines:
Associated Press: Significant premium hikes expected under Obama health law
“…they're setting the stage for 2017 hikes that in some cases could reach well into the double digits...” (April 28, 2016)
The New York Times: News About Obamacare Has Been Bad Lately. How Bad?
“…we can look forward to much smaller Obamacare marketplaces than most people expected when the health law passed.” (April 13, 2016)
The Wall Street Journal: Health Insurers Struggle to Offset New Costs
“…a number of insurers are likely to seek significant hikes as they aim to cover costs that have continued to outstrip their estimates—in some cases coming after earlier premium increases.” (May 4, 2016)
CBS News: Which insurer will be next to abandon Obamacare?
“…no matter how many insurers participate in the exchanges, consumers can expect to see premium increases in 2017. Several insurers have set the stage for major price hikes in the wake of losses.” (April 28, 2016)
Politico: Insurer’s Obamacare exit raises new concerns over law
“...startling losses cast a spotlight on problems that insurers have been warning about for months: Fewer Americans have signed up for the exchanges than predicted, enrollees have proved to be sicker and more costly than anticipated, and losses are mounting.” (April 19, 2016)
The Hill: ObamaCare premiums expected to rise sharply amid insurer losses
“Insurers are already making the case for premium increases, pointing to a pool of enrollees that is smaller, sicker and costlier than they expected.” (April 25, 2016)
Investor’s Business Daily: ObamaCare Premiums Rose a Lot More Than HHS Wants You To Believe
“There’s a good reason that signups in 2016 grew so little — despite the ramping up of the penalty for going uninsured. Millions and millions of people are finding that the plans provide too little and are too costly.” (April 13, 2016)
The New York Times: Get Ready for Higher Obamacare Rates Next Year
“It already looks clear that many Obamacare insurance plans are going to raise their prices significantly.” (May 5, 2016)
