{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"UT\" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://chaffetz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=777", "Chaffetz Outraged by Obama Decision to Impose Unwanted Midnight Monument in Utah", "2016-12-28", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Jason Chaffetz", "C001076", "chaffetz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) released the following statement regarding President Obama\u2019s imposition of a national monument designation at Bears Ears in San Juan County:\n\n\n\n\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s unilateral decision to invoke the Antiquities Act in Utah politicizes a long-simmering conflict. This unfortunate act threatens to further inflame controversies that were near resolution. The midnight monument is a slap in the face to the people of Utah, attempting to silence the voices of those who will bear the heavy burden it imposes. Furthermore, the decision is a major break with protocol previously followed by this administration. It does not have the support of the Governor, a single member of the state\u2019s Congressional delegation, nor any local elected officials or state legislators who represent the area.\n\n\n\n\"After years of painstaking negotiations with a diverse coalition, Utah had a comprehensive bipartisan solution on the table that would have protected the Bears Ears and provided a balanced solution. Instead, the president's midnight monument cherry picked provisions of the Public Lands Initiative and disregarded the economic development and multi-use provisions necessary for a balanced compromise. In reality, a win-win solution never really had a chance as the very threat of the Antiquities Act prevented a serious negotiation with the stakeholders of PLI \u2013 many of whom never wanted a compromise to begin with.\n\n\n\n\"Finally, the so-called tribal coalition supporting the monument over the objections of their own Utah members will quickly find they have been misled. The president\u2019s promise of co-management between the tribes and the federal government cannot be gained through executive action. Only Congress can authorize such agreements \u2013 and the administration made little effort to help facilitate legislation that would have done so.\n\n\n\n\"We look forward to working with President-elect Trump to follow through on his commitment to repeal midnight regulations. We will work to repeal this top-down decision and replace it with one that garners local support and creates a balanced, win-win solution.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=10612AE2-CE4B-4DF6-B6AC-CEACBF049B1B", "Sen. Lee Pledges To Fight Obama\u2019s San Juan County Land Grab", "2016-12-28", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SALT LAKE CITY \u2013 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday after learning of President Obama\u2019s decision to designate 1.35 million acres in southeast Utah as a national monument:  \u00a0  \u201cThis arrogant act by a lame duck president will not stand. I will work tirelessly with Congress and the incoming Trump administration to honor the will of the people of Utah and undo this designation.\u201d  \u00a0  Watch local Navajo explain why they oppose the monument here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOpOT4ZnvkY&t=11s  \u00a0  Watch San Juan County Commissioner, Rebecca Benally explain why she opposes the monument here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bwqYj6-PTE&feature=youtu.be  \u00a0  Recent polling on Bears Ears here:  http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/11319-poll-most-utahns-remain-opposed-to-a-bears-ears-monument", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=799C405E-6656-4790-ACDB-CB6319C7BB89", "Video: Senator Hatchs Congress in Review", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, spoke on video about the many important victories he secured for Utah in the 114th Congress. In terms of both the quantity and quality of legislation passed, the 114th Congress was Senator Hatch's most productive yet. True to form, he worked harder than ever to deliver real results for the people of Utah.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIn the 114th Congress, we were able to secure a number of critical victories for Utah\u2014from enacting key health reforms and overhauling a broken education system, to strengthening Hill Air Force Base and fixing our nation\u2019s highways.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThis Congress was historic in more ways than one. Working on behalf of Utah\u2019s families, I fought harder than ever before and even led the Senate in the number of bills passed. These weren\u2019t throwaway bills but meaningful legislative proposals that will directly improve the lives of all Utahns.\r\n\u00a0\r\nIn the last few weeks alone, we passed a number of critical healthcare bills that address the specific needs of everyday Utahns:\r\n\u00a0\r\nJust last week, we passed the ECHO Act\u2014a bipartisan bill that will help those in rural communities access high quality healthcare and specialized services when and where they need it.\r\n\u00a0\r\nWe likewise passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which the President signed into law earlier this week. This legislation contained six bills that I introduced to support Utahns with rare diseases. Among other things, my proposals also address shortcomings in antibiotic research and improve lifesaving health information technology.\r\n\u00a0\r\nWe also passed a law to facilitate cooperation between law enforcement and drug companies to combat the prescription drug abuse epidemic, an issue particularly pertinent to Utah.\r\n\u00a0\r\nOn the defense front, Congress just passed my proposal to enhance the Utah Test and Training Range\u2014an accomplishment that goes hand-in-hand with our decade-long effort to bring the F-35 to Utah. Both the UTTR enhancement and the arrival of the F-35 will solidify the long-term viability of Hill Air Force Base, our local economy, and the role Utah plays in our national defense strategy.\r\n\u00a0\r\nTo improve our schools, we worked closely with Utah teachers and leaders on a major education overhaul, which included much-needed reforms to our education system that the Wall Street Journal has praised as \u201cthe largest devolution of federal control to the state in a quarter century.\u201d I fought hard for these reforms because I believe local leaders\u2014not Washington bureaucrats\u2014know best how to help Utah\u2019s students.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nAdditionally, we worked on issues related to modernizing Utah\u2019s classrooms, helping teachers repay their student loan debt and granting disabled students greater access to higher education.\r\n\u00a0\r\nWe also made great strides to strengthen our economy when the Senate passed my Trade Promotion Authority legislation. This bill ensures that we are able to pass good trade deals that benefit the families of Utah, where 1 in 5 of our jobs rely on international trade.\r\n\u00a0\r\nWe also took important steps to improve transportation, not only in Utah but across the nation. Families in our state spend an average of over $400 dollars a year on car repairs due to poor road conditions. To address this problem and boost our transportation infrastructure as a whole, I spearheaded passage of a major highway bill that will support Utah transportation leaders with crucial funding to improve roads and bridges all around our state. And we were able to make all of these improvements without raising taxes or adding a dime to the deficit.\r\n\u00a0\r\nWe passed land transfer bills to give BYU access to Y Mountain. The same transfer also returns federal land to the fast-growing town of Fruit Heights. This bill is an example of the right way to manage federal lands\u2014through congressional approval and not through federal mandates.\r\n\u00a0\r\nOf course, none of this is to mention my bill to hold the EPA accountable for the Gold King Mine spill, which affected countless families and businesses in southeastern Utah.\r\n\u00a0\r\nMeanwhile, companies along Utah\u2019s Silicon Slopes will be happy to know that we passed legislation to protect the vital trade secrets that help them remain competitive in the global innovation economy. My bill was even hailed by industry leaders as the most significant intellectual property reform in years.\r\n\u00a0\r\nEspecially given the circumstances\u2014working under a divided government with an uncooperative President\u2014we were able to accomplish a lot this Congress. And in the years to come\u2014in a unified government with a President who is eager to work with Congress\u2014I am optimistic that we will be able to accomplish even more.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/the-real-reasons-for-russian-electoral-meddling", "The Real Reasons for Russian Electoral Meddling", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As a member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, I am reminded every day that we live in a dangerous world. It is violent and chaotic, and it\u2019s becoming more so all the time. But among the many national security threats that we face, in no area are we more vulnerable, and do we face so great a destructive potential, than the cyber realm.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=8F351A68-1F9B-429D-8A50-92D036EAE7C9", "Fact Sheet: New Legislation Keeps Borrowed Artwork Safe While Exhibited in U.S.", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "How the Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act Works\r\n[Sen. Hatch speaking on the legislation in the Senate Judiciary Committee]\r\nThe Problem\r\nMany Americans enjoy exhibitions of art and cultural objects on loan from foreign governments.\u00a0 Under the Protection from Seizure Act (22 U.S.C. \u00a72459), or PSA, the physical custody of these objects is protected while in the United States after review and certification by the State Department. \u00a0By misconstruing another federal statute, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (28 U.S.C. \u00a71605), or FSIA, a federal court has cast the PSA\u2019s protection in doubt and, therefore, made foreign governments less willing to lend.\r\nThe FSIA provides that a foreign state may be sued in the U.S. over property taken in violation of federal law when that property is \u201cpresent in the United States in connection with a commercial activity.\u201d\u00a0 In Malewicz v. City of Amsterdam (2005 and 2007), the U.S. District Court held that activities related to an exhibition approved by the State Department under the PSA qualify as \u201ccommercial activity\u201d under the FSIA.\u00a0\r\nThe problem is obvious: lending art for exhibition could expose a foreign government to a lawsuit over art and cultural objects still in the possession of that government.\u00a0 Individual art museums, and the Association of Art Museum Directors, report that this confusion is a disincentive for foreign governments to lend art for exhibition in the United States.\r\nThe Solution\r\nThe Malewicz decision put the PSA and FSIA in conflict; the Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act puts them back in harmony.\u00a0 This bill states that if a work loaned by a foreign government qualifies for PSA protection, activities associated with that exhibition cannot trigger an FSIA lawsuit.\u00a0 That\u2019s it.\u00a0 The House has passed this same legislation by voice vote in the 112th Congress (H.R.4086); by 388-4 in the 113th Congress (H.R.4292); and by voice vote in the 114th Congress (H.R.889). The House Judiciary Committee report may be accessed here:\r\nThe bill neither changes any legal process that existed prior to the Malewicz decision nor forecloses other existing avenues for those seeking to recover objects that were obtained unlawfully.\u00a0 It exempts claims concerning works taken by the Nazi government or its allies during World War II, a provision developed in consultation with groups including the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Claims Conference.\u00a0 It also exempts claims concerning works taken through a comparable systematic government campaign against members of a targeted group.\r\nThe bill has been endorsed by 32 national associations for museums (academic, children\u2019s, art, history), libraries, composers, art dealers, orchestras, dance, musical theatre, Latino culture, and design; 12 regional museum associations, and nearly 200 individual museums in 45 states.\u00a0\r\nSenator Hatch spoke at a Judiciary Committee hearing about the Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act. His remarks, a prepared for delivery, are below:\r\nAcross this country, art museums offer wonderful opportunities for education and enjoyment through exhibitions of art and cultural objects.\u00a0\r\nMany of these exhibitions include items loaned by foreign governments, allowing many of our constituents an experience they could never otherwise have.\u00a0\r\nFor more than 50 years, a federal law called the Protection from Seizure Act has been a critical part of the complex agreements and negotiations that produce these exhibitions.\u00a0\r\nUnder this law, works loaned by foreign governments are protected from court judgments and seizure if the State Department has reviewed and certified that a proposed exhibition is culturally significant and is in the national interest.\r\n\u00a0Unfortunately, this protection is now in serious doubt.\u00a0\r\nIn 2007, a federal court construed another statute, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, in a way that could expose to litigation a foreign government that lends works through the Protection from Seizure Act process.\u00a0\r\nThis unfortunate decision placed these two statutes, the Protection from Seizure Act and the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, in conflict when Congress intended them to be in sync.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nNot surprisingly, this has discouraged foreign governments from lending works for exhibition.\u00a0\r\nThis problem was first brought to my attention by the art museum at Brigham Young University, one of the largest and best-attended art museums in the Mountain West.\u00a0\r\nThey assembled an important exhibition of art from a dozen Islamic countries, the largest ever seen in Utah.\r\nAt the same time, in the confusion over whether the Protection from Seizure Act is reliable, loan requests for works from other countries were denied.\r\nMuseums have documented similar denials from countries all over the world.\r\nThis bill, S.3155, does one simple thing that will correct the problem.\u00a0\r\nIt provides that lending works through the Protection from Seizure Act process does not create jurisdiction for a lawsuit under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.\r\nIt is important to emphasize that the Protection from Seizure Act does not automatically immunize any works of art.\r\nProtection from seizure applies only after the State Department reviews and certifies an exhibition.\r\nLegislation that relates to artwork from other countries can understandably raise some important and sensitive issues.\u00a0\r\nI want to thank Senator Feinstein and her staff, who were especially helpful in working with interested parties to draft the exemption in the bill for Nazi-era claims.\u00a0\r\nThese interested parties include the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany and the American Jewish Committee.\u00a0\r\nThis bill brings the United States in line with many other countries that protect art loaned for exhibition.\r\nThe Director of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, for example, wrote me urging Congress to strengthen and clarify the Protection from Seizure Act.\r\nHe wrote: \u201cAnything that you can do to strengthen Immunity from Seizure in the U.S. will ensure that museums worldwide can continue to lend to American museums in the precise spirit of international cultural cooperation that U.S. Immunity from Seizure protection was intended to provide.\u201d\r\nI ask consent to put this letter in the record.\r\nMr. Chairman, more than 200 art institutions in 46 states, including 16 states represented by members of this committee, have endorsed this legislation.\u00a0\r\nIn my state, these include not only the BYU Art Museum but also the Utah Museum of Fine Arts at the University of Utah and the Utah Museums Association.\r\nI ask consent that a letter from these institutions and associations be included in the record.\r\nI also want to express my thanks to the Association of Art Museum Directors, which has been an invaluable partner in developing this bill.\r\nThe House has already passed this legislation without opposition and I understand they are ready to pass this version, which contains an additional provision requested by Senator Durbin.\r\nThis is a small bill addressing a specific problem.\u00a0\r\nSolving that problem will be a great benefit to all our constituents and will not cost a dime.\u00a0\r\nWe don\u2019t have many of these opportunities and I am glad we are seizing this one.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F8B15CD1-BDE9-49F7-AF07-00E1C09DC9D2", "Sen. Lee Welcomes Jillian Wheeler to Communications Team", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) announced that Jillian Wheeler has accepted the position of press assistant in his Washington, D.C. office. Wheeler will replace Emily Long, who has served as Senator Lee\u2019s press secretary since January 2011.\u00a0Senator Lee issued the following statement regarding this transition: \u201cEmily has been a great asset and friend to my office for over six years, and she will be greatly missed. Jillian has been a great team member in our office for over a year now and I am confident she\u2019ll contribute even more in her new role.\"\u00a0Wheeler joined Senator Lee\u2019s office in 2015 as the correspondence coordinator. Prior to that she served as the outreach coordinator for the Utah Republican Party and as the scheduler and staff assistant for Representative Greg Walden (R-OR).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=C1F1DE05-41FC-4970-8B88-2CD7B7069AA7", "Utah Test and Training Range, Gold King Mine Spill, and Utah Art Museums: 3 Hatch Bills that Passed in the Closing Hours of the 114th Congress", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Last Friday night, just prior to the close of the 114th Congress, three of Senator Hatch\u2019s most critical bills passed unanimously and are now headed to the President\u2019s desk. These three pieces of legislation address some of Utah\u2019s most urgent priorities, including authorization of the land transfer for the Utah Test and Training Range, provisions to hold the EPA Accountable for the Gold King Mine spill, and much-needed protections for the foreign art on display in Utah\u2019s art museums.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\u201cMy focus in the Senate has always been to deliver legislative results that reflect Utah\u2019s values,\u201d Hatch said. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to have done so on a wide range of issues in the 114th Congress. With landmark reforms that give local leaders in Utah decision-making power over education, a long-term infrastructure plan\u00a0 that enables Utah to complete major highway projects without raising taxes or adding a dime to the deficit, a health bill that will allow rural Utahns to access the same high-quality health care services patients receive in large metropolitan hospitals, and important tech and innovation legislation that supports jobs all over the state of Utah\u2014just to name a few\u2014I\u2019ve sought to bring people together, find areas of common ground, and develop serious solutions to the problems Utahns face. If we were able to achieve this much in a divided government with a President who rarely sought to work with Congress, imagine what we can achieve with a President eager to work with us.\u201d\r\nUtah Test and Training Range Enhancement\u00a0\r\nAfter several years of work behind the scenes with local leaders in Utah, Senator Hatch was able to see his Utah Test and Training Range enhancement proposal included in the National Defense Authorization Act. The state-federal West Deseret land exchange covers 625,643 acres, and is necessary to\u00a0accommodate the needs of 5th\u00a0Generation Aircraft and Weapons like the F-35. The\u00a0proposal will add additional resources and revenue to our public school system by enabling the transfer of certain federal lands from the Bureau of Land Management into the state-owned school trust lands system.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nIn an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune, Hatch wrote:\r\nThe Utah Test and Training Range at Hill Air Force Base (UTTR) provides essential resources and capabilities for the United States Air Force. Here, our service members prepare and learn to adapt to constantly evolving foreign threats by training with the latest \"fifth-generation\" weapons systems. The F-22 Raptor and the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter are among the critical systems that utilize the UTTR. But these new weapons, which are more sophisticated and are steadily entering into operational use, require greater capacity than what the UTTR has provided over the last 60 years.\r\n\u00a0\r\nTo retain these important weapons systems in Utah, we need an expansion that maintains public access and upgrades the UTTR. The long-term viability of the UTTR and Hill Air Force Base \u2014 one of Utah\u2019s largest employers \u2014 depends on it. I have spent much of the last year working on a proposal that will improve the UTTR\u2019s capabilities with minimal effect on land use and access to the land surrounding the range.\r\n\u00a0\r\nI am confident that we can provide the tools to meet our national security needs, generate additional funding for Utah\u2019s public schools and protect Utahns\u2019 access and ability to use public lands surrounding the UTTR.\r\nHatch\u2019s proposal, along with the rest of the National Defense Authorization Act, with its critical funding for our military families and defense capabilities in Utah and around the world, will be signed into law by President Obama in the coming weeks. You can find out more about Hatch\u2019s proposal here.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nHolding the EPA Accountable for the Gold King Mine spill\r\nSenator Hatch\u2019s proposal to hold the EPA accountable for the Gold King Mine Spill was included in the Senate\u2019s Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which passed the Senate\u00a0late Friday night and will also be signed into law by the President in coming weeks.\u00a0\r\n\u201cLast year the EPA inadvertently spilled millions of gallons of waste into the Animas River in Colorado, exposing the waterways and surrounding environment to toxic heavy metals,\u201d said Hatch. \u201cThis spill had a significant adverse impact on many downstream communities and businesses throughout multiple Western states\u2014including Utah. My proposal holds the EPA accountable by instructing the agency to reimburse the states and tribes that were negatively affected by this disaster.\r\nThis legislation expedites payments to state and tribal entities that assumed response costs associated with the Animas River spill and directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work with affected states, communities and tribes on a long-term water quality monitoring program of rivers contaminated by the spill.\u00a0\r\nKeeping Borrowed Artwork Safe While Exhibited in the U.S.\r\nOne of the final bills considered in the 114th Congress was Senator Hatch\u2019s Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act, which keeps borrowed artwork safe while on display in the United States. This legislation is particularly important to Utah museums, including the Utah Museum of Fine Arts at the University of Utah, and the Museum of Art at Brigham Young University.\u00a0\r\nLending art for exhibition could expose a foreign government to a lawsuit over art and cultural objects still in the possession of that government. Individual art museums, and the Association of Art Museum Directors, report that this confusion is a disincentive for foreign governments to lend art for exhibition in the United States. The bill states that\u00a0if a foreign government loans art that is reviewed by the State Department, the exhibition will not be the basis for a lawsuit.\u00a0\r\nThe Director of the BYU Museum of Art and the Executive Director of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts at the University of Utah wrote an op-ed about the importance of this bill:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIn Utah and across America, individuals and families flock to museums to enjoy exhibitions of art and cultural objects. Especially when these works come from around the world, these displays offer an experience that many would never otherwise have and certainly will never forget. Congress is considering legislation to ensure that these opportunities continue.\r\n\r\nOur institutions and the Utah Museums Association join hundreds of museums and associations across the country in supporting this legislation. This small bill will reap big benefits for Utahns and Americans everywhere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=31457244-3F8B-47D5-8381-1C6F4BA9B0D9", "Lee, Klobuchar Call For \u201cCareful Consideration\u201d of Three Agribusiness Mergers", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - Today, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez and Department of Justice Antitrust Division Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Renata Hesse calling for \u201ccareful consideration\u201d of three recent proposed agribusiness mergers.  \u00a0  \u201cWe write to you regarding three proposed transactions in the seed and agrochemical industry: the merger of Dow Chemical and Dupont, the acquisition of Syngenta by ChemChina, and the acquisition of Monsanto by Bayer,\u201d the letter reads.\u00a0 \u201cThese transactions are currently being reviewed by either the Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Justice. While we take no position about the legality of any of the proposed transactions under the antitrust laws, we believe they raise important competition issues that the Department and Commission should carefully review.\u201d  \u00a0  The Senate Judiciary Committee recently held a hearing titled, \u201cConsolidation and Competition in the U.S. Seed and Agrochemical Industry.\u201d You can read testimony from the hearing here.\r\nThe letter can be found here:\r\nLetter to DOJ and FTC Regarding Mergers in Seed and Agrochemical Industry by Senator Mike Lee on Scribd", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://chaffetz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=763", "Senate Advances Slate of Oversight Bills", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Jason Chaffetz", "C001076", "chaffetz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Advances Slate of Oversight Bills f t # e Washington, Dec 12, 2016\n\n\n\nThe following bills were passed:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEstablishes the Public Buildings Reform Board, a six-year board for identifying opportunities for cost savings and deficit reduction by reducing the federal government\u2019s inventory of civilian real property.\n\n\n\nH.R. 5687, the GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016 (Rep. Hice, R-GA);\n\n\n\nEliminates or reduces the Government Accountability Office\u2019s (GAO) obligation to conduct eight statutorily-required audits that GAO and the relevant congressional committees believe are either no longer necessary, or necessary on a less frequent basis.\n\n\n\nH.R. 5790, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2016 (Rep. Chaffetz, R-UT);\n\n\n\nClarifies Congress\u2019s intent to protect FBI whistleblowers who make disclosures to managers and supervisors in their chain of command, bringing the agency in line with most others in the federal government.\n\n\n\nH.R. 6450, the Inspector General Empowerment Act of 2016 (Rep. Chaffetz, R-UT);\n\n\n\nClarifies Congress\u2019s intent for inspectors general (IGs) to have complete access to the information and materials they need to identify waste, fraud, and abuse at the agency they oversee; enhances the IGs\u2019 tools for obtaining evidence to support their investigations and to identify and prevent improper or fraudulent payments.\n\n\n\nH.R. 6451, the Federal Property Management Reform Act of 2016 (Rep. Denham, R-CA);\n\n\n\nCodifies the Federal Real Property Council and increases reporting requirements related to real property for federal agencies; requires U.S. Postal Service to better manage property and to consider collocating other agencies at its facilities.\n\nAdditionally, the following U.S. Post Office naming bills passed:\n\n\n\nH.R. 3218, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1221 State Street, Suite 12, Santa Barbara, California, as the \u201cSpecial Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis \u2018Lou\u2019 J. Langlais Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Capps, D-CA).\n\n\n\nH.R. 4887, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 23323 Shelby Road in Shelby, Indiana, as the \u201cRichard Allen Cable Post Office\u201d (Rep. Visclosky, D-IN).\n\n\n\nH.R. 5150, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3031 Veterans Road West in Staten Island, New York, as the \u201cLeonard Montalto Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Donovan, R-NY).\n\n\n\nH.R. 5309, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 McElroy Drive in Oxford, Mississippi, as the \u201cArmy First Lieutenant Donald C. Carwile Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Kelly, R-MS).\n\n\n\nH.R. 5356, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14231 TX-150 in Coldspring, Texas, as the \u201cE. Marie Youngblood Post Office\u201d (Rep. Brady, R-TX).\n\n\n\nH.R. 5591, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 810 N US Highway 83 in Zapata, Texas, as the \u201cZapata Veterans Post Office\u201d (Rep. Cuellar, D-TX).\n\n\n\nH.R. 5676, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6300 N. Northwest Highway in Chicago, Illinois, as the \u201cOfficer Joseph P. Cali Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Quigley, D-IL).\n\n\n\nH.R. 5798, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1101 Davis Street in Evanston, Illinois, as the \u201cAbner J. Mikva Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Schakowsky, D-IL).\n\n\n\nH.R. 5889, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 Chalan Kanoa VLG in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, as the \u201cSegundo T. Sablan and CNMI Fallen Military Heroes Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Sablan, D-MP).\n\n\n\nH.R. 5612, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2886 Sandy Plains Road in Marietta, Georgia, as the \u201cMarine Lance Corporal Squire \u2018Skip\u2019 Wells Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Price, R-GA).\n\n\n\nH.R. 5948, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 830 Kuhn Drive in Chula Vista, California, as the \u201cJonathan \u2018J.D.\u2019 De Guzman Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Davis, D-CA).\n\n\n\nH.R. 6138, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 560 East Pleasant Valley Road, Port Hueneme, California, as the \u201cU.S. Naval Construction Battalion \u2018Seabees\u2019 Fallen Heroes Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Brownley, D-CA).\n\n\n\nH.R. 6282, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2024 Jerome Avenue, in Bronx, New York, as the \u201cDr. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr. Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Serrano, D-NY).\n\n\n\nH.R. 6304, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 501 North Main Street in Florence, Arizona, as the \u201cAdolfo \u2018Harpo\u2019 Celaya Post Office\u201d (Rep. Gosar, R-AZ). House Oversight Committee - Early Saturday, the United States Senate advanced numerous pieces of legislation championed by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. These bills now head to President Obama for his signature to become law.The following bills were passed: H.R. 4465 , the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 (Rep. Denham, R-CA);Establishes the Public Buildings Reform Board, a six-year board for identifying opportunities for cost savings and deficit reduction by reducing the federal government\u2019s inventory of civilian real property., the GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016 (Rep. Hice, R-GA);Eliminates or reduces the Government Accountability Office\u2019s (GAO) obligation to conduct eight statutorily-required audits that GAO and the relevant congressional committees believe are either no longer necessary, or necessary on a less frequent basis., the Federal Bureau of Investigation Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2016 (Rep. Chaffetz, R-UT);Clarifies Congress\u2019s intent to protect FBI whistleblowers who make disclosures to managers and supervisors in their chain of command, bringing the agency in line with most others in the federal government., the Inspector General Empowerment Act of 2016 (Rep. Chaffetz, R-UT);Clarifies Congress\u2019s intent for inspectors general (IGs) to have complete access to the information and materials they need to identify waste, fraud, and abuse at the agency they oversee; enhances the IGs\u2019 tools for obtaining evidence to support their investigations and to identify and prevent improper or fraudulent payments., the Federal Property Management Reform Act of 2016 (Rep. Denham, R-CA);Codifies the Federal Real Property Council and increases reporting requirements related to real property for federal agencies; requires U.S. Postal Service to better manage property and to consider collocating other agencies at its facilities.Additionally, the following U.S. Post Office naming bills passed:H.R. 3218, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1221 State Street, Suite 12, Santa Barbara, California, as the \u201cSpecial Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis \u2018Lou\u2019 J. Langlais Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Capps, D-CA).H.R. 4887, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 23323 Shelby Road in Shelby, Indiana, as the \u201cRichard Allen Cable Post Office\u201d (Rep. Visclosky, D-IN).H.R. 5150, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3031 Veterans Road West in Staten Island, New York, as the \u201cLeonard Montalto Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Donovan, R-NY).H.R. 5309, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 McElroy Drive in Oxford, Mississippi, as the \u201cArmy First Lieutenant Donald C. Carwile Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Kelly, R-MS).H.R. 5356, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14231 TX-150 in Coldspring, Texas, as the \u201cE. Marie Youngblood Post Office\u201d (Rep. Brady, R-TX).H.R. 5591, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 810 N US Highway 83 in Zapata, Texas, as the \u201cZapata Veterans Post Office\u201d (Rep. Cuellar, D-TX).H.R. 5676, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6300 N. Northwest Highway in Chicago, Illinois, as the \u201cOfficer Joseph P. Cali Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Quigley, D-IL).H.R. 5798, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1101 Davis Street in Evanston, Illinois, as the \u201cAbner J. Mikva Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Schakowsky, D-IL).H.R. 5889, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 Chalan Kanoa VLG in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, as the \u201cSegundo T. Sablan and CNMI Fallen Military Heroes Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Sablan, D-MP).H.R. 5612, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2886 Sandy Plains Road in Marietta, Georgia, as the \u201cMarine Lance Corporal Squire \u2018Skip\u2019 Wells Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Price, R-GA).H.R. 5948, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 830 Kuhn Drive in Chula Vista, California, as the \u201cJonathan \u2018J.D.\u2019 De Guzman Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Davis, D-CA).H.R. 6138, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 560 East Pleasant Valley Road, Port Hueneme, California, as the \u201cU.S. Naval Construction Battalion \u2018Seabees\u2019 Fallen Heroes Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Brownley, D-CA).H.R. 6282, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2024 Jerome Avenue, in Bronx, New York, as the \u201cDr. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr. Post Office Building\u201d (Rep. Serrano, D-NY).H.R. 6304, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 501 North Main Street in Florence, Arizona, as the \u201cAdolfo \u2018Harpo\u2019 Celaya Post Office\u201d (Rep. Gosar, R-AZ). f t # e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=029056A3-5E92-4185-BDF4-93ACAC645623", "With Victory on Health Reforms for Utahns, Senator Hatch Passes His 47th Bill this CongressMore Than Any Other Senator", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cIf we were able to achieve this much in a divided government with a President who rarely sought to work with Congress, imagine what we can achieve with a President eager to work with us\"\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Last week, Senate President Pro Tempore Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., signed the 21st Century Cures Act\u2014a historic bipartisan proposal that will bring together every part of the scientific and medical communities to address the most pressing issues facing patients around the country. The legislation, which the President will soon sign into law, is a major step towards finding cures for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer\u2019s. The bill contains several key provisions written by Senator Hatch that will directly impact Utah, including measures to facilitate antibiotic research, improve health information technology, prevent teen suicide, and help those suffering from rare diseases.\r\nThe 21st Century Cures Act is an expansive legislative package that includes six of Senator Hatch\u2019s bills, bringing the total number of bills the Senator has passed this Congress to 47\u2014more than any other Senator, with 45 enacted in to law. To put this number in perspective, the average number of bills passed by other Senators is 21. Senator Hatch already holds the distinction of being among the most successful legislators of modern times, having passed more laws than any Senator alive today. But in terms of legislation passed, the 114th Congress may be his most productive yet.\r\n[Video Available via YouTube]\r\n\u201cMy focus in the Senate has always been to deliver legislative results that reflect Utah\u2019s values. I\u2019m pleased to have done so on a wide range of issues in the 114th Congress. With landmark reforms that give local leaders in Utah decision-making power over education, a long-term\u00a0infrastructure plan \u00a0that enables Utah to complete major highway projects without raising taxes or adding a dime to the deficit, a health bill that will allow rural Utahns to access the same high-quality health care services patients\u00a0receive in large metropolitan hospitals, and important tech and innovation legislation that supports jobs all over the state of Utah\u2014just to name a few\u2014I\u2019ve sought to bring\u00a0people together, find areas of common ground, and develop serious solutions to the problems Utahns face. If we were able to achieve this much in a divided government with a President who rarely sought to work with Congress, imagine what we can achieve with a President eager to work with us.\u201d\r\nSenator Hatch has spoken to the President-elect several times on a number of issues critical to our nation\u2019s future\u2014from Mr. Trump\u2019s policy agenda to potential Supreme Court and cabinet nominations., and as the Wall Street Journal reported last week, Senator Hatch will be a crucial influence on the new administration. Just last week, Hatch met with the President-elect\u2019s nominees for Attorney General, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Secretary of the Treasury.\r\nLast Thursday, Senator Hatch also had the opportunity to sign the ECHO Act, his major rural health bill that passed unanimously in the House and Senate and is now on its way to the President\u2019s desk.\r\n[Video Available via YouTube]", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=BDD2DE15-FBF1-4E84-84CC-32C9B2846059", "Hatch Urges Confirmation of Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General on Senate Floor", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cSenator Sessions will bring more hands-on experience to the leadership of the Justice Department than any of the 83 men and women who have occupied the post of Attorney General.\u201d\r\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Senator Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, urged Senate colleagues to join him in supporting the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama to serve the next Attorney General of the United States during a speech on the Senate Floor on Thursday. Senator Hatch, a former chairman and current member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Senator Sessions early in the week to discuss the nomination.\r\n[Video Available via YouTube]\r\nThe speech focused on Senator Sessions\u2019s long record of serious policymaking, strengthening law enforcement, and keeping American communities safe.\r\nOn the need to reform the Department of Justice:\r\n\u2026The Justice Department has lost its way.\u00a0 It has gone off course.\u00a0 The Justice Department has become partial rather than impartial, unfair rather than fair.\u00a0 It has become political rather than independent, partisan rather than objective.\u00a0 The Justice Department has enabled the executive branch\u2019s campaign to exceed its constitutional powers, while ignoring Congress\u2019 proper and legitimate role of oversight.\r\nOn Senator Sessions\u2019s strong qualifications for the role of Attorney General:\r\nSenator Sessions will bring more hands-on experience to the leadership of the Justice Department than any of the 83 men and women who have occupied the post of Attorney General.\u00a0 He was a federal prosecutor for 18 years, 12 of them as United States Attorney.\u00a0 He has also served on the Judiciary Committee since he was first elected two decades ago.\u00a0 In other words, he has been directly involved in both the development and implementation of criminal justice policy \u2013 a combination unmatched by any Attorney General since the office was created in 1789.\u00a0 His service in this body, and on the committee of jurisdiction over the Department, is especially important because a respectful and productive working relationship with Congress has never been more important.\r\nOn Democrats\u2019 campaign to attack Senator Sessions:\r\nThe critics do not challenge Senator Sessions\u2019s qualifications.\u00a0 They do not question the conclusions, like I have mentioned here today, of those who know more about Senator Sessions\u2019s fitness to be Attorney General than anyone in this chamber.\u00a0 Instead, they traffic in rumor, innuendo, and smear.\u00a0 They take a comment here, a decision there, from years or even decades in the past, and use their media allies to transform these bits and pieces into what appear to be full-fledged stories.\u00a0\r\nThe text of the speech is below.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr. HATCH.\u00a0 Mr. President, before the 114th Congress adjourns, I want to take a minute to put on the record my strong support for the nomination of our distinguished colleague, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, to be the next Attorney General of the United States.\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Thomas Jefferson once wrote that government's most sacred duty is \"to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens.\"\u00a0 This ideal is also reflected in the Justice Department\u2019s own mission statement, which I have here:\r\nTo enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.\"\u00a0\r\nNo one believes in this mission more, no one understands better what this mission requires, than Jeff Sessions.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unfortunately, Mr. President, the Justice Department has lost its way.\u00a0 It has gone off course.\u00a0 The Justice Department has become partial rather than impartial, unfair rather than fair.\u00a0 It has become political rather than independent, partisan rather than objective.\u00a0 The Justice Department has enabled the executive branch\u2019s campaign to exceed its constitutional powers, while ignoring Congress\u2019 proper and legitimate role of oversight.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This decline, this corrosion, contributes to a steady loss of trust in government generally, and in the justice system specifically.\u00a0 According to the Pew Research Center, public trust in government is at a record low.\u00a0 Polls like this are not asking whether government is doing a good job, but whether our fellow citizens actually trust government.\u00a0 Fewer than one in five say that they trust government most of the time.\u00a0 The Gallup organization asked Americans how much of the time they can trust government here in Washington to do what is right.\u00a0 They, too, found that a record low percentage have that trust most of the time.\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Reversing this decline, and trying to rebuild this trust, requires getting back to the essential ingredients in the Justice Department\u2019s mission statement.\u00a0 The fair and impartial administration of justice, being guided by the law rather than politics, these are basic, fundamental principles that it appears are easier said than done.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Senator Sessions will bring more hands-on experience to the leadership of the Justice Department than any of the 83 men and women who have occupied the post of Attorney General.\u00a0 He was a federal prosecutor for 18 years, 12 of them as United States Attorney.\u00a0 He has also served on the Judiciary Committee since he was first elected two decades ago.\u00a0 In other words, he has been directly involved in both the development and implementation of criminal justice policy \u2013 a combination unmatched by any Attorney General since the office was created in 1789.\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0His service in this body, and on the committee of jurisdiction over the Department, is especially important because a respectful and productive working relationship with Congress has never been more important.\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Mr. President, no one knows more what the office of Attorney General requires than those who have actually served in that office.\u00a0 I have a letter signed by 10 former Attorneys General and Deputy Attorneys General, who served over the past three decades, and ask consent that it appear in the record following my remarks.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some of these officials knew and worked with Senator Sessions when he was U.S. Attorney, others since he joined us here in the Senate.\u00a0 They all share the same conclusion:\r\n\u201cAll of us know him as a person of honesty and integrity, who has held himself to the highest ethical standards throughout his career, and is guided always by a deep and abiding sense of duty to this nation and its founding charter.\u201d\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I ask my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, whether there is a better description of the kind of person we want in public office generally but leading the Justice Department in particular.\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Let me say a word about Senator Sessions\u2019s work on the Judiciary Committee.\u00a0 I have worked with him in that capacity for 20 years, including when he served as Ranking Member.\u00a0 We have worked together on dozens of bills to improve forensic science services for law enforcement, promote community policing, help child abuse victims, and prevent gun crimes.\u00a0 He is a serious legislator who knows that prosecutors and law enforcement need common sense, workable policies from lawmakers to help keep communities safe and protect the rights of all Americans.\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I also received a letter from a bipartisan group of eight men and women who have served as Director of National Drug Control Policy or as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.\u00a0 I ask consent that this letter appear in the record following my remarks.\u00a0 Here is what they say:\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cHis distinguished career as a prosecutor\u2026earned him a reputation as a tough, determined professional who has been dedicated to the appropriate enforcement of the rule of law.\u00a0 His exemplary record of service in law enforcement demonstrates that he is a protector of civil rights and defender of crime victims.\u201d\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Again, I ask my colleagues whether there is a better description of the kind of leader America needs at the Justice Department.\u00a0 I ask my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, who would have a better informed, more comprehensive knowledge of Senator Sessions\u2019s fitness to be Attorney General?\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Before I conclude, I want to address what is already shaping up to be an ugly propaganda offensive against this fine nominee.\u00a0 I have served in this body under both Republican and Democratic Presidents, under both Republican and Democratic Senate leadership.\u00a0 I have actively participated in the confirmation process since I first came here, including for the appointment of 12 attorneys General of both parties.\u00a0 In that time, I have seen the steady degradation of the confirmation process.\u00a0 And I have seen before the tactics that are already being used in a vain attempt to undermine this nomination.\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The critics do not challenge Senator Sessions\u2019s qualifications.\u00a0 They do not question the conclusions, like I have mentioned here today, of those who know more about Senator Sessions\u2019s fitness to be Attorney General than anyone in this chamber.\u00a0 Instead, they traffic in rumor, innuendo, and smear.\u00a0 They take a comment here, a decision there, from years or even decades in the past, and use their media allies to transform these bits and pieces into what appear to be full-fledged stories.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The critics know that people who might read these so-called news stories will not know the rest of the story, the context for a statement, or facts that the media choose to ignore.\u00a0 In fact, these critics are actually counting on people not knowing the whole story. \u00a0Such a cynical, dishonest campaign is not about the truth, it is not about a fair evaluation of the President-elect\u2019s nominee to be Attorney General.\u00a0 To be honest, these tactics are really not about Senator Sessions at all, but about the power of those who are using these tactics.\u00a0 They have to mark their territory, flex their muscle, and show that they are still a force to be reckoned with.\u00a0 If such things as fairness, integrity, truth, or decency have to be sacrificed in that power struggle, so be it.\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The media have a lot at stake if they choose to cooperate with this smear campaign.\u00a0 The liberal propaganda machine is already churning and the tactics are sadly familiar.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Gallup organization recently found that only 32 percent of Americans \u2013 a new low \u2013 have even a fair amount of trust that the media will report news fully, accurately and fairly.\u00a0 Americans should be highly skeptical of those who traffic in rumor, innuendo, and gossip but ignore Senator Sessions\u2019s 40 years of public service, his long record of achievement, and his actual views.\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 I hope my colleagues not only will resist these tactics, but that they will join me in exposing and rejecting them.\u00a0 They degrade the Senate, they mislead our fellow citizens, and they corrode our democracy.\u00a0 Let us stay focused on our role here, which is to evaluate whether the President-elect\u2019s nominee is qualified.\u00a0 We know that he is superbly qualified, and that he will be a strong and principled leader for the Justice Department.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In closing, I want to quote from that letter by bipartisan drug policy officials.\u00a0 They say this about Senator Sessions: \u201cHis prudent and responsible approach is exactly what the Department of Justice needs to enforce the law, restore confidence in the United States\u2019 justice system, and keep the American people safe.\u00a0 We support the nomination of Senator Sessions to be Attorney General of the United States, and we ask you to do the same.\u201d\u00a0 I could not have said it better.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=D5D03B63-3FC8-4619-BBA9-7343DAF648F3", "Hatch to Hold Teen Suicide Prevention Roundtable in Salt Lake City", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, will convene a roundtable discussion in Salt Lake City on December 16, 2016 to address the issue of teenage suicide. Senator Hatch has invited experts in health, education, behavioral studies, and local government to participate in order to learn more about initiatives in this field, identify ways to increase collaboration, and generate thought-provoking dialogue on prevention and treatment. Information on participating organizations can be found below.\u00a0\r\n\u201cIn less than a decade, teen suicide has nearly tripled in Utah, and far too many grieving families are left wondering why. Local leaders are rising to the challenge with new, creative prevention and support efforts. I appreciate their efforts, and I am committed to supporting them on behalf of Utah families.\u201d\r\nBackground: In July the Utah Department of Health released a study indicating that suicide had become the leading cause of death for Utahns between the ages of 10-17, and that Utah had the 8th highest youth suicide rate in the U.S. for the years 2012-15. Throughout his term of service, Senator Hatch has championed a number of efforts to support youth and families, including improving the foster care and adoption system, fighting Utah\u2019s opioid crisis, reforming the juvenile justice system, improving outcomes for homeless youth, finding new ways to address the needs of high-risk, disadvantaged, and delinquent youth, and improving mental healthcare.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=2C9B169D-CAE9-4AD5-A8E1-01EB39EE00FB", "Hatch Statement on the Passing of John Glenn", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, issued the following statement on the passing of John Glenn:\r\n\u201cWith the passing of John Glenn, America has lost a hero, and I have lost a dear friend. As an astronaut, John captured our imaginations with his courage and resourcefulness during his pioneering spaceflight. As a patriot, he answered the call of public service, becoming a voice of reason and a champion of bipartisanship in the Senate. From his iconic voyages into the final frontier to his numerous achievements in government, John leaves to a grateful nation a legacy that ranks among the greatest of his era. Elaine and I send our thoughts and prayers to his beloved wife Annie and the entire Glenn family during this difficult time.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=EFFE90C8-2E36-46E0-82AD-DA8EBBC6E660", "Hatch Statement on the Nomination of Andrew Puzder to Serve as Labor Secretary", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a member and former Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement on the nomination of Andrew Puzder to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Labor:\r\n\u201cAndrew Puzder is a great pick for the modern American workforce. Having grown a prosperous company and facilitated business development over a prolific career in the private sector, he will bring invaluable expertise to the Department of Labor. \u00a0He knows how to create jobs and help our businesses succeed. And he understands from firsthand experience how government overreach can hurt American workers, hamper economic growth, and stifle innovation. I am confident that Andrew will serve our country well.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D75EBFC4-961B-4F8E-9755-CC9B880C253B", "Sen. Lee Issues Statement on National Defense Authorization Act", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Friday explaining his vote against the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act:\u00a0\"I voted no on the final version 2017 National Defense Authorization Act because it doubles down on irresponsible defense budget gimmicks that ultimately harm the men and women serving in our military and removed key Utah priorities such as religious liberty protections for government contractors and blocking the sage grouse from being listed as an endangered species.\u00a0\u00a0 It also reauthorizes the DoD\u2019s Syria Train and Equip program for another two years despite past failures and risks to our interests in the Middle East.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chaffetz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=761", "Chaffetz praises inclusion of civil service reforms in NDAA", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Jason Chaffetz", "C001076", "chaffetz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Oversight Committee -\u00a0Today, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) released the following statement after the Senate passed S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which includes two Chaffetz sponsored bills aimed at reforming how misconduct is handled within the federal workforce.\u201cI am pleased to see these commonsense solutions strengthening the integrity of our civil service on their way to becoming law. The vast majority of federal workers are honest, hardworking Americans who proudly serve their country. But, as in most large groups, there are some bad apples. Together, these bills will help curb costly and unfair abuses taken by misbehaving employees.\u201dBackground:R. 4359, the Administrative Leave Reform Act  \u2013 Caps the use of administrative leave for cases of misconduct or performance at 10 days per calendar year and allows agencies to use investigative leave in extraordinary circumstances in 30 day increments. For any extensions of investigative leave after 90 days, a detailed report must be submitted to Congress every 30 days. Further, the bill prohibits agencies from leaving individuals on administrative leave indefinitely after all investigations are complete.R. 4360, the Official Personnel File Enhancement Act \u2013 Provides that an agency must record any adverse findings from a resolved investigation in a separated employee\u2019s official personnel file.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=04FFA5DE-57B0-40CB-9640-74AC4A47CD8A", "Hatch Invites LDS Apostle to open Senate Floor, Share Testimony of the Book of Mormon before Members of Congress", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC\u2014Acting in his role as President Pro Tempore, Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, invited Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to join him in opening the Senate floor with a prayer. Elder Christofferson is the first LDS Apostle in United States history to offer an invocation on the Senate Floor. Hatch also invited Elder Christofferson to bear testimony of the Book of Mormon at the Library of Congress in an event honoring the book\u2019s special place among influential works of American literature.\r\n\u00a0\r\nOn Elder Christofferson\u2019s prayer, Hatch said, \"As President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, I was eager to ask Elder Christofferson to offer our invocation and grateful that he accepted my invitation. This was a historical moment for the Church and a proud occasion for many people in Utah.\u201d\r\n[Invocation Video via YouTube]\r\nWhen introducing Elder Christofferson to speak before a group of scholars, legislators, and leaders of other faiths assembled at the Library of Congress, Senator Hatch said, \u201cElder Christofferson is a dear friend whom I respect deeply. Before turning the time over to him, I wish to emphasize the importance of his apostolic calling. The rank of apostle is one of the highest Priesthood offices in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Just as in New Testament times, an apostle is called to be a special witness of Jesus Christ. Elder D. Todd Christofferson has fulfilled this calling admirably for nearly a decade. He is beloved by millions of members of our church\u2014both here in the United States and across the globe. Having devoted the greater part of his life teaching others about Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon, he is remarkably qualified to speak on this subject today.\u201d\r\n[Full Event via YouTube]", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=937EF048-9834-4107-8640-E321FC94C894", "Hatch Statement on the Nomination of Scott Pruitt to Serve as EPA Administrator", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, issued the following statement on the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency:\r\n\u201cI am extraordinarily pleased with President-elect Trump\u2019s decision to nominate Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. For years, Scott has been the go-to leader in resisting the Obama EPA\u2019s regulatory overreach. By standing up to unwarranted and unlawful policies, he has demonstrated rightful concern for Americans whose livelihoods and communities have suffered under intrusive, job-killing regulations. Under Scott\u2019s leadership, I have confidence we can implement commonsense policies that protect both our environment and our economy.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=EE0BADF2-63BE-4512-8BE7-96D1131C67F1", "Senator Hatch and Speaker Ryan Sign Major Medical Treatment and Research Bill", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senate President Pro Tempore Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., signed critical legislation this afternoon to help find cures for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer\u2019s and to fight the ongoing opioid epidemic. The bill, the 21st Century Cures Act, recently passed the House and Senate, and included several key provisions with a direct impact on Utah championed by Senator Hatch.\r\n[Video via YouTube]\r\nThe bipartisan package, which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called \u201cthe most important legislation Congress will pass this year,\u201d represents a successful effort to bring together every part of the scientific and medical communities to address the most pressing issues facing patients across the country.\r\nBy investing in the National Institutes of Health, the legislation makes major strides toward goals like eliminating cancer, expanding our understanding of the brain to better treat diseases, and tapping into genetic information to individualize a patient\u2019s course of care. Moreover, this bill represents a major step in improving our response to mental health issues, addiction, and substance abuse. This proposal will directly benefit Utahns by empowering and funding state innovations to address our most elusive health challenges.\r\nThe legislation includes six of Senator Hatch\u2019s bills:\r\nS. 185, the Promise for Antibiotics and Therapeutics for Health (PATH) Act: The PATH Act would address the difficulty in recruiting participants for research and development of some of the most urgently needed new antibiotics\u2014those for serious or life-threatening infections with unmet needs (few or no treatment options). Utilizing pathways similar to orphan drugs, this bill allows antibiotics to be studied so that our nation can better address the growing threat of superbugs and anti-microbial resistance.\r\nS. 1101, the Medical Electronic Data Technology Enhancement for Consumers Health (MEDTECH) Act: The MEDTECH Act clarifies the regulation of health information technology by identifying five specific categories of medical software that, given certain conditions, should not be regulated as a medical device by the Food and Drug Administration based on their low level of risk to patients. This advancement ensures that regulations of low-risk technologies do not stymie innovation.\r\nS. 2030, Advancing Targeted Therapies for Rare Diseases Act: This bill will incentivize drug development, help overcome the difficulties of doing conventional trials for many rare diseases, conserve FDA\u2019s limited resources, bring needed therapies to patients faster, and make treatments available where there otherwise would be no other options.\r\nS. 2511, Improving Health Information Technology Act: This bill reforms the current certification for electronic health records (EHRS), as well as reforming standards and encouraging trusted exchange while reducing provider burden and duplicative processes.\r\nS. 1077, Advancing Breakthrough Medical Devices for Patients Act: This bill will expedite the development and provide for priority review of medical devices that represent breakthrough technologies, have no approved alternatives, offer significant advantages over existing alternatives, or would increase patient access to treatment.\r\nS. 800, Enhancing the Stature and Visibility of Medical Rehabilitation Research at NIH Act: This bill will establish a working group within the NIH to update and streamline rehabilitation research priorities, promote interagency cooperation on rehabilitation research between NIH and other agencies, and explore the feasibility of implementing the Blue Ribbon Panel Recommendations on Rehabilitation Research released in December 2012.\r\nThe 21st Century Cures package also contains other legislation that Senator Hatch originated or sponsored during his tenure. The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which aims to prevent youth suicide, is reauthorized in Cures, continuing a decade of work on the issue by the Senator. The STOP Act, which aims to reduce underage drinking, is also reauthorized in this bill and was originally cosponsored by Senator Hatch. Additionally, the Community Mental Health Services Block Grants and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants that are reauthorized in the Cures package were created under Senator Hatch\u2019s chairmanship of the Labor & Human Resources Committee (now the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee). Of additional note in the mental health community is the notion of mental health parity, which Senator Hatch championed at its original passage and is contained in the mental health provisions of the Cures bill. The Cures Act also reauthorizes the National Pediatric Research Network Act, another one of Senator Hatch\u2019s key priorities that brings together pediatric hospitals and researchers to pool expertise and resources as they work to treat pediatric rare diseases and birth defects.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0548D889-E9EA-4D33-881A-8DB666F9C521", "Lee Praises Pruitt Pick for EPA", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Thursday in response to President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s selection of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as his nominee for Environmental Protection Agency Administrator:\u201cAttorney General Scott Pruitt has a proven conservative record and firm understanding of the Constitution. His work fighting the unconstitutional excess of both the Affordable Care Act and the Clean Power Plan shows he has exactly the leadership skills America needs to make the EPA serve all Americans. His qualifications for the office are settled science. I look forward to voting in favor of his confirmation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chaffetz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=760", "House Unanimously Passes Chaffetz Legislation Protecting FBI Whistleblowers", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Jason Chaffetz", "C001076", "chaffetz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Unanimously Passes Chaffetz Legislation Protecting FBI Whistleblowers \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        Dec 7, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n      \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      House Oversight Committee -\u00a0Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, as amended, H.R. 5790, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2016 (404-0). The bill clarifies Congress\u2019s intent to protect FBI whistleblowers who make disclosures to managers and supervisors in their chain of command, bringing the agency in line with most others in the federal government.\u201cWhile a great many changes remain to be made in how DOJ and the FBI respond to whistleblowers, this commonsense clarification is not minor.  If implemented, it would have far-reaching implications in protecting whistleblowers at the FBI,  just as Congress intended in 1978 in the first whistleblower protection law.\u201d\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-stewart-reflects-on-the-attack-of-pearl-harbor-in-speech-on-the", "Rep. Stewart Reflects on the Attack of Pearl Harbor in Speech on the House Floor", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), a former Air Force Bomber pilot, reflects on the 75th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor in a speech on the House Floor. You can watch the speech here.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nText of the Speech as Prepared:\n\u00a0\nThank you Mr. Speaker. As I think all of us know, today mark\u2019s the 75th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. This devastating event took the lives of more than 2,300 Americans and ultimately led of course to the United States\u2019 entrance into World War II. And though it\u2019s painful to think of all the brave men and woman that we lost that day, I\u2019m grateful for this heroic generation of soldiers, including my own father, who served in defense of the freedoms of our country during World War II.\n\u00a0\nI wear my father\u2019s wings \u2013 I have them on today, I wear them every day. My mom and dad loved their country. And they like so many others sacrificed so much.\n\u00a0\nIt was examples of these heroes such as these that led me to make the decision when I was a young man to become a pilot in the Air Force.\n\u00a0\nI\u2019d like to take a moment to share the story of one brave Utahn, Mervyn Bennion, who was stationed at Pearl Harbor on the day of the attack.\n\u00a0\nAfter graduating from high school in Salt Lake City, Bennion accepted his appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated near the top of his class. He later assumed command of the USS West Virginia in July of 1941.\n\u00a0\nThe ship was moored with other vessels on Battleship Row on that Sunday morning. Just shy of 8am, Japanese forces struck the USS West Virginia with at least 6 Torpedoes and 2 bombs.\n\u00a0\nUnder attack and struggling to organize a defense from the bridge, Captain Bennion was struck with shrapnel from one of these bombs. But still, he continued to direct his ship\u2019s battle. While using one of his hands to hold his own wounds closed. Several sailors attempted to convince him to go to the first aid station and seek medical attention, but he refused to leave his post. And sadly, he later died because of loss of blood.\n\u00a0\nCaptain Bennion was recognized with the Medal of Honor, of course our nation's highest military honor, for his \u201cconspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life.\u201d\n\u00a0\nToday, on the anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor, let us remember not only the brave men and women who lost their lives in that attack, but also the men and women who have continued to fight for our freedoms over the last 75 years.\n\u00a0\nWe live in a dark and dangerous world, and in dark and dangerous places all around the globe, American soldiers, sailors and airmen are doing what they can to bring stability and safety to many parts of the world. We should remember them.\u00a0We should thank\u00a0them. We should keep them and their families in our prayers. What we have asked to them to do isn't easy. They deserve our gratitude and respect.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=291BD48E-CA9D-43FB-98FA-10A16DC4913B", "With His Rural Health Bill Headed to the Presidents Desk, Hatch Leads All Republicans in Legislation Passed", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Today the House of Representatives passed the ECHO Act, a bill sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a member and former Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Senator Hatch\u2019s bill, which passed the Senate unanimously last week, expands access to high quality healthcare services for Utah\u2019s rural communities and facilitates the integration of innovative telehealth models into health delivery systems.\r\n\u201cThe ECHO Act is a resounding victory for Utah. With a large rural population, this legislation will extend access to high quality health services far beyond the limits of our cities so that all Utahns\u2014no matter where they live\u2014will be able to get the care they need, when they need it.\u201d\r\nThe ECHO Act marks Senator Hatch\u2019s 40th legislative proposal to pass the Senate this Congress, topping an expansive list of legislative accomplishments that also includes critical reforms to empower local education leaders, strengthen Utah\u2019s transportation infrastructure, and improve our nation\u2019s healthcare system. Senator Hatch currently leads Republicans among bills passed in the Senate this Congress. He has passed 40 bills this Congress alone; the average for all Senators is 21.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=02F017C6-A273-49E1-99CE-818C109DACDA", "Hatch to Hold Teen Suicide Prevention Roundtable in Salt Lake City", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, will convene a roundtable discussion in Salt Lake City on December 16, 2016 to address the issue of teenage suicide. Senator Hatch has invited experts in health, education, behavioral studies, and local government to participate in order to learn more about initiatives in this field, identify ways to increase collaboration, and generate thought-provoking dialogue on prevention and treatment.\r\n\u201cIn less than a decade, teen suicide has nearly tripled in Utah, and far too many grieving families are left wondering why. Local leaders are rising to the challenge with new, creative prevention and support efforts. I appreciate their efforts, and I am committed to supporting them on behalf of Utah families.\u201d\r\nBackground: In July the Utah Department of Health released a study indicating that suicide had become the leading cause of death for Utahns between the ages of 10-17, and that Utah had the 8th highest youth suicide rate in the U.S. for the years 2012-15. Throughout his term of service, Senator Hatch has championed a number of efforts to support youth and families, including improving the foster care and adoption system, fighting Utah\u2019s opioid crisis, reforming the juvenile justice system, improving outcomes for homeless youth, finding new ways to address the needs of high-risk, disadvantaged, and delinquent youth, and improving mental healthcare.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=735CB5BC-9CCF-4A97-A006-D1A0E09EF8FC", "Hatch Statement onSigningof New MEP Partnership", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC--Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, issued the following statement following the announcement of the University of Utah\u2019s new contract with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership:\r\n\u201cAfter years of concerted effort working alongside the Governor\u2019s Office of Economic Development and the University of Utah, I\u2019m thrilled with today\u2019s announcement. Utah\u2019s MEP program will help grow Utah businesses by expanding customer bases, developing new markets, and creating new products while also helping our nation maintain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.\u00a0 This federal investment is a prime example of how local solutions are the principal drivers of economic development.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DBBD26D6-D6A1-47AA-97E0-0B8E05BA0C6F", "Senators Introduce the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act of 2016", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act, Monday, a bill that would improve the business of Congress and increase the public\u2019s understanding of its work by establishing a structured congressional clerkship program for recent law school graduates and young lawyers.\u00a0\r\n\u201cUnlike the Executive and Judicial branches, Congress currently lacks a structured program for recruiting and hiring recent law school graduates,\u201d Sen. Lee said. \u201cToo often this means that new attorneys, who are otherwise qualified and eager to work for Congress, do not even consider a congressional career and are instead pursuing other opportunities.\u201d\r\n\u201cA clerkship can provide invaluable experience to a young lawyer at the start of his or her career,\u201d Sen. Leahy said.\u00a0 \u201cThe federal judiciary has long had a clerkship program that teaches recent law school graduates the workings of the judicial branch.\u00a0 Yet there has never been a formal clerkship program in Congress.\u00a0 Creating a pathway for more young lawyers to gain an understanding of how Congress works and the value of public service will lead to a greater embrace of public service.\u00a0 I am proud to be introducing once again bipartisan legislation to encourage more young lawyers to work in the Congress.\u201d\r\n\u201cWe want to attract the best and the brightest to public service,\u201d Sen. Hoeven said. \u201cThe Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act will create a formal program to bring young, energetic and talented recent law graduates to work \u00a0in the Senate and House and see firsthand representative democracy at work.\u201d\r\n\u201cFor many years, the brightest young minds coming out of law school have flocked to the federal courts and the executive branch for clerkships and fellowships,\u201d Sen. Cruz said. \u201cUnsurprisingly, this has contributed to the legal profession\u2019s excessive focus on litigation and bureaucratic regulation, at the expense of legislative knowledge and development.\u00a0 The Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act is a small, yet important step in the fight to change that trend.\u00a0 Ideally, the Act will better\u00a0position\u00a0Congress to obtain top-notch services from stellar law school graduates, and it will give those graduates access to\u2014and a much better understanding of\u2014the legislative process.\u201d\r\n\u00a0Committees in the Senate and the House will be responsible to select at least six clerks each year to perform a one-year clerkship. These committees would oversee the selection process in order to guarantee fair allotment between the majority and minority party offices. \u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u201cSenators Lee, Leahy, Hoeven, and Cruz are to be applauded for their vision in championing this bipartisan legislation,\u201d said the Coalition\u2019s Steering Committee, comprised of Larry Kramer, former Dean of Stanford Law School; Robin West,\u00a0law professor at Georgetown University Law Center; Bill Treanor, Dean of Georgetown University Law Center; Abbe Gluck, law professor at Yale Law School; and Dakota Rudesill, law professor at Ohio State.\r\n\u201cThe problem is not that Congress does not have enough lawyers,\u201d the Steering Committee noted.\u00a0 \u201cRather, the problem is that Congress is not competitive for the opportunity to apprentice lawyers on the fast track to the legal profession\u2019s most influential ranks.\u00a0 Congress is missing the opportunity to shape the constitutional perspective of the law\u2019s future leaders.\u00a0 That is because unlike the federal courts, federal agencies, law firms, and law schools, Congress lacks a regularized apprenticeship program that is readily accessible to any top new law graduate, on the basis of objective qualifications,\u201d the Coalition\u2019s Steering Committee emphasized.\u00a0\r\nThis bill, named after Daniel Webster, is considered one of the most admired and distinguished lawyers and legislators to ever serve in Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=A2CE493B-83A2-4786-909D-D2BE94E041C3", "Hatch Statement on Meeting with AG Nominee Senator Jeff Sessions", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON--Senator Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, the senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after meeting with United States Attorney General nominee Senator Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.:\r\n\u201cI was pleased to meet today with my good friend and colleague Jeff Sessions. He is man of principle and character,\u00a0and has the right kind of experience we need at the helm of the Justice Department. We had a wide-ranging conversation about how to advance our numerous shared priorities. I look forward to working with him to strengthen the rule of law and to provide strong and effective law enforcement for the American people.\u00a0Some of the key areas\u00a0I\u00a0believe we can work well together on\u00a0include antitrust enforcement,\u00a0intellectual property protections, mens rea reform, and support for American law enforcement.\u201d\r\n\r\n[YouTube Video Link]", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=C73C43CE-C0D0-416E-9390-7BA33D7F48F4", "PHOTO AVAILABILITY: SENATOR HATCH TO MEET WITH AG NOMINEE SENATOR SESSIONS", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON--Senator Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, the senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, will meet with United States Attorney General nominee Senator Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., today at 2:00 PM in his President Pro Tempore office in the Capitol (S-125). There will be a 5 minute photo opportunity at the beginning of the meeting for handheld cameras.\r\n\u00a0Background: As a former Chairman and the longest-serving current member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Hatch has participated in the confirmation process for all 12 Attorneys General confirmed during his term of service and played a critical role in several high-profile confirmation processes.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20161208002710/http://chaffetz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=759", "Chaffetz supports health policy reforms", "2016-12-03", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Jason Chaffetz", "C001076", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Chaffetz supports health policy reforms \n   \n    \n      21st Century Cures legislation provides tangible benefits to Utah \n      \n  \n    \n      f \n      t \n      #\n      e\n      \n      \n    \n    \n      \n        Washington,\n        Dec 3, 2016\n      \n       \n    \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n      \n    \n  \n  \n    \n      \n      \n      Washington - Congressman Jason Chaffetz  voted in favor of important policy reforms that will have a direct impact on Utah.   The bipartisan Health Policy Omnibus reforms our outdated medical discovery, development and delivery system.  Passing by a 392-26 vote, the legislation provides resources to address growing problems including mental health, opioid abuse, and chronic disease.  Some of the legislations most significant solutions include:\n    \n        \n            \n            \n                Secures reimbursement funding for the University of Utahs $100 million outpatient facility in Farmington, Utah\n                Increases funding to Utah to fight opioid abuse \n                Increases FDA funding by $500 million to cut bureaucratic hurdles that have resulted in more expensive drugs for Utahns\n                Modernizes Americas mental health system and protects Veterans from unfair discrimination\n                Simplifies and streamlines the process for breakthrough medical device approval\n                Projected to reduce the deficit by $516 billion from 2016-2025\n                Funded through a $4 billion cut in Obamacare, unused funds from territories for ACA exchanges, and reductions in overpayments in Medicare/Medicaid\n            \n            \n        \n    \n    \n  \n  \n  \n    \n      f \n      t \n      #\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://love.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=606", "House Votes to Continue Funding Select Panel on Infant Lives", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mia Love", "L000584", "love.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On December 1, 2016 Congresswoman Mia Love spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives to highlight 8 cases that have been referred for prosecution, tied to the possible illegal sale of fetal tissue.\r\n\r\n\tThe House voted to continue funding the committee by a vote of 234-181.\r\n\r\n\tYou can watch the floor speech here.\r\n\r\n\tNews coverage of the speech and the House vote.\r\n\r\n\tText of the speech is here:\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tMany have said that the three House Committee investigations related to the sales of fetal tissue have produced nothing.\u00a0 Others have said that the State Attorney General investigations have also looked into the matter and found nothing.\u00a0 They complain that this is a \u201cwaste of time\u201d and a \u201cwaste of money\u201d.\r\n\r\n\tThere is so much that we the American People didn\u2019t understand and still don\u2019t understand about this industry.\u00a0 However, since then the Panel\u2019s investigation has uncovered alarming revelations about the fetal tissue industry, and because of this, there have been criminal and regulatory referrals.\u00a0 These have resulted in numerous investigations around the nation.\u00a0 I will highlight eight of these referrals.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tFirst, the Panel discovered that the University of New Mexico was violating their state\u2019s Anatomical Gift Act by receiving tissue from a late term abortion clinic.\u00a0 This is currently being investigated.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tSecond, the Panel made a forensic accounting analysis of Stem Express\u2019s limited production and determined that they were profiting from the sale of baby body parts.\u00a0 Now the El Dorado District Attorney and the U.S. Department of Justice are investigating this.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tThird, the Panel learned that Stem Express and certain abortion clinics were violating the HIPAA privacy rights of vulnerable women for the sole purpose of increasing the harvesting of fetal tissue to make money.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tFourth, the Panel discovered that an abortion clinic in Arkansas violated state law when it sent tissue to StemExpress.\u00a0 This too is under investigation.\r\n\r\n\tFifth, the Panel discovered that a university in Ohio was trafficking in baby body parts, an illegal act under Ohio State Law.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tSixth, it was discovered that DV Biologics, another tissue procurement company, was profiting from the sale of fetal tissue and was violating California sales tax law.\u00a0 This case has been filed.\r\n\r\n\tSeventh, recently the Panel learned that Planned Parenthood of Gulf Coast violated both Texas and US law when it sold baby body part to the University of Texas.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tEighth, the Panel also just learned that Advanced Bioscience Resources made a profit when it sold tissue to various universities.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tAs elected Representatives we are tasked with oversight of our government that enforces our laws.\u00a0 These eight referrals are proof of potential criminal activity in the fetal tissue industry.\u00a0 They justify the existence of the Panel and their investigations.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tHowever, the work of The Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives\u2019 is not finished.\u00a0 There are more referrals to come and in order to complete this work, continued funding for the Panel\u2019s unfinished work is needed.\u00a0 I urge my colleagues to support this bill to fund this investigative work and fulfill our obligation to the American people and the rule of law.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://love.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=608", "Love continues commitment to Veterans", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mia Love", "L000584", "love.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C. -- \u00a0Congresswoman Mia Love continues to show her support for American Veterans and their families by voting in favor of a string of bills in support of those who sacrifice for our country.\u00a0 Those bills address quality of life, health care, education, and honoring those who have served.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\u201cI feel strongly about supporting our veterans and their families, and keeping the promises that were made to them,\u201d Representative Love said.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tHere is a list of the bills in the House of Representatives this week:\r\n\r\n\tH.R. 5047, the Protecting Veterans' Educational Choice Act of 2016, would require VA to inform student veterans about transferring coursework credits when they switch schools and about agreements that schools may have about transferring credits.\r\n\r\n\tH.R. 3286, the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2016, would require the Department of Labor to better recognize employers\u2019 efforts to recruit and retain veteran employees and provide community and charitable services to the veteran community.\r\n\r\n\tH.R. 5600, as amended, the No Hero Left Untreated Act, would require VA to carry out a one-year pilot program to treat veterans with PTSD, TBI, chronic pain, and opioid addiction or who have experienced military sexual trauma with magnetic EEG/EKG-guided resonance therapy, which uses magnetic stimulation to help restore proper functioning in the brain.\r\n\r\n\tH.R. 4757, as amended, would require VA to supply a headstone, marker or medallion for Medal of Honor recipients buried at private cemeteries. The bill would also allow the VA to send a Presidential Memorial Certificate, which is a certificate that expresses the nation\u2019s recognition and gratitude of military service, to the families of deceased veterans, and to the families of deceased members of certain Reserve components of the Armed Forces.\r\n\r\n\tH.R. 5458, The Veterans TRICARE Choice Act would change current law to make it legal for TRICARE-eligible veterans to voluntarily pause their TRICARE benefits in order to participate in a Health Savings Account program.\r\n\r\n\tH.R. 5166, the WINGMAN Act.\u00a0 In order to facilitate and expedite constituent casework, this Act would allow the VA to authorize qualified congressional staffers to access their benefits claims information. (Rep. Love is a cosponsor.)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://chaffetz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=758", "Chaffetz Announces New Chief of Staff, Legislative Director", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Jason Chaffetz", "C001076", "chaffetz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington \u2013 Today, Congressman Jason Chaffetz (UT-03) released the following statement after announcing Amber Talley, current Legislative Director, as his new Chief-of-Staff and Clay White, current Legislative Assistant, as his new Legislative Director. Current Chief-of-Staff Fred Ferguson recently accepted a position with a Utah-based company in the private sector.\n\n\u201cI have every confidence in Amber and Clay. They have each played an integral role in our office and have earned these new responsibilities. Amber\u2019s deep policy knowledge, decisive nature, and collaborative approach make her an ideal candidate for the Chief of Staff role. From his early days as an intern in our Provo office, Clay distinguished himself as a hard worker with a quick grasp of complex issues.\n\n\n\n\u201cIt has been my pleasure to work with Fred over the past eight years and to watch him work his way from staff assistant to Chief of Staff. His work ethic, leadership, and ability to connect with people have made him a valuable asset to our office. His extensive knowledge in natural resources policy was invaluable for the State of Utah and will serve him well in his new position.\u201d\n\n\n\nMore on Amber and Clay:\n\n\n\nAmber Kirby Talley began working as Legislative Director for Congressman Chaffetz in February 2015 after serving as Counsel for the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform since August 2014. Before moving to the Hill, Amber worked as a senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP in the firm's tax practice. She is a graduate of North Carolina State University (B.A., English, 2006), Wake Forest University School of Law (J.D., 2010) and American University (LL.M, Law and Government with concentration in Business and Financial Regulation, 2012; Master of Public Policy, 2012).\n\nClay White is currently a Legislative Assistant for Congressman Chaffetz where his portfolio includes military and federal lands issues. Clay first worked for Team Chaffetz as an intern in the Provo, Utah office. He then spent three years working for Congressman Chris Stewart (UT-02) covering issues related to immigration, health care, and postal. Clay graduated from Utah Valley University with a B.A. in Political Science and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Public Management at Johns Hopkins University.\n\n\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=B5BBEAE7-452F-4ADD-A2FC-1075F2181648", "My view: Supreme Court and Sen. Hatch", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Carrie Severino, a former law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, chief counsel of the Judicial Crisis Network.\r\nhttp://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668433/My-view-Supreme-Court-and-Sen-Hatch.html?pg=all\r\nAmericans are frustrated with their government today. Many don\u2019t believe politicians do what they say. In these turbulent times, however, Utahns can be proud of Sen. Orrin Hatch, whose leadership in the federal judicial appointment process has been truly outstanding. Indeed, all Americans owe Hatch and the rest of the Republican leadership a debt of gratitude for their leading role in defending the Supreme Court and the Constitution.\r\nHatch was first elected in 1976, just as the public began to realize how completely the federal judiciary had asserted control over our lives, our liberty and our country. A few years later Hatch became a stalwart ally of President Ronald Reagan\u2019s efforts to appoint judges who interpret the laws instead of making them, and he has been an important contributor ever since.\r\nHatch\u2019s leadership became especially important this year, when the untimely death of Justice Antonin Scalia left a gaping hole on the highest court in the land. Finding a suitable replacement for Scalia would have been a difficult task in any year, but this year Hatch had a strategic position from which to protect his legacy. Indeed, by the time the vacancy arose, Hatch had been advocating in the Senate for Scalia\u2019s principles longer than Scalia had been on the bench.\r\nScalia knew \u2014 as do most Americans \u2014 that judges are supposed to interpret and apply the law, not make it up as they go along. This role ensures that the American people and their elected representatives, not federal judges, are responsible for the nation\u2019s future.\r\nSo when Scalia died in February, Hatch and the Republican leadership insisted that the resulting vacancy be filled in the right way at the right time. Many assumed the Senate had to confirm a replacement quickly, regardless of the stakes or timing. But fortunately, Hatch\u2019s broad experience and perspective suggested a different course, and Hatch used his considerable skills as an advocate to pursue it.\r\nHe began by taking to the Senate floor and the airwaves to explain why the next president should fill the Scalia vacancy. First, he said, the Senate had already handled Supreme Court nominations at least a dozen different ways. He reminded everyone that in 1992, then-Sen. Joe Biden (the chair of the Judiciary Committee) advised President George H.W. Bush not to fill any vacancy before the election. Like Biden before him, Hatch had concluded that properly considering a Supreme Court nominee would be impossible in the middle of a presidential campaign.\r\nSecond, Hatch argued, elections have consequences. The future of the Supreme Court had already become an important issue in the presidential election, and America would soon be electing a new president. The leading candidates were likely to nominate very different justices with very different judicial philosophies. The timing of the Scalia vacancy, therefore, created a unique opportunity for the American people to make their voice known through the election.\r\nIn hindsight, it is obvious Hatch was right on both counts. As Scalia once argued, the Supreme Court\u2019s eagerness to control nearly every aspect of American life turns every judicial nomination into a \u201chot potato,\u201d since each new nominee might be the deciding vote that changes how the Constitution is interpreted and understood. And fighting such battles during what would become an unusually heated presidential campaign would have made the confirmation process less, not more, fair.\r\nHatch and the Republicans gave the American people a special opportunity to be heard on this issue. They spoke unequivocally. The percentage of voters for whom Supreme Court appointments were the most important factor tripled from 2008, and more than two-thirds of voters said the Supreme Court was an important factor in their decision.\r\nLike principled leaders do, Hatch took some criticism for his position. Unlike his critics, though, he was looking beyond a single election cycle. And he had to consider the long-term integrity of the judicial branch, not just a particular nominee for a particular vacancy. His courageous actions this year helped preserve the right of the American people to decide who fills the Scalia vacancy. Our liberty, the courts and the Constitution itself are now safer.\r\nThank you, Sen. Hatch.\r\nCarrie Severino, a former law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is chief counsel of the Judicial Crisis Network.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://love.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=604", "Rep. Love Introduces 'Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Bill", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mia Love", "L000584", "love.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 Rep. Mia Love, (R) UT and Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D) MA, along with U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), introduced legislation to address the widespread practice of using discriminatory tactics when calculating future earnings potential in personal injury cases and claims. \u00a0\r\n\r\n\tThe Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2016, would address the concerning practice of using race, ethnicity and gender to predict future lost income \u2013 a key factor in determining overall damages.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tRep. Love said, \u201cAs a conservative, I believe the value of a life should not be either elevated or downgraded based on a person\u2019s inherent characteristics, like race or gender.\u00a0 The courts should be above using race or gender in any way in determining awards in civil cases.\u00a0 The Declaration of Independence reads:\u00a0 \u2018We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.\u2019\u00a0 In introducing this bill, I am doing what I swore to do, supporting and defending the Constitution and the principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence of the United States.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tRecent reports have demonstrated the prevalence of lawyers and economists calculating damages awards and settlements based on the injured party\u2019s race, ethnicity or gender. \u00a0\u00a0In October, a Washington Post article highlighted a case where a 6-year old girl and a male fetus were killed in the same car crash, and the settlement for the fetus was calculated to be up to 84% higher than the girl's.\r\n\r\n\tThe Fair Calculations Act would begin to address these troubling trends by precluding a court from awarding damages based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or actual or perceived sexual orientation.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t###\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 Rep. Mia Love, (R) UT and Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D) MA, along with U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), introduced legislation to address the widespread practice of using discriminatory tactics when calculating future earnings potential in personal injury cases and claims.\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2016, would address the concerning practice of using race, ethnicity and gender to predict future lost income \u2013 a key factor in determining overall damages.\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRep. Love said,\u00a0\u201cAs a conservative, I believe the value of a life should not be either elevated or downgraded based on a person\u2019s inherent characteristics, like race or gender.\u00a0 The courts should be above using race or gender in any way in determining awards in civil cases.\u00a0 The Declaration of Independence reads:\u00a0 \u2018We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.\u2019\u00a0 In introducing this bill, I am doing what I swore to do, supporting and defending the Constitution and the principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence of the United States.\u201d\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRecent reports have demonstrated the prevalence of lawyers and economists calculating damages awards and settlements based on the injured party\u2019s race, ethnicity or gender.\u00a0\u00a0In October, a Washington Post article highlighted a case where a 6-year old girl and a male fetus were killed in the same car crash, and the settlement for the fetus was calculated to be up to 84% higher than the girl's.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe\u00a0Fair Calculations Act\u00a0would begin to address these troubling trends by precluding a court from awarding damages based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or actual or perceived sexual orientation.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t###\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 Rep. Mia Love, (R) UT and Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D) MA, along with U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), introduced legislation to address the widespread practice of using discriminatory tactics when calculating future earnings potential in personal injury cases and claims.\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2016, would address the concerning practice of using race, ethnicity and gender to predict future lost income \u2013 a key factor in determining overall damages.\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRep. Love said,\u00a0\u201cAs a conservative, I believe the value of a life should not be either elevated or downgraded based on a person\u2019s inherent characteristics, like race or gender.\u00a0 The courts should be above using race or gender in any way in determining awards in civil cases.\u00a0 The Declaration of Independence reads:\u00a0 \u2018We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.\u2019\u00a0 In introducing this bill, I am doing what I swore to do, supporting and defending the Constitution and the principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence of the United States.\u201d\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRecent reports have demonstrated the prevalence of lawyers and economists calculating damages awards and settlements based on the injured party\u2019s race, ethnicity or gender.\u00a0\u00a0In October, a Washington Post article highlighted a case where a 6-year old girl and a male fetus were killed in the same car crash, and the settlement for the fetus was calculated to be up to 84% higher than the girl's.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe\u00a0Fair Calculations Act\u00a0would begin to address these troubling trends by precluding a court from awarding damages based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or actual or perceived sexual orientation.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t###\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 Rep. Mia Love, (R) UT and Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D) MA, along with U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), introduced legislation to address the widespread practice of using discriminatory tactics when calculating future earnings potential in personal injury cases and claims.\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2016, would address the concerning practice of using race, ethnicity and gender to predict future lost income \u2013 a key factor in determining overall damages.\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRep. Love said,\u00a0\u201cAs a conservative, I believe the value of a life should not be either elevated or downgraded based on a person\u2019s inherent characteristics, like race or gender.\u00a0 The courts should be above using race or gender in any way in determining awards in civil cases.\u00a0 The Declaration of Independence reads:\u00a0 \u2018We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.\u2019\u00a0 In introducing this bill, I am doing what I swore to do, supporting and defending the Constitution and the principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence of the United States.\u201d\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRecent reports have demonstrated the prevalence of lawyers and economists calculating damages awards and settlements based on the injured party\u2019s race, ethnicity or gender.\u00a0\u00a0In October, a Washington Post article highlighted a case where a 6-year old girl and a male fetus were killed in the same car crash, and the settlement for the fetus was calculated to be up to 84% higher than the girl's.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe\u00a0Fair Calculations Act\u00a0would begin to address these troubling trends by precluding a court from awarding damages based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or actual or perceived sexual orientation.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t###\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 Rep. Mia Love, (R) UT and Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D) MA, along with U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), introduced legislation to address the widespread practice of using discriminatory tactics when calculating future earnings potential in personal injury cases and claims.\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2016, would address the concerning practice of using race, ethnicity and gender to predict future lost income \u2013 a key factor in determining overall damages.\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRep. Love said,\u00a0\u201cAs a conservative, I believe the value of a life should not be either elevated or downgraded based on a person\u2019s inherent characteristics, like race or gender.\u00a0 The courts should be above using race or gender in any way in determining awards in civil cases.\u00a0 The Declaration of Independence reads:\u00a0 \u2018We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.\u2019\u00a0 In introducing this bill, I am doing what I swore to do, supporting and defending the Constitution and the principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence of the United States.\u201d\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRecent reports have demonstrated the prevalence of lawyers and economists calculating damages awards and settlements based on the injured party\u2019s race, ethnicity or gender.\u00a0\u00a0In October, a Washington Post article highlighted a case where a 6-year old girl and a male fetus were killed in the same car crash, and the settlement for the fetus was calculated to be up to 84% higher than the girl's.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe\u00a0Fair Calculations Act\u00a0would begin to address these troubling trends by precluding a court from awarding damages based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or actual or perceived sexual orientation.\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-stewart-offers-constituents-tickets-to-the-presidential", "Congressman Stewart Offers Constituents Tickets to the Presidential Inauguration", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in as the President of the United States on Friday, January 20, 2017 in Washington, D.C.\nCongressman Chris Stewart (R-Utah) has been given a limited number of tickets for the Inauguration Ceremony and is offering them to constituents in Utah\u2019s 2nd Congressional District on a first come, first serve basis.\nUtahns interested in attending the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony may request tickets at: http://stewart.house.gov/InaugurationTickets.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://love.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=603", "Rep. Love Supports Historic Health Care Bill", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mia Love", "L000584", "love.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Statement from Rep. Love on today's vote for the 21st Century Cures Act:\r\n\r\n\t\"Today, I voted for the 21st Century Cures Act, which could be one of the most important health care bills of the year. This bill will change the way we do medical research on incurable diseases. We are laying the groundwork for medical breakthroughs that will help countless Americans.\"\r\n\r\n\tThis bill passed by a vote of 392-26. \u00a0After the vote, applause erupted in the House Chamber.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tThe $4.8 billion bill is financially offset (which means it won't add to the deficit) and will provide funding to the National Institutes of Health for research on diseases that are presently incurable or tough to fight and that affect the lives of millions of Americans. \u00a0Those diseases include cancer, Alzheimer's, Lyme disease, for mental health and much more. \u00a0\r\n\r\n\tDetails on the bill are available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=7FA6D872-6352-4D7A-8EF6-BD8F10E4E82E", "Updated Media Advisory: Hatch to Host LDS Apostle D. Todd Christofferson in Washington for Senate Invocation, Book of Mormon Event at Library of Congress", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, has arranged for D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, to deliver the Senate invocation on the morning of December 7th. As President Pro Tempore, Senator Hatch is responsible for presiding over the Senate, including its opening every morning which features a prayer.\r\nSenator Hatch will also host Elder Christofferson at a special event honoring the Book of Mormon at the Library of Congress. \u00a0The event will be a recognition of the inclusion of the Book of Mormon in the \u201cAmerica Reads\u201d exhibit at the Library, at which Elder Christofferson will speak on the importance of the Book of Mormon in the lives of millions of Americans.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWho:\r\n\r\n\r\nSenator Orrin Hatch\r\nElder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\n\r\n\r\nSenate invocation; special event honoring the Book of Mormon\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\n\r\n\r\nDecember 7th, 2016\r\nInvocation on the Senate Floor: 10:00 AM (subject to change)\u00a0\r\nLibrary of Congress Event: 11:30 AM \u2013 1:30 PM\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nWhere:\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nFloor of the United States Senate, U.S. Capitol building; \u00a0United States\u00a0Library\u00a0of Congress\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMedia:\r\n\r\n\r\nWe will provide video from the Senate floor.\r\nThe Library of Congress event is open to media, but seating is limited so please RSVP to Matt Whitlock (Matt_whitlock@Hatch.senate.gov) with the names of those who will be attending.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-stewart-s-veterans-tricare-choice-act-passes-the-house", "Rep. Stewarts Veterans Tricare Choice Act Passes the House", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Chris Stewart\u2019s (R-Utah) Veterans TRICARE Choice Act, unanimously passed the House today, giving Veterans more healthcare options.\nThis bill,\u00a0H.R. 5458, is a bipartisan, common sense piece of legislation that allows veterans to temporarily pause their TRICARE benefits to participate in an employers Health Savings Account (HSA) program if they so choose.\nHealth Savings Accounts have proven to be an effective way to pay for medical costs and proactively save for future medical expenses. They have become increasingly popular healthcare plans in the private sector,\u00a0but under current federal law, it is illegal for a TRICARE-eligible veteran to participate in an HSA program.\nThe Veterans TRICARE Choice Act simply\u00a0gives veterans the choice to voluntarily pause their TRICARE benefits in order to participate in an HSA program.\n\u201cOur veterans deserve our most profound gratitude,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cNothing about their military service should prevent them from accessing the same benefits as their non-veteran co-workers. The very least we can do is ensure they receive the benefits we\u2019ve promised them, and that the process goes as smoothly as possible.\u00a0 We still have a lot of work to do on that front, but the passage of this bill is a great step in the right direction.\u201d\nFollowing the bill\u2019s passage, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), the original Democrat co-sponsor of the bill said, \u201cAs a soldier and a veteran, I have seen firsthand the tremendous sacrifice our veterans and their families make in service to our country. That service should never limit their access to quality healthcare, and the ability to make decisions about their own health. The Veterans TRICARE Choice Act gives our veterans the ability to choose the best healthcare options for themselves and their families.\u201d\nThe Veterans Tricare Choice Act has the support of the Association of the United States Navy (AUSN) and the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS).\nBefore the bill\u2019s passage, Rep. Stewart spoke in on the House Floor, urging his colleagues to vote in favor of the bill. You can watch the video below:", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=1AEE4E8E-C9F4-4972-BB37-5203AFD0F9CC", "Hatch Statement on Announcement of Intent to Nominate Rep. Tom Price to Head HHS and Seema Verma to Lead CMS", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), issued the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) to serve as HHS Secretary and Seema Verma to head CMS:\r\n\u201cAmerican middle-class families have been financially devastated by Obamacare, and righting the wrongs of the misguided law is a top priority for the new Republican Congress and administration.\u00a0\u00a0 Congressman Price has been selected for this crucial HHS post because of his experience as a respected physician and deep understanding of the health law and its flaws.\u00a0 Verma\u2019s strong health policy background will benefit the reform effort at CMS, a mammoth agency whose responsibilities ballooned under President Obama and his health law. As Republicans chart the course to repeal and replace the health law with patient-centered reforms that increase access to care and reduce costs, both Tom and Seema will play an integral role in leading the effort. Each recognize the fiscal challenges facing Medicare and Medicaid and the need for Congress and the Executive Branch to work together to develop better ways to shore up these programs and help guarantee they are here for our children and grandchildren.\u00a0 I look forward to having their nominations considered by the Finance Committee in the new year and trust my colleagues will conduct a fair examination of their qualifications and experience.\u201d\r\nBackground: The U.S. Senate, as is its role under the Constitution, carefully, thoroughly and fairly vets and scrutinizes the President\u2019s nominees. Each nominee that moves through the Senate Finance Committee will undergo the same bipartisan vetting process as the nominees from previous administrations. Traditionally, each nominee is required to submit a questionnaire as well as full copies of their tax returns to the Committee for review. Once the internal vetting process is completed, the Finance Committee will schedule a date for a confirmation hearing. The Senate Finance Committee recognizes the need for a seamless transition between administrations and will act in a swift and thorough manner to clear the nominees in the Committee to ensure a timely consideration by the full Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=8A2BC003-9CFC-45CF-9DBE-97733DA6E215", "Hatch, Schatz Health Tele-training Bill Passes Unanimously in the Senate", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Brian Schatz (D-HI)\u00a0issued the following statements after the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act, legislation they introduced, passed in the Senate by a vote of\u00a097-0. This legislation will increase access to high-quality health care in hard-to-reach regions.\r\n\u201cOn a recent visit to southern Utah,\u00a0I\u00a0had the opportunity to visit a rural health center and speak to some of the\u00a0families\u00a0that rely\u00a0on services included in the ECHO Act,\u201d Hatch said.\u00a0\u201cSome of these individuals had health conditions that required specialized care or could be managed much closer to home by health professionals they know and trust.\u00a0By using technology to connect patients and providers, this bill will benefit Utah\u2019s families by helping them receive the care they need, when they need it. \u00a0I\u2019m grateful for the valuable input Utah\u2019s health leaders have provided in crafting this\u00a0proposal.\u201d\r\n\u201cWe\u2019re now one step closer to supporting new ways to train health providers and deliver health care,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Schatz.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cTechnology is changing the way medical professionals connect with each other and their patients.\u00a0 Our bill capitalizes on this technology to give health professionals in hard-to-reach areas the specialized training they need and help them reach more patients.\u201d\r\nPrior to the vote, Senator Hatch spoke on the Senate floor on the importance of the ECHO Act. That video can be found here.\r\nStatements of Support\r\nBarbara McAneny, Member of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees\r\n\u201cProject ECHO is an innovative model that harnesses the power of new technologies to ensure that patients in hard-to-reach regions have access to quality health care. It brings up-to-date medical knowledge to patients in rural or underserved areas. It can help overcome the fact that only 10 percent of physicians live in rural areas, even bringing the expertise of hard-to-find specialists to remote areas to provide support to local medical communities. This is what the future of medicine will look like, and we applaud Chairman Hatch and Senator Schatz for their leadership in advancing this legislation in the Senate,\u201d said Dr. Barbara McAneny, a member of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees.\u00a0 \u201cWe urge the House to take up and pass this legislation before the end of the 114th Congress.\u201d\r\nDan Hawkins, Senior VP, Public Policy and Research, National Association of Community Health Centers:\r\n\u201cThe Expanding Connectivity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act is a bipartisan and innovative response to the need to connect primary care providers to specialists in rural and underserved areas.\u00a0 Because health centers are all located in medically underserved urban and rural areas or serve medically underserved populations, they regularly become the medical home for patients with complex needs and chronic conditions.\u00a0 This need is often amplified in rural areas which may have higher rates of chronic diseases and less access to specialty providers. By connecting specialists with primary care providers, the Project ECHO model allows for patients to access quality care close to home and creates opportunities for primary care physicians to manage complex needs in their own health centers. We applaud the efforts of Senator Hatch and Senator Schatz to examine the use of, and opportunities to use, technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models, such as Project ECHO, to improve patient care and provider education.\u201d\r\nDr. Sanjeev Arora, M.D., Founder and Director, Project ECHO, University of New Mexico School of Medicine:\r\n\u201cMedical knowledge is exploding, but it\u2019s often not traveling the last mile to ensure that patients get the right care in the right place at the right time. If we can leverage technology to spread best practices through case-based learning and mentoring of providers, we can move knowledge \u2013 instead of patients \u2013 to get better care to rural and underserved communities across the country.\u201d\u00a0\r\nDr. Vivian Lee, CEO of University of Utah Health Care, Dean of the University of Utah School of Medicine, and Senior Vice President for Health Sciences of the University of Utah, on the ECHO Act:\r\n\u201cAs the only academic medical center serving five states in the mountain west region, we provide the care and expertise to improve quality of life for many urban, rural, and frontier populations. The ECHO Act legislation will increase access to high-quality health care for both patients and providers in many hard to reach regions, improving the care of rural populations and expanding the medical knowledge of providers who are closest to them. This legislation will help us, as a regional health system, reach and better care for a number of medically underserved populations.\u201d\r\nDr. Carrie Byington, MD, and Dr. Will Dere, MD, FACP\u2014Co-Directors, Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Science on Project ECHO:\r\n\u201cWe have seen the additional benefit of ECHO for increasing the access of individuals in rural or other underserved areas to clinical trials. We have worked to evaluate new methods of prenatal care and we see opportunities to bring cancer clinical trials and other potentially life-saving trials to our state.\u201d\r\nKelley Withy, MD, PhD, Director of the Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii:\r\n\u201cECHO has been helping dozens of providers a month better understand behavioral health situations, geriatric cases, dementia sequelae and endocrine implications. It will be really helpful to the State to expand the offerings, and even to include mainland and Pacific groups as well.\u201d\r\nMorgan Reed, Connected Health Initiative Executive Director:\r\n\u201cThe Connected Health Initiative (CHI) applauds the passage of the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act and thanks Senators Hatch and Schatz for driving this bipartisan solution to improve patient outcomes across rural America. This legislation represents a significant step towards this future through the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning. These innovations will save lives by connecting primary care providers across rural America with specialists that can provide crucial insight into the latest advances in treatments.\r\nThe connected health industry has grown remarkably in recent years and has the potential to transform how physicians use technology to improve health outcomes across the continuum of care, both within and outside of the four walls of the hospital. The ECHO Act represents one of the ways connected health technology can bring advanced medical treatments to every American, particularly those in underserved rural areas of America. We commend Senators Hatch and Schatz for their leadership on the ECHO Act and look forward to working with them to bring the American healthcare system into the 21st Century with the use of these life-saving technologies.\u201d\u00a0EndFragment\r\nBackground\r\nRural Health Challenges\r\n \r\nOnly about 10 percent of physicians practice in rural areas of the United States despite nearly one-fourth of the population living in these areas.\u00a0\r\nRural areas have higher rates of some chronic diseases and face many challenges, including transportation, connectivity, and isolation.\r\nIt is difficult to recruit health care providers to work in rural and underserved areas, and opportunities for professional development and support in such areas can be difficult.\r\n \r\n\u00a0Project ECHO Model\r\n \r\nProject Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) is an innovative continuing medical education model that uses interactive videoconferencing to link specialist teams (\u201chubs\u201d) with primary care providers (\u201cspokes\u201d) in rural and underserved areas. Together, they participate in weekly teleECHO clinics that combine didactic teaching with mentoring and case-based learning.\r\nDemonstrated uses of Project ECHO have been numerous and include:\r\n\r\nAddressing disease conditions and topic areas, including hepatitis C, integrated addictions and psychiatry, chronic pain/headache management, and diabetes;\r\nA complex care program offering support to multidisciplinary teams providing primary and behavioral health care to high-need, high-cost patients; and\r\nPublic health interventions, including addressing H1N1, HIV, and tuberculosis as well as improving health and wellness within Native American populations.\u00a0\r\n\r\n \r\nBenefits of Project ECHO model for:\r\n \r\nPatients: Improved access to quality and accessible care, with high-patient satisfaction\r\nProviders: Increased knowledge for providers in rural/underserved areas, with ability to serve as a local resource; improved provider network; enhanced professional satisfaction and reduced isolation; more access to specialists.\r\nHealth care system: Higher retention of providers in rural/underserved areas; better care delivered in the right place at the right time by the right person; decreased costs (less travel for specialty visits, less hospitalizations and ER visits, better quality of care close to home, and treatment of chronic diseases earlier before complications arise).\r\nCurrent health care challenges: Project ECHO has successfully been used to increase the number of physicians able to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid abuse, to quickly educate health providers on public health crises such as H1N1, and to train providers to address complex mental health disorders.\r\n \r\nThe Enhancing Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act:\r\n \r\nThe ECHO Act aims to better integrate the Project ECHO model\u2014referred to as a \u201ctechnology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity-building model\u201d\u2014into health systems across the country. \u00a0The bill does the following:\r\n\r\nRequires the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), to prioritize analysis of the model, its impacts on provider capacity and workforce issues, and evidence of its effects on quality of patient care.\r\nRequests a GAO report regarding opportunities for increased adoption of such models, efficiencies and potential cost savings from such models, ways to improve health care through such models, and field recommendations to advance the use of such models.\r\nRequires the HHS Secretary to submit a report to Congress on the findings of the GAO report and the HHS report, including ways such models have been funded by HHS and how to integrate these models into current funding streams and innovative grant proposals.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=C2CAF770-55E7-44C3-B5F4-8F2C5C57F7C9", "Hatch Urges Passage of His Rural Health Access Bill Ahead of Senate Vote", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a member and the former Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, spoke on the Senate Floor today about the importance of the ECHO Act\u2014a bill he introduced with Senator Brian Schatz, D-HI, to increase vital access to high-quality health care in hard-to-reach regions.\r\n\u201cOur legislation improves medical services for all Americans by providing healthcare professionals in rural and underserved communities with access to a network of peers and specialists who can teach specialty care,\u201d\u00a0Hatch said.\u00a0\u201cBy connecting doctors and nurses with teams of experts, patients can receive the care they need, when they need it. And most importantly, patients won\u2019t have to travel long distances to receive treatments; they can stay close to home and receive treatment from doctors they know and trust.\r\n[YouTube Link]\r\nOn the importance of the ECHO Act for Utah:\r\nTelehealth is a topic of particular interest in my home state of Utah. Under the existing Project ECHO programs, medical experts based at the University of Utah use videoconferencing to train healthcare professionals who are hundreds, sometimes even thousands of miles away. As we work to improve telehealth, models like those in the ECHO Act will enable tele-mentorship and provider education to occur via avenues more tailored to health professionals\u2019 needs. This customization is an essential step to achieving person-centered care.\r\nSenator Schatz praised Senator Hatch\u2019s efforts:\r\n[YouTube Link]\r\nThe full speech, as prepared for delivery, is below:\r\nMr. President, today, the Senate is voting on S. 2873, the ECHO Act. In April, Senator Schatz and I introduced this bill to highlight the impressive work of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity-building models. One such model that has brought promising new ideas to our nation\u2019s healthcare delivery system is Project ECHO, which started in New Mexico and quickly expanded to Utah. Today, Project Echo is thriving in more than 30 states.\r\nMr. President, our bill draws on the success of Project ECHO to improve health services on a national scale. Our proposal is not political; rather, it is the culmination of a broad bipartisan effort to bring about meaningful healthcare reform that will benefit families across the country\u2014in red states and blue states alike. Our legislation improves medical services for all Americans by providing healthcare professionals in rural and underserved communities with access to a network of peers and specialists who can teach specialty care. By connecting doctors and nurses with teams of experts, patients can receive the care they need, when they need it. And most importantly, patients won\u2019t have to travel long distances to receive treatments; they can stay close to home and receive treatment from doctors they know and trust.\r\nIn today\u2019s bustling healthcare environment, policymakers often forget that healthcare delivery works differently in urban and rural settings. To bridge the urban-rural divide, the ECHO Act brings expertise to providers serving rural populations by enabling them to gain the skills they need to care for people living in their communities. Through this exchange, urban providers, in return, can learn how rural health is operationalized in real time. Ultimately, our proposal prioritizes rural health needs and reconciles differences in care delivery for diverse populations. Today, I am grateful that a majority of my colleagues have agreed to support this forward-thinking, commonsense legislation.\u00a0 Like the 21st Century Cures bill, our proposal demonstrates our common commitment to improving healthcare for all patients.\r\nTelehealth is a topic of particular interest in my home state of Utah. Under the existing Project ECHO programs, medical experts based at the University of Utah use videoconferencing to train healthcare professionals who are hundreds, sometimes even thousands of miles away. As we work to improve telehealth, models like those in the ECHO Act will enable tele-mentorship and provider education to occur via avenues more tailored to health professionals\u2019 needs. This customization is an essential step to achieving person-centered care.\r\nMr. President, as a body, we must be dedicated to improving health services for all Americans\u2014no matter where they live. Through this bill, we are making significant progress towards achieving that goal. Using groundbreaking new technologies, the ECHO Act will enable us to take better care of our family members, neighbors, and friends. By putting communication front and center, Project Echo will allow health professionals to share innovations and new discoveries in an efficient, timely manner.\r\nBefore turning the floor over to my esteemed colleague from Hawaii\u2014whose collaboration on this proposal has proven invaluable\u2014I first wish to share how our legislation came to be. Several months ago, doctors at the University of Utah\u2014including Dr. Terry Box and Dr. Vivian Lee, as well as some of the most renowned disease experts in the country\u2014reached out to me to demonstrate how Project ECHO was benefiting families across Utah and the intermountain region. Their innovative approach to telehealth piqued my interest. As it turns out, Senator Schatz had a very similar experience with his own constituents. After discussing our shared experiences, we joined forces to draft a bill that would allow Americans in rural counties across the country to reap the benefits of telehealth.\r\nThe founder of Project ECHO, Dr. Sanjeev [SAN-jeev] Arora [Ah-ROR-a], was an instrumental partner throughout this process. He worked with us to share ideas from ECHO hubs across the country, allowing us to incorporate a broad array of viewpoints. With his help, we were able to hear from countless stakeholders and medical professionals who understood the potential of our legislation. We also worked alongside the leadership of the HELP Committee. With the assistance of Senators Alexander and Murray, as well as the Majority and Minority Leaders, we were able to shepherd this legislation through the committee process and bring it to the Senate floor.\r\nThis bill was born from a bottom-up approach, which enabled us to solicit ideas and opinions from numerous healthcare professionals across the country. Thanks to their input and the support of Members on both sides of the aisle, we are poised to pass legislation that will dramatically improve the quality of our nation\u2019s healthcare. I wish to thank all those who assisted in this bipartisan effort. Today is a victory for everyone.\r\nMr. President, 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=5960D284-17AC-4048-9ECB-6341CCA862DB", "Hatch Statement on Court Delay of Federal Overtime Rule", "2016-11-28", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SALT LAKE CITY\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a member and the former Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement in reaction to a Texas judge granting an emergency injunction against the Labor Department's overtime rule:\r\n\u00a0\u201cThe court\u2019s decision confirms what\u00a0I have said for months: The Department of Labor has clearly exceeded its authority. If implemented, the Obama administration\u2019s overreaching Overtime Rule would be devastating to workers and employers alike, making work schedules less flexible by requiring salaried employees to punch a time clock. While Congress may need to evaluate overtime salary thresholds, the Obama administration's accelerated, one-size-fits-all, top-down approach was a mistake. In fighting to rein in our burdensome regulatory bureaucracy, I will continue to champion policies that strengthen America\u2019s workers and small businesses.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=C355C8CC-EBEA-4629-B186-2162D0F420A6", "Hatch Statement on the Nomination of Betsy Devos to Serve as Secretary of Education", "2016-11-28", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SALT LAKE CITY\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a member and the former Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement following President-elect Trump\u2019s announcement that he is nominating Betsy Devos to serve as Secretary of Education:\r\n\u00a0\u201cI am excited about President-elect Trump\u2019s pick for Secretary of Education. Betsy DeVos has been a tireless proponent for our nation\u2019s children and is committed to expanding opportunities for all students. I look forward to working with her to restore greater local authority over our nation\u2019s schools, enhance parental involvement in their children\u2019s education, and boost achievement for students of all backgrounds.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=4D6DFCBC-C7F0-4869-B7C6-F8C0B05FB556", "Hatch Outlines Key Principles for Successful Immigration Reform in Call with New Utah Coalition", "2016-11-21", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cNo one should expect a simple solution to such a complex set of problems, but I believe that our goal should be serious, effective legislation that can be broadly supported not only by Congress but also by the American people.\u201d\r\nSALT LAKE CITY\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, outlined key principles for successful immigration reform on a conference call organized by the New American Economy (NAE) Utah Coalition.\r\nHatch focused his remarks on three key issues: enforcement, improving the high-skilled worker visa program, and the need for an effective guest worker program.\r\nOn enforcement:\r\nIn this or any other area, the best legislation in the world is of little value unless it is properly implemented and seriously enforced.\r\nWe must once and for all secure the border and ensure that those who enter our country do so legally.\r\nWe can make great strides in this area by using cutting-edge technology and biometrics to track those who enter and exit our country\u2014curtailing visa overstays and illegal entries.\r\nOn the high-skilled worker visa program:\r\nAs some of you know, I am the author of the I-Squared Act, which takes a coherent and constructive approach to high-skilled immigration by addressing the immediate need to provide American employers with greater access to high-skilled workers while also addressing the long-term need to invest in America\u2019s STEM education.\r\nHigh-skilled workers are essential to boost productivity and grow our economy, and in today\u2019s global and technology-driven economy, business will go wherever human capital can be found.\r\nFailure to reform our high-skilled immigration system is forcing American companies to outsource their innovation centers to countries like Canada or India.\r\nOn the need for a guest worker program:\r\nWe need an easy-to-use guest worker program that will incentivize employers to follow the law by hiring legal workers, while also providing workers the flexibility and mobility to allow them to do their jobs more efficiently.\r\nThat said, we must ensure that employers, big and small, are full participants in an employments verification program so that only those here legally are able to work.\r\nSenator Hatch\u2019s full remarks are below:\r\nIt\u2019s great to be with you this afternoon to launch the New American Economy Coalition here in Utah.\r\nThank you to the impressive group of community and business leaders and your dedicated efforts to update and streamline our immigration system.\r\nWe all know over the past several years there have been serious disagreements about both principles and policy and how best to achieve real and meaningful immigration reform.\r\nI\u2019m optimistic that the New American Economy Coalition will bridge this divide in helping address the concerns and priorities of conservatives as well as liberals, the business sector as well as the law enforcement community.\r\nNo one should expect a simple solution to such a complex set of problems, but I believe that our goal should be serious, effective legislation that can be broadly supported not only by Congress but also by the American people.\r\nLet me mention a few areas to which I will be paying particular attention throughout this discussion.\r\nThe first is enforcement.\r\nIn this or any other area, the best legislation in the world is of little value unless it is properly implemented and seriously enforced.\r\nWe must once and for all secure the border and ensure that those who enter our country do so legally.\r\nWe can make great strides in this area by using cutting-edge technology and biometrics to track those who enter and exit our country\u2014curtailing visa overstays and illegal entries.\r\nWe have experience to draw from here\u2014negative experience I have to admit\u2014but experience all the same.\u00a0 We ignore that experience at our own peril.\r\nThe second area is improving the process for allowing high-skilled individuals to enter the United States and work in important technology and other fields.\r\nAs some of you know, I am the author of the I-Squared Act, which takes a coherent and constructive approach to high-skilled immigration by addressing the immediate need to provide American employers with greater access to high-skilled workers while also addressing the long-term need to invest in America\u2019s STEM education.\r\nHigh-skilled workers are essential to boost productivity and grow our economy, and in today\u2019s global and technology-driven economy, business will go wherever human capital can be found.\r\nFailure to reform our high-skilled immigration system is forcing American companies to outsource their innovation centers to countries like Canada or India.\r\nThe third area involves workers in the agriculture and construction sectors of our economy.\r\nWe need an easy-to-use guest worker program that will incentivize employers to follow the law by hiring legal workers, while also providing workers the flexibility and mobility to allow them to do their jobs more efficiently.\r\nThat said, we must ensure that employers, big and small, are full participants in an employments verification program so that only those here legally are able to work.\r\nLet me stop here.\r\nThese are important issues, and I commend your willingness to come together by launching the New American Economy Coalition in our state.\r\nI look forward to working with you in updating and reforming our country\u2019s immigration system.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=B2E8BD49-4995-4342-AE88-DE7B9E24F228", "Media Advisory: Hatch to Host LDS Apostle D. Todd Christofferson in Washington for Senate Invocation, Book of Mormon Event at Library of Congress", "2016-11-21", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, has arranged for D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, to deliver the Senate invocation on the morning of December 7th. As President Pro Tempore, Senator Hatch is responsible for presiding over the Senate, including its opening every morning which features a prayer.\r\nSenator Hatch will also host Elder Christofferson at a special event honoring the Book of Mormon at the Library of Congress. \u00a0The event will be a recognition of the inclusion of the Book of Mormon in the \u201cAmerica Reads\u201d exhibit at the Library, at which Elder Christofferson will speak on the importance of the Book of Mormon in the lives of millions of Americans.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWho:\r\n\r\n\r\nSenator Orrin Hatch\r\nElder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\n\r\n\r\nSenate invocation; special event honoring the Book of Mormon\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\n\r\n\r\nDecember 7th, 2016\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nWhere:\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nFloor of the United States Senate, U.S. Capitol building; \u00a0United States\u00a0Library\u00a0of Congress\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMedia:\r\n\r\n\r\nMore information on possible media attendance to come.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=C0D70456-6A73-47A3-B553-E394198C03D4", "Hatch Statement on Nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions to Serve as Attorney General", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SALT LAKE CITY\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, the senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement following the announcement that President Elect Donald Trump would nominate Senator Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., to serve as Attorney General:\r\n\u201cThe Obama Justice Department veered away from its core mission and too often politicized enforcement of the law.\u00a0 Senator Sessions has broad law enforcement experience at both the state and the federal levels, and in both the executive and the legislative branches. I am confident he will help get the Justice Department back on track.\u00a0 Having served with Senator Sessions for many years on the Judiciary Committee, I look forward to supporting his nomination and working closely with him on important initiatives in the months ahead.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=34D56867-D878-41E6-9B3A-3BF636F84FCF", "Lee Backs Sessions Appointment as Attorney General", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Friday in response to\u00a0President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s selection of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) as his nominee for U.S. attorney general:\r\n\u201cSen. Sessions\u2019 solid understanding of the Constitution and firm commitment to the rule of law is exactly what the Justice Department needs.\u00a0I\u00a0have worked closely with Sen. Sessions on the Judiciary Committee over these past six years and\u00a0I\u00a0have every confidence that he will make a great Attorney General for all Americans.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=05A048A6-CC45-4CAD-8559-477275374583", "Sen. Lee Introduces Poverty Measurement Improvement Act", "2016-11-17", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Poverty Measurement Act today, a bill designed to improve the income and demographic data available to lawmakers when analyzing our nation\u2019s safety net programs.\r\n\u201cLawmakers should always have the best information possible whenever they are making policy,\u201d Lee said. \u201cThis is especially true for an issue as vital as our nation\u2019s social safety net programs. Unfortunately, the Census Bureau\u2019s current official poverty rate does not always match up with data from other government sources. This bill would fix that problem by authorizing a new Census Bureau survey that would more accurately capture how those Americans who are at or near poverty live.\u201d\r\nThe Poverty Measurement Act would authorize a new Census Bureau survey to calculate income and receipt of Federal means-tested benefits. This information will then be linked with individual records from the IRS and the agencies that administer means-tested benefits to provide a more accurate picture of poverty in the United States.\u00a0A recent study of New York residents found that Census Bureau income calculations missed over one-third of housing assistance recipients, forty percent of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, and sixty percent of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments.\r\nYou can read a full copy of the bill here.\r\n\r\nPoverty Measurement Improvement Act by Senator Mike Lee on Scribd", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=B0E5882A-929D-4D1E-A463-9D309A09372E", "Bipartisan, bicameral bill would delay changes to government hacking powers", "2016-11-17", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Proposed Amendments to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure would expand the government\u2019s ability to search Americans\u2019 computers and other digital devices\r\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Al Franken (D-Minn.), together with Reps. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Ted Poe (R-Texas), introduced legislation to provide Congress the time necessary to seriously consider and debate the proposed changes to Rule 41 that would expand the government's ability to search computers and other digital devices. The\u00a0Review the Rule Act\u00a0would delay the proposed changes to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41 from going into force until July 1, 2017. Without congressional action, the proposed changes will go into effect on December 1, 2016.\r\nFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41 governs the procedures and parameters for issuing search warrants.\u00a0 Under current law, a federal judge may issue a warrant to search property located within a specific judicial district.\u00a0 At the urging of the Department of Justice, the Supreme Court ultimately approved two sweeping amendments to Rule 41:\r\n \r\nA judge may issue a warrant to remotely search, copy, and seize information from a device that does not have a known location (and may not be in the district) because the location has been concealed through technological means; and\r\nA single judge may issue a warrant to remotely search and copy information from suspected devices across five or more districts.\r\n \r\n\u201cThe proposed changes are serious, and present significant privacy concerns that warrant careful consideration and debate,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Coons, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.\u00a0\u201cOur bicameral, bipartisan legislation will give Congress time to do our job and carefully consider and evaluate the merits of these proposed changes to the government\u2019s ability to search personal computers and other digital devices. It is essential that these rules strike a careful balance: giving law enforcement the tools it needs to keep us safe, while also protecting Americans\u2019 constitutional rights to privacy and freedom from unreasonable searches.\u201d\r\n\u201cWe cannot give the\u00a0federal government\u00a0a blank check to infringe on Americans\u2019 civil liberties,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Daines.\u201cCongress needs the appropriate time\u00a0to investigate the implications of this rule on Americans\u2019 Fourth Amendment rights.\u201d\r\n\u201cA single prosecutor should not have the power to hack into the phone or computer of virtually anyone in the United States,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Lee, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.\u00a0\u201cYes, federal law enforcement does need new tools to stop and prosecute botnets, but the proposed Rule 41 rule change goes too far. The sensible thing to do is delay the implementation of this rule and allow Congress to investigate further.\"\r\n\u201cThis rule change would give the government unprecedented power to hack into Americans\u2019 personal devices,\u201dSenator Wyden said.\u00a0\u201cThis was an alarming proposition before the election. Today, Congress needs to think long and hard about whether to hand this power to James Comey and the administration of someone who openly said he wants the power to hack his political opponents the same way Russia does.\u201d \u00a0\r\n\u201cI remain deeply concerned about the intended and unintended consequences of the expanded authorities contemplated in the proposed changes to Rule 41,\u201d\u00a0said John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI),\u00a0House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member.\u00a0\u201cThe bill we offer today will delay implementation until Congress has had a meaningful opportunity to examine the proposal in detail.\u00a0 Until we have adequately addressed the privacy concerns raised by my colleagues, this rule change should not take effect.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u201cGovernment does not have the authority to unilaterally legalize widespread abusive hacking,\u201d\u00a0said Rep. Poe. \u00a0\u201cIt is Congress\u2019 responsibility to safeguard the constitutional rights of the people they represent from a power hungry Executive Branch. A delay in the proposed changes to Rule 41 is necessary to ensure that the newly elected Congress, and Administration, have the ability to carefully evaluate this rule change before it goes into effect to ensure that it is constitutional and in the best interests of the American people. Rushing to put the changes in place in the middle of the lame duck session is irresponsible. Too much is at stake to not get this right.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://love.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=601", "Love votes to re-authorize Iran Sanctions Act", "2016-11-15", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mia Love", "L000584", "love.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Mia Love has voted to renew one of the core elements to U.S.\u00a0 Sanctions on Iran.\u00a0 Since it was first passed 20 years ago, the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) has been at the center of the U.S. response to the threat posed by the Iranian rogue regime.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cWe must renew these sanctions, especially in light of the damage done by President Obama\u2019s dangerous nuclear deal,\u201d Congresswoman Love said. \u201cWe need to send a message that the United States will continue to oppose the destructive role of Iran in the Middle East.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThe Iran Sanctions Act (H.R. 6297):\r\n \r\n\t\r\n\t\tProvides clear statutory authority to re-impose or \u201csnap-back\u201d many of the most powerful sanctions on Iran\u2019s energy industry if the rogue regime rushes toward a nuclear weapon.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tGives Congress - not the Executive Branch - final say on when Iran gets permanent sanctions relief.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tExtends the Iran Sanctions Act for 10 years.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chris-stewart-honors-fallen-west-valley-city-police-officer-in", "Rep. Chris Stewart Honors Fallen West Valley City Police Officer in Speech on the House Floor", "2016-11-15", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0 \u2013 Today, Rep. Chris Stewart honored the fallen West Valley City Police Officer, Cody Brotherson, in a speech on the House Floor.\nYou can watch the video here.\nText of the speech is below:\nMr. Speaker, it is with honor but with sadness that I rise today to honor a local hero, 26 year-old West Valley City Police Officer Cody Brotherson, who was killed last week in the line of duty. On Sunday, November 6th around 3 a.m., police were pursuing three individuals in a stolen vehicle. While Officer Brotherson was placing spikes in an attempt to stop this stolen vehicle, he was hit by the car and tragically killed. Not only will he be deeply missed by his parents, two brothers, and loving fianc\u00e9, but by the entire community. \nI\u2019ve had the chance, like many member of Congress, to go on police ride-a-longs. Again and again, I\u2019ve been impressed with their hard work, professionalism, and their willingness to put themselves at risk so that they can protect those of us that they serve.\nNow, more than ever, it\u2019s important that we recognize these brave men and woman who are willing to serve and protect our communities. Cody was one of these brave ones who ultimately lost his life protecting us. My prayers go out to the Brotherson family during this extremely difficult time. We will forever be grateful for his and their sacrifice.\nAnd with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://chaffetz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=744", "Chaffetz Testifies on Mt. Accord Legislation", "2016-11-15", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Jason Chaffetz", "C001076", "chaffetz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Jason Chaffetz (UT-03) testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands regarding Mountain Accord legislation he introduced earlier this year.\n\nH.R. 5718, The Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Area Act of 2016 seeks to balance the need to protect drinking water, preserve recreational opportunities, enhance access, and accommodate future population growth.\n\n\n\nHighlights from Congressman Chaffetz testimony are below. You can watch the full video here.\n\n\n\n\u201cI want to thank all the stakeholders that have put so much time and effort moving forward with (legislation)\u2026 You\u2019ll be impressed by the broad range of people that have poured their hearts and souls into our local communities and have come together in a collective way. That really is I think a model of how this process should move forward.\u201d\n\n\n\n\u201cWe are trying to come together as a community and really I\u2019m a reflection of the good work that has been one in our local communities from our governors to the county, from our governor to the county to the cities, from the ski industry to the outdoor recreation community.\u201d\n\n\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t know if there is any one silver magic bullet that will solve this. But we have got to do it in a way that is going to preserve the beauty and is going to allow people to get up and enjoy these mountains spring, summer, winter, and fall, and we have wildlife issues that we have to deal with.\u201d\n\n\n\n\u201cWe love these mountains, we cherish them, (and) we want to preserve them. We want to make sure they are there and viable and just as beautiful as ever for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=4610ABA4-05C2-4A82-BAA4-6EFE4C2CE9A5", "Media Advisory: Hatch to Deliver Keynote at Forum onNationalSecurity and Economic Prosperity", "2016-11-15", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014This Friday, Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, will deliver a keynote address to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC). Hatch will join top policymakers and business leaders to discuss how to strengthen America\u2019s leadership abroad and create jobs here at home.\r\n\u00a0USGLC issued the following statement about the forum:\r\n\u00a0With emerging threats like ISIS and global pandemics like Zika, this discussion could not come at a more critical time for Utah.\r\n\u00a0Utah is home to some of the largest global brands and organizations with rapidly growing international operations in emerging markets. Utah exports nearly $13.3 billion a year and trade supports over 387,200 local jobs, making U.S. international engagement a strategic economic issue for the state.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWho:\r\n\r\n\r\nSenator Orrin Hatch\r\nThe U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC)\r\nOther local political and business leaders\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\n\r\n\r\nKeynote address on national security, economic prosperity.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\n\r\n\r\nFriday November 18, between 12 and 1:30 p.m. MST\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nWhere:\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Grant America Hotel, Salt Lake City\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMedia:\r\n\r\n\r\nThe event will be open to media. USGLC has asked that broadcast media arrive by 11:30 AM for set-up. \u00a0Please RSVP to Megan Guilfoyle at Mguilfoyle@usglc.org.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=64696620-A953-4E33-9393-3A2581645002", "Video: Senator Hatch Provides an Update on Josh Holt in Venezuela", "2016-11-09", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cThe Venezuelan Government knows that we will not relent until Josh is reunited with his family here in the United States.\u201d\r\n\u00a0SALT LAKE CITY\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, provided a video update on the case of Joshua Holt, a Utahn held in a Venezuelan prison on false charges.\r\n\r\n[YOUTUBE LINK]", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=80241771-17CF-4F68-A601-F161994D9287", "Hatch Statement on 2016 Election Results", "2016-11-09", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SALT LAKE CITY\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, issued the following statement on last night\u2019s election results:\r\n\u201cCongratulations to President-elect Trump on his historic election. The American people also voted for Republican majorities in the House and Senate. After a contested election, now is the time to bring the nation together and seek reforms to create jobs, boost economic growth, enable greater individual opportunity, and help put the country and its citizens back on the right track. I look forward to working closely with President-elect Trump to address the critical issues facing our country.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=CC7F7052-F597-4419-8517-790E74ED2CF9", "Sen. Lee Congratulates President-Elect Trump", "2016-11-09", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SALT LAKE CITY \u2013 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday congratulating President-Elect Donald Trump:\u00a0\u201cThis entire election year has been humbling for all Americans, and especially so for the political establishment in Washington, D.C. The message of 2016 is that the American people have become increasingly skeptical of the federal government.\u201d\u00a0\u201cI congratulate President-Elect Trump and look forward to helping him repeal Obamacare, return education to the states, reduce regulation, and confirm conservative judges.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-stewart-urges-speaker-ryan-to-file-lawsuit-to-prevent-obamacare", "Rep. Stewart Urges Speaker Ryan to File Lawsuit to Prevent ObamaCare Bailout", "2016-11-07", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) led a group of Members of Congress in sending a letter to Speaker Ryan, urging him to initiate a lawsuit on behalf of the House to stop the Obama Administration\u2019s illegal bailout of insurance companies participating in Obamacare.\nTwo years ago, Congress passed a law prohibiting the President from using taxpayer dollars to bailout insurance companies that were losing money under\u00a0Obamacare.\nBut on September 9th, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a memo encouraging insurance companies to settle with the Obama Administration, allowing the Treasury Department to pay companies from the Judgment Fund and thus avoid going through Congress.\u00a0\n\u201cSuch an egregious misuse of taxpayer funds is not only a violation of the law but also represents an institutional challenge to the legislative branch and should be met with the fullest opposition from the House of Representatives,\u201d Stewart wrote in the letter. \u201cIf such a payment is not met with a challenge from Congress, there is no limit to any Administration\u2019s ability to decide which of its priorities to fund.\u201d\nThe full text of the letter is below. The PDF can be found\u00a0here.\n\u00a0\nDear Speaker Ryan,\nOn September 9, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a memo announcing the Agency\u2019s intention to circumvent the Congressional prohibition on risk corridor payments by settling with insurers and paying damages from the Judgment Fund. The move is a brazen effort to violate Section 225 of Public Law No: 114-113 in which Congress made clear that CMS is prohibited from using appropriated funds to make risk corridor payments. Accordingly, we urge you to initiate a civil action on behalf of the House of Representatives in Federal court, pursuant to the authority granted you under House Resolution 676 of the 113th Congress and which remains in effect through the rules of the 114th Congress.\u00a0\nIn its memo, CMS informed insurers that not only will HHS \u201crecord risk corridors payments due as an obligation of the United States Government for which full payment is required,\u201d CMS is also \u201copen to discussing resolution of those claims.\u201d According to subsequent news reports, the Administration is \u201ceager to negotiate a broad settlement\u201d which would draw from the Judgment Fund before the next President assumes office. In accordance with longstanding precedent of the Judgment Fund, using it to settle these claims is illegal and must be challenged.\nIn 1998, The Government Accountability Office asserted that \u201cconverting the Judgment Fund\u201d in the absence of \u201cappropriations that would otherwise be available to cover those expenses\u201d is a clear violation of the law. In the same year, the Justice department concurred with GAO\u2019s analysis of this backdoor settlement stating:\nThe Judgment Fund does not become available simply because an agency may have insufficient funds at a particular time to pay a judgment. If the agency lacks sufficient funds to pay a judgment, but possesses statutory authority to make the payment, its recourse is to seek funds from Congress.\nEven the Administration\u2019s own Department of Justice agrees that it would be illegal to make such payments without Congressional authorization. On September 30, the Department of Justice filed motions to dismiss two lawsuits initiated by Moda Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina to obtain a combined $338 million they believe they are owed in risk corridors payments.\u00a0 In addition to arguing that the claims are not yet ripe, the Department of Justice argued on the merits that,\u00a0\nSection 1342 [of the ACA] does not require HHS to make risk corridors payments beyond those funded from collections. And even if that intent were unclear when the Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010, Congress removed any ambiguity when it enacted annual appropriations laws for fiscal years 2015 and 2016 that prohibited HHS from paying risk corridors amounts from appropriated funds other than collections.\nAlthough we are heartened to see that at least some officials at the Department of Justice take seriously their responsibility to enforce the law, we don\u2019t believe DOJ\u2019s motion will end the Administration\u2019s attempts to bypass Congress\u2019s spending power with respect to the risk corridors program. In recent testimony before Congress, CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt confirmed the Administration\u2019s intent to use taxpayer funds to settle insurers\u2019 claims.\nSuch an egregious misuse of taxpayer funds is not only a violation of the law but also represents an institutional challenge to the legislative branch and should be met with the fullest opposition from the House of Representatives. If such a payment is not met with a challenge from Congress, there is no limit to any Administration\u2019s ability to decide which of its priorities to fund.\u00a0\nIn accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives, we urge you to intervene to stop this illegal use of taxpayer funds.\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\nReps. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), Andy Harris (R-Md.), Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=1049F389-2E50-4264-837D-A84072C2339E", "Hatch: Obama's defense bill veto an attack on religious liberty", "2016-11-02", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Joel Gehrke\r\nNov 1, 2016\r\nhttp://www.washingtonexaminer.com/hatch-obamas-defense-bill-veto-an-attack-on-religious-liberty/article/2606177?custom_click=rss\r\n\u00a0President Obama's\u00a0reported plan\u00a0to veto the defense spending legislation constitutes a \"deeply disturbing\" attack on religious liberty, according to a top Republican.\r\n\u00a0\"It is deeply disturbing that\u00a0President Obama\u00a0would threaten a veto over what had, until now, been settled law on religious liberty,\" Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Tuesday.\r\n\u00a0The National Defense Authorization Act is one of the few true must-pass pieces of legislation that Congress sends to the White House each year, making it a high-stakes theater for conflict between Republicans and Democrats. The outcome will be dictated, in part, by which side wins the messaging war over language that Democrats say would authorize defense contractors to discriminate against LGBT people, while Republicans say they are simply allowing religious groups to follow their beliefs.\r\n\"Just because a Catholic charity, for example, decides to do work for the federal government should not mean the charity must begin hiring individuals who do not share the charity's religious mission,\" Hatch said.\r\n\u00a0The issue arose after\u00a0President Obama\u00a0issued an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. \"[T]his is a civil rights victory consistent with our founding principles,\" Labor Secretary Tom Perez wrote in April. \"The obligation not to discriminate covers every type of new and modified federal contract \u2014 from companies that build our highways and manage our IT infrastructure to those that run our cafeterias, produce our military uniforms and stock our supply closets.\"\r\nThe breadth of the order alarmed religious groups that work with the government, such as military chaplains.\r\n\u00a0\"Under [the executive order], the Muslim chaplain would be forced to use a vendor who disregards Islamic teaching on marriage, while the Catholic chaplain seeking ecclesiastical supplies must purchase from a vendor who ignores the church's doctrine on sexuality,\" The First Liberty Institute's Mike Berry\u00a0wrote in May. \"What many may not realize is that all military chaplains are required to have the backing of an endorsing body. Any chaplain who runs afoul of the tenets and teachings of their endorser is likely to forfeit their endorsement, meaning they can no longer serve as a chaplain.\"\r\n\u00a0In response, Rep. Steve Russell, R-Okla., authored an amendment to the defense bill stating that religious groups can qualify for exemptions to anti-discrimination laws that have already been provided by Congress. \"You would have thought I killed somebody's mother,\"\u00a0he said\u00a0on the House floor.\r\n\u00a0Gay rights groups accused him of using the defense bill to win a sweeping policy victory. \"This provision is terrible policy created by an even worse process \u2014 it was adopted in the dark of night despite bipartisan opposition and never having had a hearing,\" the Human Rights Campaign's David Stacy said. \"This has no place in the annual defense bill.\"\r\nHatch's statement makes clear that the Russell amendment has a powerful supporter in the Senate, which did not include such a provision in its own version of the defense bill. House and Senate negotiators are currently working to resolve the differences between the two versions before voting on a final package to send to the president.\r\n\u00a0\"These protections have been the law of the land for decades and ensure that religiously affiliated organizations are not forced to surrender their religious identity when they enter into agreements with the federal government,\" Hatch said Tuesday.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=E1D1CA88-8700-4121-B8A0-7677D83232B8", "Hatch Praises Utah Law Enforcement in Visit to Chiefs of Police Association", "2016-11-02", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SALT LAKE CITY\u2014This afternoon, Senator Hatch praised police officers and expressed his gratitude for Utah\u2019s law enforcement community in an address to the Utah Chiefs of Police Association at the organization's Mid-Winter Conference. \u00a0\r\nIn a year fraught with increased tension between police departments and surrounding communities, Hatch sought to correct misconceptions about law enforcement, saying \u201cThe narrative that police are the enemy is false. It\u2019s fiction. It\u2019s a libel on the hundreds of thousands of brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day to keep the rest of us safe from harm. You know that, and I know that. But unfortunately, that\u2019s not what we see in the media.\u201d\r\nHe continued, \u201cI reject emphatically the false and pernicious narrative we see peddled in the media that police officers are the bad guys. You\u2019re not. You\u2019re the good guys\u2014and gals. You\u2019re the ones we turn to when we face danger or when a criminal\u2014let\u2019s call them what they are\u2014threatens us or our families. You keep the peace. You keep society together. You do more good in one day than any smug Washington bureaucrat can hope to do in a year, or a decade. You\u2019re not the bad guys. You\u2019re heroes. And it\u2019s time we paid you the respect you\u2019re due.\u201d\r\n\u00a0In a recent letter to the Utah Chiefs of Police Association, Hatch highlighted his efforts to empower and strengthen law enforcement, including legislation he has championed to fight prescription drug abuse, expedite the processing of DNA evidence, improve office safety, facilitate active shooting training, and ensure justice for fallen officers and their families.\r\n\r\nThe full speech, as prepared for delivery, is below:\r\n\u00a0\r\nI\u2019m here today because I want to convey to you my strong support for law enforcement and for the important work you do.\r\nThis is not an easy time to be a police officer. Many in the media, and in government, have been promulgating the pernicious view that police are the bad guys, that there is something untoward about enforcing our laws and working to keep our communities safe.\r\nIn the topsy-turvy world of these misguided critics, criminals are the oppressed. Criminals are the ones who deserve our sympathy and compassion. It\u2019s not the drug dealer, the burglar, or the street thug that\u2019s harming our community, producing civil unrest, and fraying the bonds that hold society together. Rather, it\u2019s the police that are causing these problems, by enforcing unjust laws and singling out individuals for undeserved punishment.\r\nThese critics not only challenge the actions of police officers, but they challenge their motives as well. They find bias and prejudice in everyday police practices\u2014techniques that officers have used for decades to keep our streets and homes safe from harm. They impugn the work of honest cops with long, distinguished records of service, jumping to conclusions based on nothing more than the race or background of the officer.\r\nEvery incident becomes a potential flashpoint. Officers respond to a call, or show up at a home, where they\u2019re greeted by an agitated crowd with cell phones primed to record any potential misstep. Some individuals even taunt officers with the hope of catching something embarrassing on tape. Most problematic, an increased number of citizens are feeling emboldened to resist law enforcement, as though it\u2019s brave or courageous to defy an officer\u2019s commands, rather than dangerous and dumb.\r\nThe narrative that police are the enemy is false. It\u2019s fiction. It\u2019s a libel on the hundreds of thousands of brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day to keep the rest of us safe from harm. You know that, and I know that. But unfortunately, that\u2019s not what we see in the media.\r\nNow, there have always been those who criticize the police and who would rather undermine than support law enforcement. There have always been bad elements in society. But this moment feels different, and I think it is different.\r\nAnd what\u2019s different about it is the posture we\u2019re seeing from some of our top officials in Washington and in cities around the country. When the President of the United States comes out and opines that police officers \u201cacted stupidly\u201d in responding to an incident before all the facts are even known, it undermines respect for law enforcement. When the State\u2019s Attorney in a major American city reacts to a tragic death by bringing unjustified charges against the officers involved and by withholding evidence proving the officers\u2019 innocence, it tilts the system against those who deserve our admiration and thanks. And when the federal Department of Justice takes it upon itself to act as a watchdog for purported abuses at the state and local level, well, I can think of few things more likely to weaken morale and strain relations between federal and local law enforcement.\r\nThe sad fact is that many in the current administration have taken sides against police in the ongoing struggle between effective community policing and ever-encroaching political correctness. Officials at DOJ and in other administration posts are all too eager to point out alleged mistakes and imperfections without adequately considering the tremendous pressures law enforcement officials operate under. Police officers deserve our gratitude; what they get from our federal overlords is condemnation.\r\nNow, I do not mean to suggest that there should be no federal role in protecting against civil rights violations and other abuses. There are bad apples, and it\u2019s important to find them and to rectify the harms they\u2019ve caused.\u00a0\r\nBut this notion that there\u2019s bias and prejudice everywhere you look, even if you can\u2019t see it\u2014even if no one can see it\u2014is absurd. Worse, it\u2019s dangerous, because it undermines morale and leads officers to second-guess their instincts.\r\nWe\u2019ve even reached the point now where DOJ officials refuse to use the term criminal. Individuals who break the law and are convicted for their crimes are no longer criminals. Rather, they\u2019re \u201cjustice-involved individuals.\u201d I\u2019m serious. This is not a joke. The first time I read this I thought maybe I\u2019d accidentally stumbled upon an Onion article. But it\u2019s true. The administration is now so concerned with the plight of criminals that it refuses even to call them by that name. Someone call George Orwell. He would love this.\r\nSo we have leaders who denigrate and second-guess our police officers while at the same time inventing laughable euphemisms for the people we should actually be concerned about. Truly the world is upside-down.\r\nBut my message to you today is that not everyone in Washington and other places has been snookered by this destructive narrative. In fact, polls indicate that the American people reject it overwhelmingly. A poll last month found that 76 percent of Americans have a \u201cgreat deal\u201d of respect for police in their area, up 12 points from last year. That is the highest level of respect the poll has found since 1967. So the American people\u2014the people who are interacting with police officers on a day-to-day basis and who are relying on officers to keep them safe\u2014have tremendous respect for law enforcement. And their support has only increased over the last 12 months.\r\nI can tell you as well that many of my Senate colleagues\u2014the vast majority in fact\u2014agree with the American people on this. Support for law enforcement runs broad and deep among my colleagues. This year, just as it has the past several years, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating a week in May as National Police Week and honoring those law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty over the last twelve months. More than half the Senate, including myself, joined as cosponsors of the resolution.\r\nI\u2019ve been working hard this Congress to support law enforcement and to counter the anti-police narrative we see so frequently in the media.\r\nIn fact, I wrote recently to each of the police chiefs in the state to describe what I\u2019ve been doing and how these efforts will help Utah law enforcement. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve all read and re-read\u2014and re-re-read\u2014the letter many times, so I won\u2019t repeat it here. But let me give just a few toplines for those who haven\u2019t had a chance yet to study it in earnest.\r\nOne initiative I\u2019m particularly excited about, and which I think will make a big difference here in Utah, is Rapid DNA. As you all know, DNA technology has made tremendous strides in recent years. Creating a DNA profile from a cheek swab or other sample used to be a cumbersome, time-consuming process that required significant involvement by a lab technician. Recent advances, however, have streamlined the process so that many samples can now be analyzed by fully automated Rapid DNA devices in less than two hours. These devices, which can be placed in booking stations, can enable an officer to know almost immediately whether an individual in custody is wanted for an outstanding crime or has a connection to evidence from a crime scene. This is exciting technology.\r\nUnfortunately, federal law has not kept pace with these technological advances. Federal law still requires all DNA profiles uploaded to the FBI\u2019s CODIS database to be processed at an accredited crime lab. This requirement may have made sense back when even simple DNA analysis required extensive direct involvement by a lab technician, but it no longer makes sense today.\r\nSo I introduced the bipartisan Rapid DNA Act to authorize trained law enforcement officials to upload DNA profiles generated by Rapid DNA devices to CODIS and to perform database comparisons. The FBI has said that the authority in my bill would \u201cchange the world in a very, very exciting way [by enabling law enforcement] to know instantly\u2014or near instantly\u2014whether [a] person is the [criminal] who\u2019s been on the loose in a particular community before they\u2019re released on bail and get away, or to clear somebody, to show that they\u2019re not the [criminal].\u201d The bill has already passed the Senate. I\u2019m working with my House colleagues to get it through the House so it can become law.\r\nAnother bill that I firmly believe will make a meaningful difference for you and your officers is the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Reauthorization Act. This bill renews for another five years a federal grant program that provides $25 million in matching funds for state and local law enforcement to purchase bulletproof vests for officers. These vests save many lives each year. \u00a0But as you know, they\u2019re also quite costly. I was glad to be part of the effort to renew this important grant program to protect you and your officers from harm.\r\nTwo more bills I\u2019d like to briefly mention. First is a bill I cosponsored to authorize grants to state and local law enforcement for training to counter active shooter threats and acts of terrorism. Recent tragedies in Orlando, San Bernardino, and other cities have highlighted the importance of training officers to respond to active shooter situations. President Obama signed the bill into law this summer.\r\nSecond is the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which I negotiated with my House and Senate counterparts and which is also now law. This bill was the first effort at the national level to address the prescription drug crisis in a comprehensive manner. It creates or improves a number of crucial programs to fight prescription drug abuse, including programs to provide medication-assisted treatment for offenders with substance abuse problems. It also provides funding for naloxone, a drug used to counteract opioid overdoses. The authority in the bill will help you in your efforts to fight prescription drug abuse and to keep young people from becoming addicted to prescription drugs.\r\nIt\u2019s time now for me to close, but before I do, I\u2019d like to emphasize again my strong support for you and for the important work you do. You labor every day to keep our homes and communities safe from harm. You are the front lines in the fight against crime. You work to keep drugs off our streets and guns out of the hands of criminals.\r\nI reject emphatically the false and pernicious narrative we see peddled in the media that police officers are the bad guys. You\u2019re not. You\u2019re the good guys\u2014and gals. You\u2019re the ones we turn to when we face danger or when a criminal\u2014let\u2019s call them what they are\u2014threatens us or our families. You keep the peace. You keep society together. You do more good in one day than any smug Washington bureaucrat can hope to do in a year, or a decade. You\u2019re not the bad guys. You\u2019re heroes. And it\u2019s time we paid you the respect you\u2019re due.\r\nThank you.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=4B1F22F5-1390-472D-B3DA-FF829F6DD5FF", "Hatch Statement on the Sudden Resignation of U.S. Register of Copyrights", "2016-10-25", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014\u00a0Senator Orrin Hatch, the senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the\u00a0following statement on the sudden\u00a0resignation of U.S. Register of Copyrights Maria\u00a0Pallante:\r\n\u00a0\u201cThe resignation of Maria Pallante as U.S. Register of Copyrights underscores the longstanding challenges associated with housing the Copyright Office in the Library of Congress. Ultimately the Register\u2019s primary duty is to our nation\u2019s copyright system, including providing expert opinion to Congress. In the coming months, I look forward to exploring this relationship and considering possible legislative actions to ensure the viability of our copyright system. I thank Maria Pallante for her service as the 12th Register of Copyrights. She will be missed by lawmakers, creators, and the public.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=9457C673-6763-4AA5-84F8-149DD7D3798A", "Hatch Statement on Obamacare Premium Increases for 2017", "2016-10-25", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today issued the following statement regarding Obamacare premium increases for 2017 following the President\u2019s announcement of double-digit hikes:\r\n\u00a0\u201cWhile the President\u2019s allies in Washington will try to spin the numbers, families across the country will be forced to figure out how to pay for such unaffordable insurance.\u00a0 That Obamacare has failed to control costs comes as little surprise for those who have long warned of such results, and does little to dispel the notion we are seeing the law implode at the expense of middle class families.\u201d\r\n\u00a0According to data released today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), premiums will increase, on average, 25% for benchmark plans on the federal exchange. When accounting for both federal and state exchanges, benchmark plans are forecasted to rise by an average of 22%.\r\n\u00a0Hatch is the coauthor of the Patient CARE Act, a legislative plan that repeals Obamacare and replaces it with patient-centered reforms that lower costs and increase choice.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8A9AB43D-2722-48A1-9E18-FF777E5A0C6B", "Lee, Klobuchar to Hold Hearing on AT&T, Time Warner Deal", "2016-10-24", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, will hold a subcommittee hearing on the proposed AT&T, Time Warner acquisition sometime in November.\u00a0No final date has been set for the hearing yet.\u00a0\u201cAs Chairman and Ranking Member of the Antitrust Subcommittee, we have carefully examined consolidation in these industries to ensure that existing market leaders do not block or co-opt new options for receiving video content or exercise disproportionate control over the video content market,\u201d Lee and Klobuchar said Sunday. \u201cWe will continue to carefully review and investigate any consolidation in this industry to makes sure that it does not harm consumers.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A296F6C4-33E6-410C-9801-A330CF3A0604", "Lee, Klobuchar Respond to AT&T, Time Warner Deal", "2016-10-24", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014Today, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, issued the following statement in response to AT&T\u2019s agreement to buy Time Warner:\r\n\u201cAs Chairman and Ranking Member of the Antitrust Subcommittee, we have carefully examined consolidation in the cable and video content industries to ensure that it does not harm consumers. An acquisition of Time Warner by AT&T would potentially raise significant antitrust issues, which the subcommittee would carefully examine.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=E2436B8D-E00B-494A-BB08-EDF6C951CD9C", "Hatch Comments on Proposed Merger of AT&T and Time Warner", "2016-10-23", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, the senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and member and former chairman of the Antitrust Subcommittee, issued the following statement on the announced merger between AT&T and Time Warner:\r\n\"AT&T and Time Warner's proposed merger deserves careful scrutiny. The deal will affect hundreds of millions of Americans and lead to increased concentration in the telecommunications space. At the same time, we must be careful not to rush to judgment. \u200eCable, wireless, and internet are dynamic markets that have undergone tremendous changes in recent years. As with any merger, antitrust law and standards, not politics, ought to dictate the analysis.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=5F4D8E1E-A517-433F-B3EE-70D9E22CFA0A", "Hatch Responds to President Obamas Call for Republicans to Fix Unfixable Obamacare", "2016-10-21", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, responded today to President Obama\u2019s call for Republicans to pass legislation to repair Obamacare.\r\n\u00a0\u201cBy urging Republicans to rush to the aid of his disastrous healthcare law, President Obama is asking us to fix the unfixable,\u201d Hatch said. \u201cObamacare premiums alone have jumped by double digits, with some rates climbing 20 to 50 percent higher in the last year. These drastic premium hikes could affect over twelve million individuals, including Americans who are ineligible for credits and those who purchase coverage outside of the Obamacare exchanges. The skyrocketing costs of Obamacare have squeezed the pocketbooks of Utah\u2019s families and threatened the financial health of our rural health centers in Wayne and San Juan counties. Unlike Democrats, I believe that the solution to the overregulation of healthcare is not more regulation. That\u2019s why, as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I have offered patient-centered reforms that will help lower costs and increase choices for consumers. It\u2019s time we provide Americans with the healthcare they deserve at a price they can afford.\u201d\r\nTo learn more about Senator Hatch\u2019s Obamacare alternative, the Patient Care Act, click here.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=9E87ED12-9775-4FB5-8391-D9D12C7E7316", "Hatch Reacts to DOJ Request to Reopen Microsoft Data Case", "2016-10-16", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force, issued the following statement in reaction to the Department of Justice's request to reopen a case concerning data stored in Ireland:\r\n\u201cFederal judges have rightly concluded that current law does not provide U.S. law enforcement with authority to access data stored overseas. Ultimately, Congress\u2014rather than the courts\u2014should establish a legal standard for accessing extraterritorial communications. That\u2019s why I have led a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers to introduce legislation, the International Communications Privacy Act, establishing such a standard. Yesterday, I wrote to encourage the Justice Department to work constructively to fine-tune ICPA so that we can strengthen privacy and promote trust in U.S. technologies worldwide while enabling law enforcement to fulfill its important public safety mission.\u201d\u00a0\r\nThe full letter is below and\u00a0can be found here:\u00a0\r\n\r\nOctober 13, 2016\r\nDear Attorney General Lynch:\r\nAs sponsors of the International Communications Privacy Act (ICPA), we are committed to establishing a legal standard for accessing extraterritorial electronic communications. ICPA clarifies when and how law enforcement can obtain electronic communications of U.S. citizens, no matter where the person or the communications are located. The bill also provides mechanisms by which U.S. law enforcement can\u2014in limited circumstances and consistent with international law\u2014obtain electronic communications of foreign citizens. We write to seek your continued engagement on this important issue and urge the Department of Justice to work with us in fine-tuning ICPA.\r\nIn July, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held in Microsoft v. United States that the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) does not authorize U.S. law enforcement officials to access electronic communications stored outside the United States. The concurring opinion in Microsoft emphasized the need for legislative action \u201cto revise [the] badly outdated statute\u201d and recommended that Congress review ECPA \u201cthoughtfully and dispassionately\u201d to ensure that it serves contemporary needs.\r\nThat is why for nearly two years, we have advanced legislation to establish a legal standard for accessing extraterritorial electronic communications. The government\u2019s current position presents unique challenges for a number of industries that increasingly face a conflict between U.S. law and the laws of other countries. For example, when technology companies receive demands from U.S. law enforcement to turn over data on behalf of foreign customers, they are forced to make a difficult decision: either comply with the demand and satisfy U.S. law and risk violating the privacy laws of the host country, or challenge U.S. law enforcement\u2019s request in order to comply with the laws of the host jurisdiction. No one should be placed in this untenable situation.\r\nWe are committed to working collaboratively with you and your staff to enact a successful legislative solution that strengthens privacy and promotes trust in U.S. technologies worldwide while enabling law enforcement to fulfill its important public safety mission.\u00a0\r\nSincerely,\u00a0\r\n\r\nChristopher A. Coons\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Orrin G. Hatch\r\nU.S. Senator\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 U.S. Senator\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nSuzan DelBene\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tom Marino\r\nU.S. Representative\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 U.S. Representative", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chris-stewart-to-hold-youth-council-town-hall-meeting", "Rep. Chris Stewart to Hold Youth Council Town Hall Meeting", "2016-10-14", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bountiful, Utah \u2013 Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) will hold a Youth Council Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 7:00pm in Bountiful, Utah. This Town Hall Meeting is specifically for youth and their parents.\nWHAT:\nYouth Council Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Chris Stewart\u00a0\n\u00a0\nWHEN/WHERE:\u00a0\n\u00a0\nTuesday, October 18, 2016\n7:00pm MT\n\u00a0\nBountiful City Hall\n790 S. 100 E.\nBountiful, UT 84010\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chris-stewart-launches-blanket-drive-to-benefit-primary-children-s", "Rep. Chris Stewart Launches Blanket Drive to Benefit Primary Childrens Hospital", "2016-10-13", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Salt Lake City\u00a0\u2013 Today, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) launched a blanket drive to benefit patients at Primary Children\u2019s Hospital. Stewart\u2019s office is specifically collecting new fleece blankets, new quilts and new NICU blankets.\u00a0\nBlankets can be dropped off or mailed to Rep. Stewart\u2019s Salt Lake or St. George offices through November 18th. Congressman Stewart will then deliver the blankets to Primary Children\u2019s Hospital.\nPrimary Children\u2019s Hospital has very specific color and size requirements. Visit Stewart.house.gov/BlanketDrive for more information.\nWatch Rep. Stewart\u2019s video message launching the Blanket Drive:\u00a0\nWHAT: Congressman Chris Stewart Launches Blanket Drive Benefitting Primary Children\u2019s Hospital\nWHEN: The Blanket Drive runs through November 18th\nWHERE: Deliver or mail new blankets to Rep. Stewart\u2019s Salt Lake or St. George Offices\nSalt Lake City Office:\n420 East South Temple #390\nSalt Lake City, UT 84111\n\u00a0\nSt. George Office:\n253 W. St. George Boulevard, #100\nSt. George, UT 84770\nA flier can be downloaded here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=6542A9B4-DABA-48C8-9671-98125213075A", "Hatch Urges DOJ to Work with Congress on ICPA", "2016-10-13", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, joined by Senator Chris Coons, D-Del., and Representatives Tom Marino, R-Pa., and Suzan Del Bene, D-Wash., sent a letter Thursday to Attorney General Loretta Lynch urging the Department of Justice to work with Congress to fine-tune the International Communications Privacy Act (ICPA).\u00a0\r\n\u00a0They wrote, \u201cAs sponsors of the International Communications Privacy Act (ICPA), we are committed to establishing a legal standard for accessing extraterritorial electronic communications. ICPA clarifies when and how law enforcement can obtain electronic communications of U.S. citizens, no matter where the person or the communications are located. The bill also provides mechanisms by which U.S. law enforcement can\u2014in limited circumstances and consistent with international law\u2014obtain electronic communications of foreign citizens. We write to seek your continued engagement on this important issue and urge the Department of Justice to work with us in fine-tuning ICPA.\u201d\r\n\u00a0The full letter is below and\u00a0can be found here:\u00a0\r\n\u00a0October 13, 2016\r\nDear Attorney General Lynch:\r\nAs sponsors of the International Communications Privacy Act (ICPA), we are committed to establishing a legal standard for accessing extraterritorial electronic communications. ICPA clarifies when and how law enforcement can obtain electronic communications of U.S. citizens, no matter where the person or the communications are located. The bill also provides mechanisms by which U.S. law enforcement can\u2014in limited circumstances and consistent with international law\u2014obtain electronic communications of foreign citizens. We write to seek your continued engagement on this important issue and urge the Department of Justice to work with us in fine-tuning ICPA.\u00a0\r\nIn July, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held in\u00a0Microsoft v. United States\u00a0that the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) does not authorize U.S. law enforcement officials to access electronic communications stored outside the United States. The concurring opinion in\u00a0Microsoft\u00a0emphasized the need for legislative action \u201cto revise [the] badly outdated statute\u201d and recommended that Congress review ECPA \u201cthoughtfully and dispassionately\u201d to ensure that it serves contemporary needs.\u00a0\r\nThat is why for nearly two years, we have advanced legislation to establish a legal standard for accessing extraterritorial electronic communications. The government\u2019s current position presents unique challenges for a number of industries that increasingly face a conflict between U.S. law and the laws of other countries. For example, when technology companies receive demands from U.S. law enforcement to turn over data on behalf of foreign customers, they are forced to make a difficult decision: either comply with the demand and satisfy U.S. law and risk violating the privacy laws of the host country, or challenge U.S. law enforcement\u2019s request in order to comply with the laws of the host jurisdiction. No one should be placed in this untenable situation.\u00a0\r\nWe are committed to working collaboratively with you and your staff to enact a successful legislative solution that strengthens privacy and promotes trust in U.S. technologies worldwide while enabling law enforcement to fulfill its important public safety mission.\r\nSincerely,\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\r\nChristopher A. Coons\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Orrin G. Hatch\r\nU.S. Senator\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 U.S. Senator\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nSuzan DelBene\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tom Marino\r\nU.S. Representative \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0U.S. Representative", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=C75E7085-5AE8-4D1D-8EED-2B96E07B239A", "Media Advisory: Hatch to Tout Efforts to Fight for Utah Children at Event with Children's Service Society and Utah families", "2016-10-12", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SALT LAKE CITY\u2014As Utah faces off against a growing opioid epidemic, a chronic homelessness crisis, and a range of other issues threatening families, protecting the welfare of children in the state\u2019s child care network has never been more important. As part of these efforts, Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, will hold an event with Utah children to discuss long-term efforts to respond to the needs of Utah families on\u00a0Monday, October 17th at 2 PM MST. These efforts most recently include fighting for the Family First Act, legislation\u00a0to keep children safely in their homes and reduce\u00a0over-reliance\u00a0on group foster care homes, as well as long-term efforts to champion kinship placements as the best outcome for children.\r\nHatch will host the event along with Encarni Gallardo, executive director of the Children\u2019s Service Society (CSS). CSS is the oldest\u00a0non-denominational nonprofit in the state that focuses on children and families,\u00a0providing individualized services for those who are responsible for the welfare of a child, including expectant parents, families and caregivers that benefit from mentoring, training and information to ensure child well-being. CSS provides comprehensive wrap-around services through programs of Adoption, Grandfamilies and Home Visitation to ensure that children and families with complex needs benefit from a coordinated care planning process\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWho:\r\n\r\n\r\nSenator Orrin Hatch\r\nEncarni Gallardo, Executive Director of the Children\u2019s Service Society\r\n30-35 family members\r\nNon-profit participants in the child care network\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\n\r\n\r\nEvent highlighting Senator Hatch\u2019s long-term efforts to strengthen families in Utah with presentations from children, foster parents, non-profit service providers, and Senator Hatch.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\n\r\n\r\nMonday October 17th, 2:00 P.M. MST\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nWhere:\r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nMemorial House, Salt Lake City\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMedia:\r\n\r\n\r\nThe event will be open to media and Senator Hatch will hold a brief media availability following the speakers. Please RSVP to Matt Whitlock at Matt_Whitlock@hatch.senate.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://love.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=597", "Statement on Venezuelan judge missing Josh Holt hearing- again", "2016-10-11", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mia Love", "L000584", "love.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On October 11, 2016, Joshua Holt of Riverton was scheduled to appear before a Venezuelan judge for a status hearing on his imprisonment on weapons-related charges.\u00a0\u00a0 The judge in the case didn't show up for the hearing, making this the second time in about a month that Joshua Holt was denied his right to due process.\u00a0 At the same time, his attorney reports he is being humiliated and mistreated while he is in custody.\u00a0 Below is a statement from Rep. Love in reaction to this situation.\r\n\r\n\t\"I am both heartbroken and outraged that, for a second time, a Venezuelan judge failed to show up at Joshua Holt\u2019s hearing, and that his attorney is reporting mistreatment while he is in custody. \u00a0This, once again, represents a lack of respect for human dignity and civil rights in a country whose citizens suffer more and more each day.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tMy office is already working with the State Department and the staff at the Venezuelan embassy for options on how to proceed from here.\r\n\r\n\tFor three months now, an unjust system in Venezuela has prevented Joshua Holt from receiving adequate medical attention and, most importantly, his day in court.\u00a0 Demands from State Department and Embassy officials and even Vice President Biden calling for Josh Holt\u2019s release have been ignored.\r\n\r\n\tLast month, I co-sponsored, and the House of Representatives passed, House Resolution 851 which expresses profound concern about the political, economic and humanitarian crises in Venezuela and demands the release of all political prisoners, including Josh Holt.\r\n\r\n\tToday, I personally call on President Maduro to stop playing games, give political prisoners due process, and to release Josh Holt.\r\n\r\n\tI pledge to continue working with my colleagues and to do everything I can to ensure Josh Holt is released as soon as possible.\"\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6383CF1A-F144-42DE-9FEE-23953029113D", "Lee Calls on President to Seek War Declaration Before Increasing Syrian Involvement", "2016-10-05", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday, in response to reports that President Obama is considering military strikes against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad.\r\n\u201cIf President Obama and his advisors want to increase the involvement of the United States in Syria in any manner - including attacks against the Assad regime - they have a constitutional responsibility to ask for a declaration of war from Congress,\u201d Sen. Lee said. \"What the administration is considering represents a major departure from our current strategy, and carries potentially cataclysmic consequences which the American people have never debated in Congress. Should President Obama move ahead without authorization, then Congress must be called back into session to fulfill its obligation to debate and determine whether our nation should once again go to war.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://love.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=596", "Rep. Love Letter Urges Better Response on VA Crisis Line", "2016-10-03", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mia Love", "L000584", "love.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "How to use: Insert <span class=\"EXACT_VALUE_LABEL_AS_ENTERED_BELOW\"> </span> where you'd like the value to be populated.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tNon-breaking space within span tags -   - is required for WYSIWYG.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tLabel\r\n\t\t\t\t\t(no spaces or special characters)\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tValue\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tComments (optional)\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\trepName\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tMia Love\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\thelpWithFedAgencyAddress\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tUtah 4th District Office\r\n\t\t\t\t\t9067 South 1300 West Suite101\r\n\t\t\t\t\tWest Jordan, UT 84088\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPhone: 801-996-8729\r\n\t\t\t\t\tFax: 801-987-8631\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tdistrict\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t4th District of Utah\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tacademyUSCitizenDate\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tJuly 1, 2016\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tacademyAgeDate\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tJuly 1, 2016\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tacademyApplicationDueDate\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tOctober 20, 2016\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\trepStateABBR\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tUT\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\trepDistrict\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t4\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\trepState\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tUtah\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\trepDistrictText\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t4th\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\trepPhoto\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tSponsoredBills\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tSponsored Bills\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tCoSponsoredBills\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tCo-Sponsored Bills", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4B7FF1A8-B002-4A05-B1FE-A32C0B1FB8C9", "Sens. Lee and Rubio Call Out Cultural Imperialism of OAS", "2016-10-03", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) urged the State Department Monday, to re-examine the way U.S. contributions to the Organization of American States (OAS) are utilized in light of ongoing concerns of ideological agenda pushing by the UN-backed entity. Part of this inquiry includes a push to fully implement the Organization of American States (OAS) Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 and address concerns about the OAS imposing its cultural views on OAS member states.  \u00a0  The letter states that legislators \u201chave heard from Central and South American officials that their own national sovereignty is threatened by what they view as \u2018cultural imperialism\u2019 imposed by an organization that is seemingly more concerned with pushing an ideological agenda than respecting the local rule of law.\u201d  \u00a0  The U.S. provided for more than one-third (41.7%) of the OAS\u2019 2015 total budget, continuing in the historic pattern of the U.S. contributing the largest sum of funds for this entity. The OAS Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 requires a multiyear strategy be provided to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and a quarterly briefing that analyzes the progress made by the OAS. The letter suggests it is not clear that the Department is implementing the requirements of this law.  \u00a0   Considering that the U.S. is the largest donor of the OAS, the letter requests an in-person briefing from State Department officials responsible for Western Hemisphere Affairs and U.S. representation to the OAS.  \u00a0  You can read the full letter here:\r\nLetter to State Department to fully implement the Organization of American States (OAS) Revitalization and... by Senator Mike Lee on Scribd", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://love.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=594", "With Rep. Love's Support, Venezuela Resolution Passes House", "2016-09-29", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mia Love", "L000584", "love.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 This week, with Congresswoman Love\u2019s strong support, the House passed H. Res. 851. This resolution, which she cosponsored, expresses profound concern about the political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and calls for the release of political prisoners, including Josh Holt of Riverton.\r\n\r\n\tCongresswoman Love has become increasingly worried about the plight of Venezuela, and has been actively working with the Department of State to bring home Mr. Holt.\r\n\r\n\tFollowing the passage of the resolution, she said, \u201cI am pleased to see the House formally recognize the crisis in Venezuela. It pains me to see people suffering under an increasingly desperate and oppressive regime. And it breaks my heart to see Josh Holt held as a political prisoner and denied a fair hearing for so long. This resolution tells all those who are suffering that we stand in solidarity with them. I am proud to join with several of my colleagues to send this message, and applaud Rep. Wasserman Schultz for her leadership on this.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://robbishop.house.gov/media/press-releases/bishop-proposes-constitutional-amendment", "Bishop Proposes Constitutional Amendment", "2016-09-29", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Rob Bishop", "B001250", "robbishop.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-01) introduced H. J. Res. 100, a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would provide states with the authority to repeal any federal rule or regulation if two-thirds of the states are in agreement. Upon introduction of this legislation, Rep. Bishop offered the following statement: \n\"The founding fathers crafted the Constitution to include the concept of checks and balances. Those checks and balances are not simply to provide horizontal protections, but also to ensure there are vertical safeguards between state and federal governments. This amendment halts the erosion of federalism that has chipped away at states' powers for the past five decades. This is a tool for states to use when the executive branch of the federal government goes too far.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://robbishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397760", "Bishop Proposes Constitutional Amendment", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Rob Bishop", "B001250", "robbishop.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-01) introduced H. J. Res. 100, a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would provide states with the authority to repeal any federal rule or regulation if two-thirds of the states are in agreement. Upon introduction of this legislation, Rep. Bishop offered the following statement: \r\n\u201cThe founding fathers crafted the Constitution to include the concept of checks and balances. Those checks and balances are not simply to provide horizontal protections, but also to ensure there are vertical safeguards between state and federal governments. This amendment halts the erosion of federalism that has chipped away at states\u2019 powers for the past five decades. This is a tool for states to use when the executive branch of the federal government goes too far.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-stewart-leads-bi-partisan-effort-urging-house-leadership-to-fully", "Rep. Stewart Leads Bi-Partisan Effort Urging House Leadership to Fully Fund PILT", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) lead a bi-partisan group of 95 Members of Congress, alongside Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.),\u00a0urging House leadership to secure full funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program.\nNearly 1,900 counties across 49 states receive PILT funding to compensate for lost tax revenue due to the large amounts of federal lands in their counties, which are un-taxable according to federal law.\nSpecifically in Utah, 67 percent of the land is owned by the federal government and is un-taxable. In 2016 alone, Utah received over $38,000,000 in PILT payments, which were critical for Utah\u2019s rural county budgets. A breakdown of the payments by county in Utah can be found here.\nIn a letter sent to House leadership, Stewart wrote, \u201cIf Congress fails to fully fund the PILT program by the end of the year, public lands counties across the nation will be unable to provide essential public services such as: law enforcement, search and rescue, public health and critical transportation infrastructure.\u201d\nCurrent PILT funding is set to expire on September 30, 2016, the end of the fiscal year.\nStewart also urged leadership to enact a fiscally responsible, long-term and sustainable solution to fully fund the program beyond next year.\nThe full text of the letter is below. The PDF can be found here.\n\u00a0\nDear Speaker Ryan and Minority Leader Pelosi,\nFor more than 40 years, the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program has played a critical role in supporting our local communities by providing critical resources to nearly 1,900 counties across 49 states to offset lost property tax revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt federal lands within their jurisdictions. As 2016 comes to an end, we urge you to work in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion to ensure the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program is fully funded for FY 2017 and beyond.\nFor FY 2017, the U.S. Department of Interior has estimated that $480 million dollars will be necessary to fully fund PILT. If Congress fails to fully fund the PILT program by the end of the year, public lands counties across the nation will be unable to provide essential public services such as: law enforcement, search and rescue, public health and critical transportation infrastructure.\nCurrent discretionary appropriations for the PILT program are set to expire on September 30, 2016. Without the certainty of full PILT funding for FY 2017, we risk severely crippling counties\u2019 ability to provide essential services for their residents and public lands visitors alike.\nMoving forward, we hope Congress can work together to enact a fiscally responsible, long-term and sustainable solution to fully fund PILT in FY 2017 and beyond. As counties across the United States works to balance their budgets, it is essential that Congress act to reaffirm the federal government\u2019s long-standing commitment to public lands counties by fully funding PILT.\nWe look forward to working with you to end the financial uncertainty facing thousands of counties nationwide, and we thank you for your attention to this critical issue.\nSincerely,\nReps. Abraham (R-La.), Aderholt (R-Ala.), Amodei (R-Nev.), Barr (R-Ky.), Benishek (R-Mich.), Bishop (R-Utah), Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Bonamici (D-Ore.), Bordallo (D-Guam), Brownley (D-Calif.), Buck (R-Colo.), Capps (D-Calif.), C\u00e1rdenas (D-Calif.), Carter (R-Ga.), Chaffetz (R-Utah), Clawson (R-Fla.), Coffman (R-Colo.), Cook (R-Calif.), Costa (D-Calif.), Cramer (R-S.D.), Curbelo (R-Fla.), DeFazio (D-Ore.), DeGette (D-Colo.), DelBene (D-Wash.), Duffy (R-Wis.), Duncan (R-Tenn.), Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Franks (R-Ariz.), Gallego (D-Ariz.), Garamendi (D-Calif.), Gohmert (R-Texas), Goodlatte (R-Va.), Gosar (R-Ariz.), Griffith (R-Va.), Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Hardy (R-Nev.), Harper (R-Miss.), Heck (R-Nev.), Heck (D-Wash.), Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.), Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Honda (D-Calif.), Huffman (D-Calif.), Hurd (R-Texas), Jenkins (R-W. Va.), Jones (R-N.C.), Kilmer (D-Wash.), Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), Knight (R-Calif.), LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Lamborn (R-Colo.), Larsen (D-Wash.), Love (R-Utah), Lujan (D-N.M.), Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), Lummis (R-Wyo.), McClintock (R-Calif.), McKinley (R-W. Va.), McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), McSally (R-Ariz.), Newhouse (R-Wash.), Noem (R-S.D.), Nolan (D-Minn.), Palazzo (R-Miss.), Pearce (R-N.M.), Peters (D-Calif.), Plaskett (D-V.I.), Pocan (D-Wis.), Polis (D-Colo.), Reichert (R-Wash.), Rogers (R-Ala.), Ruiz (D-Calif.), Rush (D-Ill.), Salmon (R-Ariz.), S\u00e1nchez (D-Calif.), Schrader (D-Ore.), Simpson (R-Idaho), Sinema (D-Ariz.), Smith (D-Wash.), Stewart (R-Utah), Takano (D-Calif.), Thompson (R-Pa.), Thompson (D-Calif.), Thompson (D-Miss.), Tipton (R-Colo.), Titus (D-Nev.), Valadao (R-Calif.), Vargas (D-Calif.), Welch (D-Vt.), Westerman (R-Ark.), Williams (R-Texas), Wilson (R-S.C.), Yoho (R-Fla.), Young (R-AK), Zinke (R-Mont.).\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-stewart-s-resolution-directing-investigation-into-missing-byu", "Rep. Stewarts Resolution Directing Investigation into Missing BYU Student Passes the House", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah)\u2019s congressional resolution directing the State Department and Intelligence Community to investigate the disappearance of BYU student David Sneddon passed the House today. The resolution specifically asks them to investigate the possibility that the North Korean government may have abducted Sneddon.\nSneddon was last seen in 2004 hiking in western China. Chinese officials say he likely died while hiking, but there is no evidence of an accident, his body has never been found, and there are witnesses who claim they saw Sneddon after he finished hiking.\nNorth Korean officials are known to operate in this particular region of China, and the Sneddon family, along with various experts in North Korean policy, believe that the North Korea government may have abducted David, as they have citizens of other countries, using his language skills to train government officials and operatives. A recent report out of South Korea potentially validates this theory.\n\u201cAs the resolution indicates, there is more work to be done by the State Department and Intelligence Community,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cParticularly given the recent reports out of South Korea that David may be alive, David\u2019s family deserves answers, and until we find those answers we should continue to pursue all possible explanations for David\u2019s disappearance.\u201d\nBelow is a video on a floor Speech Rep. Stewart gave in February about David and the Resolution:", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=1390E46F-0491-4439-8378-5ECE7176341D", "Hatch Statement on the Passing ofShimon Peres", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, issued the following statement on the passing of former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres:\r\n\u00a0\u201cIn Shimon Peres, Israel has lost a true statesman, and I have lost a friend. A fixture of Israeli politics since the nation\u2019s founding, he played a crucial role in shaping Israel into the vibrant society it is today. Serving in numerous senior roles in government, including two pivotal stints as Prime Minister, he constantly strove for peace and security in a hostile world, leading to his well-deserved Nobel Peace Prize. His strength, dedication, and courage will be truly missed. Elaine and I send our deepest sympathies and prayers to his family, his friends, and the Israeli people in this difficult time.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=98751186-36BF-4D48-BD81-87A3A1ECEFB9", "Sen. Lee Statement on Continuing Resolution Vote", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday, following his vote against a continuing resolution that would fund the federal government through December 9, 2016:\u201cBy funding the government for only three months, this CR sets up a lame-duck session later this year, which is a prime target for special-interest insiders who know just how easy it is to extract benefits from members of Congress who are no longer accountable to their voters.\u201cProponents of the bill claim this is what a \u2018clean\u2019 CR looks like. They praise the bill for excluding any and all \u2018policy riders.\u2019\u201cBut in truth, this CR has plenty of so-called \u2018policy riders,\u2019 but only those that received the blessing of the select few who wrote the legislation. So it includes a provision that will give Planned Parenthood a raise, but contains nothing to delay President Obama\u2019s reckless plan to give countries like China, Russia, and Iran more control over the Internet.\u201cThis is not how the Senate should do business and I will not sanction it with my vote.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://love.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=593", "New Rep. Love bill will bring funds to Utah schools", "2016-09-27", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mia Love", "L000584", "love.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Mia Love introduced the Funding Local Schools Act today, (H.R. 6180), a bill that would help to bring additional funding to Utah\u2019s schools.\r\n\r\n\tThe Bureau of Land Management\u2019s Pony Express resource management plan (RMP) identifies select parcels of land within the plan\u2019s area as available for disposal. Congresswoman Love\u2019s Funding Local Schools Act would clarify that these lands may be granted to the state, and state agencies, through a selection process. This would enable Utah\u2019s School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) to acquire pre-identified lands within the RMP area for the benefit of state public institutions.\r\n\r\n\tNearly two decades ago, SITLA selected lands within District 4 for the benefit of Utah State University.\u00a0 But the selection process has been stalled by a legal technicality, which the Funding Local Schools Act would resolve.\u00a0 Ultimately, revenue generated from selected lands will benefit Utah State University and its students.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI\u2019m proud to sponsor a bill that will help give our schools the resources our students need,\u201d Rep. Love said.\u00a0 \u201cWhile I\u2019ve been in Congress, I have worked hard for Utah schools and students, and will continue to search for ways to support them.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tSITLA Director David Ure said:\u00a0 \u201cThese lands will provide millions of dollars in revenue to Utah State University in upcoming years.\u00a0 We would like to thank Representative Love for her willingness to help fix a situation that has prevented SITLA from fully supporting our USU beneficiary.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7AC5A579-C4C8-443C-90A6-125584872B5D", "Senators Request Answers from DOJ, HHS on Potential Multimillion Dollar Insurance Company Bailout", "2016-09-27", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014Today Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ben Sasse (R-NE) expressed concern over the participation of the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in a potential multimillion dollar bailout of select insurance companies through the Affordable Care Act\u2019s Risk Corridors Program (RCP). In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Secretary Sylvia Burwell, and Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt, the senators requested an explanation of the availability of funds to settle claims for payment under the RCP.  \u00a0  The letter states: \u201cThe health care law contained three risk mitigation programs, one of which is the temporary Risk Corridor Program.\u00a0 This program was originally intended to be implemented in a budget neutral manner.\u00a0 This intention was confirmed when Congress passed, with Presidential approval, two separate provisions of appropriations law confirming its budget neutrality.\u00a0 It now appears the Administration is preparing to circumvent these actions.\u201d  \u00a0  The letter discusses the use of the judgement fund to resolve claims filed against the government for non-payment under the RCP, concluding that \u201cit would be inappropriate for the Judgement Fund to be used to settle any litigation stemming from the risk corridor program. Accordingly, we write to ascertain specifically how CMS intends to go about seeking \u2018resolution of those claims\u2019 so that federal law is not violated.\u201d  \u00a0  Full text of the letter is available here:\r\n[UntitlSenators Request Answers from DOJ, HHS on Potential Multimillion Dollar Insurance Company Bailouted]...", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=ED2954DB-551E-471A-BA75-FD38D37176AA", "Hatch Hits Back at U.S. Commission on Civil Rights' Attack on Religious Liberty", "2016-09-26", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, and a principal author of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, responded in a letter today to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights\u2019 controversial report on discrimination and religious liberty, which contained statements that have outraged proponents of religious freedom.\r\n\u00a0Hatch wrote,\u00a0\u201cthe report adopts a stunted and distorted version of religious liberty, suggesting that claims of religious conscience are little more than a cloak for bigotry and hatred.\u00a0 I reject the false picture of religious liberty presented.\u201d\r\n\u00a0In the letter Senator Hatch also referenced a series of 8 speeches he delivered to the Senate on religious liberty, which can be found here:\r\n\u00a0\r\n1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 basic principles of religious liberty;\r\n2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the history of religious liberty;\r\n3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 status and substance of religious liberty;\r\n4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the balance between faith and public life;\r\n5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 contemporary threats to religious liberty;\r\n6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 threats to religious liberty abroad; and\r\n7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the importance of religious liberty to Democracy\r\n8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the way forward for religious liberty\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe full letter is below.\r\n\u00a0\r\nChairman Castro\r\nU.S. Commission on Civil Rights\r\n1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1150\r\nWashington, DC 20425\r\nDear Chairman Castro:\r\n\r\nI reviewed, with both interest and deep concern, the Commission\u2019s report titled Peaceful Coexistence: Reconciling Nondiscrimination Principles with Civil Liberties.\r\nThe report\u2019s asserted focus is the \u201cappropriate balance between religious liberty and nondiscrimination principles.\u201d\u00a0 That effort must begin with an honest consideration of each side of the scale.\u00a0 In my view, the report fails to do that. \u00a0\r\nTo begin, a majority of the Commission appears to believe that, in all but the narrowest of circumstances, the civil right to freedom from discrimination trumps the constitutional right to freely exercise religion.\u00a0 In embracing this position, however, the report adopts a stunted and distorted version of religious liberty, suggesting that claims of religious conscience are little more than a cloak for bigotry and hatred.\u00a0 I reject the false picture of religious liberty presented in the report.\r\nThe report also fails properly to account for the primacy of religious liberty in our nation\u2019s history, founding principles, and legal commitments. Remarkably, the report\u2019s title does not even mention the term \u201creligious liberty,\u201d but rather subsumes it as one of a number of \u201ccivil liberties\u201d that, one supposes, are of varying significance.\r\nIndeed, I cannot find any discussion in the report of the central status that religious liberty has always had in American society and law.\u00a0 James Madison identified the free exercise of religion according to conviction and conscience as an inalienable right.\u00a0 He further explained that religious exercise \u201cis precedent, both in order of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of civil society.\u201d\u00a0 As Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg wrote, to America\u2019s founders, religious liberty was preeminent among fundamental rights.\u00a0 More recently, the Congress of the United States unanimously declared in the International Religious Freedom Act that religious liberty \u201cundergirds the very origin and existence of the United States.\u201d\r\nIn a series of Senate floor speeches one year ago, I detailed additional evidence for the primacy of religious liberty in American life.\u00a0 This evidence includes declarations and treaties such as the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1975 Helsinki Accords, and the 1992 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.\u00a0 In annual proclamations, Presidents of both parties have said that religious liberty is essential to our dignity as human beings and that no freedom is more fundamental than the right to practice one\u2019s religious beliefs.\r\nIn those Senate speeches, I also outlined the substance of religious liberty.\u00a0 It includes behavior as well as belief, in public as well as in private, and collectively as well as individually.\u00a0 This understanding of religious liberty is clearly presented in both the domestic and international commitments the United States has made throughout its history.\r\nThe Commission\u2019s report, however, fails to acknowledge any of this.\u00a0 To the contrary, the report appears to make every effort to confine, narrow, and limit religious liberty.\u00a0 It would have religious liberty apply to belief but not behavior, to be exercised individually in private rather than collectively in public.\r\nAnd although the report professes to seek a \u201cbalance\u201d between religious liberty and nondiscrimination principles, its findings and recommendations undermine any attempt at \u201cbalance.\u201d\u00a0 The very first finding states that \u201cprotections ensuring nondiscrimination\u201d\u2014including mere \u201cpolicies\u201d\u2014are \u201cof preeminent importance in American jurisprudence.\u201d\u00a0 Constitutional rights, it seems, or at least the constitutional right to freedom of religion, must take a back seat to policies identified in statute and regulation.\u00a0 I cannot think of another context in which advocates seriously assert those priorities.\r\nFinally, I am troubled by the anti-religious sentiments in several of the supplementary statements in the report. In one statement, you say that religious liberty has become a \u201ccode word\u201d for \u201cdiscrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy,\u201d and other forms of \u201cintolerance.\u201d You then tie contemporary religious liberty claims to the shameful legacy of slavery and Jim Crow. This is false equivalence in the extreme. Today\u2019s sincere believers are not seeking to subjugate vast swaths of fellow Americans beneath the rod of government oppression. Rather, they are seeking room to live out their faith in a society that is fast abandoning traditional views on marriage and sexuality.\r\nBecause the Commission\u2019s report is based on a briefing before the Commission, it is possible that the Commission was not presented with a comprehensive picture of the history and status of religious liberty in our nation.\u00a0 If so, then perhaps part of the fault lies with how the briefing was organized.\u00a0 Nonetheless, the serious and timely topic of reconciling nondiscrimination principles with freedom of religion cannot adequately be addressed without a more accurate understanding of religious liberty.\r\nAs you can tell, I feel strongly about religious liberty.\u00a0 It is an essential and defining part of our nation\u2019s heritage and identity and I am committed to defending it.\r\nSincerely,\r\nSenator Orrin Hatch", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=2C96C3C5-1003-469F-9FC3-1D8608915A2D", "Hatch Hits Back at U.S. Commission on Civil Rights' Attack on Religious Liberty", "2016-09-23", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, and a principal author of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, responded in a letter today to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights\u2019 controversial report on discrimination and religious liberty, which contained statements that have outraged proponents of religious freedom.\r\nHatch wrote,\u00a0\u201cthe report adopts a stunted and distorted version of religious liberty, suggesting that claims of religious conscience are little more than a cloak for bigotry and hatred.\u00a0 I reject the false picture of religious liberty presented.\u201d\u00a0\r\nIn the letter Senator Hatch also referenced a series of 8 speeches he delivered to the Senate on religious liberty, which can be found here:\r\n1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 basic principles of religious liberty;\r\n2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the history of religious liberty;\r\n3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 status and substance of religious liberty;\r\n4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the balance between faith and public life;\r\n5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 contemporary threats to religious liberty;\r\n6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 threats to religious liberty abroad; and\r\n7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the importance of religious liberty to Democracy\r\n8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the way forward for religious liberty\r\n\r\nThe full letter is below.\r\nChairman Castro\r\nU.S. Commission on Civil Rights\r\n1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1150\r\nWashington, DC 20425\r\nDear Chairman Castro:\r\nI reviewed, with both interest and deep concern, the Commission\u2019s report titled Peaceful Coexistence: Reconciling Nondiscrimination Principles with Civil Liberties.\r\nThe report\u2019s asserted focus is the \u201cappropriate balance between religious liberty and nondiscrimination principles.\u201d\u00a0 That effort must begin with an honest consideration of each side of the scale.\u00a0 In my view, the report fails to do that.\u00a0\r\nTo begin, a majority of the Commission appears to believe that, in all but the narrowest of circumstances, the civil right to freedom from discrimination trumps the constitutional right to freely exercise religion.\u00a0 In embracing this position, however, the report adopts a stunted and distorted version of religious liberty, suggesting that claims of religious conscience are little more than a cloak for bigotry and hatred.\u00a0 I reject the false picture of religious liberty presented in the report.\r\nThe report also fails properly to account for the primacy of religious liberty in our nation\u2019s history, founding principles, and legal commitments. Remarkably, the report\u2019s title does not even mention the term \u201creligious liberty,\u201d but rather subsumes it as one of a number of \u201ccivil liberties\u201d that, one supposes, are of varying significance.\r\n\u00a0Indeed, I cannot find any discussion in the report of the central status that religious liberty has always had in American society and law.\u00a0 James Madison identified the free exercise of religion according to conviction and conscience as an inalienable right.\u00a0 He further explained that religious exercise \u201cis precedent, both in order of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of civil society.\u201d\u00a0 As Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg wrote, to America\u2019s founders, religious liberty was preeminent among fundamental rights.\u00a0 More recently, the Congress of the United States unanimously declared in the International Religious Freedom Act that religious liberty \u201cundergirds the very origin and existence of the United States.\u201d\r\nIn a series of Senate floor speeches one year ago, I detailed additional evidence for the primacy of religious liberty in American life.\u00a0 This evidence includes declarations and treaties such as the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1975 Helsinki Accords, and the 1992 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.\u00a0 In annual proclamations, Presidents of both parties have said that religious liberty is essential to our dignity as human beings and that no freedom is more fundamental than the right to practice one\u2019s religious beliefs.\r\nIn those Senate speeches, I also outlined the substance of religious liberty.\u00a0 It includes behavior as well as belief, in public as well as in private, and collectively as well as individually.\u00a0 This understanding of religious liberty is clearly presented in both the domestic and international commitments the United States has made throughout its history.\r\nThe Commission\u2019s report, however, fails to acknowledge any of this.\u00a0 To the contrary, the report appears to make every effort to confine, narrow, and limit religious liberty.\u00a0 It would have religious liberty apply to belief but not behavior, to be exercised individually in private rather than collectively in public.\r\nAnd although the report professes to seek a \u201cbalance\u201d between religious liberty and nondiscrimination principles, its findings and recommendations undermine any attempt at \u201cbalance.\u201d\u00a0 The very first finding states that \u201cprotections ensuring nondiscrimination\u201d\u2014including mere \u201cpolicies\u201d\u2014are \u201cof preeminent importance in American jurisprudence.\u201d\u00a0 Constitutional rights, it seems, or at least the constitutional right to freedom of religion, must take a back seat to policies identified in statute and regulation.\u00a0 I cannot think of another context in which advocates seriously assert those priorities.\r\nFinally, I am troubled by the anti-religious sentiments in several of the supplementary statements in the report. In one statement, you say that religious liberty has become a \u201ccode word\u201d for \u201cdiscrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy,\u201d and other forms of \u201cintolerance.\u201d You then tie contemporary religious liberty claims to the shameful legacy of slavery and Jim Crow. This is false equivalence in the extreme. Today\u2019s sincere believers are not seeking to subjugate vast swaths of fellow Americans beneath the rod of government oppression. Rather, they are seeking room to live out their faith in a society that is fast abandoning traditional views on marriage and sexuality.\r\nBecause the Commission\u2019s report is based on a briefing before the Commission, it is possible that the Commission was not presented with a comprehensive picture of the history and status of religious liberty in our nation.\u00a0 If so, then perhaps part of the fault lies with how the briefing was organized.\u00a0 Nonetheless, the serious and timely topic of reconciling nondiscrimination principles with freedom of religion cannot adequately be addressed without a more accurate understanding of religious liberty.\r\nAs you can tell, I feel strongly about religious liberty.\u00a0 It is an essential and defining part of our nation\u2019s heritage and identity and I am committed to defending it.\r\nSincerely,\r\n\u00a0\r\nSenator Orrin Hatch", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://chaffetz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=727", "Chaffetz demands apology from Ruiz for \"token\" comment", "2016-09-22", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Jason Chaffetz", "C001076", "chaffetz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) released the following statement following a reference made by Congressman Raul Ruiz (D-CA) to San Juan County Commissioner Rebecca Benally, who had previously testified in favor of the Public Lands Initiative. Benally is the only elected Navajo in Utah and represents a largely Navajo district that includes the site of the Bears Ears buttes addressed in today\u2019s legislation.\n\n\u201cThere is absolutely no excuse for the degrading and disrespectful way in which Congressman Ruiz referenced Commissioner Benally in today\u2019s hearing. She in no way deserves to be called a \u2018token\u2019, nor to have her legitimacy as an elected official questioned. Like Mr. Ruiz, Ms. Benally is a Democrat who loves the land. But she also represents a county that is larger than Mr. Ruiz\u2019s entire district. She has worked tirelessly to get the facts, seek input from constituents, and form an objective opinion of this legislation. Mr. Ruiz owes Commissioner Benally an apology for the unacceptable way he treated her testimony.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=3A8AA564-9411-478B-9AE2-69E0D042E219", "Hatch Pays Tribute to Justice Thomas 25 Years After Senate Confirmation", "2016-09-22", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, paid tribute to Justice Clarence Thomas today to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his confirmation to the\u00a0Supreme Court.\r\n\u00a0Reflecting on their friendship, Hatch said, \u201cI have known Clarence for 35 years, and chaired or served on the committees that oversaw each of his appointments. His impact on our nation comes from his own strength of character fueling his deep conviction about the principles of liberty.\u201d\r\n[YOUTUBE LINK TO SPEECH]\r\n\u00a0Select Quotes from the Speech\r\n\"Justice Thomas is the kind of judge that our liberty requires, and defending liberty is what he is doing for America and for each one of us.\u00a0 We have all passed by the National Archives building, which sits on Constitution Avenue just blocks from here.\u00a0 One of the statues in front bears the inscription\u00a0eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.\u00a0 Justice Thomas is paying that price of vigilance.\u201d\u00a0\r\nOn Justice Thomas and the Principles of Liberty\r\n\u201cHis strength of character makes it possible for Justice Thomas to advance his deep conviction about the principles of liberty.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u201cJustice Thomas draws a direct connection between equality and God-given unalienable rights, limited government, and liberty itself.\u00a0 This means that each branch of government, including the judiciary, should be active but only within its proper bounds.\u00a0 A judiciary consistent with liberty will be active in properly interpreting and applying the Constitution and will be restrained in declining to exercise power to manipulate or change the law.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u201cThe principles of liberty established by America\u2019s founders are the same principles to which Clarence Thomas is deeply committed.\u00a0 But it is when those principles are fueled by personal character, integrity, and brilliance that they become a powerful force that defines a nation and helps chart its future.\u201d\r\nOn Justice Thomas\u2019s Judicial Philosophy\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u201cIn 1990, after being appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Clarence had lunch with a friend and reflected on his new judicial role.\u00a0 Every time I put on the robe, he said, I have to remember that I am only a judge.\u00a0 The only reason that sounds unusual today is that we live in an era of run-amok judges.\u00a0 That sounds unusual today, but then we live in an age of run-amok judges engaging in what the late Justice Antonin Scalia called power-judging.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u201cIn 2008, two legal scholars wrote about Justice Thomas in the Wall Street Journal.\u00a0 They quoted him describing his basic yet profound judicial philosophy this way.\u00a0 It\u2019s not my constitution to play around with, he said. \u201cI just think that we should interpret the Constitution as it\u2019s drafted, not as we would have drafted it.\u201d A properly active judiciary will interpret the Constitution as it is already drafted, and a properly restrained judiciary will refuse to interpret the Constitution the way judges would have drafted it.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u00a0On Justice Thomas\u2019s confirmation and what it represented\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u201cThis is the kind of judge that we knew Clarence Thomas would be: a judge who knows both the purpose and the limits of the power the Constitution gives him.\u00a0 This is also the reason that many fought so hard against his appointment and continue to criticize his service.\u00a0 The debate over Justice Thomas\u2019 Supreme Court nomination was a debate over what kind of judge should be appointed in America.\u00a0 His opponents and critics want judges who will interpret the Constitution as the judges would have drafted it.\u00a0 In other words, they want a judiciary that is inconsistent with liberty, a judiciary that will control the law rather than be controlled by it.\u00a0 They are concerned more about power than about liberty.\u201d\r\nThe full speech, as prepared for delivery.\r\nMr. President, I rise today to celebrate an event that both represents and helps preserve what is best about this great country.\u00a0 Twenty-five years ago next month, the Senate confirmed, and President George H.W. Bush appointed, Clarence Thomas to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.\r\n\u00a0To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy, I would like to note both what this country has done for Justice Thomas and what Justice Thomas is doing for this country.\r\n\u00a0President Bush made the announcement of then-Judge Thomas\u2019 Supreme Court nomination on July 1, 1991, at the Bush home in Maine.\u00a0 In his brief remarks, Judge Thomas said that \u201conly in America could this have been possible.\u201d\u00a0 He was right.\u00a0 It would be difficult to find a more powerful story about how far someone can go in this country.\r\n\u00a0Clarence Thomas was born on June 23, 1948, in a small wood frame house in the rural town of Pinpoint, Georgia.\u00a0 Six people lived in that house, which had no indoor plumbing.\u00a0 Life in the world of Clarence\u2019s youth was fully segregated.\u00a0 In 1955, the year after the Supreme Court ruled segregated education unconstitutional, he and his brother moved to live with their maternal grandparents, Myers and Christine Anderson.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0Myers Anderson lacked the outward material signs of success that many prize so highly today.\u00a0 He grew up poor, without a father, and had only a third grade education.\u00a0 Yet it was what he had, rather than what he lacked, that would make him the most profound influence on his grandson Clarence.\u00a0 Mr. Anderson\u2019s strength of character, his principles and values, and his example shaped the man whose memoir would later be titled My Grandfather\u2019s Son.\r\n\u00a0Clarence\u2019s grandparents were honest, hardworking, and deeply religious people.\u00a0 They taught decency and respect for others, insisting that Clarence never refuse to do an errand for a neighbor.\u00a0 Mr. Anderson wanted his grandson to be self-sufficient, able to stand on his own two feet even in a hostile world where the odds seemed heavily stacked against him.\r\n\u00a0The other powerful influence for young Clarence were the nuns who taught him at St. Benedict\u2019s Grammar School.\u00a0 There, and at St. Benedict\u2019s Catholic Church, Clarence learned that all people are inherently equal, no matter what the law or society might say at a particular time.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0Clarence graduated from high school in 1967, the only black student in his class, and was the first person in his family to attend college.\u00a0 After graduating from Yale Law School, Clarence went to work for Missouri Attorney General John Danforth, arguing his first case before the Missouri Supreme Court just three days after being sworn in as a member of the Missouri bar.\u00a0 He came to Washington in 1979 to join then-Senator Danforth as a legislative assistant.\r\n\u00a0Clarence Thomas was confirmed by the Senate for the first of five times in 1981 as Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights.\u00a0 He would become the longest-serving Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 1982, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 1990, and a Supreme Court Justice in 1991, at the age of 43.\u00a0 America gave him opportunities that do not exist anywhere else in the world.\r\n\u00a0Since this anniversary is about Justice Thomas\u2019 service on the Supreme Court, let me turn from what America has done for him to what he is doing for America.\u00a0 I have known Clarence for 35 years, and chaired or served on the committees that oversaw each of his appointments.\u00a0 His impact on our nation comes from his own strength of character fueling his deep conviction about the principles of liberty.\r\n\u00a0I have already touched on some of the building blocks of Clarence\u2019s character, including his grandfather\u2019s example of standing firm on his beliefs.\u00a0 In one interview, Clarence said that his professional career is a vindication of the way he was raised.\u00a0 He described that upbringing this way in a 1986 article: \u201cBut my training by the nuns and my grandparents paid off.\u00a0 I decided then\u2026that it was better to be respected than liked.\u201d\r\n\u00a0At the time of Clarence\u2019s Supreme Court nomination, reporters noted that he defied categorization and refuses to uncritically accept orthodoxy of any stripe.\u00a0 Even liberal columnists acknowledged the nominee\u2019s intellectual independence.\u00a0 This strength of character has not changed and makes it possible for Justice Thomas to advance his deep conviction about the principles of liberty.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0The first principle is the inherent equality of every human being.\u00a0 As the Declaration of Independence states, government exists to secure the unalienable rights of individuals.\u00a0 Justice Thomas has called the Constitution a logical extension of the Declaration\u2019s principles.\r\n\u00a0The second principle of liberty that defines Justice Thomas\u2019 service is the necessity of limits on government, including judges.\u00a0 In 1988, while chairman of the EEOC, he made an important presentation at the Federalist Society\u2019s annual symposium.\u00a0 The related principles of equality and God-given unalienable rights, he said, are \u201cthe best defense of limited government, of the separation of powers, and of the judicial restraint that flows from the commitment to limited government.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u00a0Justice Thomas has said many times that he resists a single label or category for his judicial philosophy, or his understanding of the power and role of judges in our system of government.\u00a0 In that 1988 speech, however, he said that liberty and limited government are the foundation for what he called \u201ca judiciary active in defending the Constitution, but judicious in its restraint and moderation.\u201d\u00a0 This judiciary, he explained, \u201cis the only alternative to the willfulness of both run-amok majorities and run-amok judges.\u201d\r\n\u00a0To put it simply, Justice Thomas draws a direct connection between equality and God-given unalienable rights, limited government, and liberty itself.\u00a0 This means that each branch of government, including the judiciary, should be active but only within its proper bounds.\u00a0 A judiciary consistent with liberty will be active in properly interpreting and applying the Constitution and will be restrained in declining to exercise power to manipulate or change the law.\r\n\u00a0In 1990, after being appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Clarence had lunch with a friend and reflected on his new judicial role.\u00a0 Every time I put on the robe, he said, I have to remember that I am only a judge.\u00a0 The only reason that sounds unusual today is that we live in an era of run-amok judges.\u00a0 That sounds unusual today, but then we live in an age of run-amok judges engaging in what the late Justice Antonin Scalia called power-judging.\r\n\u00a0Justice Thomas\u2019 statement would not, however, have sounded strange to America\u2019s founders.\u00a0 Alexander Hamilton, after all, wrote that because the judiciary may exercise judgment, but may not exercise will, it is the weakest and least dangerous branch.\r\n\u00a0In 2008, two legal scholars wrote about Justice Thomas in the Wall Street Journal.\u00a0 They quoted him describing his basic yet profound judicial philosophy this way.\u00a0 It\u2019s not my constitution to play around with, he said. \u201cI just think that we should interpret the Constitution as it\u2019s drafted, not as we would have drafted it.\u201d A properly active judiciary will interpret the Constitution as it is already drafted, and a properly restrained judiciary will refuse to interpret the Constitution the way judges would have drafted it.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0That is what judges are supposed to do in our system of government.\u00a0 They are supposed to interpret the Constitution \u2013 and statutes too, for that matter \u2013 as it was drafted.\u00a0 Judges must take the law as they find it and apply it impartially to decide cases.\u00a0 That is their job, their part of the system of government that supports liberty.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0This is the kind of judge that we knew Clarence Thomas would be: a judge who knows both the purpose and the limits of the power the Constitution gives him.\u00a0 This is also the reason that many fought so hard against his appointment and continue to criticize his service.\u00a0 The debate over Justice Thomas\u2019 Supreme Court nomination was a debate over what kind of judge should be appointed in America.\u00a0 His opponents and critics want judges who will interpret the Constitution as the judges would have drafted it.\u00a0 In other words, they want a judiciary that is inconsistent with liberty, a judiciary that will control the law rather than be controlled by it.\u00a0 They are concerned more about power than about liberty.\r\n\u00a0Thankfully, Justice Thomas is the kind of judge that our liberty requires, and defending liberty is what he is doing for America and for each one of us.\u00a0 We have all passed by the National Archives building, which sits on Constitution Avenue just blocks from here.\u00a0 One of the statues in front bears the inscription eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.\u00a0 Justice Thomas is paying that price of vigilance.\r\n\u00a0Mr. President, a judge\u2019s clerks, in a unique and special way, become a family.\u00a0 Justice Thomas\u2019 clerks have become partners at America\u2019s best law firms and professors at her finest law schools, carrying with them the principles and lessons he taught about how to protect liberty.\u00a0 As I did five years ago when celebrating Justice Thomas\u2019 20th anniversary, I asked some of his former clerks to send letters about the Justice and I ask consent that they be included in the record following my remarks.\r\n\u00a0The principles of liberty established by America\u2019s founders are the same principles to which Clarence Thomas is deeply committed.\u00a0 But it is when those principles are fueled by personal character, integrity, and brilliance that they become a powerful force that defines a nation and helps chart its future.\r\n\u00a0On July 1, 1991, when President Bush announced that he was nominating Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court, Clarence said that his grandparents, his mother, and the nuns who taught him \u201cwere adamant that I grow up and make something of myself.\u201d\u00a0 To my friend Clarence, I have to say that not only did you exceed all of those expectations, but your service, character, and example are helping to make something good out of the rest of us.\r\n\u00a0Also on a more personal note, the unexpected death of Justice Scalia has been a profound loss in many ways, including for his friend and colleague Clarence Thomas.\u00a0 On several different levels \u2013 personally, philosophically, even spiritually \u2013 they were close, fellow travelers if you will.\u00a0 Justice Scalia\u2019s death is a great personal loss but also created a void that I am confident Justice Thomas is already filling in continuing to stand for the principles they shared.\r\n\u00a0A few months ago Justice Thomas was the commencement speaker at Hillsdale College in Michigan.\u00a0 He cautioned that today there is more emphasis on our rights and what we are owed than on our obligations and what we can give.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0And he asked this question: \u201cIf we are not making deposits to replenish our liberties, then who is?\u201d\u00a0 By his character and convictions, Clarence Thomas continues to make those deposits and maintain the vigilance necessary to replenish and protect our liberty.\u00a0 America gave him much and he is returning even more.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=31BFE8CD-EBC0-4ECA-9A76-A751570B73E6", "Lee Responds to Trade Representative Statement on Brexit", "2016-09-22", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Thursday in response to comments made by Trade Representative Mike Froman about United States trade priorities.\u201cWhen the British people chose sovereignty this June by voting to leave the European Union, many feared President Obama could greatly damage both our nations by following through on his threat to send the United Kingdom 'to the back of the queue' when it came to negotiating trade deals,\u201d Sen. Lee said. \u201cNow, President Obama\u2019s Trade Representative has told Bloomberg that threat is 'in reality the case.\u2019\" \u201cThis is simply unacceptable. The United States\u2019 relationship with the United Kingdom is more important than the personal disappointment of an outgoing president. That is why I introduced the United Kingdom Trade Continuity Act with Sen. Tom Cotton this June. Our bill would continue all existing commercial agreements with the United Kingdom as if the U.K. were still part of the European Union. It also calls on the President to initiate negotiations for new bilateral agreements with the United Kingdom 30 days after the bill is enacted. Congress should act quickly to pass the United Kingdom Trade Continuity Act before the year is out.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/utah-delegation-gov-herbert-release-joint-statement-in-opposition-of", "Utah Delegation, Gov. Herbert, Release Joint Statement in Opposition of Monument Designation in Utah", "2016-09-21", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The entire Utah congressional delegation, including Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Mike Lee (R-UT), Reps. Rob Bishop (R-UT), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), and Mia Love (R-UT), as well as Gov. Gary Herbert issued the following joint statement today in opposition of a monument designation in Utah:  \u00a0  \u201cWe, the Congressional Delegation of the Great State of Utah, stand in solidarity with local Native Americans, the people of San Juan County and elected officials at the local, county and state levels of Utah government in opposition to the unilateral designation of the proposed Bears Ears national monument. The protection of our nation\u2019s historic, cultural and natural resources is among the noblest of pursuits and we agree that this unique part of our state needs to be preserved. However, turning our backs on the democratic process to do so undermines who we are as Americans. We support a solution where local voices are not only heard, but integrated into public land management.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=04EC48AB-1A28-49BC-9038-1204C513A885", "Hatch Presses Administration for Answers on Immigration Failures", "2016-09-21", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, joined fellow members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to send a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Attorney General Loretta Lynch following a Department of Homeland Security Inspector General\u2019s report that revealed that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granted citizenship to at least 858 individuals who were marked for deportation.\r\n\u00a0The senators wrote, \u201cCitizenship is a privilege that cannot be obtained through fraud, accident, or oversight. Yet, according to this IG report, that is precisely what has happened.\"\r\n\u00a0\u201cAccording to the report, USCIS granted citizenship despite not having digital fingerprint records to aid with the necessary identity verification,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cThus, these applicants, many of whom lied on their applications, may not have been eligible for citizenship.\u00a0 This is particularly troubling given these new citizens\u2019 ability to obtain security clearances, serve in law enforcement, sponsor other aliens\u2019 entry into the United States, and hold positions of public trust.\u00a0 In fact, the report found that one citizen is now a law enforcement official and at least three obtained licenses to conduct security sensitive work.\u201d\r\n\u00a0Last January, Hatch called for increased vigilance in enforcing our nation\u2019s immigration laws. Hatch said, \u201cAs recent terrorist attacks in San Bernardino and elsewhere have made clear, the Islamic State and its followers aim to infiltrate our country and kill innocent Americans. In confronting the refugee crisis in the Middle East, we need to ensure that in welcoming refugees our nation isn\u2019t taken advantage of by terrorists.\u201d\r\n\u00a0In their letter, the senators pressed for specific answers on what the administration will do to correct the error and avoid repeating the same mistake in the future.\r\nThe full letter, as prepared for transmission, is attached:\r\n[Letter PDF]", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=0A4BE9BD-4076-4AF9-964F-95E661491755", "As United Nations Focuses on Superbugs, Hatch Highlights PATH Act", "2016-09-21", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014As the 193 member countries of the United Nations prepare to\u00a0sign and accept a draft declaration to globally fight superbugs, Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the longest-serving member and former chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee,\u00a0highlighted the importance of the PATH Act\u2014a bipartisan proposal that would create a new drug approval pathway to streamline access, bolster innovation, and encourage development of potentially life-saving antibiotic drugs for patients. \u00a0\r\n\u00a0The UN resolution calls on countries to commit to a global plan that would prevent the spread of microbes resistant to antimicrobial drugs. It also encourages governments to monitor the spread of these bacteria and explore new models to support innovation.\r\n\u00a0\u201cToday, the United Nations has recognized that drug-resistant bacteria poses a critical threat to global health,\u201d Hatch said. \u201cSixty-three percent of infectious disease doctors have treated patients with infections that did not respond to any antibiotics. Two million Americans acquire serious infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria each year, and 23,000 people die annually from these infections. A dearth of antibiotic drugs in development compounds this crisis. Consider that almost three decades have passed without the discovery of new types of antibiotics. We need the PATH Act to help develop new antibiotics to treat the most serious of superbugs.\u201d\r\n\u00a0Background\r\n\u00a0\u201cSuperbugs\u201d\u2014or bacteria that are substantially resistant or unresponsive to any existing and available antibiotic\u2014are an increasingly urgent public health threat, both at home and abroad. While antibiotic-resistant\u00a0bacteria kills thousands of Americans each year, less than ten new antibiotics have made it to market since 2000. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria is also a significant concern to our troops, affecting more than a third of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.\r\n\u00a0In an effort to address some of the significant regulatory obstacles hindering antibiotic development and patient access to life-saving treatments, the Promise for Antibiotics and Therapeutics for Health (PATH) Act would permit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve an antibacterial drug for a\u00a0limited patient population upon determining that the drug treats a serious or life-threatening condition and addresses an unmet need. In addition, the bill includes several provisions to guide appropriate use of antibiotics approved under this pathway, such as labeling and promotional material requirements. \u00a0\r\n\u00a0Letters of Support:\r\n1\u00a0\u00a0 Pew Charitable Trust [LINK]\r\n2\u00a0\u00a0 Infectious Diseases Society of America [LINK]\r\n3\u00a0\u00a0 National Military and Veterans Alliance [LINK]\r\n4\u00a0\u00a0 The Flag and General Officers\u2019 Network [LINK]\r\n5\u00a0\u00a0 The following healthcare providers, hospitals, pharmacists, clinical laboratory scientists and medical microbiologists, public health experts, patients and advocates. [LINK]\r\n \r\n\u00a0Alliance for Aging Research\r\nAlliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics\r\nAmerican Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology\r\nAmerican Academy of Pediatrics\r\nAmerican Association of Bovine Practitioners\r\nAmerican Gastroenterological Association\r\nAmerican Public Health Association\r\nAmerican Society for Microbiology\r\nAmerican Society of Transplant Surgeons\r\nAmerican Thoracic Society\r\nAssociation for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology Association of State and Territorial Health Officials\r\n\u00a0Cempra, Inc.\r\nCenter for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention\r\nDignity Health\r\nHIV Medicine Association\r\nImmune Deficiency Foundation\r\nInfectious Diseases Society of America\r\nMaking-A-Difference in Infectious Diseases\r\nMarch of Dimes\r\nNational Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners\r\n\u00a0ONCORD, Inc.\r\nPediatric Infectious Diseases Society\r\nResearch!America\r\nSociety for Healthcare Epidemiology of America\r\nSociety of Critical Care Medicine\r\nSociety of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists\r\nThe Pew Charitable Trusts\r\nTheravance Biopharma\r\nTrust for America's Health\r\nUPMC Center for Health Security", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=8F2D4C12-41A6-45DB-8D67-D0781FAABD97", "Release: Hatch Introduces Bill to Streamline Visa Processing for Missionaries", "2016-09-21", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, R-UT, the longest-serving member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced a bill today to streamline religious worker visa processing for missionaries in established international missionary programs.\r\n\u00a0Because of regulations implemented by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in 2008, religious organizations must receive approval of a nonimmigrant visa petition before a missionary obtains a visa. Due to the high volume of petitions filed, it can take six to nine months for USCIS to process individual petitions for volunteer missionaries. Add in time for petition preparation and consular visa processing, and missionaries face long delays in starting their service\u2014typically nine to eleven months.\r\n\u00a0The new bill would reduce visa processing times by allowing eligible religious organizations to participate in a streamlined blanket petition procedure. Missionaries covered by the blanket petition could get their visas in just a few weeks.\r\n\u00a0\u201cMissionary service is the lifeblood for many churches across the nation, yet long and unpredictable visa delays are taking a toll on those who have answered the call to serve,\u201d\u00a0Senator Hatch said. \u201cMy bill will shorten the visa processing time for longstanding and reputable religious organizations while preserving existing anti-fraud and security protections. It\u2019s a win-win for everyone involved: USCIS can dedicate its limited resources to other pressing matters while missionaries in established programs can travel to their missions without lengthy delays.\u201d\r\n\u00a0The legislation introduced Wednesday would allow religious organizations with longstanding missionary programs to participate in a streamlined blanket petition procedure if:\r\n \r\nThe locations of their missionary service have passed a fraud prevention and detection site inspection.\r\nThe petitioning organization has an established program for temporary, uncompensated missionary work in the United States that is part of a broader international program of missionary work.\r\nParticipation in missionary work is an established element of religious development in the religious denomination, and the organization provides formal training for its missionaries incidental to their service.\r\nThe petitioning organization has received USCIS approval of at least 1,000 stand-alone R-1 petitions.\r\nThe petitioning organization has in place a financial support system that reasonably assures that its missionaries will not become public charges during their missionary service.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=973CBBF1-020F-4B48-B116-24A8ADDF76D7", "Education Leaders Praise Hatchs Efforts toSupportInnovative Teaching", "2016-09-21", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Last week Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, member and former chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement after introducing the Innovation for Tomorrow\u2019s Workforce Act of 2016:\r\n\u00a0\u201cLast year, we passed a groundbreaking proposal to fix some of the shortcomings of No Child Left Behind. The CTE Innovation Act is\u00a0a follow-up to last year\u2019s education overhaul.\u00a0This new bill addresses the needs of Utah\u2019s transformative education system by providing resources to better pathways from the classroom to the workplace. We need to find more ways to expand and improve STEM education in our schools to prepare students to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy. My bill will help us do exactly that. It will build on Utah\u2019s accomplishments by allowing funds\u00a0to be used for Pay for Success initiatives and by making high-quality, open education resources more accessible.\u201d\r\n\u00a0Education leaders praised Hatch\u2019s efforts:\r\n\u00a0Deneece G. Huftalin, President, Salt Lake Community College\r\n\u00a0We applaud Senator Hatch for his efforts through this legislation to promote and reward innovative initiatives that strengthen career and technical education in Utah. The innovation fund he is advocating will support the collaborative programs underway at Salt Lake Community College, such as the Utah Aerospace Pathways and the Utah Diesel Technician Pathways.\u00a0The fund will encourage the creation of additional new programs that help prepare our workers for the quality technical jobs that are in high demand in Utah and across the country.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0Julie Snowball, Director, Career and Technical Education, Weber State University\r\n\u00a0The Perkins Innovation Fund will provide strategic opportunities for CTE educators to collaborate with students and employers in reaching beyond the boundaries of standard CTE programs in order to transform educational pathways. The projects supported by this fund will provide limitless win-win possibilities for CTE students as they prepare to enter the workforce.\r\n\u00a0Blair K. Carruth, Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs, Utah System of Higher Education\r\n\u00a0We welcome the additional investment in CTE programs through the proposed innovation grants.\u00a0 These grants would enable higher educational institutions and other entities to develop and implement new and creative approaches to instructional design and delivery methods.\u00a0 By so doing institutions would be able to reach an expanded market, resulting in greater efficiencies and increased positive impact on workforce talent in critical occupational areas.\r\n\u00a0The State Education Technology Directors Association (SETDA)\r\n\u00a0SETDA applauds Senator Hatch and Senator Bennet for championing innovation in Career and Technical Education. CTE innovation depends on ensuring access to cutting edge instructional supports and SETDA appreciates the bill\u2019s focus on encouraging effective technology use and developing and adopting open educational resources.\r\n\u00a0The Innovation for Tomorrow\u2019s Workforce Act of 2016 strives for equity in Career and Technical Education by prioritizing grant awards to schools that serve students from low-income families,\u201d noted Tracy Weeks, SETDA Executive Director. \u201cIncreased numbers of students need access to high quality, high impact CTE programs to prepare for success after high school graduation.\r\n\u00a0The National Association of State Boards of Education\r\n\u00a0NASBE commends Senator Hatch and Senator Bennet for fighting to advance CTE education. Innovative, high quality career and technical education will prepare more students for later economic success. It also offers important academic benefits and increases college access and completion. NASBE strongly supports the bill\u2019s focus on better aligning programs with workforce needs, integrating academic and CTE content, and supporting greater use of open educational resources. We hope Congress approves the measure this year, along with broader CTE reauthorization legislation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4710D24C-02CE-4AAD-909A-665358F2B2DD", "Utah Delegation, Gov. Herbert, Release Joint Statement in Opposition of Monument Designation in Utah", "2016-09-21", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Lee", "L000577", "www.lee.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The entire Utah congressional delegation, including Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Mike Lee (R-UT), Reps. Rob Bishop (R-UT), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), and Mia Love (R-UT), as well as Gov. Gary Herbert issued the following joint statement today in opposition of a monument designation in Utah:\u00a0\u201cWe, the Congressional Delegation of the Great State of Utah, stand in solidarity with local Native Americans, the people of San Juan County and elected officials at the local, county and state levels of Utah government in opposition to the unilateral designation of the proposed Bears Ears national monument. The protection of our nation\u2019s historic, cultural and natural resources is among the noblest of pursuits and we agree that this unique part of our state needs to be preserved. However, turning our backs on the democratic process to do so undermines who we are as Americans. We support a solution where local voices are not only heard, but integrated into public land management.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=04D6DDC6-71D2-4E13-9B95-A96A3B931D58", "Release: Hatch Announces Contest to win VIP Tickets to Tim Cook Q&A", "2016-09-20", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the Chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force, announced a contest to give Utahns the opportunity to win VIP tickets to a special question and answer session with Apple CEO Tim Cook. On September 30, Cook will be touring Utah\u2019s Silicon Slopes at Senator Hatch\u2019s invitation. Following the question and answer session, Cook will address members of Utah\u2019s growing tech community at Salt Lake\u2019s Grand America Hotel.\r\nThe drawing is open to all, and contestants are invited to enter through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://stewart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-stewart-s-statement-on-attacks-in-new-york-new-jersey-and-minnesota", "Rep. Stewarts Statement on Attacks in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota", "2016-09-19", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Chris Stewart", "S001192", "stewart.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), a member of the House Intelligence Committee and former military officer, released the following statement regarding the attacks in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota, which took place over the weekend:\n\u201cAs a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am aggressively investigating the bombings in New York and New Jersey, and the knife attack in Minnesota. Whether the attacks were orchestrated by sophisticated terror cells or lone wolf terrorists, there is still much to learn, and we will not rest until we get answers. What we do know is that we need to get more serious about countering and destroying terror threats, both domestically and abroad.\u201d\n\u201cMy thanks to the law enforcement officials in New York and New Jersey for their quick work to track down the suspect in this weekend\u2019s terrorist attacks, as well as to the off-duty police officer in St. Cloud, Minnesota who killed a knife-wielding terrorist on Sunday.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://love.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=591", "Rep. Love Hailed for Support of Small Business", "2016-09-16", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mia Love", "L000584", "love.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Mia Love received the \u201cGuardian of Small Business\u201d award from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) for her strong voting record in the 114th Congress on issues critical to independent businesses.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cSmall and independent businesses are the lifeblood of our robust Utah economy,\u201d Rep. Love said.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s important to me to support policies that promote successful businesses, encourage hiring, and foster further growth.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI know many small business owners personally, so these votes are very personal to me,\u201d Love added.\u00a0 \r\n\r\n\t\u201cMany elected officials claim that they are champions of small business, but our Guardian Award shows our members and other small business owners who is really fighting for them,\u201d said NFIB President and CEO Juanita Duggan.\u00a0 \u201cBased on her voting record, Rep. Love is one of the most reliable advocates for small business in Washington.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThe Guardian of Small Business is NFIB\u2019s most prestigious award.\u00a0 It is reserved for lawmakers who vote consistently with NFIB on the key issues identified by small business owners.\u00a0 NFIB tracks the votes of every member of Congress. House members and Senators who vote with NFIB members at least 70 percent of the time are eligible for the Guardian Award.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tLove received a 100 voting record during the 114th Congress.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cNFIB is honored to present Rep. Love with this award,\u201d Duggan said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=FF6B201C-ABE4-404E-98A3-0166D73BB1A7", "Hatch on Josh Holt News: Disappointed but not Discouraged", "2016-09-16", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the President Pro Tempore of the United State Senate, gave an update on Josh Holt\u2019s situation, following disappointing news that the Venezuelan judge in his case did not appear at his hearing.\r\n\u00a0Hatch provided an update of his efforts behind the scenes, including communicating with both the offices of Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden, both of whom are now aware of the situation and are actively working to assist Senator Hatch\u2019s efforts. (Link to video below)\r\n[YOUTUBE VIDEO LINK]", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=1FA399CE-38E9-45F1-8D88-A511AAC21CE0", "Hatch Bill Holding EPA Accountable for Gold King Mine Spill Passes in the Senate", "2016-09-15", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hatch Bill Holding EPA Accountable for Gold King Mine Spill Passes in the Senate\r\n\u00a0\r\nWashington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, issued the following statement after lawmakers voted in favor of his proposal to hold the EPA accountable for the August 2015 Gold King Mine spill:\r\n\u00a0\u201cLast year, the EPA inadvertently spilled millions of gallons of waste into the Animas River in Colorado, exposing the local environment to toxic heavy metals. This spill had a significant adverse impact on many downstream communities and businesses throughout multiple Western states\u2014including Utah. My proposal holds the EPA accountable by instructing the agency to reimburse the states and tribes that were negatively affected by this disaster. I am pleased that the Senate approved this legislation, and I strongly urge the House to follow suit. Passing this bill is a critical first step in helping our communities heal and rebuild.\u201d \u00a0\r\n\u00a0Senator Hatch first proposed the Gold King Accountability and Compensation for Taxpayers Act in 2015.\u00a0\u00a0Language reimbursing impacted local and state governments from their proposal\u00a0was included today as an amendment to S. 2848, the Water Resources Development Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ContentRecord_id=5C320ADA-7293-4B29-9BA7-32E218328A0A", "Hatch and Bennet work to Support Utah Education Priorities with Funding for Innovative Education", "2016-09-15", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, member and former chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Senator Michael\u00a0Bennet, D-Colo., issued the following statement after introducing the Innovation for Tomorrow\u2019s Workforce Act of 2016:\r\n\u201cLast year we enacted a valuable education overhaul that is beginning to address shortcomings of No Child Left Behind,\u00a0especially\u00a0the needs of Utah\u2019s transformative education system,\u201d Hatch said.\u00a0\u201cThis new legislation will supplement those efforts by providing resources to encourage and support better pathways from the classroom to the workplace. Utah companies are eager to improve STEM education in our schools to prepare students to work in our ever-changing workforce and global economy. This bill is the product of discussions with many Utah stakeholders to ensure that we build on Utah\u2019s successes by allowing funds to be used for Pay for Success initiatives and to bolster students\u2019 success by making free, high-quality\u00a0Open Education Resources more accessible.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHigh Quality career and technical education programs can provide important access to the knowledge and skills needed for job and career success for students across Colorado,\u201d Bennet said. \u201cAt a time when a great education has never been more important, we must create opportunities for those on the ground to innovate and create new approaches to providing key workforce skills. In addition to creating a fund for innovation, this bill will help encourage states and communities to engage in pay for success initiatives. It also promotes vital work-based learning opportunities and apprenticeships, which can be effective pathways to successful careers and well-paying jobs.\u201d\r\n\u00a0Background\r\nThe Innovation for Tomorrow\u2019s Workforce Act of 2016 would amend current law to create a grant program to identify and support innovative activities to improve CTE and to align workforce skills with labor market needs. Priority in awarding grants would be given to entities that predominantly serve students in low-income families, and entities receiving funds must provide for an independent evaluation of the activities carried out using the grant.\u00a0The innovation fund may be used flexibly to strengthen ongoing state efforts in career and technical areas, including: improving teacher effectiveness, integrating STEM and computer science into CTE, increasing work-based learning opportunities, and supporting employment outcomes for students.\r\nThis grant is similar to The Education Innovation and Research, which was included in the Every Student Succeeds Act thanks to Senator Hatch\u2019s efforts. The House passed a similar version of this fund on the floor, but the Senators has added in pay for success (PFS) and open education resource (OER) programs as allowable local and state uses of CTE funds to support Utah priorities. To support efforts to further develop apprenticeship opportunities, the Senators added language in the local use section to provide or support work-based learning opportunities as a permissible use of funds.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 290, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "UT", "p2": "2016"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=UT&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 290, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=UT&year=2016&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=UT&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 290, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=UT&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=UT&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "UT", "label": "UT", "count": 290, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=UT&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "2016", "label": "2016", "count": 290, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=UT", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2016-09-15,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ehatch~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpublic~2Findex~2Ecfm~2Freleases~3FContentRecord_id~3D5C320ADA-7293-4B29-9BA7-32E218328A0A", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=UT&year=2016&_next=2016-09-15%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ehatch~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpublic~2Findex~2Ecfm~2Freleases~3FContentRecord_id~3D5C320ADA-7293-4B29-9BA7-32E218328A0A&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 99.91851402446628, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}