{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=781F1430-9F0A-40D6-B81F-7122FD0B281B", "Sen. Orrin Hatch: The special relationship between the UK and America makes the world a safer place", "2017-11-24", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Orrin Hatch", "H000338", "www.hatch.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Senator Orrin G. Hatch\r\n\"Your problems will be our problems, and when you look for friends, we shall be there.\" I thought about this promise made by Margaret Thatcher to Ronald Reagan during my official visit to London this week. The United States and the United Kingdom share a powerful alliance that is unique among nations. In my meetings with Prime Minister May, senior leaders of government, and English clergy, we discussed the need to strengthen this alliance to meet the challenges of an increasingly chaotic world.\r\nIt is this friendship, this \u201cspecial relationship,\u201d that was the center of my conversation with Prime Minister Theresa May. Our special relationship with the United Kingdom is built on a foundation of shared values. The Prime Minister outlined these values best when she introduced herself to President Trump earlier this year as \u201ca fellow Conservative who believes in the same principles that underpin the agenda of your Party\u2026. The value of liberty. The dignity of work. The principles of nationhood, family, economic prudence, patriotism\u2014and putting power in the hands of the people.\u201d\r\nPrime Minister May and I agreed that these very principles\u2014of working hard to empower the people and to leave the world a better place\u2014should guide our efforts in the fight against terrorism.\u00a0 Addressing the threat of homegrown radicalization by jihadist groups requires an approach that protects our citizens\u2019 safety just as it does their liberties. That\u2019s why MI5 Director General Andrew Parker and I agreed on the importance of creating a clear legal framework to facilitate the sharing of electronic data between our two countries.\u00a0\r\nIn coordination with UK officials, I am finalizing data-sharing legislation that would protect the rights of citizens while also giving law enforcement the tools they need to keep us safe. It is this type of close collaboration, driven by shared principles and shared objectives, that exemplifies the unique ability of our two countries to build a more secure and prosperous world.\r\nFor many years, the United Kingdom and the United States have worked closely to fight terrorist groups overseas, ISIS being foremost among such groups. Ultimately, victory over ISIS will come with the revival of human rights, democratic principles, and freedom in the Middle East. But this revival won\u2019t happen on its own; we must speed it along by taking President Reagan\u2019s approach: to use \u201ca humanitarian velvet glove backed by a steel fist of military force.\u201d This approach will help us win freedom for the people of Syria and Iraq. And make no mistake: these people desperately need our help.\r\nIn my conversation with the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt. Revd. Christopher Chessun,\u00a0I learned of the horrific violence perpetrated against Christians in Syria and the desecration of ancient heritage sites. Throughout his many travels to the region, Bishop Chessun has been a strong advocate on behalf of Syria\u2019s victimized communities. By partnering with UK government officials and ecclesiastical leaders, we can build alliances at all levels of society to protect the most vulnerable.\r\nThe experiences of marginalized communities such as Christians in Syria remind us that the struggle for human freedom is ongoing\u2014and the need to promote individual liberty is more urgent today than ever before.\u00a0\r\nThat\u2019s why I emphasized the importance of defending democracy in a special address I delivered to the students of Oxford University. The university invited me to speak in commemoration of President Reagan\u2019s historic address to the Oxford Union twenty-five years ago. In my remarks, I reminded the audience that from the same podium, President Reagan had announced the formation of the National Endowment for Democracy, or NED, an initiative I am proud to have championed in Congress. The NED\u2019s role is as important as ever in promoting peace, order, and security in troubled regions across the world. As President Reagan said, \u201cthe only cure for what ails democracy is more democracy.\u201d\r\nJust as in Reagan\u2019s time, our world is witness to evil ideologies that threaten the lives and liberty of innocent civilians. But the historic friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States\u2014and our commitment to shared values\u2013will ensure that the cause of freedom will prevail.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=781F1430-9F0A-40D6-B81F-7122FD0B281B"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5834160149097443, "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"}