This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
With 2016 drawing to a close, now is an ideal time to take stock of the progress our nation has made under a Republican-controlled Congress. In particular, Utah deserves to know what their elected representatives have achieved on their behalf.
When Republicans took control of the Senate after the last mid-term election, we pledged to fix a broken institution. Two years later, the facts are clear: The Senate is back to work for the American people — and we are delivering real results for Utah.
Getting the Senate back to work wasn't an easy task. Under the previous Democratic majority, the upper chamber was crippled by gridlock, partisanship and cynical leadership that put winning cheap political points over working together for the good of the country. In this climate of dysfunction, Republicans promised change. From the outset, we pledged to reinvigorate the Senate by passing meaningful legislation that would improve the lives of all Americans. Today, the results speak for themselves. From enacting key health reforms and reducing federal control over our schools, to strengthening Hill Air Force Base and fixing our highways — this Congress has racked up a wide range of victories for our state and the nation as a whole.
In terms of bills passed, I had a record-setting two years. I even led my Senate colleagues by passing 47 legislative proposals — more than twice as many as the average senator. Most importantly, I was able to lead the charge to enact a number of landmark reforms that will directly benefit Utah's families. In the 114th Congress, I spearheaded legislation that:
• Repeals Obamacare, laying the groundwork for a patient-centered alternative in the next Congress;
• Provides permanent tax relief for Utah's families and small businesses.
• Protects valuable trade secrets so Utah companies can remain competitive in a global economy;
• Reforms Medicare and makes a meaningful down payment on long-term entitlement reform;
• Slashes bureaucratic red tape to facilitate cutting-edge new medical therapies that could save thousands of lives;
• Overhauls a broken education system, returning decision-making power to the states, specifically parents, teachers and local school leaders;
• Fixes our nation's highways and bolsters our transportation infrastructure, saving Utah's families up to $400 annually without raising taxes;
• Expands access to medical services for rural Utahns, ensuring they can find the high-quality care they need, when and where they need it;
• Combats the growing opioid epidemic, providing much-needed resources to address a public health crisis that has devastated hundreds of Utah families;
• Supports research to find cures for cancer and Alzheimer's, as well as the thousands of rare diseases that affect millions of Utahns.
These strong, bipartisan achievements bear testament to the fact that the Senate is back to work for the American people. Our success in the 114th Congress not only demonstrates Republicans' ability to govern but should also give Utahns hope for the future. Just think: If conservative legislators were able to accomplish this much in a divided government with a president who openly defied the law and dedicated himself to working around Congress, imagine what we can achieve in a unified government with a president who is eager to work with us.
Indeed, in the years ahead, Congress will have an unprecedented opportunity to implement a principled policy agenda that champions Utah values and strengthens the middle class. As chairman of the Finance Committee, I am eager to take the lead role in repealing and replacing Obamacare, reforming our nation's antiquated tax code and negotiating trade deals that will benefit all Americans. And as the longest-serving member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I look forward to playing an integral role in filling the Supreme Court with qualified Justices who uphold the Constitution and respect the proper role of the judiciary in our system of government.
As we look ahead to a new Congress and a new presidency, know that I will continue fighting on behalf of Utah's families to pass commonsense reforms that will benefit both our state and our nation.
Sen. Orrin Hatch has served as a U.S. Senator for Utah since 1977.