Speeches
Remarks on Retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch
Dec 12, 2018
It is with mixed emotions that I rise today to honor my friend and senior Senator, the gentleman from Utah, Orrin Hatch.
This year marks the end of an astounding 42-year tenure serving the people of Utah in the Senate. In that time, Senator Hatch has made an indelible mark on our state and our nation.
People who follow Washington politics closely know what he has meant to this institution, his party, and the republic. But for those of us from Utah, Orrin Hatch is more than a name in the newspaper. He is the towering political figure not only of his generation, but also of the generations that have come along in his wake.
Civil war in Yemen and the importance of the separation of powers
Dec 12, 2018
Mr. President, the Senate is currently considering S.J. Res. 54. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation--lead cosponsor, along with my distinguished colleague from Vermont, Senator Sanders. He and I, along with Senator Murphy and a number of other Members of this body, have engaged in this bipartisan effort, in a concerted endeavor to make sure that the separation of powers among our three branches of government is respected.
Remarks on S.J. Res 54: The Yemen War Powers Act
Nov 28, 2018
Mr. President, I stood before this body in March of this year to protest our country’s unconstitutional intervention in Saudi Arabia’s bloody war in Yemen.
I was proud to stand with my colleagues Senator Sanders and Senator Murphy to file a discharge motion of our resolution, S.J. Res 54, that would remove U.S. armed forces from Yemen.
At that time, members of the Foreign Relations Committee requested additional time to study the issue and debate the resolution in committee. The chairman of the committee, my colleague Senator Corker, requested this with the commitment to “bring forth legislation to actually appropriately deal with many of the issues relative to Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and ourselves.” So the Senate voted to table the motion.
Floor Speech Honoring Jim Hansen
Nov 27, 2018
Mr. President, earlier this month Utah lost one of our finest: former Congressman Jim Hansen – a great leader, a great husband and father, and a great friend. And it is my privilege to honor his life today.
Federalism and Its Alternatives
Nov 15, 2018
As you know, Congress has just returned to Washington this week after the pre-election recess. And of course the talk of the town is the split results of the mid-term elections last week.
Everyone in the media, on Capitol Hill, and the administration is wondering what the new Democratic House of Representatives will mean for the future. Will there be compromise? Will there be gridlock? There is a lot of handwringing going on. So it warms my heart to be here today and see that there is at least one group of people who are really optimistic about the next two years… Washington defense lawyers.
