Former Utah Sen. Orrin G. Hatch died Saturday at the age of 88, his foundation announced.
Mr. Hatch, a Republican who served from 1977 until 2019 was the longest-serving senator in Utah history.
The Orrin G. Hatch Foundation said he was surrounded by family when he died Saturday evening.
“Born the son of a carpenter and plaster lather, he overcame the poverty of his youth to become a United States Senator. With the hardships of his upbringing always fresh in his mind, he made it his life’s mission to expand freedom and opportunity for others—and the results speak for themselves,” said Hatch Foundation Executive Director Matt Sandgren in a statement.
Mr. Hatch served as the chairman emeritus of his foundation, a civic engagement organization, after retiring from the Senate.
Throughout his 42-year years in the Senate, Mr. Hatch backed more than 750 laws that became law and served as Chairman of three committees including the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Finance Committee.
He served as president pro tempore of the Senate from 2015 to 2019.
Mr. Hatch, who was known for reaching across the aisle, also authored or coauthored key legislation including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
President Trump awarded Mr. Hatch the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018.
Lawmakers from both parties expressed sorrow over Mr. Hatch’s death.
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“Orrin Hatch was a giant of the Senate and a pillar in Utah,” Sen. Mike Lee, Utah Republican, said in a statement. “His example of dedicated, principled statesmanship and consistent collegiality is missed but will never be forgotten.”
“Sen. Hatch was kind to me and we worked together well. There were a lot of differences including party, height, age…you name it…but somehow we always looked for common ground,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Democrat. “Prayers for his family today.”
He is survived by his wife, Elaine, and their six children.
• Joseph Clark can be reached at jclark@washingtontimes.com.
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