Kevin Roberts: “I want to join my colleagues who, over the past few weeks, have come to the floor to thank Senator Orrin Hatch--the…”

“I want to join my colleagues who, over the past few weeks, have come to the floor to thank Senator Orrin Hatch--the great Senator Orrin Hatch--for his service to this institution. Senator Sullivan just informed me that the body here--the Senate--has, by unanimous consent, passed a bill to name a courthouse in Utah after Orrin Hatch. He was sitting as the President pro tempore, and the surprised look on his face was a treasure for everybody who saw it. Orrin Hatch has consistently maintained a demeanor that represented the Senate well--and that is an understatement--over the course of his illustrious and record-setting 42-year career. As a matter of fact, I think the definition of ``gentleman'' in the new edition of Webster's dictionary simply lists two words: ``Orrin Hatch.'' Whether he agreed or disagreed with any policy positions or with any individual Senator, he always, always treated you with the greatest of respect. Perhaps that is part of the reason that Senator Hatch will go down as one of the most effective legislators in the history of the Senate. All you have to do is go in his office and see all of the awards, the recordings that illustrate his fantastic music career as a songwriter, and all of the bills. I think it is safe to say that no other living Senator has had more bills that he has sponsored and that have been enacted into law than Orrin Hatch. We come here to make a difference.…”