WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement regarding Senator Orrin Hatch’s (R-UT) announcement that he will retire at the end of this Senate term:

“With Senator Orrin Hatch’s retirement at the end of this Congress, the Senate will lose more than its president pro tempore. We will also be bidding farewell to the longest-serving Republican Senator in our nation’s history and one of the Senate’s most gifted legislators.

“For more than forty years, Senator Hatch has faithfully represented the people of Utah in this body. He has chaired three key committees – HELP, Judiciary, and Finance. He has amassed deep expertise and racked up a host of legislative accomplishments.

“From national security to religious freedom, from protecting those with disabilities to accomplishing last year’s historic tax reform, Orrin has led on countless issues of critical importance to the American people. And he has helped transform our nation’s judiciary for the better by shepherding faithful constitutionalist judges onto our courts.

“Orrin’s long list of accomplishments means he will depart as one of the most productive members ever to serve in this body. But even more than what Orrin did, his friends and colleagues here will remember how he did it. We’ll remember the unfailing energy, kindness, and straightforward honesty that he brought to work every day.

“The Senate will miss his talent, his productivity, and his wisdom. And I will miss my good friend. But I know well that our loss will be a happy gain for Orrin’s beloved wife Elaine, their six children, and all their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“We are fortunate to have Senator Hatch on hand for another year. The Senate has a great deal to tackle in 2018. The people of Utah—and all Americans—will continue to benefit greatly from Orrin’s famous work ethic and unrivaled experience in the year ahead.”