SALT LAKE CITY – The Orrin G. Hatch Foundation held its Titan of Public Service Award gala this evening, honoring the exemplary leadership and dedication of Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell and Secretary Elaine Chao.
This annual event recognizes individuals who have displayed a deep commitment to public service, echoing the values Senator Orrin G. Hatch stood for during his long and distinguished service in the U.S. Senate.
“Only in a nation like ours could an eight-year-old, who arrived in the United States not knowing a word of English, become the 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation and the 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor. Only in a nation like ours could the son of an Army veteran, …whose bout with polio as a young boy nearly bankrupted the family, …grow up to become the longest-serving Senate Leader of either party in American history.” – Matt Sandgren, Executive Director of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation.
Senator Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate Republican Leader in history, has been at the forefront of numerous legislative victories. His commitment to the rule of law, conservative values, and strengthening our nation have made him one of the most important legislators our nation has ever known.
Secretary Elaine Chao, the first Asian American woman appointed to a President’s Cabinet in American history, has served in critical roles throughout multiple administrations. Her commitment to improving American infrastructure, ensuring transportation safety, and advocating for women in leadership has been truly inspiring.
“We’re here because of Orrin Hatch. Orrin played the long game, and thinking about where I am now, I’ve played the long game as well.” – Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
“I worked with Senator Hatch for eight years when I was Secretary of Labor. He was unfailingly smart, strategic, effective, and he was a tremendous ally to have when I was in the administration. So for gratitude to him for having helped so much when I was Secretary of Labor and Secretary of Transportation, I’m very humbled and very honored to be here to remember Orrin Hatch. A great American. A great patriot.” – Secretary Elaine Chao.
“In a world that too often feels torn apart by rancor and negativity, Senator McConnell and Elaine Chao’s ability to find solutions and to navigate complex political terrain with grace and resolve reminds us of the power of determination and constructive dialogue.” – Scott Anderson, Board Chair of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation.
John Castle, Board Member of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, expressed his admiration for the honorees as well, underscoring the importance of their continued leadership in a rapidly evolving political landscape.
“Their journeys, as diverse as the roles they’ve undertaken, are threaded together by a shared commitment to the values we’ve celebrated tonight – civility, bipartisanship, and the pursuit of solutions. Senator McConnell and Secretary Chao’s accomplishments are a testament to the fact that our greatest achievements often are the result of bipartisan dialogue and mutual respect.”
The evening was filled with stories, reflections, and a shared admiration for the deep commitment to public service Senator McConnell and Secretary Chao embody. The Orrin G. Hatch Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to honor such deserving leaders and is dedicated to promoting the value of service in American public life.
