Outgoing U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah bemoaned the disappearance of political civility, kinship and cross-party collaboration during a farewell speech where he called the Senate a legislative body in "crisis."
The 84-year-old Hatch spoke Wednesday on the Senate floor in Washington. He will step down next month as the longest-serving Republican senator in history after serving 42 years.
Hatch said senators must "rise above the din and divisiveness of today's politics" and called for greater unity. He highlighted his working relationship with the late Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.
He also called on the Senate to find ways to protect people's religious liberties while also shielding LGBTQ people from discrimination.
Senator-elect Mitt Romney will replace Hatch on January 3rd.Â
In his farewell Senate speech, Senator Hatch charged his colleagues to foster greater mutual respect, pluralism, dignity, comity and unity. His record of legislative accomplishment is unparalleled; his call for greatness is characteristic of this man of vision.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) December 12, 2018
Meanwhile, Nevada's outgoing legislator, Senator Dean Heller is scheduled to give his farewell address on Thursday. Senator-elect Jacky Rosen is replacing Heller.Â
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
