Orrin Hatch

Technology leaders from across Utah have endorsed Senator Hatch for re-election:

"We are writing to you today as individuals who have worked in Utah's high-tech arena for many years and have experienced first-hand the importance of having good leaders at the national level who understand our issues, and will work hard to find solutions to the challenges we face. This election year we have the opportunity to help a great champion of Utah's high-tech industry, and a leader who truly cares about our issues and our ability to grow and prosper—Senator Orrin Hatch. ...

"Senator Hatch's record is clear—he has continued to work on and offer solutions to keep high-tech companies competitive in the global economy. He has battled for copyright enforcement to protect the innovations and creativity of our nation's technology companies, promoted protection for patents, and has fought and supported many policies which promote growth in research and technology."

Read the full letter below.

Utah Technology Leaders For Senator Hatch

We are writing to you today as individuals who have worked in Utah's high-tech arena for many years and have experienced first-hand the importance of having good leaders at the national level who understand our issues, and will work hard to find solutions to the challenges we face. This election year we have the opportunity to help a great champion of Utah's high-tech industry, and a leader who truly cares about our issues and our ability to grow and prosper—Senator Orrin Hatch.

The road to re-election starts on March 15th at neighborhood caucus meetings across the state, and we cannot over-emphasize the importance for each of us to get involved at the caucus level. Caucuses and the convention promise to be tough. Unless we attend our March 15th neighborhood caucus, we will have no voice at the April 21st Republican Convention where the candidates will be chosen.

We are writing today to invite you to attend your own neighborhood caucus meeting and fight for hightech issues by either running as a state delegate for Senator Hatch, or encouraging others to support a Hatch state delegate in your precinct that evening.

Senator Hatch's record is clear—he has continued to work on and offer solutions to keep high-tech companies competitive in the global economy. He has battled for copyright enforcement to protect the innovations and creativity of our nation's technology companies, promoted protection for patents, and has fought and supported many policies which promote growth in research and technology.

In addition, Senator Hatch is poised to become the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee next year, the committee in Congress responsible for more than 60 percent of the budget and many issues that directly impact our industry and its bottom line. This gives Utah a unique opportunity to help set the economic agenda of the future by helping Senator Hatch bring Utah values, Utah ideas, and Utah solutions to this position.

Also, in 2009, the Senator started and continues to chair the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force. As Chairman, he is in a key position to bring together the leaders of high-tech organizations and companies to discover ways to spur job growth and enhance innovation.

Some of the additional highlights of Senator Hatch's work in Congress for our industry include:

• Introduced the Greater Research Opportunities with Tax Help Act of 2011 (GROWTH Act) which simplifies and makes permanent the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit which would give America's job creators the certainty they need to compete globally, to create jobs, and expand and invest in research and development right here at home.
• Was the lead Republican sponsor of patent reform legislation, the America Invents Act, which was passed and signed into law last year. The America Invents Act will strengthen our patent system and help inventors large and small maintain their competitive edge both domestically and abroad.
• Introduced the International Cybercime Reporting and Cooperation Act that takes aggressive action to combat cybercrime against the United States and fosters cooperation with other countries. This bill will enhance efforts by our government to influence foreign countries to build the necessary infrastructure and to establish the required protocols to prevent cybercime.
• Supported the Columbia, Panama, and South Korea free trade agreements finally passed late last year. The non-partisan International Trade Commission has credited these trade agreements with the ability to increase U.S. exports by over $12 billion and grow the U.S. economy by more than $14 billion.
• Advocated for more H-1B visas so that highly skilled workers are allowed to stay and complete the vital jobs they are performing in many of Utah's high-tech companies.
• Authored the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act, commonly known as the Hatch-Waxman Act, which provides incentives that allow for brand name companies to continue to innovate while also allowing generic drugs to come to the market.
• Was the lead negotiator and author of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2007, which eventually became law that provides a similar balance of innovation and generic competition for the biotechnology industry, providing 12 years of exclusivity.
• Introduced the Medical Device Access and Innovation Protection Act, which will repeal the $28.5 billion tax on medical device companies which will stagnate economic growth, innovation, and job creation. Senator Hatch is working hard to make this repeal a reality.
• Fought to bring the National Security Agency data center to our state. Officially named the Utah Data Center, the facility will bring thousands of new jobs during its construction and development phase. Once completed, it will support 100 to 200 permanent high-paid cyber-security employees.
• Honored with the 2011 Semiconductor Industry Association Congressional Leadership Award for helping this industry maintain its lead in semiconductor design and manufacturing.

If you plan on attending your caucus in support of Senator Hatch, please email your HOME ADDRESS and a phone number, to Martine Smith at martine@hatchforsenate.com so that we are aware of your support and specific precinct information can be sent to you.

To find your caucus location, visit www.vote.utah.com and click on "Find my Caucus Location."

Together let's stand with Senator Hatch so that our industry can continue to grow and prosper.

Sincerely,

Kelvyn Cullimore
CEO, Dynatronics

Richard R. Nelson,
Founder and CEO, Utah Technology Council

Dee Anderson
Entrepreneur & Trustee, Utah Technology Council

Judy Young
Executive Director, Utah Technology Council

Kirk Ririe
CEO, Idaho Technology, Inc.

Peter Meldrum
President & CEO, Myriad Genetics

Jeremy Hanks,
Cofounder & CEO, Dropship.com

Rich Linder
CEO, Coberex Medical, Inc.

Pat Nola
CEO, Sorenson Communications

Keyvan Esfarjani
Executive Director, IM Flash Technologies

Brad Rencher
Senior VP and General Manager, Adobe Systems Incorporated

Amy Rees Anderson
CEO, MediConnect Global

David Bradford
CEO, HireVue

Alan Hall
Founder & Chairman, Market Star

Josh James
Founder & CEO, DOMO

Dinesh Patel, PhD
Managing Direct, vSpring Capital

Mark Sunday
Senior Vice President & CIO, Oracle USA

Download & Print The Letter