Orrin Hatch on Foreign Policy

Republican Sr Senator (UT)

Africa: Helping with AIDS is our duty as a great nation

Q: Should we appropriate $300 million out of the surplus to help fight AIDS in Africa? A: I’m the author of 3 AIDS bills that have given a quality of life to millions of people. I raised the first million dollars net for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. We need to do everything we can to help people with their health care problems. We have a lot of nonprofit organizations that would gladly go over there and help our brothers and sisters in Africa. If we don’t do that, we’re not a great nation anymore. Source: GOP Debate in Michigan Jan 10, 2000

US should not police the world; but should police Europe

Even as the world’s only superpower, we have limited foreign policy resources. The US never was, never could be, never should be, the policeman of the world, despite our natural solidarity with the oppressed everywhere. [Regarding Kosovo], the stability of Europe is in the vital national interests of the US. We fought two wars in the past century in Europe and a global cold war that had Europe as its primary field of engagement. Our security and commercial ties to Europe require a stable continent. Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Kosovo” Jun 23, 1999

Sudan: civil war not a US threat; terrorism is

Our approach to other nations in civil war must be matched to the threats to American national interest. I abhor the regime in Khartoum. The US has imposed a range of sanctions on that regime, to deal with a deplorable situation that does not affect our vital national interests directly. When the threat increases to the point where US interests are directly affected, we take appropriate action. When we determined that Sudan supported terrorists attacking the US, [I supported] a cruise missile strike. Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Kosovo” Jun 23, 1999

Support self-determination morally, not militarily

Morally, this country has always supported self-determination of peoples. We stand for justice around the world. But the need for self-determination declines as nations recognize basic democratic principles that protect the rights of majorities and minorities. We do not need to be directly and materially involved in struggles for other people’s independence. We encourage nations to resolve their issues peacefully; a good example is the “Velvet Divorce” that created the Czech and Slovak Republics. Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Kosovo” Jun 23, 1999

Russia should focus on their economy, not on US

I support a transition to democracy in Russia, on the belief that a democratic Russia would join and support democratic countries around the world. I am extremely dismayed that Russia’s political leaders are trying to deflect the attention of the Russian people from their failures in fixing the Russian economy. It was disturbing that President Yeltsin used Cold War rhetoric to threaten the West [in Kosovo], at a time when his country desperately needs more Western support. Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Kosovo” Jun 23, 1999

Russia is acting as aggressively as Serbia

For the Russians to object to NATO’s actions to stop an aggressive dictator in Europe is pure hypocrisy. For example, the Russians fully supported two assassination attempts against President Shevardnadze. Russia has four military bases on Georgian territory which it refuses to vacate! Russia is busy partitioning Moldova; maintaining a puppet regime in Tajikistan; supporting the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijan; and undermining the economies and societies of the independent Baltic countries. Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Kosovo” Jun 23, 1999

Push Japanese reforms to keep rest of Asia stable

Since 75% of total Asian GDP resides in the Japanese economy, there is no question who provides the engine of growth in that region. But how much longer can the rest of Asia await a Japanese recovery before other Asian countries begin to face economic depression? [We should continue] battering down the barriers to increased market access in Japan. The way I see it, the Japanese crisis has been eight years in the making, imploding under the weight of its own shaky financial structures. Source: senate.gov/~hatch “Statements” Jul 14, 1998

Relations with China; limited with Taiwan

The US should have full diplomatic relations with China
The US should not. recognize and extend full diplomatic relations to Taiwan
The US should have full diplomatic relations with nations with documented human rights abuses
Supports China becoming a member of the WTO

Source: Vote-Smart.org 2000 NPAT Jan 13, 2000

Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe.

H.R. 3167; Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2001, To endorse the vision of further enlargement of the NATO Alliance. Vote to pass a bill that would support further expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, authorize military assistance to several eastern European countries and lift assistance restrictions on Slovakia. Reference: Bill HR.3167 ; vote number 2002-116 on May 17, 2002

Voted YES on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons.

Vote to table [kill] an amendment that would require sanctions against China or other countries if they were found to be selling illicit weapons of mass destruction. Reference: Bill HR.4444 ; vote number 2000-242 on Sep 13, 2000

Voted YES on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion.

Adoption of the conference report on the 2000 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill provided $12.7 billion for foreign aid programs in 2000.
Status: Conf Rpt Agreed to Y)51; N)49 Reference: H.R. 2606 Conference Report; Bill H.R. 2606 ; vote number 1999-312 on Oct 6, 1999

Voted YES on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions.

To kill a proposal limiting President Clinton's ability to impose economic sanctions on foreign nations.
Status: Motion to Table Agreed to Y)53; N)46; NV)1 Reference: Motion to table the Lugar Amdt #3156.; Bill S. 2159 ; vote number 1998-201 on Jul 15, 1998

Voted NO on limiting NATO expansion to only Poland, Hungary & Czech.

This amendment would have limited NATO Expansion to only include Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Status: Amdt Rejected Y)41; N)59 Reference: NATO Expansion limit-Warner Amdt. #2322; Bill NATO Expansion Treaty #105-36 ; vote number 1998-112 on Apr 30, 1998

Voted YES on $17.9 billion to IMF.

Would provide $17.9 billion for the International Monetary Fund.
Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)84; N)16 Reference: McConnell Amdt #2100; Bill S. 1768 ; vote number 1998-44 on Mar 26, 1998

Voted YES on Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba.

Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba.
Status: Conf Rpt Agreed to Y)74; N)22; NV)4 Reference: Conference Report on H.R. 927; Bill H.R. 927 ; vote number 1996-22 on Mar 5, 1996

Voted NO on ending Vietnam embargo.

Ending U.S. trade embargos on the country of Vietnam.
Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)62; N)38 Reference: For. Reltns. Auth. Act FY 94 & 95; Bill S. 1281 ; vote number 1994-5 on Jan 27, 1994

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