Orin Hatch, the longest-serving Republican senator in the United States, has died at the age of 88

WASHINGTON – Former Republican Sen. Orin Hatch, who has played a key role in basic tax, civil rights and health legislation for more than four decades, died on Saturday, his foundation said. He was 88 years old.

Mr. Hatch represented Utah in the Senate from 1977 to 2019. He was the longest-serving Republican senator in the country. According to his foundation, he spent 32 of his 42 years in Congress as chairman or top Republican on a committee.