John Barrasso is an orthopedic surgeon, a former rodeo physician and the first in his family to attend college. He also serves as Senate Majority Whip, the second-highest-ranking member of the Republican Conference. He represents neighboring Wyoming, where he’s widely known as “Wyoming’s Doctor.” And he’s this year’s recipient of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation’s Titan of Public Service Award.
The Titan of Public Service Award recognizes leaders who exemplify the principles that defined Sen. Hatch’s many years of public service: effective governance, civic leadership and an unwavering commitment to serving the American people. Past recipients include former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, current Senate Majority Leader John Thune, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and chairman of the Senate Republican Conference Sen. Tom Cotton.
Sen. Barrasso will join this distinguished lineup when he receives this year’s award at the Hatch Foundation’s annual Titan of Public Service gala in August. The honor is well deserved and fitting.
Barrasso has served in the U.S. Senate since 2007. Before that, he served in the Wyoming Senate, representing Casper. But unlike many in Washington, his professional background isn’t politics. It’s medicine. Raised in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Barrasso was the first in his family to graduate from college. The grandson of Italian immigrants, Sen. Barrasso often speaks about the value of opportunity and hard work.
After completing his undergraduate studies at Georgetown University, Barrasso earned an M.D. from Georgetown’s medical school and completed his residency at Yale University. He then moved to Casper, Wyoming, where he built a successful orthopedic practice. But he felt the call to public service and was elected to the Wyoming Senate in 2002. In 2007, when U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas died midterm, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal appointed Barrasso to fill the vacancy. Barrasso has since been reelected four times, never with less than 67% of the vote. In his most recent race, he won more than 75% of the votes cast.
Colleagues often note that Sen. Barrasso approaches policymaking the way he approached medicine: diagnosing problems directly, focusing on practical solutions and communicating in plain language.
As Senate Majority Whip, Barrasso plays a central role in advancing the Republican agenda. He works closely with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the White House to craft and pass legislation, advance conservative priorities and confirm nominees. Equally important, he serves as a bridge between Senate leadership and the Republican caucus — counting votes and maintaining communication throughout the conference.
In addition to his work as Majority Whip, Barrasso serves on several key committees, including the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Finance Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee. As chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining, he oversees issues vital to Utah, including resource development on public lands and logging and mining practices. As chairman of the Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and Oversight, he plays a key role in shaping federal tax policy and helps keep the IRS accountable.
Barrasso is a passionate advocate for energy independence and favors an “all-of-the-above” approach to move our country away from dependence on foreign oil. He believes in limited government and lower taxes and has championed numerous measures to reduce Americans’ tax burden, including legislation making the 2017 tax cuts — one of Hatch’s signature achievements as Senate Finance Committee Chairman — permanent. More recently, Barrasso has led efforts to improve the national suicide prevention hotline (another of Hatch’s achievements) and to reduce gas prices by repealing taxes on American energy production. He is also an important voice on national security, global health policy and international economic strategy through his work on the Foreign Relations Committee.
Barrasso served with Hatch in the U.S. Senate for more than a decade. Representing neighboring Mountain West states with many shared priorities, they frequently collaborated on legislation. Their work together included the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in 2019, as well as initiatives to reduce insurance premiums, improve forest management and protect grazing rights. Hatch was among the first senators to welcome Barrasso to Washington upon his arrival and would be pleased that Barrasso has now become the Senate majority whip.
For his many years of service to his state and our country, Barrasso is well deserving of this year’s Titan of Public Service Award. Today, he is one of the Senate’s most influential leaders.
This year’s Titan of Public Service Award gala will be held on Aug. 13 at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. Additional information about the gala is available online.