A plan for Utah's tech sector.

• Author: Hatch, Orrin G.
• Position: SILICON SLOPES

Utah is the best state in the Union. I'm sure every Senator says that about their home state, but in my case this statement has the virtue of being undeniably true.

I say that somewhat tongue-in-cheek, of course. There are a lot of great things about other states. But I do believe emphatically that Utah is the best state in the country in which to work and raise a family. That's why I moved here many years ago, and it's what I tell people in other states when they say they're thinking about moving someplace new.

What makes Utah so great, in my view, is that we have a low cost of living coupled with strong communities and a dynamic job market. The unparalleled natural beauty is a nice perk, too.

The success of our job market is owed to a number of factors. We graduate large numbers of enterprising young people each year from our numerous outstanding universities. We have a business-friendly state government that keeps taxes low and regulations light. And we have an industrious, can-do spirit that encourages entrepreneurship and rewards innovation.

Indeed, Utah's successes in recent decades in the fields of innovation and technology have been nothing short of remarkable. Utah is now home to more than 5,000 tech companies. Venture capital invested in Utah last year exceeded $1 billion. Our state is home to household names like Qualtrics, Domo and Ancestry.com. Other tech giants such as Adobe and eBay have major presences here.

If we want Utah's tech community to continue to enjoy the successes we've seen in recent years, it's essential that we do all we can to foster a business and innovation-friendly environment.

I'm fortunate to be in a position where I have frequent opportunities to advance policies that benefit Utah's tech industry. For the past eight years, I've served as the Chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force. This role has brought me into contact with a number of tech leaders--both in and out of Utah--who have driven home to me the importance of protecting new innovations, safeguarding consumer privacy, and ensuring that companies have the people and capital they need to thrive.

Earlier this year, I announced an Innovation Agenda for the new Congress that I intend to pursue through my role with the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force. I'd like to highlight here a few key priorities from the agenda that have particular relevance to Utah:

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

First is education and workforce training. To succeed in...