{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"AK\" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-schatz-cantwell-bill-to-strengthen-improve-noaa-corps-signed-into-law", "Sullivan-Schatz-Cantwell Bill to Strengthen, Improve NOAA Corps Signed into Law", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) today welcomed the signing of S. 2981, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2020, their bill to improve and modernize the management of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.\n\n\u201cThe mission and work of NOAA and the NOAA Corps are incredibly important to Alaska, the state with our nation\u2019s largest fishery, more coastline than the Lower 48 states combined, and America\u2019s only Arctic territory,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cNOAA officers perform highly-specialized duties with the same sense of service and dedication as our other uniformed services, and I appreciate the President for signing our legislation to more fully embrace the NOAA Corps\u2019 contributions to our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cNOAA Corps officers fly Hurricane Hunters into storms threatening Hawaii on a moment\u2019s notice and at great risk to themselves to keep us safe. With our bill now law, we will finally recognize the critical work they do by providing them with the support they deserve,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\n\u201cFor over 100 years, the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps has conducted the highest quality science missions to inform fisheries management and research, which is fundamental in supporting Washington\u2019s maritime economy,\u201d said Senator Cantwell. \u201cIn addition to investing in the NOAA Corps, this bill will pave the way for future innovative collaborations, as well as advance meaningful improvements in sexual assault and harassment policies to protect women serving in the NOAA Corps.\u201d\n\nThe NOAA Corps is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. The 321 officers of the NOAA Corps operate NOAA\u2019s ship and aircraft fleet, and are deployed for extended periods fulfilling NOAA\u2019s missions. Officers also routinely support the missions of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard when necessary.\n\nThe legislation will improve personnel management and readiness of the Corps, strengthen recruitment and retention of Corps personnel by creating a mandatory service obligation and offering benefits and services to officers, and better integrate the Corps with NOAA by providing increased opportunities for officers to continue their federal service with the agency after leaving the Corps.\n\nThe Military Coalition, an organization representing more than 5.5 million military service members, veterans and their families wrote a letter to congressional leaders in support of S. 2981.\n\n\u201cEven though members of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps often put themselves in harm\u2019s way and are subject to the same deployment requirements as members of the armed forces, NOAA lacks some of the statutory authority to grow, maintain, and manage personnel \u2014 specifically their Officer Corps,\u201d wrote Jack Du Teil, president of TMC. \u201cThis important legislation addresses those authorities and benefits not granted to the Corps, whose officers consist of experts in varying fields, including but not limited to oceanography, meteorology, engineering, earth sciences, and fisheries science.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401852", "Reps. Price, Young Secure $15 Million for New World Languages Program in Omnibus Appropriations Bill", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC(December22, 2020) Today,Congressman David Price (D-NC)andCongressman Don Young (R-AK)announced that$15 millionto beginthe World Language Advancement and ReadinessGrants programwas includedin the Fiscal Year 2021(FY21)omnibus appropriations bill. This program wasoriginally authorizedin December 2019as part of theFiscal Year 2020 (FY20) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It wasbased on theWorld Language Advancement and Readiness Act(H.R. 1094), a billintroduced by Reps. Price and Youngin response toreports highlighting the shortfalls in language and cultural skills in the United States.\r\nThese shortfalls areunfortunatelyalso foundinour nation's military and intelligence communities,whichcould threaten ournational security,priorities,and missions around the globe.This newprogram willallow the federal government to provide support forhigh-qualityworld language programs in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools and school systems nationwide that host a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program.\r\nStudies showthatthe U.S. lags behind itsglobalpeers in language and cultural skills, and the World Language Advancement and Readiness Grants program is a first steptowardscorrectingthese deficiencies and ensuringbetteropportunitiesfor studentsand educators,said Congressman Price. I'm pleased this year's government funding bill includes$15 million infunding to stand up this grant program,improvingour national competitiveness in anincreasingly globalizedworld.\r\n\"We should be doing all we can to ensure that America's students are equipped to become leaders in business and civic life,\" said Congressman Don Young. \"I have been a longtime advocate for advancing language and cultural skills. I am pleased that the omnibus includes first-ever funding for the World Language Advancement and Readiness Grants program, created in partnership with my good friend, Congressman David Price. This funding will help America keep pace with other nations by providing the language education our students need to secure good jobs, achieve success in global marketplaces, and successfully navigate multi-lingual business environments. Funding will also support building a pipeline for growing experts in the languages critical to our national defense. I am grateful to my colleagues for supporting this vital program, and will continue working for an America that leads the world in language skills and development.\"\r\n\"The World Language Advancement and Readiness Grants program defines a new and essential pathway for the growth of programs that empower students to become multilingual, globally prepared citizens,\" said Rita A. Oleksak, President of the Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies. \"By funding this program, Congress demonstrates that it understands that strong world language programs create a sustainable pipeline of multilingual talent critical to our country's economic and national security. JNCL-NCLIS is gratefulfor the leadership of Representatives Price and Young in authorizing and now appropriating funding for this vital language program.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401850", "Congressman Don Youngs Legislation to Create Opportunities for Young People in the Fishing Industry Passes the Senate, Heads to the Presidents Desk", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Last night, the Young Fishermen's Development Act (H.R. 1240), legislation authored by Alaska Congressman Don Young, was passed by the U.S. Senate. H.R. 1240 addresses the longtime decline in younger Americans entering the commercial fishing industry. This legislation would create the first ever national grant program through the Department of Commerce to support training, education, and workforce development for the nation's next generation of commercial fishermen. H.R. 1240 was introduced earlier in the 116th Congress with Representative Jared Golden (D-ME), along with original cosponsors Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Aumua Amata (R-American Samoa). The bill passed the House earlier this month and now heads to the President's desk. The Senate companion, S.496 was sponsored by Senator Dan Sullivan.\r\n\"I want to sincerely thank my colleagues in the Senate for passing this crucial legislation, and special thanks is due to our Senator, Dan Sullivan, for his leadership on this bill. Passage of the Young Fishermen's Development Act is welcome news for Alaska's fishing industry, and young people across the country hoping to make a living on the water. Young commercial fishermen are facing bigger challenges than ever before  new barriers to entry, limited training opportunities, lack of support, and now, a global pandemic,\" said Congressman Don Young. \"Fishing is important not only to Alaskan culture, but it is central to our rich history. Our legislation is about supporting the livelihoods of fishing communities across the nation by making the next generation aware of the opportunities available in the commercial fishing industry. I am grateful to my friends, Representatives Golden, Moulton, and Amata, for partnering with me on this initiative. My work on behalf of our fishing fleet is not done. The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated our fishermen, processors, and countless others who depend on a strong, thriving seafood industry. In the 117th Congress, I will continue fighting for a future of opportunity and prosperity for fishermen of all ages.\"\r\n\"The average age of Maine lobstermen is over 50. Same goes for scallop fishermen. The future of the fishing industry depends on young people learning the ropes right now, said Congressman Jared Golden. The Young Fishermen's Development Act takes important action to help young Mainers get ready for fulfilling careers in fishing and lobstering so they can stay in Maine, build our economy, and support our communities. I'm proud of this bipartisan effort and encourage the president to sign the bill when it reaches his desk.\r\nAlaska is the unquestioned superpower of seafood, thanks to our world-class, sustainably-managed fisheries and our countless hard-working fishermen, said Senator Dan Sullivan. The sustainability and endurance of this vital industry, which employs more people in Alaska than any other, depends on up-and-coming qualified fishermen. Helping the next generation of Alaskans enter our fisheries will help ensure Alaska remains the superpower of seafood. I appreciate my partners in the House and Senate for joining in this effort to support our great fishing sector and, like so many Alaskans, I eagerly await the President signing the Young Fishermen's Development Act into law.\r\nCommercial fishing is part of Gloucester's and New England's identity and economy, but the legacy will end if we don't make it easier for the next generation to get started, Congressman Seth Moulton said. These grants will help the industry expand and evolve. Every fisherman and lobsterman I've ever met wants to keep the fish stock and our oceans healthy. I'm proud that this money will give new opportunities to young people and also help teach fishermen how to build new gear and fish in new ways that protect our oceans. Congress's investment will pay off in new technology that works and has buy-in from the people using it to make a living.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401851", "Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following Passage of COVID Relief and Government Funding Package", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following Passage of COVID Relief and Government Funding Package \r\n  \r\n     \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington, D.C.  Following House passage of legislation to provide for federal government appropriations and COVID-19 relief, Alaska Congressman Don Young released the following statement:\r\n\"It is no secret that we are living through unprecedented times. Amid a global pandemic and in the midst of the holidays, families in Alaska and across the country have been left wondering if they will be able to put food on their dinner tables, make rent, or send their children back to school. COVID-19 has devastated our economy, and the threat of a government shutdown would have only made it worse. Americans are counting on Congress not only to deliver pandemic relief, but to keep the federal government open for the countless military families and public servants most threatened by a shutdown. It is my great hope that this package provides the assistance necessary to get our families through the holidays, and into a New Year full of opportunity, growth, and the end of this pandemic. This is a vital bill that arrives at a critical moment in our fight against COVID-19. Individuals and families will once again receive direct cash assistance, expanded Unemployment Insurance will be available for those who need it, and the highly successful Paycheck Protection Program will make billions available to help keep our businesses open and employees on the payroll.\r\nI am pleased that we have reached a deal on COVID relief and government funding. Full-year funding and resources to save lives and livelihoods is a significant accomplishment. But our nation deserves confidence and stability; eleventh-hour negotiations and arbitrary dayslong government funding extensions are no way to govern. Too many people are hurting in what otherwise should be a joyous time of year. Our constituents sent us to Washington to keep our country running; shutdowns are never the answer, and we must recommit ourselves to fulfilling our constitutionally-mandated duties.\"\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401853", "Bonamici, Young, Deutch Bill to Strengthen Marine Energy Passes House", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/21/20] Today the House passed bipartisan legislation to increase federal investments in marine energy led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Congressman Don Young (R-AK), and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL).\r\nThe Water Power Research and Development Act strengthens water power programs at the Department of Energy (DOE) and provides funding for research, development, demonstration, and commercialization of marine energy. The legislation passed the Houseas part of a funding and COVID relief package. It will authorize $186.6 million for the DOE Water Power Technologies Office over the next four years, including $137.4 million for federal investments in marine energy.\r\nOur ocean holds tremendous potential to mitigate the climate crisis, but for too long the power of waves, tides, and currents has been an untapped clean energy resource,said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici.We must expedite our transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy, and scaling up the development of marine energy technologies can help sustainably power our homes, buildings, and communities, and also create good-paying jobs. I am thrilled that our Water Power Research and Development Act will be signed into law because it will accelerate innovative research and development, including the efforts of Oregon State University and the Pacific Marine Energy Center. I appreciate the support and collaboration of Rep. Don Young and Rep. Ted Deutch in moving this bill forward.\r\n\"Hydropower is crucially important to Alaska, and I am very proud that the Water Power Research and Development Act has made it into the final omnibus package. I have long supported harnessing Alaska's vast hydropower capabilities. I was very proud to support projects such as the Terror Lake Hydroelectric Plant and the Swan Lake Hydroelectric Project. Both of these ventures are generating energy, and sustaining good-paying jobs in our communities,\"said Congressman Don Young.\"As a nation, we need to get serious about helping renewables compete on a level playing field. Hydropower represents enormous potential for the State of Alaska, and we should be empowered to pursue it. As we look to diversify America's energy portfolio, it is my great hope that our legislation will assist with the development of hydropower projects across our country. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of their aisle for supporting this critical effort, and I am especially grateful to Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and Congressman Ted Deutch for their partnership on this bill.\"\r\nReducing the increasing impacts of climate change requires that our nation move toward renewable sources of energy,said Congressman Ted Deutch. Harnessing marine and hydrokinetic power from ocean currents, waves, tides, and other sources can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and decrease carbon emissions.This bill will invest in research, development, and deployment of marine and hydrokinetic power that is currently being conducted by research centers, such as Florida Atlantic University.This is an investment in the energy of the future and one that I strongly support.\r\nImportantly, the bill authorizes funding for existing and new National Marine Energy Centers, including the Pacific Marine Energy Center  operated by Oregon State University, the University of Washington, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks  and Florida Atlantic University's Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center.\r\nThe Pacific Marine Energy Center at Oregon State University is working at the forefront to advance science, facilitate innovation, and develop the future workforce for what will become a multi-billion dollar marine energy sector,said Bryson Robertson, Co-Director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center at Oregon State University.Enactment of the Water Power Research and Development Act sends an important and clear signal that the US remains committed to pursuing a commercially viable domestic marine energy sector that can reliably contribute toward a carbon-free energy portfolio. This is an exciting time for this emerging field.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-six-sullivan-veterans-bills-headed-to-presidents-desk-including-k2-toxic-exposure-study", "Six Sullivan Veterans Bills Headed to President\u2019s Desk, Including K2 Toxic Exposure Study", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), thanked his colleagues for recently passing the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act,a large package of veterans legislation featuring six bills championed by Sullivan, including S. 4384, theK2 Veterans Advocacy Act of 2020. The bill, introduced with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into an agreement with the administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, to assess possible linkages between toxic exposure at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base (K2) in Uzbekistan and cancers and other diseases experienced by U.S. service members and veterans.\n\n\u201cThere is a long and troubling history of our courageous men and women in uniform being exposed to toxic substances during their service overseas, and K2 is strongly suspected of being a hot-spot for such exposure, including for a number of veterans in Alaska who have reached out to my office,\u201dsaid Senator Sullivan. \u201cIn order to get to the bottom of this serious concern, my legislation moves to establish what toxic substances were present at K2, the medical conditions that these veterans have experienced, and the possible links between the two. I thank my colleagues for joining me in this critical first step, one of many that we need to take in order to do right by these service members and their families.\u201d\n\nBetween 2001 and 2005, approximately 7,000 U.S. military service members served at K2 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A 2015 study conducted by the U.S. Army found that service members who had deployed to K2 were more than five times as likely to develop cancer as their counterparts deployed to South Korea. Since the study, it is estimated that the number of veterans suffering from cancer and other serious medical conditions has increased dramatically, with many service members having died potentially due to toxic exposure at K2.\n\nThe VA and Department of Defense (DOD) have collaborated for years on research to understand the effects of military service and deployments to certain installations on veterans\u2019 health, but additional research is necessary to determine causation or correlation between service at K2 and cancer or other illnesses and diseases.\n\nThe other pieces of legislation introduced by Sullivan and passed by the Senate last week include:\n\nS.3898, the Homeless Veterans Coronavirus Response Act of 2020\n\nIntroduced by Sullivan and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) in June, this legislation would grant the VA greater flexibility in caring for and meeting the needs of homeless veterans in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Among other provisions, the legislation would loosen certain regulations and enable the VA to use existing resources to offer homeless veterans the additional assistance they may need, including transportation, communication devices and services, and basic amenities, like clothing, blankets and hygiene items. The law would also allow the VA to work with partner organizations to set up shelters on its properties. Finally, the bill ensures homeless veterans have access to the VA\u2019s telehealth services.\n\nS.3182, the Helping Expand and Launch Transitional Health for Women (HEALTH) Act\n\nIntroduced by Sullivan and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), the bill would direct the VA secretary to carry out a women\u2019s health transition training pilot program to better connect female veterans with the health benefits and services they have earned.\n\nS.2485, the Medal of Honor Surviving Spouses Recognition Act\n\nIntroduced by Sullivan, and inspired by Wasilla Vietnam veteran Dave Glenn, this legislation would extend the Medal of Honor (MOH) special pension to the surviving spouses of certain MOH recipients.\n\nS.850, the Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Program Extension Act\n\nIntroduced by Sullivan and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), this legislation would require the VA to establish a national protocol for volunteer drivers in its transportation programs.\n\nS.524, the VA Tribal Advisory Committee Act\n\nIntroduced by Sullivan and Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the legislation would establish a VA Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs. The committee would facilitate communication and understanding between the VA and tribal governments to better address the unique barriers Native American veterans face when accessing VA services.\n\nAll six pieces of legislation were included in theJohnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act, which now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-votes-for-covid-19-relief-government-funding-bill", "Sullivan Votes for COVID-19 Relief, Government Funding Bill", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) voted with 91 of his Senate colleagues on Monday for a COVID-19 relief package and an omnibus appropriations bill that funds the government through September 30, 2021. This critical piece of legislation\u2014along with the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included the Coast Guard Authorization Act for the first time ever\u2014makes great strides in supporting America\u2019s front-line health care workers and the fight against COVID-19; providing relief to families, small businesses, and hard-working Alaskans; bolstering the state\u2019s economic recovery from the pandemic; funding necessary infrastructure, including ports and harbors; and strengthening Alaska\u2019s fisheries.\n\nSenator Sullivan, working hand-in-glove with Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young (both R-Alaska), and groups from across the state, played a critical role in these accomplishments, which are detailed below.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s been a very difficult time for our state and our country\u2014and we are going to continue to face challenges in the months ahead,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cBut there is hope in both the near term and in the long term. Through the remarkable triumph of science, a whole-of-government approach, and private sector involvement, Americans and Alaskans will soon be offered a vaccine, and this COVID relief bill will help ensure that Alaskans across our state have access to it, along with a surge of resources to medical professionals on the front lines.\n\n\u201cThis legislation also includes a second round of Paycheck Protection Program funding for the hardest-hit small businesses, including our seasonal businesses and our fishermen, and additional money to help schools reopen and safely operate. But Alaskans also need to know that we are working to ensure that our economy is set to come back strong once we get through this pandemic. The recently-passed NDAA authorizes more than $150 million for our state. Also, within the water and infrastructure portion of the omnibus bill, we authorized hundreds of millions of dollars for significant projects to improve our ports and harbors across Alaska. Finally, working with Alaska fishermen, we were able to pass numerous bills to strengthen our fisheries and clean up our oceans, ensuring that we remain the superpower of seafood for generations to come.\u201d\n\nBelow is a breakdown of some of the major sections of the omnibus and COVID-19 relief bill, aswell as other recent legislation championed by Senator Sullivan.\n\nHealth Care and COVID-19 Relief\n\nAmong the health care-related and COVID-19 relief measures, the legislation:\n\nProvides $20 billion for the purchase of vaccines, making them available at no charge to all Americans who need them, $8 billion to distribute vaccines, and $20 billion to support state testing efforts.\n\nProvides billions of dollars for hospitals.\n\nBolsters mental health by permanently allowing mental health services to be delivered through telehealth. This was a top priority for Senator Sullivan, author of the FRONTIER Community Act.\n\nEnds surprise medical billing, legislation that Senator Sullivan cosponsored, which will prohibit patients from receiving medical bills from out-of-network providers while receiving services from in-network facilities. This legislation empowers patients by requiring transparency from health care facilities and insurance companies, which must now provide patients with a clear and honest cost estimate at least three days prior to a medical procedure.\n\nExtends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for five years.\n\nIncreases transparency in health care by banning gag clauses, requiring more transparency when there are kick-backs for referrals, and includes new reporting requirements about prescription drug prices.\n\nExtends, for three years, the public funding for federal health programs, like community health centers, the National Service Corps, and the Special Diabetes Program.\n\nApproves $4 billion to support substance abuse programs, building on the significant legislation passed in recent years to combat the opioid crisis. This includes $1.5 billion for state opioid response grants and $50 million for tribal opioid response.\n\nProtects seniors\u2019 access to health care by allowing low-income seniors to enroll in Part D prescription plans sooner; phases out the Medicare coinsurance for positive colorectal cancer screenings; and promotes the use of a real-time benefit tool so providers can help seniors find the lowest drug prices.\n\nEconomic Recovery and Support for Families\n\nThe omnibus package and COVID-19 relief bill renew many of the programs in the CARES Act that were successful in ensuring small businesses, families and local governments could weather the economic challenges caused by the pandemic. The legislation:\n\nRenews the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) at $284 billion, giving small businesses hardest hit by the pandemic\u2014like bars, restaurants and Alaska\u2019s tourism-reliant businesses\u2014the opportunity to apply for a second PPP loan, and making 501(c)(6) organizations and faith-based organizations eligible for PPP relief.\n\nIncludes language giving seasonal and commercial fishing businesses the ability to increase their first PPP loan if they have not already done so.\n\nProvides a new round of economic recovery stimulus checks, up to $600 for adults and their dependents.\n\nProvides an additional $300 per week in federal pandemic unemployment relief, and extends the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, covering self-employed and gig economy workers for eleven weeks, from December 26, 2020 until March 14, 2021.\n\nProvides $82 billion to help schools and universities reopen and return to in-person learning.\n\nProvides $25 billion in rental relief for Americans who lost their income during the pandemic, and extends the eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021.\n\nProvides $15 billion to support theaters, entertainment venues, museums, and aquariums.\n\nProvides $7 billion to expand broadband access, including $2 billion to replace vulnerable foreign-sourced equipment, $300 million specifically for rural broadband infrastructure, and $250 million for telehealth services.\n\nProvides $10 billion to help child care centers and providers reopen safely.\n\nIncreases Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by 15% for six months.\n\nProvides the U.S. Postal Service with the opportunity to have its $10 billion CARES Act loan forgiven.\n\nProvides $2 billion to help the bus, motorcoach, and passenger vessel industry that has been negatively impacted by the pandemic.\n\nExtends the Aviation Workers Payroll Support Program, providing $15 billion for passenger air carrier workers, and $1 billion for the employees of contractors that provide ground services directly to air carriers, such as catering services or on-airport functions.\n\nExtends the deadline for which states, localities and tribes can spend original CARES Act funds until the end of 2021.\n\nIncludes a $200 million fund to support timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses impacted by COVID-19.\n\nBolstering America\u2019s National Defense and Coast Guard\n\nThe omnibus legislation passed on Monday also appropriates funds for the Department of Defense (DOD) and for the Coast Guard, which resides in the Department of Homeland Security. Both appropriations measures included several priorities and projects fought for by Senator Sullivan. The legislation:\n\nProvides a three percent pay raise for U.S. service members.\n\nProvides $10 million for a new regional DOD Center, named after the late Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), which would be the first DOD regional center in the Arctic and the first new DOD regional center established since 2000. This provision was authorized in the FY 2021 NDAA.\n\nProvides $50 million for Arctic communications, also authorized in the FY 2021 NDAA.\n\nProvides $12.8 billion in overall funding for the U.S. Coast Guard.\n\nProvides $555 million for construction of the second heavy Polar Security Cutter, $260 million for construction of four Fast Response Cutters, $14 million for VHF (very high frequency) radio modernization of the Rescue 21 distress and response system in Alaska, $28.4 million for WLB Pier replacement project in Sitka, and $32 million for the construction of housing at U.S. Coast Guard Base Kodiak.\n\nProvides more than $40 million for important Arctic-focused initiatives, including accelerating development of a new tracked Arctic vehicle, purchasing cold weather clothing for the Army and the Marine Corps, and funding counter-UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) technology in Arctic environments.\n\nProvides robust funding for missile defense, including an additional $250 million for a service life extension program for the existing ground-based interceptors (GBI) at Fort Greely, an additional $150 million in new boosters, and an additional $200 million for the development of the Next-Generation Interceptor, the future replacement of the existing GBIs.\n\nProvides $48 million in military construction for Alaska for a communications center at Fort Greely.\n\nProvides $30 million for the Innovative Readiness Training Program, more than doubling the funding for the program, which is often utilized in Alaska.\n\nInfrastructure, Water, Ports & Harbors\n\nThe omnibus legislation incorporates the America\u2019s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (AWIA), passed by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in May. Sullivan, a member of the committee, championed several provisions in the bill, including authorization of the nation\u2019s first deep-water Arctic port at Nome, Alaska. Among other provisions, the omnibus bill:\n\nAuthorizes $379 million for the federal share of the Nome Deep Draft Port project, to be matched with $126 million in non-federal funds.\n\nAuthorizes $27 million to dredge the entrance channel of the harbor in Unalaska, Alaska to a depth of 58 feet, to be matched with $9 million in non-federal funds.\n\nAuthorizes $147.8 million for the St. George, Alaska harbor project, to be matched with $16.5 million in non-federal funds.\n\nDirects $10 million to map the coastlines of areas that are experiencing rapid environmental changes, including Alaska.\n\nProvides the Denali Commission with $15 million.\n\nExtends the responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain the damaged Lowell Creek Flood Diversion System in Seward, Alaska.\n\nBolstering Alaska\u2019s Fisheries\n\nAmong the fisheries and oceans-related provisions, the legislation passed on Monday:\n\nProvides an additional $300 million to help fishermen and coastal communities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.\n\nIncludes a $1.5 billion fund to purchase food and agricultural products, including seafood, and also includes loans and grants for small and mid-sized food processors or distributors, seafood processing facilities and vessels, farmers markets, and producers to respond to and protect workers from COVID-19.\n\nProvides $32 million for hydrographic surveys, including $2 million for the National Ocean Service to coordinate mapping and exploration for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as well as the Arctic and sub-Arctic shoreline and near-shore of Alaska.\n\nProvides $40.5 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) for regional observations.\n\nProvides the NOAA Marine Debris Program with $9 million, and includes language prioritizing projects in rural and remote communities that lack infrastructure to address marine debris problems.\n\nProvides $75 million for ocean plastic pollution prevention and clean-up through grants and programs outside of NOAA, which will bolster the efforts of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, Sullivan\u2019s comprehensive marine debris legislation that was signed into law last Friday.\n\nProvides the Pacific Salmon Treaty with $31.5 million, an increase of $4 million beyond last year, to support obligations set forth in this agreement.\n\nProvides $1 million for NOAA fisheries data collections, surveys, and assessments, along with direction to ensure that historical survey coverage levels are achieved in fiscal year 2021. The National Marine Fisheries Service is expected to conduct no fewer than six fisheries surveys for Alaska this year.\n\nProvides the North Pacific Observer Coverage Program with no less than $7.5 million, and includes language directing NOAA to identify and implement efficiencies that would mitigate the cost burden shouldered by small vessel operators in the fixed-gear fleet.\n\nProvides $15.5 million to NOAA\u2019s Ocean Acidification Program, a $2.5 million increase, to help understand the growing impacts of ocean acidification on oceans and marine productivity.\n\nProvides language directing active monitoring of Barry Glacier in Prince William Sound for tsunami preparedness in Alaska, along with an additional $500,000 beyond 2020 levels for the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program.\n\nOther recent legislation supporting healthy oceans and fisheries championed by Senator Sullivan include:\n\nYoung Fishermen\u2019s Development Act: This bill creates a national training program through grants awarded for training, technical support and apprenticeships to support entry-level fishermen establishing themselves in the industry.\n\nSave Our Seas 2.0 Act: A bill to address the marine plastic crisis that is threatening coastal economies and harming marine life. The legislation builds on the success and initiatives of the 2018 Save Our Seas Act, and is the most comprehensive marine plastics bill ever signed into law.\n\nRecreational Quota Entity: A provision authorizing the collection of fees from participating charter guides to purchase commercial halibut quota to transfer and use within the charter guide fleet, and for management of the program.\n\n# # #\n\nNext Article Previous Article", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-honors-linda-behnken-as-alaskan-of-the-week", "Sullivan Honors Linda Behnken as \u201cAlaskan of the Week\u201d", "2020-12-19", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014On the floor of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) recognized Linda Behnken, of Sitka, the executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen\u2019s Association. Linda was recently honored with the prestigious Heinz Award for the Environment for her work championing sustainable fisheries and helping to preserve Alaska\u2019s coastal ecosystems. Senator Sullivan recognized Behnken as part of his series, \u201cAlaskan of the Week.\u201d\n\nTRIBUTE TO LINDA BEHNKEN\n\nMr. President, it is getting toward the end of the week here. We still have got a lot of work to do in the U.S. Senate, particularly on a relief package and end-of-the-year appropriations. So we are working hard on that.\n\nBut I also want to take the opportunity, given it is the end of the week, to do what I consider one of my favorite activities of the entire week each week in the Senate, and that is talking about someone in my State who is making a difference, helping out our communities and making Alaska one of the best States--the best State, in my view--in the country. This is the individual we call the Alaskan of the Week.\n\nSo I want to do an acknowledgment to some of our Hill reporters who have taken an interest in the ``Alaskan of the Week'' each week. I think sometimes because they recognize it is finishing up the week. We are not yet done yet, though. We have a lot of work to do. But I also appreciate them reporting on it because it is just good to see stories about people who are doing good work for their State and their community.\n\nWhat we try to do with this series, which we have been doing now for a number of years, is to talk about people who don't always get the recognition that they deserve, people who are making a big difference. You know, Alaska, like really every other State in the country, is experiencing serious challenges right now as a result of COVID-19, but I am confident, just like the rest of the country, we will get through this more resilient than ever.\n\nWe have a saying. I certainly love this saying: Tough times don't last, but tough people do. Americans, Alaskans, North Dakotans are tough, and we are going to get through this. I would like to introduce our Alaskan of the Week, Linda Behnken, from the gorgeous city of Sitka, AK, in Southeast Alaska. The ``Paris of the Pacific,'' it is called, Sitka. A fun fact about Sitka, it is the largest city in the United States by land area, encompassing over 4,800 square miles, including water. That is big. The population is fairly big for our State. It is beautiful. If you haven't been to Sitka, you have got to go. It is gorgeous.\n\nNow, Linda--boy, talk about Linda. Linda is innovative, caring, and she has a deep and abiding commitment to our great State, her community, and to the profession that she has devoted her life to, one that is revered and so important in Alaska, and that is commercial fishing.\n\nFor more than 30 years now, Linda has been on a boat catching fish out of Alaska's waters. It is the best seafood, mind you, in the world. No doubt about that one--wild Alaskan seafood. Not only is she a successful fisherman, which is, of course, a full-time job, she has also worked to ensure that Alaska continues to have sustainable fisheries.\n\nWe are what I call the superpower of seafood. Over 60 percent of all fish caught in the United States is harvested in Alaska's waters--6-0. That is huge. But we need to make sure we have oceans that are clean and sustainable and that the profession is safe and small fishermen can thrive and the young fishermen can enter the profession. That is what Linda has been focused on for her entire career in Alaska.\n\nSo for this work and so much more, including a huge role in helping needy families, particularly during this pandemic, Linda was recently awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for the Environment, named after the late U.S. Senator John Heinz. It is a very prestigious award.\n\nHere is the thing. Linda didn't even apply for it. She didn't seek it. She was sought out and I believe shocked when she found out she received this very prestigious award that comes with a $250,000 cash prize. Now, that is a big deal. I will say more about that cash prize in a minute.\n\nLet me tell you a bit about Linda's story and how she came to be such a passionate steward of our fisheries, of our sea, and of our ocean. Born and raised in Connecticut, Linda headed to Alaska in 1982 during a summer break from college. She wanted to make some money. She heard that one of the ways she could do it was to fish in the great State of Alaska.\n\nShe took a ferry from Bellingham, WA, to Sitka, and she immediately fell in love with this gorgeous--and I mean gorgeous--community the minute she got off the boat. It took her about a month pounding the docks to find a deckhand job. There weren't a lot of women in this business then. She did eventually find not just a job but a wonderful community.\n\n``The fishing community,'' she said, ``is full of independent and resourceful people who are really there for each other'' in their times of need. She also described how, when the fishing was done or when it was bad weather, people would gather around the docks. Some would light up the grill. Some would bring pie, a loaf of bread. Instruments would come out. Stories were told. Kids played. Linda said: ``I found a sense of community that I really hadn't [found]'' anywhere else.\n\nSo she loved it. She went back to the lower 48 to finish her undergraduate degree, but Alaska was always with her. She knew that she had found a home and a mission to help create more sustainable fisheries in the great State of Alaska.\n\nTo that end, she enrolled in a master's degree program in resource development at Yale and then came back to Alaska.\u2019`What I saw going on in the ocean drove me to . . . graduate school.'' During that time, in the 1980s, she said that the way the fishing was managed wasn't working well for the smaller fishermen, nor was there much of an emphasis back then on sustainability.\n\nWhen she came back to Alaska, she began to fish again, eventually buying her own small commercial fishing boat, which she now fishes with her husband and two sons who have themselves been fishing since a very, very young age.\n\nI have always said that the Alaskan fisherman is the quintessential small business man and small business woman. It is often family businesses. They take huge risks. They create a great product. They work hard as can be. They are the quintessential small business men and women in America, and Linda proves the point.\n\nShe became the executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association, which is an alliance of small-boat commercial fishermen committed to sustainable and safe fisheries.\n\nLet me talk about safety on our waters in Alaska. Fishing, particularly in Alaska's waters, is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. Linda has had many harrowing stories--caught out fishing in the frigid waters for hours in the center of storms, man overboard, challenges, wind whisking away equipment. But all in all, it is much safer now than it used to be when Linda first started to fish. Then, when a certain fishery opened, everyone rushed out at once to get as much fish as possible regardless of the conditions. That has changed. Now fishing is a safer--but still dangerous--business in my great State.\n\nLinda was also involved in limiting bigger commercial vessels from operating in the waters of Southeast Alaska and worked for more stringent environmental regulations on the cruise ship industry.\n\nAmong other things related to fisheries, she served 9 years on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and is a founding member of the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust, which promotes Alaska seafood, helps younger men and women enter the field, and helps feed the hungry from the bounty of the sea--all of which contributed to her winning the Heinz Award.\n\nThis pandemic that we are experiencing has negatively impacted so many lives, but it has also brought out some of the best in us in Alaska and in America, people across the country, reaching out to their neighbors, volunteering their time to do as much as they can.\n\nThis includes Linda. When she read early on in the pandemic that a grocery store in her area stopped accepting checks, she got to work. Working with her groups, the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust and the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association, they began delivering food--fish--to people's doors, locally caught and processed seafood to those who were in need.\n\nSo far--get this--with their partners, they have provided over 400,000 pounds of delicious Alaska seafood. They brought in 400,000 pounds--wow--to children's programs, food pantries, women's shelters, Tribal organizations, and military organizations. You get the picture. She is working hard. They have done amazing work. And I want to thank her and so many who worked with her for this great effort.\n\nSomething else that Linda did, a decision she made for her community. Earlier, I spoke about that cash prize that came with the Heinz Award--$250,000. She took $100,000 of that money, which was her prize money, and donated it back to the organization that she helped found, the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust, to work on sustainable fisheries, combating climate change, and to help young fishermen enter the profession so we have sustainable fisheries going forward. I am sure Linda probably heard the good news: Our legislation, my legislation, the Save Our Seas 2.0 legislation to clean up our oceans passed the Senate recently and is on its way to the President's desk for his signature. More good news.\n\nAs she said: ``We won't have jobs if we don't take care of our fisheries.'' Keep them sustainable ``and get young people into the profession.'' People like Linda--committed, organized, generous of spirit, hard-working, in love with what she does in her State and her community--will get us through this pandemic. These are the people in Alaska, in America. And it is people like her that will also ensure that Alaska remains the superpower of seafood, not just for America but for the world.\n\nSo, Linda, for all that you do, for all that you are going to continue to do, thank you, thank you, thank you. Great work, and congratulations on being our Alaskan of the Week.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401849", "Bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act Signed into Law", "2020-12-18", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Don Young (R-Alaska), today welcomed the signing of theSave Our Seas(SOS) 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive legislation ever passed by Congress to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal ecosystems and communities, and harming marine life.\r\nAfter two years of collaboration, hard work and advocacy, I am incredibly excited to announce that the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is now the law of the land,said Senator Sullivan. This historic accomplishment is the result of so many people who love our oceans: members of Congress who span the country and political spectrum, members of the administration, stakeholders in industry and environmental groups, and everyday citizens. SOS 2.0 will improve America's ability to clean up waste, advance international cooperation with nations responsible for the majority of trash entering the oceans, and explore innovative ways to manage and even reuse plastic waste. This bill will be particularly important for Alaska, a state that disproportionately experiences the impact of ocean debris with our thousands of miles of coastline. I commend President Trump for signing SOS 2.0 into law, and I also thank my colleaguesSheldon Whitehouse, Bob Menendez, Suzanne Bonamici, Don Young, and all of the other cosponsorsfor being such strong partners and champions for our oceans, fisheries, wildlife and coastal communities.\r\nSave Our Seas 2.0 is officially lawanother milestone in our effort to clean up marine debris and ocean plastic pollution across the globe,said Senator Whitehouse, who co-founded the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus to find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts.I'm grateful for the bipartisan partnership of Senators Sullivan and Menendez on this issue.We're already hard at work expanding on the laws we've passed to tackle the scourge of plastic waste washing up on shores from coast to coast.\r\nI am thrilled to witness this monumental legislation be signed into law to bolster U.S. leadership and global engagement in confronting the plastic waste and marine debris crisis,SenatorMenendez said. Pollution in our world's oceans is a global problem with dramatic and enduring implications for our livelihoods and well-being. As a landmark bipartisan environmental victory, SOS 2.0 represents a stepping stone toward greater collaboration and progress in our efforts topreserve a most vital resource that sustains life today and will provide for generations to come.\r\nAcross the globe, ourwidespreaduse ofplasticsispollutingour ocean and exacerbatingthe climate crisis,said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. Save Our Seas2.0isanimportant steptostrengthenthe NOAA Marine Debris Program and invest in infrastructureto prevent the mismanagementof plastic waste, and I am glad it was signed into law. I will continueworking with my fellow House and Senate Oceans Caucus colleagues to advancecomprehensive actionto minimize the production of newplastics, remove waste, reduce pollution,and protect the health of our ocean.\r\n\"This is a great day for our oceans, marine ecosystems, and the countless communities they support. Our state is home to more coastline than any other, and Alaskans know that healthy oceans are essential to our economy and way of life,\"said Congressman Don Young.\"Serving as House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair has allowed me to stand up and fight for Alaska's waters, and I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish in both the House and Senate. Save Our Seas 2.0 builds on our successes in combating marine debris by bolstering plastics research and providing funding crucial for infrastructure improvements. Countless Alaskan families earn a living on the water; clean oceans are not just an environmental issue, but an economic one as well. I am sincerely grateful to my friend and Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, for fighting alongside me to get this bill across the finish line and signed into law. Our Senator, Dan Sullivan, has been an unwavering leader on this issue, and I am especially grateful for his efforts in the Senate to get this done. There is still work ahead of us in the 117th Congress. I will continue fighting to ensure that our marine ecosystems stay healthy and productive for generations to come.\"\r\n  \r\nTheSave Our Seas2.0 Actis composed of three main pieces:\r\n1) Strengthening the United States' domestic marine debris response capability with a Marine Debris Foundation, a genius prize for innovation, and new research to tackle the issue.\r\n2) Enhancing global engagement to combat marine debris, including formalizing U.S. policy on international cooperation, enhancing federal agency outreach to other countries, and exploring the potential for a new international agreement on the challenge.\r\n3) Improving domestic infrastructure to prevent marine debris through new grants for and studies of waste management and mitigation.\r\nSOS 2.0builds on the success of theSave Our Seas Act, introduced by Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse in the Senate, and Representatives Bonamici and Young in the House, and signed into law by President Trump in October 2018.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bipartisan-save-our-seas-20-act-signed-into-law", "Bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act Signed into Law", "2020-12-18", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46", "scraper", "SOS 2.0 is America\u2019s most comprehensive marine debris legislation ever\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Don Young (R-Alaska), today welcomed the signing of the Save Our Seas (SOS) 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive legislation ever passed by Congress to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal ecosystems and communities, and harming marine life.\n\n\u201cAfter two years of collaboration, hard work and advocacy, I am incredibly excited to announce that the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is now the law of the land,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThis historic accomplishment is the result of so many people who love our oceans: members of Congress who span the country and political spectrum, members of the administration, stakeholders in industry and environmental groups, and everyday citizens. SOS 2.0 will improve America\u2019s ability to clean up waste, advance international cooperation with nations responsible for the majority of trash entering the oceans, and explore innovative ways to manage and even reuse plastic waste. This bill will be particularly important for Alaska, a state that disproportionately experiences the impact of ocean debris with our thousands of miles of coastline. I commend President Trump for signing SOS 2.0 into law, and I also thank my colleagues\u2014Sheldon Whitehouse, Bob Menendez, Suzanne Bonamici, Don Young, and all of the other cosponsors\u2014for being such strong partners and champions for our oceans, fisheries, wildlife and coastal communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cSave Our Seas 2.0 is officially law\u2014another milestone in our effort to clean up marine debris and ocean plastic pollution across the globe,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, who co-founded the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus to find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for the bipartisan partnership of Senators Sullivan and Menendez on this issue. We\u2019re already hard at work expanding on the laws we\u2019ve passed to tackle the scourge of plastic waste washing up on shores from coast to coast.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am thrilled to witness this monumental legislation be signed into law to bolster U.S. leadership and global engagement in confronting the plastic waste and marine debris crisis,\u201d Senator Menendez said. \u201cPollution in our world\u2019s oceans is a global problem with dramatic and enduring implications for our livelihoods and well-being. As a landmark bipartisan environmental victory, SOS 2.0 represents a stepping stone toward greater collaboration and progress in our efforts to preserve a most vital resource that sustains life today and will provide for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cAcross the globe, our widespread use of plastics is polluting our ocean and exacerbating the climate crisis,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cSave Our Seas 2.0 is an important step to strengthen the NOAA Marine Debris Program and invest in infrastructure to prevent the mismanagement of plastic waste, and I am glad it was signed into law. I will continue working with my fellow House and Senate Oceans Caucus colleagues to advance comprehensive action to minimize the production of new plastics, remove waste, reduce pollution, and protect the health of our ocean.\u201d\n\n\"This is a great day for our oceans, marine ecosystems, and the countless communities they support. Our state is home to more coastline than any other, and Alaskans know that healthy oceans are essential to our economy and way of life,\" said Congressman Don Young. \"Serving as House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair has allowed me to stand up and fight for Alaska's waters, and I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish in both the House and Senate. Save Our Seas 2.0 builds on our successes in combating marine debris by bolstering plastics research and providing funding crucial for infrastructure improvements. Countless Alaskan families earn a living on the water; clean oceans are not just an environmental issue, but an economic one as well. I am sincerely grateful to my friend and Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, for fighting alongside me to get this bill across the finish line and signed into law. Our Senator, Dan Sullivan, has been an unwavering leader on this issue, and I am especially grateful for his efforts in the Senate to get this done. There is still work ahead of us in the 117th Congress. I will continue fighting to ensure that our marine ecosystems stay healthy and productive for generations to come.\"\n\nThe Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is composed of three main pieces:\n\nStrengthening the United States\u2019 domestic marine debris response capability with a Marine Debris Foundation, a genius prize for innovation, and new research to tackle the issue.\n\nEnhancing global engagement to combat marine debris, including formalizing U.S. policy on international cooperation, enhancing federal agency outreach to other countries, and exploring the potential for a new international agreement on the challenge.\n\nImproving domestic infrastructure to prevent marine debris through new grants for and studies of waste management and mitigation.\n\nSOS 2.0 builds on the success of the Save Our Seas Act, introduced by Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse in the Senate, and Representatives Bonamici and Young in the House, and signed into law by President Trump in October 2018.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-sullivan-whitehouse-and-menendez-celebrate-passage-of-save-our-seas-20-act", "ICYMI: Sullivan, Whitehouse & Menendez Celebrate Passage of Save Our Seas 2.0 Act", "2020-12-16", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) yesterday held a colloquy on the Senate floor to celebrate Congress\u2019s recent unanimous passage of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, their legislation, introduced in June of 2019, to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal economies and harming marine life. The legislation, which builds on the success and initiatives of the 2018 Save Our Seas Act, now awaits the President\u2019s signature.\n\nThe Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is composed of three main pieces:\n\nStrengthening the United States\u2019 domestic marine debris response capability with a Marine Debris Foundation, a genius prize for innovation, and new research to tackle the issue.\n\nEnhancing global engagement to combat marine debris, including formalizing U.S. policy on international cooperation, enhancing federal agency outreach to other countries, and exploring the potential for a new international agreement on the challenge.\n\nImproving domestic infrastructure to prevent marine debris through new grants for and studies of waste management and mitigation.\n\nThe Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is cosponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), in addition to Senators Whitehouse, Sullivan, and Menendez.\n\nTRANSCRIPT\n\nMr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I want to talk today with my colleagues Senator Menendez and Senator Whitehouse on a really important piece of legislation that is heading to the President's desk, and this is Save Our Seas 2.0.\n\nIt is the follow-on to the Save Our Seas Act that we passed in the Congress last Congress, and that was an important one mostly about ocean cleanup, but we thought we could do more. We thought, working with different groups--so many groups--and the executive branch, the Trump administration, that we could do a lot more. So we got to work.\n\nI want to thank my colleagues on the floor today--Senator Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Senator Menendez of New Jersey--for their work, their leadership, their cooperation.\n\nSenator Whitehouse in particular I really want to single out as probably the Member of the U.S. Senate who is focused on our oceans. He and I started collaborating on these issues about 6 years ago, right after I first came to the U.S. Senate, and I have learned a lot from Senator Whitehouse on these issues.\n\nWe have kind of been an odd couple. We don't always agree on everything politically, but on these issues and a lot of other issues we not only agree but our teams work together, we work together, and, importantly, we are getting a lot--a lot--done.\n\nThere have been a lot of folks who have really helped us in this regard and, again, in a bipartisan way. This bill is an important bill. This bill had three committees of the U.S. Senate and eight committees in the House.\n\nSo Members--whether it was Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member Carper of the EPW Committee, as I mentioned; on Foreign Relations, Chairman Risch; and, of course, Senator Menendez as the ranking member on the Commerce Committee; Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Cantwell; on the House side, I just got off the phone with the dean of the House, Congressman Don Young, a great, great Congressman; Representative Bonamici. She also has been a great advocate.\n\nWe all were aware of the challenge. This is a huge challenge: ocean debris, plastics. It is a gigantic challenge for my State.\n\nNow, I brag about Alaska a lot. Here is a little bit more bragging: We have more coastline than the rest of the country combined, in terms of their coastline. So we see the garbage. We see the trash. We see it, unfortunately, washing up on the shores of Alaska, and that impacts negatively not just the environment but the economy, our fishing industry, our fishing communities, our coastal communities.\n\nYou may have heard about this World Economic Forum study that said if we don't do anything about the pollution challenge that relates to plastics, by 2050 there could be more weight in terms of plastics in the ocean than there are fish. Think about that. That is a challenge.\n\nSo we got to work, and here is the thing that I think is so exciting: This is a solvable issue. Estimates are that up to 80 percent of all plastics in the ocean around the globe come from 10 rivers in Asia and Africa. So, of course, it has a huge international component to it.\n\nBut I just want to thank both Senators Whitehouse and Menendez. I am going to turn the floor over to Senator Menendez to say a few words on this, particularly the international side, which is so important.\n\nI will talk a little bit more about what is in the legislation, but this is an example--and it happens a lot; we don't always read about it--of this body coming together on big issues and making a big impact.\n\nSo Save Our Seas 2.0 is heading to the President's desk. I do want to compliment the President and his team. They had a lot to do with this. They have been very motivated on these issues as well.\n\nThis is everybody coming together to address a problem that we know is a problem but that we can solve, and we are putting American leadership out front, which will be good for Alaska, good for Rhode Island, good for New Jersey, good for America, and good for the world. Senator Menendez.\n\nThe PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.\n\nMr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, let me thank Senator Sullivan for his introduction of our efforts here today and to really commend him for working in such a bipartisan spirit to drive an important piece of legislation, to really address the future of future generations of Alaskans, of Rhode Islanders, and New Jerseyans--and Americans, as well as other people across the world.\n\nI agree with Senator Sullivan that Senator Whitehouse's name is synonymous with the oceans and his focus on this is singular and his perspective is of the utmost importance.\n\nI want to rise to join my colleagues from Alaska and Rhode Island to celebrate the enactment of Save Our Seas 2.0 and to thank our colleagues, both in the House and the Senate, for their votes in support of the most comprehensive piece of legislation to address the growing global environmental threat of plastic waste in our oceans. I want to thank Representatives Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon and Don Young of Alaska for their commitment and leadership in shepherding the bill through the House.\n\nTo my colleagues, Senator Sullivan and Senator Whitehouse, it has been a great pleasure working with you on these issues. The passion, the knowledge, the persistence you have brought to solving the problem of plastic waste in the world's oceans is incredible, and it was essential to our shared success.\n\nPlastic pollution in our oceans is truly a global problem that literally washes up on New Jersey shores, impacting businesses and communities across our State. This calamity is yet another reminder that Americans are directly impacted by the policies and practices of countries around the world. Plastic debris in our oceans does not respect international borders.\n\nThe abundance of plastic waste in our ocean requires comprehensive action alongside the fight against climate change. Save Our Seas 2.0 will bolster U.S. leadership and global engagement to combat plastic waste and marine debris, improve plastic waste management, and enhance marine debris response and innovation.\n\nAs the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I take special pride in the international title of this bipartisan legislation, which formalizes U.S. foreign policy to address this issue, supports USAID's work to curb ocean plastic, and encourages the United States to explore the development of an international agreement to foster cooperation on addressing plastic waste globally. I think this legislation can be the catalyst for that.\n\nThe Earth's oceans are a global resource that sustains life everywhere, whether it is your country, State, or district that has a coastline or is landlocked. Eighty percent of New Jerseyans live in a coastal area, and our economy is heavily dependent on these vibrant communities. Families who depend on our fishing, their real estate, hospitality, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries rely upon clean and safe oceans.\n\nThese families know that beyond their daily livelihoods, plastic pollution also threatens human health on a global scale. Once in the environment, plastics accumulate in and contaminate both human and animal food chains leading to an array of health risks.\n\nSave Our Seas 2.0 calls on various agencies to research and assess the effects of microplastics and food supplies and sources of drinking water so that we can better understand the way plastic is dangerous to use.\n\nEven at a time--this is where I will close--when Washington seems more politically divided than ever before, SOS 2.0 represents a significant bipartisan environmental victory that I sincerely hope will serve as a stepping stone toward more progress to tackle this growing global problem.\n\nThere is no single solution to the marine debris crisis. Ocean stewardship is critical to preventing the collapse of marine ecosystems that support global fisheries that feed billions of people around the world. Addressing plastic waste of the ocean supports economic growth and trade, public health, and safe recreation.\n\nI look forward to building upon the bipartisan support we have achieved with this bill and working with the next administration on ensuring the dutiful execution of the programs we established in SOS 2.0 and securing appropriations in support of the bill's goals and objectives.\n\nAgain, with my congratulations to my colleagues and my thanks for the work they have done together, I will yield the floor to our colleague from Rhode Island.\n\nThe PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island\n\nMr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, today is a happy day for me to be joining my friends Senator Menendez and Senator Sullivan here on the Senate floor to celebrate the successful conclusion of a second chapter in a long effort to address the problem of ocean plastics pollution, which has been described so well by my friend Senator Sullivan.\n\nWhen we began, there was actually no program whatsoever on ocean plastics in the Senate. There had never been legislation in this area. With Senator Sullivan's support, we decided to see what the traffic would bear, see what the Senate and the House might tolerate in terms of legislating in a new area. For that, we undertook the Save Our Seas bill. And at the end of the day, after a certain amount of static, actually on both sides of the aisle, we were able to get Save Our Seas passed by unanimous consent. Every single Member of the Senate had to agree to it. To me, that was a really exciting test to the proposition that Senators actually care about this. One of my favorite moments in that whole episode was when a Senator, with whom I am often at war--Senator Inhofe of landlocked Oklahoma--became an ally and a friend and a supporter of Save Our Seas, the original bill. And he did so because he had childhood experiences on the gulf coast with sea turtles that made him care about the plastic that was piling up in the oceans and strangling and drowning sea creatures.\n\nIt has, this topic, a gift, I guess, for bringing people together. And based on that success and that unanimous consent--and it cleared the House the same way on what they call suspension over there--we undertook 2.0; 2.0 is going to be bigger, better than 1.0. And it sure is bigger, better. And the role of Senator Menendez in putting some real structure to the international component of this was essential.\n\nSenator Menendez is our ranking member on the Foreign Relations Committee. In that role, he was essential in seeing to it that this bill, with such a big Foreign Relations Committee footprint, cleared that committee with momentum and good to go.\n\nWe are now in the happy position that 2.0 has passed as well. It creates a new marine debris foundation. It creates a genius prize for innovation in trying to get rid of or reinvent or reimagine our plastic disposal system. It creates new research to tackle this issue. It focuses more, as I said, directly on our international relations because so much of the marine plastic waste comes out of foreign shores and down foreign rivers. It also focuses on our domestic waste management program.\n\nThis is a good step. I have heard people say that 2.0 is not enough. Darn right it is not enough, but this is how you build momentum. You prove that you can do something and that the Senate is willing to act on it. Then, you stand on that platform and you build a bigger, better bill, and you get that passed. And now Senator Sullivan and I are already discussing what 3.0 might look like.\n\nI am not in a position to speak for Senator Sullivan, but I am interested in looking under the hood of the recycling industry. When you put your plastic waste into a blue bin to go off and get recycled, how much of it actually does get recycled? How can we make sure that there is, in fact, a circle in which plastic gets manufactured, put into use, brought back out of the system, and not left in the ocean, not left as waste on our lands? How can you develop what is called the circular economy for plastic?\n\nPlastic is a weird thing. Nature hasn't seen plastic before. It doesn't biodegrade the way things that were made by the Lord biodegrade. Nothing eats it. If something does eat it, it just piles up in its body or goes through it neutrally. It provides no nutrition or value to anything. It is just this new thing out there. We need to figure out how to deal with it, and we need to get it the heck out of our oceans.\n\nMore to come on this. But let me take this moment to thank Senator Menendez for his leadership, particularly, on the foreign side of this, and Senator Sullivan for his leadership and for being such a terrific ally in this cause.\n\nWith that, I yield back.\n\nThe PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska\n\nMr. SULLIVAN. Let me wrap up here by mentioning that, as we already talked about, the Congressional Research Service has called this the most comprehensive ocean cleanup legislation ever to come out of the Congress. As Senator Whitehouse said, 6 years ago, we were starting at nothing. And then we got Save Our Seas 1.0, primarily about cleaning up our own coastlines.\n\nThere are a lot of funny stories there, but we did have a really interesting--and I thought entertaining--signing ceremony at the White House with the President and Senator Whitehouse. The two hadn't met before. They got along really well, particularly talking about this issue. And it did motivate the Trump administration to start focusing more. You may have seen in the new NAFTA, the USMCA, the first trade agreement has a whole section on ocean cleanup and a whole section on fisheries and sustainable fisheries. This is a really important precedent for the U.S. government, regardless of party.\n\nAs Senator Menendez mentioned, a lot of focus internationally. I want to thank him again, in terms of the Foreign Relations Committee. Our ability to help other countries--we are certainly not perfect, but the big challenge on a lot of the oceans, in terms of cleanup and what comes onto the shores of the United States, what comes onto the shores of Alaska in terms of plastics and pollution, comes from overseas. We need to help there. As Senator Whitehouse also mentioned, improving our domestic infrastructure to prevent marine debris--so we are setting our own example, not just helping other countries--and then enhancing our own domestic response.\n\nSenator Whitehouse mentioned this Marine Debris Foundation. This is a congressionally chartered private organization. There are not many in the country. This is a big deal. Thank the Red Cross. Thank the American Legion. These are congressionally chartered organizations that will give this effort public-private partnership energy to address the problem. That is exactly what we are focused on here, and that is why we thought it was so important to have a Marine Debris Foundation as an enduring element of the U.S. leadership that is now exemplified by Save our Seas 2.0.\n\nI will mention one final thing. You know, one of the things that I thought was very important--we are going to keep this together--is we worked hard not to single out one industry or one area: Hey, you are not doing a good job; you need to get your act together. What we said when we put this bill together is we are going to bring in all the stakeholders--Democrats, Republicans, the executive branch, Federal agencies, industry, key environmental groups, ocean conservancy, World Wildlife Foundation--and get everybody together--the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, which is an initiative in the private sector, and say: What can we do together to solve this problem? That is what we did. All the stakeholders came together. Everybody worked closely together, good ideas, pulling on the same oar. And that is how we got this done.\n\nYou know, one of our finest Senators, Lamar Alexander, gave his farewell speech just last week, and he talked about this idea of a split screen in the Senate. Yes, there is contention. Yes, there are battles. The media loves to play those up. But there is also another element about what we do here where there is strong bipartisan support on really big issues: the CARES Act, the NDAA, the Great American Outdoors Act--probably the biggest conservation bill in 50 years--21st Century Cures; these are all things that we are getting done here that matter to the American people in a bipartisan way. You don't always read about them in the press, but they are still happening. And now we can add to that list the biggest ocean cleanup legislation in the history of the country going to the President's desk for signing here in the next couple of days. It is something our fellow Americans should know about. And as Senator Whitehouse said, we are going to build on that too.\n\nI yield the floor.\n\nThe PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.\n\nMr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, I should add a few other thank-yous because this, obviously, took a lot of effort to get through all these different committees in the Senate and the House and to get it passed on the Senate and House floor. I want to start on the House side, with the equivalent of the Whitehouse-Sullivan show is the Young-Bonamici show on the other side; Representative Bonamici and Representative Young, whom Senator Sullivan mentioned, were the key people working this issue.\n\nI want to thank my delegation, Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, because, during key points when it looked like things were jamming up over there, they jumped up with their leadership and with their colleagues to help move things along, and I believe Representative Young did as well.\n\nI want to thank the majority leader, Steny Hoyer, who at a really critical moment, when this could have gone one way or another, made sure it went the right way and got us teed up to get the thing done in the House and back here where we could move it in the Senate.\n\nIn the Senate, I have spoken about Senator Menendez's critical role, but, of course, as chairman, Senator Risch also had to support and permit this to go forward. It had to clear Commerce, where Senator Wicker and Senator Cantwell were supportive and helped move this along. Senator Wicker, indeed, has been a member of our Oceans Caucus from an early stage and has been very helpful on oceans issues.\n\nThen on our--Senator Sullivan's and my--Environment and Public Works Committee, Chairman Barrasso and our ranking member, Senator Carper, were all very supportive.\n\nThings like this don't get done without a lot of people pulling together, and I just wanted to make sure that I thanked all of them as I close out here on this subject.\n\nSo thank you.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-coons-graham-and-whitehouse-introduce-bipartisan-unite-for-our-oceans-act", "Sullivan, Coons, Graham and Whitehouse introduce bipartisan UNITE for our Oceans Act", "2020-12-16", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46", "scraper", "Bill would direct the U.S. government to work with the international community to address plastic pollution and marine debris on a global scale\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introduced legislation that would bring the international community together to address the increasing amount of plastic and trash polluting the oceans and marine environments. The Unify Nations in Trash Elimination (UNITE) for our Oceans Actwould direct the U.S. government to work with international partners to finance promising projects that promote the sustainable management of materials and reduce the amount of plastic and other waste polluting the world\u2019s oceans. The introduction of the legislation comes in the same month that Congress passed the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, Sullivan\u2019s legislation to further address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal economies and harming marine life.\n\n\u201cThe UNITE for our Oceans Act is set to build on the groundswell of bipartisan progress we\u2019ve seen in Congress on tackling the global marine debris crisis,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cComplementing the important initiatives of my Save Our Seas Act and the recently-passed SOS 2.0, our legislation will establish a Marine Debris Trust Fund, increase the grants available around the world to prevent debris from entering the ocean, and encourage the reuse and recycling of plastics and the use of sustainable alternatives. I thank Senators Coons, Graham, and Whitehouse for their partnership on this global environmental challenge that not only tremendously impacts Alaska\u2019s economy and environment, but the world\u2019s.\u201d\n\n\u201cEach year, billions of pounds of trash \u2013 much of it plastic \u2013 makes its way into our oceans. This incredible amount of harmful material is having devastating effects not only on marine animals and ecosystems, but also on human health and economies around the world,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cWe cannot address this problem alone. I am proud to lead this bill with my colleague, Senator Graham, to ensure the United States collaborates with the international community to address this critical issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a major step forward for the United States. We\u2019re going to lead the way with a global fund to aggressively deal with plastics in our oceans,\u201d said Senator Graham. \u201cThis new initiative is an effort by America to put our money where our mouth is and will be used to leverage other nations to contribute so we have an all-hands-on-deck approach to dealing with the overwhelming problem presented by plastics in the ocean.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf we don\u2019t find answers fast, we\u2019ll have more tons of plastic waste in our oceans than living fish by the middle of the century. Solving that problem requires work with other nations on new international solutions,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cI\u2019m excited that Senators Graham and Coons, and my ocean plastics partner Senator Sullivan, have joined together to introduce this bipartisan bill to combat a massive challenge facing our oceans.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill demonstrates a clear bipartisan commitment to invest in a more sustainable future by tackling the plastics problem at the global level. WWF commends Senators Coons and Graham for prioritizing investments in global solutions to a global problem. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to make these and related concepts reality,\u201d said Roberta Elias, director of policy for the World Wildlife Fund.\n\n\u201cMarine debris is a global issue that needs an international response. The Senate and House Oceans Caucus have prioritized this issue, resulting in a number of important legislative outcomes. Senator Graham\u2019s and Senator Coons\u2019 UNITE for our Oceans Act of 2020 is a giant step forward that displays the desperately needed U.S. leadership on this issue and will provide a mechanism to leverage other countries' contributions for a truly unified approach to achieving a solution,\u201d said David Barron, chairman of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation Group\u2019s Board of Directors.\n\n\u201cWe congratulate Senators Coons and Graham for their leadership in proposing this ambitious legislation and continuing a tradition of bipartisan support on the issue. Beyond authorizing a substantial investment, the bill importantly recognizes that incineration is not a sustainable solution while also providing flexibility to direct resources at the local level where they are needed most. While we have a lot to do at home \u2013 from prioritizing the reduction or phasing out of single-use unnecessary plastics to improving our own recycling rates \u2013 this bill would provide much-needed assistance to the international community to prevent and reduce marine plastic pollution, and help keep our global ocean healthy,\u201d said Chever Voltmer, plastics initiative director at the Ocean Conservancy.\n\nThe Unify Nations in Trash Elimination (UNITE) for our Oceans Act would:\n\nDirect the U.S. Secretary of State to work with federal agencies, individual countries, and international organizations to establish a \u201cTrust Fund for Marine Debris and Plastic Pollution\u201d (Trust Fund). The goal of the Trust Fund is to prevent and reduce marine debris and plastic pollution and facilitate the sustainable production and consumption of resources. The Trust Fund would be managed by a board of trustees comprised of representatives of the countries that contribute.\n\nSpecify that the Trust Fund will award grants to national and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and other entities to complete projects that would reduce marine debris and plastic pollution. These projects include efforts to reduce the amount of trash and plastics entering marine environments, encourage the use of sustainable materials, reduce the use and improper disposal of single-use plastics, and promote reduction, reuse, and recycling of materials that pollute marine environments.\n\nDirect the U.S. Secretary of State and the Board of Trustees to appoint an administrator to manage the Trust Fund, implement standards and procedures to monitor the use of funds, and establish criteria to determine how grants will be awarded.\n\nEstablish an advisory board to the Trust Fund to provide guidance in the development and implementation of grant projects and in leveraging contributions to the fund.\n\nRequire the U.S. Secretary of State to submit annual reports to Congress outlining the goals of the Trust Fund and the criteria that have been established to determine the programs and activities that it supports.\n\nAuthorize $150 million to be appropriated for U.S. contributions to the Trust Fund each year for two years.\n\nThe bill text is available here, and a summary of the bill is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-works-to-include-coast-guard-in-defense-authorization-for-first-time", "Sullivan Works to Include Coast Guard in Defense Authorization for First Time", "2020-12-14", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46", "scraper", "Bill authorizes $745 million for 2nd U.S. heavy icebreaker in a generation\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) on Friday welcomed the Senate\u2019s passage of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included the Sullivan-authored Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020, reauthorizing the U.S. Coast Guard for fiscal years 2020 through 2021. This is the first time the Coast Guard authorization bill has been coupled with the annual defense authorization, an effort that Sullivan has championed for several years.\n\n\u201cIt has long been a goal of mine to integrate the annual Coast Guard Authorization Act with the defense authorization that we pass every year with strong, bipartisan majorities,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cWe did it this year, and I am hopeful this sets a good precedent for future NDAAs. By joining these authorizations together, we are demonstrating to our brave Coast Guardsmen that their service and sacrifice are just as important to our country as our other uniformed military members.\u201d\n\nThe 2020 reauthorization aims to ensure the Coast Guard can carry out vessel capitalization and infrastructure development, and support its range of missions, including maritime safety, drug and illegal migrant interdiction, U.S. laws at sea enforcement, protection of our nation\u2019s borders, and support for Department of Defense operations. Importantly for Alaska, the bill also authorizes $745 million for the second heavy Polar-class icebreaker. In the Fiscal Year 2019 NDAA, Senator Sullivan secured a provision authorizing the construction of six new icebreakers for the Coast Guard, America\u2019s first new icebreakers in forty years. A contract has since been awarded for the first icebreaker, with options to build up to three. Construction on the first new icebreaker will begin in 2021.\n\n\u201cAlaskans know better than most the invaluable work done by the U.S. Coast Guard, which stands as the first line of defense, and rescue and crisis response for our 33,000 miles of coastline,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThis year\u2019s authorization will give the Coast Guard the resources and direction it needs to successfully execute its missions, and also protect America\u2019s national security and economic interests in the Arctic region, led by an emerging fleet of heavy icebreakers.\u201d\n\nAmong the provisions important to Alaska, Senator Sullivan\u2019s Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 will:\n\nAuthorize the Coast Guard to maintain the contract for three heavy Polar Security Cutters (icebreakers) and to award contracts for construction of three more, for a total of six Polar Security Cutters;\n\nAuthorize $745 for construction of the second heavy Polar Security Cutter;\n\nAuthorize $650 million for construction of the twelfth National Security Cutter;\n\nAuthorize $265 million for construction of four Fast Response Cutters;\n\nAuthorize $335 million, over two years, for shoreside infrastructure;\n\nDirect the Coast Guard to prioritize missions and capability development in the Arctic;\n\nStreamline the maintenance and repair of Coast Guard vessels in District 17 (Alaska);\n\nDirect the Coast Guard to report to Congress on the need for search-and-rescue support for Arctic communities;\n\nProvide regulatory certainty for commercial fishing vessels from onerous, unenforced regulations;\n\nProvide relief for the Alaska fishing and hunting guide operations from one-size-fits-all regulations that have stymied their ability to hire and train locally;\n\nProvide increased federal funds for fishing safety training and research grants;\n\nEstablishes an Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee to provide policy recommendations on Arctic maritime transportation;\n\nFocus on expanding the use of unmanned aircraft systems and providing an emphasis on employing this capability in the Arctic;\n\nIncrease protections for survivors of sexual assault;\n\nImprove measures aimed at recruiting and retaining women in the Coast Guard; and\n\nImprove the services offered to family members of Coast Guardsmen, including access to affordable child care, improvements to housing, and review of health care access\u2014especially for those stationed in remote regions.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401848", "New DOD Arctic Security Studies Center Approved by Congress", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Senate today passed theNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), including a provision authorizing a new regional Department of Defense (DOD) Center named theTed StevensCenter for Arctic Security Studies.U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, successfully included key elements of a bill he introduced earlier this Congress with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) successfully included the provision in the House's version of the NDAA, which passed on Tuesday. \r\nThe Ted Stevens Center, the first DOD regional center in the Arctic and the first new DOD regional center since 2000, will support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a unique academic forum, while also fostering strong international networks of security leaders.\r\nThis year's defense authorization will be recognized as one of the most impactful in recent memory for our country, particularly for the Arctic region,said Senator Sullivan.In addition to the historic investments being made in the Arcticincluding new icebreakers,space-based communications, critical militaryinfrastructure, and new initiatives for remote locationswe will soon have an institute to cultivate theArcticpolicyexpertise that is desperately needed in the Department of Defense.In order to address the rise of Great Power' competitorsin the Arctic,the Ted Stevens Centerwill bea new focal point for strategic thinkingas it combines Alaska's extensive reserveofArctic expertise with the best and brightest minds from around the world. I want to thank Senator Murkowski, who conceived of this idea, and Congressman Young, who included the provision in the House NDAA. Both of them worked with me to make the Ted Stevens Center a reality and honor the legacy of the center's namesake, a seminal Alaskan leader on whose shoulders we stand today.\r\nThroughout his time in the Senate, the late Senator Ted Stevens recognized the critical role the Arctic plays in our national defense. He understood the importance of improving the capabilities of our military in the region to safeguard our national interests and improve economic security. I'm proud to have shepherded support for the new Ted Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies, the firstDOD Regional Center in the Arctic,said Senator Murkowski.We are seeing drastic geopolitical, environmental, and security changes in the High North, which are driving increased activity in the region and placing greater emphasis on the strategic importance of the Arctic. This new security center will help solidify America's place in the region and ensure that our country is equipped with the information it needs to support defense strategy objectives, advance defense readiness, improve international cooperation and multilateralism, and best address pressing regional and global security issues. The delegation worked hard to secure this new opportunity in the Arctic and I look forward to the ways it will benefit America while honoring the legacy of Ted Stevens in the process.\r\n\"My friend, our late Senator Ted Stevens, was not only a steadfast advocate for Alaska, but he also fully recognized the strategic importance of the Arctic to America's national security, said Congressman Young. Establishing the Ted Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies has been one of my highest priorities, and I am proud that our Delegation has always fought for its creation. America's national security is not a partisan issue. Naming the Arctic Center for Security Studies after a consensus builder like Senator Stevens is an incredible testament to his legacy of patriotism and multilateralism. I am very pleased that this year's NDAA makes tremendous progress toward its creation, and I am grateful to my colleagues in the House and Senate for supporting it. In the 117th Congress and beyond, I will continue working with the Alaska Delegation and my friends on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the doors of the Ted Stevens Center finally open, and the critical work to defend America's interests the Arctic continues.\"\r\nThe DOD is authorized, within 120 days, to establish aTed StevensCenter for Arctic Security Studies.As a part of this authorization, the DOD is required to submit a plan to Congress on the stand-up of the center.The plan will detail the benefits of an Arctic security studies center, including identifying and considering suitable locations with close proximity to the Arctic, such as Alaska, and co-locating the center on military installations or at local universities. The report will also study associated costs, the suitability of using existing infrastructure, curriculum, and partnership opportunities with other Arctic nations.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/congress-passes-60th-consecutive-annual-national-defense-authorization-act", "Congress Passes 60th Consecutive Annual National Defense Authorization Act", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "FY 2021 NDAA Includes More Than $150 Million in Military Construction for Alaska\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, today joined 83 of his colleagues in voting to pass the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) following a constructive conference process between the House and the Senate. The bill authorizes $740.5 billion in critical defense spending and includes numerous provisions and amendments introduced by Sullivan, many of which directly impact Alaska and will bring more than $150 million in military construction to the state.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA marks the sixtieth year in a row that Congress has passed this vital defense authorization bill,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThis amazing achievement clearly demonstrates to the American people that bipartisanship does, in fact, exist in the halls of the U.S. Capitol and it tells our service membersthat Congress continues to have their back.\n\n\u201cAs our country recovers from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, we must continue to provide our men and women in uniform with the resources they need to defend America. This strong, bipartisan legislation builds on the robust military investments we\u2019ve made over the last four years with meaningful investments in the health and well-being of our service members\u2014including another pay raise\u2014as well as investments in advanced weapons systems, missile defense, domestic supply chains, and much-needed development of the Arctic.\u201d\n\nStrategic Importance of the Arctic\n\nThe FY 2021 NDAA includes a number of Arctic-related provisions that Senator Sullivan pushed for from his seat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, to include the establishment of a Department of Defense (DOD) regional center for security studies focused specifically on the Arctic. This bill highlights the strategic importance of Alaska in the Arctic and invests in military infrastructure and capabilities the U.S. needs to successfully compete with Russia and China in the region.\n\n\u201cBuilding on years of past successes, this year\u2019s NDAA is one of the most consequential defense policy bills Alaska has seen in recent years,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cForemost among these successes is the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, which will establish a forum for strategic thinkers from all over the world to tackle the present and future challenges our nation faces in the Arctic. I look forward to continue working with Senator Murkowski to make sure this center is stood up as soon as possible.\u201d\n\nTed Stevens Arctic Center: The FY 2021 NDAA includes a Sullivan-authored, Senator Murkowski-inspired amendment for a new regional DOD Center, named after the late Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), which would be the first DOD regional center in the Arctic and the first new DOD regional center established since 2000. The center would be authorized for establishment in Alaska and would support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a unique academic forum, while also fostering strong international networks of security leaders.\n\n$46 Million for Arctic Communications Capabilities: The FY 2021 NDAA authorizes $46 million for an initial satellite capability to begin to establish more robust communications at the northern latitudes of the Arctic. The U.S. is an Arctic nation and stable communications is a basic first step to ensuring that the U.S. is appropriately postured for \u201cgreat power competition\u201d in the Arctic region.\n\n$162 million for Alaska Military Construction: The FY 2021 NDAA authorizes $48 million for a communications center at Fort Greely, and $59 million for a new dorm-style barracks and $55 million for a child development center at Fort Wainwright.\n\nDASD for the Arctic: The FY 2021 NDAA requires the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs to assign responsibility for the Arctic region to the deputy assistant secretary of defense (DASD) for the Western Hemisphere or any other DASD that the secretary of defense considers appropriate.\n\nNorth Warning System Modernization: The FY 2021 NDAA directs the DOD to conduct a report on the status of North Warning System infrastructure and develop a plan to modernize the system for integration with space-based infrastructure. The North Warning System is a string of 47 long- and short-range radar stations that stretch across the Arctic from Labrador, Canada to Alaska. These stations provide electronic observation and surveillance capability across the poles for cruise missiles.\n\nRural Incentive Payments: The FY 2021 NDAA authorizes award incentive payments to be given to employees working at locations with geographic remoteness, isolation, or extreme climate conditions\u2014like Eielson Air Force Base, Fort Greely, and Clear Air Force Station.\n\nStudy on Prevention of Suicide at Remote Locations: The FY 2021 NDAA requires the DOD to complete a study addressing suicide among service members at remote installations, including an assessment of the availability of information from indigenous populations and graduate research programs in the area.\n\nSecuring Supply Chains\n\nThe FY 2021 NDAA focuses on securing vital defense industrial base supply chains and decreasing U.S. reliance on unsecure foreign sources of materials critical to national security. Senator Sullivan fought to include provisions that seek to secure critical mineral supply chains to combat Chinese dominance in the manufacturing and processing of minerals critical to the defense industrial base. Senator Sullivan also held a hearing on this topic back in October with Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord.\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the striking vulnerabilities and gaps in our domestic supply chains, and the need to invest in critical mineral manufacturing and processing has taken on a new urgency,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThe U.S. needs to place a new emphasis on home-shoring the production of these critical minerals, particularly in states, like Alaska, where these minerals are found in abundance.\u201d\n\nCritical Minerals: The FY 2021 NDAA includes two Sullivan-authored amendments to address the United States\u2019 rising dependence on China and other foreign countries for minerals and metals that are critical for virtually all modern technology, including strategic defense technologies. These provisions set forth U.S. policy to achieve ambitious 15-year critical mineral goals and would require the DOD to produce a study on U.S. defense critical mineral needs.\n\nOther key Sullivan priorities in the FY 2021 NDAA include:\n\nMissile Defense: The FY 2021 NDAA includes several Sullivan-authored missile defense amendments that mandate a new program of record for a new interim ground-based interceptor (GBI) to more quickly fill the twenty empty silos at Fort Greely, and includes funding for the Missile Defense Agency to develop the Hypersonic Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS).\n\nDiversity and Inclusion: The FY 2021 NDAA includes a Sullivan-authored diversity and inclusion amendment that supports oversight of the DOD\u2019s efforts to foster diversity and equality through the creation of both an immediate-term Defense Board and a longer-term Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in the Armed Forces.\n\nNative Lands Mitigation Program: The FY 2021 NDAA authorizes the DOD to participate in and establish a program to mitigate environmental effects attributed to past DOD actions on Native American and Alaska Native lands.\n\nInnovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program: This provision encourages the DOD to continue utilizing IRT wherever possible and authorizes nearly $30 million to help more units and communities participate in this important program.\n\nAdditional provision of note in the FY 2021 NDAA include:\n\nA three percent pay raise for service members;\n\nResources to help the military respond to the COVID-19 pandemic;\n\nReforms to the DOD\u2019s inefficient business operations;\n\nDirection and funding to reposition U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region to effectively compete with Russia and China;\n\nReforms and oversight of sexual assault prevention, military privatized housing, and military health care; and\n\nFunding for emerging technologies, such as hypersonics, biotechnologies, and cybersecurity.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-dod-arctic-security-studies-center-approved-by-congress", "New DOD Arctic Security Studies Center Approved by Congress", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The U.S. Senate today passed theNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA),including a provision authorizing a new regional Department of Defense (DOD) Center named the \u201cTed Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies.\u201d U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, successfully included key elements of a bill he introduced earlier this Congress with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) successfully included the provision in the House\u2019s version of the NDAA, which passed on Tuesday.\n\nThe Ted Stevens Center, the first DOD regional center in the Arctic and the first new DOD regional center since 2000, will support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a unique academic forum, while also fostering strong international networks of security leaders.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s defense authorization will be recognized as one of the most impactful in recent memory for our country, particularly for the Arctic region,\u201dsaid Senator Sullivan. \u201cIn addition to the historic investments being made in the Arctic\u2014including new icebreakers, space-based communications, critical military infrastructure, and new initiatives for remote locations\u2014we will soon have an institute to cultivate the Arctic policy expertise that is desperately needed in the Department of Defense. In order to address the rise of \u2018Great Power\u2019 competitors in the Arctic, the Ted Stevens Center will be a new focal point for strategic thinking as it combines Alaska\u2019s extensive reserve of Arctic expertise with the best and brightest minds from around the world. I want to thank Senator Murkowski, who conceived of this idea, and Congressman Young, who included the provision in the House NDAA. Both of them worked with me to make the Ted Stevens Center a reality and honor the legacy of the center\u2019s namesake, a seminal Alaskan leader on whose shoulders we stand today.\u201d\n\n\u201cThroughout his time in the Senate, the late Senator Ted Stevens recognized the critical role the Arctic plays in our national defense. He understood the importance of improving the capabilities of our military in the region to safeguard our national interests and improve economic security. I\u2019m proud to have shepherded support for the new Ted Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies, the first DOD Regional Center in the Arctic,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cWe are seeing drastic geopolitical, environmental, and security changes in the High North, which are driving increased activity in the region and placing greater emphasis on the strategic importance of the Arctic. This new security center will help solidify America\u2019s place in the region and ensure that our country is equipped with the information it needs to support defense strategy objectives, advance defense readiness, improve international cooperation and multilateralism, and best address pressing regional and global security issues. The delegation worked hard to secure this new opportunity in the Arctic and I look forward to the ways it will benefit America while honoring the legacy of Ted Stevens in the process.\u201d\n\n\"My friend, our late Senator Ted Stevens, was not only a steadfast advocate for Alaska, but he also fully recognized the strategic importance of the Arctic to America's national security,\u201dsaid Congressman Young. \u201cEstablishing the Ted Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies has been one of my highest priorities, and I am proud that our Delegation has always fought for its creation. America's national security is not a partisan issue. Naming the Arctic Center for Security Studies after a consensus builder like Senator Stevens is an incredible testament to his legacy of patriotism and multilateralism. I am very pleased that this year's NDAA makes tremendous progress toward its creation, and I am grateful to my colleagues in the House and Senate for supporting it. In the 117th Congress and beyond, I will continue working with the Alaska Delegation and my friends on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the doors of the Ted Stevens Center finally open, and the critical work to defend America's interests the Arctic continues.\"\n\nThe DOD is authorized, within 120 days, to establish a Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies. As a part of this authorization, the DOD is required to submit a plan to Congress on the stand-up of the center. The plan will detail the benefits of an Arctic security studies center, including identifying and considering suitable locations with close proximity to the Arctic, such as Alaska, and co-locating the center on military installations or at local universities. The report will also study associated costs, the suitability of using existing infrastructure, curriculum, and partnership opportunities with other Arctic nations.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401847", "Congressman Don Youngs Bill to Create Opportunities for Young People in the Fishing Industry Sails Through the House", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, the Young Fishermen's Development Act (H.R. 1240), legislation authored by Alaska Congressman Don Young, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 1240 addresses the longtime decline in younger Americans entering the commercial fishing industry. This legislation would create the first ever national grant program through the Department of Commerce to support training, education, and workforce development for the nation's next generation of commercial fishermen. H.R. 1240 was introduced earlier in the 116th Congress with Representative Jared Golden (D-ME) along with original cosponsors Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Aumua Amata (R-American Samoa).\r\nThis is a great day for Alaska's fishing industry, and young people across the country hoping to make a living on the water. Young commercial fishermen are facing bigger challenges than ever before  new barriers to entry, limited training opportunities, and a lack of support, said Congressman Don Young. Fishing is important not only to Alaskan culture, but it is central to our rich history. Our legislation is about supporting the livelihoods of fishing communities across the nation by making the next generation aware of the opportunities available in the commercial fishing industry. I want to sincerely thank Representatives Golden, Moulton, and Amata for partnering with me on this critical issue. I am also deeply grateful to my colleagues in the House for supporting its passage. My work on behalf of our fishing fleet is not done. The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated our fishermen, processors, and countless others who depend on a strong, thriving seafood industry. I will continue to fight to ensure a strong future full of opportunity and growth for fishermen of all ages.\r\n\"The average age of Maine lobstermen is over 50. Same goes for scallop fishermen. The future of the fishing industry depends on young people learning the ropes right now, said Congressman Jared Golden. The Young Fishermen's Development Act takes important action to help young Mainers get ready for fulfilling careers in fishing and lobstering so they can stay in Maine, build our economy, and support our communities. I'm proud of this bipartisan effort and encourage the president to sign the bill when it reaches his desk.\r\nCongressman Young introduced the Young Fishermen's Development Act with Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to create a competitive grant program  modeled closely after the successful Department of Agriculture's Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program  that provides meaningful resources for younger generations of Americans entering and progressing in the fishing industry. Congressmen Young and Golden are pleased to be joined by original cosponsors Congresswoman Aumua Amata (American Samoa) and Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06).\r\nCommercial fishing is part of Gloucester's and New England's identity and economy, but the legacy will end if we don't make it easier for the next generation to get started, Congressman Seth Moulton said. These grants will help the industry expand and evolve. Every fisherman and lobsterman I've ever met wants to keep the fish stock and our oceans healthy. I'm proud that this money will give new opportunities to young people and also help teach fishermen how to build new gear and fish in new ways that protect our oceans. Congress's investment will pay off in new technology that works and has buy-in from the people using it to make a living.\r\nFishing is the most important aspect of our island economy, said Congresswoman Amata Radewagen. Congratulations to Dean of the House Don Young, a champion of American fishing for many years, Rep. Golden and Rep. Moulton on this bipartisan achievement to strengthen fishing.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/coast-guard-vice-commandant-commits-to-improving-communication-with-alaska-fishing-fleet-following-irresponsible-russian-exercises-in-bering-sea", "Coast Guard Vice Commandant Commits to Improving Communication with Alaska Fishing Fleet Following \u201cIrresponsible\u201d Russian Exercises in Bering Sea", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Security, convened a hearing yesterday, attended by Admiral Charles Ray, vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, to examine the ability of the Coast Guard to safeguard America\u2019s national security and economic interests in the Arctic region, and the Coast Guard\u2019s response to recent Russian war games in the Bering Sea. The hearing comes one week after Senator Sullivan chaired a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support hearing on the capabilities of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in the Arctic. In last week\u2019s hearing, Sullivan also pressed Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite about the Navy\u2019s response to the Russian military exercises.\n\n\u201cWe've seen Russia push all in on controlling the Arctic,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cRussia has opened sixteen deep-water ports, fourteen airfields, built Arctic military bases, and even formed a new northern Arctic command. In fact, Vladimir Putin has referred to the northern sea route as the new Suez Canal, which he says Russia intends to fully control. In recent months, Russian provocation has only increased\u2026Without persistent U.S. presence in the Arctic, we risk leaving an opening for these types of aggressive actions to continue.\u201d\n\nSullivan went on to describe the work Congress and the Trump administration have done to significantly increase America\u2019s presence in the Arctic, including historic progress on the nation\u2019s first deep-water port in Nome, authorization of six new Polar-class icebreakers, and a White House memorandum on Arctic security.\n\nLater in the hearing, Sullivan asked Admiral Ray about the concerns of many Alaska fishermen who were threatened in the August large-scale Russian military exercises.\n\n\u201cFirst of all, our fishermen, in my view, should never be essentially forced out of the American EEZ when they're legally fishing. And yet, that did happen because the Russians are being quite forceful,\u201d said Sullivan. \u201cSecondly, there seemed to be somewhat of a lack of information flow\u2026Can you comment on that and how we avoid that from happening again, and what steps we need to take, and if you're looking at coordinating with NORTHCOM and the U.S. Navy on this\n\n\u201cThis was not our best day with regard to doing our role to look after American fishermen,\u201d said Admiral Ray. \u201cWhat we are doing to hopefully prevent this from ever happening again, we are having bi-weekly meetings with the industry groups, in particular, the at-sea fish processing group\u2026to understand how we can communicate that to the fleet so that the fleet knows in advance when they think that could cause a challenge to their fisheries operations. And we're dedicated to doing a better job at that. This is not a one and done thing. This is going to be a persistent effort on the part of the U.S. Coast Guard to keep that fleet informed.\u201d\n\nThe committee also heard from a second panel of witnesses that included two Alaskans: Stephanie Madsen, executive director of the At-Sea Processors Association, and retired Air Force Major General Randy Kee, executive director of the Arctic Domain Awareness Center and a recent appointee to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.\n\n\u201cI want to share two main messages with the committee,\u201d said Madsen. \u201cFirst, in any future incident such as this, U.S. authorities must be far more active in safeguarding our sovereign fishing rights. We would later learn that these confrontations were related to a major Russian military exercise of which the government received notice, yet nothing about the exercise was communicated to our industry\u2026Second, this kind of harassment simply cannot be allowed to become a new normal. In a rapidly-changing Arctic, we fear being caught in a crossfire of Russia's effort to establish a more assertive military and economic presence. Our sovereign right to legally fish within the U.S. EEZ must be protected\u2026From our vantage point, a robust U.S. military presence to protect U.S. interests in the region is simply non-negotiable.\u201d\n\nGeneral Kee reinforced Admiral Ray\u2019s and Madsen\u2019s calls for a more robust U.S. military and Coast Guard presence in the Arctic to meet the challenges posed by Russia.\n\n\u201cWith a dominant number of icebreakers, Russia can project surface forces in multiple directions simultaneously,\u201d said General Kee. \u201cRussian national decision making and defense planning are opaque at best. And Russia's Arctic military advantage should be met with resolve and strength as America cannot afford to be perceived as weak in our Arctic commitment to the Kremlin.\u201d\n\nTo watch the full Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing, click here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401845", "House Passes the Water Resources Development Act with Crucial Provisions Championed by Congressman Don Young", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Alaska Congressman Don Young helped the U.S. House of Representatives pass S. 1811, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020. This WRDA bill reauthorizes the activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and sets Congressional priorities to improve our nation's ports, inland waterways, dams, levees, aids to navigation, flood control, and the operational functions the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers undertake in support of national, state and local water resources development needs. The bill will now head to the Senate for passage before heading to the President's desk. Following House passage of the bill, Congressman Don Young released the following statement:\r\n\"Today is a great day for the State of Alaska, our coastline, waterways, and ports. This bill's passage is the single most significant step forward for the development of Arctic port infrastructure in the state of Alaska in its history and a huge step forward for the future of our state's economy and national security. Alaska's 33,904 miles of shoreline dwarf the Lower 48, and with fewer miles of paved road than Rhode Island, Alaska's rivers, highways, and ports are the lifeblood of our state's communities. These simple facts make WRDA especially important for Alaska. The Army Corps Alaska District is an integral partner to Alaska's communities, managing significant project demand with limited resources. In Alaska, where infrastructure needs continue to outpace demand, I am encouraged by the progress we made in this WRDA bill with provisions that recognize Alaska's uniqueness. I want to thank my House and Senate colleagues for both recognizing the needs of Alaska, and understanding that the investments in this bill will benefit the nation as a whole. \r\nFor the Nome and Dutch Harbor communities, this bill is an essential milestone in the Army Corps project development process. I am very pleased that the Port of Nome, the Unalaska Dutch Harbor, and the St. George Harbor project authorizations are included in this bill. I will continue to support these projects as they seek federal funding.\r\nIn the case of the Port of Nome  improvement project, this step was made possible through years of work hard work by the people of Nome and the Delegation. The Nome project will create a strategic transportation hub to meet the needs of U.S. Arctic Policy by strengthening the U.S. presence in the region, in what will hopefully become the first in a 'system of U.S. Arctic Ports.'\r\nThe Port of Nome expansion will ensure more effective search and rescue and environmental response activities as vessel traffic increases throughout the Arctic. The port will serve the country's national interests and support Coast Guard and Navy operations. It will also expand an existing logistics hub for more than 50 Alaskan coastal communities to help reduce the cost of living and create economic opportunities throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.\r\nThis is a WRDA bill that recognizes how monumental our nation's water infrastructure and planning needs are, and I am proud to have helped ensure that Alaska is a direct recipient of that investment. The bill improves the Corps Tribal Partnership Program to help Alaska Natives pursue water infrastructure projects on their lands. Additionally, it includes an extension of Corps responsibility to maintain the damaged Lowell Creek Flood Diversion System in Seward and rectifies a contracting dispute injustice that will save the Aleutians East Borough $4 million.\r\nAs many know, one of my mottos is 'Alaska to the future.' Looking ahead, as the only Arctic state in the Union, Alaska will play the central role in hosting future Arctic infrastructure projects, including the construction of ports to strengthen our national security as government and commercial activities increase in the years ahead. I want to thank my colleagues, Chairman DeFazio, and Ranking Member Graves, for their leadership in these unusually challenging times. I eagerly look forward to the President signing this bill into law, so that our nation's ports, harbors, levees, and dams are strong, safe, and reliable for decades to come.\"\r\nAlaska Specific Provisions Secured by Congressman Young:\r\nProject Authorizations\r\nPort of Nome Improvements: The bill will authorize $505 million for the Arctic Deep Draft Port project in Nome.\r\nUnalaska Dutch Harbor Dredging: The bill will authorize $35 million for a dredging project for Unalaska Dutch Harbor. The project will dredge the entrance channel of the harbor to 58 feet, improving the ability of commercial, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and additional U.S. military assets and ships from allied nations to utilize the harbor.\r\nSt. George Harbor: The bill will authorize $164 million for St. George's navigation improvements. The project will provide for the operability, safety, and reliability of the St. George Harbor, as promised by the federal government, to aid the economic transition from fur seals to commercial fishing on the Pribilof Islands.\r\nPolicy and Programs:\r\nSeward's Lowell Creek Flood Diversion System: The system has been severely damaged as a result of frequent flooding over the last 15 years. The Corps is currently working on a study to develop a new flood control system. In the 2007 WRDA, Congress transferred responsibility for maintaining the tunnel to the Corps for 15 years. This bill will extend that period by five years so that the Corps must maintain the tunnel through 2027, saving potential maintenance costs to Seward.\r\nAleutians East Borough: The bill includes a provision to hold harmless nonfederal project sponsors that have been impacted by a judgement against the Army Corps of Engineers in favor of a project contractor. This provision will save the Aleutians East Borough approximately $4 million.\r\nSense of Congress on Arctic Deep Draft Port Development: The bill includes some of the strongest language in law on the importance of the Arctic to national security and maritime transportation interests of the United States. It calls for the development and enhancement of Arctic maritime transportation infrastructure and the deep draft strategic seaport in Nome, AK for the USCG and Navy.\r\nCoastal Mapping: The Secretary of the Army for Public Works will be required to develop a plan for the reoccurring mapping of coastlines that are experiencing rapid changes, specifically, Alaska which is essential to navigational safety and waterborne commerce in Alaska.\r\nAquatic and Invasive Species: The scope of the Corps Engineering Research and Development Center's research into invasive species will be expanded to include the Arctic recognizing a growing challenge for the state's fisheries and ecosystems.\r\nTribal Partnership Program: The bill will expand the per-project federal cost-share cap for the Tribal Partnership Program (TPP) to $15 million from $12.5 million. The TPP provides authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform water-related planning activities. Activities related to the study, design, and construction of water resources development projects are located primarily on tribal lands that substantially benefit federally recognized tribes. This improvement is a step in the right direction and begins to take into account the challenges Alaska faces with rising project costs.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401846", "Congressman Don Young Fights for Troops, Helps House Pass FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act with Critical Alaska Provisions", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, with the support of Alaska Congressman Don Young, the House of Representatives passed the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021  legislation to set the annual budget for the Department of Defense. This year's NDAA also includes the annual Coast Guard Authorization and Maritime Administration reauthorizations. In addition to supplying needed funding for military expenditures, providing a 3% military pay raise, and bolstering natural disaster preparedness, this legislation also includes several provisions of importance to the State of Alaska and Alaska Native communities. Following House passage of the NDAA, Congressman Young issued the following statement:\r\n\"I am very proud of this year's NDAA, and am grateful to everyone involved who fought for our Armed Forces by securing its passage. These are unprecedented times, which makes this year's bill an especially important one. The FY 2021 NDAA takes critical steps to strengthen our national defense, maritime security, provide a well-deserved pay raise for the brave men and women serving in our Armed Forces, and to equip our military with the resources necessary to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. In Congress, relationships are crucial; this year, I worked with my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee to include my amendments, which strengthen communications in the Arctic and take action to turn the tide in the fight against military suicides. My good friend, Senator Ted Stevens, was a steadfast advocate for our great state. I am especially pleased that this year's NDAA makes essential progress to ensure that the Ted Stevens Center for Security Studies becomes a reality. Senators Murkowski and Sullivan have been important partners in establishing the Stevens Center, and I will keep working to ensure that its work goes on to make Ted proud.\r\nIf we are to have a first-rate military, we must ensure that we stand by our troops at every turn. This year's NDAA not only gives our troops a three percent pay raise, but it also secures funding for all branches of our military, including our Space Force. Finally, I am proud that the NDAA re-authorizes the United States Coast Guard and Maritime Administration, whose service Alaskans rely on to keep our seas safe and navigable. I am proud to see such broad bipartisan support for our nation's military, which is especially important in these uncertain times. Our servicemembers frequently find themselves on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic; they must be supported. My commitment continues to be the men and women who risk their lives to keep us safe. In Congress, I will always champion their causes and make sure they know that Congress has their backs.\r\nCongressman Young's Initiatives Included in the Final House Bill:\r\n \r\n    Ted Stevens Center for Security Studies: Congressman Young's Floor amendment requires that a plan be submitted to Congress on the establishment of a Regional Center for Security Studies for the Arctic, and, after the submission of the plan, establishment of the center may begin. This is a shared priority with Senators Murkowski and Sullivan.\r\n    Arctic Deputy Assistant Secretary: This amendment calls for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs to assign responsibility for the Arctic Region to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere or any other Deputy Assistant Secretary that the Secretary considers appropriate.\r\n    Prevention of Suicide at Remote Locations:Congressman Young worked with Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) of the House Armed Service Committee on an amendment requiring the Department of Defense to complete a study addressing servicemember suicides in remote installations. The study will include an assessment of the availability of suicide prevention information from indigenous populations and graduate research programs in the area.\r\n    Alaska Military Construction (MILCON) funding: Authorizes $162M in MILCON projects for Alaska.\r\n    Innovative Readiness Training (IRT): The Conference Report contains language to encourage the DoD to continue utilizing IRT wherever possible, it authorizes $30M for this very important program.\r\n    Arctic Mission: The NDAA codifies the Coast Guard's prioritization of its Arctic mission, including the Arctic Search and Rescue mission. Additionally, it prioritizes planning for Armed Forces Arctic domain awareness and readiness capability.\r\n    Collaboration with Alaska Natives: The final NDAA directs the Commandant to engage with Alaska Native whaling and fishing groups when conducting the Alaskan Arctic Coast Port Access Route Study. \r\n    Foreign Adversaries: The NDAA includes language directing the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a report on the Arctic Capabilities of the Armed Forces and how U.S readiness compares to Russia and China. \r\n    Search and Rescue Capabilities: The bill directs the Commandant to issue a report within 180 days on the Coast Guard's Search and Recuse capability in Arctic coastal communities. \r\n    Maritime Commerce: The bill creates an Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on emerging opportunities for Arctic maritime transportation.\r\n    Maritime Workforce: The bill strengthens the Maritime Administration's Maritime Security Program and creates the Tanker Security Program to help ensure the preservation of U.S. flagged and U.S. manned vessel readiness and availability. \r\n    Unmanned Aviation: The NDAA includes the establishment of a demonstration program through the Coast Guard to assess the feasibility of using unmanned aircraft systems for operations in the Arctic. \r\n    Icebreakers: The final bill authorizes the following amounts for ship acquisition and procurement in fiscal 2021:\r\n    \r\n        $610 million for a Polar Security Cutter (PSC).\r\n        Authorizes the procurement of three additional PSCs.\r\n    \r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/op-ed-defense-is-on-the-ballot-in-georgia", "OP-ED: \u201cDefense Is on the Ballot in Georgia\u201d", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "With a majority, Chuck Schumer and Bernie Sanders would resume cuts to vital military spending.\n\nThe stakes in the Georgia U.S. Senate races on Jan. 5, 2021, between Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler and their respective challengers, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, are very high for a host of reasons. One that has not received enough attention is the readiness of our military. The U.S. faces rising threats from China, Russia and Iran, and continued robust funding of our military is clearly at stake in Georgia, which will decide the Senate majority. Nowhere is the divide between Democrats and Republicans more important.\n\nFor decades the Democratic Party has staked out a position of diminishing the importance of U.S. military readiness. President Jimmy Carter slashed defense spending in the first three years of his term. This created a hollow force, only to have the Soviets and Iranians take advantage of America\u2019s weakened presence in the Middle East, which forced Mr. Carter to increase spending at the end of his term. President Bill Clinton cut the size of the military by a third, reversing a decade of progress under the Reagan and first Bush administrations.\n\nMore recently, Barack Obama and Joe Biden oversaw a 25% reduction in the military budget during their second term. The cuts were more than numbers\u2014they dramatically undermined our military\u2019s combat readiness and the morale of our troops.\n\nIn 2015, only three of the Army\u2019s 58 brigade combat teams\u2014the 5,000-strong deployable units in the Army\u2014were combat-ready and capable of completing their missions. Less than half of the Navy\u2019s and Marine Corps\u2019 aviation fleets were flight-ready, and only half of the Navy\u2019s amphibious ships were available to support contingency operations. The circumstances in late 2016 and early 2017 were so dire that the Army publicly expressed concerns about running out of bullets.\n\nA main reason Mr. Perdue and I first ran for office in 2014 was to reverse these reckless cuts to our military. We were part of the class of 12 freshman who ushered in Republican control of the Senate and later worked closely with President Trump to give priority to the rebuilding of our military, its morale and readiness. We have made historic progress.\n\nIn the past four years, the Senate voted to increase the defense budget by $454 billion, a 16% increase over the last four years under Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden. This included the highest, and much-needed, pay raises for troops in more than 10 years, robust investments in advanced weapons, and a return to the high levels of readiness that the American people expect for their military. The Army now reports that half of its brigade combat teams are rated at the highest levels of tactical readiness\u2014a nearly 900% increase from four years ago\u2014and Marine Corps aviation has reached 80% readiness goals.\n\nThese investments were accompanied by increases in fiscal responsibility and oversight, including streamlining the Pentagon bureaucracy, cutting red tape around procurement, and completing the first ever Defense Department audit, for which Sen. Perdue played the leading oversight role. He, Sen. Loeffler and other Republicans will continue to give priority to rebuilding our military.\n\nWould a Senate controlled by Democrats be so inclined? The answer is clearly no. This year as the Senate debated the National Defense Authorization Act, Sen. Bernie Sanders offered an amendment that would have slashed defense spending by 10%, exempting only military personnel and health programs, resulting in a total 14% reduction across all other defense programs. Before the vote, and in keeping with the \u201cdefund the police\u201d fever that gripped Democrats this summer, Mr. Sanders wrote an op-ed titled \u201cDefund the Pentagon: The Liberal Case.\u201d\n\nThe Sanders amendment was a wrecking ball aimed at our nation\u2019s military readiness, which is why I led the effort to oppose it on the Senate floor. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, on the other hand, made clear that the Sanders amendment had his support, and by extension his fellow Democrats, tweeting \u201cProud I fought alongside @SenSanders to ensure we vote in July on his amendment to cut $740B defense budget by 10%. . . . I proudly support this amendment.\u201d\n\nRepublicans including Sens. Perdue and Loeffler worked to defeat the \u201cDefund the Pentagon\u201d priority of Sens. Schumer and Sanders.\n\nThere is little doubt that a government run entirely by Democrats\u2014Mr. Schumer with Joe Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi \u2014would usher in a new wave of reckless cuts to our military. These cuts would severely damage readiness and morale, as well as hurt the economies of states like Alaska and Georgia, which count tens of thousands of military members and their families as residents.\n\nThe Republican military buildup in recent years has helped create thousands of jobs, with benefits for small businesses and overall economic growth. Georgia has nine major military installations, including the only East Coast ballistic-missile submarine bays, the future home of the Air Force\u2019s Advanced Battle Management System, and the home of Army Cyber Command Headquarters.\n\nIf Republicans can maintain their Senate majority, we will check the Democratic Party\u2019s demonstrated priority to gut our military again. But if Sens. Perdue and Loeffler are not re-elected, and Sen. Schumer becomes majority leader, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, we will have condemned ourselves to a history we have not learned from, and America will be much less safe for it.\n\nBy: Sen. Dan Sullivan\n\nSource:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401843", "House Passes Legislation Championed by Representatives Don Young and Suzanne Bonamici to Improve Ocean Data Collection and Information Sharing", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Congressman Don Young (R-AK-At Large) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan House Oceans Caucus, applauded passage of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act  legislation they championed in the House to improve data collection and information sharing between the federal agencies and coastal observation partners dedicated to monitoring oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes.\r\n\"This is a great day for our oceans and the health of our marine ecosystems for generations to come. This is not just an environmental issue, but an economic one too. Our integrated Ocean Observation System helps make maritime commerce possible,\" said Congressman Don Young. \"Equipping our fishermen and ship captains with the best possible data is essential to making our waters safer and more navigable. Accurate data collection is also critical to maritime search and rescue operations, fisheries' health, and the mitigation of coastal hazards. I am very grateful to my Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Suzanne Bonamici, for her continued partnership on this and countless other Caucus priorities. Our work is not done. In the 117th Congress and beyond, I look forward to continuing to move future Oceans Caucus priorities across the finish line. The health of our waters depends on it.\"\r\nThe ocean covers more than 70 percent of the planet, but despite our intrinsic connection to our ocean we know very little about what is beneath its surface, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. Coastal communities rely on accurate ocean data and monitoring for information about ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, sea level rise, flooding, navigation, and port security. In the Pacific Northwest, we are fortunate to have the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems leading the way. I was pleased to work with my House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congressman Don Young, to support these important ocean observation efforts.\r\nThe bill, which includes the technical changes implemented by the U.S. Senate, would reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act through Fiscal Year 2024. The eleven regional association networks of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) work with regional partners to develop, operate, and maintain more than 300 observing assets that collect oceanographic and coastal data, including information about rising sea levels, coastal flooding, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxia. It now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.\r\nThe bipartisan House Oceans Caucus is committed to taking action to protect the health and future of our oceans. This Congress, the Caucus is focused on environmental stressors (including ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxia); marine debris; ocean data and monitoring; coastal resiliency; and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401844", "Delegation Welcomes Announcement of  First Coastal Plain Lease Sale", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCU.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that a Notice of Sale for the first lease sale in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) will be published on December 7, 2020.  BLM's announcement means we are now just weeks away from a long-awaited lease sale in the 1002 Area, Murkowski said. This is a tremendous opportunity for Alaska's resources to continue benefitting our nation and providing American families with well-paying jobs. Alaskans have proven, over and over again, that we can responsibly develop our resources while being good stewards of our lands and waters. I thank Secretary Bernhardt and his team for their efforts to ensure the first lease sale is carried out, as required by law, enabling us to strengthen our state's economy over the long-term.\r\nThis is great news for Alaska. Responsibly developing the untapped resources of ANWR's Coastal Plain will be critically important to filling TAPS, bolstering Alaska's economy, and providing jobs for hard-working Alaskans in the decades to come,Sullivan said. I applaud the Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management for working diligently to implement the provision we as a delegation included in the 2017 tax law, and announcing a leasing program that Alaskans have fought so hard for more than 40 years to secure.\r\nThis is an exciting day not only for Alaska, but for American energy dominance. I am very pleased that BLM has announced its first Notice of Sale for the 1002 Area of ANWR. This is a tremendous step forward for our state and the countless Alaskans who make a living in our energy sector. Finally achieving what was promised by ANILCA four decades ago is in sight, and I want to thank everyone involved for their ongoing hard work and commitment. As we approach the day when drilling can begin, I will be working hard with our Delegation, BLM, and the operators who will make our long-time fight a reality, Young said.\r\n President Trump signed H.R. 1, theTax Cuts and Jobs Act,in December 2017. The second title of the Act authorizes the surface development of up to 2,000 federal acres of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (roughly one ten-thousandth of all of ANWR). The U.S. Geological Survey estimates this area contains 10.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. New production from the 1002 Area will help refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System while creating high-paying jobs, generating revenues for the state and federal treasuries, keeping energy prices affordable for families and businesses, and strengthening national energy security. Alaska has a strong record of responsible resource development. The footprint of drilling pads on the North Slope has declined by 80 percent since the 1970s, while the reach of underground drilling has grown by 4,000 percent. The result is that less land is being used to develop resources than ever before; many modern sites cover just a few acres and are miles apart. The Central Arctic Caribou herd, which ranges throughout Prudhoe Bay, has seen its population grow for sustained periods alongside development on the North Slope. ANWR spans 19.3 million acres, an area of land roughly equal in size to South Carolina, in northeast Alaska. In 1980, Congress designated more than eight million acres within ANWR  an area of land significantly larger than Maryland  as federal wilderness as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. That same legislation set aside the 1.57-million acre Coastal Plain for petroleum exploration and potential future development, which is supported by a majority of Alaskans.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/delegation-welcomes-announcement-of-first-coastal-plain-lease-sale", "Delegation Welcomes Announcement of First Coastal Plain Lease Sale", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that a Notice of Sale for the first lease sale in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) will be published on December 7, 2020.\n\n\u201cBLM\u2019s announcement means we are now just weeks away from a long-awaited lease sale in the 1002 Area,\u201dMurkowski said. \u201cThis is a tremendous opportunity for Alaska\u2019s resources to continue benefitting our nation and providing American families with well-paying jobs. Alaskans have proven, over and over again, that we can responsibly develop our resources while being good stewards of our lands and waters. I thank Secretary Bernhardt and his team for their efforts to ensure the first lease sale is carried out, as required by law, enabling us to strengthen our state\u2019s economy over the long-term.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is great news for Alaska. Responsibly developing the untapped resources of ANWR\u2019s Coastal Plain will be critically important to filling TAPS, bolstering Alaska\u2019s economy, and providing jobs for hard-working Alaskans in the decades to come,\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cI applaud the Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management for working diligently to implement the provision we as a delegation included in the 2017 tax law, and announcing a leasing program that Alaskans have fought so hard for more than 40 years to secure.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is an exciting day not only for Alaska, but for American energy dominance. I am very pleased that BLM has announced its first Notice of Sale for the 1002 Area of ANWR. This is a tremendous step forward for our state and the countless Alaskans who make a living in our energy sector. Finally achieving what was promised by ANILCA four decades ago is in sight, and I want to thank everyone involved for their ongoing hard work and commitment. As we approach the day when drilling can begin, I will be working hard with our Delegation, BLM, and the operators who will make our long-time fight a reality,\u201d Young said.\n\nPresident Trump signed H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, in December 2017. The second title of the Act authorizes the surface development of up to 2,000 federal acres of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (roughly one ten-thousandth of all of ANWR). The U.S. Geological Survey estimates this area contains 10.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. New production from the 1002 Area will help refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System while creating high-paying jobs, generating revenues for the state and federal treasuries, keeping energy prices affordable for families and businesses, and strengthening national energy security.\n\nAlaska has a strong record of responsible resource development. The footprint of drilling pads on the North Slope has declined by 80 percent since the 1970s, while the reach of underground drilling has grown by 4,000 percent. The result is that less land is being used to develop resources than ever before; many modern sites cover just a few acres and are miles apart. The Central Arctic Caribou herd, which ranges throughout Prudhoe Bay, has seen its population grow for sustained periods alongside development on the North Slope.\n\nANWR spans 19.3 million acres, an area of land roughly equal in size to South Carolina, in northeast Alaska. In 1980, Congress designated more than eight million acres within ANWR \u2013 an area of land significantly larger than Maryland \u2013 as federal wilderness as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. That same legislation set aside the 1.57-million acre Coastal Plain for petroleum exploration and potential future development, which is supported by a majority of Alaskans.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/navy-previews-forthcoming-arctic-strategy-in-sullivan-hearing-on-navy-and-marine-corps-readiness", "Navy Previews Forthcoming Arctic Strategy in Sullivan Hearing on Navy & Marine Corps Readiness", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "Military leaders pressed on Russian harassment of Alaska-based fishing vessels in August; Say more Arctic presence is needed to counter Russia and China\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, hosted a hearing yesterday on the readiness and capabilities of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, and to preview a new U.S. Navy strategy for the Arctic. The subcommittee heard from three witnesses: Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael M. Gilday, and Commandant of the Marine Corps General David H. Berger.\n\nIn the hearing, Senator Sullivan questioned the leaders of the two military service branches about the rise of \u201cGreat Power Competition\u201d between the United States and China and Russia, and the importance of a strong and consistent U.S. presence in the Arctic region. Specifically, Sullivan raised the troubling incursion of Russian vessels and aircraft into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in August in the Bering Sea, and the Russians\u2019 aggressive and harassing maneuvers toward Alaska-based fishing crews who were lawfully operating in the area but were ultimately forced to depart.\n\n\u201cAs our country seeks to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever that our military maintains its readiness and lethality,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cOur Navy and Marine Corps have a great history of operating effectively under the most difficult conditions. As Russia continues its military build-up in the Arctic, it is not a time to become complacent and it remains imperative that our Navy and Marine Corps are able to operate effectively in all climates, to include expanding their capabilities in the harsh conditions of the Arctic region.\u201d\n\nIn his first line of questioning, Senator Sullivan asked Secretary Braithwaite and Admiral Gilday what the Navy is doing to deter Russian aggression in the Arctic following the widely-reported large-scale Russian military exercises in August, and how communication can be improved so that Alaska fishermen never find themselves in this situation again.\n\n\u201cThe Russian exercise that I mentioned caught our fishing fleet by surprise,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cI know that there's been an \u2018after action,\u2019 but our fishing fleet was ordered out of the EEZ\u2014which, of course, is our EEZ, where they fish\u2014and [they] shouldn't be ordered out by the Russians. But they were buzzed. They were harassed. What are we doing in terms of an after action to make sure that that doesn't happen again?\u201d\n\n\u201cI share your concern, Senator,\u201d said Admiral Gilday. \u201cI actually meet with the NORTHCOM Commander later on this week, and I know they're looking at what potentially happened with communication breakdowns, potentially to our fishermen, and perhaps miscommunication between agencies and the U.S. government. But U.S. fishermen should not feel threatened by another nation, and in our own EEZ, in terms of fishing. I think our continued presence up there will have some blunting effect to that. But I think perhaps more needs to be done, including through the Arctic Council, to have honest discussions about it.\u201d\n\nSecretary Braithwaite agreed with Admiral Gilday on the importance of naval surface presence in the Arctic.\n\n\u201cWe need that visible presence, as the chief of naval operations talked about just a few moments ago,\u201d said Secretary Braithwaite. \u201cPower projection, sea control, and the ability to ensure to our partners and allies and our own people that we, the United States Navy, have first and foremost in our minds. We are about to release an Arctic strategy that you and I talked about during our recent trip to Alaska and the importance of how that blueprint will recommit ourselves in a much more visible way to activities in the Arctic\u2026Russia has re-militarized the Arctic, China has recommitted itself to build icebreakers...The United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, Senator, is committed, to being present in the Arctic in a much more visible way than we've historically been.\u201d\n\nDuring the hearing, Senator Sullivan also highlighted the Navy\u2019s soon-to-be-released Arctic Strategy, and emphasized the need to home-port the next generation of U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers \u2013 the Polar Security Cutter \u2013 in the Arctic to support naval operations. In June, the White House released a historic \u201cMemorandum on Safeguarding U.S. National Interests in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions\u201dthat calls for assets and resources in the Arctic to ensure a persistent United States presence in the area, including a fleet of icebreakers that is operationally tested and fully deployable by Fiscal Year 2029. Additionally, in October, Sullivan penned an op-ed in Roll Call calling for the new vessels to be based in Alaska.\n\n\u201cI'm hopeful to hear some positive news about a new Navy Arctic strategy, which this committee has been encouraging all of the services to produce Arctic strategies, and I am hopeful that we could also have a discussion on\u2026the support for building six Polar-class icebreakers that our nation needs,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cI authored language in the NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act] a couple of years ago that put forward the authorization to build [these] icebreakers between the Coast Guard and the Navy. I think it makes strategic sense for America, if you're going to have icebreakers, you need to base them in the place where the action is, and that's in the Arctic, not in Florida or other places where there's no ice. Do you have a view on where we should be basing these?\u201d\n\n\u201cAs far as home-porting those ships, if they fell under the control of the United States Navy, of course we would home-port them closer to where they would be required to fulfill their mission,\u201d said Secretary Braithwaite. \u201cGoing into Kodiak, I was extremely impressed with the Coast Guard facility there, meeting with the station commander again. [This is] a phenomenal base with the infrastructure to support additional ships being home-ported there.\u201d\n\nTo watch the full subcommittee hearing, click here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-markey-murkowski-applaud-senate-passage-of-young-fishermens-development-act", "Sullivan, Markey, Murkowski Applaud Senate Passage of Young Fishermen\u2019s Development Act", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) applauded the Senate\u2019s passage yesterday of the Young Fishermen\u2019s Development Act, legislation to mitigate the challenges facing the next generation of entrants into the fishing industry by supporting regional training opportunities and apprenticeship programs.\n\n\u201cAlaska is the unquestioned superpower of seafood, thanks to our world-class, sustainably-managed fisheries and our countlesshard-working fishermen,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThe sustainability and endurance of this vital industry, which employs more people in Alaska than any other, depends on up-and-coming qualified fishermen. I thank my Senate colleagues for passing our legislation to reduce basic barriers to entry through new grants, training opportunities and apprenticeship programs. Helping the next generation of Alaskans enter our fisheries will help ensure Alaska remains the superpower of seafood.\u201d\n\n\u201cDespite centuries of fishing tradition in Massachusetts\u2019s coastal communities, new fishermen are finding it a challenge to join the industry,\u201d said Senator Markey. \u201cOur legislation will help ensure that our fishing industry continues to attract and grow future generations of young fishermen. More young men and women will be pushing off the dock into new careers and fully participating in the economy of their communities. I thank my colleagues for their partnership on this hopeful legislation and look forward to enacting it into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cI appreciate Senator Sullivan leading this effort and am glad to once again join him in addressing some of the barriers facing young people as they try to join the commercial fishing fleet. This legislation will support education, training, and workplace development of future fishermen and help maintain sustainable fishing careers, strengthen food security, and encourage future generations of Alaskans to pursue jobs in this important industry,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cIt is my hope that enactment of this legislation will help us pass down the values and lifestyles that fishing has woven into the fabric of our state.\u201d\n\nThe United States is among the leading fishing nations in the world, generating more than $200 billion in sales and supporting 1.7 million jobs per year. The positive impact of U.S. commercial fisheries on the economy largely reflects the effective laws put into place under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the collective efforts of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, regional fisheries management councils, and stakeholders to sustainably manage U.S. fisheries.\n\nIn recent years, incoming generations of commercial fishermen seeking to enter the industry have met new challenges and higher barriers to entry, contributing to several shifts in the demographics of commercial permit holders. In several regions, commercial fisheries have seen an increase by 10 years or more in the average participant\u2019s age over the previous generation of fishermen, and rural communities have lost 30 percent of local permit holders. Several studies suggest this \u201cgraying of the fleet\u201d has led to an increase in financial capital and risk needed to enter into the commercial fishing industry.\n\nModeled after the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s successful Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, this legislation creates the first federal program dedicated to training, educating, and assisting the next generation of commercial fishermen. The Young Fishermen\u2019s Development Program would include:\n\nA competitive grants program for collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally-based networks or partnerships.\n\nA mentorship/apprenticeship program to connect retiring fishermen and vessel owners with new and beginning fishermen.\n\nFinancial support for local and regional training and education in sustainable and accountable fishing practices, marine stewardship, and business practices, and technical initiatives that address the needs of beginning fishermen.\n\nTheYoung Fishermen\u2019s Development Act will now be considered by the House.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-whitehouse-menendez-marine-debris-bill-heads-to-presidents-desk", "Sullivan-Whitehouse-Menendez Marine Debris Bill Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2020-12-01", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "Senate approves technical changes to Save Our Seas 2.0\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) are applauding final Senate passage of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act this evening. The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act was introduced in June 2019 to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal economies and harming marine life.\n\nThe legislation seeks to help reduce the creation of plastic waste, find uses for the plastic waste that already exists to keep it from entering the oceans, spur innovation, and tackle the problem on a global scale. It builds on the initial progress secured by the Save Our Seas Act, which was sponsored by Sullivan and Whitehouse and signed into law by President Trump in 2018.\n\n\u201cSave Our Seas 2.0 is the most comprehensive marine debris legislation ever to pass Congress,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThis proves that major bipartisan achievements on some of the biggest environmental challenges are possible. The progress we have made over the past few years on the marine debris crisis, beginning with the original Save Our Seas Act, is historic and constitutes a whole-of-government approach to helping protect our pristine environment across the globe and, particularly, in Alaska, which has more coastline than the rest of the Lower 48 combined. I thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for coming together to clean up our oceans, spark innovation on managing plastic waste, and protect our fisheries and coastal communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile marine debris presents a massive international challenge, it\u2019s a manmade problem that we can solve by finding creative solutions at home and abroad,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, who co-founded the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus to find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts. \u201cSave Our Seas 2.0 is a wide-reaching, bipartisan bill that builds on progress we\u2019ve already made addressing ocean pollution. There\u2019s much more that needs to be done to tackle the scourge of plastic waste washing up on our shores\u2014Save Our Seas 3.0 is already in the pipeline.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday is a great day for New Jerseyans and all Americans in the fight to protect our beautiful coastlines and beach communities from the growing scourge of plastic waste washing up on our shores. Save Our Seas 2.0 provides the most comprehensive set of tools to help bolster the United States\u2019 leadership and response to this growing global environmental and economic challenge and I\u2019m so pleased to see it become law,\u201d said Senator Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.\n\nRoughly eight million metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste from land enters the oceans each year. Ninety percent of this plastic enters the oceans from ten rivers, eight of which are in Asia. The plastic breaks down into tiny pieces that can enter the marine food chain and harm fish and wildlife, and wash ashore on even the most remote stretches of coastline. Plastic has been found in areas as remote as the Mariana Trench, the deepest known point in the ocean.\n\nThe Senate first passed Save Our Seas 2.0 in January and today approved technical changes made in the House. The House version of the bill was sponsored by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Don Young (R-Alaska).\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401842", "Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following U.S. Army Corps Decision to Deny Permit to Pebble Mine", "2020-11-25", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following U.S. Army Corps Decision to Deny Permit to Pebble Mine \r\n  \r\n     \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington, D.C.  Following a decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny a permit to the proposed Pebble Mine, Alaska Congressman Don Young issued the following statement:\r\nFrom the very beginning of the debate surrounding Pebble Mine, I have been consistent in my position that we needed to allow the process to play out and that decision making should be based on sound science. Today, it appears that the process has concluded. This is state land, and to me, this has always been a states' rights issue. Although I thank the Army Corps of Engineers for their work and am confident that they faithfully followed the process, I remain disappointed that the federal government gets to decide before Alaskans do. Now there must be a consideration of how the federal government will compensate the State for the loss of economic potential. The proposed mine has always been subject to political intrigue and the whims of outsiders who simply do not understand our state. Throughout my career, I have always defended our right to extract oil and minerals responsibly. Going forward, I will continue fighting to ensure that proposed projects are fairly judged on their merits, so that the voices of outside extremists do not stifle Alaska's potential for jobs and economic growth.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murkowski-and-sullivan-army-corps-right-to-reject-pebble-permit", "Murkowski and Sullivan: Army Corps Right to Reject Pebble Permit", "2020-11-25", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "Anchorage, Alaska \u2013 U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) formally rejected the Pebble Limited Partnership\u2019s application for a permit to discharge dredged or fill material into navigable waters under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.\n\nThe Army Corps determined the Pebble project is \u201ccontrary to the public interest.\u201d Murkowski and Sullivan, while staunch advocates of mining in Alaska, oppose the project and voiced their strong support for the Army Corps\u2019 decision to deny the permit. The agency\u2019s denial concludes the permitting process on the application submitted by the Pebble Partnership in December 2017.\n\n\u201cAfter years of review and analysis, the Army Corps has found that this project is \u2018contrary to the public interest,\u2019 ending consideration of its permit application and affirming that this is the wrong mine in the wrong place. I thank the agency and the broader Trump administration for completing a rigorous, impartial, and science-based process to determine the best course of action,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cThis is the right decision, reached the right way. It should validate our trust and faith in the well-established permitting process used to advance resource development projects throughout Alaska. It will help ensure the continued protection of an irreplaceable resource \u2013 Bristol Bay\u2019s world-class salmon fishery \u2013 and I hope it also marks the start of a more collaborative effort within the state to develop a sustainable vision for the region.\u201d\n\n\u201cI welcome the Army Corps\u2019 Record of Decision to deny the permit,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThe Pebble Limited Partnership had its opportunity to present a project that could meet the high environmental standards in Alaska that we demand. Today, the Army Corps has made the correct decision, based on an extensive record and the law, that the project cannot and should not be permitted. Resource development is one of the key industries that drives Alaska\u2019s economy and provides thousands of hard-working Alaskans with good-paying jobs and opportunity for the future. I will continue to be a strong advocate for these resource-development jobs and economic opportunities in our state. However, given the special nature of the Bristol Bay watershed and the fisheries and subsistence resources downstream, Pebble had to meet a high bar so that we do not trade one resource for another. As I have been saying since August, Pebble did not meet that bar and, accordingly, the Corps rightly denied the permit. Throughout this process, I\u2019ve emphasized to senior federal officials and Alaskans that this decision needed to be based on science and data, not politics. I want to thank the Army Corps and the Trump administration for acting accordingly, giving this permit a fair hearing through the regular process, and ultimately following the law and the record to deny the permit.\u201d\n\nThe Pebble project is a proposed open-pit, large-scale mine in the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska. Earlier this summer, the Army Corps determined the project would impact several thousand acres of wetlands and waters and roughly 120 miles of streams in the Koktuli River Watershed. The Army Corps determined the project \u201ccannot be permitted\u201d as proposed and directed Pebble to submit a plan for in-kind and other compensatory mitigation within 90 days. Pebble reportedly did so, but the agency found that the project remained \u201ccontrary to the public interest\u201d and therefore denied the permit.\n\nMurkowski and Sullivan both oppose the Pebble mine and have worked to ensure that federal decisionmakers are aware of Alaskans\u2019 views on the project. Earlier this month, Murkowski included report language in her Interior-EPA Appropriations bill urging the Army Corps to deny Pebble\u2019s permit if the project did not \u201cprovide a full and functional compensatory mitigation plan that meets all requirements within the Corps\u2019 requested 90-day timeframe.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401841", "ALASKA DELEGATION WELCOMES CURRENCY RULE PREVENTING BANK EXCLUSION OF ENERGY SECTOR", "2020-11-20", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska), welcomed aproposed rule announced todayby the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to ensure that national banks are providing fair access to banking services to customers based on objective risk, withoutexcludinglegal businesses and individuals. The announced rule comes after a sustained effort by members of Congress, led by the Alaska congressional delegation, urging the country's senior federal financial regulators to examine the legality of decisions in late 2019 and early 2020 by several of the nation's largest banks to withhold financing from oil and gas development projects in the Arctic, including the 1002 Area of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).\r\nFor too long, we have seen financial institutions making policy decisions in attempts to de-bank disfavored industries. Perhaps the most recent example came late last year, as Alaskans witnessed a deeply troubling trend of America's big banks pledging to black-list energy development projects in the Arctic, without regard for the people who live here in some of the most economically-challenged parts of the country,said the delegation. Not only were these pledges callous, they also very likely violated federal law. We quickly got to work, informing our congressional colleagues about the dangerous precedent this trend could set for other industries, and calling on the regulators who oversee the big banks to step forward and correct this injustice. We thank Comptroller Brooks and the OCC team for upholding the principle of free and fair access to capital today and acting on behalf of all Americans, including the Alaskans we represent. This is not a partisan issue only affecting oil and gas. This rule is to ensure fair access to banking services for all, not just for favored industries.\r\nFair access to financial services, credit, and capital are essential to our economy,saidActing Comptroller of the Currency Brian P. Brooks. This proposed rule would ensure that banks meet their responsibility to provide their services fairly since they enjoy special privilege and powers because if the system fails to provide fairness to all, it cannot be a source of strength for any.\r\nAccording to the OCC, the proposal builds upon the fundamental principle of nondiscrimination, under Title III of theDoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, and would prevent banksalone or in coordination with othersfrom limiting fair access to banking through broad-based, categorical decisions against entire categories of customers, rather than individual and objective risk assessment.\r\nThe rule will next be published in the federal register, starting a comment period that will close by January 4, 2021. After the OCC considers the comments, the office will publish a final rule.\r\nTimeline\r\n \r\n    In December of 2017, President Donald Trumpsigned theTax Cuts and Jobs Act, which included a title authored by Senator Murkowski to authorize energy development in a small portion of the non-wilderness 1002 area of ANWR.\r\n    InDecember of 2018, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the oil and gas leasing program in ANWR.\r\n    In January of 2020, sixteen Democratic U.S. senatorssent a letterto the leaders of the nation's fifteen largestbanks, urging them to withhold funding from Arctic oil and gas projects.\r\n    Also in January, Mayor Harry Brower Jr. of Alaska's North Slope Boroughpenned an op-edcondemning the subtly racist attitude of some of thebanksblocking economic opportunities for Alaska Native peoples who reside on the North Slope.\r\n    In April of 2020, Sullivan and President Trumpcriticizedthe actions of thebanksin a press conference at the White House.\r\n    In May of 2020,the Alaska delegationsent a letterwithmore than 30oftheircongressional colleagues to President Trump urging the administration to take action against large American financial institutions forexcludingAmerican energy companies and their workers.\r\n    In June of 2020, Senators Sullivan and Murkowski, and Congressman Young,sent a letterto Chairman Jerome Powell and Vice Chair Randy Quarles of the Federal Reserve, Acting U.S. Comptroller of Currency Brian Brooks, and Chairwoman Jelena McWilliams of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, urging these officials to consider regulatory action and oversight of large American financial institutions following theactions against Arctic communities.\r\n    On July 24, 2020, Comptroller of the Currency Brookssent a response letterto the delegation stating, As requested, the OCC will take a serious look at these banks' actions. The OCC intends to seek additional information from the banks involved to understand the rationale for these decisions as well as their effect on our national economy and local communities. This will, in turn, help us analyze whether these actions violate any duty or obligation under federal laws.\r\n \r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-congressional-delegation-files-amicus-brief-in-support-of-alaska-native-corporations", "Alaska Congressional Delegation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Alaska Native Corporations", "2020-11-20", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "Continue Push for ANCs to Be Eligible for COVID-19 Tribal Assistance\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska,have filed an amicus curiae brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to grant the petition for a writ of certiorari in support of Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) eligibility for tribal assistance appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The amicus brief states that the indigenous peoples of Alaska will suffer severe negative consequences as a result of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals\u2019 September 25, 2020 decision, which held that ANCs are ineligible for CARES Act tribal coronavirus relief funding. The Alaska Congressional Delegation argued the decision should be reversed, citing decades-old precedent and federal Indian law which supports ANCs eligibility for this funding. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit\u2019s September ruling overturned an earlier June 26 ruling by a U.S. District Court that concluded ANCs are eligible for the aid.\n\n\u201cWe worked hard to secure funding within the CARES Act to provide emergency-relief funds to 'Indian tribes' as defined by the Indian Self-Determination Education and Assistance Act\u2014which includes Alaska regional or village corporations\u2014to help provide the maximum benefit to all indigenous people to help overcome the impacts of COVID-19. The ruling by the D.C. Circuit deeming ANCs as ineligible for this critical funding is unacceptable as it goes against the language of ANCSA, ISDEAA, and the CARES Act, erasing more than 45 years of precedent, with the potential to undo the tribal systems of health care, education, housing, and more,\u201d said the delegation. \u201cThe pandemic is hitting Alaska Native villages hard with COVID cases continuing to rise. We stand with the ANCs who are fighting for the health and safety of all Alaska Natives.\u201d\n\nClick here for the full amicus brief.\n\nExcerpts from the Amicus Brief:\n\n\u201cTo undermine programs during a global pandemic is a failure to understand how Native entities work together in Alaska and calls for review by this Court.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Members of Congress who represent the only indigenous population that has been singled out for this disparate treatment, we have a unique interest in participating in this briefing and will be useful for this Court in interpreting the laws we have consistently passed for nearly half a century.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe DC Circuit's decision, if allowed to stand, will have a widespread and deleterious effect on numerous agencies' precedents and practice, and calls into question laws that have been relied upon, with good reason, by the indigenous people of Alaska and this Nation, for nearly half a century.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe DC Circuit's decision singles out the indigenous people of Alaska, the constituency we represent, and forces them to try to seek redress from the State rather than the federal government, which owes them a special duty under the trust relationship as Indians. Not only is that incorrect for legal and historic reasons, but it is also not the reality of how services are received or delivered in Alaska.\u201d\n\n\u201cAdditionally, due to the sweeping nature of the DC Circuit's decision, the full impact of the injury is unknown, but may prove fatal to more than one system of delivering services to the Indian population of Alaska.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile a global pandemic spreads to the remote villages of Alaska, the system that delivers health care has been called into question and critical funding withheld.\u201d\n\n\u201cCurrently, COVID cases in the remote villages hit 20 percent and little safeguards within the communities. Over 30 villages lack basic sanitation infrastructure; there is no running water for all the residents, no flush toilets\u2014 the lack of which only enables the pandemic to spread. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 survey, 15.8% of Alaska's overall population is Alaska Native and American Indian alone. With the pandemic just reaching the villages, Alaska Native and American Indian people already account for 32.3% of total deaths in Alaska. This is occurring while needed relief funds are being withheld.\u201d\n\n\u201cANCSA makes clear that the Alaska Native people are the heart and soul of the ANCs, and for whom the ANCs were formed to benefit. Alaska Native people are not to be considered \"less than\" other Indian people just because they fall into one designation rather than another. With its passage in 1975, ISDEAA also explicitly recognized and imported ANCs into concepts of self-determination by including them in the definition of 'Indian tribe.'\u201d\n\n\u201cThe DC Circuit's decision found that the systems of receiving and delivering Indian services in Alaska should be set-aside because it did not conform to the Lower 48 model of a traditional sovereign tribe with reservation land; this is a fundamental misunderstanding of Alaska which has grave consequences.\u201d\n\nTimeline:\n\nOn March 27, the CARES Act was signed into law, including an $8 billion set-aside for tribal governments.\n\nOn April 14, the Alaska Congressional Delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt detailing the unique legal framework and circumstances for tribal entities in Alaska. The letter provided a historical background on Alaska regional corporations, which are made eligible for CARES Act assistance because of the definition of \u201cIndian tribe\u201d used in the bill.\n\nIn April, several tribes filed lawsuits to prevent CARES Act funds from being distributed to ANCs.\n\nOn April 23, the delegation penned an op-ed in the Anchorage Daily News to correct the mischaracterizations about ANCs and explain why the entities are eligible for CARES Act funds.\n\nOn June 26, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled ANCs are eligible for the aid. Judge Mehta based his decision on the definition of \u201cIndian tribe\u201d provided by the 1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and used in the CARES Act, which included ANCs.\n\nOn September 25, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned the June 26 ruling and determined ANCs are ineligible for tribal assistance appropriated by the CARES Act.\n\n# # #\n\nNext Article Previous Article", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-welcomes-currency-rule-preventing-bank-exclusion-of-energy-sector", "Alaska Delegation Welcomes Currency Rule Preventing Bank Exclusion of Energy Sector", "2020-11-20", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska), welcomed a proposed rule announced today by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to ensure that national banks are providing fair access to banking services to customers based on objective risk, without excluding legal businesses and individuals. The announced rule comes after a sustained effort by members of Congress, led by the Alaska congressional delegation, urging the country\u2019s senior federal financial regulators to examine the legality of decisions in late 2019 and early 2020 by several of the nation\u2019s largest banks to withhold financing from oil and gas development projects in the Arctic, including the 1002 Area of Alaska\u2019s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).\n\n\u201cFor too long, we have seen financial institutions making policy decisions in attempts to de-bank disfavored industries. Perhaps the most recent example came late last year, as Alaskans witnessed a deeply troubling trend of America\u2019s big banks pledging to black-list energy development projects in the Arctic, without regard for the people who live here in some of the most economically-challenged parts of the country,\u201d said the delegation. \u201cNot only were these pledges callous, they also very likely violated federal law. We quickly got to work, informing our congressional colleagues about the dangerous precedent this trend could set for other industries, and calling on the regulators who oversee the big banks to step forward and correct this injustice. We thank Comptroller Brooks and the OCC team for upholding the principle of free and fair access to capital today and acting on behalf of all Americans, including the Alaskans we represent. This is not a partisan issue only affecting oil and gas. This rule is to ensure fair access to banking services for all, not just for favored industries.\u201d\n\n\u201cFair access to financial services, credit, and capital are essential to our economy,\u201d said Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian P. Brooks. \u201cThis proposed rule would ensure that banks meet their responsibility to provide their services fairly since they enjoy special privilege and powers because if the system fails to provide fairness to all, it cannot be a source of strength for any.\u201d\n\nAccording to the OCC, the proposal builds upon the fundamental principle of nondiscrimination, under Title III of the Dodd\u2013Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, and would prevent banks\u2014alone or in coordination with others\u2014from limiting fair access to banking through broad-based, categorical decisions against entire categories of customers, rather than individual and objective risk assessment.\n\nThe rule will next be published in the federal register, starting a comment period that will close by January 4, 2021. After the OCC considers the comments, the office will publish a final rule.\n\nTimeline\n\nIn December of 2017, President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which included a title authored by Senator Murkowski to authorize energy development in a small portion of the non-wilderness 1002 area of ANWR.\n\nIn December of 2018, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the oil and gas leasing program in ANWR.\n\nIn January of 2020, sixteen Democratic U.S. senators sent a letter to the leaders of the nation\u2019s fifteen largest banks, urging them to withhold funding from Arctic oil and gas projects.\n\nAlso in January, Mayor Harry Brower Jr. of Alaska\u2019s North Slope Borough penned an op-ed condemning the \u201csubtly racist attitude\u201d of some of the banks blocking economic opportunities for Alaska Native peoples who reside on the North Slope.\n\nIn April of 2020, Sullivan and President Trump criticized the actions of the banks in a press conference at the White House.\n\nIn May of 2020, the Alaska delegation sent a letter with more than 30 of their congressional colleagues to President Trump urging the administration to take action against large American financial institutions for excluding American energy companies and their workers.\n\nIn June of 2020, Senators Sullivan and Murkowski, and Congressman Young, sent a letter to Chairman Jerome Powell and Vice Chair Randy Quarles of the Federal Reserve, Acting U.S. Comptroller of Currency Brian Brooks, and Chairwoman Jelena McWilliams of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, urging these officials to consider regulatory action and oversight of large American financial institutions following the actions against Arctic communities.\n\nOn July 24, 2020, Comptroller of the Currency Brooks sent a response letter to the delegation stating, \u201cAs requested, the OCC will take a serious look at these banks\u2019 actions. The OCC intends to seek additional information from the banks involved to understand the rationale for these decisions as well as their effect on our national economy and local communities. This will, in turn, help us analyze whether these actions violate any duty or obligation under federal laws.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401840", "Alaska Congressional Delegation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Alaska Native Corporations", "2020-11-19", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, filed an amicus curiae brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court togrant the petitionfor a writ of certiorari in support of Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) eligibility for tribal assistance appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The amicus brief states that the indigenous peoples of Alaska will suffer severe negative consequences as a result of theD.C.Circuit Court of Appeals' September 25, 2020 decision,which heldthatANCs are ineligible for CARES Act tribalcoronavirus relief funding. The Alaska Congressional Delegation argued the decision should be reversed, citing decades old precedent and federal Indian law which supports ANCs eligibility for thisfunding. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit's September ruling overturned an earlier June 26 ruling by a U.S. District Court that concluded ANCs are eligible for the aid.\r\nWe worked hard to secure funding within the CARES Act to provide emergency-relief funds to 'Indian tribes' as defined by the Indian Self-Determination Education and Assistance Actwhich includes Alaska regional or village corporationsto help provide the maximum benefit to all indigenous people to help overcome the impacts of COVID-19. The ruling by the D.C. Circuit deeming ANCs as ineligible for this critical funding is unacceptable as it goes against the language of ANCSA, ISDEAA, and the CARES Act, erasing more than 45 years of precedent, with the potential to undo the tribal systems of healthcare, education, housing, and more, said the delegation. The pandemic is hitting Alaska Native villages hard with COVID cases continuing to rise. We stand with the ANCs who are fighting for the health and safety of all Alaska Natives.\r\nClick here for the full amicus brief.         \r\nExcerpts from the Amicus Brief:\r\n \r\n    To undermine programs during a global pandemic is a failure to understand how Native entities work together in Alaska and calls for review by this Court.\r\n \r\n \r\n    As Members of Congress who represent the only indigenous population that has been singled out for this disparate treatment, we have a unique interest in participating in this briefing and will be useful for this Court in interpreting the laws we have consistently passed for nearly half a century.\r\n \r\n \r\n    The DC Circuit's decision, if allowed to stand, will have a widespread and deleterious effect on numerous agencies' precedents and practice, and calls into question laws that have been relied upon, with good reason, by the indigenous people of Alaska and this Nation, for nearly half a century.\r\n \r\n \r\n    The DC Circuit's decision singles out the indigenous people of Alaska, the constituency we represent, and forces them to try to seek redress from the State rather than the federal government, which owes them a special duty under the trust relationship as Indians. Not only is that incorrect for legal and historic reasons, but it is also not the reality of how services are received or delivered in Alaska.\r\n \r\n \r\n    Additionally, due to the sweeping nature of the DC Circuit's decision, the full impact of the injury is unknown, but may prove fatal to more than one system of delivering services to the Indian population of Alaska.\r\n \r\n \r\n    While a global pandemic spreads to the remote villages of Alaska, the system that delivers health care has been called into question and critical funding withheld.\r\n \r\n \r\n    Currently, COVID cases in the remote villages hit 20 percent and little safeguards within the communities. Over 30 villages lack basic sanitation infrastructure; there is no running water for all the residents, no flush toilets the lack of which only enables the pandemic to spread. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 survey, 15.8% of Alaska's overall population is Alaska Native and American Indian alone. With the pandemic just reaching the villages, Alaska Native and American Indian people already account for 32.3% of total deaths in Alaska. This is occurring while needed relief funds are being withheld.\r\n \r\n \r\n    ANCSA makes clear that the Alaska Native people are the heart and soul of the ANCs, and for whom the ANCs were formed to benefit. Alaska Native people are not to be considered \"less than\" other Indian people just because they fall into one designation rather than another. With its passage in 1975, ISDEAA also explicitly recognized and imported ANCs into concepts of self-determination by including them in the definition of 'Indian tribe.'\r\n \r\n \r\n    The DC Circuit's decision found that the systems of receiving and delivering Indian services in Alaska should be set-aside because it did not conform to the Lower 48 model of a traditional sovereign tribe with reservation land; this is a fundamental misunderstanding of Alaska which has grave consequences.\r\n \r\nTimeline:\r\n \r\n    On March 27, the CARES Act was signed into law, including an $8 billion set-aside for tribal governments.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n    In April, several tribes filed lawsuits to prevent CARES Act funds from being distributed to ANCs.\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-sullivan-briefs-alaskans-on-operation-warp-speed-vaccine-development", "VIDEO: Sullivan Briefs Alaskans on Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Development", "2020-11-19", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today issued the following message to Alaskans after receiving an extensive briefing on Operation Warp Speed, the public-private partnership to develop and distribute a vaccine for COVID-19. The briefing for all U.S. senators was hosted by General Gustave F. Perna, chief operating officer ofOperation Warp Speed, and Doctor Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific advisor for the operation. In the briefing, senators were informed that two companies developing COVID-19 vaccines are seeking emergency-use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which could be issued by mid-December, followed soon after by distribution of vaccines on a per capita basis to individual states.\n\nTRANSCRIPT\n\nGood afternoon, Alaska. I wanted to make sure that\u2014as we've done throughout the pandemic\u2014the challenges we've been facing as a state and as a country, whenever I've gotten briefings from senior officials in charge of the response, I've tried to get that information out as quickly as possible for all of you. This morning, participating with the vast majority of U.S. senators, we were given an update on Operation Warp Speed. This was something that I was very focused on in the CARES Act to make sure there was significant funding for the rapid development of therapeutics and a vaccine. This morning, we were briefed by the two senior leaders of Operation Warp Speed\u2014General Perna, who is the COO and logistics lead for the entire operation, and Dr. Slaoui, who is the chief scientist for Operation Warp Speed.\n\nThe briefing, I will say, presents some good news. You have to be cautiously optimistic with regard to the pandemic, therapeutics, and the vaccine. But, as we're seeing challenging times in Alaska and throughout the country, I thought it was important to provide, directly from them, what they are seeing.\n\nThe bottom line is there are two companies that you have been reading about, I'm sure, in the press that are likely to have FDA approval very soon, with more companies coming online probably soon thereafter. They are expecting to have upwards of 20 million vaccines by next month, and to start administering these as well. Then they will, week by week, continue to administer the vaccine to Americans across the country with the goal that, they estimate right now, by the end of May to have pretty much the entire country vaccinated for those Americans who choose to have a vaccine.\n\nThis is pretty remarkable news. Vaccines normally take eight to ten years to develop and get tested. There were a lot of opportunities for questions. The focus of when and how and who will be vaccinated first, and in what order, is primarily being left with the states. Our state right now is putting together a plan, in coordination with Operation Warp Speed and the federal government, on exactly the priorities of where, when, who and how will get this vaccine, and in what order. That will be done at the state level, state by state.\n\nI did ask about the logistical challenges that we have with regard to delivery of the vaccine, especially in a place like our great state that has a huge territorial expanse and a limited population size. We want to be able to make sure everybody has access to this.\n\nThe general told me that, similar to testing, they are very focused on Alaska. They recognize our challenges. They recognize the long distances. They recognize the lack of medical capacity in many of our villages. They recognize the challenges that can come with weather. He said they are very focused on making sure that Alaska is at the top of their areas of concern on the logistics.\n\nIn terms of distribution, the original vaccines are going to be distributed on a per capita basis. Each state, given the size of its population, is going to get the vaccine quantities that reflect how big the population of the state is.\n\nIn terms of continuing what we need to be focused on, of course, Alaska, like the rest of the country, continues to be challenged with dramatic increases in COVID-19 cases. People need to continue to abide by state and federal guidelines\u2014social distancing, other elements and wearing masks to make sure that we are limiting the spread. But I thought that this was very important news. In many ways, (it is) light at the end of the tunnel.\n\nWe need to be cautiously optimistic here, but as soon as I got this briefing, I wanted to make sure that all Alaskans were available to get the same information as my office. We will continue to update everybody as we get information on, not only the development of vaccines, but there was also a briefing on the development of therapeutics, which is also dramatically improving the survivability of Americans who are getting COVID-19 and reducing, relative to last April and March and May, the hospitalization rates.\n\nAs we continue to get this information on vaccines and therapeutics from senior officials in the federal government, I will continue, with my team in my office, to get this information out to as many Alaskans as possible. Thank you.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401839", "ICYMI: House Passes Young, Ruppersberger Bill to Help Coastal Communities Prepare for Storms, Floods", "2020-11-18", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressmen Don Young (R-AK) and C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) that will help local and state governments protect the country's 95,000 miles of shoreline. The Digital Coast Act will now be considered by the U.S. Senate, which already passed the legislation before technical changes were made.\r\nThe Digital Coast Act creates a new program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), allowing it to begin a comprehensive mapping process of the nation's shorelines. Coastal communities  home to 42 percent of our country's population and millions of businesses that supply most of our gross domestic product  will be able to use the data to prepare for storms, manage floods, restore ecosystems and plan smarter developments near America's coasts, harbors, ports and shorelines.\r\nToday is a great day for our coastlines and waterways. No other state in the nation understands the need for coastal resilience and mapping more than Alaska, said Congressman Young. With more than 44,000 miles of coastline, much of which is not fully mapped, Alaska's coastal communities rely heavily on our waterways and shipping channels to support all forms of social and economic prosperity: goods from the Lower 48, critical transportation needs, search and rescue operations, and the state's largest private-sector employer  our fishing industry. The Digital Coast Act is an important step towards developing a system that supports our coastal communities, and I am grateful to my colleagues for supporting it today. I look forward to working with my friends in the Senate to get it across the finish line.\"\r\nI have spent a decade pushing this legislation because, while it is critical to coastal communities like mine in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, we all have a stake in protecting America's shorelines, Congressman Ruppersberger said. This bill is more important now than it was when I first introduced it. We're seeing more storms that are stronger and sea level rise is accelerating. We can't wait any longer. Today, we're arming local planners and managers with the tools they need to save people and property.\r\nGeospatial mapping information can be complicated, expensive to collect and difficult to use without in-house expertise. The Digital Coast Act will empower NOAA to train decision-makers at the local and state level on how to use the datasets to answer questions about storm surge, erosion, and water level trends. The data will also be available on NOAA's website for free and easy public access.\r\nIn the Senate, companion legislation was introduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). That bill, S. 1069, passed in late September. The House made slight technical amendments that the bill sponsors are hopeful will be adopted by the Senate as well.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401838", "One Step Closer: Interior Issues Call for Nominations for First Lease Sale in Alaskas Coastal Plain", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it will issue a Call for Nominations for tracts to be offered in the first lease sale in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The Call for Nominations follows the administration's Record of Decision in August and will include 32 tracts covering 1.6 million acres. \r\nThis is a key step that puts us on track to have a lease sale in the 1002 Area as soon as January 2021,Murkowski said.While we face headwinds, from global economic conditions to an organized effort to prevent leasing, the Department's rigorous environmental review has provided a solid framework to ensure responsible exploration and development. We are now within sight of the first-ever lease sale on the Coastal Plain, and I appreciate the continued good work of Secretary Bernhardt and his team to help us reach this point.\r\nA lease sale in ANWR's Coastal Plain will be a major step in cementing the historic progress we've made for Alaska's economic future over the past four years,Sullivan said.This development could mean thousands of jobs forhard-workingAlaskans and hundreds of thousands of barrels in daily pipeline throughput. I applaud Secretary Bernhardt and the Interior Department team for faithfully implementing the law we passed in 2017 and moving us one step closer to responsibly developing the 1002 Area for the benefit of Alaskans and the entire country.\r\nAlaskans have always been strong environmental stewards who know how to develop our resources responsibly. Securing the longtime promise of development on ANWR's Coastal Plain was a tremendous victory for Alaska, and this call for nominations is a critical step toward a lease sale. Make no mistake: the voices that want to lock away Alaska from development are only growing louderand less Alaskan. There is light at the end of the tunnel in our fight, and the time is now to finally achieve what was promised by ANILCA four decades ago. As we approach the day where the first drilling rigs arrive and crude starts flowing, I will continue working to ensure that Alaska is front and center as we blaze the trail towardcontinuedAmerican energy dominance,Young said.\r\nBLM's Call for Nominations will officially appear in the Federal Register tomorrow. It will be open for 30 days, until December 17, 2020. During that time, members of the public can nominate tracts within the program area for potential inclusion in the upcoming lease sale. The lease sale itself will require 30 additional days of notice before it can be held.\r\nPresident Trump signed H.R. 1, theTax Cuts and Jobs Act,in December 2017. The second title of the Act authorizes the surface development of up to 2,000 federal acres of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (roughly one ten-thousandth of all of ANWR). The U.S. Geological Survey estimates this area contains 10.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. New production from the 1002 Area will refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System while creating high-paying jobs, generating revenues for the state and federal treasuries, keeping energy prices affordable for families and businesses, and strengthening national energy security.\r\nAlaska has a strong record of responsible resource development. The footprint of drilling pads on the North Slope has declined by 80 percent since the 1970s, while the reach of underground drilling has grown by 4,000 percent. The result is that less land is being used to develop resources than ever before; many modern sites cover just a few acres and are miles apart. The Central Arctic Caribou herd, which ranges throughout Prudhoe Bay, has seen its population grow for sustained periods alongside development on the North Slope.\r\nANWR spans 19.3 million acres  an area of land roughly equal in size to South Carolina  in northeast Alaska. In 1980, Congress designated more than eight million acres within ANWR  an area of land significantly larger than Maryland  as federal wilderness as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. That same legislation set aside the 1.57-million acre Coastal Plain for petroleum exploration and potential future development, which is supported by a majority of Alaskans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401837", "Health Update from Congressman Don Young", "2020-11-16", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "There has been much speculation in the media on my current condition, and I want Alaskans to know that their Congressman is alive, feeling better, and on the road to recovery. As you know, last week, I tested positive for COVID-19. Over the weekend, I was admitted to Providence Hospital for treatment and monitoring. The team at Providence did an outstanding job, and their commitment to patient care is to be commended. I have been discharged and continue recovering and working from home in Alaska. Very frankly, I had not felt this sick in a very long time, and I am grateful to everyone who has kept me in their thoughts and prayers.\r\nUnfortunately, a lot of what you may have heard about my condition was based on speculation in the media that did not respect my privacy. This is irresponsible, and I do not want any Alaskans to be scared of seeking testing or treatment out of privacy concerns. COVID-19 is a serious virus, and its recent surge in our state has made this a critical moment. I encourage all Alaskans to continue following CDC guidelines: practice social distancing; use a mask; avoid crowds whenever possible.\r\nThe economy, in both Alaska and our entire nation, has been devastated by this virus. This is not just a public health emergency, but an economic crisis as well. Today, we received encouraging news that a second COVID-19 vaccine candidate has shown to be successful. This development represents tremendous potential, but we must continue looking out for one another. Fighting the spread of this virus is crucial if we are to recover. We cannot hunker down forever, but I sincerely believe that we will be successful in fighting COVID-19, so that we can restore our economic health in the present, and secure a bright future for all Alaskans; our children and grandchildren are depending on us. Stay safe, and may God Bless Alaska and our frontline workers.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/one-step-closer-interior-issues-call-for-nominations-for-first-lease-sale-in-alaskas-coastal-plain", "One Step Closer: Interior Issues Call for Nominations for First Lease Sale in Alaska\u2019s Coastal Plain", "2020-11-16", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it will issue a Call for Nominations for tracts to be offered in the first lease sale in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The Call for Nominations follows the administration\u2019s Record of Decision in August and will include 32 tracts covering 1.6 million acres.\n\n\u201cThis is a key step that puts us on track to have a lease sale in the 1002 Area as soon as January 2021,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cWhile we face headwinds, from global economic conditions to an organized effort to prevent leasing, the Department\u2019s rigorous environmental review has provided a solid framework to ensure responsible exploration and development. We are now within sight of the first-ever lease sale on the Coastal Plain, and I appreciate the continued good work of Secretary Bernhardt and his team to help us reach this point.\u201d\n\n\u201cA lease sale in ANWR\u2019s Coastal Plain will be a major step in cementing the historic progress we\u2019ve made for Alaska\u2019s economic future over the past four years,\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cThis development could mean thousands of jobs for hard-working Alaskans and hundreds of thousands of barrels in daily pipeline throughput. I applaud Secretary Bernhardt and the Interior Department team for faithfully implementing the law we passed in 2017 and moving us one step closer to responsibly developing the 1002 Area for the benefit of Alaskans and the entire country.\"\n\n\u201cAlaskans have always been strong environmental stewards who know how to develop our resources responsibly. Securing the longtime promise of development on ANWR's Coastal Plain was a tremendous victory for Alaska, and this call for nominations is a critical step toward a lease sale. Make no mistake: the voices that want to lock away Alaska from development are only growing louder and less Alaskan. There is light at the end of the tunnel in our fight, and the time is now to finally achieve what was promised by ANILCA four decades ago. As we approach the day where the first drilling rigs arrive and crude starts flowing, I will continue working to ensure that Alaska is front and center as we blaze the trail toward continued American energy dominance,\u201d Young said.\n\nBLM\u2019s Call for Nominations will officially appear in the Federal Register tomorrow. It will be open for 30 days, until December 17, 2020. During that time, members of the public can nominate tracts within the program area for potential inclusion in the upcoming lease sale. The lease sale itself will require 30 additional days of notice before it can be held.\n\nPresident Trump signed H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, in December 2017. The second title of the Act authorizes the surface development of up to 2,000 federal acres of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (roughly one ten-thousandth of all of ANWR). The U.S. Geological Survey estimates this area contains 10.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. New production from the 1002 Area will refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System while creating high-paying jobs, generating revenues for the state and federal treasuries, keeping energy prices affordable for families and businesses, and strengthening national energy security.\n\nAlaska has a strong record of responsible resource development. The footprint of drilling pads on the North Slope has declined by 80 percent since the 1970s, while the reach of underground drilling has grown by 4,000 percent. The result is that less land is being used to develop resources than ever before; many modern sites cover just a few acres and are miles apart. The Central Arctic Caribou herd, which ranges throughout Prudhoe Bay, has seen its population grow for sustained periods alongside development on the North Slope.\n\nANWR spans 19.3 million acres \u2013 an area of land roughly equal in size to South Carolina \u2013 in northeast Alaska. In 1980, Congress designated more than eight million acres within ANWR \u2013 an area of land significantly larger than Maryland \u2013 as federal wilderness as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. That same legislation set aside the 1.57-million acre Coastal Plain for petroleum exploration and potential future development, which is supported by a majority of Alaskans.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401836", "Delegations Landless Legislation Rectifies 50-Year Injustice", "2020-11-10", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, andRep.Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued statements on new legislation they introduced to allow the Alaska Native communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Tenakee to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA).\r\nThe five Southeast communities were not included in ANCSA, which divided 44 million acres of land among more than 200 regional, village, and urban corporations to resolve land claims throughout Alaska. Thedelegation's new bill  entitled the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act would amend ANCSA to provide each community with the right to form an Alaska Native Urban Corporation and receive 23,040 acres, or one township, of federal landjust as ANCSA granted to other Southeast Native communities 50 years ago.\r\nThe identity of Alaska's first people is inextricably tied to the land they have inhabited for centuries, Murkowski said. For five decades, these five landless communities have sought the same benefits ANCSA granted to other Alaska Natives throughout Southeast. This is a matter of equity. Our new legislation will help correct this historical wrong.\r\nIt is simply a matter of fairness that the five landless' Alaska Native communities in Southeast have the same access to land that other communities received following the historic enactment of ANCSA, Sullivan said. Our legislation directs the federal government to make good on its promises to the indigenous communities that were excluded from this seminal agreement, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to help them understand the unique importance of this bill to the people of my state.\r\nFor too long, the so-called 'landless' Alaska Natives, from the communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, have been denied the land and local resources that other village and urban corporations received under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971, Young said. Very frankly, this was an error that should have never happened, and I have always fought to secure the recognition that these communities deserve. Access to land is crucial, and will help bring economic opportunity and upward mobility to the Alaska Natives in Southeast. I am very proud to introduce the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act. Just as we have with Alaska Native communities across our state, this bill would finally amend ANCSA to provide each landless community with the right to form an Alaska Native Urban Corporation, making them eligible to receive 23,040 acres of federal land. I am grateful to have Senators Murkowski and Sullivan as partners in this important initiative, and I sincerely appreciate the extensive input and engagement from stakeholders in Southeast. Securing a better tomorrow for Alaska Natives starts with ensuring fair treatment under law, and Alaskans can count on me to work hard to get this bill across the finish line.\r\nWe are at a unique time in our history, as the United States comes to a collective reckoning of its past, while socially and institutionally reforming to rebuild its present, said Cecilia Tavoliero, Petersburg landless shareholder and president of the Southeast Alaska Landless Corporation, the nonprofit coalition of the five landless communities fighting for recognition. As we rebuild, Alaska Natives Without Land is fighting for Indigenous land rights for the descendants of the ancient villages of the Southeast Alaskan communities known today as Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee Springs and Wrangell.\r\nSullivan and Murkowski filed the measure in the Senate earlier today, and Young will introduce it Thursday, when the House is back in session.\r\nThere is no consensus on why the five communities were left out of ANCSA, but a congressionally-directed 1994studyby the University of Alaska's Institute of Social and Economic Research found that the examined history of the five communities showed strong similarities to other communities in the region that were granted corporations under ANCSA.\r\nThe new legislation is the result of extensive and ongoing outreach to stakeholders in Southeast Alaska. Unlike previous measures, it identifies specific parcels of land that would be conveyed to the new urban corporations, which are depicted on official maps produced by the U.S. Forest Service. The legislation also includes detailed terms to protect many existing uses of those lands and to ensure that reasonable public access can continue.\r\nTo read the legislation, clickhere. To see the Forest Service's maps, clickhere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401833", "Alaska Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following De-Listing of the Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act", "2020-10-30", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Alaska Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following De-Listing of the Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act \r\n    \r\n     \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington,\r\n      October 30, 2020\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington, D.C.  On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the successful recovery and subsequent de-listing of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Following their de-listing, state and tribal wildlife management agencies will resume responsibility for sustainable management and protection of gray wolves in states with gray wolf populations. After the announcement, Alaska Congressman Don Young issued the following statement:\r\n\"The people are always the best stewards of their land, and very frankly, Alaskans know that better than anyone. The de-listing of the gray wolf re-affirms that state, local, and tribal governments in the Lower 48 should bear responsibility for hunting, fishing, and wildlife management. As Congress intended, wildlife management under the Endangered Species Act should be based on sound science. It has been well-established that unchecked gray wolf populations jeopardize the balance of our ecosystem. Unless properly managed, gray wolves threaten caribou, moose, elk, and other wildlife populations. I am very pleased that President Trump has shifted the gray wolf's management to state and tribal organizations. Restoring local powers has always been one of my highest priorities, and I will continue working in Congress and with the Administration to ensure that the people are trusted to make decisions for themselves, said Young.\r\nMore information can be found here.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401824", "Alaska Delegation Proposes US-Canada Border Crossing Solutions", "2020-10-29", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In an effort to address US-Canada border crossing issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Congressman Don Young, and Governor Mike Dunleavy (all R-AK) sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, raising issues severely impacting Alaskans. In their letter, the Alaska Delegation highlighted specific, persisting challenges impacting the health and safety of Alaskans and proposed reasonable solutions.\r\nAs we continue to work together to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, to keep our residents and citizens safe and healthy, we appreciate the consideration for reasonable land crossing exceptions for essential travel between Alaska and the contiguous United States through your country.\r\nThe Delegation explained that each year Alaskans, many elderly and with medical conditions, journey south, traveling through Canada to the contiguous United States, in order to be closer to comprehensive medical facilities better equipped to address their healthcare needs in addition to being in a warmer climate, which is easier on their health. Such travel is currently considered non-essential according to Canada's cross-border travel restrictions. In addition, the Delegation raised the unique circumstance of residents in Hyder, Alaska who are being impacted by current border closures. For example, the only grocery store in the region is located in nearby Stewart, British Columbia, and Hyder children typically attend the nearby Canadian schools.\r\nWhile there are many more individual instances of travel restrictions impacting daily lives, we highlight these two as some of the most pressing issues, but ones for which we think there are reasonable solutions to ensure the safety and health of both Canadians and Alaskans alike. We all agree that we must remain vigilant against the threats to the health and wellbeing of our people that COVID-19 has created. We have at-risk Alaskans who will soon be unable to complete their journey south by road due to snow and difficult winter conditions. We have Alaskans and Canadians, neighbors and families, separated by a single border post, unable to connect and collectively bear the burdens these global conditions have imposed on them.\r\nThe Delegation proposed the following solutions, which would allow Alaskans to move forward with necessary travel while protecting Canadians from additional exposure to COVID-19:\r\n \r\n    Allow an exception for non-discretionary, essential travel permitting Alaskans to transit south for the winter. This includes supporting a requirement that each Alaskan allowed to travel must present a negative COVID-19 test prior to transiting through Canada.\r\n    Ease the current travel restrictions and grant a travel bubble to Hyder and Stewart, allowing residents to visit family and access essential supplies, schooling, medical care, religious services and other essential functions for these two highly-integrated, and very isolated communities.\r\n \r\nClick herefor the Alaska Delegation letter, which is also below.\r\nDear Prime Minister,\r\nWe write to you as a united delegation from Alaska, the state with the most extensive shared border with Canada, to bring to your attention some specific issues severely impacting our constituents as the border crossing restrictions due to COVID-19 continue.\r\nThank you, and your Canadian colleagues, for the high level of support and understanding in regard to the unique travel needs between our shared borders. As we continue to work together to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, to keep our residents and citizens safe and healthy, we appreciate the consideration for reasonable land crossing exceptions for essential travel between Alaska and the contiguous United States through your country. The purpose of this letter is to highlight some of those challenges which persist, but for which we believe, through working together, we can find reasonable solutions in a safe and healthy manner.\r\nCanadians and Alaskans alike know that winter will soon be upon us. Each year, Alaskans, many elderly and with medical conditions, pack up their vehicles and journey south to the contiguous United States. They travel south because Alaska's winter can be harsh, complicating underlying medical conditions. Their winter homes in the Lower 48 are closer to comprehensive medical facilities which are better equipped to address their healthcare needs. There, they can receive ongoing care in a warmer climate that is easier on their health. A recent challenge expressed by many Alaskans trying to return to their winter homes relates to current cross-border travel restrictions, which presently consider this travel non-essential. We submit that such travel is essential for these senior citizens, as well as for the health and safety of broader populations in regions where access to healthcare is limited.\r\nWe understand and appreciate the magnitude of the task facing your government. Due to our own unique challenges, Alaska was the first state in the United States to require COVID-19 testing in our airports. Early on, we made the hard decision to shut down intrastate travel to protect our rural communities. We have been relatively fortunate so far; Alaska has seen no increase in excess mortality  the gold standard by which a pandemic response can be judged.\r\nAlaskan residents of the community of Hyder also face unique challenges. Hyder, Alaska, and the British Columbia community of Stewart, straddle the border of our two countries, and have been living as one community for generations. Hyder's children attend Canadian schools, and their only road connects solely to Canada. The town's utilities and grocery needs are wholly located in Stewart.\r\nHyder and Stewart remain divided by the current border closure. Families, some facing end-of-life issues, have been separated for over half the year. Hyder residents are disallowed from visiting their family down the street in Stewart, their children barred from school. Stewart's residents can walk down the road into Hyder, but must quarantine for two weeks upon return.\r\nWhile there are many more individual instances of travel restrictions impacting daily lives, we highlight these two as some of the most pressing issues, but ones for which we think there are reasonable solutions to ensure the safety and health of both Canadians and Alaskans alike. We all agree that we must remain vigilant against the threats to the health and wellbeing of our people that COVID-19 has created. We have at-risk Alaskans who will soon be unable to complete their journey south by road due to snow and difficult winter conditions. We have Alaskans and Canadians, neighbors and families, separated by a single border post, unable to connect and collectively bear the burdens these global conditions have imposed on them.\r\nIn recent weeks, we have had several conversations with members of your government and provided specific suggestions, which we believe, would allow Alaskans to move forward with necessary travel while protecting Canadians from additional exposure to COVID-19. These include the following:\r\nFirst, allow an exception for non-discretionary, essential travel permitting Alaskans to transit south for the winter. Currently, Canada has very reasonable travel requirements for land crossings, including limited time in which to move from border to border, limiting time within the vehicle, no stops except for non-recreational purposes, etc. Those restrictions reasonably limit the amount of time any Alaskan would spend transiting border crossings. We know many presently need to transit via motorhomes, further limiting their time outside the vehicle.\r\nFor Alaskans wishing to travel as described above, we would support a requirement that each Alaskan allowed to travel must present a negative COVID-19 test prior to transiting through Canada. This is currently a requirement that the State of Alaska has in place for all out-of-state air travelers, including Alaskans returning to the state, and is a reasonable requirement for non-residents. Alaskans currently have many means of access to free COVID-19 testing; therefore, we do not believe this would be a significant problem for such travelers. We are certain Alaskans journeying south would respect any conditions your government sets for them as they undertake passage through Canada.\r\nSecond, ease the current travel restrictions and grant a travel bubble to Hyder and Stewart, allowing residents to visit family and access essential supplies, schooling, medical care, religious services and other essential functions for these two highly-integrated, and very isolated communities. We are likewise confident that residents of Hyder and Stewart would adhere to any restrictions needed to facilitate their reunification. To date, there has not been a single diagnosed case of COVID-19 in either community. The current travel restrictions are having an increasingly negative impact on these communities, and for these reasons we support the request of the residents of Hyder and Stewart to ease the current restrictions, including easing the travel quarantine requirement, in a responsible and safe way.\r\nThese are starting suggestions, of course, and we are committed to working together with you, your administration, and your staff, as necessary to resolve any concerns or logistical issues. Our hope in sending this letter is to cut through the noise and bring these humanitarian issues to your attention. We each know from personal experience the many difficulties that come with managing a government during a pandemic.\r\nOur state and federal governments and our health officials stand ready to work with our Canadian neighbors and counterparts on a humane solution to these great challenges. Our collaboration thus far has been productive, and for that we thank you. Let's move forward together.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401825", "Delegation: Tongass Exemption Will Help Build Sustainable Economy in Southeast Alaska", "2020-10-29", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ketchikan, AlaskaU.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) published aRecord of Decision(ROD) and final rule exempting the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Roadless Rule).\r\nThe Tongass is home tomanyAlaskans who want what most Americans take for grantedthe opportunity to live, work, and raise their families in the communities in which they grew up,said Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.A full exemption from the Roadless Rule means access to more affordable and renewable energy to power homes and schools, access to technology at a time when more Americans are logging online for health care and education, and access for transportation and recreation to promote jobs and economic activity in the regionall while ensuring continued good stewardship of our lands and waters. I thank the USDA and Forest Service team for recognizing that one-size-fits-all federal policies are not appropriate in Alaska, and sometimes simply do not fit at all. Alaskans in Southeast have seen their opportunity to harvest timber, advance vitalrenewableenergy and mineral projects, build basic infrastructure and connect communities stifled for too long as a result of the 2001 Roadless Rule,said Sullivan. These opportunities are finally back on the table with thefinalization today ofa full exemption for the Tongass from this overly-burdensome and out-of-touch regulation. I will always fight to take control from bureaucratic D.C. agencies and put it into the hands of Alaskans who rely on our lands to make a living and understand intimately the important balance of conservation and local economies. I commend Secretary Perdue and the administration for working closely with Alaskans throughout this process and bringing us to this historic day. This is a great day for the State of Alaska, our economy, and Alaskans' right to govern themselves,said Young. For years, I have said that the one-size-fits-all Roadless Rule was a disaster for Alaska. This Congress, I have been working closely with the President and senior White House staff to secure a Roadless Rule exemption for the Tongass. Not only has the Roadless Rule put an unconscionable economic and social burden on Southeast Alaska, it also violates ANILCA and the no more' clause by locking up land from the people of Alaska. Today's ROD is incredible news for our state and our economy, particularly in Southeast. I want to thank the Administration for working with me, our Congressional Delegation, Governor Dunleavy, and, most importantly, for listening to Alaskans. We know that this is the right thing to do, both for our economy and the health of our forests. I very much look forward to lifting the Roadless Rule and unleashing our state's full potential. In Congress, I will always stand up for our right to manage our own lands.  \r\n\r\nIn 2018, the Forest Service announced it would develop a state-specific Roadless Rule focused on the Tongass National Forest. The final rule issued today exempts the Tongass from the 2001 rule, which established sweeping prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvest on inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. The new rule responds to a petition from the State of Alaska requesting a full exemption from the 2001 rule for the Tongass, which the delegation strongly supported.\r\nThe Tongass spans nearly 16.7 million acres, covering nearly all of southeast Alaska, and is home to 32 islanded communities. For decades, successive layers of federal law and regulation, including the 2001 rule, have continually restricted access needed for timber, mining, tourism, recreation, and the development of renewable resources such as hydropower. The result has been a weaker regional economy that is largely seasonal in nature, with local communities facing fewer employment opportunities and higher energy costs. The ROD and final rule represent a major milestone in the delegation's efforts to restore balance and provide greater flexibility in federal land management, including roadless management, on the Tongass.\r\nProtecting the unique roadless values within the Tongass has always been a priority and will not change under this new rule. Congress has enshrined those protections in law, designating nearly 5.7 million acres of wilderness and another 728,000 acres that are to be managed in a roadless state.When combined with national monument and other natural-settingland-use designations, more than 13million acres (nearly 80 percent) of the Tongass are already explicitly restricted from resource development or required to be managed as roadless areas.\r\nExcerpts from the Forest Service's Announcement\r\nThe Tongass Forest Plan along with other conservation measures, will assure protection allowing roadless area values to prevail on the Tongass National Forest while offering additional flexibility to achieve other multiple-use benefits.\r\nAlthough 9.4 million acres would no longer be subject to the 2001 Roadless Rule with the final rule, only 186,000 more acres would become available for timber production, and road construction is estimated to increase Tongass-wide from 994 miles in the no-action alternative to 1,043 miles in the final rule over the next 100 years.\r\nFrom 2001 to 2011, the Tongass National Forest was exempt from the 2001 Roadless Rule. During this time, about 4,300 acres of [inventoried roadless areas] were entered for timber harvest and about 19 miles of roads were constructed in association of that timber harvest. Of that only 300 acres of timber harvest and 0.5 miles of road were authorized during the exemption period and the remaining timber harvest and road construction were authorized prior to the promulgation of the 2001 Roadless Rule.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401827", "Following Advocacy from Congressman Don Young, U.S. Coast Guard Dispatches Icebreaker to Alaska", "2020-10-29", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, the United States Coast Guard announced that for the first time since 1984, it will send a U.S. icebreaker, the USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10), north of the Arctic Circle for an 82-day deployment in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. This announcement demonstrates the strategic importance of the Coast Guard's Arctic mission following the loss of the USCGC Healy's operational capability on August 18, 2020, due to fire. With the Healy's loss, the USCG was left with only one operational icebreaker, which underscores the Polar Security Cutter Program's importance.\r\nRecognizing the need to bolster the Coast Guard's icebreaking capability,Alaska Congressman Don Youngsent a letterto Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf, urging him to consider leasing a U.S. flagged icebreaking vessel to provide icebreaking assistance to the region until the USCGC Healy can be repaired and returned to service. Today's announcement by the Coast Guard provides a much-needed demonstration of the Coast Guard's commitment to the region, and highlights the importance of Congressman Young's continued focus on the Arctic. While not a final solution for the lack of American icebreaking capabilities, the Polar Star's mission to protect maritime sovereignty and security in the region fills a near-term critical gap in America's Arctic presence and national security posture.\r\nWith more coastline than all of the states in the Union combined, Alaskans know firsthand how essential the Coast Guard's mission is for protecting our waters, defending our borders, and frequently, serving as first responders to maritime emergencies, said Congressman Don Young. The United States is an Arctic nation because of Alaska, and icebreakers are essential not only for keeping our waters safe for mariners, but also for our broader national security needs. As a longtime advocate for Arctic domain awareness, I am acutely aware of the danger posed by the absence of the USCGC Healy. I am very pleased that the Coast Guard will be sending the USCGC Polar Star to our region to help ensure safety and security. We must continue working to bolster our icebreaker fleet. Given the significant amount of time required to construct a new Polar Security Cutter, I continue being an outspoken advocate for leasing and deploying any available U.S. flagged icebreakers to defend the Arctic. This is a commonsense, practical approach that I look forward to working on with our partners in the Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard. In the meantime, I want to thank the Coast Guard for dispatching the Polar Star to the Arctic, particularly as threats from Russia and China continue to grow.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/delegation-tongass-exemption-will-help-build-sustainable-economy-in-southeast-alaska", "Delegation: Tongass Exemption Will Help Build Sustainable Economy in Southeast Alaska", "2020-10-29", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "Anchorage, Alaska\u2014U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) published a Record of Decision (ROD) and final rule exempting the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Roadless Rule).\n\n\u201cThe Tongass is home to many Alaskans who want what most Americans take for granted\u2014the opportunity to live, work, and raise their families in the communities in which they grew up,\u201d said Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. \u201cA full exemption from the Roadless Rule means access to more affordable and renewable energy to power homes and schools, access to technology at a time when more Americans are logging online for health care and education, and access for transportation and recreation to promote jobs and economic activity in the region\u2014all while ensuring continued good stewardship of our lands and waters. I thank the USDA and Forest Service team for recognizing that one-size-fits-all federal policies are not appropriate in Alaska, and sometimes simply do not fit at all.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlaskans in Southeast have seen their opportunity to harvest timber, advance vital renewable energy and mineral projects, build basic infrastructure and connect communities stifled for too long as a result of the 2001 Roadless Rule,\u201d said Sullivan. \u201cThese opportunities are finally back on the table with the finalization today of a full exemption for the Tongass from this overly-burdensome and out-of-touch regulation. I will always fight to take control from bureaucratic D.C. agencies and put it into the hands of Alaskans who rely on our lands to make a living and understand intimately the important balance of conservation and local economies. I commend Secretary Perdue and the administration for working closely with Alaskans throughout this process and bringing us to this historic day.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a great day for the State of Alaska, our economy, and Alaskans' right to govern themselves,\u201d said Young. \u201cFor years, I have said that the one-size-fits-all Roadless Rule was a disaster for Alaska. This Congress, I have been working closely with the President and senior White House staff to secure a Roadless Rule exemption for the Tongass. Not only has the Roadless Rule put an unconscionable economic and social burden on Southeast Alaska, it also violates ANILCA and the \u2018no more\u2019 clause by locking up land from the people of Alaska. Today's ROD is incredible news for our state and our economy, particularly in Southeast. I want to thank the Administration for working with me, our Congressional Delegation, Governor Dunleavy, and, most importantly, for listening to Alaskans. We know that this is the right thing to do, both for our economy and the health of our forests. I very much look forward to lifting the Roadless Rule and unleashing our state\u2019s full potential. In Congress, I will always stand up for our right to manage our own lands.\u201d\n\nIn 2018, the Forest Service announced it would develop a state-specific Roadless Rule focused on the Tongass National Forest. The final rule issued today exempts the Tongass from the 2001 rule, which established sweeping prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvest on inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. The new rule responds to a petition from the State of Alaska requesting a full exemption from the 2001 rule for the Tongass, which the delegation strongly supported.\n\nThe Tongass spans nearly 16.7 million acres, covering nearly all of southeast Alaska, and is home to 32 islanded communities. For decades, successive layers of federal law and regulation, including the 2001 rule, have continually restricted access needed for timber, mining, tourism, recreation, and the development of renewable resources such as hydropower. The result has been a weaker regional economy that is largely seasonal in nature, with local communities facing fewer employment opportunities and higher energy costs.\n\nThe ROD and final rule represent a major milestone in the delegation\u2019s efforts to restore balance and provide greater flexibility in federal land management, including roadless management, on the Tongass.\n\nProtecting the unique roadless values within the Tongass has always been a priority and will not change under this new rule. Congress has enshrined those protections in law, designating nearly 5.7 million acres of wilderness and another 728,000 acres that are to be managed in a roadless state. When combined with national monument and other natural-setting land-use designations, more than 13 million acres (nearly 80 percent) of the Tongass are already explicitly restricted from resource development or required to be managed as roadless areas.\n\nExcerpts from the Forest Service\u2019s Announcement\n\n\u201cThe Tongass Forest Plan along with other conservation measures, will assure protection allowing roadless area values to prevail on the Tongass National Forest while offering additional flexibility to achieve other multiple-use benefits.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlthough 9.4 million acres would no longer be subject to the 2001 Roadless Rule with the final rule, only 186,000 more acres would become available for timber production, and road construction is estimated to increase Tongass-wide from 994 miles in the no-action alternative to 1,043 miles in the final rule over the next 100 years.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom 2001 to 2011, the Tongass National Forest was exempt from the 2001 Roadless Rule. During this time, about 4,300 acres of [inventoried roadless areas] were entered for timber harvest and about 19 miles of roads were constructed in association of that timber harvest. Of that only 300 acres of timber harvest and 0.5 miles of road were authorized during the exemption period and the remaining timber harvest and road construction were authorized prior to the promulgation of the 2001 Roadless Rule.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-proposes-us-canada-border-crossing-solutions", "Alaska Delegation Proposes US-Canada Border Crossing Solutions", "2020-10-28", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "Aims to Ensure Access to Food, Healthcare, and Other Essential Transportation for Alaskans\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 In an effort to address U.S.-Canada border crossing issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, Congressman Don Young, and Governor Mike Dunleavy (all R-AK) sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, raising issues severely impacting Alaskans. In their letter, the Alaska Delegation highlighted specific, persisting challenges impacting the health and safety of Alaskans and proposed reasonable solutions.\n\n\u201cAs we continue to work together to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, to keep our residents and citizens safe and healthy, we appreciate the consideration for reasonable land crossing exceptions for essential travel between Alaska and the contiguous United States through your country.\u201d\n\nThe Delegation explained that each year Alaskans, many elderly and with medical conditions, journey south, traveling through Canada to the contiguous United States, in order to be closer to comprehensive medical facilities better equipped to address their healthcare needs in addition to being in a warmer climate, which is easier on their health. Such travel is currently considered non-essential according to Canada\u2019s cross-border travel restrictions. In addition, the Delegation raised the unique circumstance of residents in Hyder, Alaska who are being impacted by current border closures. For example, the only grocery store in the region is located in nearby Stewart, British Columbia, and Hyder children typically attend the nearby Canadian schools.\n\n\u201cWhile there are many more individual instances of travel restrictions impacting daily lives, we highlight these two as some of the most pressing issues, but ones for which we think there are reasonable solutions to ensure the safety and health of both Canadians and Alaskans alike. We all agree that we must remain vigilant against the threats to the health and wellbeing of our people that COVID-19 has created. We have at-risk Alaskans who will soon be unable to complete their journey south by road due to snow and difficult winter conditions. We have Alaskans and Canadians, neighbors and families, separated by a single border post, unable to connect and collectively bear the burdens these global conditions have imposed on them.\u201d\n\nThe Delegation proposed the following solutions, which would allow Alaskans to move forward with necessary travel while protecting Canadians from additional exposure to COVID-19:\n\nAllow an exception for non-discretionary, essential travel permitting Alaskans to transit south for the winter. This includes supporting a requirement that each Alaskan allowed to travel must present a negative COVID-19 test prior to transiting through Canada.\n\nEase the current travel restrictions and grant a \u201ctravel bubble\u201d to Hyder and Stewart, allowing residents to visit family and access essential supplies, schooling, medical care, religious services and other essential functions for these two highly-integrated, and very isolated communities.\n\nClick here for the Alaska Delegation letter, which is also below.\n\nDear Prime Minister,\n\nWe write to you as a united delegation from Alaska, the state with the most extensive shared border with Canada, to bring to your attention some specific issues severely impacting our constituents as the border crossing restrictions due to COVID-19 continue.\n\nThank you, and your Canadian colleagues, for the high level of support and understanding in regard to the unique travel needs between our shared borders. As we continue to work together to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, to keep our residents and citizens safe and healthy, we appreciate the consideration for reasonable land crossing exceptions for essential travel between Alaska and the contiguous United States through your country. The purpose of this letter is to highlight some of those challenges which persist, but for which we believe, through working together, we can find reasonable solutions in a safe and healthy manner.\n\nCanadians and Alaskans alike know that winter will soon be upon us. Each year, Alaskans, many elderly and with medical conditions, pack up their vehicles and journey south to the contiguous United States. They travel south because Alaska\u2019s winter can be harsh, complicating underlying medical conditions. Their winter homes in the \u201cLower 48\u201d are closer to comprehensive medical facilities which are better equipped to address their healthcare needs. There, they can receive ongoing care in a warmer climate that is easier on their health. A recent challenge expressed by many Alaskans trying to return to their winter homes relates to current cross-border travel restrictions, which presently consider this travel non-essential. We submit that such travel is essential for these senior citizens, as well as for the health and safety of broader populations in regions where access to healthcare is limited.\n\nWe understand and appreciate the magnitude of the task facing your government. Due to our own unique challenges, Alaska was the first state in the United States to require COVID-19 testing in our airports. Early on, we made the hard decision to shut down intrastate travel to protect our rural communities. We have been relatively fortunate so far; Alaska has seen no increase in excess mortality \u2013 the gold standard by which a pandemic response can be judged.\n\nAlaskan residents of the community of Hyder also face unique challenges. Hyder, Alaska, and the British Columbia community of Stewart, straddle the border of our two countries, and have been living as one community for generations. Hyder\u2019s children attend Canadian schools, and their only road connects solely to Canada. The town\u2019s utilities and grocery needs are wholly located in Stewart.\n\nHyder and Stewart remain divided by the current border closure. Families, some facing end-of-life issues, have been separated for over half the year. Hyder residents are disallowed from visiting their family down the street in Stewart, their children barred from school. Stewart\u2019s residents can walk down the road into Hyder, but must quarantine for two weeks upon return.\n\nWhile there are many more individual instances of travel restrictions impacting daily lives, we highlight these two as some of the most pressing issues, but ones for which we think there are reasonable solutions to ensure the safety and health of both Canadians and Alaskans alike. We all agree that we must remain vigilant against the threats to the health and wellbeing of our people that COVID-19 has created. We have at-risk Alaskans who will soon be unable to complete their journey south by road due to snow and difficult winter conditions. We have Alaskans and Canadians, neighbors and families, separated by a single border post, unable to connect and collectively bear the burdens these global conditions have imposed on them.\n\nIn recent weeks, we have had several conversations with members of your government and provided specific suggestions, which we believe, would allow Alaskans to move forward with necessary travel while protecting Canadians from additional exposure to COVID-19. These include the following:\n\nFirst, allow an exception for non-discretionary, essential travel permitting Alaskans to transit south for the winter. Currently, Canada has very reasonable travel requirements for land crossings, including limited time in which to move from border to border, limiting time within the vehicle, no stops except for non-recreational purposes, etc. Those restrictions reasonably limit the amount of time any Alaskan would spend transiting border crossings. We know many presently need to transit via motorhomes, further limiting their time outside the vehicle.\n\nFor Alaskans wishing to travel as described above, we would support a requirement that each Alaskan allowed to travel must present a negative COVID-19 test prior to transiting through Canada. This is currently a requirement that the State of Alaska has in place for all out-of-state air travelers, including Alaskans returning to the state, and is a reasonable requirement for non-residents. Alaskans currently have many means of access to free COVID-19 testing; therefore, we do not believe this would be a significant problem for such travelers. We are certain Alaskans journeying south would respect any conditions your government sets for them as they undertake passage through Canada.\n\nSecond, ease the current travel restrictions and grant a \u201ctravel bubble\u201d to Hyder and Stewart, allowing residents to visit family and access essential supplies, schooling, medical care, religious services and other essential functions for these two highly-integrated, and very isolated communities. We are likewise confident that residents of Hyder and Stewart would adhere to any restrictions needed to facilitate their reunification. To date, there has not been a single diagnosed case of COVID-19 in either community. The current travel restrictions are having an increasingly negative impact on these communities, and for these reasons we support the request of the residents of Hyder and Stewart to ease the current restrictions, including easing the travel quarantine requirement, in a responsible and safe way.\n\nThese are starting suggestions, of course, and we are committed to working together with you, your administration, and your staff, as necessary to resolve any concerns or logistical issues. Our hope in sending this letter is to cut through the noise and bring these humanitarian issues to your attention. We each know from personal experience the many difficulties that come with managing a government during a pandemic.\n\nOur state and federal governments and our health officials stand ready to work with our Canadian neighbors and counterparts on a humane solution to these great challenges. Our collaboration thus far has been productive, and for that we thank you. Let\u2019s move forward together.\n\nSincerely,\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401823", "Alaska Delegation Welcomes Federal Approval for Willow Master Development Plan", "2020-10-27", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Anchorage, Alaska U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released itsRecord of Decisionfor the Willow Master Development Plan in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A).\r\nAs we navigate these uncertain times, the federal approval of a major new North Slope development project provides real opportunities for Alaska and a path forward to help rebuild and strengthen our economy for years to come,said Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Willow could put hundreds of Alaskans back to work, boost state revenues, and generate more than 160,000 barrels of daily throughput for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. I thank the BLM team for their work to complete this comprehensive review, and appreciate ConocoPhillips' efforts to address community concerns in their project design.\r\nWith this important Record of Decision completed, the NRP-A is slated to be among the hottest energy prospects in the world,said Sullivan. The Willow project alone willbemassiveandbring to our state hundreds of good-paying jobs forhard-workingAlaskans, more than one hundred thousand barrels a day in TAPS throughput, and billions of dollars in economic activitywithout negatively impacting the environment Alaskans cherish.We as a delegation have fought hard with the administration against those in the Lower 48 who want to shut Alaska's economy down, and I have every intention of protecting what we've earned.I thank the Department of Interior for their work on this important project.\r\nThe Willow project represents immense potential for our state, and this ROD comes at a critical time,said Young.The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our economy. We must continue making progress on projects like Willow that could bring good-paying jobs, significant revenue, and the resources we need to make America energy independent. This milestone is an important one, not only for Alaska but for the countless families who depend on the oil and gas industry to make a living. I am grateful to everyone at BLM, who helped deliver today's ROD. I also want to thank ConocoPhillips for making crucial investments in our state, workforce, and economy. I look forward to our continued progress on this critical project.\r\nThe Willow project is a multi-billion dollar development proposed by ConocoPhillips in the NPR-A. It is located to the west of the Greater Mooses Tooth-1 and Greater Mooses Tooth-2 developments.\r\nThe NPR-A is administered by BLM and covers more than 23 million acres on the western North Slope of Alaskaan area roughly the size of Indiana. In 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that NPR-A contains an estimated 8.7 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil.\r\nRead the Alaska delegation's prior letters to the Department of the Interior about the importance of the projecthereandhere.                  \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-welcomes-federal-approval-for-willow-master-development-plan", "Alaska Delegation Welcomes Federal Approval for Willow Master Development Plan", "2020-10-27", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "Anchorage, Alaska \u2013 U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its Record of Decision for the Willow Master Development Plan in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A).\n\n\u201cAs we navigate these uncertain times, the federal approval of a major new North Slope development project provides real opportunities for Alaska and a path forward to help rebuild and strengthen our economy for years to come,\u201d said Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. \u201cWillow could put hundreds of Alaskans back to work, boost state revenues, and generate more than 160,000 barrels of daily throughput for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. I thank the BLM team for their work to complete this comprehensive review, and appreciate ConocoPhillips\u2019 efforts to address community concerns in their project design.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith this important Record of Decision completed, the NRP-A is slated to be among the hottest energy prospects in the world,\u201d said Sullivan. \u201cThe Willow project alone will be massive and bring to our state hundreds of good-paying jobs for hard-working Alaskans, more than one hundred thousand barrels a day in TAPS throughput, and billions of dollars in economic activity\u2014without negatively impacting the environment Alaskans cherish. We as a delegation have fought hard with the administration against those in the Lower 48 who want to shut Alaska\u2019s economy down, and I have every intention of protecting what we\u2019ve earned. I thank the Department of Interior for their work on this important project.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Willow project represents immense potential for our state, and this ROD comes at a critical time,\u201d said Young. \u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our economy. We must continue making progress on projects like Willow that could bring good-paying jobs, significant revenue, and the resources we need to make America energy independent. This milestone is an important one, not only for Alaska but for the countless families who depend on the oil and gas industry to make a living. I am grateful to everyone at BLM, who helped deliver today's ROD. I also want to thank ConocoPhillips for making crucial investments in our state, workforce, and economy. I look forward to our continued progress on this critical project.\u201d\n\nThe Willow project is a multi-billion dollar development proposed by ConocoPhillips in the NPR-A. It is located to the west of the Greater Mooses Tooth-1 and Greater Mooses Tooth-2 developments.\n\nThe NPR-A is administered by BLM and covers more than 23 million acres on the western North Slope of Alaska\u2014an area roughly the size of Indiana. In 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that NPR-A contains an estimated 8.7 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil.\n\nRead the Alaska delegation\u2019s prior letters to the Department of the Interior about the importance of the project here and here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-votes-to-confirm-barrett-to-supreme-court", "Sullivan Votes to Confirm Barrett to Supreme Court", "2020-10-26", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today released the following statement after voting to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve as the next Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.\n\n\u201cJudge Barrett has demonstrated herself to be a distinguished and respected jurist who understands the proper role of a judge \u2013 to have fidelity to the written law and Constitution, not to make policy.\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cBased on her record as a scholar and federal court of appeals judge, the Senate\u2019s confirmation hearings, and my in-depth discussion with her, I am confident that Judge Barrett understands the issues important to Alaskans, including upholding our Second Amendment rights, restraining the expansive powers of federal agencies, and giving special attention to unique federal laws that relate to Alaska. For all of these reasons, I believe Judge Barrett is exceptionally well-qualified to be an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court.\u201d\n\nSenator Sullivan delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate on October 21 announcing his support for Judge Barrett\u2019s nomination.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401810", "Alaska Congressman Don Young Launches Brand New Congressional Website", "2020-10-23", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Alaska Congressman Don Young launched a brand-new website to help constituents stay up-to-date with his work in Congress. This new site, which continues to be located at https://donyoung.house.gov, will also help constituents secure assistance with individual casework needs, grant applications, nominations to military service academies, and, when they can safely resume, tours of Washington, D.C.'s most important attractions. Visitors to the site can also keep tabs on Congressman Young's impressive constituent service metrics this Congress, which total 1,907 Alaskans helped  among them 158 veterans  and over 119,000 letters, emails, and calls responded to. Nearly half of all internet traffic is carried out through mobile devices, and Congressman Young's new site was carefully optimized for those using smart phones and tablets. The design of the site was heavily inspired by the State of Alaska. The impressive peaks of Denali greet visitors, helping to confirm that they have reached the website of the Congressman for ALL Alaska.  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\nConstituent service has always been one of Congressman Young's highest priorities, and this new website allows Alaskans to keep track of the Congressman's constituent service metrics. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congressman Young launched one of Congress's first online Coronavirus Resource Centers. This resource page is located front and center to help Alaskans stay safe and healthy amid this pandemic.  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\nAll too often, constituents are unaware of the assistance Congressman Young and his staff can provide them. Congressman Young is proud to represent the entire State of Alaska in the U.S. House of Representatives. One of the most important things he does as Alaska's representative is to help Alaskans with issues they may be experiencing with federal agencies. Congressman Young can often intervene on a person's behalf to answer questions, find solutions, or use his experience and seniority to cut through red tape. This new website means it has never been easier for Alaskans to get the assistance they need, and Congressman Young's available services are clearly and succinctly displayed on the home page.\r\nServing Alaska in the House of Representatives is the honor of a lifetime. It truly means a lot to me when constituents come with their ideas and concerns, and this new website will make it easier for us to stay connected, said Congressman Don Young. Some of my biggest accomplishments grew out of ideas brought to me from Alaskans, and it is my job to bring those proposed solutions before Congress. If you think something in our country could be working better or differently, I want to hear from you. It is important that Alaskans know how to contact their sole representative in the House, so I hope that people across our state will share my new website with their friends and family so that I can better represent them. I hope you will enjoy my new website, and I encourage you to return frequently to see what I have been doing in Congress on your behalf.\r\nClick here to visit Congressman Young's new website.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-murkowski-and-sullivan-receive-security-briefing-on-alaska-election-security", "Senators Murkowski and Sullivan Receive Security Briefing on Alaska Election Security", "2020-10-23", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 After reports some Alaskans were targeted by Iran in an effort to intimidate American voters, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today released the following statement following a security briefing on election security in Alaska:\n\n\u201cThis morning, we received detailed briefings by FBI and intelligence community officials on election security in Alaska. Given that our state and some of our citizens have already been targeted by Iran through \u201cspoofed\u201d emails designed to intimidate voters, Alaskans need to remain vigilant about the possibility of continued misinformation attacks from Iran or other foreign governments meant to sow discord and dissent or cast doubt on the integrity of Alaska\u2019s electoral system and infrastructure.\n\n\u201cWe were assured there have been no known security breaches on Alaska election systems, which remain secure.\n\n\u201cAlaskans should remain skeptical about sensationalist, dubious, and last-minute claims about Alaska election infrastructure. If Alaskans see or hear evidence of such tactics, they should direct questions to State & Local election officials, the FBI, or congressional offices.\u201d\n\nBackground: On October 21, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) John Ratcliffe and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray announced Iran targeted American voters with fake emails used to intimidate voters, which included Alaskans.\n\nClick here for Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe\u2019s remarks.\n\nClick here for a joint statement from Select Committee on Intelligence Acting Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) on the matter.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401805", "Most Effective Member of Congress, Alaskas Don Young, Discusses his Legislative Effectiveness with the Center for Effective Lawmaking", "2020-10-22", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Alaska Congressman Don Young sat down with Professors Craig Volden (The University of Virginia) and Alan E. Wiseman (Vanderbilt University), Co-Directors of the Center for Effective Lawmaking, to discuss a wide range of topics, including his consistently high legislative effectiveness, institutional changes within Congress, and the ability for Congress to work together on a bipartisan basis. This Congress, the Center for Effective Lawmaking once again rated Congressman Don Young as the Most Effective Member of Congress.  \r\n\r\nLegislative effectiveness is defined by the Center for Effective Lawmaking as the proven ability to advance a member's agenda items through the legislative process and into law. In the 115th Congress, Congressman Don Young authored six bills and numerous provisions in larger legislative packages  such as opening ANWR for energy development  that were ultimately signed into law by the President. Congressman Young's legislative achievements are even more impressive, given that he did not hold a leadership position or committee Chairmanship during the 115th Congress. The Center for Effective Lawmaking notes that relative to the average of 17 bills introduced by House lawmakers, Young put forth 62 pieces of legislation, 19 of which received some action in committee and 14 of which reached the floor. His continued legislative success is a testament to his ability to build coalitions, work across party lines, and dogged determination to see Alaska's priorities to the finish line.\r\nVideo of Congressman Young's Interview with Professors Craig Volden and Alan E. Wiseman can be found here. A full transcript can be located here.\r\nExcerpts from the interview:\r\nOn working in the minority and forging relationships with other Members of Congress:\r\nCraig Volden:\r\nNow, as Alan was mentioning in the beginning, you've done that when you're in the minority party, when you're in the majority party, junior member, senior member, and, and so on, committee chair, how do things change when you're in those different positions, in terms of how you would go about lawmaking?\r\nRep. Young:\r\nWell, you know, I don't want to go too far ahead, but a lot has changed. I go back to my concept of being able to work. You know John Dingell was probably the most powerful chairman ever in the history of the Congressbut I knew him prior to me becoming a Congressman because he's a hunter and fisherman. And he never thought I'd be a congressman, I didn't think I was gonna be a congressman! But I got elected. And the first thing, I get a phone call from John, the Chairman, he says, Don, this is Chairman Dingell.' And I said, Chairman it's an honor' He says, let's go hunt.And so when I had a problem with Alaska, even though it wouldn't be legislation to the free standing bill, I go to the Chairman and say, you know, Mr. Chairman, this is what this does.' It's a bill, but I'm telling him what it does et cetera. And he look at it and  remember the staff wasn't doing this it was him- and he'd say, you know, Don, that's a good idea. I'll put it in the bill.' And he put it in the bill and get it done. I don't get credit for that, but the constituents' problem was solved. And that's because we had relationships. And that doesn't exist today. That's a big difference, big difference. And knowledge is good. I like to brag about the fact that I'm from the bush, but I also live in the city. And they recognize, I speak for Alaska. I don't always win. But a lot of times I do.\r\nAlan E. Wiseman:\r\nI mean, that's a really interesting point. You're raising in terms of how you cultivate relationships with other members of Congress, especially on the other side of the aisle. I mean, I guess related to that, a question that we've often wondered about is how important you think it is for members of Congress to really align their legislative goals and portfolios with their district interests, which obviously you care about a lot as well as with the committee assignments? How important do you think it is for you to have been on committees that speak directly to Alaskan's interests?\r\nRep. Young:\r\nWell, I think the committees you know, I was fortunate. I got to be put on the Merchant Marine Fisheries Committee, got put on the, at that time was called Interior Initial Affairs and I was on the Post Office Committee. Committees mean a lot. I wasn't on Transportation but I was on the right committees. And again, the weakness, I know one of your questions, what happened at that time when I first came back to the John Dingells, the John Murphys, Mr. Witten, they ran the Congress .And I made an effort because I'm a single member to make sure I met all the chairmen. And they were interested cause I'm from Alaska . The chairmen ran the Congress. And that was the beauty of it and I loved it because the chairman would pick out an issue that was national across the board And then we'd come to a committee decisionNow, when we'd go to markup, you could offer amendments in the committee, both sides. And we'd usually have an agreement betweenand if his side introduced an amendment that hurt the bill, we voted down. If my side introduced one, we'd vote it down.\r\nClick here for the full interview and transcript.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401806", "Young-Supported Legislation to Break Cycles of Poverty in Alaska Native Communities Through Smart Economic Development Signed into Law", "2020-10-22", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  On Wednesday afternoon, the Native American Business Incubators Program Act, legislation cosponsored by Congressman Don Young (R-AK), was signed into law. The Native American Business Incubators Program Act provides essential services such as workspace, collaborative environments, comprehensive business skills training, and access to professional networks that will help increase the availability of startup capital for Alaska Native communities and tribal organizations across the country. These services are funded through three-year grants to entities with ties to Native communities, higher education institutions, and other related organizations. \r\nMy late wife, my children, and my grandchildren are all Alaska Native. To me, breaking the cycle of poverty in Indian Country isn't just an important policy goal, it's personal, said Congressman Young. This legislation helps empower Indigenous entrepreneurs and boost investment in our Alaska Native communities. I am proud to have helped it get across the finish line, and I am grateful to President Trump for signing it into law. Tackling poverty and expanding opportunity in Native communities will continue to be a priority of mine. In Congress, I will always stand up for Alaska Natives and their entrepreneurial goals.\r\nPoverty and unemployment rates in tribal communities are nearly triple the national average. Federal programs designed to support the social and economic well-being of Native Americans remain chronically underfunded and sometimes inefficiently structured, which leaves many basic needs in Native communities unmet, and contributes ongoing inequities.\r\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401807", "Young, Haalands Legislation to Bolster Self-Governance, Empower Tribes Signed Into Law", "2020-10-22", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Yesterday afternoon, U.S. Representatives Don Young (R-AK), Deb Haaland (D-NM), Tom Cole (R-OK), and Ruben Gallego's (D-AZ) PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act was signed into law. The new law will enhance the ability of tribes to enter into, and carry out, compacting agreements. It also aligns the Department of the Interior's (DOI) compacting approval process with the one currently used by the Indian Health Service (IHS) to improve consistency for tribes. These compacts are vital for upholding the federal government's trust responsibilities with tribes and promoting self-governance and local control.\r\nI am very pleased that the PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act has been signed into law, and I am grateful to have helped get it across the finish line. Throughout my time in Congress, tribal self-determination has always been one of my highest priorities. The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (ISDEAA) was the foundation that empowered tribes with authority to contract and compact federal trust services. This has profoundly impacted Indian country as tribes are the best stewards of their health care, resources, and education. I was proud to serve as a cosponsor on the PROGRESS Act, which builds on the success of ISDEAA by making practical policy improvements that help tribes enhance and expand their contracting opportunities, said Rep. Don Young. Now that this bill has been signed into law, tribes will be better able to tailor self-governance programs to suit their needs, thereby increasing their effectiveness and efficiency. I would like to thank my friend, Congresswoman Deb Haaland, and Chairman John Hoeven for their leadership on this legislation, and I look forward to our continued work together on behalf of Indigenous people across our country.\r\nTribes have always been their own best stewards, but the red tape that they face when implementing programs hinders their ability to do best by their own communities. This legislation was built on a decades-long effort of Tribal leaders and organizations to further our efforts to support true tribal self-governance to empower, and I'm honored that this bill has now been signed into law. Through the PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act, Tribes will now have the freedom and flexibility to be able to serve their people in a way that best fits their needs, said Rep. Deb Haaland.\r\nSovereignty is the foundation upon which government-to-government relationships between the U.S. and Tribal nations is built. The PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act empowers Tribes to more fully and easily exercise their sovereignty, which is why I am proud to see this bill become the law of the land today, said Rep. Ruben Gallego, Chair of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.\r\nThe PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act rightly grants Native American tribes more freedom to allocate funds in their communities as they see fit. Doing so recognizes the right to self-governance of the many separate and sovereign tribal nations that exist in our country. I am proud that President Trump signed into law this critical legislation that will benefit tribal communities, their economies and their sovereignty, said Rep. Tom Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-durbin-due-process-protections-act-signed-into-law", "Sullivan-Durbin Due Process Protections Act Signed into Law", "2020-10-22", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) today released the following statements after S. 1380, the Due Process Protections Act, was signed into law. Sullivan and Durbin introduced the bill to help ensure that federal prosecutors respect the constitutional right of defendants to access favorable and potentially exculpatory evidence.\n\n\u201cAlaskans are well aware of the problem of federal prosecutors violating their constitutional duties and obligations following the reckless prosecution of the late Senator Ted Stevens,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cI put forward this legislation with Senator Durbin to ensure all Americans\u2019 due process rights are protected, and to hold prosecutors accountable when they violate a defendant\u2019s constitutional rights. This is a good day for justice and the rule of law, and I thank President Trump for signing our bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Due Process Clause is enshrined in our Constitution as a check against government overreach, but there are inadequate safeguards in federal law to ensure that this fundamental right is protected for criminal defendants. Our bipartisan bill will help protect the right of the accused to all evidence that could exonerate them and hold accountable prosecutors who fail to comply,\u201d Senator Durbin said. \u201cI\u2019m pleased our bill is now law and I thank Senator Sullivan for his partnership in this effort.\u201d\n\nUnder the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, defendants are guaranteed due process under the law. The 1963 Brady vs. Maryland U.S. Supreme Court case clarified that due process entails the requirement of prosecutors to disclose to the accused all \u201cfavorable\u201d evidence that is \u201cmaterial\u201d to their case.\n\nThe Due Process Protections Act:\n\nAmends Rule 5 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to require a judge in the beginning of every case to issue an \u201corder to prosecution and defense counsel that confirms the disclosure obligation of the prosecutor under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) and its progeny.\u201d\n\nRequires each judicial council in which a District Court is located to promulgate a model order that its courts can use at their discretion.\n\nPermits the courts in each district to tailor the parameters of their Brady order, rather than impose any burdensome requirements on prosecutors.\n\nHaving these \u201cBrady orders\u201d in place will make evidence disclosure requirements a priority for prosecutors, and ensure prosecutors can be held to account if they fail to comply with Brady rules.\n\nDespite the constitutional requirement for prosecutors to disclose exculpatory evidence, there continue to be cases in the federal system where this constitutional obligation is ignored. One of the most high-profile examples of this misconduct was the 2008 prosecution of the late Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). The conviction was vacated before sentencing by the federal District Court following revelations of prosecutors and FBI agents conspiring to withhold and conceal favorable evidence from Senator Stevens\u2019 defense.\n\nAccording to the National Registry of Exonerations, between 1989 and 2017, prosecutors concealed exculpatory evidence at trial in half of all murder exonerations.\n\nS. 1380 was also co-sponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401799", "Following Federal Maritime Commission Report, Congressman Don Young Calls on Congress to Act in Support of Alaskas Travel & Tourism Industry", "2020-10-21", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. This week, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)released a reportfollowing a fact-finding investigation into the effects of COVID-19 on the cruise industry in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. Among other conclusions, the report determined that per-capita, Alaska's travel and tourism industry has been impacted more than any other state in the Union. The full report stated:\r\nOf all three of the states examined, Alaska stands out as the most significantly impacted. While actual dollar figures may not match the levels of areas previously studied or about to be studied, the relative per capita impact is perhaps the most significant of any state in the Union. Alaska has three basic industries, energy, fishing, and tourism. It can be stated without equivocation that Alaska's tourist industry is inextricably tied to the cruise industry. Tourists arrive in Alaska either by air or by sea and most who arrive by air find themselves on a cruise at some point in their journey. As the reports of the individual ports presented in this study show, the loss of an entire cruise season has led to the loss of an entire year's revenue for a disproportionate number of Alaskans compared to far more populace and less remote states where alternative forms of income generation may be found.\r\nFollowing the report's release, Alaska Congressman Don Young, senior Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, issued the following statement:\r\n\"Alaska's tourism industry is one of the main pillars of our state's economy, and the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the families and businesses whose livelihoods depend on the 2.2 million annual visitors to our state, of which 1.4 million were projected to travel to Alaska by cruise ship in 2020,\"said Congressman Don Young.\"Alaskans know that the biggest driver of our tourism sector is the cruise industry. This pandemic has caused our state and its port cities to lose an entire cruise season, and with it, a full year of revenue. Our family-run businesses, which largely operate on a seasonal basis, are suffering. There is no question that we must continue to manage this virus and ensure that our state can safely reopen. Simply put, Americans must feel comfortable returning to Alaska.\r\nWhile a successful 2021 cruise season represents enormous potential for economic recovery, additional relief for these businesses is needed immediately. The CARES Act provided significant relief to Alaskans, but we cannot wait any longer if our tourism sector is to survive. Several pieces of legislation, many with broad bipartisan support, will provide relief to states and businesses most impacted by COVID-19. Congress should start by passingH.R 8265, which will reopen and extend the Paycheck Protection Program so that Alaskan businesses can access additional relief to make it through the winter. Secondly, Congress must passH.R. 8345, the Air Carrier Worker Support Extension Act, which would extend the successful Payroll Support Program for six months to sustain robust national air service and protect our aviation workforce. Finally, Congress must address the severe economic consequences the virus has inflicted on other modes of transportation impacted by the loss of the 2020 cruise season. I call on House leadership to bringH.R. 7642, the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act, for a vote. Alaska's small U.S. flagged passenger vessels and motorcoach operators are key components of our tourism economy, and employ hundreds of hardworking Alaskans. These transportation providers are integral, and will be on the front lines as our economy recovers during the next tourist season.\" \r\nAdditional background:\r\nH.R. 7642, the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act, currently has robust bipartisan support from 259 House cosponsors. This bill would provide $10 billion in emergency economic relief funding, in the form of grants and other economic assistance initiatives. The funding created by this legislation would be distributed to motorcoach operators, school bus companies, U.S. flagged passenger vessel operators, and other transportation service providers designated by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401801", "Representatives Don Young and Doris Matsui Introduce the Japanese American Confinement Education Act", "2020-10-21", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Congressman Don Young (R-AK) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to permanently reauthorize the Japanese American Confinement Site (JACS) program to preserve and educate Americans on the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II.\r\nJust over seventy-five years ago, the U.S. Federal Government, through Executive Order 9066, rounded up and imprisoned 120,000 Japanese Americans. Based solely on race, Japanese Americans were stripped of their homes, possessions and civil liberties, and forced to live in remote military barracks. Yet, as time passes, the memory of mass, wrongful government roundup of innocent American citizens has grown increasingly distant.  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n(Pictured: Congressman Don Young attends President Reagan's bill signing ceremony of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Congressman Young served as an original cosponsor of this bill, which granted reparations to Japanese Americans interned during World War II.)\r\n\"The forced internment of our fellow citizens through Executive Order 9066 is one of the darkest chapters in American history. The fact that it occurred during my lifetime highlights just how fresh of a wound this is for Japanese Americans across our country,\" said Rep. Young (R-AK). \"In 1988, I was proud to support the Civil Liberties Act, which took crucial steps to acknowledge our nation's wrongdoing and to recommit ourselves to never letting racially-based incarceration happen again. Tragically, many of our young people no longer study this terrible moment in history, which puts our ability to learn lessons from this era at risk. I am proud to join my friend, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, as we introduce the Japanese American Confinement Education Act. If we do not acknowledge, reconcile, and learn from our history, we are doomed to repeat it. This bill takes crucial steps to educate younger generations about the horrors of Japanese internment. It is my great hope that we take these lessons to heart, and honor the families who were devastated in the very country they called home.\"\r\nThe imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II will forever be one of the most atrocious violations of American civil rights in the 20th century. Those of us in the Japanese American community know too well what discrimination feels like, what kind of mark it leaves, and most importantly, what we can do to stop it, said Congresswoman Matsui. The Japanese American story is one that is not told nearly enough. It is one of pain, one of redemption, and one of enrichment. This bill will ensure that these lessons live into the future  that we continue bending the moral arc of this country by sharing these stories, lifting our voices, and fighting so that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. The essence of the American experience isn't that we're perfect, it is that we heal from seeing where we've been and teach our younger generations to build a more inclusive, equitable future.\r\nBackground:\r\nThe Japanese American Confinement Education Act would permanently reauthorize the Japanese American Confinement Site (JACS) program within the National Park Service (NPS), which is currently set to expire in 2022. This program has been one of the primary resources in the preservation and interpretation of the U.S. Confinement Sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II. Additionally, the legislation establishes a separate, new 5 year, $2 million per year competitive grant to create educational materials about the Japanese American confinement. This grant would require the recipient museum to develop and nationally disseminate accurate, relevant, and accessible resources to improve awareness and understanding of Japanese American Confinement in WWII.\r\nOriginal Cosponsors: Representatives Rob Bishop (R-UT), Mark Takano (D-CA), Liz Cheney (R-WY), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Don Young (R-AK), Ed Case (D-HI), Ken Buck (R-CO), Adam Smith (D-WA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).\r\nThe Japanese American Confinement Education Act is supported by:\r\n \r\n    Japanese American Citizens League\r\n    Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation\r\n    National Council of Asian Pacific Americans\r\n    Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation\r\n    Japanese American National Museum\r\n    JACS Consortium\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-announces-support-for-judge-amy-coney-barretts-supreme-court-confirmation", "Sullivan Announces Support for Judge Amy Coney Barrett\u2019s Supreme Court Confirmation", "2020-10-21", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today spoke on the Senate floor to announce his support for Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve as the next associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Senator Sullivan met with Judge Barrett on September 30.\n\nTRANSCRIPT\n\nMr. President, I was in Alaska when Judge Amy Coney Barrett was before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but since then, I was able to catch up on those hearings, and I want to commend my colleagues, particularly Senator Graham, for conducting those hearings in a way that befitted such an occasion\u2014respect, good questioning\u2014and I think that the American people, certainly my constituents, learned a lot and were very impressed with Judge Barrett.\n\nMr. President, as you know, the advise and consent responsibility of the Senate is one of the most important responsibilities that we have in the Constitution. The process that I will have gone through, and go through with every single judge, is to evaluate Judge Barrett's qualifications on her record, the hearings, and, of course, discussions I've had with her. And this has been an extensive evaluation. I've read hundreds of pages of the decisions that she's authored. I've listened to and read the views of Alaskans, both for and against her nomination, and in my meeting with Judge Barrett, we discussed in great depth her viewpoint on a variety of national and Alaska-focused legal issues.\n\nShe clearly understands the separation of powers and federalism, holds a healthy skepticism regarding the expansive power of federal agencies, and is a strong protector and proponent of the Second Amendment\u2014all issues that my constituents care deeply about.\n\nWhy are these issues so important to Alaska and central to us realizing our potential? Mr. President, let me give you a brief but recent example of an issue that recently made its way through the Ninth Circuit\u2014which often is the bane of our existence in Alaska\u2014to the Supreme Court, not once, but twice, and was unanimously agreed to by the Supreme Court. In a case that some in the media will be familiar with, Sturgeon vs. Frost\u2014a moose hunter, a hover craft, and the wild Interior of Alaska made for some great headlines. But the issue being litigated in that case was one of control, one of freedom\u2014control of our lands, our waters, our fish and game.\n\nThe federal government, in essence, told John Sturgeon he couldn't use his hovercraft on federal waters to go hunting. \u201cYes, I can,\u201d said Sturgeon. He knew the law. Then there was litigation. It is one that comes up time and again in Alaska. The issue of federal overreach, agency creep. In Alaska, we have a front row [seat] to this problem. We've seen it happen to us consistently by the courts, particularly, as I mentioned, the judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. When they interpret statutes involving my state\u2014and there are many federal statutes that only relate to Alaska\u2014in a way that fits with their ideas and policy notions about the way the federal lands in Alaska should be managed. In essence, they typically think that less control by the people and more control by the government is what is needed. But, Mr. President, that often is not what Congress wrote and what Congress intended. It's the absolute opposite of judicial humility, failing to read the statutes as we, in this body, wrote them. It's failing to exhibit the kind of textualism that Judge Barrett ascribes to and [that] was so on display during her hearings.\n\nSo why is this so important? Justice Elena Kagan wrote in her opinion for the majority in Sturgeon vs. Frost, when the Supreme Court overturned the Ninth Circuit twice in three years, that the federal laws that govern land management in Alaska are often \u201cdifferent from the laws governing land management in any other part of the country.\u201d These laws are often carefully crafted by this body, in the House, and they are essential for Alaskans, both culturally and economically. And when judges misinterpret these laws, as they often do, and this is what I talked to Judge Barrett about, they often directly impact the lives of my constituents, usually in a negative way. Just ask John Sturgeon and countless other Alaskans over the decades who have seen their rights to legally enjoy our lands\u2014and it is our lands\u2014that they call home, whittled away, decision by decision, by federal agencies.\n\nOver the years, various federal agencies have acted as if federal law governing Alaska doesn't exist. Commercial-use permits weren\u2019t being issued. People couldn't partake in their traditional activities. They couldn't harvest their traditional foods. Alaskans couldn't make a living on the land. I don't know how Judge Barrett will vote on these specific issues, but I trust her temperament, on great display during the hearings, her stated skepticism about federal overreach, and her strong belief that the Second Amendment \u201cconfers an individual right intimately connected with the natural right of self-defense.\u201d\n\nI trust what others have said about her on both sides of the aisle: \u201cbrilliant,\u201d \u201chumble,\u201d \u201ca woman of unassailable integrity\u201d and, \u201ca role model for generations to come.\u201d All of this was on display during her hearing and in my meeting with her. And I trust that all of this will come into play when these kinds of cases, the Alaska-specific cases, make their way up to the high court, which they inevitably do. I don't believe that it's an overstatement to say that the future of my constituents depends on these kinds of issues. So, Mr. President, it's for these reasons and others that I will vote to confirm Judge Barrett to the United States Supreme Court and I encourage all of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to do the same for this exceptional jurist who is very qualified for this position.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401794", "Alaska to Receive $46 million in USDA Grants  to Expand High-Speed Internet Access", "2020-10-13", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ANCHORAGE, ALASKAU.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska) joined U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue today for a virtual announcement of more than $46 million in USDA Broadband ReConnect Program grants being awarded to two Alaska service providers to establish and improve broadband infrastructure in some of the state's most remote communities. The grants are matched by nearly $17 million contributed by the grant recipients, bringing the total investment to roughly $63 million.\r\nThe coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the shortcomings of not being connected, a familiar problem to many Alaskans for far too long. We must continue to help Alaskan communities have the telecommunications broadband infrastructure that is taken for granted elsewhere,said Senator Murkowski.The announcement of these two grants is incredibly exciting news for Southeast and the Aleutians, and will improve connectivity for families, businesses, schools, other critical community services, and so much more. I appreciate Senator Sullivan and Congressman Young for working with me on this effort and thank Secretary Purdue for addressing the needs of Alaskans.\r\nGaining access to high-speed internet connectivity can be life-changing, especially for residents in rural Alaska where communication resources and infrastructure are most scarce,said Senator Sullivan. Thousands more Alaskansacross the statewill finally experience a utility so many of us take for granted, one that has shown itself to be absolutely indispensable in the age of COVID-19. Iappreciate that Secretary Perdue has made these funds available after our numerous discussions and correspondencesin whichI have calledattention to the lack of broadband across our state. As a member of the Commerce Committee, I will continue to work relentlessly to bring high-speed internet access to all communities across Alaska.\r\n\"Alaskans from our cities, rural areas, and Native villages all deserve access to high quality, reliable broadband,\" said Congressman Young. \"The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light on the urgent need for internet access across our state. At this very moment, countless students are distance learning; working parents may be using the internet to learn new skills to help them succeed in the workforce; and some of our most vulnerable populations are utilizing telehealth services. We must ensure that all communities in our state are connected and empowered to thrive. I am grateful to Secretary Perdue for making these crucially needed investments in Alaska, and I remain confident that high-speed internet access will not only help our families prosper, but prepare our economy to come out of this pandemic stronger than ever before.\"\r\nThe need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now  as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency. Access to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote business operations all require access to broadband, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture SonnyPerdue said. I am so proud of our rural communities who have been working day in and day out, just like they always do, producing the food and fiber America depends on. We need them more than ever during these trying times, and expanding access to this critical infrastructure will help ensure rural America prospers for years to come.\r\nThe two USDA grant recipients are Alaska Power & Telephone (AP&T) Wireless CompanyandUnicom, Inc., a subsidiary of GCI.AP&T Wireless was awarded $21.5 million to deploy a network connecting 225 individuals, 32 businesses, an educational facility, a post office, and a fire station in Alaska's Prince of Wales Island region. Unicom was awarded $25 million to deploy a network connecting 7,441 people, 310 businesses, ten educational facilities, seven post offices, four fire stations and a city hall across Southwest Alaska and the Aleutians.\r\nThe announcement today follows a $19 million ReConnect grant awarded in 2019 to Cordova Telephone Cooperative to provide connectivity to 270 households in Yakutat, a project expected to be completed by the fall of 2021.\r\nUSDA's Broadband ReConnect Program furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.\r\nSenator Sullivan, Senator Murkowski, Congressman Young and Governor Mike Dunleavy wrote a letterto Secretary Perdue in April in support of the Alaska grant applicants.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-to-receive-46-million-in-usda-grants-to-expand-high-speed-internet-access", "Alaska to Receive $46 million in USDA Grants to Expand High-Speed Internet Access", "2020-10-13", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47", "scraper", "ANCHORAGE, ALASKA\u2014U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska) joined U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue today for a virtual announcement of more than $46 million in USDA Broadband ReConnect Program grants being awarded to two Alaska service providers to establish and improve broadband infrastructure in some of the state\u2019s most remote communities. The grants are matched by nearly $17 million contributed by the grant recipients, bringing the total investment to roughly $63 million.\n\n\u201cThe coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the shortcomings of not being connected, a familiar problem to many Alaskans for far too long. We must continue to help Alaskan communities have the telecommunications broadband infrastructure that is taken for granted elsewhere,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cThe announcement of these two grants is incredibly exciting news for Southeast and the Aleutians, and will improve connectivity for families, businesses, schools, other critical community services, and so much more. I appreciate Senator Sullivan and Congressman Young for working with me on this effort and thank Secretary Purdue for addressing the needs of Alaskans.\u201d\n\n\u201cGaining access to high-speed internet connectivity can be life-changing, especially for residents in rural Alaska where communication resources and infrastructure are most scarce,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThousands more Alaskans across the state will finally experience a utility so many of us take for granted, one that has shown itself to be absolutely indispensable in the age of COVID-19. I appreciate that Secretary Perdue has made these funds available after our numerous discussions and correspondences in which I have called attention to the lack of broadband across our state. As a member of the Commerce Committee, I will continue to work relentlessly to bring high-speed internet access to all communities across Alaska.\u201d\n\n\"Alaskans from our cities, rural areas, and Native villages all deserve access to high quality, reliable broadband,\" said Congressman Young. \"The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light on the urgent need for internet access across our state. At this very moment, countless students are distance learning; working parents may be using the internet to learn new skills to help them succeed in the workforce; and some of our most vulnerable populations are utilizing telehealth services. We must ensure that all communities in our state are connected and empowered to thrive. I am grateful to Secretary Perdue for making these crucially needed investments in Alaska, and I remain confident that high-speed internet access will not only help our families prosper, but prepare our economy to come out of this pandemic stronger than ever before.\"\n\n\u201cThe need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now \u2013 as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency. Access to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote business operations all require access to broadband,\u201d U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said. \u201cI am so proud of our rural communities who have been working day in and day out, just like they always do, producing the food and fiber America depends on. We need them more than ever during these trying times, and expanding access to this critical infrastructure will help ensure rural America prospers for years to come.\u201d\n\nThe two USDA grant recipients are Alaska Power & Telephone (AP&T) Wireless Company and Unicom, Inc., a subsidiary of GCI. AP&T Wireless was awarded $21.5 million to deploy a network connecting 225 individuals, 32 businesses, an educational facility, a post office, and a fire station in Alaska\u2019s Prince of Wales Island region. Unicom was awarded $25 million to deploy a network connecting 7,441 people, 310 businesses, ten educational facilities, seven post offices, four fire stations and a city hall across Southwest Alaska and the Aleutians.\n\nThe announcement today follows a $19 million ReConnect grant awarded in 2019 to Cordova Telephone Cooperative to provide connectivity to 270 households in Yakutat, a project expected to be completed by the fall of 2021.\n\nUSDA\u2019s Broadband ReConnect Program furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.\n\nSenator Sullivan, Senator Murkowski, Congressman Young and Governor Mike Dunleavywrote a letter to Secretary Perdue in April in support of the Alaska grant applicants.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401792", "News-Miner Opinion: Some long-overdue help for UA: Congress should act quickly to approve university lands bill", "2020-10-10", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "News-Miner opinion:News late last month that a bill has been introduced in Congress to finally provide a long-overdue additional allocation of land to the University of Alaska is certainly a welcome development.\r\nOur university has been land-starved for far too long, but let's be clear about one thing as this bill starts its path in Congress: No one back here in Alaska should take it to be a solution to the university's long-term financial problems caused by years of state budget cuts.\r\nBut, as they say, every little bit helps.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe University of Alaska's land grant, at 110,000 acres, is one of the smallest of any land grant university system in the nation, and several efforts over many long years to resolve problems entangled with an 1862 federal nationwide land grant law and subsequent laws haven't changed that.\r\nThe University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act seeks to rectify the problem by providing the university with an additional 360,000 acres of federal land via the state's unfilled entitlement from the Alaska Statehood Act. Bills with that title were introduced in the Senate by Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and in the House by Rep. Don Young.\r\nWhy does the university need land? It needs it to use as a means of supplementing its finances. And we all know that the university has been hit hard in recent years by a severe reduction in state funding.\r\nHere's some recent sour history about that state funding: UA is currently in year two of a three-year agreement with Gov. Mike Dunleavy to operate with $70 million less in state dollars over that period. The reduction from that agreement comes atop a previous reduction of $51 million since 2014. The governor had wanted to whack $135 million in one year.\r\nFor comparison, the University of Alaska Land Management Office generated $6,849,292 in gross receipts from real estate and natural resource development in fiscal 2019, according to a report of that year's activities. Expenses, however, totaled $4,449,671.\r\nThe University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act clearly isn't a way to offset those millions of state dollars that have been stripped from university over the years.\r\nBut, again, any new money that can be derived from holdings of the University Land Grant Trust would be good money.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe University Land Grant Trust has a few components: an endowment fund, the land itself, and other natural resource assets. Revenue from the sale, lease, development, and other income generated from trust lands goes into the endowment.\r\nThe endowment had a balance of $155.3 million at the end of fiscal 2019, almost entirely in cash, investments and real property. That's not money to be spent in its entirety, however. It's essentially seed money to grow more money.\r\nAnd that's where the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act comes in. It will provide more seeds in the form of more land.\r\nHow does land for the university benefit Alaskans?\r\nHere are two leading ways: Some of the revenue raised through use of university lands provides for the UA Scholars program, a program that provides $12,000 each to a percentage of Alaska's top college-bound high school students to encourage them to attend a UA campus. Development of university lands also aids Alaska's economy through timber harvesting jobs and getting land into private hands and local tax bases. And, of course, some of the revenue raised by the UA Land Management Office goes toward education programs.\r\nRaising money from additional land won't be a fast  or even easy  process, however.\r\nObtaining land and developing or disposing of it takes time. It's also important to note that raising money from land holdings involves the public, including people who oppose development  and that leads to more expenses. The fiscal 2019 report from the UA Land Management Office captures the problem:\r\nNatural resource development activities, however, require a long lead time, are complex, often opposed by anti-development groups, and require strong support and considerable effort. A result is that significant and increasingly far greater LMO resources are being required and expended in order to monetize UA's Trust investment lands as intended to obtain any positive income for the Trust. \r\nIt's been a long haul to get to this point, and now the work begins to get the legislation through Congress and signed by the president. Time is short for the remaining days of the current Congress, so we hope the bills rapidly gain their deserved support. University officials, including former UA President Jim Johnsen, have for years worked hard at making the case for fixing the university's land deficiency, and they and others must be pleased to see the latest progress.\r\nLet's hope the bill has an easy ride through Congress and that UA can get on with raising some of the additional revenue it sorely needs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401793", "Seward & Alaska Railroad Awarded $20 Million Grant for Port Improvements", "2020-10-09", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska) welcomed the announcement today of a roughly$19.78 millionport infrastructure grant issued by the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the City of Seward and the Alaska Railroad Corporation to improve the freight dock and corridor in Seward, Alaska. The Alaska congressional delegationwrote a letterto Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao supporting the grant application in May.\r\nThis grant announcement by MARAD is an exciting development for the people of Seward and the industries that form the backbone of our economy, particularly fisheries and tourism,the delegation said. An expanded and revitalized port at the southern tip of Alaska's Railbelt will unleash new economic opportunities for Alaskans on the Peninsula and throughout the state, while also expanding vital transportation services to a number of rural communities. We also can't overstate the importance of this infrastructure to our maritime security and Coast Guard operations, with Seward soon poised to host a new Fast Response Cutter, in addition to the fueling and maintenance work already conducted at this important port. Mayor Terry, the community and the Railroad made a strong case for the wide-ranging benefits of this project, and we thank Secretary Chao for heeding the voices of Alaskans.\r\nAccording to the grant announcement, the project will lengthen and widen the primary freight dock at the Port of Seward to accommodate growing freight cargoes and minimize operational conflicts between freight and cruise movements, both onshore and in the harbor. Additionally, the project will include a roadway connection between the dock and Airport Road, facilitating the safe and efficient movement of passengers and cargo.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/seward-and-alaska-railroad-awarded-20-million-grant-for-port-improvements", "Seward & Alaska Railroad Awarded $20 Million Grant for Port Improvements", "2020-10-09", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska) welcomed the announcement today of a roughly $19.78 million port infrastructure grant issued by the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the City of Seward and the Alaska Railroad Corporation to improve the freight dock and corridor in Seward, Alaska. The Alaska congressional delegation wrote a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao supporting the grant application in May.\n\n\u201cThis grant announcement by MARAD is an exciting development for the people of Seward and the industries that form the backbone of our economy, particularly fisheries and tourism,\u201d the delegation said. \u201cAn expanded and revitalized port at the southern tip of Alaska\u2019s Railbelt will unleash new economic opportunities for Alaskans on the Peninsula and throughout the state, while also expanding vital transportation services to a number of rural communities. We also can\u2019t overstate the importance of this infrastructure to our maritime security and Coast Guard operations, with Seward soon poised to host a new Fast Response Cutter, in addition to the fueling and maintenance work already conducted at this important port. Mayor Terry, the community and the Railroad made a strong case for the wide-ranging benefits of this project, and we thank Secretary Chao for heeding the voices of Alaskans.\u201d\n\nAccording to the grant announcement, the project will lengthen and widen the primary freight dock at the Port of Seward \u201cto accommodate growing freight cargoes and minimize operational conflicts between freight and cruise movements, both onshore and in the harbor.\u201d Additionally, the project will include a roadway connection between the dock and Airport Road, facilitating the safe and efficient movement of passengers and cargo.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401778", "Congressmen Young, Carson, and Larsen Work to Strengthen Aviation Industry", "2020-10-08", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  A bipartisan group of lawmakers on the House's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, including Alaska Congressman Don Young, have teamed up to improve the friendly skies for airline employees and passengers alike.\r\nCongressman Andr Carson (D-IN), a member of the Aviation Subcommittee, Congressman Don Young (R-AK), former Chairman of the Transportation Committee, and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen, have introduced the bipartisan National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act of 2020 (HR 8532). This legislation would support and promote collaboration amongst civil, commercial, military and aviation sectors. It will address the demands and challenges associated with ensuring a safe and vibrant national aviation system through research, education, and training.\r\n\"Alaska's geography is incredibly unique. Because of this, aviation has become a central part of our state's culture and transportation needs,\" Congressman Young said. \"The need for pilots in our state will continue to grow, and if Alaska's aviation sector is to succeed, we must ensure that the next generation of aviators, mechanics, and other professionals have the training and support necessary to succeed. As a pilot myself, I am proud to introduce this crucial legislation alongside Congressman Andr Carson and Rep. Rick Larsen. Our bill takes important steps to promote aerospace education, develop our next generation aviation workforce, and improve the safety of our skies. This legislationis urgently needed, and I will continue working to get it across the finish line so that the dreams of Alaska's future pilots can take flight.\"\r\nI am honored to join my colleagues in introducing this common-sense, yet bold piece of legislation, Congressman Carson said. Indiana is known as the crossroads of America. And thanks to our world class airports, that nickname applies to our state's skyways as well. We need to keep growing and improving this sector, but obstacles persist. Too often in the past, innovation and lessons learned in various aviation sectors have not been shared in a collaborative or timely manner, especially in the face of rapid developments in new technology. Our bill helps break down silos across commercial aviation, general aviation and military aviation sectors. This will not only improve safety and best practices, but also expand opportunities for those interested in the aviation workforce. That includes the young and not so young, from those just starting out, to those with experience who want to move into other types of aviation work. I urge all of my congressional colleagues to support this bill, so we can ensure this industry creates jobs and sparks passions for years to come.\r\nIn Washington state and across the country, aviation and aerospace mean jobs, Congressman Larsen said. A National Center for the Advancement of Aviation would foster greater collaboration and technological innovation in U.S. airspace, help improve aviation safety, boost U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace, and prepare the next generation workforce to meet the demands of the 21stcentury aviation economy. As Chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure the future of aviation remains bright.\r\nThe National Center would focus on four key areas with an emphasis on aviation workforce development:\r\n \r\n    First, it would support education efforts and provide resources to curriculum developers so educators at all levels have the tools and training to educate the next generation of aviation professionals.\r\n \r\n \r\n    Second, the national center would provide a forum to leverage and share expertise amongst industry sectors including the dissemination of existing high school education curriculum to develop and deploy a workforce of pilots, aerospace engineers, unmanned aircraft system operators, aviation maintenance technicians, or other aviation maintenance professionals needed in the coming decades.\r\n \r\n \r\n    Third, it would serve as a central repository for economic and safety data research and analysis allowing a comprehensive perspective of industry information that would improve safety for all stakeholders.\r\n \r\n \r\n    Finally, it would support symposiums and conferences to facilitate collaboration across the industry and develop future advancements for the aviation and aerospace community.\r\n \r\nThis legislation would also allow the FAA to focus on safety, certification, and air traffic operations.\r\nMore than 130 organizations including schools, airports, airlines, manufacturers, unions, and other entities involved in aviation and aerospace have expressed strong support for this legislation. The list of organizations supporting this legislation is provided here:\r\n \r\n    AAR Corp.\r\n    ACI Jet\r\n    Aeronautical Repair Station Association\r\n    Aerospace Center of Excellence\r\n    Aerospace Maintenance Council\r\n    Air Care Alliance\r\n    Air Line Pilots Association, International\r\n    Air Medical Operators Association\r\n    Air Wisconsin Airlines\r\n    Airbus\r\n    Aircraft Electronics Association\r\n    Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association\r\n    Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association\r\n    Airlines for America\r\n    Alabama General Aviation Alliance\r\n    Alaska Airlines\r\n    Alaska Airmen Association\r\n    Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation\r\n    Alliance for Aviation Across America\r\n    Allied Pilots Association\r\n    American Airlines\r\n    American Bonanza Society\r\n    American Yankee Association\r\n    Arizona Airports Association\r\n    Arizona Flight Training Working group\r\n    Arizona Pilots Association\r\n    Arizona Safety Advisory Group\r\n    Arkansas General Aviation Association\r\n    Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International\r\n    Association of California Airports\r\n    Atlas Air Worldwide\r\n    Aviation Council of Pennsylvania\r\n    Aviation Technician Education Council\r\n    California Pilots Association\r\n    Cape Air\r\n    Cargo Airline Association\r\n    Cessna Flyer Association\r\n    Choose Aerospace, Inc.\r\n    Citation Jet Pilots, Inc.\r\n    Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations\r\n    Colorado Aviation Business Association\r\n    Commemorative Air Force\r\n    Community and Airport Partnership for Safe Operations\r\n    CommutAir\r\n    Compass Airlines\r\n    Delta Air Lines\r\n    Delta State University\r\n    EAA Type Club Coalition\r\n    EAA Warbirds of America\r\n    East Central Ohio Pilots Association\r\n    East Hampton Aviation Association\r\n    Empire Airlines\r\n    Endeavor Air\r\n    Envoy Air\r\n    EVAC, the Emergency Volunteers Air Corps\r\n    Experimental Aircraft Association\r\n    ExpressJet Airlines\r\n    FAST\r\n    FedEx Express\r\n    Flight School Association of North America\r\n    Flying Knights Flying Club\r\n    Flying Physicians Association\r\n    Friends of Linden Airport\r\n    Fullerton Airport Pilots Association\r\n    General Aviation Council of Hawaii\r\n    General Aviation Manufacturers Association\r\n    Glasair Aircraft Owners Association\r\n    GoJet Airlines\r\n    Hawaiian Airlines\r\n    Helicopter Association International\r\n    Horizon Air\r\n    International Air Transport Association\r\n    International Council of Air Shows, Inc.\r\n    Iowa Aviation Association\r\n    Kentucky Aviation Association\r\n    Kimmel Aviation Insurance\r\n    Ladd Gardner Aviation Insurance, Inc.\r\n    Lancair Owners and Builders Organization\r\n    Lewis University Airport\r\n    LIFT Academy\r\n    Long Island Business Aviation Association\r\n    Los Alamos Airport\r\n    Louisiana Airport Managers and Associates\r\n    Maine Aeronautics Association\r\n    Maine Aviation Business Association\r\n    Massachusetts Airport Management Association\r\n    Michigan Business Aviation Association\r\n    Minnesota Pilots Association\r\n    Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association\r\n    Mississippi Agricultural Association\r\n    Montana Pilots Association\r\n    Mooney Summit, Inc.\r\n    National Agricultural Aviation Association\r\n    National Air Traffic Controllers Association\r\n    National Air Transportation Association\r\n    National Association of State Aviation Officials\r\n    National Business Aviation Association\r\n    National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education\r\n    NetJets\r\n    NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots\r\n    New Hampshire Pilots Association\r\n    New Jersey Aviation Association\r\n    New Mexico Airport Manager's Association\r\n    New York Aviation Management Association\r\n    North American Trainer Association\r\n    Ohio Regional Business Aviation Association\r\n    Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission\r\n    Oklahoma Airport Operators Association\r\n    Oklahoma Pilots Association\r\n    Oregon Pilots Association\r\n    Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals\r\n    Palo Alto Airport Association\r\n    Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum\r\n    Petaluma Area Pilots Association\r\n    Piedmont Airlines\r\n    Piper Flyer Association\r\n    Plane and Pilot News\r\n    Professional Aviation Maintenance Association\r\n    PSA Airlines\r\n    Pure White Smoke Oil, Inc.\r\n    Recreational Aviation Foundation\r\n    Red Star Pilots Association\r\n    Regional Airline Association\r\n    Republic Airways\r\n    Rhode Island Pilots Association\r\n    San Carlos Pilots Association\r\n    San Diego Christian College\r\n    Seaplane Pilots Association\r\n    South Carolina Aviation Association\r\n    South Dakota Pilots Association\r\n    Southwest Airlines\r\n    Southwest Airlines Pilots Association\r\n    Start Skydiving, Inc.\r\n    Sturdivant Brothers Flying Service\r\n    T-34 Mentor Association\r\n    The Boeing Company\r\n    The Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington\r\n    Trans States Airlines\r\n    U.S. Contract Tower Association\r\n    U.S. Parachute Association\r\n    United Airlines\r\n    UPS\r\n    Veterans Airlift Command\r\n    Virginia Aviation Business Association\r\n    Washington Pilots Association\r\n    Washington Seaplane Pilots Association\r\n    Women in Aviation International\r\n    Zerowait, Inc.\r\n \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401777", "Congressman Don Young Announces Nearly $4 Million in Funding to Improve Housing Safety for Alaska Native Children and Families", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Alaska Congressman Don Young announced that the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded nearly $4 million in funding to various Alaska Native organizations under the Healthy Homes Production Grant Program for Tribal Housing Program. This grant program addresses multiple childhood diseases and injuries encountered at home by focusing on housing-related hazards such as mold, lead, and carbon monoxide, particularly in units where families with children, elderly family members, or persons with disabilities reside.\r\nMy children and grandchildren are Alaska Native, which makes the health and safety of families in our Native villages deeply personal, said Congressman Don Young. All too often, some of our most vulnerable populations are forced to live in homes that have been neglected, creating dangerous hazards for children. We must be doing all that we can to ensure that families in both public and private housing remain safe where they live. The safety of Alaska's next generation will always be one of my highest priorities. I am very pleased that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is making these investments in Alaska, and it is my great hope that we can continue working toward a future where everyone is safe in their homes, and empowered to live healthy, dignified lives.\r\nGrant awardees and funding amounts:\r\nNative Village of Ruby: $537,946\r\nTaiumiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority (TNHA): $999,942\r\nNative Village of Unalakleet: $845,006\r\nNative Village of Gakona: $638,682\r\nKoyukuk Village: $789,274\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-icebreakers-for-the-arctic-should-be-based-in-our-arctic-state", "ICYMI: \u201cIcebreakers for the Arctic should be based in our Arctic state\u201d", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "ANCHORAGE, ALASKA \u2013 On Monday, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Commerce Committees, penned an op-ed in Roll Call calling on the Pentagon and the Trump administration to home-port the next generation of icebreakers \u2013 the Polar Security Cutter \u2013 in Alaska, America\u2019s only Arctic state. In the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Sullivan secured a provision authorizing the construction of six new icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard, America\u2019s first new icebreakers in forty years. Contracts have since been awarded for up to the first three vessels.\n\n* * * * *\n\nIcebreakers for the Arctic should be based in our Arctic state\n\nAmid rising Arctic traffic and tensions, Alaska is the right location for ice-capable U.S. vessels\n\nBy Senator Dan Sullivan\n\nOctober 5, 2020\n\nAs ice continues to recede in the Bering Sea \u2014 stretching between Alaska\u2019s Seward Peninsula and Russia\u2019s Chukchi Peninsula \u2014 we in Alaska, the only Arctic state in the U.S, are witnessing an increase in ships passing through the area. Indeed, maritime traffic north of the Bering Strait has increased 128 percent since 2008. Some, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, have predicted that this narrow stretch of sea is poised to become the next Suez Canal, and Putin says Russia will control it.\n\nCoinciding with the increase in maritime traffic is an alarming increase in Russian military activity in the Arctic. Just a few weeks ago, three Russian warships and two support vessels and a nuclear submarine conducted joint missile drills in our commercial fishing waters, harassing our fishing boats. There has also been a significant increase in Russian bombers \u2014 four of which participated in the recent military exercise \u2014 entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone. It\u2019s clear that the Arctic, with its vast natural resources as well as strategic location, is becoming an increasingly contested area.\n\nIs America, one of eight Arctic nations, equipped to handle this increase in traffic and activity through our waters? No \u2014 not yet, at least.\n\nOur Coast Guard, the lead agency for projecting American power and interests in the region, has just one operational heavy icebreaker and one aging medium polar icebreaker, the Healy, a vessel that recently caught fire and had to cancel all of its Arctic operations. Russia, on the other hand, has a fleet of more than 50 icebreakers, and China, a nation far from the Arctic Circle but that calls itself a \u201cnear Arctic\u201d state, is expected to surpass our icebreaking capacity by 2025.\n\nThe disparity is alarming, but the federal government is finally waking up, with some firm jostling from Congress.\n\nTo read the full op-ed, click here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401775", "Representatives Young, Horn, and Kuster Introduce Bill to Support Low-Income and First-Generation College Students During Pandemic", "2020-10-02", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  This week, Congressman Don Young (AK-AL), Congresswoman Kendra Horn (OK-5), and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) introduced the bipartisan Coronavirus College Access and Completion Emergency Relief Act. The bill would provide emergency funding to the Federal TRIO Programs to support access to counseling, tutoring, mentoring and technology to help students enter and complete college. As many schools have moved to online classes during the pandemic, many of our most vulnerable students lack the support services and technology needed to complete courses or apply for college and financial aid.\r\n\"I have been a long-time supporter of Federal TRIO Programs because I have witnessed their positive impact for students across the State of Alaska who face barriers to education,\" said Congressman Don Young. \"Access to higher education can pose many challenges, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only made things more difficult for those needing support. In these unprecedented times, we must ensure that these programs are working for economically and socially disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness. I am proud to partner with Congresswoman Kendra Horn in the introduction of the Coronavirus College Access and Completion Emergency Relief Act. It is crucially important that TRIO Programs receive emergency funding in any future COVID-19 relief legislation, and our bill will help make that happen. In Congress, I will continue pushing to ensure that TRIO is there for the students who need it most.\"\r\nLow-income and first-generation college students are dropping out in record numbers during this COVID-19 crisis, said Congresswoman Horn. TRIO Programs have a proven track record of building bridges for our most vulnerable students to overcome challenges in accessing and successfully completing higher education. I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Coronavirus College Access and Completion Emergency Relief Act with Congressman Don Young and Congresswoman Annie Kuster to expand the TRIO student support program to help students in their shift to blended and online learning. TRIO programs provide critical resources and increase graduation rates for high risk students. This investment translates into a more equipped workforce and a stronger economy.\r\nOn top of the normal barriers students face during normal times, the COVID-19 crisis has made navigating college  especially for low-income and first generation students  much more difficult, said Congresswoman Kuster. Federal TRIO programs provide critical support for vulnerable students across the Granite State, and I'm proud to help introduce this bipartisan proposal to provide additional funding for these important resources. The Coronavirus College Access and Completion Emergency Relief Act will secure more funding for TRIO programs to support access to counseling resources, technology, and tutoring services to help our students succeed during this unprecedented time.\r\nTRIO is an evidenced-based suite of education programs serving first-generation, low-income students, students with disabilities, students in foster care, students experiencing homelessness, unemployed adults and veterans. With COVID-19's economic devastation, more people now qualify for TRIO's crucial services.\r\nThe Coronavirus College Access and Completion Emergency Relief Act is cosponsored by Representatives Madeleine Dean (PA-04), William R. Keating (MA-09), Jenniffer Gonzlez-Coln (PR-AL), TJ Cox (CA-21), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02), Gwen Moore (WI-02), Cindy Axne (IA-03) and Rodney Davis (IL-13).\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401776", "Congressman Don Young Announces $1.4 Million in Grant Funding Awarded to the Alaska Department of Corrections to Strengthen Reentry Strategies and Reduce Recidivism", "2020-10-02", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Don Young Announces $1.4 Million in Grant Funding Awarded to the Alaska Department of Corrections to Strengthen Reentry Strategies and Reduce Recidivism \r\n    \r\n     \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington,\r\n      October 2, 2020\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington, D.C.  Today, Alaska Congressman Don Young announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $500,000 to the Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC) as part of the Second Chance Act Statewide Adult Recidivism Reduction Strategic Plan Implementation Program. The DOC also received $900,000 through the Correctional Adult Reentry Education, Employment, and Recidivism Reduction Strategies (CAREERRS) Program. These grant programs award funding to correctional facilities to deliver high-quality education and programming to reduce recidivism among newly released individuals.\r\n\"The hardworking men and women of the Alaska Department of Corrections are committed to promoting justice. One of the most important things we can do to assist them is to ensure that individuals who are released from prison have the support they need to reenter society, and live productive and dignified lives,\" said Congressman Don Young. \"This grant funding from the DOJ is welcome news not only for our correctional officers and the individuals they serve, but for the communities across Alaska that will benefit from an increase in public safety. Empowering former inmates to find growth and opportunity after serving their sentences requires smart strategies and a committed support system. I am confident that this funding will go a long way toward reducing crowded prisons and providing the formerly incarcerated with the support needed to change their lives for the better. I am grateful to the DOJ for making these crucial investments in the great State of Alaska.\"\r\nThis funding gives DOC an opportunity to further improve our reentry efforts, generate statewide reductions in crime and recidivism and enhance overall public safety. As a supplement to the initial Second Chance Grant received last spring, we look forward to advancing and expanding the reentry initiatives already in place while taking steps to re-evaluate procurements, training, resources, and practices related to recidivism reduction, said Commissioner Nancy Dahlstrom of the Alaska Department of Corrections.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-welcomes-cross-border-permit-for-alaska-canada-railway", "Alaska Delegation Welcomes Cross-Border Permit for Alaska-Canada Railway", "2020-10-02", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, issued the following statements after President Trump signed a presidential border-crossing permit for the Alaska-Alberta (A2A) Railway Development Corporation to lay track across the border between Alaska and Canada. The proposed $17-billion freight rail project would run through northwest Canada and connect into the existing Alaska Railroad system, transporting energy, minerals, and other commodities to global markets through ports in Southcentral Alaska.\n\n\u201cThe effort to establish a railway connecting Alaska and Canada has been underway for decades, but never this close to reality. My father advocated for a rail connection between Canada and Alaska throughout his years in public office, and I have likewise worked with my partners in the delegation to advance the concept since coming to the Senate. I thank the President for sharing this vision and approving the cross-border permit for the A2A project. This rail infrastructure would strengthen the relationship between the United States and Canada while boosting Alaska\u2019s economy for years to come. As the project moves forward, I encourage the project sponsors and federal permitting agencies to continue to engage and consult with indigenous peoples and local communities along its proposed route,\u201d Murkowski said.\n\n\u201cThe A2A project would be a boon for Alaska, with the potential to expand our transportation system, decrease the cost of goods, provide greater security for food and supplies, and create hundreds if not thousands of good-paying jobs for hard-working Alaska families during the construction and operation phases,\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cI thank the President for approving this permit and for his administration\u2019s dogged focus on advancing important economic and job-producing projects in Alaska.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe A2A project represents tremendous potential, not only for our economy but for the delivery of affordable energy for American families. I have been an outspoken supporter of this project because it means good-paying jobs for Alaskans. This year, I have been working very closely with the White House, and have personally made the case for A2A to President Trump and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. They have been steadfast partners in this project and continue to recognize Alaska's importance to the rest of the nation,\u201d Young said. \u201cVery frankly, A2A means jobs and opportunity, which are sorely needed amid this ongoing pandemic. This endeavor will strengthen our country's already close relationship with Canada and allow us to work hand-in-hand to responsibly develop our resources. The Presidential Permit means this project, and the economic potential it brings, can move forward, and I am very pleased that President Trump has officially signed it. I will continue to support the project to its completion, and will be doing everything within my power to cut through red tape and bureaucracy. I have always said that in Congress, relationships are important. I was proud to serve with Mark Meadows in the House, and our working relationship continues to prove beneficial in his role as White House Chief of Staff. President Trump keeps delivering for Alaska, and having his ear allows me to fight and advocate for the people of our great state.\u201d\n\nMore information can be found on the project\u2019s website.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401768", "Congressman Don Youngs Legislation to Remove Ocean Debris and Promote Healthy Waters Passes the House", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Alaska Congressman Don Young, Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, helped lead House passage of S.1982, the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act. Earlier this Congress, Young and his Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), introduced the House version of Save Our Seas 2.0, and have been working with their colleagues to get it across the finish line in the House of Representatives.\r\nEvery minute, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic is dumped into our ocean. According to the United Nations, that is more than eight million metric tons a year. The bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, will address the staggering amount of plastic in the ocean by improving the domestic cleanup and response to marine debris, incentivizing international engagement on the issue, and strengthening domestic infrastructure to responsibly dispose waste materials. The legislation builds on the successes of the Save Our Seas Act, which was signed into law in 2018.\r\nAlaska is home to more coastline than any other state in the Union, and healthy oceans are essential to Alaska's economy and way of life, said Congressman Don Young. Serving as House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair has given me the opportunity to stand up and fight for Alaska's waters, and I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish today. Save Our Seas 2.0 builds on our successes combating marine debris through bolstering plastics research and funding needed for infrastructure improvements. Countless Alaskan families earn a living on the water; clean oceans are not just an environmental issue, but an economic one as well. I am sincerely grateful to my friend and Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici for fighting alongside me on behalf of marine life. Our Senator Dan Sullivan has been a strong leader on this issue, and I am confident that he will help shepherd this bill through the Senate so that we can send it to the President to be signed into law. I will continue fighting to ensure that our marine ecosystems stay healthy and productive for future generations to experience.\r\nWe need to fundamentally change our reliance on plastics, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. A problem this pervasive - a global problem of this magnitude - cannot be solved with a single bill. We cannot limit our action to removing existing plastic from the ocean, and we also cannot recycle our way out of plastic waste that ends up on our shores. We need comprehensive action. Save Our Seas 2.0 is a meaningful bill that builds on our foundation of bipartisan, bicameral efforts to strengthen the NOAA Marine Debris Program. We have significant work ahead of us to prevent marine debris, and I look forward to continuing to work with my House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Don Young, and our Senate Oceans Caucus colleagues to protect the health of our ocean.\r\nMarine debris harms costal economies, endangers marine life, destroys important marine habitats, propagates invasive species, and creates hazardous conditions for the maritime industry. The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act offers numerous provisions to address this problem, including:\r\n \r\n    Establishing a Marine Debris Response Trust Fund for NOAA to use in responding to marine debris events\r\n    Creating a Marine Debris Foundation to encourage, accept, and administer private gifts in connection with the activities and services of the NOAA Marine Debris Program\r\n    Authorizing a prize competition to advance innovation in the removal and prevention of plastic waste\r\n    Directing federal agencies to work with foreign countries to improve capacity and operation of waste management systems\r\n    Requiring the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress assessing the potential for negotiating a new international agreement or creating a new forum to address marine debris and mandating the Executive Branch consider marine debris in negotiations of international agreements\r\n    Directing the EPA to develop a strategy to improve waste management and recycling infrastructure, harmonize waste collection and recycling protocols, strengthen markets for recycled plastic, and identify barriers to increasing the collection of recyclable materials\r\n    Creating a Waste Management Revolving Fund, Waste Management Infrastructure Grant program, Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant program, Wastewater Infrastructure Grant program, and Trash-Free Water Grant program to assist local waste management authorities in improving and deploying waste interceptor technologies\r\n \r\nYoung and Bonamici co-chair the House Oceans Caucus, a bipartisan group of House Members committed to taking action to protect the health and future of our oceans. This Congress, the Caucus is focused on environmental stressors (including ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxia); marine debris; ocean data and monitoring; coastal resiliency; and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. More details about the original Save Our Seas Act, which reauthorized the NOAA Marine Debris Program and provided resources to help states respond to severe marine debris events, can be found here.\r\n(Click here  for Congressman Young's full remarks on Save Our Seas 2.0 from the House Floor.)\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/house-passes-sullivans-save-our-seas-20-act", "House Passes Sullivan\u2019s Save Our Seas 2.0 Act", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) are applauding the passage of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act in the House of Representatives today. The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act was introduced in June 2019 to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal economies and harming marine life. The legislation seeks to help reduce the creation of plastic waste, find uses for the plastic waste that already exists to keep it from entering the oceans, spur innovation, and tackle the problem on a global scale. It builds on the initial progress secured by the Save Our Seas Act, which was sponsored by Sullivan and Whitehouse and signed into law by President Trump in 2018. The House version of the bill is sponsored by Representatives Don Young (R-Alaska) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.).\n\n\u201cSave Our Seas 2.0, the most comprehensive marine debris legislation ever to pass the U.S. Senate, is now also the most comprehensive bill on the challenge to ever pass Congress,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cOur legislation will improve our nation\u2019s ability to respond to marine debris events, lead to greater international cooperation on preventing trash from reaching the oceans, and spark innovation to manage and possibly even reuse plastic waste\u2014all with the goal of protecting our pristine environment, fisheries, and coastal communities across our country and, particularly, in Alaska, which has more coastline than the rest of the Lower 48 combined. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who are coming together to address a very important environmental challenge. I look forward to SOS 2.0 passing the Senate and moving onto the President\u2019s desk for his signature, and continuing work on this important issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re one significant step closer to stemming the rising tide of harmful plastic pollution that washes up on beaches and in fishing nets along every coast,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, who co-founded the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus to find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to our oceans allies in the House who approved the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act with strong bipartisan support. With the success of the original Save Our Seas bill, and now this step for SOS 2.0, we will keep building on our success with 3.0 and other bills, until we have truly addressed the scourge of ocean plastic waste.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs marine debris and plastic waste continue to threaten public health and the economic prosperity of coastal communities, I\u2019m so pleased to see our legislation take this giant step forward today,\u201d said Senator Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. \u201cSave Our Seas Act 2.0 will bolster U.S. capacities and leadership in the global effort against plastic pollution and I am committed to continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get it over the finish line and signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to fundamentally change our reliance on plastics,\u201d said Congresswoman Bonamici, who sponsored the House version of the bill. \u201cA problem this pervasive - a global problem of this magnitude - cannot be solved with a single bill. We cannot limit our action to removing existing plastic from the ocean, and we also cannot recycle our way out of plastic waste that ends up on our shores. We need comprehensive action. Save Our Seas 2.0 is a meaningful bill that builds on our foundation of bipartisan, bicameral efforts to strengthen the NOAA Marine Debris Program. We have significant work ahead of us to prevent marine debris, and I look forward to continuing to work with my House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Don Young, and our Senate Oceans Caucus colleagues to protect the health of our ocean.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlaska is home to more coastline than any other state in the Union, and healthy oceans are essential to Alaska\u2019s economy and way of life,\u201d said Congressman Young. \u201cServing as House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair has given me the opportunity to stand up and fight for Alaska\u2019s waters, and I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish today. Save Our Seas 2.0 builds on our successes combating marine debris through bolstering plastics research and funding needed for infrastructure improvements. Countless Alaskan families earn a living on the water; clean oceans are not just an environmental issue, but an economic one as well. I am sincerely grateful to my friend and Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici for fighting alongside me on behalf of marine life. Our Senator Dan Sullivan has been a strong leader on this issue, and I am confident that he will help shepherd this bill through the Senate so that we can send it to the President to be signed into law. I will continue fighting to ensure that our marine ecosystems stay healthy and productive for future generations to experience.\u201d\n\nRoughly eight million metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste from land enters the oceans each year. Ninety percent of this plastic enters the oceans from ten rivers, eight of which are in Asia. The plastic breaks down into tiny pieces that can enter the marine food chain and harm fish and wildlife, and wash ashore on even the most remote stretches of coastline. Plastic has been found in areas as remote as the Mariana Trench, the deepest known point in the ocean.\n\nThe Senate, which passed Save Our Seas 2.0 by unanimous consent in January, will need to approve changes made in the House before the bill can be sent to the President to be signed.\n\nTimeline\n\nJuly 2020 \u2013 Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse testify before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) regarding U.S. efforts to combat the global marine debris crisis and the Save Our Seas (SOS) 2.0 Act.\n\nJanuary 2020 \u2013 Senators Sullivan, Whitehouse and Menendez hold a colloquy on the Senate floor discussing the Senate\u2019s unanimous passage of the SOS 2.0 Act.\n\nJanuary 2020 \u2013 The Senate votes unanimously to pass the SOS 2.0 Act.\n\nNovember 2019 \u2013 the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee advances the final piece of the SOS 2.0 Act.\n\nSeptember 2019 \u2013 The Senate Environment and Public Works and the Senate Foreign Relations Committees advance two pieces of the SOS 2.0 Act.\n\nJuly 2019 \u2013 Major stakeholders and media organizations react to the SOS 2.0 Act.\n\nJune 2019 \u2013 Senators Sullivan, Whitehouse and Menendez introduce the SOS 2.0 Act.\n\nFebruary 2019 \u2013 A new coalition of private sector businesses form the \u201cAlliance to End Plastic Waste\u201d and pledge $1.5 billion to help address the global marine debris crisis.\n\nOctober 2018 \u2013 President Trump signs the Save Our Seas Act into law in an Oval Office ceremony.\n\nSeptember 2018 \u2013 The House passes the Save Our Seas Act.\n\nAugust 2017 \u2013 Sullivan welcomes the director of the Marine Debris Program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to Alaska.\n\nAugust 2017 \u2013 The Senate unanimously passes the Save Our Seas Act.\n\nJuly 2017 \u2013 Senator Sullivan chairs a hearing of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard regarding the global marine debris crisis.\n\nApril 2017 \u2013 The Save Our Seas Act advances from the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.\n\nMarch 2017 \u2013 Senators Sullivan, Whitehouse and Booker introduce the Save Our Seas Act, legislation that was cosponsored by 19 of their Senate colleagues.\n\nJanuary 2017 \u2013 Senator Sullivan is named chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard.\n\nDecember 2016 \u2013 The Senate passes the Marine Debris Act Amendments, introduced by Senators Sullivan and Booker.\n\nMay 2016 \u2013 Senator Sullivan chairs a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife on the marine debris crisis.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senior-dod-official-commits-to-sullivan-to-produce-plan_on-a-us-stockpile-of-critical-minerals-to-combat-china", "Senior DOD Official Commits to Sullivan to Produce Plan  on a U.S. Stockpile of Critical Minerals to Combat China", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "Commitment comes one day after President Trump issues executive order on securing America\u2019s critical minerals supply chains\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, chaired a hearing today on the integrity of America\u2019s critical minerals supply chains, one day after President Donald Trump issued anexecutive order (EO) on addressing the threat of U.S. reliance on foreign adversaries for these important minerals and metals. In the hearing, Sullivan pressed Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen M. Lord on steps the Pentagon and the administration are taking to prevent China from seizing complete control of mineral markets critical to U.S. national security, particularly rare earth elements. Under Secretary Lord committed to providing Sullivan and the subcommittee with a plan, within 30 days, for establishing a domestic stockpile of critical minerals, similar to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).\n\n\u201cWith the rise of China and great power competition, and the global COVID-19 pandemic, the vulnerabilities and gaps in our supply chains, particularly as it relates to national security, have taken on new urgency,\u201dsaid Senator Sullivan. \u201cHighly technical weapons systems, as well as consumer electronics\u2026increasingly have a role in warfighting and are increasingly reliant on Chinese supply chains. One area of supply chain integrity that is particularly important to me, and I think the rest of the country, is our supply of strategic critical minerals and metals that go into many of our modern-day electronics and our modern-day weapons. The key issue on this is that we know we're reliant on China. In many cases, we, the United States of America, actually have these critical minerals\u2014for example, in the great state of Alaska\u2014and we actually mine them and process them [using] much higher environmental standards than the Chinese\u2026and I think people are starting to recognize that.\u201d\n\nSenator Sullivan highlighted findings from the President\u2019s EO, including the fact that the United States imports more than half of its annual consumption of 31 of the 35 minerals that are most important to the U.S. defense industrial base. Additionally, the U.S. has no domestic production for 14 of these critical minerals.\n\n\u201cIn the 1980s, the United States produced more of these elements than any other country in the world and, by the way, we still have them in my state. Bokan Mountain is an example,\u201dsaid Senator Sullivan.\n\nIn his first line of questioning, Sullivan asked Under Secretary Lord about China\u2019s actions to strategically flood the global market for rare earth elements in order to displace its competitors, a vulnerability the President\u2019s EO also recognized.\n\n\u201cEvery time another supplier, whether in the United States or somewhere else in the world, looks like they are going to be able to start mining and producing, the Chinese flood the market to destroy their competition. It\u2019s outrageous,\u201dsaid Senator Sullivan. \u201cCan you talk about this dependence on critical minerals and how it affects the integrity of our defense industrial base and what are we doing about it?...We are very vulnerable to our biggest strategic adversary in the world who has no qualms about playing hard ball.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat we can do today is begin the mining and processing\u2026[and] we can think about stockpiling some more of these,\u201dUnder Secretary Lord replied. \u201cWe need the authorities to move forward with these, in some cases, and we certainly need appropriations\u2026We actually have worked through OMB (Office of Management and Budget) and have submitted to Congress and hoped to see another appropriation to DOD under the CARES Act, and we actually had submitted $5 billion for another DPA (Defense Production Act) Title III appropriation, because our industrial business council has a very long list of critical frugalities that we are trying to address. Rare earth is our key one.\u201d\n\nIn his next round of questions, Senator Sullivan noted that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created in the 1970s following an oil embargo by several Arab nations and asked what lessons could be learned to better address the current constraints on critical mineral supplies.\n\n\u201cHow does that Strategic Petroleum Reserve differ from the National Defense Stockpile and should the National Defense Stockpile be expanded to take on a role similar to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?\u201dasked Senator Sullivan. \u201cWould you need\u2026authority or funding? Is there a pathway to make that happen? Let me just mention that would of course provide security, but also market certainty.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere is already a lot of work going on to look at expanding the National Defense Stockpile to include more rare earths and to look at that as a national resource,\u201dreplied Under Secretary Lord.\n\nSenator Sullivan followed up and pressed Lord further, seeking a commitment to move forward on a strategic reserve of critical minerals.\n\n\u201cCongress played a huge role in setting up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We really need to get on this and I think the SPR, with the energy sector, is a great analogy for strategic critical minerals. What do you need from us?\u201dasked Senator Sullivan.\n\n\u201cI would like to look into that to give you specifics to see what authorities,\u201dreplied Under Secretary Lord. \u201cIt would obviously take some authorities and some appropriations to do that, but I would like to take that on and get back to you within a month.\u201d\n\nTo close out the hearing, Senator Sullivan voiced the opportunity he sees to counter China\u2019s nefarious actions impacting the U.S. supply chain, and create new opportunities for American workers in the process.\n\n\u201cThe whole issue of supply chains, the rise of China, COVID\u2014it is outrageous that we are so reliant on the Chinese right now,\u201dsaid Senator Sullivan. \u201cTheir calculated attempts to keep supply chains dependent on them has to stop, and I think you are in a perfect position to do that. I think there is strong bipartisan support and resolve to help the Department of Defense do that and to create supply chains that are not just secure for our national security, but also to help American workers. These are all great jobs. The mining sector in my state has an average wage of $100,000 per worker. These are great jobs. If we do it better than anybody else with higher environmental standards clearly than the Chinese, who trash their environment when they mine\u2026We should bring that home and I think we have a great opportunity here.\u201d\n\nIn June, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which includes twoSullivan-authored amendments to address the United States\u2019 rising critical mineral dependence on China and other foreign countries, setting forth U.S. policies to achieve ambitious 10-year critical mineral goals and requiring the Department of Defense (DOD) to produce a study on U.S. defense critical mineral needs.\n\nTo watch the full hearing, clickhere.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401767", "Congressman Don Youngs Legislation to Restore Buffalo Populations on Tribal Lands Unanimously Passes Through Committee", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, the Indian Buffalo Management Act, legislation introduced by Congressman Don Young (R-AK) and Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM), was unanimously passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee. The American buffalo, a North American species of bison, once roamed freely across the United States, and served an important role for Native communities throughout North America. Historically, bison were a reliable source of food, shelter, clothing, and economic mobility for Indigenous peoples across the American west. The decimation of the American buffalo that began in the mid-19th century significantly impacted the Native communities that depended on these majestic creatures.\r\nThe Indian Buffalo Management Act establishes a program within the Department of the Interior to assist tribes and tribal organizations with the protection, conservation, and fostering of buffalo herds. This legislation is supported by the 68 tribes in 18 states that are the members of the InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC), the National Parks Conservation Association, the National Congress of American Indians, the American Bison Society, the National Bison Association, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the World Wildlife Fund.\r\nFor hundreds of years, the American buffalo was central to the culture, spiritual wellbeing, and livelihoods of our nation's Indigenous peoples, said Congressman Don Young, Vice-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus. The tragic decimation of these iconic animals remains one of the darkest chapters in America's history, and we must be doing all that we can to reverse the damage done not only to the American buffalo, but to the way of life of Native peoples across our country. I am proud to have introduced the Indian Buffalo Management Act with my good friend, Congresswoman Deb Haaland, and I am grateful to my colleagues on the House Natural Resources Committee for supporting its passage today. This is a very good bill with broad support. Input and collaboration with Alaska Native and Indigenous organizations, in addition to countless tribes has been integral to our efforts to protect vital to Native cultural, spiritual, and subsistence traditions. I want to thank the InterTribal Buffalo Council, in particular, for their advocacy and hard work on the development of this legislation. This bill is an important step to restoring once-vibrant buffalo herds, and I will keep working with friends on both sides of the aisle to ensure its final passage on the House Floor.\r\nSelf-governance is key to protecting tribal sovereignty, but since the near extinction of buffalo due to mindless slaughter, Tribes have often been left out of reestablishing and managing their own buffalo herds. This bill will help reverse the decimation of the American Buffalo by establishing a program to assist Tribal nations and Native organizations with the protection, conservation, and fostering of their buffalo herds. It is my hope that this bipartisan bill will reverse the damage done to the American Buffalo and support Tribes across the country. I thank my Congressional Native American Caucus colleagues for moving this bill forward, said Congresswoman Deb Haaland, Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.\r\nThe support of tribal herds restores the cultural, spiritual and traditional connection between buffalo and indigenous people, and it provides economic development opportunities and supplies a sustainable food source, said Conrad Peterson, President of the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor. Food security is extremely concerning in our remote, rural village, especially during this world-wide pandemic. We are thankful for the support of Congressman Young to move this legislation forward to support all Tribes.\r\nWe have strived to establish a buffalo herd to provide for our people and community, said Melissa Berns, Tribal Member and Herd Manager. The Indian Buffalo Management Act (IMBA) is historic for Native Americans as it will support bringing back buffalo to Indian Country at the level it deserves. With the support of the InterTribal Buffalo Council, the IBMA will assist in supporting member tribes for the benefit of their people for many generations to come. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-meets-with-supreme-court-nominee-judge-amy-coney-barrett", "Sullivan Meets with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today released the following message after meeting with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump\u2019s nominee to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.\n\nBelow is a transcript of Senator Sullivan\u2019s statement:\n\nHello, Alaska. I just came out of a meeting with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump\u2019s nominee to be on the U.S. Supreme Court. It was a really productive meeting\u2014almost forty-five minutes with her. We covered many topics. She\u2019s clearly a thoughtful and intelligent jurist with many credentials to her name. Some of the topics we covered right at the outset: the role of a judge on the federal judiciary\u2026It\u2019s the role of a judge to interpret the law, not to legislate from the bench. I think she was in full agreement on that.\n\nA lot of our discussion focused on Alaska-specific issues. I talked about how unique our state was, but also how there are many unique, complicated laws, such as the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and ANILCA, the Trans Alaska Pipeline Act, even the Tax Act of 2017, which has a whole section on the opening of ANWR. We went into depth about how federal courts often misinterpret these very important laws for our state, which could do huge damage to Alaska. I told her to keep an eye on these kinds of cases, and then we went into depth on the Sturgeon vs. Frost case. This is an example of lower courts, in this case, the Ninth Circuit, really misinterpreting federal law. Fortunately, the Supreme Court, in two different opinions, finally got ANILCA and Alaska right in the Sturgeon case. I respectfully gave her this case and asked her to read it. We talked a lot about the Second Amendment. She is a strong defender of the Second Amendment. There was a Seventh Circuit case in which she wrote a dissent that to me is one of the most powerful dissents that I've read on the Second Amendment and the importance of it. I would mention to Alaskans, if you\u2019re interested in it, we can make sure you know what case that is to take a look at it and to read it.\n\nWe had a deep discussion also on the issue of the power and limitations of federal agencies, administrative agencies. She had written an opinion on limiting the power of the Waters of the United States (Rule) that I thought was very important, and we had a long discussion on that as well. We covered other topics as well. But I would say I'm certainly looking forward to seeing more of her views as the Judiciary Committee hearings kick into gear. But, overall, it was an important meeting today. I think she came away with a sense of just how important and unique many of the federal laws that come before the U. S. Supreme Court relate to Alaska, and that was my goal today.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401763", "New Legislation Would Provide Greater Fiscal Stability for the University of Alaska", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, last week introduced new legislation, the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The legislation is supported by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, also R-Alaska, and would resolve the University of Alaska's (University) unfulfilled land grant to help it generate revenues that support its students and operations.\r\nThe University currently has one of the smallest land endowmentsjust 110,000 acresof any applicable institution of higher education. While those lands help the University generate revenues, a complicated history of federal laws and an adverse court ruling have prevented the State of Alaska (State) from being able to directly convey additional lands to the University from its own entitlementdespite that being Congress' clear intent for several decades.\r\n The delegation's new bill addresses these issues by allowing the University and State to jointly identify up to 500,000 acres for potential conveyance, which the Department of the Interior (DOI) would survey. The State and University would then work with DOI to transfer up to 360,000 acres in total to the University. Any land ultimately transferred to the University would be deducted from Alaska's outstanding statehood lands entitlement, which still totals several million acres. As we navigate these unprecedented times,the University of Alaska will continue to play a critical role by providing quality educations to young Alaskans and future generations, said Senator Murkowski, Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.This legislationwillfulfillthe University of Alaska's land grant for the benefit of its students and help provide a permanent foundation to support higher education in Alaska.This is key to a healthy and vibrantfuturefor our state, and I thankthe Governor and the Universityfor workingwith us todevelop this consensus approach.\r\n The University of Alaska, like so many other institutions in Alaska, has been hit hard by the pandemic, facing significant fiscal challenges as a result.said Senator Sullivan. Finally fulfilling the University's promise as a land grant university withsufficient lands to achieve its missionwill better enable the institution to support itself and continue to educate our state's next generation of leaders. I'm glad to join Senator Murkowski and Congressman Young in introducing this legislation to break through decades-long hurdles that have prevented the University from accessing the land it needs to secure a strong future.\r\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every area of our daily lives, including our economy, said Congressman Young. One critical way we can help Alaskans bounce back from these unprecedented times is to help our universities in their goal of providing high-quality education to the young people of our great state. The University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act is an important piece of legislation to provide this essential institution with the resources necessary to support our students. Our state is well-known for being able to balance resource development with environmental protection, and the University of Alaska should be empowered to responsibly utilize their lands for the benefit of students. I am grateful for the support of both the Alaska Delegation and Governor Dunleavy, and will continue working to secure a bright future for future generations of Alaskans.\r\n I am committed to getting Alaskans back to work, reviving our state's diverse economy, and enhancing and developing our abundant natural resources. The fulfilment of the University of Alaska's long-standing land grants is a significant step towards meeting these commitments, said Alaska Governor Dunleavy. I thank Senator Murkowski, as well as her Alaskan colleagues, Senator Sullivan and Congressman Young, for the introduction of the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act. This vital piece of legislation would provide for the continuation of higher education by placing productive lands into active management to generate recurring revenues, supporting the University of Alaska. This is exactly what Congress intended in the creation of land grant universities and it is time this intent is realized.\r\nThis is a major step forward and a very important day for the university toward our long-term financial security. The entire university community is grateful to our congressional delegation and for the support of the Governor, said University of Alaska Interim President Pat Pitney. While there's more work to be done in the months ahead, this legislation signals that our status as a land grant university without the land' is finally coming to an end. We look forward to theopportunity that the land will provide to our long term stablefunding toenhance our students' educational experience andfor cutting edge research.\r\nThe text of the legislation as introduced in both the Senate and House is available here. To read more about the University's never-fulfilled land grant, please click here. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401764", "JOBS FOR ALASKA: Congressman Don Young Successfully Urges President Trump to Approve Critical Cross-Border Rail; Officially Secures Presidential Permit", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, at the urging of Alaska Congressman Don Young, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Permit authorizing the construction of the Alaska to Alberta (A2A) Railway. A2A  intends to begin work immediately, and the project is expected to provide thousands of jobs for Alaskans. A2A rail links Alaska to Alberta, Canada, with the goal of transporting oil, minerals, and other commodities. Congressman Young has been working closely with President Trump, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, senior White House officials, and Senator Dan Sullivan all year to secure this permit.\r\n\"The A2A project represents tremendous potential, not only for our economy but for the delivery of affordable energy for American families. I have been an outspoken supporter of this project because it means good-paying jobs for Alaskans. This year, I have been working very closely with the White House, and have personally made the case for A2A to President Trump and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. They have been steadfast partners in this project and continue to recognize Alaska's importance to the rest of the nation, said Congressman Don Young. Very frankly, A2A means jobs and opportunity, which are sorely needed amid this ongoing pandemic. This endeavor will strengthen our country's already close relationship with Canada and allow us to work hand-in-hand to responsibly develop our resources. The Presidential Permit means this project, and the economic potential it brings, can move forward, and I am very pleased that President Trump officially signed it today. I will continue to support the project to its completion, and will be doing everything within my power to cut through red tape and bureaucracy. I have always said that in Congress, relationships are important. I was proud to serve with Mark Meadows in the House, and our working relationship continues to prove beneficial in his role as White House Chief of Staff. President Trump keeps delivering for Alaska, and having his ear allows me to fight and advocate for the people of our great state.\" The permit can be found here.\r\n##", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401766", "Congressman Don Young Announces Nearly $2 Million in HHS Grants for Alaska", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Don Young Announces Nearly $2 Million in HHS Grants for Alaska \r\n    \r\n     \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington,\r\n      September 29, 2020\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington, D.C.  Today,Alaska Congressman Don Young announced that nearly $2 million in funding has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to various recipients in Alaska. These grants were made under the Social & Economic Development Strategies grant program, which promotes social and economic self-sufficiency in communities. Additionally, Catholic Social Services, Inc received funding as part of the Wilson-Fish (WF) program which provides assistance to refugees.\r\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has made this year very difficult for our nation, but I have witnessed leaders from across our state step up to ensure that Alaskans can weather these unprecedented times, said Congressman Don Young. Securing the long-term health and economic well-being of Alaskans requires a supportive federal response. This funding from the Department of Health and Human Services is welcome news for the countless individuals and families who may require assistance to make ends meet amid this pandemic. I am grateful to Secretary Alex Azar and the Trump Administration for identifying the need for health care funding and economic opportunity in our state. In Congress, I will always stand up for our communities, and I know that by working together, we will come out the other side of this stronger than ever.\"\r\nGrant recipients and award amounts:\r\n \r\n    AK Asa'carsarmiut, $98,951\r\n    The Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute, $372,353\r\n    Catholic Social Services, Inc., $100,000\r\n    Sealaska Heritage Institute, $282,098\r\n    Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council, $198,902\r\n    Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc., $400,000\r\n    Native Village of Unalakleet, $200,000\r\n    Organized Village of Kake, $200,000\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-legislation-would-provide-greater-fiscal-stability-for-the-university-of-alaska", "New Legislation Would Provide Greater Fiscal Stability for the University of Alaska", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, last week introduced new legislation, the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The legislation is supported by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, also R-Alaska, and would resolve the University of Alaska\u2019s (University) unfulfilled land grant to help it generate revenues that support its students and operations.\n\nThe University currently has one of the smallest land endowments\u2014just 110,000 acres\u2014of any applicable institution of higher education. While those lands help the University generate revenues, a complicated history of federal laws and an adverse court ruling have prevented the State of Alaska (State) from being able to directly convey additional lands to the University from its own entitlement\u2014despite that being Congress\u2019 clear intent for several decades.\n\nThe delegation\u2019s new bill addresses these issues by allowing the University and State to jointly identify up to 500,000 acres for potential conveyance, which the Department of the Interior (DOI) would survey. The State and University would then work with DOI to transfer up to 360,000 acres in total to the University. Any land ultimately transferred to the University would be deducted from Alaska\u2019s outstanding statehood lands entitlement, which still totals several million acres.\n\n\u201cAs we navigate these unprecedented times, the University of Alaska will continue to play a critical role by providing quality educations to young Alaskans and future generations,\u201d said Senator Murkowski, Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. \u201cThis legislation will fulfill the University of Alaska\u2019s land grant for the benefit of its students and help provide a permanent foundation to support higher education in Alaska. This is key to a healthy and vibrant future for our state, and I thank the Governor and the University for working with us to develop this consensus approach.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe University of Alaska, like so many other institutions in Alaska, has been hit hard by the pandemic, facing significant fiscal challenges as a result.\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cFinally fulfilling the University\u2019s promise as a land grant university with sufficient lands to achieve its mission will better enable the institution to support itself and continue to educate our state\u2019s next generation of leaders. I\u2019m glad to join Senator Murkowski and Congressman Young in introducing this legislation to break through decades-long hurdles that have prevented the University from accessing the land it needs to secure a strong future.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every area of our daily lives, including our economy,\u201d said Congressman Young. \u201cOne critical way we can help Alaskans bounce back from these unprecedented times is to help our universities in their goal of providing high-quality education to the young people of our great state. The University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act is an important piece of legislation to provide this essential institution with the resources necessary to support our students. Our state is well-known for being able to balance resource development with environmental protection, and the University of Alaska should be empowered to responsibly utilize their lands for the benefit of students. I am grateful for the support of both the Alaska Delegation and Governor Dunleavy, and will continue working to secure a bright future for future generations of Alaskans.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am committed to getting Alaskans back to work, reviving our state\u2019s diverse economy, and enhancing and developing our abundant natural resources. The fulfilment of the University of Alaska's long-standing land grants is a significant step towards meeting these commitments,\u201d said Alaska Governor Dunleavy. \u201cI thank Senator Murkowski, as well as her Alaskan colleagues, Senator Sullivan and Congressman Young, for the introduction of the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act. This vital piece of legislation would provide for the continuation of higher education by placing productive lands into active management to generate recurring revenues, supporting the University of Alaska. This is exactly what Congress intended in the creation of land grant universities and it is time this intent is realized.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a major step forward and a very important day for the university toward our long-term financial security. The entire university community is grateful to our congressional delegation and for the support of the Governor,\u201d said University of Alaska Interim President Pat Pitney. \u201cWhile there\u2019s more work to be done in the months ahead, this legislation signals that our status as a \u2018land grant university without the land\u2019 is finally coming to an end. We look forward to the opportunity that the land will provide to our long term stable funding to enhance our students\u2019 educational experience and for cutting edge research.\u201d\n\nThe text of the legislation as introduced in both the Senate and House is available here. To read more about the University\u2019s never-fulfilled land grant, please click here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-trump-announces-alaska-to-alberta-rail-line-permit", "ICYMI: Trump Announces \u201cAlaska to Alberta\u201d Rail Line Permit", "2020-09-28", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On Saturday, President Donald Trump published a Tweet announcing a forthcoming permit for the A2A Railway project that would connect Alaska with the Canadian province of Alberta, a story covered in theAnchorage Daily News.President Trump attributed his decision to the advocacy of U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young (both R-Alaska). The 1,600-mile-long project would run between northern Alberta to deep-water ports in Alaska, and also connect the state to the North American railway network. The terminus is planned for northern Alberta near Fort McKay, with the line then either connecting to the Alaska Railroad through a planned expansion to Delta Junction, or continuing south along the Richardson Highway to the tidewater port of Valdez.\n\n* * * * *\n\nTrump tweets intent to issue permit for rail line connecting Alaska to Canada and Lower 48\n\nSeptember 27, 2020\n\nBy Morgan Krakow\n\nPresident Donald Trump said late Friday that he expected to issue a permit for a rail line connecting Alaska and Canada, citing the influence of two members of Alaska\u2019s congressional delegation on his decision.\n\n\u201cBased on the strong recommendation of @SenDanSullivan and @repdonyoung of the Great State of Alaska, it is my honor to inform you that I will be issuing a Presidential Permit for the A2A Cross-Border Rail between Alaska & Canada. Congratulations to the people of Alaska & Canada!\u201d the president tweeted Friday around 8 p.m. Alaska time.\n\nThe 1,600-mile railroad line would connect Alaska to both Canada and the Lower 48 and would cut down on the time it takes to get products between Asia and North America, according to Mead Treadwell, Alaska vice chair with the company proposing the project, Alaska to Alberta Railway.\n\nTreadwell called the president\u2019s announcement a \u201cwonderful surprise\u201d and said a presidential permit would boost investor confidence for the project to spend more money on detailed engineering and environmental reviews.\n\nThe proposed rail route would run from Interior Alaska through the Yukon and into Alberta. Trains would carry various commodities, like bitumen, grain, fertilizer, pipe, containers and sulfur as well as passengers, Treadwell said.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump reached out to Senator Sullivan yesterday to get his view, as well as the view of other Alaskans, on the A2A project,\" said a statement Saturday from the office of Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan.\n\nSullivan\u2019s office also said the project could expand the state\u2019s transportation system, create jobs, lower food costs and \u201cprovide greater security for food and supplies.\u201d\n\nCLICK HERE to read the full story\u2026\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401762", "Delegation Welcomes Next Step on Rulemaking to Help Southeast Alaska Build a More Sustainable Economy", "2020-09-25", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) published the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a Tongass-specific Roadless Rule. The final EIS includes six alternatives, with a full exemption selected as the preferred alternative.\r\nThe Tongass is home to Alaskans who want what most Americans take for grantedthe opportunity to live, work, and play in the communities in which they grew up,Murkowski said.A full exemption from the Roadless Rule is about accessaccess to recreation, renewable energy, and more. This puts us on track for a Record of Decision and final rule by the end of the year, in turn opening the door for individuals and communities throughout Southeast to build a more sustainable economy while still ensuring good stewardship of our lands and waters. I thank Secretary Perdue and the Forest Service team for their continued good work on this important rulemaking.\r\nFor nearly two decades, theRoadlessRule has stifled opportunities for Alaskans in Southeast to harvest timber, connect communities, develop minerals and build vital energy projects,Sullivan said.With this newTongass-specific regulation, the Forest Service has struck a better balance betweenconservation and fosteringopportunities for Alaskans to make a living.I thank Secretary Perdue,Chief Christiansen, andthe Forest Service team for working with Alaskans and reaching this critical stage on the path to a more responsible and workableRoadlessRule.\r\nFor years, I have said that the one-size-fits-all Roadless Rule was a disaster for Alaska. This Congress, I have been working closely with the President and senior White House staff to secure a Roadless Rule exemption for the Tongass. Not only has the Roadless Rule put an unconscionable economic and social burden on Southeast Alaska, it also violates ANILCA and the no more' clause by locking up land from the people of Alaska. The release of the final EIS for Roadless Rule is incredible news for our state and our economy, particularly in Southeast. I want to thank the Administration for working with me, our Congressional Delegation, Governor Dunleavy, and, most importantly, for listening to Alaskans. An exemption will not only bring great economic benefit to Alaska, but will also help bolster the long-term health of the Tongass National Forest. This is a good day, and one that has been long in the making. I look forward to continuing to fight on behalf of our state's right to manage our own resources,Young said.\r\nIn 2018, the Forest Service announced it would develop a state-specific Roadless Rule focused on the Tongass National Forest. The Alaska-specific rule will amend the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which established sweeping prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvest on inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. The new rulemaking came in response to a petition from the State of Alaska requesting a full exemption from the 2001 Roadless Rule for the Tongass.\r\nThe Tongass spans nearly 16.7 million acres, covering almost all of southeast Alaska, and is home to 32 islanded communities. For decades, successive layers of federal regulation, including the 2001 Roadless Rule, have continually restricted access needed for timber, mining, tourism, recreation, and the development of renewable resources such as hydropower. The result has been a weaker regional economy that is largely seasonal in nature, with local communities facing fewer employment opportunities and higher energy costs.\r\nThe final EIS is a key milestone in the rulemaking process to restore balance in federal management on the Tongass. Inventoried Roadless Areas comprise about 9.5 million acres of the forest (an area three times the size of Connecticut). Combined with other federal protections, none of which will be affected by this rulemaking,nearly 80 percentof the Tongass is currently off-limits to most forms of development or required to be managed as roadless. \r\nThe final EIS will be published in the Federal Register today. Additional information on the rule is available on the Forest Service's website. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-criticizes-circuit-court-ruling-against-native-corporations", "Alaska Delegation Criticizes Circuit Court Ruling Against Native Corporations", "2020-09-25", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today commented on a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit determining Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) are ineligible for tribal assistance appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The ruling overturns an earlier June 26 ruling by a U.S. District Court that concluded ANCs are eligible for the aid.\n\n\u201cWe strongly disagree with the D.C. Circuit Court\u2019s decision today on the status of Alaska Native people under the law,\u201d the delegation said. \u201cThe CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund tribal set-aside was created to provide pandemic relief for all American Indian and Alaska Native people, regardless of how they receive the relief. It is unconscionable that COVID-19 aid would be withheld from a subset of Alaska Native people simply because of the unique tribal system that exists in Alaska. Furthermore, this decision goes beyond the CARES Act, erasing more than 45 years of precedent and practice, with the potential to undo the tribal systems of health care, housing, education, workforce development, and more in our great state.\u201d\n\nTimeline:\n\nOn March 27, the CARES Act was signed into law, including an $8 billion set-aside for tribal governments.\n\nOn April 14, the Alaska congressional delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt detailing the unique legal framework and circumstances for tribal entities in Alaska. The letter provided a historical background on Alaska regional corporations, which are made eligible for CARES Act assistance because of the definition of \u201cIndian tribe\u201d used in the bill.\n\nIn April, several tribes filed lawsuits to prevent CARES Act funds from being distributed to ANCs.\n\nOn April 23, the delegation submitted an op-ed to the Anchorage Daily News to correct the mischaracterizations about ANCs and explain why the entities are eligible for CARES Act funds.\n\nOn June 26, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled ANCs are eligible for the aid. Judge Mehta based his decision on the definition of \u201cIndian tribe\u201d provided by the 1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and used in the CARES Act, which included ANCs.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/delegation-welcomes-next-step-on-rulemaking-to-help-southeast-alaska-build-a-more-sustainable-economy", "Delegation Welcomes Next Step on Rulemaking to Help Southeast Alaska Build a More Sustainable Economy", "2020-09-25", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) published the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a Tongass-specific Roadless Rule. The final EIS includes six alternatives, with a full exemption selected as the preferred alternative.\n\n\u201cThe Tongass is home to Alaskans who want what most Americans take for granted\u2014the opportunity to live, work, and play in the communities in which they grew up,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cA full exemption from the Roadless Rule is about access\u2014access to recreation, renewable energy, and more. This puts us on track for a Record of Decision and final rule by the end of the year, in turn opening the door for individuals and communities throughout Southeast to build a more sustainable economy while still ensuring good stewardship of our lands and waters. I thank Secretary Perdue and the Forest Service team for their continued good work on this important rulemaking.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor nearly two decades, the Roadless Rule has stifled opportunities for Alaskans in Southeast to harvest timber, connect communities, develop minerals and build vital energy projects,\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cWith this new Tongass-specific regulation, the Forest Service has struck a better balance between conservation and fostering opportunities for Alaskans to make a living. I thank Secretary Perdue, Chief Christiansen, and the Forest Service team for working with Alaskans and reaching this critical stage on the path to a more responsible and workable Roadless Rule.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, I have said that the one-size-fits-all Roadless Rule was a disaster for Alaska. This Congress, I have been working closely with the President and senior White House staff to secure a Roadless Rule exemption for the Tongass. Not only has the Roadless Rule put an unconscionable economic and social burden on Southeast Alaska, it also violates ANILCA and the \u2018no more\u2019 clause by locking up land from the people of Alaska. The release of the final EIS for Roadless Rule is incredible news for our state and our economy, particularly in Southeast. I want to thank the Administration for working with me, our Congressional Delegation, Governor Dunleavy, and, most importantly, for listening to Alaskans. An exemption will not only bring great economic benefit to Alaska, but will also help bolster the long-term health of the Tongass National Forest. This is a good day, and one that has been long in the making. I look forward to continuing to fight on behalf of our state\u2019s right to manage our own resources,\u201d Young said.\n\nIn 2018, the Forest Service announced it would develop a state-specific Roadless Rule focused on the Tongass National Forest. The Alaska-specific rule will amend the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which established sweeping prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvest on inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. The new rulemaking came in response to a petition from the State of Alaska requesting a full exemption from the 2001 Roadless Rule for the Tongass.\n\nThe Tongass spans nearly 16.7 million acres, covering almost all of southeast Alaska, and is home to 32 islanded communities. For decades, successive layers of federal regulation, including the 2001 Roadless Rule, have continually restricted access needed for timber, mining, tourism, recreation, and the development of renewable resources such as hydropower. The result has been a weaker regional economy that is largely seasonal in nature, with local communities facing fewer employment opportunities and higher energy costs.\n\nThe final EIS is a key milestone in the rulemaking process to restore balance in federal management on the Tongass. Inventoried Roadless Areas comprise about 9.5 million acres of the forest (an area three times the size of Connecticut). Combined with other federal protections, none of which will be affected by this rulemaking, nearly 80 percent of the Tongass is currently off-limits to most forms of development or required to be managed as roadless.\n\nThe final EIS will be published in the Federal Register today. Additional information on the rule is available on the Forest Service\u2019s website.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401759", "WIN FOR ALASKAS RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURE: Congressman Don Youngs Hydropower Legislation Passes the House", "2020-09-24", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today,with the support of Alaska Congressman Don Young, the House of Representatives passed the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, which included Congressman Young's H.R. 6084, the Water Power Research and Development Act. Congressman Young's bill strengthens water power programs at the Department of Energy (DOE), and reauthorizes funding for research, development, demonstration, and commercialization of marine energy. Additionally, this legislation authorizes funding for existing and new National Marine Energy Centers, including the Pacific Marine Energy Center, which is operated in part by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.\r\n\"The state of Alaska has tremendous hydroelectric potential, and water power programs within the Department of Energy provide our rural and remote communities with new opportunities to obtain reliable and affordable hydropower. Alaska is rich in oil, but if our state's economy is to survive well into the future, we must diversify our energy portfolio. Harnessing our state's hydropower is not only good for our economy; it directly helps the people of our great state,\" said Congressman Don Young. \"The cost of electricity in Alaska can be twice that of the lower 48. This increased cost of power in the residential sector has significant economic impacts for Alaska families, particularly in remote, rural communities and Alaska Native villages. I have long supported utilizing Alaska's vast hydropower capabilities, and was proud to support projects such as the Terror Lake Hydroelectric Plant and the Swan Lake Hydroelectric Project; we must continue this momentum. Supporting these programs is critical for our ability to deploy hydropower, pumped storage and marine energy projects, and related transmission infrastructure into low-income, economically distressed, underserved, and rural communities. I am proud to have led this effort along with my good friend, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, and am grateful for my colleagues for supporting it. I will continue working in Congress to support an all-of-the-above energy approach that secures a bright future for Alaska and our country.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401748", "Congressman Don Young Fights for Veterans, Helps Move 11 Bills to Improve the Lives and Health of Veterans Through the House", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  This week,Alaska Congressman Don Young,helped move 11 bipartisan veterans bills through the House of Representatives. These bills cover a range of policy issues of importance to veterans, including expanding access to telemedicine, improving healthcare delivery at the VA, and fulfilling federal obligations to Alaska Native and other Indigenous veterans.\r\n\"Alaska is home to more veterans per capita than any other state, and as a veteran myself, ensuring that we continue standing by our heroes long after their service ends is crucially important,\"said Congressman Don Young.\"I am very proud to have helped move eleven pieces of bipartisan, pro-veterans' legislation through the House. These bills take urgent action on behalf of our heroes. Tragically, veterans are diagnosed with prostate cancer at twice the rate of the general population. These heroic men require swift access to treatment, and the Veteran's Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research Act will help streamline a diagnosis, and expedite the delivery of health care. This package also includes legislation to ensure that our Alaska Native veterans  and Native American veterans across the country  receive the care they have rightfully earned; the Native American PACT Act is a critical bill that prohibits the VA from collecting copayments from our Alaska Native veterans. Finally, these bills help expand the use of telemedicine at the Department of Veterans Affairs and minimize the risk of COVID-19 by making necessary medical forms available online so that our veterans are not needlessly risking exposure in-person. Our nation's veterans risked everything on behalf of our freedom and way of life. While we will never truly be able to repay them, we must be doing all that we can to support these remarkable Americans. Veterans in Alaska and across the country have my promise that in Congress, I will always stand with them and fight for their future.\"\r\nMore information on the 11 pieces of legislation can be found below:\r\nS. 785: The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act  \r\nH.R. 3010: The Honoring All Veterans Act\r\nH.R. 3228: The VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act\r\nH.R. 3798: The Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act  \r\nH.R. 4908: The Native American PACT Act\r\nH.R. 5245: The SHIELD Act\r\nH.R. 6092: The Veteran's Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research Act  \r\nH.R. 6589: The CFO Authority and Collaboration Act of 2020\r\nH.R. 7105: The DELIVER Act\r\nH.R. 7795: The Veterans Benefits Fairness and Transparency Act of 2020\r\nH.R. 8247: The Veterans' COMPACT Act\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401747", "Congressman Don Young Announces Over $75 Million in Funding to Improve Alaska Airport Infrastructure", "2020-09-22", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Don Young Announces Over $75 Million in Funding to Improve Alaska Airport Infrastructure \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        September 22, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Washington, D.C.  Today,Alaska Congressman Don Young, former Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced that the U.S Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded over $75 million to airports across Alaska under the FAA's Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which allocates funding for airports to make capital improvements, enhance public safety, and restore aging or debilitated infrastructure.\r\nAlaska has one of the largest and most active aviation communities in the country. For many of our state's communities, air travel is one of the only ways to remain connected to one another, said Congressman Don Young. As a pilot myself, I know just how important it is that Alaska has reliable and safe airport infrastructure. The FAA's AIP program is one of the nation's most important funding sources for airport infrastructure, and I am a proud advocate for this program. The funding by the FAA is welcome news for Alaskans and the aviation sector they depend on. Whether it is the ability to access goods and services, medical care, or to simply earn a living, air travel will continue to be crucially important to our state. I will continue fighting in Congress to ensure that the people of Alaska can continue to be served by safe and reliable airports for years to come.\r\nAdditional grant information:\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            City\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Airport\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Project Description\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Total AIP\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Nome\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Nome\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Rehabilitate Runway\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            $ 21,592,418\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            McGrath\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            McGrath\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Improve Airport Erosion Control, Install Airfield Guidance Signs, Install Miscellaneous NAVAIDS, Reconstruct Apron, Reconstruct Runway, Reconstruct Runway Lighting, Reconstruct Taxiway, Reconstruct Taxiway Lighting\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            $ 33,755,838\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Juneau\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Juneau International\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Reconstruct Terminal Building\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            $ 8,153,320\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Juneau\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Various Locations in Alaska\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Install Weather Reporting Equipment\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            $ 4,636,488\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Juneau\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Juneau International\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            Reconstruct Terminal Building\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            $ 7,540,736\r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-statement-on-supreme-court-vacancy", "Sullivan Statement on Supreme Court Vacancy", "2020-09-22", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today released the following statement regarding the current vacancy on the Supreme Court.\n\n\u201cThe historical precedent and principle of an election year nomination to the Supreme Court, dating back to the founding of our republic, is that the Senate has generally confirmed a President\u2019s nominee from its own party and not confirmed one from the opposing party. President Trump is well within his constitutional authority to nominate an individual for the Supreme Court vacancy, and the Senate will undertake its advice and consent responsibilities on confirmation, as authorized by the Constitution.\n\n\u201cI have a long record of voting to confirm judges to the federal judiciary who will interpret the law, not make new law, and who will respect the values of Alaskans, particularly as it relates to a robust respect for the Second Amendment, access to our lands, the rights of Alaska Natives, and a skeptical view of the power of federal agencies.\n\n\u201cI look forward to seeing who the President nominates and thoroughly assessing her or his qualifications for this important role, as Alaskans expect me to do.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401744", "Congressman Don Young Helps the House Pass Historic Legislation Creating the National Suicide Hotline", "2020-09-21", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, during National Suicide Awareness Month, Alaska Congressman Don Young helped the House of Representatives pass S. 2661, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act. This landmark legislation requires the Federal Communications Commission to designate 988 as the universal telephone number for a national suicide prevention hotline. Congressman Young has been a long-time supporter of creating a national suicide hotline, and is a cosponsor of similar House legislation. This bill now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.\r\nToo many families in Alaska and across the country have lost a loved one to suicide. Tragically, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for individuals aged 18-34, and suicides are on the rise across nearly every demographic group across the nation, said Congressman Don Young. We must be doing all that we can to turn the tide in the fight against suicide, and raise awareness of a tragedy that all too often goes unnoticed. I am very proud to have supported the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, and call on President Trump to swiftly sign it into law. The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light on the need for mental health services. The isolation caused by this pandemic has intensified fear, anger, and grief, and without action, things will only get worse. The creation of a national suicide hotline is historic, and it is my great hope that the numbers 9-8-8 will one day become as easily utilized as 9-1-1. I know Alaska to be a place where we care for one another, and I encourage you to make an effort to check in on your friends and family, so that we can help stop a tragedy before it  happens. I want to thank my friends in the House and Senate and on both sides of the aisle for supporting this critical legislation that will undoubtedly save many lives.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401745", "Representatives Haaland and Youngs Legislation to Bolster Self-Governance, Empower Tribes Passes House, Goes to the Presidents Desk", "2020-09-21", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 209, the PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act. This legislation, sponsored in the House by Congressman Don Young (R-AK), Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM), and Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK), and Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), enhances the ability of tribes to enter into, and carry out, compacting agreements. It also aligns the Department of the Interior's (DOI) compacting approval process with the one currently used by the Indian Health Service (IHS) to improve consistency for tribes. These compacts are vital for upholding the federal government's trust responsibilities with tribes and promoting self-governance and local control.Congressman Young's work on this issue dates back to its original introduction in 2003, and today marks a culmination of 17 years of work and collaboration by the Congressman. Alaska tribes have been at the forefront of implementing innovative DOI compacts for many years. This legislation is supported by the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and individual tribes across the country.\r\nThe Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (ISDEAA) is foundational legislation that empowered tribes with the authority to contract and compact federal trust services. This has had a profound impact throughout Indian country as tribes are the best stewards of their health care, resources, and education. I am proud to have helped pass this legislation which builds on the success of ISDEAA by making practical policy improvements that help tribes enhance and expand their compacting opportunities, said Congressman Don Young. Under the bill, tribes will be better able to tailor self-governance programs to suit their needs, thereby increasing their effectiveness and efficiency. Passage of this bill marks not only a great day for bipartisan governance, but represents a long-overdue victory for Alaska Natives and Indigenous people across the country.\r\nI am very grateful to my friend Congresswoman Deb Haaland for her partnership on this bill, and want to extend my sincere appreciation to Chairman John Hoeven for shepherding this legislation through the Senate. I would also like to thank Chairman W. Ron Allen, of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and Chairman of the Board, Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium, for his leadership and advocacy on this legislation. Though this bill is crucially important, our work to empower tribes across America is not done. As a Member of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of The United States and Vice Chair of the Native American Caucus, I will continue fighting to secure justice, equality, and opportunity for our First Peoples.\r\nTribes are always been their own best stewards, but the red tape that they face when implementing programs hinders their ability to do best by their own communities. Through the PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act, Tribes will now have the freedom and flexibility to be able to serve their people in a way that best fits their needs. This legislation is built on a decades-long effort of Tribal leaders and organizations to further our efforts to support true tribal self-governance to empower, and I'm honored to send this bill to the President's desk with my colleagues Representatives Don Young and Tom Cole and Senators John Hoeven and Tom Udall, said Congresswoman Deb Haaland.\r\nBy giving local tribes control over federal programs operated in Indian Country, we are indeed giving back much deserved power to tribes, said Congressman Tom Cole. The PROGRESS Act would rightly eliminate inconsistencies of self-governance programs and thus streamline federal programs in a way that is specifically tailored to their needs. I am proud to see the passage of this important legislation.\r\nRespect for Tribal sovereignty is at the heart of the federal government's trust responsibility to American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, said Rep. Ruben Gallego, Chair of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States. The PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act enhances Tribes' ability to exercise that sovereignty, and I am proud to have worked with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to ensure this legislation will be signed into law this year.\r\nAfter over 15 years of effort Tribes are delighted with the passage of the PROGRESS Act. This bipartisan legislation underscores Congress' continuing commitment to the fundamental principles of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act: that Tribes across America are Self-Governing and Self-Reliant and that they are best situated to decide what types of services and how they are provided to Indians and Alaska Natives. Critically, this bipartisan legislation will assist the almost 400 Tribes that currently participate in the Self-Governance program to streamline and bring down the costs associated with the administration of programs. We especially want to thank Deb Haaland, Tom Cole and Don Young from the bottom of our hearts for the strong leadership they provided in the House on this important legislation, said Chairman Ron Allen, Jamestown S'klallam Tribe and Chairman of the Board for the Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401746", "Congressman Don Young Leads on Justice for Alaska Natives, Helps the House Pass Landmark Legislation to Combat the Ongoing Epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls", "2020-09-21", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today,Alaska Congressman Don Young, Member of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of The United States and Vice-Chair of the Native American Caucus, helped the House pass legislation to combat the nation-wide epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIGW). Congressman Young served as an original cosponsor of Savanna's Act's House companion, and cosponsored the House version of the Not Invisible Actearlier this Congress.\r\nSavanna's Act requires that the Department of Justice (DOJ) review, revise and develop law enforcement and justice protocols for addressing the MMIWG crisis. Additionally, it requires that the DOJ develops training programs, improves data collection, and coordinates with Native tribes and organizations in response to MMIWG cases. The Not Invisible Act establishes an advisory committee on violent crime comprised of law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, and survivors to make recommendations to the Department of the Interior (DOI) and DOJ. The bill also establishes best practices for law enforcement on combatting the MMIWG epidemic, and creates a position for an expert within the Bureau of Indian Affairs charged with improving violent crime prevention efforts across federal agencies. Both bills now head to the President's desk to be signed into law.\r\n\"All too often, our Alaska Native communities have experienced the tragedy and heartbreak of the ongoing national crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. As the father of two strong Alaska Native daughters, combating this scourge has always been one of my highest priorities in Congress. I am very proud to have helped Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act get across the finish line, and am grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together and supporting these critically important bills, said Congressman Don Young. Alaska Native and American Indian women and girls face disproportionately high rates of violent crimes, including murder, rape, kidnapping, and trafficking. According to the Urban Indian Health Institute, Alaska is the fourth highest state in terms of the number of these cases. These sad statistics are a reality for too many people. We must continue working to ensure that our Native communities are adequately equipped to prevent and respond to these heinous crimes. The bills passed today are a significant step forward, but there is still much work to be done. It is my great hope that we can turn the tide in the fight against crimes perpetrated in our Native communities, and it will continue to be one of my highest priorities to ensure that Alaska is a safe place for all.\"\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-welcomes-reestablishment-of-doe-arctic-energy-office-at-uaf", "Sullivan Welcomes Reestablishment of DOE Arctic Energy Office at UAF", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "Announcement is part of a larger renaissance of Arctic research and activity\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) welcomed an announcement yesterday by Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette that the Department of Energy (DOE) will be reestablishing its Arctic Energy Office (AEO) on the campus of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF). The AEO will drive coordination and collaboration on DOE\u2019s many activities in the Arctic region including: international cooperation on Arctic issues, research on methane hydrates, and development of advanced micro-grids and nuclear power systems, such as small modular reactors.\n\n\u201cRealizing America\u2019s role as an Arctic nation involves bringing more vessels, more research, more ports, and more personnel to the region\u2014to Alaska\u2014and the reestablishment of the Arctic Energy Office is an important development as we work to make that vision a reality,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cI commend Secretary Brouillette and Senator Murkowski for their work to bring this Arctic office back to life, and I look forward to the vital scientific research and coordination that will serve Alaskans, the nation, and our global partners as a result.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe United States is an Arctic nation, and the region continues to play an essential role in meeting our Nation\u2019s energy needs, as well as those of our friends and allies,\u201d said Secretary Brouillette. \u201cDOE\u2019s Arctic Energy Office will grow to strengthen and coordinate our work in energy, science, and national security and help build an Arctic future of prosperity and increased opportunity.\u201d\n\nConsistent with DOE\u2019s overall mission, the AEO will focus on energy, science, and national security. Rather than belonging to a particular program area, the AEO will report to the under secretary of energy, and coordinate DOE\u2019s Arctic activities across the enterprise, bringing together DOE\u2019s wide range of assets, stakeholders, and equities to serve communities and U.S. interests in the region.\n\nThe office will be reestablished with three interim staff equipped with a wealth of experience across the energy, science, and national security spheres. More information on the office is available at: https://energy.gov/arctic/arctic-energy-office\n\nSenator Sullivan has worked tirelessly to bring more resources, vessels and personnel to support Arctic activities and research in Alaska:\n\nIn the 2018 Coast Guard Authorization Act, Senator Sullivan secured a provision that facilitates the construction of a viable home port in Ketchikan for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research vessel Fairweather, which conducts hydrographic surveys and other maritime research responsibilities in Alaska\u2019s waters.\n\nIn July, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included a Sullivan provision to establish a new \u201cTed Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies,\u201d the first Department of Defense (DOD) regional center in the Arctic and the first new DOD regional center since 2000. The center would be located in Alaska and would support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a unique academic forum, while also fostering strong international networks of security leaders.\n\nIn the FY 2019 NDAA, Sullivan secured a provision authorizing the construction of six new Polar-class icebreakers for the Coast Guard, and contracts have been awarded for the first two. Sullivan has also pressed senior Trump administration officials on the importance of home-porting the new icebreakers in Alaska.\n\nIn May, the Army Corps of Engineers completed the Chief\u2019s Report for the Modification Feasibility Study on the Port of Nome project, which would be America\u2019s first deep draft port in the Arctic. The study, a precursor to constructing the project, based its justification upon authorization language from a Sullivan provision in the 2018 America\u2019s Water Infrastructure Act.\n\nAlso in the FY 2019 NDAA, Sullivan included a provision requiring each branch of the Armed Forces to produce its own strategy for the Arctic region. In July, the U.S. Air Force released the first such document which Sullivan called the \u201cmost robust U.S. Arctic strategy document to date.\u201d\n\nIn July, Sullivan visited the R/V Sikuliaq, a 261-foot oceanographic research vessel home-ported in Seward, Alaska, that is owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by UAF\u2019s College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Sullivan has worked to ensure as much of the maintenance and construction of vessels, like the Sikuliaq, as possible is conducted in Alaska and by Alaskans at some of the world-class facilities in communities like Seward and Ketchikan.\n\nIn December 2019, Senators Sullivan, Lisa Murkowski and Angus King (I-Maine) introduced S. 3080, the Strategic Arctic Naval Focus Act of 2019, legislation directing the federal government to recognize the importance of the Arctic region to America\u2019s national and economic security interests, and to put forward a strategy for the U.S. fleet\u2019s ability to operate in the Arctic and respond to challenges.\n\nIn December 2019, with Senator Sullivan\u2019s co-sponsorship and assistance, the Senate Commerce Committee marked up the Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee Act, Senator Murkowski\u2019s legislation to address the impacts and opportunities of increasing shipping and maritime traffic. The legislation establishes a 15-member federal advisory committee to develop recommendations for how the United States can lead in ensuring that shipping in the Arctic is safe, secure, and reliable.\n\n# # #\n\nNext Article Previous Article", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/commerce-committee-advances-sullivans-bill-to-protect-alaska-native-craftsmen", "Commerce Committee Advances Sullivan\u2019s Bill to Protect Alaska Native Craftsmen", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, thanked his committee colleagues today for advancing the Empowering Rural Economies Through Alaska Native Sustainable Arts and Handicrafts Act, Sullivan\u2019s bill to preempt states from banning walrus ivory, whale bone, and other marine mammal products that have been legally carved by Alaska Natives under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Additionally, the bill preempts states from issuing bans on fossilized ivory products, including from walrus and extinct mammoths.\n\n\u201cIn the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Congress recognized the cultural, subsistence and economic importance of allowing Alaska Natives to harvest and use marine mammal parts in a non-wasteful manner, but state bans have threatened Alaska Native craftsmen, some of whom are living in already economically-challenged rural areas,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cWe need to continue to combat poaching and black markets for elephant ivory, but we must do so while honoring and protecting Alaska Natives\u2019 ability to carry on their heritage, as they have for thousands of years, and access economic opportunities through selling authentic handicrafts. I thank my colleagues who stood with our Alaska Native peoples today, and I look forward to working with my other colleagues to address their concerns and pass this legislation in the full Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlaska Natives deserve to have our way of life protected, and that includes the legal harvesting of marine mammals that have sustained our people for thousands of years,\u201d said Melanie Bahnke, President and CEO of Kawerak, Inc. \u201cWe continue to practice a subsistence way of life in the Arctic and, as our ancestors did before us, we do not waste any parts of a harvested animal, including the bones and the ivory for tools, art, and ceremony. On behalf of the many indigenous people from the Bering Strait Region of Alaska, we are grateful to the members of Congress who are willing to protect our way of life, our cultures, and our traditional practices. Thank you to Senator Sullivan for championing this bill and to those on the Commerce Committee who stood with Alaska Natives and voted \u2018yes\u2019 on this bill, and thank you to the many individuals, Tribes, and entities who continue to advocate for its passage by Congress.\u201d\n\nIn 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a regulation banning most commercial and non-commercial trade in raw and worked ivory of African elephants following a global decrease in elephant populations due to illegal poaching. Many states have since enacted broader bans on ivory sales that generally include walrus, mammoth, and fossilized ivory used by Alaska Natives and Alaskans to produce artistic carvings, clothing, or authentic handiworks.\n\nWhile the state ivory bans are designed to combat the trade in illegal elephant ivory, they have led to confusion among consumers regarding other legal ivory products, resulting in decreased demand for legal Alaska Native handicrafts and mammoth ivory carvings.\n\nUnder current law and Sullivan\u2019s proposed legislation, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to apply restrictions on the taking of particular species in the event the population of a marine mammal is deemed to be depleted. However, the secretary is required to demonstrate such regulations are supported by substantial evidence, and targeted to specific species, geographical regions, and seasons.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/visit-america-act-advances-from-commerce-committee", "\u201cVisit America Act\u201d Advances from Commerce Committee", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "Bill would require federal strategy to help tourism sector quickly recover from COVID-19 pandemic\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Angus King (I-Maine) applauded the committee\u2019s unanimous passage today of S.3831, the Visit America Act, introduced by the senators in June. The bill would set a visitation goal of 116 million annual international travelers to the United States by 2028, formally authorize the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, and create a high-ranking position within the Department of Commerce focused on bolstering America\u2019s travel and tourism industry and coordinating a strategy across multiple federal agencies. The legislation would also require the development and implementation of a strategy to assist the travel and tourism industry to quickly recover from the COVID\u201319 pandemic.\n\n\u201cThe tourism economy, which supports tens of thousands of jobs and generates billions of dollars in economic activity for Alaska and many other states, has been hit incredibly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cIn order to reinvigorate the vital tourism sector and the jobs it supports, we need a coordinated strategy at the highest levels of the administration. The Visit America Act will better position the travel industry for a strong rebound, with ambitious visitation goals, requirements for a whole-of-government recovery strategy, and a high-level tourism official in the federal government for the first time ever. I thank my colleagues, particularly Senator Schatz and Senator King, for helping us advance this important bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom the coasts to the forests to the mountains, Maine\u2019s unparalleled beauty never disappoints \u2013 which is why every year, millions of people from across the globe travel to our state to experience The Way Life Should Be. However, this year, the coronavirus pandemic forced Maine people to answer a serious question: what happens to Vacationland when all the usual visitors stay home?\u201d said Senator King, Ranking Member of the National Parks Subcommittee. \u201cTourism is vital to Maine\u2019s economy \u2013 especially during the summer season \u2013 but with fewer visitors this year, businesses that earn the lion\u2019s share of their revenue during the summer months must have every chance to thrive in future years. We need a forceful response to support the tourism industry and the communities that rely on it, and I\u2019ll keep working with Senators Sullivan and Schatz to make sure we help this vital piece of our national economy not only rebound, but grow and thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cMore than half of travel-supported jobs in the U.S. were lost between the onset of the pandemic and May 1, and a broader economic recovery will not be possible without a travel recovery,\u201d said U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes. \u201cThis bill provides leadership at the federal level to help guide travel\u2019s resurgence. We thank the Senate Commerce Committee for advancing the bill, and especially Sen. Sullivan, Sen. Schatz and Sen. King for their leadership on this important issue.\u201d\n\nThe United States is the only member of the G20 international economic forum that does not have a high-ranking official focused on the tourism sector. Most G20 nations have a minister or secretary at the Cabinet level.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-commends-signing-of-historic-abraham-accords", "Sullivan Commends Signing of Historic Abraham Accords", "2020-09-15", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today praised the signing of the Abraham Accords, agreements in which the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Bahrain normalized diplomatic relations with Israel. The accords were signed in a ceremony at the White House by President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.\n\n\u201cThe prospect of peace and hope for an end to strife in the Middle East have brightened thanks to the historic Abraham Accords signed today at the White House,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThe President and his administration and the leaders of Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain have shown courage in negotiating these agreements. It is my hope this momentum of peace and collaboration will indeed be a \u2018pivot of history,\u2019 as described by Prime Minister Netanyahu, a pivot to further diminish the malign activities of the Iranian regime and lead more states in the region to agree to pursue peace with Israel and a better economic and security future for all people in the Middle East.\u201d\n\nSullivan also cosponsored aresolution, introduced by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), commending the historic accords reached by Israel, the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-murkowski-sullivan-introduce-bicameral-bipartisan-bill-to-ensure-fair-and-accurate-census-count", "Young, Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill to Ensure Fair and Accurate Census Count", "2020-09-15", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "Legislation Extends 2020 Census Completion Deadline\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 Congressman Don Young and U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (all R-Alaska) introduced bicameral, bipartisan legislation, the 2020 Census Deadline Extensions Act, alongside Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to provide for additional time to complete the 2020 Census. The bill extends the Census operations of nonresponse follow-up and self-response to October 31, 2020, as well as extends the Census statutory reporting deadlines for apportionment and redistricting. These extensions would allow the Census Bureau more time to finish the counting operations and data processing, and conduct quality assurance activities, leading to a more accurate count.\n\nClick here for bill text.\n\n\u201cOne of the most important things Alaskans can do to ensure that our state is treated fairly is to fill out the Census,\u201d said Congressman Don Young. \u201cOur constitutionally mandated Census only happens once a decade, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made this decade's Census data collection uniquely challenging. Let me be very clear: if Alaska's field staff are unable to finish a thorough and accurate Census, billions in federal funding will be left on the table over the next decade. We must extend the Census deadline. Alaskans deserve to have their roads, schools, recreation areas, and other public services fully funded; our field staff need more time to complete this critical task. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation alongside Senators Murkowski and Schatz, and Congressman Gallego to ensure that the Census deadline is extended so that all Americans are empowered to succeed.\u201d\n\n\u201cObtaining an accurate Census count is always difficult. But now, with the added delays and difficulties caused by COVID-19, it\u2019s become increasingly clear that more time is needed to ensure a fair and accurate census count. For an effort that happens once every ten years, with impacts that last for the next ten years, this is far too important to not get right. The Census determines how much federal funding our local communities will receive for services like schools, roads, and other public services\u2014each vital to Alaska\u2019s livelihood,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cThis legislation is critically important, taking into account all the various challenges and hurdles that have occurred during this year\u2019s Census, and providing the extensions necessary to have a complete 2020 Census.\u201d\n\n\u201cAn accurate population count in Alaska is notoriously difficult given our many diverse and remote communities, and the coronavirus pandemic has only served to exacerbate this challenge,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cIn Alaska, we are already witnessing the lowest self-response rates in the country. The impact of this Census will be felt for the next ten years, and we simply cannot afford an undercount. Pushing back the deadline is the appropriate response to make sure this Census is accurate and successful.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nOn September 1, the Alaska Congressional Delegation made a push for Alaskans to do their part and participate in the 2020 Census as the current deadline approaches.\n\nIn August, U.S. Senators Murkowski and Sullivan joined a bipartisan group of senators calling on House and Senate leadership to extend the statutory deadlines for the delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files following the 2020 Census.\n\nAlso in August, Congressman Don Young sent a letter to Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham, urging him to reverse plans to move up the field data collection deadline to September 30 from its original date of October 31.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-welcomes-21-million-build-grant-for-anchorage-international-airport", "Alaska Delegation Welcomes $21 Million BUILD Grant for Anchorage International Airport", "2020-09-14", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today thanked Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao for awarding a $21 million Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to the Alaska Energy Authority to construct a 190,000 square foot climate-controlled cold storage facility at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (TSAIA). The Alaska congressional delegation wrote a letter to Secretary Chao in May advocating for TSAIA to receive the BUILD grant.\n\n\u201cAs a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I\u2019ve worked hard to secure funding to support the BUILD Grants program. The positive impacts it has had on Alaska over the years are significant. I join the rest of the Alaska Delegation in applauding today\u2019s announcement and thank Secretary Chao for investing in the future of our state,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cThis new transfer facility will improve shipping capabilities, strengthen Alaska\u2019s supply chain security, and provide much-needed jobs for Alaskans. With Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport having recently been recorded among the busiest in the world\u2014this news could not be more timely.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic has shown us just how important it is for our country to have secure and reliable supply chains, and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport has served as an indispensable link in these global chains for decades,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cTo better meet the needs of our nation and the expected demands of global commerce, this critical piece of infrastructure is due for a dramatic expansion in storage capacity, particularly the ability to store cold freight during all seasons. I thank Secretary Chao and the Transportation Department for recognizing the benefits of having TSAIA serve as more than a \u2018gas and go\u2019 hub, which will help us better secure America\u2019s distribution networks and grow jobs and economic opportunities for Alaskans.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am very pleased to report that the Department of Transportation is making critical investments in the State of Alaska,\u201d said Congressman Young. \u201cOur state is geographically unique, and Alaskans know how important it is to ensure that temperature-sensitive goods, foods, and other items can safely and effectively make their way to Alaska and our rural communities. In April, the Anchorage Airport was recorded as the busiest in the world, which makes reliable cold storage facilities even more important for the global movement of cargo. I am proud to have worked with Senators Murkowski and Sullivan in support of this project, and am grateful to the Department of Transportation and Secretary Chao for listening to us and making this significant investment in our state. As former Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am acutely aware of Alaska\u2019s infrastructure needs. In Congress, I will continue advocating so that Alaskans can utilize safe and reliable infrastructure for generations to come.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nTed Stevens Anchorage International Airport is one of the busiest cargo airports in the world due, in large part, to its central position on the shortest flying routes between the United States and the Far East. Air cargo carriers are able to transport freight more efficiently and cost-effectively by stopping along this route to refuel at TSAIA.\n\nAlthough roughly two-thirds of cargo freighters and half of the total cargo flown between the U.S. and Asia transit through TSAIA, only a small fraction of the cargo ever leaves the aircraft for storage or sorting at the airport itself. Anchorage currently has limited capacity for cold storage, causing many carriers to depend on other states for such facilities.\n\nThe proposed cold storage facility, and other planned expansions, would increasingly enable air cargo carriers to both refuel at TSAIA and store or sort freight for shipment directly to more destinations, rather than adding a stop for sorting at a second domestic airport.\n\nThe cold storage facility is the first phase of a planned 715,000 square-foot cargo transfer and storage facility at TSAIA.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-senate-passes-sullivan-backed-veteran-suicide-prevention-legislation", "ICYMI: Senate Passes Sullivan-backed Veteran Suicide Prevention Legislation", "2020-09-12", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), celebrated the Senate\u2019s recent unanimous passage of S.785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, a major veterans mental health legislative package cosponsored by Sullivan that includes hisVeterans Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act. Also this week, Sullivan joined 34 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, urging them to quickly bring the act up for a vote in the House.\n\n\u201cThis National Suicide Prevention Week and Month serve as an opportunity to remember the courageous veterans who too often suffer in silence, men and women who can be among the most vulnerable to the scourge of suicide due to their harrowing experiences in defense of our country.\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cWe have a solemn duty as Americans to be there for our veterans returning from war zones today, and those facing down mental health burdens decades after their service. I consider serving our veterans to be one of my highest responsibilities as a senator, as a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, and as a representative of the state with more veterans per capita than any other.\u201d\n\nSullivan\u2019s legislative efforts to combat veteran suicide:\n\nS.1392, the Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act, sponsored by Sullivan, requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on the responsibilities, workload, training, and vacancy rates of suicide prevention coordinators at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill became law on December 20, 2019.\n\nS.167, the Clay Hunt SAV Act, cosponsored by Sullivan, improves and modernizes suicide prevention programs and ensures that the VA is held accountable for providing quality, effective mental health care to veterans. The bill became law on February 12, 2015.\n\nS.2991, the Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act of 2019, cosponsored by Sullivan, directs the VA to conduct an independent expert study to determine whether there\u2019s a direct correlation between veteran suicide and a potential overprescribing of medication. The bill passed the Senate on August 5, 2020.\n\nS.3020, the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, cosponsored by Sullivan, authorizes the VA to enter into contracts with states in order to carry out, coordinate, and enhance health and wellness programs, comprehensive veteran suicide prevention programs, and outreach by the VA and individual states. The bill is under consideration by SVAC.\n\nS.606, the Reach Every Veteran in Crisis Act, cosponsored by Sullivan, requires the VA to establish measurable targets to evaluate the effectiveness of the VA's mental health and suicide prevention media outreach campaigns. The bill is under consideration by SVAC.\n\nS.1906, the Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act, cosponsored by Sullivan, requires the VA to award suicide prevention grants to eligible community-based and private entities to serve the needs of veterans and their families. The bill is under consideration by SVAC.\n\nS.785, Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, cosponsored by Sullivan, passed the Senate on August 5, 2020.\n\nS.711, the Care and Readiness Enhancement (CARE) for Reservists Act of 2019, cosponsored by Sullivan, expands eligibility for VA mental health services to include members of reserve components of the Armed Forces. The bill passed SVAC on August 5, 2020.\n\nS.2661, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, cosponsored by Sullivan, requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to designate 9-8-8 as the universal telephone number for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. The bill passed the Senate on May 13, 2020.\n\nS.2003, the Suicide Prevention by Eliminating Excessive Digits (SPEED) Act of 2019, cosponsored by Sullivan, requires the FCC to designate a three-digit dialing code that veterans may use to reach a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system. The bill was last referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on June 27, 2019.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-votes-for-targeted-pandemic-relief-package", "Sullivan Votes for Targeted Pandemic Relief Package", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "The measure, filibustered by Senate Democrats, fails to advance\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today voted for the Delivering Immediate Relief to America\u2019s Families, Schools, and Small Businesses Act. The targeted pandemic relief package was blocked by Senate Democrats, failing to reach the 60-vote margin necessary for the measure to advance.\n\n\u201cOver the past five weeks, I\u2019ve heard from Alaskans about their priorities for a new COVID-19 relief bill\u2014renewing the Paycheck Protection Program, extending the deadline to use CARES Act resources, replenishing the fishermen relief fund, offering child care support for returning workers, reopening our schools safely, and supporting our front-line health care workers, among other important measures,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThose strongly bipartisan provisions make up the targeted package that we voted on today. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats filibustered this bill, holding out for the $3.5 trillion dollar so-called \u2018HEROES Act,\u2019 at the direction of Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. This was a missed opportunity for a bipartisan achievement, but I\u2019ll keep working with my colleagues to reach compromise and an agreement that will drive our battle against the virus and a strong economic recovery.\u201d\n\nThe Delivering Immediate Relief to America\u2019s Families, Schools, and Small Businesses Act would:\n\nEstablish a new, renewed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses that demonstrate at least a 35% loss in gross revenue. The program would be available to 501(c)6 organizations and have a simplified forgiveness process for smaller PPP loans.\n\nAllow seasonal and fishing businesses that were not fully able to take advantage of regulation changes secured by the Alaska delegation an opportunity to modify their PPP loans to increase loan amounts.\n\nProvide liability protections for front-line employers to offer work opportunities, including for fishing vessel owners.\n\nExtend the deadline for states, municipalities, tribes and other local governments to use resources already appropriated by the CARES Act until September 30, 2021.\n\nProvide a $300-per-week extension through the end of 2020 of the federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program.\n\nProvide $500 million in direct federal assistance to fishermen, processors, and fishing communities impacted by the pandemic.\n\nAuthorize grants and resources to improve America\u2019s domestic manufacturing of vital medical supplies, and to ensure state and national stockpiles are prepared for the ongoing pandemic and future emergencies.\n\nProvide $31 billion for COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics; $16 billion to continue expanding testing; $14 billion for states and tribes for coronavirus mitigation, including $500 million particularly for the Indian Health Service; and $15 billion in grants for child care support.\n\nProvide $105 billion to support students and the safe opening and running of schools.\n\nProvide $10 billion to the U.S. Postal Service.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-murkowski-and-young-welcome-major-tariff-relief-for-alaska-fishermen", "Sullivan, Murkowski & Young Welcome Major Tariff Relief for Alaska Fishermen", "2020-09-09", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=48", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today thanked President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for authorizing approximately $530 million for fishermen and the U.S. seafood industry impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments, including in Alaska.\n\n\u201cWorking alongside Alaska fishermen across our state, I have been relentlessly pushing the administration to ensure that our fishermen are provided relief from retaliatory tariffs imposed by foreign governments who do not play by international trade rules,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cI have voiced the concerns of Alaska fishermen in numerous conversations with officials at the highest levels of the administration, including the President, Vice President, Assistant to the President Peter Navarro, Secretary Sonny Perdue, and Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, among others. I am very appreciative that the White House and the Department of Agriculture listened to the fishermen in Alaska and across the country, and are offering substantial, historic financial assistance to these hard-working individuals. As I often say, Alaska is the superpower of seafood for our nation, and our fishermen are America\u2019s ultimate small businesses. This is because of the men and women who work long hours, employing tens of thousands of Alaskans,and contributing billions of dollars to our economy. I will continue to do all I can do to make sure that this vital industry can continue to provide jobs and support to our communities while providing the best wild seafood on the planet.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlaska\u2019s seafood industry is facing numerous challenges because of the ongoing trade dispute and now the COVID-19 pandemic. While I\u2019m proud of the funding we secured in the CARES Act to provide direct assistance to fishermen, the reality is fishermen have been subject to retaliatory Chinese tariffs for over two years and have been hit hard,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cThe administration acted to help farmers mitigate impacts from Chinese tariffs. Fishermen deserve the same. I\u2019m pleased the administration has recognized the importance of a healthy seafood industry to Alaska\u2019s economy and is providing relief because of China\u2019s retaliatory actions. I am especially grateful to my colleague, Senator Sullivan, for his relentless efforts to educate the administration. The Alaska Delegation is committed to helping this vital industry weather the impacts of retaliatory tariffs.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlaska's seafood industry is central to our economy and way of life,\u201d said Congressman Young. \u201cOur fishermen and processors depend on the ocean to keep food on their families' tables, and they deserve a fair and open global marketplace to do business. Unfortunately, not every country has played by the rules, and China's retaliatory tariffs have impacted our country's fishing sector. Our dedicated fishermen and processors are already trying to keep their businesses afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and these retaliatory tariffs only make matters worse. I am very pleased to see the USDA make relief funding available to Alaska's fishermen through the Seafood Trade Relief Program. This funding is welcome news for the hard-working mariners who bring Alaskan salmon, halibut, and countless other seafood to market. I am grateful to President Trump and Secretary Purdue for recognizing the Alaska seafood industry's urgent need in these uniquely difficult times. We must do more to ensure our delicious seafood can continue being enjoyed across the country. In Congress, I will continue fighting so that our fishermen and processors can succeed well into the future.\u201d\n\nThe funding will be provided through the Seafood Trade Relief Program and funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). The relief will support the following types of seafood:\n\nAtka mackerel\n\nCrab, Dungeness, King, Snow, Southern Tanner\n\nFlounder\n\nGeoduck\n\nGoosefish\n\nHerrings\n\nLobster\n\nPacific Cod\n\nPacific Ocean Perch\n\nPollock\n\nSablefish\n\nSalmon\n\nSole\n\nSquid\n\nTuna\n\nTurbot\n\nFishermen can sign up for relief from September 14 until December 14, 2020. Fishermen are encouraged to apply through their local USDA Service Center. To find a service center, visit www.farmers.gov/service-locator. The relief application can be found at www.farmers.gov/Seafood.\n\nUSDA also has provided a document with answers to frequently asked questions about the new program:\n\nhttps://www.farmers.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/Seafood-Trade-Relief-Program-STRP-FAQs.pdf\n\nBackground: The Alaska Congressional Delegation has been working to address multiple sources of stress on Alaska\u2019s fishing industry, such as urging the U.S. Trade Representative for a national trade policy that supports seafood producers and coastal communities, pushing the USDA to stabilize the seafood sector through the purchase of surplus seafood, and securing $300 million in the CARES Act to make direct assistance available to subsistence, commercial, and charter fishery participants, fishery-related businesses, and fishery-dependent communities that have been negatively affected by the market and other impacts of COVID-19.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-applauds-updated-treasury-guidance-giving-states-and-local-governments-more-flexibility", "Sullivan Applauds Updated Treasury Guidance, Giving States & Local Governments More Flexibility", "2020-09-03", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=49", "scraper", "FAIRBANKS, AK \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Martha McSally (R-AZ) announced that the Department of the Treasury has granted additional flexibility to state, local, and tribal governments in allocating resources from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) included in the CARES Act. This is a direct result of a request by Sens. Sullivan and McSally to the Treasury Department and the Trump administration to allow states and local governments to utilize funding to meet their specific needs.\n\n\u201cI have heard from local leaders all throughout Alaska that their communities need additional flexibility to use federal relief funds in the ways most useful for their residents and specific circumstances, and I have been fighting for months to get them this flexibility,\u201dsaid Senator Sullivan. \u201cAs I\u2019ve repeatedly said, the people on the ground best know how to use funds to strengthen their communities. I appreciate the Trump administration for responding to our requests and for trusting our communities. In Alaska, our rural communities\u2014with traditionally strong seasonal economies\u2014have been devastated with reduced revenues. This updated guidance and greater flexibility gives them a lifeline.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen I spoke to Arizona\u2019s state, local, and tribal leaders regarding the funding we allocated in the CARES Act, they reiterated that they need more flexibility to meet their current demands,\u201d said Senator McSally. \u201cI made it my mission to ensure that we provided more flexibility to help keep these communities afloat. States, local, and tribal governments know their area\u2019s needs best, and I am glad to have partnered with the Treasury Department to provide our communities in Arizona and nationwide with the ability to look at their budget, identify any funding gaps, and give them the authority to allocate as needed.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) allocations can now be used to prevent layoffs of public safety officers, firefighters, other first responders, and public health workers during the pandemic.\n\nThe CRF allocations can be used for personal protective equipment (PPE) to reopen schools.\n\nThe CRF allocations can be used for public health infrastructure, specifically running water, which is particularly important for tribal governments.\n\nOn August 21, Sullivan and McSally sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging him to increase flexibility of CARES Act funds for states, tribes, and local governments.\n\nOn May 12, Sullivan attended a meeting at the White House with President Trump on increasing flexibility of CARES Act funds for states, tribes, and local governments.\n\nOnMay 6, Sullivan introducedS. 3638, the Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility Act,legislation that would allow the federal relief funds provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to be used to replace revenue shortfalls resulting from the pandemic.\n\nTo view the Department of Treasury\u2019s Coronavirus Relief Fund Frequently Asked Questions Page,CLICK HERE\n\nTo view the Department of Treasury\u2019s Coronavirus Relief Fund Guidance for State, Territorial, Local, and Tribal Governments,CLICK HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-shows-navy-secretary-alaskas-strategic-military-advantages", "Sullivan Shows Navy Secretary Alaska\u2019s Strategic Military Advantages", "2020-09-02", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=49", "scraper", "Visit to Alaska is Braithwaite\u2019s first as Secretary of the Navy\n\nKETCHIKAN, ALASKA \u2013 This week, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) hosted Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite for the secretary\u2019s first visit to Alaska since being appointed and confirmed. On Monday in Ketchikan, Sullivan and Braithwaite toured the Ketchikan Shipyard, visited the U.S. Navy acoustic facility on Back Island, and joined members of the community and veterans for a dinner and discussion. On Tuesday, Sullivan and Braithwaite traveled to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) for briefings on the combined U.S. military forces in Alaska, the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) in the Interior, the Red-Flag-Alaska Air Force training exercises conducted several times per year at JPARC, opportunities for Marines to train in Alaska, and Arctic defense issues.\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to host Secretary Braithwaite in Alaska several decades after he first set foot on Adak Island early in his Navy career,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cThis visit\u2014from Ketchikan, to JBER, to Kodiak, and across to Adak\u2014was a prime opportunity for the secretary to witness all that Alaska has to offer to the U.S. Navy and to our larger national defense. Our adversaries are expanding their infrastructure and capabilities in the Arctic, and the Pentagon is finally waking up to this reality. We\u2019ve secured dramatic increases in the U.S. military\u2019s presence in Alaska\u2014totaling $1.6 billion dollars\u2014including reaching a major milestone for the Nome Deep Draft Port project, one of what should be a series of ports along Alaska\u2019s coast, numerous new Coast Guard vessels, and the building of six new icebreakers authorized in the defense bill two years ago. I made it clear to the secretary that these icebreakers should be home-ported in Alaska, and the maintenance of these new assets should be done in Alaska and by Alaskans\u2014the most capable and hard-working Americans the Navy will find. Finally, I want to commend the Alaskans we met with along the way who did what they do best, showing off our state and the unique support we offer to the military. Secretary Braithwaite won\u2019t soon forget this impactful visit to Alaska, and I expect we will have a strong partner in the Pentagon moving forward.\u201d\n\nSullivan has been working for years to bring more Coast Guard and Navy vessels, personnel and infrastructure to Alaska, particularly given the state\u2019s strategic location and the dramatic increase in military and commercial activity in the Arctic. As a member of the Senate Armed Services and Commerce Committees, Sullivan has secured major increases in the U.S. military\u2019s presence in Alaska, including six new icebreakers authorized in the defense bill two years ago, new Coast Guard vessels and infrastructure for coastal Alaska communities, and authorization for the Nome Deep Draft Port project. He has also consistently made the case to senior defense officials, including Secretary Braithwaite, for construction and maintenance work to be conducted by Alaska businesses and in Alaska communities, closer to where the vessels will operate.\n\nAt the Ketchikan Shipyard, Secretary Braithwaite was able to tour the 70,000 square foot assembly hall and adjacent fabrication shop, one of the most modern yards in the entire country that offers year-round service of new construction, repairs, and refit of nearly any vessel.\n\nDuring their time at JBER, Secretary Braithwaite and Senator Sullivan met with leaders from JAG Industrial and Marine Services, an Alaska company that operates a major maritime facility at the Seward Shipyard, and leaders from Triverus Cleaning and Environmental Solutions, an Alaska company that has produced leading-edge technologies for the U.S. Navy, like the Mobile Cleaning, Recovery and Recycle System (MCRRS), used to clean the flight decks of aircraft carriers.\n\nThe Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility (SEAFAC), which both Sullivan and Braithwaite visited, is the Navy\u2019s only West Coast acoustic site capable of making high fidelity passive acoustic signature measurements on vessels, including assessing the stealth capabilities of U.S. submarines. SEAFAC was constructed on Back Island, near Ketchikan, due to its minimal noise interference.\n\nLater in Secretary Braithwaite\u2019s trip, he visited Adak, Alaska where he toured Naval Air Facility Adak, which was closed in 1997, but has been discussed as a possible location for future large-scale military training exercises by the Department of Defense. The secretary\u2019s last stop was to Kodiak, Alaska. During his visit, he toured Coast Guard Base Kodiak and met with senior U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) leadership. USCG Base Kodiak is the largest Coast Guard base in the country, and performs a critical search-and-rescue mission for the Alaska region.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-urges-alaskans-to-participate-in-the-census", "Alaska Delegation Urges Alaskans to Participate in the Census", "2020-09-01", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=49", "scraper", "New Census Data Shows Low Alaska Participation\n\nAnchorage, AK \u2013 As the deadline to participate in the 2020 Census rapidly approaches, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all (R-AK), are calling on Alaskans to do their part and participate. New data released by the Census Bureau shows Alaska\u2019s self-response rate remains ranked among the lowest in the nation, with only Puerto Rico at a lower self-response rate than Alaska. The deadline to participate in the 2020 Census questionnaire is September 30, 2020.\n\n\u201cWhile we\u2019ve all pushed for an extension of the 2020 Census deadline, the reality is we must operate with the understanding that this September deadline still stands. We cannot stress the importance of participating in the Census enough. What takes just ten minutes to complete, has impacts to our state that last for the next 10 years. The Census determines how much federal funding our local communities will receive for services like schools, roads, and other public services\u2014each critical to Alaska\u2019s livelihood. The Census is safe, secure, confidential, and your information and privacy are protected,\u201d said the Alaska Congressional Delegation. \u201cOur Alaska Census response numbers are low so please help us ensure the Census Bureau has a full and accurate 2020 Census. We have less than one month to make sure Alaska counts.\u201d\n\nAlaskans who have not yet participated in the 2020 Census can complete the questionnaire online, by phone, or by mail when your invitation to respond arrives. Visit my2020census.gov for more information or to begin filling out the form.\n\nBackground:\n\nU.S. Senators Murkowski and Sullivan joined a bipartisan group of senators last month calling on House and Senate leadership to extend the statutory deadlines for the delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files following the 2020 Census.\n\nAlso in August, Congressman Don Young sent a letter to Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham, urging him to reverse plans to move up the field data collection deadline to September 30 from its original date of October 31.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 136, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "AK", "p2": "2020"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AK&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 136, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AK&year=2020&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AK&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 136, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=AK&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AK&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "AK", "label": "AK", "count": 136, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AK&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 136, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AK", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2020-09-01,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Esullivan~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Falaska-delegation-urges-alaskans-to-participate-in-the-census", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AK&year=2020&_next=2020-09-01%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Esullivan~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Falaska-delegation-urges-alaskans-to-participate-in-the-census&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 164.13381998427212, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}