{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Newsletters&ContentRecord_id=42882dfc-a8fc-4372-8621-1d97e0e6b438", "Senator Murkowski E-Newsletter for the week of December 20, 2013", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.20.13\n\t\t\t Senator Murkowski E-Newsletter for the week of December 20, 2013  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Happy Holidays \r\nMerry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! During this special season, I hope that you have the opportunity to spend time with those you hold dear.\r\n\r\n(Click image to watch video message.)\r\nAs Alaskans we are incredibly lucky to live in a true winter wonderland. The snow globe feel of our communities truly makes the holiday season. So during this special time of year, give yourself a Christmas present and take some time to enjoy our beautiful outdoors. Whether it\u2019s hitting the slopes, sledding with your kids or ice fishing on a lake - the time to enjoy the best of Alaska with your families is now, creating memories you\u2019ll look back on for years.\r\nThis time of year is also the time to reflect on the Alaskan spirit of sharing and helping those in our community when called upon. This is the season to step up and lend a hand to those who need it most. We all can help - even in the smallest of ways.\r\nI would also like to thank those who are serving our country. The men and women who serve our nation and ensure our safety on a daily basis need to be remembered at all times of the year. Many of our service members do not have the opportunity to return to their families for the holidays. To those who serve, and to their families - we thank you for your service and all you do for a grateful nation. \u00a0\u00a0\r\nFrom my family to yours, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\r\n United States Botanic Garden \r\n\r\n(Click on the image above to see the tour I received of the Botanic Garden.)\r\nWinter may be in full gear in Alaska, but in D.C. at the United States Botanic Garden they keep it balmy.\u00a0 As the end of the year approaches, the Botanic Garden sets up a truly wonderful holiday display that really accentuates the season. It\u2019s the next best thing to wandering around the Christmas-time gingerbread village at the Captain Cook!\r\nWhen the Senate was out of session, I took them up on their invitation to visit their holiday display. Each year they create a landscape of Washington D.C.\u2019s iconic buildings and this year the replicas were made from pine cones, willows, nuts and other plant materials. These displays of famous buildings are intricate and carefully built - the Capitol building itself took 600 hours to complete.\r\nThe theme for this year was World\u2019s famous fairs from over the years and included replicas of the Seattle Space Needle, the Ferris wheel from the Chicago World\u2019s Fair and the head of the Statue of Liberty.\r\n\u00a0\r\nDebuted at the 1962 World\u2019s Fair in Seattle, the Space Needle is how most Alaskans know they are in the \u201cLower 48\u201d.\u00a0 \r\nThe Botanic Garden is a great way for visitors to see unique plant life at any time of the year but it is particularly beautiful during the holidays.\r\n\u00a0\r\n Holiday Recipe \r\nThe smell of Christmas cookies in the oven brings back great memories of holidays past. Gingerbread is one of my favorites so I\u2019ve enclosed a recipe from Michelle Ward at Wings Airways and The Taku Glacier Lodge in Juneau, Alaska to share with all of you. Spend time in the kitchen with family and enjoy the taste of Christmas!\r\n\r\nTaku Ginger Cookies\r\n1 cup butter\r\n1 \u00be cup granulated sugar\r\n\u00be cup brown sugar\r\n1 egg\r\n1/3 cup molasses\r\n2 \u00be cups all purpose flour\r\n1 \u00bc tsp. baking soda\r\n1 Tbsp. cinnamon\r\n1 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. powdered ginger (if using fresh ginger, you may want to use less)\r\n1 tsp. cloves\r\n2 tsp. nutmeg\r\n\u00bd tsp. salt\r\nraw sugar\r\n\r\n \r\nSpace oven racks evenly.\r\nPreheat oven to 350\u00b0.\r\nCream butter and sugars together until fluffy.\r\nBeat in egg & molasses.\r\nMix flour, soda, spices and salt.\u00a0 Add to above, just until blended.\r\nUsing a small ice-cream scoop. Form walnut sized dough pieces and dip into raw sugar.\u00a0\r\nPlace on ungreased cookie sheet with sugar side up.\r\nBake 10 to 12 minutes for soft cookies, longer for crisp cookies.\u00a0\r\nCookies will crack on top.\u00a0 Excellent served warm.\u00a0 Yum!\r\n \r\n\u00a0Special thanks to Holly Johnson of Wings Airways and The Taku Glacier Lodge for allowing us to share this amazing recipe with Alaskans!\r\n\u00a0\r\n Duke Environmental Leadership Program \r\nLast week, I had the opportunity to speak with members of the Duke Environmental Leadership Program. The students in the program are masters professionals who have the opportunity to advance their work through a mid-career degree program. I spoke with them about the power of compromise, leadership styles in the Senate and how we can move forward as a nation. \u00a0Speaking with students is always invigorating and it was a good discussion on the future.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\r\nSpeaking to the students from Duke Environmental Leadership Program.\r\n\u00a0\r\n More Oil & Gas Production, More Jobs \r\nWhile back in Alaska I toured Little Red Services. LRS is an oil field services company, and going behind the scenes of their company was eye-opening. With increased activity by the producers lately, LRS is bringing back oil field fabrication that was being done in Canada \u2013 which is good news for Alaska\u2019s economy and keeping our highly skilled Alaskans here at home.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Little Red Services crew gave me a tour of what they\u2019re working on.\r\n\u00a0\r\n Continuing to Fight for King Cove's Life-Saving Road \r\nI have been working for years to develop an access road connecting King Cove with the Cold Bay airport. The decision by the National Fish and Wildlife Service to not approve a lifesaving road is not the right call for the people of King Cove. Last week I grilled Rhea Suh, nominee to be the next Assistant Secretary for Fish\u00a0and\u00a0Wildlife and Parks at the Interior Department on the importance of this road. I am not done pushing for the road and will continue to seize every opportunity to advocate for it and explain its need.\r\n\r\n(Click on the image above to hear my questions for the Interior Department about the Izembek road in King Cove.)\r\n\u00a0\r\n Getting in the Holiday Spirit \r\n\r\nMy Mat-Su staffer Gerri Sumpter, her daughter and granddaughter ringing the Salvation Army bell. My office plans on volunteering for the Red Kettle Campaign this Saturday at Fred Meyer on Northern Lights and the New Seward Highway in Anchorage from 1:30-2:30 pm. \u00a0Stop by and say Hi!\r\n\u00a0\r\nMy Anchorage staff decorating our office Christmas tree.\r\n\r\nMy Anchorage office distributed cookies to the Armed Services YMCA recently. They deliver treats to service members who are far from family here in Alaska and in need of a taste of home. Greg Kaplan from my office is joined by Paulette Ramage, JoAnn Handy and Kim Nahom.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Newsletters&ContentRecord_id=42882dfc-a8fc-4372-8621-1d97e0e6b438"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6462139319628477, "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"}