url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom-news-releases-barrasso-biden-admin-wants-control-of-wyomings-water/,Barrasso: Biden Admin Wants Control of Wyoming’s Water,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,barrasso,https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom/news-releases/,scraper,"CASPER, WY – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final rule regarding the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). “President Biden is raising from the dead the failed policies of the Obama administration. The Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule is one of the worst offenders. This misguided rule suffocates Wyoming’s farmers, ranchers and landowners alike. Make no mistake, this isn’t about protecting America’s waterways – it’s about putting Washington in control of everything from ponds to potholes. “Wyoming doesn’t need the federal government telling us what to do with our farms, ranches, and land. Americans deserve clean water and clear rules – not more government overreach.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-on-biden-administrations-final-wotus-rule,Hoeven Statement on Biden Administration's Final WOTUS Rule,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Statement on Biden Administration's Final WOTUS Rule BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a final rule to redefine the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS). “The Biden administration continues to push overbroad regulations that impose increased costs and greater constraints on our economy, which ultimately lead to higher prices for American consumers,” said Hoeven. “Like the Obama-era rule, this new WOTUS definition violates private property rights and is the wrong approach for our nation. Instead, we need regulatory relief that encourages investment and reduces costs for energy development, agriculture producers and construction, among others, while empowering states to protect the water resources within their borders.” Hoeven has been working to protect private property rights and push back on the Biden administration’s efforts to advance an expanded WOTUS rule, which imposes unworkable mandates, burdensome new permitting requirements and compliance cost on landowners, energy and agriculture producers and other industries. Accordingly, the senator: Helped introduce legislation to codify the Trump-era Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which replaced the 2015 WOTUS rule. Hoeven previously worked to advance the NWPR, following his efforts to defund WOTUS in 2015 and 2016 and prevent its implementation. Joined an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case ofSackett v. EPA urging for the preservation of state authority to regulate local waters and lands. Pressing the EPA and the Army Corps to suspend rulemaking on WOTUS until the U.S. Supreme Court completes its consideration ofSackett v. EPA. -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=F8751C73-8E4E-4119-8A91-8D75D579C836,Sen. Moran Statement on the Passing of Ed Seaton,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,moran,https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today issued the following statement after the passing of longtime Kansas newspaper publisher, former Pulitzer Prize Board Chair and Manhattan native Ed Seaton: “Ed Seaton lived a full life, dedicating himself to the advancement of democracy and freedom for the international press. He was a champion of local journalism and worked tirelessly to advocate for journalists on every level. Robba and I were privileged to know Ed personally, and he always treated us graciously. In particular, we valued his leadership of the Landon Lecture Series at Kansas State University. Robba also enjoyed the time they spent serving together at KSU. “Ed leaves a lasting legacy of commitment to journalism, and I am grateful for his passion for making Kansas and the world a better place. I extend my sincere condolences to his son Ned, his daughter-in-law Angie and his grandchildren. Robba and I are praying for them during this difficult time.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/senator-scott-2022-year-in-review/,Senator Scott 2022 Year in Review,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SC,Tim Scott,S001184,www.scott.senate.gov,timscott,https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/jsf/jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released his 2022 year in review, highlighting the work his office did on behalf of the people of South Carolina and advancing his Opportunity Agenda across the country. This year, Senator Scott introduced 18 bills, 7 resolutions, and 13 amendments. Twenty one pieces of his legislation were in part or fully enacted this year. While he voted against the Democrats’ big spending increase in the omnibus bill, the senator was able to secure passage of many bills and provisions he led or supported in the accompanying legislative package. Among those wins were: Portions of Senator Scott’s MADE in America Act that strengthen the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain; A 2-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities; A 2-year extension of the hospital at home program, based off of language in Senator Scott’s Hospital Inpatient Modernization Act; Senator Scott’s Advancing Auto Portability Act, which cuts red tape to help Americans who change jobs frequently to increase retirement savings; and Key provisions of Senator Scott’s IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. South Carolina Senator Scott continued his emphasis on communicating directly with constituents. To that end, he increased the number of letters sent annually by nearly 70%, amounting to more than 17,000 letters sent in 2022 alone. The senator continued his efforts to aid the South Carolina Port Authority in its harbor deepening project, and joined with South Carolina leaders earlier this month to celebrate Charleston becoming home to the deepest port on the East Coast. As a result of his efforts to strengthen the Minority Business Development Agency, South Carolina was issued a grant for $1.6 million. Law Enforcement In recognition of his work to support and increase funding for training for police departments across the country, Senator Scott was given numerous awards from law enforcement organizations. At the beginning of the month, the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation honored the senator with their National Service Award. In July, he received the Florida Sheriffs Association’s National Legislative Champion Award, and in February he was given another legislative champion award from the Major County Sheriffs of America. The Scott-sponsored Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act, a bill that equips law enforcement officers with the tools to effectively and safely respond to people in crisis, was passed and signed into law by President Biden. The new requirements for developing de-escalation training standards contained in the bill are the same requirements included in Senator Scott’s JUSTICE Act, which was introduced in 2020. Justice & Fairness One of the marquee achievements this year was the passage of Senator Scott’s anti-lynching legislation, named in honor of Emmett Till. The senator first introduced the bipartisan legislation in 2018. This is a key component of his broader mission to combat hate crimes, which has included speaking out against bomb threats at HBCUs and forming the Senate Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations. Senator Scott successfully lobbied FEMA to change its disaster relief policies that discriminated against Black homeowners. Known as heirs property, more than a third of Black-owned land in the South is passed down informally, rather than through deeds and wills, which precluded those land owners from getting much-needed FEMA aid after natural disasters. Following this push and policy change, 42,000 homeowners and 53,000 renters nationwide—who would have previously been denied—received disaster assistance, totaling $350 million. Education As the co-chair of the Congressional School Choice Caucus, Senator Scott hosted the inaugural School Choice Caucus Breakfast with dozens of Congressional and education leaders to call attention to the growing nationwide support for school choice and fight against the Biden administration’s attempts to limit education options for students. He also led the charge to get answers from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on his coordination with the National School Boards Association that led to concerned parents being labeled as domestic terrorists. As the co-chair of the bipartisan HBCU Caucus, Senator Scott hosted the first ever HBCU Career Fair in conjunction with Benedict College. The event served as a forum to foster public-private partnerships and introduce students and alumni to career, fellowship, and internship opportunities with South Carolina’s top employers. As the co-chair of the Congressional Financial Literacy Caucus, Senator Scott co-led a resolution designating April as Financial Literacy Month and led a forum on the importance of youth financial literacy. He also spearheaded efforts to build consumers’ financial capability and broader economic well-being. Aging Committee As the ranking member on the Aging Committee, Senator Scott led the charge to reopen Social Security field offices. After being closed for more than a year due to COVID, the senator’s pressure campaign to reopen allowed seniors and people with disabilities to once again receive in-person services for the benefits they deserve. Throughout the year, the senator led a series of reports on issues that represent national imperatives for older Americans including senior nutrition programs, financial literacy, senior housing, retirement security, drug pricing, and home and community based services. He also led the effort to combat frauds and scams that target seniors through the publication of an annual Fraud Book, hearings investigating frauds, and a Fraud Hotline to support seniors. Health Care Senator Scott led his colleagues in urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to support and strengthen the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. Following their efforts, CMS announced lower than expected premiums for individuals utilizing the MA program, which covers one third of the Medicare enrollees across South Carolina. Foreign Affairs & National Security Senator Scott continued his vocal support for Israel and fight against threats to peace and stability in the Middle East. To that end, he introduced the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Elimination Act, a bipartisan bill to withhold U.S. funding for the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for their targeted and biased investigation into Israel. He also introduced the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act, which would make permanent sanctions against Iran’s energy sector. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-criticizes-biden-admins-resuscitated-overreaching-wotus-rule,"Sullivan Criticizes Biden Admin’s Resuscitated, Overreaching WOTUS Rule",2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today released the following statement criticizing the Biden administration’s recently-announced Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule under the Clean Water Act. “The Biden administration today announced its ‘final’ Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule, resuscitating the burdensome and overreaching Obama-era ‘final’ interpretation of the Clean Water Act and giving the EPA vast authority over lands across the country, particularly in Alaska, which has more wetlands than any other state in the country by far. Remarkably, the Biden administration refused to pause issuing this WOTUS Rule just a few months until the Supreme Court rules in a case (Sackett vs. EPA II) that will determine the scope of the agency’s authority under the Clean Water Act. As a result, millions of hard-working Americans and Alaskans are left in regulatory limbo. “Under this rule, land owners face the potential for thousands of dollars in litigation and months of bureaucratic back-and-forth just to fill a ditch or build a structure on their own property. This rule abandons the balanced, bipartisan and statutorily-based implementation of the Clean Water Act that we had achieved working with the Trump administration, through multiple court victories, and through multiple field hearings I chaired as a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee—including in Alaska. “The truth is, all Americans want clean water, and we have some of the country’s cleanest water right here in Alaska. But the federal government should not take authority from states and run rough shod over the law, good-paying jobs, and our economy—which is on the verge of a recession—to achieve that goal. I will do everything I can to fight this illegal federal power grab, and I look forward to the Supreme Court once again reining in this out-of-control federal agency.” Below is a timeline of Sen. Sullivan’s work on the WOTUS Rule. On April 6 and April 8, 2015, Sen. Sullivan chaired Environment and Public Works Subcommittee field hearings in Anchorage and in Fairbanks on the impacts of the previously proposed WOTUS Rule on state and local governments and stakeholders. On April 30, 2015, Sen. Sullivan, along with Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Pat Roberts (R-Kas.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), introduced the bipartisan Federal Water Quality Protection Act (S. 1140) to direct the EPA and the Department of the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to issue a revised WOTUS Rule that protects navigable water from water pollution, while also protecting farmers, ranchers and private landowners. On May 19, 2015, Sen. Sullivan chaired a subcommittee legislative hearing on S.1140 The Federal Water Quality Protection Act. This bill would have withdrawn the WOTUS Rule and required EPA to more appropriately define what bodies are “Waters of the United States.” On October 9, 2015, Sen. Sullivan issued a statement on the nationwide stay of the EPA’s previous WOTUS Rule. On September 30, 2015, Sen. Sullivan chaired a subcommittee hearing titled “Oversight of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Participation in the Development of the New Regulatory Definition of ‘Waters of the United States.’” On May 24, 2016 Sen. Sullivan chaired a subcommittee hearing titled “Erosion of Exemptions and Expansion of Federal Control –Implementation of the Definition of Waters of the United States.” On February 28, 2017, Sen. Sullivan attended a meeting at the White House where President Trump signed an executive order that began to roll back the EPA’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule. On April 26, 2017, the EPW committee held an oversight hearing titled “A Review of the Technical, Scientific, and Legal Basis of the WOTUS Rule.” At the hearing, Chairman Barrasso called for the withdrawal of the fundamentally flawed rule. Witnesses testified that the 2015 WOTUS Rule is not supported by the Corps’ experience and expertise, scientific studies, or the law. On June 27, 2017, Senator Sullivan shared his views on the EPA’s efforts to withdraw and rewrite the overreaching WOTUS Rule. On September 27, 2017, Senator Sullivan, along with committee members Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jerry Moran (R-Kas.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), sent a letter to the EPA and the Corps in support of the proposed withdrawal of the 2015 WOTUS Rule. On December 11, 2018, the EPA and the Corps proposed a revised definition of the WOTUS Rule. In January 2020, the EPA and the Corps issued a revised definition of the WOTUS Rule. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3FB17931-E9AB-424E-B3BD-B588C30CF4A9,Thune Statement on Biden Administration’s Over-Reaching WOTUS Rule,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,thune,https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases,scraper,"“I strongly oppose this thinly veiled land grab, I urge the administration to abandon this retread of a misguided rule, and if it does not, I will push for the Senate to overturn this over-reaching regulation.” SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: “Like President Obama before him, President Biden is trying to greatly expand the reach of the federal government into the lives of farmers and ranchers,” said Thune. “Opening up nearly every body of water to federal jurisdiction would be a nightmare for property owners and producers in South Dakota and across the country. I strongly oppose this thinly veiled land grab, I urge the administration to abandon this retread of a misguided rule, and if it does not, I will push for the Senate to overturn this over-reaching regulation.” Background: In September 2022, Thune helped introduce the Simplify Timelines and Assure Regulatory Transparency Act, comprehensive federal regulatory permitting and project review reform legislation that would codify sensible regulations like the Navigable Waters Protection Rule instead of the Biden administration’s over-reaching WOTUS proposal. In April 2022, Thune joined an amicus brief in support of the petitioners in the pending case Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is directly related to how much authority the federal government has over states and private citizens to regulate “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act (CWA). In February 2022, Thune led the entire Senate Republican Conference in urging the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to suspend the pending rulemaking to redefine the scope of waters protected under the CWA, specifically WOTUS, until the U.S. Supreme Court completes its consideration of Sackett v. EPA, as the case is expected to have major implications on CWA scope and enforcement. Oral arguments for the case were heard on October 3, and an opinion is not expected until 2023.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-tester-lead-colleagues-calling-on-administration-to-support-northern-border-priorities-,"Hoeven, Tester Lead Colleagues Calling on Administration to Support Northern Border Priorities",2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven, Tester Lead Colleagues Calling on Administration to Support Northern Border Priorities WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) led their colleagues in urging U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young to prioritize including resources to properly staff and secure the northern border as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 President’s Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In addition, the senators outline the need to resume normal operating hours at the northern ports of entry, invest in technology deployment and recruit and retain additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) personnel. “As senators representing states along the U.S.-Canada border, we write to express our support for including the resources necessary to properly staff and secure our northern border as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 President’s Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” the senators wrote. “We support ensuring that our border professionals have the personnel, technology, and tools necessary to secure our nation’s borders. In doing so, it is important that the Federal government effectively carry out its responsibility to safely and effectively secure both our northern and southern land borders. This is particularly important given the increased levels of activity at the southern border over the past several years which has necessitated the reallocation of personnel and resources, including technology, from our border with Canada,” the senators continued. In addition to Hoeven and Tester, the letter was signed by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Angus King (I-Maine), James Risch (R-Idaho), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.). Click here for the full text of the letter. -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7765556E-4576-4022-897F-09B84AD24361,Graham on Passing of Joe Taylor Jr. of Columbia,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SC,Lindsey Graham,G000359,www.lgraham.senate.gov,graham,https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham today made this statement on the passing of Joe Taylor Jr. of Columbia. “I was shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of my good friend, Joe Taylor. “Joe was a force in South Carolina business and politics, and a friend to so many. His time as South Carolina’s Secretary of Commerce was one of unprecedented growth for our state. He was also a strong and challenging voice on the Columbia City Council - always looking out for the taxpayer.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=09C36811-1E91-41A1-AFC2-D09859763AAA,Senator McConnell and Governor Beshear Announce More Than $1.6 Billion in Federal Grants for Brent Spence Bridge,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 29, 2022) – Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced today that the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project was awarded federal funding grants worth more than $1.6 billion, giving the landmark bridge and corridor project the green light to move toward construction. “I’m thrilled the time has finally come for us to get the companion bridge built,” Gov. Beshear said. “Funding and constructing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is more than the fulfillment of my administration’s promise – it’s a dream fulfilled for the thousands of travelers who pass through the bustling region every day waiting eagerly for traffic relief to come on this nationally significant corridor. It also shows what’s possible when we prioritize people over politics. Once complete, drivers will have a more enjoyable and efficient drive and we’ll have the infrastructure in place to support the booming economy in this part of the state. Hats off to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Ohio Department of Transportation, and the countless partners and advocates who played a role in today’s monumental achievement, including the Kentucky General Assembly for the last budget allocation and Sen. McConnell for supporting the federal legislation. We appreciate President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg for this historic investment.” Sen. McConnell helped secure the funding for today’s grant announcement by supporting last year’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and shepherding the bill through the Senate. The legislation authorized a historic investment in our nation’s infrastructure and provides robust resources to states to fund major bridge projects specifically. Over five years, the IIJA will deliver billions of dollars to Kentucky to improve the commonwealth’s roads, bridges, airports, railroads, waterways, broadband and more. Sen. McConnell contacted U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to advocate directly for Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project funding. “For decades, inadequate capacity on the aging Brent Spence Bridge has created headaches for drivers traveling between Kentucky and Ohio. Today, we’re taking a major step toward fixing the problem,” said Sen. McConnell. “Using my role as Senate Republican Leader, I stood with Sen. Rob Portman to break through gridlock and pass last year’s bipartisan infrastructure deal, delivering record funding for landmark infrastructure projects including today’s grant. Building a new companion bridge on the Brent Spence Bridge corridor will be one of the bill’s crowning accomplishments, bringing long-awaited safety improvements, traffic relief and rejuvenated commerce to Northern Kentucky and Southwestern Ohio.” With funding secured, groundbreaking on the project is anticipated for late 2023, with substantial completion slated for 2029. “Ohio and Kentucky have been discussing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project for almost two decades, and now, we can finally move beyond the talk and get to work,” said Gov. DeWine. “This project will not only ease the traffic nightmare that drivers have suffered through for years, but it will also help ensure that the movement of the supply chain doesn’t stall on this nationally significant corridor. My administration vowed to press the federal government to fund this project, and we’re glad that they have recognized its significance. I’m grateful to the teams in both states who have worked so hard to make this project a reality.” The Brent Spence Bridge was constructed in the 1960s to carry around 80,000 vehicles a day, but the daily traffic load on Interstate Highways 75 and 71 has reached 160,000 vehicles in recent years. Because I-75 is a key freight corridor stretching from Canada to Florida, the congestion impacts commerce and commuters who travel the corridor in the eastern United States. Project plans call for the construction of a companion bridge to the west of the existing Brent Spence Bridge, as well as improvements to the current bridge and the roadway network that ties into each river crossing. As a result of robust engagement with local partners, there will be enhanced pedestrian access across I-75 in Cincinnati to reconnect downtown with western neighborhoods and the City of Cincinnati will regain nearly 10 acres to develop in the downtown area. In Kentucky, the project will include a new storm sewer system to reduce flooding and improve local roads, including enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities, in the area of the existing and new bridge. The project team – consisting of representatives from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) – applied jointly for funding and have outlined terms to move the project to construction. The once-in-a-lifetime competitive funding was made available through the passage of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that invested billions of dollars to revitalize infrastructure and spur the economy. In July, Govs. DeWine and Beshear announced revised plans based on community engagement and technical analysis to shrink the project footprint while still delivering a transformative project that meets the needs of the region. “Nothing great is achieved alone, and I’m proud of all the people who’ve come to the table over the years to ensure that we’ll deliver a project with huge benefits and minimal impacts to the communities that live in and around the project area,” KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said. “This project doesn’t just move vehicles, it moves people. We’re able to reconnect neighborhoods to downtown Cincinnati, improve safety and reduce congestion on this route, all while only adding a single lane to the interstate with this project,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. With funding secured, groundbreaking on the project is anticipated in late 2023 with larger construction activities in 2024. Substantial completion on the project is slated for 2029. The immediate next step will be the selection process to determine the Progressive Design Build contractor team to complete the project. That effort will begin in January when the Request for Proposals (RFP) is released to the contractor community. The Federal Highway Administration recently required the project team to complete an analysis to better identify project cost estimates. Through this process, the project team determined the project is likely to cost about $3.6 billion. The increase from previous estimates was not unexpected, due to the recent impact of inflation in construction prices. As a result, the project team is updating the project’s financial plan to account for the change. About the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project Brent Spence Bridge Fact Sheet Fueled by bipartisan cooperation and community engagement, the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project will invest in local communities and help grow America’s economy. Spanning 8 miles between the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio and Dixie Highway in Kentucky, the project will address the second-worst truck bottleneck in the nation by improving safety and travel on the interstate connection that carries more than $700 billion worth of freight every year. In addition, the project will improve access to the central business districts of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky, and will also support local businesses and underserved communities in historic neighborhoods on both sides of the river. Ohio and Kentucky are working together to deliver this transformative project that will improve the quality of life for the millions of Americans who use the federal highway system to travel between the two states and beyond.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=D0D89E1A-C470-43D5-BA17-E524D869BB05,Sen. Moran Named Co-Chair of Senate Army Caucus,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,moran,https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and member of the United States Military Academy (USMA) Board of Visitors – today was named the new Co-Chair of the Senate Army Caucus by fellow Co-Chair U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) – chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Sen. Moran will replace retiring U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) as Co-Chair. “I am honored to be selected to serve as the next Co-Chair of the Senate Army Caucus,” said Sen. Moran. “Kansas has a proud history of military service and is home to a significant Army presence with Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth and the Army National Guard and Reserve. Throughout my time in Congress, it has been a priority to support our military institutions in Kansas and this position will allow me to better advocate for our soldiers and their families in Kansas, the United States and across the globe.” “Sen. Inhofe has been one of Congress’ most influential and strongest advocates for servicemembers and their families, and I am grateful for his many years of leadership on the Senate Army Caucus and in the U.S. Senate,” continued Sen. Moran. “I look forward to working with Sen. Reed, Army leaders and members of the Senate Army Caucus to support our nation’s soldiers and their missions.” “I am proud to welcome Senator Jerry Moran as Co-Chair of the Army Caucus,” said Sen. Reed. “Sen. Moran has long been a steadfast advocate for our nation’s soldiers, and I look forward to serving with him in this new leadership role. The Army is fundamentally a ‘People First’ organization, and the Senate Army Caucus is committed to supporting our soldiers, their families, and our Army civilians and veterans. Sen. Moran will be a tremendous partner in this endeavor.” “I am also grateful to my good friend, Senator Jim Inhofe, for his tremendous leadership as Co-Chair of the Senate Army Caucus, and I congratulate him on his well-earned retirement,” continued Sen. Reed. “The Army is stronger and America is safer because of his service.” “It was an honor to support the United States Army during my time as Army Caucus Co-Chair, and now I am proud to see that position filled by someone with great dedication and integrity – my friend, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran,” said Sen. Inhofe. “I am certain that Sen. Moran will continue to keep the best interest of the U.S. Army at heart as he co-leads this caucus with Senator Reed into the future.” The bipartisan Senate Army Caucus includes more than 30 Senators from across the country. The Army Caucus is one of the largest and most active caucuses in the Senate. The caucus’ goal is to advocate on behalf of the U.S. Army in the Senate and educate members on the importance of supporting Army goals. The caucus meets regularly with Army leadership to receive updates on the service’s readiness, assess soldier quality of life initiatives and develop legislation to advance the goals of the Army. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-delivers-on-alaska-priorities-in-annual-interior-bill,Murkowski Delivers on Alaska Priorities in Annual Interior Bill,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"The U.S. Senate recently passed an omnibus appropriations package containing funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2023. The measure includes the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee’s annual bill, which U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) negotiated as the panel’s Ranking Member. Murkowski championed provisions to strengthen Alaska’s economy, invest in water and wastewater infrastructure, improve access and recreation on public lands, provide health and other critical services to tribal communities, and create safer communities across the state. Examples include funding to restore access to Denali National Park, create an EPA grant program for the assessment and remediation of contaminated lands conveyed by the federal government, and to protect communities in Alaska from wildfires. Through the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) process, Murkowski secured significant additional funding to support over 47 projects in Alaska. “The Interior Subcommittee is important in Alaska with oversight over public lands, Native issues, and the environment. Through the standard appropriations process, I secured significant support for Alaska through investments in her people, lands, and waters. Our final bill improves infrastructure on public lands and provides for important research projects related mapping, landslides, and early monitoring systems for natural disasters. We provide support for Alaskans’ health and safety through investments in priorities such as Small Ambulatory Clinics, Village Built Clinics, and clean drinking water—which every Alaskan deserves. This year I was able to include nearly 50 CDS projects. These are boots-on-the-ground initiatives that Alaskans identified as their top local priorities—from clean drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities to the clean-up of contaminated lands and greater salmon monitoring. I’m proud of this bill and look forward to the positive impacts it will have across our state,” Murkowski said. Congressionally Directed Spending Allocations for Alaska Anchorage: $13 million to the Municipality of Anchorage for the safe disposal of wastewater in Anchorage. Anchorage: $4 million to implement the Municipality of Anchorage’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Chickaloon: $250,000 for the Chickaloon Native Village for a community well. Chignik: $5.3 million to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium for safe drinking water in Chignik. Chugach National Forest: $2.3 million to construct and improve recreational trails and access on the Iditarod National Historic Trail. Craig: $760,000 for upgrades to Craig's wastewater treatment plant. Denali: $2.2 million for design and construction of pedestrian pathways along the Parks Highway corridor in the Denali Borough. Eagle River: $4.5 million to the Municipality of Anchorage for the safe disposal of wastewater in Eagle River. Girdwood: $1.6 million to replace the Ruane Road culvert in Girdwood. Girdwood: $2.5 million for a sewer access project, for the safe disposal of wastewater in Girdwood. Juneau: $2.5 million to the City and Borough of Juneau to design and construct a commercial-scale composting facility to serve Juneau residents and businesses. Kenai: $875,000 to the Alaska Electric & Energy Cooperative, Inc. for the installation of a combined heat and power project at the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Central Peninsula Landfill. Kenai: $2.9 million for the safe disposal of wastewater in Kenai. Kenai: $1.5 million to implement the Kenai Peninsula Borough Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Ketchikan: $1.7 million to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough for wastewater treatment plant upgrades. Kivalina: $8 million to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to construct a new Kivalina landfill that meets state regulatory standards. Kodiak: $1 million to the Island Trails Network for removal, recycling, and recovery of debris from the Alaska marine environment. Kotzebue: $140,000 to build cyanotoxin analysis capacity at the Native Village of Kotzebue. Nome: $1.6 million for safe drinking water distribution and wastewater collection. North Slope: $1.2 million for a wastewater replacement project. North Slope: $2.5 million for the Northern Route of the North Slope Borough Community Winter Access Trails pilot program, which provides for the creation of temporary winter trail access between communities where year-round connecting roads do not exist. Palmer: $6.9 million for wastewater treatment system upgrades. Petersburg: $1.6 million for water treatment plant upgrades. St. Paul: $3 million to improve solid waste disposal facilities. Seldovia: $746,000 for a sewer line replacement. Seldovia: $414,000 for safe drinking water. Seward: $2 million for the safe disposal of wastewater. Soldotna: $680,000 for a wastewater treatment plant. Soldotna: $320,000 to improve wastewater effluent before discharge to the Kenai River. Soldotna: $960,000 for upgrades to equipment used to dewater treated solids at the Soldotna Wastewater Treatment Plant. St. George: $3 million to replace 50-year-old water distribution and wastewater collection infrastructure. Statewide: $2 million for salmon monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim River watersheds. Statewide: $500,000 to the Tanana Chiefs Conference to address the large data gap regarding salmon populations on the Yukon River. Statewide: $880,000 for implementation of the Intertribal Federal Subsistence Cooperative Management Program at the Kuskokwim River Watershed. Statewide: $1.2 million for ecological monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers. Statewide: $1.5 million for the Denali Commission to develop regional solid waste management plans. Statewide: $1 million to complete a National Scenic Trail feasibility study to connect Seward and Fairbanks. Statewide: $3 million for the Alaska Native Justice Center for Alaska tribal public safety empowerment activities. Statewide: $7 million to support the State of Alaska in conducting an inventory and verification of contaminated sites conveyed to Alaska Natives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Statewide: $300,000 for the University of Alaska Anchorage to study the need and economic feasibility of constructing and operating a hazardous waste processing facility and landfill in Alaska. Statewide: $250,000 to the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association to build tribal capacity for the inventory and verification of ANCSA contaminated lands. Statewide: $250,000 to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to build further tribal capacity for the inventory and verification of ANCSA contaminated lands. Statewide: $33.9 million for abandoned well remediation in the NPR-A. Valdez: $5 million for the safe disposal of wastewater in Valdez. Wasilla: $5.7 million for improvements to wastewater treatment facilities. Whittier: $1.2 million for well field upgrades. Yakutat: $5.1 million for a water line extension project. Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill Highlights Click here for comprehensive bill highlights. Investing in Communities: Provides full funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which provides compensation to local governments throughout Alaska that contain federal lands that are not subject to state or local taxation. PILT helps local governments provide vital services, such as firefighting and police protection, search-and-rescue operations, and the construction of public schools and roads. Supporting Outdoor Access and Recreation: Provides investments to complete the project to restore access to Denali National Park Road for both the safety of the road and for access into the park for locals and visitors. Directs BLM to support the Alaska Long Trail project, a proposed 500-mile route connecting Seward and Fairbanks. Provides additional funding for critical operations and management of our National Park System. Air, Water, and Wastewater Infrastructure: Addresses drinking water and wastewater infrastructure challenges by providing funding for the construction of new drinking water and wastewater systems and the improvement of existing systems in rural Alaska communities. Supports grant programs which help bring basic water and sewer infrastructure to communities in need. Includes increased funding for Targeted Airshed Grants, which support communities such as Fairbanks in their efforts to reduce air pollution. Prohibits EPA from implementing its small, remote incinerators rule in Alaska while Alaskans work with the agency to develop a rule that will work better to address the state’s rural, unique needs. Provides for transboundary river pollution monitoring and directs the U.S. Geological Survey to work cooperatively with local tribes, stakeholders, and other federal agencies to help develop a water quality strategy for transboundary rivers. Protection from Natural Hazards and Wildfire: Provides for the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, which will benefit Alaska. Provides greater funding for Prince William Sound and the Southeast landslide program as well as language supporting the ongoing landslide and tsunami warning work in the region. Provides funding for both wildland fire management and wildfire suppression. Public Safety: In order to improve the federal response to the epidemic of missing, trafficked, and murdered indigenous women and girls, provides funding to BIA for cold case work, equipment needs, and victim witness specialists. Includes additional funding for Public Law 280 states, such as Alaska, to help develop tribal court systems for communities. Health and Wellness: Maintains funding for the Small Ambulatory Clinics Program and dental therapist training. Increases maternal funding through IHS and funding for Village Built Clinics—a program unique to Alaska which supports approximately 150 healthcare clinics in rural areas, many of which require intensive maintenance and often serve as the only health facility or source of regional medical care. Advance appropriations are included for fiscal year 2024 to prevent the interruption of healthcare related services in the event of a government shutdown. Alaska Lands: Prioritizes infrastructure improvements for public lands, including investments in land cleanup. Addresses legacy well cleanup to support the next series of sites in need of remediation. Increases support for the Alaska Land Conveyance Program, which serves to fulfill legal requirements to transfer lands to the State and Alaska Natives under ANCSA. Establishes a new grant program at EPA to provide funding for the first time for the assessment and remediation of ANCSA contaminated sites in Alaska. Recognizes the importance of Alaska Public Land Information Centers and encourages the agencies to seek to strengthen partnerships with them. Culture and the Arts: Supports the arts through funding for NEA and NEH. Includes support for the NEA’s Healing Arts Program, developed by the NEA and DOD to help wounded and injured service members and their families in their transition into civilian life. Continues funding for an arts and cultural program with Sealaska and the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development. The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee establishes the annual budgets for federal agencies and departments including the Department of the Interior (DOI), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Forest Service (FS), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and Indian Health Service (IHS). Murkowski, as Ranking Member, is able to help write the Senate’s annual appropriations bill for the Subcommittee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-scotus-ruling-to-maintain-title-42-a-win-for-border-security-biden-administration-needs-to-enforce-our-laws,Hoeven: SCOTUS Ruling to Maintain Title 42 a Win For Border Security; Biden Administration Needs to Enforce Our Laws,2022-12-28,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: SCOTUS Ruling to Maintain Title 42 a Win For Border Security; Biden Administration Needs to Enforce Our Laws BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling to maintain the Title 42 Public Health Order while litigation on the issue proceeds. The decision reverses an earlier federal court opinion that enabled the Biden administration to rescind the immigration tool, which allows immigration officials to return illegal immigrants to their home country and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hoeven has been working to keep Title 42 in place and has repeatedly called on the Biden administration to address the ongoing illegal immigration crisis at the nation’s southern border. To this end, the senator: Introduced legislation with Senator Marco Rubio to extend Title 42 until February 2025. Traveled to Del Rio, Rio Grande Valley and El Paso regions in Texas to support Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials and North Dakota Guard members and draw attention to their work at the U.S.-Mexico border. Pressed the Homeland Security Secretary to secure the border and keep Title 42 in place. “President Biden’s policies are creating a humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border,” said Hoeven. “By rescinding tools like Title 42 and refusing to enforce our laws, the Biden administration is enabling human trafficking and drug smuggling into our nation. That not only undermines our national security, but contributes to the overdose epidemic that has brought tragedy to communities and families across the country. This SCOTUS ruling is a step in the right direction, but the Biden administration needs to change course and take real action to secure our borders.” In addition to maintaining Title 42, Hoeven is pressing the Biden administration to: Enforce the nation’s laws and secure the southern border, including resuming construction of the border wall and putting in place the necessary infrastructure, personnel and technology. Reinstate key immigration policies, such as: The Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) or Remain in Mexico Policy, which required people seeking asylum at the southern border to wait in Mexico while their case was adjudicated. The Safe Third Country Agreements so those seeking asylum from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala can be returned to their home country to await the outcome of their claims. Move toward a merit-based immigration system. -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/after-years-of-limbo-delegation-secures_rebecca-trimbles-permanent-resident-status,"After Years of Limbo, Delegation Secures Rebecca Trimble’s Permanent Resident Status",2022-12-28,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today celebrated the enactment of private legislation they led with the late Congressman for all Alaska, Don Young. The measure – H.R. 681, For the Relief of Rebecca Trimble – is now Private Law 117-1, and provides Mrs. Trimble with a pathway to lawful permanent resident status in the United States. “After a decade of uncertainty and legal appeals, I’m so pleased that we have put an end to any possibility of deportation and provided Rebecca with the peace of mind she so clearly deserves. She has lived in America, built her life in America, and raised her family in America. Now she can remain with her husband and children in the only country she has ever called home,” Murkowski said. “I thank all who helped ensure this bill could unanimously pass the House and Senate – including Rep. Nadler, Senator Padilla, and Senator Cornyn – as well as President Biden for quickly signing it into law. We finally got this right for a woman who never did anything wrong.” “It is exceptionally rare for Congress to pass a piece of legislation that impacts just one person. That’s exactly what we’ve been able to deliver today for Rebecca Trimble,” said Senator Sullivan. “Rebecca spent her entire life living the American Dream, raising a family with her husband, an Army dentist who, until recently, served Alaskans in the Bethel area. That dream was thrown into jeopardy when Rebecca, through no fault of her own, faced threats of deportation to a country she’s never known. When Rebecca’s unique and challenging case couldn’t be resolved through regular immigration channels, Congressman Young, Senator Murkowski and I got to work on a legislative fix. It is fitting that this will be Don Young’s final bill to get signed into law, a capstone to a long and amazing career advocating for a state and a people he loved. I commend Rebecca and her family for their patience and dogged determination, and I hope this news makes for an especially meaningful holiday season for the Trimble family and for the many Alaskans who the Trimbles touched.” “It has been amazing and heartwarming to see the Alaska Congressional delegation come together and do the hard work necessary to help this military spouse stay in the United States,” said Margaret Stock, Rebecca Trimble’s immigration lawyer in Alaska, Cascadia Cross Border Law group, Anchorage. Background: Mrs. Trimble was born in Mexico in 1989, adopted by an American couple, and brought into the U.S. when she was only a few days old. In 2012, after applying for an enhanced driver’s license and despite no wrongdoing by her or her adoptive parents, Mrs. Trimble learned that her adoption was not properly completed, her birth certificates were not valid, and that she was not a legal citizen—as she had understood she was for more than 20 years. As the spouse of a military member, Mrs. Trimble applied for “parole in place” status in 2015 but was denied in 2016. She applied for permanent resident status while living in Bethel, Alaska in 2017 but was denied in 2020. At that point, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service informed her that she had just 33 days to depart the country and could face removal proceedings if she did not. The Trimble’s received an outpouring of support from the Bethel community—from the military community to their church to community members—who urged for Rebecca’s special case to be addressed. After learning of Mrs. Trimble’s unique situation, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan and Congressman Young sought to assist her through a private bill, a rare form of legislation that seeks to address the exceptional circumstances faced by an individual. Murkowski introduced the first measure to assist Mrs. Trimble in February 2020, with Sullivan as an original cosponsor. They reintroduced the bill as S. 776 in the current Congress. H.R. 681 is the first private bill to become private law during the 117th Congress, and just the third to be enacted in the past 10 years. More information is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-ensures-year-end-omnibus-contains-significant-assistance-funding-for-university-of-alaska,"Murkowski Ensures Year-End Omnibus Contains Significant Assistance, Funding for University of Alaska",2022-12-28,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today welcomed passage of the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, which she added to the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023. The year-end omnibus also includes multiple Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) allocations totaling $8.325 million that Murkowski requested and secured on behalf of the University of Alaska (UA). “The University plays a critical role in educating Alaskans, adding to our workforce and shaping the very future of our state. I recognize how important this system is, and that’s why I worked so hard to ensure the omnibus will help strengthen its fiscal foundation for decades to come,” Murkowski said. “By providing a new way to expand the University’s land grant, we are ensuring it can generate additional revenues that support its students, faculty, and campus infrastructure. Through our successes in the CDS process, we are improving the University’s facilities, meeting priority research needs, and expanding its pipeline of well-educated Alaskans who enter key fields across our economy. I thank President Pitney and her team for working so closely with me and my staff to move these achievements across the finish line.” “This is a monumental day for the university. We’ve been working diligently for years to resolve our land grant deficit, and today is the day that hard work has paid off. On behalf of the entire university community, I thank our congressional delegation for finding a path forward through the omnibus appropriations bill. I also want to recognize the bipartisan backing we’ve had from our Alaska businesses, organizations, and state leaders who advocated for this positive outcome. This break-through legislation means that the university will be empowered to actively manage productive lands that will generate recurring revenue for the benefit of our students, our cutting-edge research, and the education of our next generation of leaders,” said Pat Pitney, President of University of Alaska. Murkowski and Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) re-introduced S. 1128, the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, last year to help fulfill UA’s long-suffering land grant, which remains a fraction of the size it was intended to be. Murkowski and Sullivan developed the bill in collaboration with UA and the State of Alaska (State); the late Congressman Don Young (R-AK) introduced a companion measure in the House of Representatives. Despite being located in the largest state in the union, UA has one of the smallest land endowments—just 110,000 acres—of any applicable institution anywhere in the country. To help remedy this, S. 1128 allows UA and the State to jointly identify up to 500,000 acres in Alaska for potential conveyance. The Department of the Interior (DOI) will then survey those selections and work with UA and the State to transfer up to 360,000 acres to UA. Any transfers will be deducted from Alaska’s outstanding statehood lands entitlement, which still totals millions of acres. Elsewhere in the omnibus, Murkowski provided increased funding for the Alaska Land Conveyance Program to help fulfill long-standing legal requirements to transfer lands to the State and Alaska Natives under ANCSA. In addition to the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, Murkowski secured the following CDS allocations for UA: Kotzebue: $825,000 to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for renovations and safety improvements to the Chukchi Campus in Kotzebue. Anchorage: $500,000 to the University of Alaska Anchorage to implement a forensic training program for healthcare providers and advocates. Fairbanks/Statewide: $1 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to support research on seasonal weather forecasting. Fairbanks/Statewide: $1.7 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to conduct baseline marine fishery surveys. Statewide: $1 million to the University of Alaska Anchorage to expand UAA’s business development services to rural and young entrepreneurs in Alaska. Statewide: $300,000 for the University of Alaska Anchorage to study the need and economic feasibility of constructing and operating a hazardous waste processing facility and landfill in the State of Alaska. Anchorage: $2.25 million to the University of Alaska Anchorage to renovate UAA’s facilities for nursing education, telehealth training, and inter-professional education programs. Anchorage: $6 million to the Alaska Community Foundation to support the preservation, processing, and digitization of records of Alaskan leaders, which will be housed at UAA. Juneau: $750,000 to establish and operate a commercial driver's license education training program at the University of Alaska Southeast. The University of Alaska is a land-, sea- and space-grant system of higher education established in 1917. The system has three universities – Alaska Anchorage (UAA), Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), and Alaska Southeast (UAS) – as well as 13 community campuses and extended learning centers across the state. System-wide, more than 20,700 full- and part-time students are enrolled, studying among 500 unique degree, certificate, or endorsement programs. Study areas include short-course workforce training, associate degrees, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as doctorates. UA generates $1.1 billion annually in economic impact and supports more than 15,000 Alaskan jobs.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/after-years-of-limbo-delegation-secures-rebecca-trimbles-permanent-resident-status,"After Years of Limbo, Delegation Secures Rebecca Trimble’s Permanent Resident Status",2022-12-28,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today celebrated the enactment of private legislation they led with the late Congressman for all Alaska, Don Young. The measure – H.R. 681, For the Relief of Rebecca Trimble – is now Private Law [117-1], and provides Mrs. Trimble with a pathway to lawful permanent resident status in the United States. “After a decade of uncertainty and legal appeals, I’m so pleased that we have put an end to any possibility of deportation and provided Rebecca with the peace of mind she so clearly deserves. She has lived in America, built her life in America, and raised her family in America. Now she can remain with her husband and children in the only country she has ever called home,” Murkowski said. “I thank all who helped ensure this bill could unanimously pass the House and Senate – including Rep. Nadler, Senator Padilla, and Senator Cornyn – as well as President Biden for quickly signing it into law. We finally got this right for a woman who never did anything wrong.” “It is exceptionally rare for Congress to pass a piece of legislation that impacts just one person. That’s exactly what we’ve been able to deliver today for Rebecca Trimble,” said Senator Sullivan. “Rebecca spent her entire life living the American Dream, raising a family with her husband, an Army dentist who, until recently, served Alaskans in the Bethel area. That dream was thrown into jeopardy when Rebecca, through no fault of her own, faced threats of deportation to a country she’s never known. When Rebecca’s unique and challenging case couldn’t be resolved through regular immigration channels, Congressman Young, Senator Murkowski and I got to work on a legislative fix. It is fitting that this will be Don Young’s final bill to get signed into law, a capstone to a long and amazing career advocating for a state and a people he loved. I commend Rebecca and her family for their patience and dogged determination, and I hope this news makes for an especially meaningful holiday season for the Trimble family and for the many Alaskans who the Trimbles touched.” “It has been amazing and heartwarming to see the Alaska Congressional delegation come together and do the hard work necessary to help this military spouse stay in the United States,” said Margaret Stock, Rebecca Trimble’s immigration lawyer in Alaska, Cascadia Cross Border Law group, Anchorage. Background: Mrs. Trimble was born in Mexico in 1989, adopted by an American couple, and brought into the U.S. when she was only a few days old. In 2012, after applying for an enhanced driver’s license and despite no wrongdoing by her or her adoptive parents, Mrs. Trimble learned that her adoption was not properly completed, her birth certificates were not valid, and that she was not a legal citizen—as she had understood she was for more than 20 years. As the spouse of a military member, Mrs. Trimble applied for “parole in place” status in 2015 but was denied in 2016. She applied for permanent resident status while living in Bethel, Alaska in 2017 but was denied in 2020. At that point, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service informed her that she had just 33 days to depart the country and could face removal proceedings if she did not. The Trimble’s received an outpouring of support from the Bethel community—from the military community to their church to community members—who urged for Rebecca’s special case to be addressed. After learning of Mrs. Trimble’s unique situation, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan and Congressman Young sought to assist her through a private bill, a rare form of legislation that seeks to address the exceptional circumstances faced by an individual. Murkowski introduced the first measure to assist Mrs. Trimble in February 2020, with Sullivan as an original cosponsor. They reintroduced the bill as S. 776 in the current Congress. H.R. 681 is the first private bill to become private law during the 117th Congress, and just the third to be enacted in the past 10 years. More information is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/youngs-pacific-islands-embassies-act-becomes-law/,Young’s Pacific Islands Embassies Act Becomes Law,2022-12-28,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Pacific Islands Embassy Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill aimed at countering the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through increased American diplomacy in the Pacific, is now law. The legislation establishes physical U.S. Embassies on the Pacific Island nations of the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and Tonga, and authorizes expanded physical presence on Vanuatu to reinforce American leadership in the Pacific region. U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) were the Senate sponsors of the bill. This legislation was included as an amendment to the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law on December 23, 2022. “The Indo-Pacific is a region of active competition with China, and our Pacific Island partners are especially vulnerable to Chinese coercion. This new law will strengthen our diplomatic presence in the region and signal our resolve to our partners and allies,” said Senator Young.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-champions-mental-and-behavioral-health-provisions-in-fy-2023-appropriations-package_,Murkowski Champions Mental and Behavioral Health Provisions in FY 2023 Appropriations Package,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"As a senior appropriator, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) played a key role in securing numerous mental and behavioral health provisions within the omnibus appropriations package that funds the federal government for the rest of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. Recognizing the need to bolster mental and behavioral health support in Alaska, Murkowski prioritized suicide prevention programs, treatment and recovery opportunities for those struggling with substance misuse, and expansion of the mental health workforce. She also secured significant mental and behavioral health-related Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) allocations that were requested by Alaskans. “Affordable, accessible, and destigmatized mental and behavioral healthcare services are fundamental to quality of life in our communities. I made greater resources for them one of my top priorities in the omnibus because Alaska is disproportionately impacted by substance misuse disorders, faces a lack of mental and behavioral health specialists, and has seen a devastating uptick in death by suicide, particularly among military service members,” Murkowski said. “I’m heartened that three provisions I led were included in the final package; two aim to prevent death by suicide and the other bolsters maternal and postpartum mental health services. We also made sure the omnibus contains significant investments to educate and mentor youth, to help keep them on the safest path possible, and for safe housing to create a safer, more reliable environment for vulnerable individuals to heal. Whether it is prevention, treatment, recovery, or support for individual or family care, our year-end package provides critical resources to help ensure that Alaska’s most vulnerable have the care and support they need, when they need it most.” Murkowski added the following CDS allocations to the year-end omnibus: Juneau: $870,000 to renovate and expand the JAHMI Health & Wellness specialty behavioral health facility. Statewide: $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Southcentral Alaska to provide behavioral health support to children and youth. Anchorage: $290,000 for Providence Alaska to establish and launch the Alaska Psychiatry Residency Program. Anchorage: $750,000 for construction of a Crisis Stabilization Center at Providence Alaska Medical Center. Wasilla: $5 million to Set Free Alaska to build a therapeutic campus consisting of recovery residence facilities. Mental and behavioral health highlights in the omnibus include: Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act: Murkowski-led legislation that will vastly increase access to life-saving addiction medicine by eliminating a duplicative bureaucratic hurdle—colloquially known as the “x-waiver”—currently blocking millions of highly trained health professionals from prescribing buprenorphine to their patients. Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department: Murkowski-led legislation to provide additional resources for hospital emergency departments to improve screening and care for individuals at risk of suicide, and enhance the coordination of care for such individuals during discharge. Garrett Lee Smith Reauthorization: Murkowski-led legislation to reauthorize a number of suicide prevention programs, including the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and State and Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention grants. Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health: A Murkowski-led provision that reauthorizes and expands programs to screen and treat for maternal mental health and substance use disorders. Crisis Response Pilot Program: Establishes a mental health crisis response pilot program to establish and enhance mobile crisis response teams to respond to mental health and substance use disorder crises. Summer Barrow Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act: Reauthorizes programs to address substance use disorder treatment and recovery for homeless individuals, increase access to treatment in areas with high rates of opioid use, support efforts to prevent and respond to underage drinking, and increase access to emergency treatment for opioid overdoses. Peer-Supported Mental Health Services: Directs HHS to award grants to develop, expand, and enhance access to mental health peer-delivered services, with special consideration for the unique needs of rural areas in states like Alaska. Reauthorization of Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services: Reauthorizes and increases funding for the Community Mental Health Block Grant program, with a set-aside for evidence-based crisis care services. Recovery Housing: Includes language clarifying it is the role of SAMSHA to collaborate with national housing organizations, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and other relevant stakeholder to promote the availability of high-quality recovery housing and services for individuals with substance use disorder. Housing Working Group: Directs the Secretaries of HHS and HUD to convene an interagency working group with all relevant agencies to increase collaboration to promote the availability of housing, including recovery housing, for individuals experiencing homelessness and those with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders. Recovery Housing Grants: Authorizes significant funding for grants to states to promote recovery housing availability and develop plans to implement recovery housing best practices. Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder Resources for Native Americans: The Native Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act creates a formula and grant program to help Tribes access resources to address mental health needs and substance-use disorders in their communities. Media and Mental Health: Directs HHS to conduct or support research on the mental health impacts of smartphone and social media use by adolescents. NOPAIN Act: Legislation co-sponsored by Murkowski to provide a separate Medicare payment for non-opioid treatments to manage pain from surgeries. Mental Health Access Improvement Act: Legislation co-sponsored by Murkowski which establishes Medicare coverage for services provided by marriage and family therapists and licensed professional counselors beginning January 1, 2024. Related Issues: Health",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-delivers-big-wins-for-alaskas-fisheries-and-oceans-in-consolidated-appropriations-act-,Murkowski Delivers Big Wins for Alaska’s Fisheries and Oceans in Consolidated Appropriations Act,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, secured significant funding for fisheries and oceans priorities in Alaska in the recently-passed Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023. As a result of Murkowski’s work, the year-end omnibus includes $15 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) allocations for ocean and river research to be performed by Alaskans in addition to significant programmatic support through agency budgets. (Click here to view all of Alaska’s CDS allocations). “Our fisheries and oceans provide foundational food security and economic opportunity for Alaskans statewide. I’m proud to champion our marine environment and cornerstone species like salmon and crab in this year-end package,” Murkowski said. “The language I secured provides support for fisheries disaster relief, research, indigenous co-management, surveys, fisheries management, marine debris removal, transboundary watershed monitoring, and many more Alaska priorities. Alaskans advocated for these projects, we worked together to deliver on them, and we can now look forward to their implementation for our state.” Fishery Disasters As part of a dynamic effort to address fisheries disasters nationwide, Murkowski successfully requested $300 million in fisheries disaster funding with an additional $300,000 for administration costs. This funding will provide relief to commercial, recreational, and subsistence harvesters impacted by fisheries stock crashes, including in Alaska. The funding will also support research to determine the cause of disasters and provide relief to impacted community governments that rely on shoreside taxes for municipal budgets. Additionally, the bill includes the Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act, legislation co-sponsored by the Senator that will improve the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) fisheries disaster program. More specifically, the bill specifies a timeline for action by NMFS, clarifies the declaration process, and expedites review and fund dispersal processes. It also specifies assistance eligibility for subsistence and recreational fishers. Research Through her role on the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the Department of Commerce, Murkowski supported oceans and climate research through NOAA, NASA, and NSF budgets. She prioritized headquartering research capacity in Alaska and included report language prioritizing increased focus on the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Murkowski added new technologies to Alaska’s tool chest like eDNA to monitor struggling salmon runs in the Yukon and Kuskokwim watersheds. She prioritized expansion of existing technologies like citizen science temperature monitoring, electronic monitoring, and ocean-based carbon dioxide removal. The omnibus also includes her legislation with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, which directs NOAA to convene a task force to review current research and applied research gaps on migration patterns and declining returns of Pacific salmon in Alaska to support sustainable management. Management Murkowski supported multiple cooperative management projects in the omnibus, including marine mammal co-management on the North Slope and implementation of intertribal subsistence fisheries on the Kuskokwim River. This work will help support commercial, recreational and subsistence harvesters and ensure sustainable management. The Senator successfully requested funding for fisheries management bodies and secured significant funding to support U.S. obligations relating to the Pacific Salmon Treaty. Her language to support transboundary governance between the US and Canada was also included. Surveys The year-end appropriations package increases funding for fisheries data collections, surveys, and assessments to ensure that historical levels of survey coverage are maintained. This includes at least six Alaskan surveys to better understand movement of fish out of historic survey areas. The bill supports a project by the University of Alaska Fairbanks to conduct baseline marine fishery surveys using emerging technology like autonomous underwater vehicles. It also supports projects for community-based monitoring of salmon and crab in the Yukon River and the Bering Sea. Further funding is provided for mapping the nearshore and shoreline of Alaska, as well as language directing NOAA to continue coordinating and implementing an interagency mapping, exploration, and characterization strategy for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The omnibus also includes a strategy for mapping the Arctic and sub-Arctic shoreline and nearshore of Alaska. Weather Murkowski’s language to maintain and service the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) Array, which provides tsunami prediction capacity and directs the National Weather Service (NWS), will ensure that all DART buoys in Alaska, especially those in Prince William Sound and Southeast Alaska, are deployed and fully operational. Furthermore, the omnibus directs NOAA to enhance coverage by the National Mesonet Program in Alaska and other non-contiguous States and Territories to improve weather observation, prediction, and warnings. Additional funding for the NWS will support staffing efforts, particularly for extreme weather events. A CDS allocation requested and secured by Murkowski will support collaborative research between the University of Alaska Fairbanks and NOAA to improve forecasts for Arctic seasonal weather and sea ice. Congressionally Directed Spending for Fisheries and Oceans Bering Sea: $2.75 million for the Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation to monitor commercial fisheries in the Bering Sea. Fairbanks/Statewide: $1 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to support research on seasonal weather forecasting. Fairbanks/Statewide: $1.75 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to conduct baseline marine fishery surveys. St. Paul/Statewide: $250,000 to the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island for surveillance monitoring of fisheries and ecosystems. Utqiagvik: $2.7 million to the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management for marine mammal and co-management research on the North Slope. Yukon River Drainage: $825,000 to the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association to support research, surveys, and community engagement. Kodiak: $1 million to the Island Trails Network for removal, recycling, and recovery of debris from the Alaska marine environment. Kotzebue: $140,000 to build cyanotoxin analysis capacity at the Native Village of Kotzebue. Statewide: $2 million for salmon monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim River watersheds. Statewide: $500,000 to the Tanana Chiefs Conference to address the large data gap regarding salmon populations on the Yukon River. Statewide: $880,000 for implementation of the Intertribal Federal Subsistence Cooperative Management Program at the Kuskokwim River Watershed. Statewide: $1.2 million for ecological monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers. Related Issues: Alaska's Fisheries",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-respect-act-signed-into-law,Rounds’ RESPECT Act Signed into Law,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SD,Mike Rounds,R000605,www.rounds.senate.gov,rounds,https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds’ (R-S.D.) bipartisan legislation to repeal discriminatory federal laws targeting Native Americans was signed into law by the president today. The Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act will repeal 11 outdated federal laws, including laws that stripped Native American children from their families for the purpose of placing them in “Indian reform schools,” such as the now-infamous Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Rounds first introduced the RESPECT Act in 2016, and has led this legislation in each Congress since. A full list of laws the RESPECT Act will repeal is available HERE. The RESPECT Act is supported by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association (GPTCA) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). “I have worked on this common sense, bipartisan legislation since coming to the United States Senate, so I am pleased that it has been signed into law,” said Rounds. “It’s long overdue to remove these immoral, discriminatory federal laws from our books. Throughout history, Native Americans have been subjected to unfair treatment from our federal government, including the forced removal of their children from their homes. Clearly, there is no place in our legal code for such measures, and it is appalling these laws are still in our federal code. While we cannot rewrite the past, we need to acknowledge it and continue to strive for a more perfect Union.” “First, I’d like to commend and thank Senator Rounds for his sincere intent in sponsoring this legislation,” said J. Garret Renville, Chairman-elect of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. “The RESPECT Act is a first step in an attempt to better consult and coordinate with Tribal Nations. Historically and symbolically; it is my hope, that it represents a path to improving the long standing inequities in the relationship and dealings between sovereign people, their nations and the United States Government.” “I want to thank Senator Rounds for spearheading this legislation,” said Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Councilman Christian Skunk. “The RESPECT Act will ensure going forward the relationship between tribes and the federal government is mended. We know it’s impossible to change the past, but we can choose how we proceed and the RESPECT Act is a step in the right direction.” ""The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) applauds the passage and signing into law of the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “While our history books often ignore the facts, it is no secret that for far too long the U.S. Congress has passed destructive and oppressive laws that by design diminished tribal sovereignty and our political standing of equity and parity with the federal government. This legislation is but one more step in a very long journey ahead toward achieving our vision for a real, just and meaningful government-to-government relationship between sovereign Tribal Nations and the United States."" “Senator Rounds’ efforts to repeal these old laws, such as the law still on the books regarding Indian boarding schools that caused tremendous harm to indigenous communities, is a great step towards reconciliation with tribal nations,” said Tamara St. John, archivist for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, who testified on behalf of this bill. “I’m excited to see the RESPECT Act signed into law causing the repeal of these eleven outdated and racist laws. Great work!” “The Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT) applauds the passage of the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act and thanks Senator Mike Rounds for his stalwart leadership of this bill,” said COLT Chairman Marvin Weatherwax (Blackfeet National Tribal Business Council). “The RESPECT Act modernizes federal law to remove inconsistent federal agency consultation policies with tribal nations and their citizens. This act is an important step to restore basic dignities of Native people and honoring the United States’ solemn Trust and Treaty obligations and government-to-government relationship with tribal nations.” Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) are cosponsors of this legislation. Companion legislation was introduced in the House on May 12, 2021, by Representatives Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.) and cosponsored by Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-leading-efforts-to-stop-defense-departments-costly-green-new-deal-mandates,Hoeven Leading Efforts to Stop Defense Department's Costly Green New Deal Mandates,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Leading Efforts to Stop Defense Department's Costly Green New Deal Mandates Senator Leads All Republican Senators in Calling on DoD Secretary to Drop Proposed Rule, Introduces Legislation to Block Costly Environmental Regulation WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, is leading efforts to stop the Department of Defense (DoD) from imposing a new environmental rule on federal contractors, both large and small, that would drive up costs for our national defense. Hoeven was joined by all Republican senators in pressing for DoD to drop the newly proposed rule requiring burdensome greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting. Additionally, Hoeven introduced legislation with 15 other senators to block the proposed regulation and intends to lead a Congressional Review Act (CRA) to rescind the rule should it be finalized. In a letter to DoD Secretary Lloyd Austin, the senators strongly oppose the rule and outline concerns with the proposal, including: the significant regulatory burden in requiring a company to report not only its own emissions but emissions that occur elsewhere; increased costs resulting in budget inefficiencies at DoD; and the potential use of environmental reports in awarding future contracts. “DoD’s proposed rule on GHG emissions disclosures is self-defeating. It undercuts our industrial base, drives up costs and puts environmentalism over national security. As such, it is at odds with the DoD’s mission and should be rescinded immediately,” the 50 senators write. The full text of the letter is availablehere. Hoeven also authored the Focus on the Mission Act (S.5269) to block the rule and introduced the bill with the following cosponsors: Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), James Inhofe (R-OK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Barrasso (R-WY), Rick Scott (R-FL), James Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and James Lankford (R-OK). BACKGROUND: DoD’s proposal would require those receiving more than $7.5 million in federal contracts to provide a detailed accounting of GHG emissions within one year. Additionally, the rule would require those receiving more than $50 million in contracts to develop reduction targets within two years. The proposed rule was published in November and the comment period for the rule goes through January 13, 2023, after which a final rule will be formulated. -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-delivers-congressionally-directed-spending-for-130-alaska-projects_,Murkowski Delivers Congressionally Directed Spending for 130+ Alaska Projects,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, today announced that she secured close to $500 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023. The funding will benefit over 130 community-driven projects in Alaska. Through this process, Murkowski delivered significant investments for workforce development, fisheries, public safety, higher education, infrastructure, protection from natural disasters, wildfire mitigation, water and wastewater, the Alaska gasline project, outdoor recreation, contaminated lands cleanup, legacy well cleanup, mental and behavioral health, public health, military construction, defense, and more. After the Senate’s bipartisan passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Murkowski released the following statement: “Leaders from across Alaska have come to me requesting help on needs and priorities for their communities. I have listened to their requests, and I’m proud to deliver significant assistance in the form of direct, targeted funding to projects throughout our state. “This year’s CDS process will benefit dozens and dozens of communities and nearly every sector in our state—from health and public safety to fisheries and workforce development and much, much more. “Alaskans have shared their anxieties on the workforce, housing, and food security. I’m particularly pleased with the funding we secured to help address those challenges, which will make our communities safer and our economies stronger. Other projects will strengthen Alaska on so many fronts—from climate resilience to wildfire protection, cleaner water, and a higher quality of life for our military members and their families. “I thank the Alaskans who identified these needs, and then worked closely with me and my team to bring this funding to our state. Together, we are creating a brighter future for the beautiful place we call home.” The CDS process, which resumed in FY 2022, allows Alaskans to identify and receive federal assistance for needs in the state. It helps restore Congress’ Constitutional power of the purse, accounts for no more than one percent of federal discretionary spending, and does not increase overall spending levels. Without this process, many of the dollars now headed for Alaska would go to other states based on decisions made by federal departments and agencies. Murkowski secured the following CDS projects for Alaska in the FY 2023 omnibus: Congressionally Directed Spending Allocations for Alaska Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Aniak: $221,000 to TKC Fish Wheel, to construct the Arviiq Regional Economic Development and Training Center. “These funds will allow us to outfit the Arviiq Regional Training and Economic Development Center with critical equipment needed to provide opportunities for the people of the Middle Kuskokwim Region. More Alaskans will now access to education, training and workforce development resources without having to leave their homes where their families and communities rely on them. We are grateful to Senator Murkowski for recognizing the value of local capacity building in Rural Alaska.” -Andrea Gusty, President & CEO, The Kuskokwim Corporation Bethel: $9.9 million to expand the main training building on the Yuut Elitnaurviat Campus to provide a permanent home for the Kuskokwim Learning Academy. “In 2016 The Kuskokwim Learning Academy, the YK Delta's alternative boarding school, burned to the ground. Yuut Elitnaurviat brought the students and staff home to our campus that same day. It has taken six years, but we can now, thanks to this generous support, finally build KLA the school our kids deserve. Students from throughout our region will have access to state-of-the-art classrooms as well as Yuut's robust vocational programs. KLA will grow and become a magnet school where education is innovative and linked to real world opportunities.” - Mike Hoffman, Executive Director, Yuut Elitnaurviat Kenai: $4.6 million to construct a new clubhouse for the Boys and Girls Club of the Kenai Peninsula clubhouse. “The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula has 7 Clubs in 5 communities that provide educational, enrichment and leadership programs for over 2,400 youth ages 5 to 18. But our ability to serve all the youth who need these services, and their parents who need afterschool and summer childcare while they work, is limited. Having our forever facility for a Clubhouse and a Head Start center will not only result in increased numbers of youth served, but it will also allow the Club to more efficiently utilize resources. As a result, we will be able to serve more youth more often, provide additional programs and days, and employ more Kenai Peninsula residents. This project will help increase the earning power of parents and youth when they become adults; these services and programs will benefit our communities, region, and state!” - Shanette Wik, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula Kenai: $1 million to the Alaska Children’s Institute to rebuild a community theater. “The arts make kids smarter, forge life-long friendships and create the leaders of tomorrow. When a fire destroyed our community’s children’s theatre it was a devastating blow. This funding obtained for the rebuilding of the theater by Senator Murkowski’s efforts is a game changer. The theater and all its life-changing programs for youth will rise from the ashes thanks to this congressionally directed spending. Children and youth will thrive and once again be on a path of becoming their best selves.” - Joe Rizzo, President, Alaska Children’s Institute for the Performing Arts Kotzebue: $825,000 to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for renovations and safety improvements to the Chukchi Campus in Kotzebue. “This project will equip the Kotzebue community with a modern facility to provide world-class education to residents in the area and in Alaska. The building renewal will update the facility to modern fire and accessibility codes, allowing us to continue supporting program offerings from the building and maintaining the option for rural and Alaska Native students to receive a high-quality education in their region. Thank you to Senator Murkowski for supporting the Chukchi Campus mission, “Iñuunaiyu?iksra?at Piqutigiplugu-- For the purpose of a good life.” - Interim Chukchi Campus Director Minnie Naylor Nome: $2.2 million to the Norton Sound Health Corporation for construction on a childcare facility. “On behalf of NSHC, thank you for dedicating funds to support NSHC's vision to provide employee and patient day care services on campus at Norton Sound Regional Hospital. The lack of housing and day care options are two of the biggest challenges hindering recruitment and retention for our organization. A building concept is under design.” - Angie Gorn, President and CEO, Norton Sound Regional Hospital Utqia?vik: $5 million to Ilisa?vik College to advance and complete the design phase of a new college campus. “On behalf of our Board of Trustees, staff, faculty, and most importantly our students, we humbly say a sincere “quyanaqpak” (thank you) to Senator Murkowski for her continued advocacy and support towards I?isa?vik College. The Senator understands our mission and vision is aware of our needs. She has visited our campus, heard directly from our students, and sees the positive impacts of higher education. Our tribal college has a state-wide reach that continues to grow. We look forward to the increased opportunities that will come with our new campus, increasing the number of Alaskan people and communities that we serve. Iglaurugut suvunmun – We are moving forward!” - Justina Wilhelm, President, I?isa?vik College Wasilla: $17,000 to Family Promise Mat-Su for childcare facility improvements. Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Anchorage: $500,000 to the University of Alaska Anchorage to implement a forensic training program for healthcare providers and advocates. “Thank you to Senator Murkowski and her staff for continuing to be such strong advocates for victims of violence. Alaskan healthcare providers need more tools, training, resources, and collaboration to provide comprehensive care that includes medical Forensic principles and trauma informed care. The Alaska Comprehensive Training Forensic Academy (ACTFA) is designed to meet that need. Provision of these funds will enable ACFTA to reach communities and stakeholders across the state in order to increase engagement regarding community capacity to respond to all victims of violence.” - Angelia Trujillo, Professor at School of Nursing at University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage: $250,000 for law enforcement technology and equipment, specifically for the Anchorage Police Department to replace and upgrade cameras. “This funding will allow the Anchorage Police Department to implement an array of advancements to improve operational efficiency and outcomes. Our current inventory has reached the end of its lifespan and upgrading our vehicles and radios are necessary for our officers to serve the public in a safe and efficient manner.” - APD Police Chief Michael Kerle Anchorage: $2 million for replacement of police vehicles. Anchorage: $1.7 million for law enforcement technology and equipment, specifically for the Anchorage Police Department to replace radios. “The APDEA greatly appreciates Senator Murkowski’s commitment to public safety in Anchorage. As the President of APDEA, I represent over 500 members of Alaska’s largest police department, and I, along with the men and women who protect us all on a daily basis, are grateful for this much needed funding.” - APDEA President Jeremy Conkling Bering Sea: $2.7 million for the Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation to monitor commercial fisheries in the Bering Sea. “Collapsing Bering Sea crab stocks need immediate attention and urgent research to help understand causes and inform efforts toward recovery. Crab fishermen and processors are in survival mode due to enormous economic losses from recent season closures with associated impacts rippling through Alaskan communities. This CDS funding will support critical collaborative research through direct involvement with the Alaska crab industry and agency partners. Research is expected to provide further clarity to stakeholders and managers on what's next for crab and the ability to conduct this research through the Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation further mitigates economic impacts on the crab industry that directly funds BSFRF. This CDS will vitalize research efforts toward rebuilding the stocks to sustainable levels to support Alaskan fishermen, and to bring back critical jobs and economic livelihood to Alaskan communities.” - Scott Goodman, Executive Director, Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation Fairbanks/Statewide: $1 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to support research on seasonal weather forecasting. “Funds for Arctic seasonal weather forecasting and improved seasonal prediction of sea ice and environmental conditions will support a collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Arctic Testbed and Climate Prediction Center and the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Experimental Arctic Prediction Initiative. In particular, funds will support development and validation of improved forecast models, focusing on Arctic hazards such as wildfires, flooding or extreme events that impact coastal communities in Alaska's Arctic. Engagement with stakeholders, especially underserved rural communities, will inform our activity about needs for particular seasonal forecast products and the optimal methods for the delivery of forecast information. The experimental products and formats will, in turn, inform the National Weather Service Alaska Region and other NOAA entities to foster a transition from research to operations. Thank you to Senator Murkowski for her tireless efforts to further our understanding and living conditions in the ever changing Arctic.” - Hajo Eicken, Director of the International Arctic Research Center (IARC) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks/Statewide: $1.7 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to conduct baseline marine fishery surveys. “Funding for Baseline Fisheries Surveys will usher in a new era of environmental monitoring in support of an ecosystem approach to Alaska fisheries management. Autonomous underwater vehicles deployed and piloted by UAF scientists will collect subsurface data to better characterize the state of Alaska's marine ecosystem. This information will inform the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council as it assess ecosystem status and harvest levels. I'd like to thank Senator Murkowski for her steadfast support of UAF research and Alaska's fisheries.” - Dr. Seth L. Danielson, Associate Professor of Oceanography, University of Alaska Fairbanks St. Paul/Statewide: $250,000 to the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island for surveillance monitoring of fisheries and ecosystems. Statewide: $3 million to the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to support victim service organizations. “We cannot say thank you enough to our Senator for working tirelessly to ensure victims of crime have access to the resources they need to heal. These funds will ensure that ANDVSA can continue the work we have started with underserved populations to ensure they have access to support services. It will also strengthen the infrastructure of Alaska’s victims services organizations so they can continue walking the journey of healing with those who have been harmed.” - Brenda Stanfill, Executive Director of ANDVSA Statewide: $4 million to the Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to support advocacy organizations and services for victims of violent crime. Statewide: $1 million to the Alaska Police and Fire Chaplains to support counseling and emotional support programs for victims of crime and law enforcement officers. Utqia?vik: $2.7 million to the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management for marine mammal and co-management research on the North Slope. “These funds will support research on the North Slope of Alaska necessary for the effective co-management of marine mammals by Alaska Natives. These studies will promote food security for our communities and will help ensure that our subsistence resources are available for future generations.” - North Slope Borough Mayor Harry Brower, Jr. Yukon River Drainage: $825,000 to the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association to support research, surveys, and community engagement. “We are very excited to receive the funding for the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association. The funds will allow us to be able to work more closely with Yukon River communities we serve. The last few years have been very difficult with no salmon fishing on the Yukon River, so the funding will ensure the people have a space to provide their knowledge and expertise in the fisheries they have lived off of for generations. We want to thank Sen. Lisa Murkowski for her dedication in serving the people of the Yukon River and the salmon they rely on. Quyana.” - Serena Fitka, Executive Director, Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association Energy and Water Development Statewide: $4 million to the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation to assist in conducting the necessary analysis for a Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) study for a liquid natural gas pipeline in Alaska. “On behalf of AGDC, we are grateful Senator Murkowski included this vital funding. This legislation bolsters federal backing for the Alaska LNG Project and adds to the federal record of support for exporting LNG from Alaska, which includes $28 billion in federal loan guarantees. This project funding will kickstart front-end engineering and design work to finalize technologies and execution strategies, and update cost estimates and schedules. Alaska LNG is poised to reduce energy bills and improve air quality in Alaska and achieve national objectives such as supplying Asian allies with clean, reliable, and stable energy, greatly reducing global carbon emissions, and strengthening energy security.” -Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) President Frank Richards Statewide: $1.5 million to the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative to study the feasibility of deploying marine energy in rural Alaska. Ambler: $650,000 to the City of Ambler to expand the City’s current fuel storage capacity to be able to adequately store enough fuel supply for the community’s stove oil and gasoline needs without having to rely on costly air deliveries in winter months. False Pass: $1.25 million for procurement, assembly, and installation of a hydrokinetic power system for the City of False Pass. This system will provide for renewable energy as an alternative to high-cost diesel generation. Homer: $300,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct the feasibility study for the proposed large vessel harbor expansion in Homer. St. George: $2.5 million to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District to support priority funding for the federal share for Preliminary Engineering and Design and Construction of St. George Harbor. Unalaska: $2.5 million to the City of Unalaska for reliability and efficiency upgrades for Unalaska’s electrical distribution system. Unalaska Channels: $25.6 million to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expand Dutch Harbor. Financial Services and General Government Anchorage: $6 million to the Alaska Community Foundation to support the preservation, processing, and digitization of records of Alaskan leaders. “We are grateful for Senator Lisa Murkowski and her staff, and the entire Alaska delegation, for their support in advancing the Alaska Leaders Archive project. This is an important first step as we work to ensure a deeper understanding of Alaska’s unique history from the leaders who helped build our state.” - Hugh Ashlock, board member of the Alaska Leaders Archive Statewide: $1 million to the University of Alaska Anchorage to expand UAA’s business development services to rural and young entrepreneurs in Alaska. “With the unprecedented amount of new infrastructure, broadband and transportation projects coming to Alaska due to the amazing work of our Congressional delegation, economic opportunities have never been better for the state's small businesses. This appropriation will enable the Alaska SBDC to help Alaskans all over the state take advantage of those opportunities through the expansion of the BuyAlaska program which helps promote the power of buying local, our Rural Development program which will help remote and rural entrepreneurs, thrive and grow as well as supporting the newly launched State Small Business Credit Initiative which will drive hundreds of millions of dollars in new private sector investments into Alaska's businesses. On behalf of the Alaska SBDC, thank you to Senator Murkowski for her efforts to secure funding to support our work to help all of Alaska's small businesses.” - Jon Bittner, Executive Director of the Alaska Small Business Development Center (SBDC), located at the University of Alaska Anchorage Homeland Security Anchorage: $500,000 to the Municipality of Anchorage to replace the roof of the Anchorage Emergency Operations Center. Dillingham: $5 million to the City of Dillingham for shoreline protection for the City’s sewage facility. Ouzinkie: $2 million to the Native Village of Ouzinkie to mitigate potential disaster threat implications from major tsunami events through the construction of an Emergency Response Shelter and Equipment Staging Complex. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Anchorage: $13 million to the Municipality of Anchorage for the safe disposal of wastewater in Anchorage. “I want to thank Senator Murkowski for bringing close to $60 million dollars in federal funding to Anchorage. I appreciate the partnership and collaboration of the Senator and her staff to advance work on critical projects that will enhance public safety and infrastructure across Anchorage and create jobs for Alaskans.” - Municipality of Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson Anchorage: $4 million to implement the Municipality of Anchorage's Community Wildfire Protection Plan. “The threat of a major wildland-urban interface fire in the Municipality is the single largest safety hazard facing our community. Thanks to this funding secured by Senator Murkowski, we will be able to fully implement our Community Wildfire Protection Plan and resume addressing the dangerous fuels that have accumulated during the last decade. We thank Senator Murkowski for hearing our concerns and taking action for the benefit of the Municipality and those we serve.” - Anchorage Fire Chief Doug Schrage Chickaloon: $250,000 for the Chickaloon Native Village for a community well. “Chickaloon Village Traditional Council is excited to partner with Senator Murkowski on an initiative to bring healthy, drinking water to the community of Chickaloon. We are grateful for the opportunity to develop this collaborative public project. This new facility will strengthen community health and resilience through the creation of a public water system.” - Lisa Wade, Chickaloon Village Traditional Council’s Executive Director Chignik: $5.3 million to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium for safe drinking water in Chignik. “Quyana (thank you) to Senator Murkowski for your unwavering advocacy and commitment to the health of our people and communities. These projects are essential to maintain access to clean drinking water and safely dispose of solid waste, addressing longstanding safety and providing improved health for children and families in these communities.” - Valerie Nurr’araluk Davidson, President/CEO of Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium “The new water distribution system would reverse the negative impacts of the significant daily loss of clean water, and bring relief to our operators and staff, who work tirelessly to maintain the current system which has caused years of anxiety and panic on a regular basis. Finally a clean and reliable water source for our families, children, fishing and subsistence lifestyles that we all depend highly on!” - Michelle Anderson, Chignik Lagoon Village Council Administrator Chugach National Forest: $2.3 million to construct and improve recreational trails and access on the Iditarod National Historic Trail. “Alaska Trails is excited about the funding for significant trail projects included in the omnibus appropriations package. These projects will be a great benefit to both outdoor recreation and the economy in Alaska. We are grateful to Senator Murkowski for her efforts to spur this investment in Alaska’s trail infrastructure and are excited to hit the ground in the new year to make them happen. From a pedestrian pathway along the Parks Highway to trail connections in the Chugach National Forest – these projects will bring benefits to Alaskan communities. Alaska Trails is especially pleased to see the National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study for the Alaska Long Trail in the package as that project will have long-lasting benefits to the state and we are eager to help plan and build that visionary trail from Seward to Fairbanks.” - Alaska Trails Executive Director Steve Cleary Craig: $760,000 for upgrades to Craig's wastewater treatment plant. “This project will help us replace sewer lift stations that are at the end of their expected life. New lift stations will increase effectiveness; help protect the environment and public health; and will decrease operations and maintenance costs for the system.While these might not be the most exciting projects that we get to work on, funding for critical aging water and sewer infrastructure in communities is critical to the health, viability, and growth of our Southeast Alaska towns. The congressionally directed spending process has helped us to close a funding gap that is traditionally difficult to fill while keeping utility rates for small town Alaskans affordable.” - Brian Templin, Craig City Administrator Denali: $2.2 million for the design and construction of pedestrian pathways along the Parks Highway corridor in the Denali Borough. Eagle River: $4.5 million to the Municipality of Anchorage for the safe disposal of wastewater in Eagle River. Girdwood: $1.6 million to replace the Ruane Road culvert in Girdwood. Girdwood: $2.5 million for a sewer access project, for the safe disposal of wastewater in Girdwood. Juneau: $2.5 million to the City and Borough of Juneau to design and construct a commercial-scale composting facility to serve Juneau residents and businesses. “This project is a game changer for waste treatment and reduction in Juneau. The community has 20 years left in our current landfill; the Assembly has committed to a zero-waste initiative to extend the life of the facility. Approximately 25% of the waste stream is organics which in addition to filling up valuable landfill space creates unpleasant odors. Organics that don’t go in the landfill sometimes go down the drain in garbage disposals, driving up the cost of wastewater treatment. A municipal composting facility is a triple win for Juneau: less odors, less trash, less costly wastewater treatment. It will provide an important example for communities across southeast that struggle with solid waste.” – Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt Kenai: $875,000 to the Alaska Electric & Energy Cooperative, Inc. for the installation of a combined heat and power project at the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Central Peninsula Landfill. ""Homer Electric Association, Inc. (HEA) appreciates federal investment in its landfill gas to energy project on the Kenai Peninsula. This project will save the Kenai Peninsula Borough money, increase HEA's generation capabilities and reduce harmful methane emissions. The project produces positive outcomes for the State of Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula Borough and HEA members. We appreciate Senator Murkowski's tireless efforts to invest in our state and local communities."" - Brad Janorschke, General Manager of Homer Electric Association, Inc. Kenai: $2.9 million for the safe disposal of wastewater in Kenai. Funding for the City of Kenai Wastewater Treatment Plant Digester Blower Replacements Project will replace 40+ year old highly inefficient and failing equipment with new. This activated sludge plant, which discharges into Alaska’s Cook Inlet waters at the mouth of the Kenai River, was originally constructed in the early 1970s. This project will modernize our operations while reducing utility and maintenance expenses. “Thanks to Senator Murkowski, this Congressionally Designated Spending allocation will allow the City to complete this important project that will allow the City to continue to safely discharge water from our plant into the Cook Inlet at the mouth of the Kenai River.” - Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander Kenai: $1.5 million to implement the Kenai Peninsula Borough Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Ketchikan: $1.7 million to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough for wastewater treatment plant upgrades. “This funding for upgrades to the Mountain Point Wastewater Treatment Plant will ensure high quality treatment of wastewater which is an improvement for the environment, will minimize impacts to the rate payers, and will make a safer work environment. Plant improvements include upgrades to treatment basins, operational systems, and disinfection processes. We appreciate Senator Murkowski’s attention to this important project for our City of Saxman, Forest Park, and Mountain Point residents.” - Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor Rodney Dial Kivalina: $8 million to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to construct a new Kivalina landfill that meets state regulatory standards. “The current landfill is not only at capacity, it is also located next the airport runway, where ravens and seagulls congregate, creating safety hazards for airplanes. A new landfill, away from the runway, will accommodate trash from the new school and existing community, and reduce airplane hazards.” - Leroy Adams, Vice Mayor of Kivalina Kodiak: $1 million to the Island Trails Network for removal, recycling and recovery of debris from the Alaska marine environment. “Marine debris is an eyesore, a hazard to navigation, a danger to wildlife and a looming threat to the nation’s seafood resources. There is an urgent need to recover these materials before they break up and become more difficult and costly to remove. This Congressionally Directed Spending Request proposed by Sen. Murkowski will trigger Kodiak’s largest-ever cleanup and will have an immediate and dramatic impact on our coastline, including the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge and numerous Alaska state parks and public lands.” - Andy Schroeder, Executive Director, Island Trails Network Kotzebue: $140,000 to build cyanotoxin analysis capacity at the Native Village of Kotzebue. “The Native Village of Kotzebue appreciates Senator Murkowski assisting us in securing a Congressionally Directed Spending allocation to allow the Tribe to build local capacity to understand the changes occurring in the marine ecology of the Chukchi Sea and Kotzebue Sound. In particular, to understand better how warming waters and decreasing ice cover is impacting the microbiology of the marine system and contributing to the emerging phenomenon of harmful algae blooms and the implications for Arctic marine food webs which are central to the food security for Arctic coastal communities. Northwest Alaska and the community of Kotzebue will benefit for years to come by leveraging this assistance into additional research funding and programs to continue to improve the local capacity to understand these relationships. We applaud Senator Murkowski’s long-term commitment to understanding and protecting the Ocean systems that Alaskans rely on for their cultural, nutritional, and economic way of life.” - Alex Whiting, Environmental Program Director, Native Village of Kotzebue Nome: $1.6 million for safe drinking water distribution and wastewater collection. “On behalf of the City and community of Nome, we are very grateful for Senator Murkowski’s efforts to secure much-needed federal funding for sewer and water projects in remote Alaska communities. She really understands how much of a difference this will make in Nome, and it is yet another example of how hard she fights for Alaskans when she is stuck down there in DC.” - Mayor John Handeland, City of Nome North Slope: $1.2 million for a wastewater replacement project. “TNHA’s mission is to excel in the delivery of opportunities for affordable housing that empower, build and sustain vibrant self-determined communities on the Arctic Slope for generations to come. We are so excited to see our Wastewater Replacement Project included in the omnibus passed by Congress. Sanitation needs look a lot different in remote, rural Alaska than they do in urban centers, and we’d like to say thank you to Senator Lisa Murkowski and her staff for supporting this critical request, which will provide insulated wastewater tanks meeting Arctic design criteria for 30 TNHA homebuyer units in the villages of Anaktuvk Pass, Atqasuk, Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, Point Lay and Wainwright. Quyanaqpak, Senator Murkowski!” - Griffin Hagle-Forster, Chief Executive Officer, Ta?iu?miullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority North Slope: $2.5 million for the Northern Route of the North Slope Borough Community Winter Access Trails pilot program, which provides for the creation of temporary winter trail access between communities where year-round connecting roads do not exist. Palmer: $6.9 million for wastewater treatment system upgrades. “The City of Palmer has been challenged over multiple years to meet the federal requirements of our Water Pollution Control operation. Our citizens have willing stepped up in this effort. The funding approved by Congress on the impetus of Senator Murkowski will financially and operationally permit us to complete this need.” - Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington “We have been in discussions with Senator Murkowski on our local challenges. She and her team listened, assisted and put fulfilling this need in motion. This award will directly benefit the citizens of Palmer and our utility user group.” - John Moosey, Palmer City Manager Petersburg: $1.6 million for water treatment plant upgrades. “The Petersburg Borough is very grateful to receive $1.6 million due to the support of Senator Murkowski so that we may improve the safety and security of our water treatment system. The money provided through the omnibus appropriations bill will serve to replace a vital portion of Petersburg's water treatment system and will ensure that the potable water produced by the treatment plant is safe for all residents, businesses and visitors. We truly appreciate her hard work on behalf of Alaska.” - Mark Jensen, Mayor of Petersburg St. Paul: $3 million to improve solid waste disposal facilities. Seldovia: $746,000 for a sewer line replacement. Seldovia: $414,000 for safe drinking water. “Communities like Seldovia require and deserve infrastructure that protects public health and is well maintained. But that comes at a high expense, especially since we are small, rural and located off the road system. With less than 250 residents in the city, we rely on partnerships at the tribal, state, and federal level to help us provide services including clean drinking water, safely collected wastewater, and material to help us resurface our roads. The CDS funding Senator Murkowski secured for Seldovia means we are taking care of our community now and into the future. In short, we aren't just remaining here - we can, and will, grow.” - Seldovia Mayor Jeremiah Campbell Seward: $2 million for the safe disposal of wastewater. Soldotna: $680,000 for a wastewater treatment plant. Soldotna: $320,000 to improve wastewater effluent before discharge to the Kenai River. Soldotna: $960,000 for upgrades to upgrade equipment used to dewater treated solids at the Soldotna Wastewater Treatment Plant. St. George: $3 million to replace the 50-year-old water distribution and wastewater collection infrastructure. “On behalf of the City of Saint George, we are beyond thankful for your support and advocation for our Congressionally Directed Spending allocation request. The need for a new potable water and wastewater system is at its most critical point. After nearly 40 years of use, the potable water distribution lines are ready for replacement. We have had instances in the past where our storage tank froze, along with the distribution lines. These scenarios have led to many repairs in the water lines. We are currently repairing the old repairs that have been made. The wastewater system was constructed during the same time and needs replacement as well. The community has faced many hardships regarding the water distribution system over the years. These repairs will ensure safe drinking water for community members and anyone working on and traveling through Saint George. Thankfully, we are a resilient community and have overcome associated issues. We are also thankful for the support from our regional entities and state authorities, in response to these difficulties. The inclusion of our CDS request in the upcoming omnibus is a great victory for us in our small community. This announcement will make for a great holiday season. Thank you!” - Mark Merculief Jr., Mayor, City of St. George Statewide: $2 million for salmon monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim River watersheds. Statewide: $500,000 to the Tanana Chiefs Conference to address the large data gap regarding salmon populations on the Yukon River. “Tanana Chiefs Conference applauds Senator Murkowski’s advocacy to secure funding for a Middle Yukon River Sonar. For the past three years, the Yukon River salmon populations have suffered catastrophic declines, preventing our tribal communities from subsistence fishing which is essential to the overall health and wellbeing of our people. A Middle Yukon River Sonar supports building tribal data, and develops a pathway for co-stewardship to ensure balanced management and harvest decisions for all Tribes and people that rely on the Yukon River to meet subsistence needs.” – TCC Chief/Chairman Brian Ridley Statewide: $880,000 for implementation of the Intertribal Federal Subsistence Cooperative Management Program at the Kuskokwim River Watershed. “This is great news for the communities of the Kuskokwim river as we continue to research and respond to this unprecedented salmon crisis and the food security issues caused by our declined chinook, chum, and coho salmon.” - Kevin Whitworth, Executive Director, Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (KRITFC) Statewide: $1.2 million for ecological monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers. “There lies a growing need to support and encourage residents of rural communities to engage and participate in the collection of environmental data which lends itself to better management of salmon populations in the Arctic, Yukon and Kuskokwim regions of Alaska. These data help to tell the story of changing environmental patterns and conditions and systematically informs a clearer picture of the health and abundance of salmon populations in these regions. Jobs provided by these funds are essential for rural communities and encourage youth to participate in the health and wellbeing of their area.” - Karen Gillis, Executive Director, Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association Statewide: $1.5 million for the Denali Commission to develop regional solid waste management plans. “The Denali Commission is very pleased to have the opportunity to support comprehensive regional strategies for waste management that are otherwise lacking in many parts of Alaska. This funding will allow communities to address the risk posed by waste to the environment and human health and promote community aesthetics. We thank Senator Murkowski for her commitment to funding waste management.” - Garrett Boyle, Federal Cochair of the Commission Statewide: $1 million for to complete a National Scenic Trail feasibility study to connect Seward and Fairbanks. Statewide: $3 million for the Alaska Native Justice Center for Alaska tribal public safety empowerment activities. Statewide: $7 million to support the State of Alaska in conducting an inventory and verification of contaminated sites conveyed to Alaska Natives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Statewide: $300,000 for the University of Alaska Anchorage to study the need and economic feasibility of constructing and operating a hazardous waste processing facility and landfill in the State of Alaska. Statewide: $250,000 to the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association to build further tribal capacity for the inventory and verification of ANCSA contaminated lands. Statewide: $250,000 to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to build further tribal capacity for the inventory and verification of ANCSA contaminated lands. Statewide: $33.9 million for abandoned well remediation in the NPR-A. Valdez: $5 million for the safe disposal of wastewater in Valdez. “The Community of Valdez is extremely grateful to Senator Murkowski for acquiring this funding to assist in the replacement of our sewer force main. This infrastructure is critical to our core of town and we are in desperate need for replacement as our current system is well past its useful life. We hope this money will help us overcome rising construction costs and inflation so that we can replace this critically important piece of our waste water system. We are all tax payers and it is great to see some of the Federal support coming back to small towns like ours in Alaska.” - Mark Detter, Valdez City Manager Wasilla: $5.7 million for improvements to wastewater treatment facilities. “The City of Wasilla provides sanitary sewer collections and treatment to more than 700 businesses and residents within the city. The City’s request for support with three sewer sludge projects reflects the need for assistance in meeting the growing population with additional customers and new stipulations by regulators. The three projects include a much needed second sludge digester to increase daily capacity to meet current and future wastewater demands, a lagoon sludge dredge to safely remove the collected sludge at the end of the treatment process, and sludge drying beds to meet new sludge management regulations. Being the fastest growing city in the State of Alaska, support for our critical infrastructure like this project is the first step to building redundancy and resiliency in our community. Our priority is to deliver innovative and more environmentally responsible ways to deliver quality WWT services.” - Erich Schaal P.E., Director of Public Works, City of Wasilla Whittier: $1.2 million for well field upgrades. “Thanks to Senator Murkowski for her dedication and attention to Alaska's, and Whittier's needs, we will have new critical water well infrastructure installed. This opportunity will replace post WWII systems and provide us a fire safety margin in summer when cruise ships are filling up with our untreated water and fish processing is operating at a high level. This threat has been a burden on our 272 People residents. Many thanks from all of us and our annual visitors numbering in the hundreds of thousands!” - Jim Hunt, Whittier City Manager Yakutat: $5.1 million for a water line extension project. “The 5.1 million for a water line extension project will provide clean drinking water In Yakutat. We have struggled for the last 5 years addressing water pollution and Senator Murkowski congressional allocation is heaven sent!” - Jon Erickson Manager Yakutat Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies “Alaska Community Health Centers form the backbone of our primary care system in Alaska. These capital improvements secured by Senator Murkowski will improve health clinic spaces that make comprehensive, coordinated care more easily accessible for more than 120,000 Alaskans.” - Nancy Merriman, CEO, Alaska Primary Care Association Anchorage: $2.25 million to the University of Alaska to renovate UA’s facilities for nursing education, telehealth training, and inter-professional education programs. “We are so thankful to have this funding to increase simulation capacity at UAA. This will increase our ability to teach students the clinical knowledge and competencies needed to be work-ready graduates. It will help us address the high demand workforce needs in Alaska’s health care industry.” - Debbie Craig, Dean of the College of Health, University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage: $290,000 for Providence Alaska to establish and launch the Alaska Psychiatry Residency Program. Anchorage: $1.2 million to update and improve the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center. Anchorage: $500,000 to the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center to establish a new Dental Assistant Training Apprenticeship. “This incredible support for Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center will create a safer and more energy efficient space for patients and a pathway to train more dental assistants and professionals to provide critical dental care for people in Anchorage and Alaska. Thank you to our federal government and Senator Murkowski and her office for working to prioritize high quality, accessible, safe and effective healthcare for Alaskans. We are so grateful!” - Lisa Aquino CEO, Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center Anchorage: $5 million to Southcentral Foundation to construct the Fireweed Specialty Dental Clinic. Anchorage: $2 million for a Southcentral Foundation Workforce Development Program, to provide resources and support to students training as nurses, certified medical assistants, dental health aid therapists, and as behavioral health providers. “The last few years have been extremely challenging for health care systems in Alaska. This critical funding will allow Southcentral Foundation to expand and enhance our workforce through recruiting, training, and mentoring Alaska Native and American Indian people in clinical careers that are often hard to fill or have high turnover rates. The funding will also consolidate SCF’s Specialty Dental Clinic allowing better access to care which will directly benefit those with complex dental needs. These improvement projects, made possible through the efforts of Senator Murkowski, will have a direct impact on the health and well-being of our community.” - April Kyle, MBA, Southcentral Foundation President and CEO Anchorage: $400,000 to the Alaska Center for FASD to connect individuals with FASD to services. “According to a recent report, an estimated 47,860 Alaskans have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and costs the State of Alaska millions of dollars each year in direct health and other services. Monies from the omnibus legislation will increase the capacity of the Alaska Center for FASD to not only mitigate these economic costs but more importantly, continue to work with the State of Alaska to support individuals impacted by this life-long disability and increase the awareness of the effects of alcohol on our families and communities throughout Alaska and the nation. Senator Murkowski understands this need for focused attention on FASD and her commitment to improving systems of care for all Alaskans is evident by her concrete actions. On behalf of the Alaska Center for FASD we deeply appreciate Senator Murkowski’s efforts to elevate these complex issues to refuel and stimulate momentum for system advancement and growth.” - Alaska Center for FASD, Board of Directors Anchorage: $750,000 for construction of a Crisis Stabilization Center at Providence Alaska Medical Center. “Providence is grateful for Senator Murkowski’s ongoing support to secure funding to address Alaska’s behavioral health needs and bolster our mental health workforce as well as provide supportive housing to seniors with significant health conditions experiencing homelessness.” - Ella Goss, RN, Chief Executive, Alaska Region Akiak: $500,000 to the Rural Alaska Community Action Program to recruit and train local community members to become early educators and certified teachers. “The Omnibus Appropriations Bill will benefit communities and initiatives statewide by increasing rural communities’ capacity to provide quality, local education. Thanks to Senator Murkowski, RurAL CAP’s pilot Teacher Apprenticeship Program will address the high turnover rates of educators and ongoing shortages of certified, local teachers that rural communities face. Aimed at improving rural Alaskans' ability to obtain early education teaching credentials locally, the project ultimately works to increase our state's rural workforce, increase protective factors against adverse childhood experiences, and bolster the early education of our state's future leaders.” - Tiel Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., (RurAL CAP) Bethel: $100,000 to purchase a portable X-Ray and other medical equipment for the Bethel Family Clinic in Bethel. Bethel: $600,000 to the Bethel Family Services Community Health Center to provide well child exams to children in 55 locations throughout YK Delta. “Bethel Family Clinic's board of directors and all staff are excited and grateful for Senator Murkowski's dedicated work on securing $700,000 appropriation grant. $600,000 for well child examination/village travel program which will assist Bethel Family Clinic to send providers to the school districts villages to provide medical exams to their staffs, and students. Bethel Family Clinic service area is large and most communities don’t have a medical clinic or local health aide to meet the needs of the community. Through our child examination / village travel program our medical providers will be able to provide much need referral for addition services such as; dental, behavioral health, which that would not have access to previously due to limited funding’s. $100,000 for medical equipment purchase. Bethel Family Clinic will spend the funds on blood hematology analyzer, portable x-ray machine, computer, laptop, fire proof safe and fire proof cabinet. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to Senator Murkowski and her team to support Bethel Family Clinic on this funding.” - M. Enayet U. Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer Bethel Family Clinic Healy: $2.5 million to construct a health center in Healy. “The funds enable the Interior Community Health Center to construct a health facility on its lot on the Parks Highway in Healy, Alaska to best serve the year round primary care needs of the Denali Borough - a population of just over 1,600 - scattered 79 miles between the towns of Cantwell to the Anderson, Alaska. The impact of this congressionally directed spending will be to improve access to primary care services, including preventive health and oral health screenings, manage chronic disease and overall health.” - Cheryl Kilgore, Chief Executive Officer Interior Community Health Center Homer: $633,000 to the Seldovia Village Tribe to expand the Homer Health Center. “We would like to remind you of the primary benefits that our Tribe, patients and staff, as well as the community, will be able to enjoy upon project completion, thanks to you. Those include: Expanded services to support Healthy Alaskans 2030 health priorities; Reduce health disparities to low-income, underinsured and uninsured Alaskans; Provide community education sessions to improve the health and well-being of Alaskans.” - Crystal Collier, President Seldovia Village Tribe Juneau: $870,000 to renovate and expand the JAMHI Health & Wellness specialty behavioral health facility. “This congressionally directed allocation will relocate, expand and improve JAMHI Family services in Juneau at a larger facility at 2075 Jordan Avenue and through technology, for youth and families throughout Alaska, as well as increase overall capacity to meet service needs across the lifespan. Improved access, increased space for more staff with specific specialization in evidence-based therapies, integrated on-site pediatric care and physical and mental wellness services will be provided and the additional capacity will also be used to support other groups and entities throughout Juneau to better meet the behavioral health needs of youth and families in our community as well.” - Dave Branding Chief Executive Officer Juneau: $750,000 to establish and operate a commercial driver's license education training program at the University of Alaska Southeast. “We can't thank Senator Murkowski enough for the $750,000 to develop a CDL program in Southeast Alaska. This program has been greatly needed in Southeast Alaska and we look forward to being able to report on the progress we make.” - Dr. Karen Carey, Chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan: $600,000 for facilities and equipment at the Peacehealth Ketchikan Medical Center. “We are deeply grateful to Senator Lisa Murkowski for championing this allocation of federal funds for a new CT scanner for PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center. Along with PeaceHealth's financial commitment to the project, Senator Murkowski's successful advocacy for this funding will help ensure local patients can continue to access the very latest diagnostic imaging services right here in our community.” - Dori Stevens, Chief Administrative Officer, PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center Kodiak: $7.9 million to expand the Kodiak Community Health Center. “Kodiak Community Health Center is ecstatic to be included in the Congressionally Directed Spending Omnibus bill for $7.9M toward a capital expansion of our clinic. This funding will allow us to meet the growing healthcare needs of our community including behavioral health, substance abuse and primary care. In remote Alaska, healthcare takes a high level of skill and creativity to be successful. Expanding our facility and equipment will allow our team to provide next level care for our patients. Thank you Senator Murkowski for your diligence and hard work for Alaska!” - Carol Austerman, Executive Director, Kodiak Community Health Center Naknek: $3 million to renovate and expand the Camai Community Health Center. Seward: $5 million to expand the Seward Community Health Center. “This Congressionally Directed Spending Allocation via Lisa Murkowski’s office represents a giant step toward transforming the face of healthcare in Seward. This is the first stepping-stone to building a new clinic that will help improve the health and quality of life for Alaskans on the Eastern Kenai Peninsula. A new clinic will allow us to provide expanded primary care services to our community, including preventive/wellness educational programs, access to specialists, and greater telehealth connectivity. Along the way, a new facility is expected to increase staff satisfaction and retention, which will result in a higher quality of care for our community. We are excited about the possibilities that lie before us through this funding and are grateful for the opportunity to elevate the level of care we can provide.” - Craig Ambrosiani, Seward Community Health Center Executive Director Seward: $2.5 million to expand the Chugachmiut Health Clinic. “I want to thank Senator Murkowski for securing these funds! This one-time allocation will have a huge impact far into the future. Chugachmiut will now be able to improve and expand health services to the underserved and remote communities it serves. Adding services that are desperately needed but that were inaccessible before this generous gift by Congress will generate improved health outcomes for, at minimum, the next 30 years. “ - Jan Vanderpool, Executive Director Statewide: $2.5 million to expand the Alaska Primary Care Association’s community health worker program into rural areas. Statewide: $350,000 to expand the University of Washington’s Alaska Pediatric Residency Track, to increase opportunities for pediatric residents to train in Alaska. “We thank Sen. Murkowski for her longstanding support in securing funds to strengthen access to pediatric health care for children living in rural Alaska Native communities. This appropriation will enable the University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Alaska Track pediatric residency program to send pediatricians to more Alaska Native villages where they can provide direct care to children and provide pediatric specific education for our community health aides. The funding will also help to expand programs for adolescent well-being, including mental health, sports medicine and infectious disease prevention, through school-based health clinics located at high school campuses in Bethel and Anchorage.” - Richard Shugerman, MD Director, Pediatric WWAMI, Seattle Children's Hospital/University of Washington Statewide: $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Southcentral Alaska to provide behavioral health support to children and youth. “The lasting effects of childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences not only impact mental and physical health, but also educational outcomes, economic stability, and generational health and welfare. Our youth are facing civil unrest, racial inequality, online social pressure, and systemic inequalities that create barriers to success. According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, 62.9% of Alaskan youth ages 12-17 who have depression did not receive care last year. Youth face many barriers to accessing behavioral health services including transportation, financial, and cultural stigma. They need hope and an easier way to access help. That is why our program will bring care directly to kids through Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the state. We will use prevention and intervention services to help the youth who need it most. To do this we will employ mental health professionals to support our youth and to empower our staff to understand, identify, and respond to youth who may be facing challenges and to connect them with proper care, if necessary.” - Jen Patronas, Chief Executive Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs-Alaska Statewide: $2 million to Covenant House Alaska to strengthen Alaska's workforce and provide pathways to permanent housing. Statewide: $230,000 to the Rural Alaska Community Action Program to identify, train, and support a cohort of interested youth peer mentors. “The passing of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill is a great success for all Alaskans as we face the mental health crisis, especially with youth in rural communities. This bill supports RurAL CAP’s Peer Mentor and Mental Health First Aide in Rural Alaska project. This pilot project will pair a cohort of youth peer mentors with local professionals to provide suicide prevention and mental health first aid to youth in rural communities. With these efforts, we strive to empower rural youth to increase mental health awareness and resources, and strengthen the future for all Alaskans.” - Tiel Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., (RurAL CAP) Statewide: $950,000 for Bree’s Law Inc. to address and prevent teen dating violence. “We are overjoyed that Senator Murkowski was successful in securing funding for the Bree's Law Curriculum Development project, included in the FY23 omnibus released yesterday. As parents who have experienced the devastation of losing our daughter, Bree Moore, to dating violence, we know prevention is the key to keeping future generations safe from interpersonal violence. This Bree's Law funding will expand teen dating violence awareness and prevention education, first developed and implemented in Alaska, and make it available to all teens throughout the United States. We are incredibly thankful to Senator Lisa Murkowski and her staff for their tenacity, passion, and commitment to the passage and funding of Bree's Law. We are truly indebted to everyone who has helped make this law possible.” - Butch and Cindy Moore, Parents of Bree Moore Unalaska: $500,000 to Iliuliuk Family & Health Services to purchase a CT scanner and fund associated facility and site work to provide expanded health services at the clinic in Unalaska. “Through this congressional directed spending award Iliuliuk Family and Health Services can now offer CT services to our community for the first time in our 50 years. This will bring better care to our friends, families and neighbors by reducing the need to travel to Anchorage some 800 miles away. This will also reduce the need for unnecessary medevacs for the region having the ability to better diagnose and treat patients at home. Unalaska and neighboring communities all benefit from this improvement in imaging services – Thank You Senator Murkowski!” - Noel Reo, CEO of Iliuliuk Family & Health Services Upper Susitna River Valley (Talkeetna): $2 million to purchase a complete mobile medical unit to provide medical treatment across the Upper Susitna River Valley. Willow: $1 million to expand the Sunshine Clinic in Willow. Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Anchorage: $63 million to build an aircraft maintenance hangar at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Anchorage: $5.2 million to remove PFAS contaminated soil on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Fairbanks: $99 million to build a physical fitness center annex at Fort Wainwright. Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Ambler: $1.5 million to construct a new firehall and search and rescue facility. Anchorage: $5 million to the Port of Alaska to make site improvements. “We’d like to thank Sen. Murkowski for her continued advocacy and support of the Port of Alaska’s infrastructure modernization efforts. This contribution helps us to continue to move forward while reducing the financial burden that could be placed on port users and Alaskans.” - Steve Ribuffo, Port of Alaska Director Anchorage: $7.5 million to Providence Community Foundation to provide permanent supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness in Anchorage. Anchorage: $1.6 million to the Rural Alaska Community Action Program to address homelessness in Anchorage by improving and expanding permanent supportive housing facilities. “The Omnibus Appropriations Bill will benefit the health, safety, and well-being of all Alaskans, with particular support to those experiencing homelessness. Among many other great successes, Senator Murkowski’s efforts with this bill have ensured that 126 vital units of new and existing permanent supportive housing are available to individuals in Anchorage as they navigate out of homelessness. These housing services ultimately increase the clients' self-sufficiency and reduce the strain on expensive local and statewide emergency response systems.” - Tiel Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., (RurAL CAP). Juneau: $7 million to build a bridge over the Gastineau Channel between Douglas and Juneau. “A second crossing between Juneau proper and Douglas Island has been a priority for the community for over 40 years - since I was in high school!. A crossing project will improve traffic congestion, reduce travel times, provide critical alternate access to thousands of households in the event of an emergency and open up new land for housing and development. A big push for outreach and engagement with the community has been underway for over a year through a Planning and Environmental Linkages study and this $7M will build on that success and keep the project moving forward."" – Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon Fairbanks: $2.5 million to the North Star Council on Aging to expand the Fairbanks Senior Center. “This wildly generous gift provided by the passage of the omnibus bill, and spearheaded by Senator Murkowski, comes at a time of great need as the Fairbanks Senior Center works hard to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the 18,000 pioneers who built the amazing community of Fairbanks. Please allow North Star Council on Aging to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every member of congress who voted to support the passage of the omnibus bill, with a special thanks to the tirelessly supportive Senator Lisa Murkowski and her dedicated staff. This appropriation will touch every Interior senior house hold in a profound and caring way for years to come.” - Darlene Supplee, Executive Director of the Fairbanks Senior Center, North Star Council on Aging Fairbanks: $6.9 million to acquire and expand a facility to provide a permanent location for Presbyterian Hospitality House. “Today, we got word from Senator Murkowski’s team that Presbyterian Hospitality House will be awarded funding for our new building in Fairbanks. The Senators strong commitment to Children’s mental health issues and youth who are homeless has long been established. The new building will help bring Alaskan youth and families together. It will be a place that allows for healing and growth. PHH serves youth in several ways. We provide residential treatment, mental health counseling, Therapeutic Treatment homes. PHH serves youth from all over the State of Alaska. Working to stabilize and keep our youth safe is the most important.” - Ty Tigner, Executive Director, Presbyterian Hospitality House (PHH) Homer: $750,000 to acquire and construct a facility to support South Peninsula Haven House in building a new financial empowerment facility. Juneau: $5 million to provide a building to house multiple nonprofits which serve children and families. “The creation of a family services center in Juneau has been a long-held dream for AEYC-SEA, and we are so excited that Senator Murkowski was able to secure funding to get it started. Social service supports for children and families are currently spread out all over the Juneau community, making access a challenge for many families. This new facility will bring together multiple partner nonprofits to provide a seamless resource opportunity for families, including an on-site childcare center. I think the true impact of this project won't be realized until the building/dream has been built, but for now this funding is a strong message of support to families with young children in SE Alaska from Senator Murkowski and we could not be more grateful.” - Blue Shibler, Executive Director, Association for Education of Young Children Southeast Klawock: $500,000 to build a RISE Campus which will include domestic shelter units and outbuildings to support cultural activities. “We are so incredibly grateful for the funding Senator Murkowski was able to secure for help in the construction of the RISE Tribal DV Shelter on Prince of Wales! Having a local shelter on the Island allows domestic violence survivors to receive assistance and safety in their own community instead of having to leave their support systems behind- not to mention schools and jobs- and go to a different Island to be safe. This additional funding is crucial for completion of the shelter. Thank you to Senator Murkowski and her team for helping us make this dream a reality for Prince of Wales!” - Tiffany Mills, Executive Director, HOPE Prevention McCarthy: $200,000 to build a fire hall for the Kennicott-McCarthy Volunteer Fire Department. Nome: $2 million to rehabilitate the Bering Sea Women’s shelter. Nome: $5 million to the Norton Sound Health Corporation to construct patient housing and affordable housing for low-income employees. “On behalf of NSHC, thank you for dedicating funds to our region. NSHC has been expanding health care services over the past decade. While the workforce has grown and higher -level care is being delivered in-region, [neither] NSHC, nor the community, has adequate capital infrastructure to meet these growing patient lodging and employee housing needs. Additionally, a new wellness center was opened in summer 2021, which will offer in-region long-term substance abuse treatment, which requires additional housing. This funding award will contribute to both of these critical needs to allow NSHC to continue to provide the highest level of care to the region.” - Angie Gorn, President & CEO, Norton Sound Health Corporation Rural Alaska: $3 million for the acquisition of facilities, including housing, necessary to establish Alaska State Trooper posts in rural locations. Seldovia: $22,000 for a road resurfacing project. Sitka: $1 million to provide basic housing for chronically homeless Sitka residents. Teller: $5.1 million to the Bering Straits Regional Housing Authority to move homes out of the flood zone and construct affordable housing at safe locations. Wainwright: $1.2 million to Tagiugmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority to remodel and convert former National Guard Armory buildings into a modern, energy efficient, tribal childcare facility and multi-use community building. “Good afternoon from the village of Wainwright, I’m Muriel Panik, Tribal Council Member and Commissioner for the Ta?iu?miullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority. As our local Community-Based Development Organization, TNHA provides services that empower, build and sustain vibrant self-determined communities on the Arctic Slope for generations to come. I want to share Wainwright’s gratitude for Senator Lisa Murkowski and her staff for recommending the Wainwright Childcare Center project for funding consideration by the U.S. Senate. If funded, we will be able to convert a former National Guard armory into a much-needed community facility that will support working parents of young children and help grow the village economy. The facility will be resilient and comfortable with healthy indoor air, using energy-efficient renovation practices and on-site production of renewable energy from to reduce its reliance on costly imported diesel. Again, we want to say quyanaqpak, Senator Murkowski, for supporting our village and regional housing authority in this request.” - Muriel Panik, Tribal Council Member and Commissioner for the Ta?iu?miullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority Wasilla: $5 million to Set Free Alaska to build a therapeutic campus consisting of recovery residence facilities. “Set Free Alaska would like to thank Senator Murkowski for securing funding for our recidivism reduction and recovery program! Individuals struggling with substance misuse and mental health problems often experience increased incarceration. Services and infrastructure are lacking in our communities to address this problem. This money will be used to build facilities that will provide counseling support services for individuals and families in Mat-Su. These programs will support the agencies vision of all Alaskans experiencing God’s love, lasting freedom, and abundant life!” - Philip Licht, President & CEO, Set Free Alaska, Inc.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-year-end-omnibus-packed-with-good-news-for-alaska,Murkowski: Year-End Omnibus Packed with Good News for Alaska,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"The U.S. Senate yesterday passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, an omnibus package that contains all 12 appropriations bills and funds the federal government through September 30, 2023. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior Appropriator, helped write major parts of the bill and secured significant funding and assistance for Alaska throughout it. She championed provisions to strengthen Alaska’s economy, accelerate workforce development, and support military members and their families. She also directed funding to water and wastewater infrastructure, public safety, childcare, fisheries, military readiness, affordable housing, mental and behavioral health programs, contaminated lands cleanup, wildfire prevention, recreation on public lands, and much more. Through her vote in favor of the measure, Murkowski supported funding authorized by major legislation passed in this Congress – including the National Defense Authorization Act, bipartisan infrastructure bill, CHIPS and Science Act, Violence Against Women Act reauthorization, and the PACT Act – while ensuring robust funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA’s disaster relief fund, mental health, child nutrition, rural housing assistance, energy development and lower energy costs, and many additional state priorities. In FY 2023, Murkowski was the only member of Alaska’s congressional delegation to pursue Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) projects. Through this bill, she secured nearly $500 million for more than 130 projects across Alaska that were proposed by local communities to address their most pressing needs. The omnibus also features a number of authorizing provisions sponsored by Murkowski, including her University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, the PUMP Act, and emergency disaster assistance for Alaskan fisheries. The legislation includes a historic plus-up for the Department of Defense to benefit service members and protect national security, as well as critical emergency funding for Ukraine. Murkowski released the following statement about the Consolidated Appropriations Act: “This year-end bill contains a huge number of wins for Alaska and is the culmination of all the hard work my team and I put in for our home state throughout the 117th Congress. “This measure supports our men and women in uniform and our veterans. It strengthens our economic opportunities and addresses some of our greatest challenges, from workforce and supply chains to the Denali Park Road. It makes major investments in mental and behavioral health, including initiatives to help address the growing issue of death by suicide. Nutrition, public safety, telecom, port and road infrastructure, ocean and coastal mapping, the clean-up of contaminated lands, climate research, natural disaster preparedness, the Arctic, and so much more—there is literally no part of our state that this legislation doesn’t benefit. “On top of those major wins for Alaska, I secured funding allocations to directly benefit nearly 130 projects through Congressionally Directed Spending. This process continues to give Alaskans a voice in the federal budget by allowing them to identify their communities’ greatest needs, helping federal agencies identify spending priorities. “As a year-end measure, I also worked hard to make sure the omnibus would be a vehicle for as many of Alaska’s outstanding legislative priorities as possible. We ultimately added more than a dozen bills and authorizing provisions focused on everything from the University of Alaska to healthcare in rural and underserved areas. “This omnibus is very significant for Alaska. It builds on our successes over the past several years and will help create jobs, reduce costs, improve all types of care, protect our fisheries, bolster public safety, and more. Combined with all we have been able to deliver as a result of the bipartisan infrastructure law, I’m excited about the benefits this measure will provide across our state for a long time to come.” BILL HIGHLIGHTS Supports the Military and Veterans The omnibus includes significant support to boost our nation’s defense capabilities and enhance military readiness by fully funding the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which includes provisions of the Don Young Arctic Warrior Act to address service member well-being and Alaska’s unique strategic role in national security. The bill supports military construction projects, such as funding for an aircraft maintenance hangar for the Alaska National Guard, and significant projects on Fort Wainwright, Clear Space Force Station, and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. To support the health and well-being of military members and their families, Murkowski secured robust funding for mental health and suicide prevention programs, as well as a much-deserved 4.6 percent pay raise for troops, housing and food allowances, and childcare support. In support of veterans, Murkowski included language to improve their quality of care and worked to expand access to mental healthcare and training for the VA workforce. She also secured significant support for individuals exposed to toxic chemicals during their service and for health-related research initiatives, such as peer-reviewed ALS research. Bolsters America’s Arctic Presence As America’s Arctic Senator, Murkowski secured funding for the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, the Department of Defense’s (DOD) first regional center in the Arctic. Murkowski previously introduced and helped usher into law the legislation to create this center. She also secured support for the 2024 Arctic Winter Games, which will be held in the Mat-Su Valley, the Arctic Youth Ambassadors Program, and the Permanent Participants to the Arctic Council. As part of her push for a greater diplomatic presence in the Arctic, Murkowski provided funding for an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region, an initiative she advocated for until the State Department announced its establishment in August 2022. The bill also funds the Department of Energy’s Office of Arctic Energy. Invests in Alaska’s Communities The omnibus provides full funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which provides compensation to local governments throughout Alaska with federal lands that are not subject to state or local taxation. These dollars help local governments provide vital services, such as firefighting and police protection, search-and-rescue operations, and construction of public schools and roads. The bill also protects and robustly funds the Essential Air Service program, which maintains commercial air service for approximately 60 communities in Alaska. The bill includes a provision led by Murkowski and colleagues to allow unspent COVID relief dollars to be used for infrastructure investments and disaster relief, including providing a fix which will benefit Alaska’s unified municipalities who unfortunately were left out on relief funding intended to help address the economic impacts of the pandemic. The year-end package strengthens Alaska’s infrastructure in many ways. It invests in restoring the Denali Park Road. It allocates significant resources to the EPA to construct and improve wastewater and drinking water systems throughout rural Alaska. New funding for the Denali Commission will boost roads, ports, and boat ramps, which will help the agency continue to build infrastructure in rural Alaska. The City of Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula Borough will receive funding for wildfire prevention activities in accordance with their community protection plans. To address food security, Murkowski increased funding for her Micro-grants for Food Security Program, which she authored to help Alaskans grow more food in the state. The omnibus provides long-sought flexibility for Alaska’s rural Summer Food Service Program providers, allowing them to serve food in non-congregate ways to children in rural communities who cannot access program sites. It also increases funding for the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Program that helps Alaska’s farmers offset the high costs of importing seeds, fertilizer, and other inputs and transporting their crops out of Alaska. The omnibus provides additional funding for Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant programs, which help low-income parents afford high-quality childcare and set the youngest Alaskans on the path to healthy and successful futures. Capitalizing on Alaska’s Tourism Sector Alaska is the crown jewel of America’s tourism industry. The omnibus finally cements a federal champion and planning role for the federal government to ensure that our nation makes the most of tourism-based economic opportunities. It establishes an Assistant Secretary of Tourism within the Commerce Department, who will be appointed by the President and required to collect and make public aggregate data on domestic travel and tourism trends. The provision also requires the Commerce to develop a 10-year strategy with annual goals to boost the industry and establishes the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. It also funds, for the first time, the Denali Access Program. Finally, the omnibus requires Commerce to develop recovery strategies in response to the pandemic and future threats. Notably, it requires the Secretary to conduct a cost-benefit analysis between the economic and health effects of its strategies. It also contains Murkowski’s cruise ship and tourism reforms, which were adopted as part of the PREVENTS Pandemics Act. Supports Workforce Development To help Alaskans train for good-paying jobs, the year-end package invests in workforce development for veterans, youth, and adults through programs like Job Corps, registered apprenticeship programs, and the Young Fishermen’s Development grant program. The omnibus continues to require that timber sales in Alaska be economically viable and requires that Alaska sawmills be given the first right to process the timber to keep these jobs in the United States. In addition, the package includes several Murkowski-led efforts to help build out Alaska’s healthcare workforce, such as the Improving Access to Health Care in Rural and Underserved Area Act, the BIO-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program, and the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act. Those measures will bolster the state’s primary care, allied health, and infectious disease workforce. Also included are Murkowski’s Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program Act, which reauthorizes a program to provide loan repayment in exchange for working in a local or public health department, and her bill to reauthorize a community health worker grant program to recruit, hire, train, and retain community health workers. Addresses High Energy Costs As Alaskans grapple with some of the highest home heating costs in the nation, the omnibus provides increased funding to help lower-income families cover the costs of heating their homes. It also funds the Weatherization Assistance and State Energy Programs, which help to improve the energy efficiency of low-income families’ homes and invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emergency preparedness. Prioritizes Alaska’s Lands The omnibus features Murkowski’s University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, which will provide long-term fiscal stability for the University of Alaska by fulfilling its promise as a land grant university to generate additional revenues that help support its students and operations. Murkowski-led legislation designating the 16-mile-long U.S. segment of the Chilkoot Trail, which first served as a Tlingit trade route and then was used during the gold rush, as a National Historic Trail is included. Murkowski’s bill also requires and provides funding for the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study to determine if the proposed 500-mile Alaska Long Trail, which will connect Seward to Fairbanks, should become a National Scenic Trail. The omnibus prioritizes public lands, including investments in land cleanup. It increases funding for legacy well cleanup to support the next set of sites that need remediation. It likewise increases support for the Alaska Land Conveyance Program, to help fulfill legal requirements to transfer lands to the State and Alaska Natives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). The year-end package also establishes a new EPA ANCSA Contaminated Lands grant program with first-of-its-kind dedicated funding for the assessment and remediation of contaminated sites in Alaska. It recognizes the importance of Alaska Public Land Information Centers and encourages agencies to seek to strengthen partnerships with them. The measure also provides additional funding for critical operations and management of our National Park System. Ensures Cleaner Air, Water, and Wastewater Infrastructure The omnibus addresses drinking water and wastewater challenges in Alaskan communities by providing increased funding for the construction of new drinking water and wastewater systems and the improvement of existing systems. It also provides support for grant programs that help bring basic water and sewer infrastructure to communities in need. To support communities such as Fairbanks in their efforts to reduce air pollution, the year-end package includes increased funding for Targeted Airshed Grants. It also prohibits EPA from implementing its small, remote incinerators rule in Alaska while Alaskans work with the agency to develop a rule that will work better to address the state’s unique rural needs. Promotes Safer Communities The omnibus supports state and local law enforcement and includes funding for Bipartisan Safer Communities Act programs, legislation passed earlier this year to address gaps in the law that have enabled mass shootings at schools. One example is additional resources for mental health and school safety. Significant increases are included for Violence Against Woman Act programs, legislation shepherded into law by Murkowski in March 2022. Increased funding is included for Public Law 280 states, such as Alaska, to help them develop tribal court systems for communities. Community safety is also bolstered through funding for wildland fire management and wildfire suppression as well as important programs that help emergency responders react to natural hazards and to quickly inform the public about those hazards. Funding for the earthquakes hazard program and volcano hazards program will allow Alaska to develop and upgrade monitoring capabilities to keep Alaskans safe. The omnibus retains Murkowski’s report language directing the USGS to expand its landslide work in Southeast Alaska. Builds Safer, Healthier Communities The year-end package makes significant investments in mental and behavioral health, including through a Murkowski-led provision to improve the identification, assessment, treatment, and transition to follow-up care for individuals in emergency departments who are at risk of suicide. This dovetails with Murkowski’s provision to reauthorize the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which supports numerous suicide prevention programs for youth and children. The omnibus includes a Murkowski-led provision which supports grants for states, tribes, and tribal organizations to establish and maintain maternal mental health and substance use disorder programs, codifies the maternal mental health hotlines, and supports a pilot program for pregnant and postpartum women. As a result of an amendment adopted during floor debate, the omnibus includes the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a bill Murkowski helped lead that would ensure that pregnant women receive reasonable accommodations in the workplace needed to have healthy pregnancies. Murkowski’s bipartisan Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act was also included, which expands breastfeeding protections for workers. In light of the rising number of overdoses and deaths caused by substance misuse in Alaska, the year-end measure funds numerous programs for substance use disorder treatment and recovery for homeless individuals, access to treatment in areas with high rates of opioid use, efforts to prevent and respond to underage drinking, and increased access to emergency treatment for opioid overdoses. In support of Alaska’s most vulnerable communities, the bill package includes a number of housing-related initiatives to help support quality, accessible recovery for those in need. Murkowski’s bipartisan legislation to help health care providers more effectively treat patients suffering from substance use disorder—the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act—is also incorporated. Supports Alaska’s Fisheries and Oceans In addition to fishery disaster funding, the omnibus supports this foundational industry through investments in surveys, management, electronic monitoring, and research. It includes $15 million in CDS for research on our oceans and rivers that will be performed by Alaskans. Murkowski’s requests also support citizen science, co-management, data collection, and the addition of new technologies to Alaska’s tool chest like eDNA monitoring. Murkowski’s legislation with Senator Sullivan, the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, was included and directs NOAA to convene a task force to review current research and applied research gaps on migration patterns and declining returns of Pacific salmon in Alaska to support sustainable management. To protect and invest in our oceans, the year-end package provides funding to address ocean acidification and for data collection and treaty obligations. Language authored by Murkowski will maintain and service the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) Array, which provides tsunami prediction capacity and directs the National Weather Service (NWS) to ensure that all DART buoys in Alaska, especially those in Prince William Sound and Southeast Alaska, are deployed and fully operational. Additional funding for the NWS will support staffing efforts in Alaska. Also included are funding for mapping the nearshore and shoreline of Alaska, as well as language directing NOAA to continue coordinating and implementing an interagency mapping, exploration, and characterization strategy for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The omnibus also requires a strategy for mapping the Arctic and sub-Arctic shoreline and nearshore of Alaska. Enhancing Retirement Benefits & Access This year-end omnibus builds off provisions enacted in 2019 by including the package known as Secure 2.0, which will provide Alaskans greater access and an easier path to strengthening their retirement savings. As 401k and 403b plans make up a greater share of Americans’ retirement savings, the Secure 2.0 package works to ensure they are participating and maximizing the benefits of employer-sponsored retirement plans. Murkowski supported the package as it advanced through the committee process and worked to ensure parity for all populations. Specifically, the Secure 2.0 package: Automatically enrolls employees into an employee sponsored retirement account; Allows for increased “catch up” contribution limits for individuals aged 60-63; Creates a federal savers match of up to $2000 for those in qualifying income brackets; Expands access to retirement plans for part-time workers; Expands access to the Saver’s Credit (a tax credit for contributions) for lower- and middle-income employees; and Allows employers to offer emergency rainy day savings accounts through their retirement plans. Election Integrity The package includes bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Murkowski, the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, which reforms and modernizes the Electoral Count Act of 1887. The measure ensures that electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each state’s vote for President. It replaces ambiguous provisions within the original law with clear procedures that maintain appropriate state and federal roles in selecting the President and Vice President of the United States as set forth in the Constitution. If there is more than one apparent successful candidate for President, each candidate must be provided with equal access to federal government resources and information. Related Issues: Budget & Spending",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/schatz-murkowski-bills-supporting-native-language-revitalization-tribal-water-access-economic-development-mmip-resources-set-to-become-law,"Schatz, Murkowski: Bills Supporting Native Language Revitalization, Tribal Water Access, Economic Development, MMIP Resources Set To Become Law",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"House-Passed Package Includes Two Bipartisan Native Languages Bills Led By Schatz And Murkowski WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, released the following statements on eight bills set to become law – S. 989, the Native American Language Resource Center Act of 2021; S. 1402, the Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act of 2021; S. 3168, a bill to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to modify the enforceability date for certain provisions, and for other purposes; S. 3308, the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2021 S. 4104, the Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022; S. 3773, a bill to authorize the leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation; S. 5087, a bill to amend the Not Invisible Act of 2019 to extend, and provide additional support for, the activities of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice Joint Commission on Reducing Violent Crime Against Indians, and for other purposes; S. 4439, the Katimiîn and Ameekyáaraam Sacred Lands Act; and H.R. 897, the Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act. “In addition to three bills we sent to the President earlier this week, with passage of these bills in the House and Senate, 12 Indian Affairs bills are set to become law,” said Chairman Schatz. “These bills advance key legislative priorities, including expansion of culturally-based Native American language revitalization efforts, construction of life-saving water systems for Tribes and surrounding communities, support for Tribal economic development, and more resources to combat the missing and murdered Indigenous peoples crisis. I thank my friend and colleague, Vice Chairman Murkowski, whose partnership has been critical to advancing these important bills.” “I am pleased that the Senate and the House have approved these 12 bills important to Native peoples from the Indian Affairs Committee. These bills will promote and expand Native American languages, support economic development, resolve disputes related to Indian water rights and provide resources and support to address the crisis of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous people. I appreciate all of my colleagues and their staff for the hard work moving our legislation forward,” said Vice Chairman Murkowski. The bills now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/year-end-omnibus-supports-readiness-security-military-construction_and-servicemember-and-veteran-well-being,"Year-End Omnibus Supports Readiness, Security, Military Construction, and Servicemember and Veteran Well-Being",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"Includes More Than $335 Million for Military Construction in Alaska The U.S. Senate recently passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, an omnibus package that contains all 12 appropriations bills and funds the federal government through September 30, 2023. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior Appropriator, secured funding and assistance for Alaska throughout the measure. Through her role as a senior member of the Defense and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittees, Murkowski added significant funding and support for military members and their families, veterans, readiness and security needs, and military construction. The omnibus fully funds the recently-passed the National Defense Authorization Act, provides a historic plus-up for the Department of Defense, sends critical emergency aid to Ukraine, and continues to rebuild U.S. supply chains through critical mineral development. “The omnibus invests in the health and wellbeing of military service members while making sure they have the equipment and infrastructure they need to complete the mission. We provide crucial assistance to Ukraine, to combat Chinese influence in the Pacific, and to ensure that Alaska is the best place to serve in the best military in the world,” Murkowski said. “I’m particularly proud of the direct investments I secured for Alaska military installations—from JBER to Fort Wainwright to Clear—and the resources we added to support veterans. We increased funding for VA facilities, medical care, and services, expanding access to mental health care and programs to help veterans transition to civilian life. In the span of a single week, we have passed an NDAA and an appropriations package with more support for our military and veterans than we have seen in years.” “Senator Murkowski’s successes in prioritizing defense spending in Alaska put our nation on stronger footing in the Arctic,” Retired Air Force Lt. Gen David Krumm, former Commander of Alaska Command, said. “Increases in capacity to maintain our aircraft at JBER and building a world-class soldier readiness center for our Arctic Angels at Ft. Wainwright are a few examples of her continuing to be a champion for national security in the Arctic.” “We thank Senator Murkowski for being the leader in Congress on critical mineral issues, drawing a straight line from their domestic development to the defense technologies that safeguard national security,” Anthony Huston, CEO of Graphite One, said. “Whether for lithium-ion batteries or a safer foam fire suppressant for defense or civilian use, it’s essential to develop Alaska’s rich graphite resources. The 2023 Defense Appropriations bill reflects that imperative.” BILL HIGHLIGHTS Improving Quality of Life Pay Raise: Provides a well-deserved 4.6 percent pay raise for military servicemembers. Basic Needs Allowance: Provides funding for a supplemental basic needs allowance for eligible families as well as a Basic Allowance for Subsistence. Inflation: Includes funding to help servicemembers and families bear the cost of inflation. Mental and Behavioral Heath: Provides funding for mental and behavioral health programs, including an increase in funding for mental health providers and funding for suicide prevention with a focus on rural, remote, and isolated locations. Medical Programs: Includes significant funding for medical and health care programs. Medical Research: Provides for medical research, including funding for ovarian cancer research and peer-reviewed ALS research. Environmental Restoration: Provides funding for environmental clean-up, including the clean-up of formerly used defense sites (“FUDS”) and remediating contamination caused by PFOS/PFOA. Infrastructure and Equipment Military Construction: $99 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for military construction (fitness/training) at Fort Wainwright. $63 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for military construction (airport hanger) on JBER. $5.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to remove PFAS contaminated soil on JBER $100 million for a runway extension on JBER. $68 million for military construction (housing) on Clear Air Force Station. Cold Weather Gear: Supports our military serving in the High North through funding for Arctic clothing and individual equipment. Aircraft: Funds 20 HH-60W combat rescue helicopters, which are used by the Alaska National Guard. Includes funding for 16 C-130J aircraft for the Air National Guard. Provides funding for F-35 aircraft including funds for restoration, spares, and repair facilities. Funds 12 MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range UAVs for the Army National Guard, like those used at Fort Wainwright. JPARC: Provides funding for the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC), the premier Air Force training range. Hypersonics: Provides funding for the development and fielding of hypersonic weapons. Defense Community Cooperation: Provides funding for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, which supports infrastructure projects that impact both installations and communities. Nuclear Energy: Provides funding for Pele Micro nuclear reactor. Eielson AFB was selected as the first installation to deploy a microreactor. Industrial Base: Provides significant investments in our defense industrial base. Shipyards: Provides funding for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan to recapitalize Navy shipyards. Spaceports: Supports state operated spaceports, which includes Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska in Kodiak, and launch and range complexes that support defense space priorities Arctic Presence and Domain Awareness Ted Stevens Center: Increases funding for the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies. Permafrost: Includes funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to expand and modernize their capability to conduct research in permafrost. Arctic Awareness: Provides funding for Arctic terrain sensing through the use of Drone platforms to support military operations. Arctic Operations: Provides funding to support Arctic defense capabilities including: Rapid entry and sustainment for the Arctic Snowmachines Shelters and heaters Visual and tactical Arctic reconnaissance Energy: Provides funding for Arctic energy research and resiliency. Veterans’ Health VA Medical Care: Provides significant funding for medical care for the 7.3 million veterans across our nation who receive their healthcare through the VA. PACT Act: Puts a down payment into the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund to begin the important work of caring for veterans who are victims of toxic exposure. Provides increased funding for rural health priorities, caregivers, women’s health, and homelessness. Aging Veterans Requires the VA Secretary to develop a standardized process throughout the VA for entering into sharing agreements between State homes and medical centers. Directs the VA to examine the contracts entered into with each State for nursing home care to determine if adequate compensation is provided for the cost of furnishing care in those locations. Requires the VA Secretary to develop a strategy for the long-term care of veterans. Native Veterans Directs the VA to appoint a single point of contact to coordinate federal tribal and veteran healthcare in areas where it may be difficult for a veteran to find proper representation of care due to the limited presence of VA facilities. Establishes a Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program. Requires the VA to provide minority veteran coordinators with training in delivery of culturally appropriate mental health and suicide prevention services to American Indian and Alaska Native veterans. Veterans’ Mental Health Provides historic levels of investment in mental health and suicide prevention services. Makes the first three calendar-year visits for mental health services free for qualifying veterans. Grows the mental health workforce at the VA. Expands existing scholarship and loan repayment programs to those pursuing degrees or training in mental health fields. Requires the VA Secretary to establish a Buddy Check Week. Critical Minerals Provides additional Defense Production Act funding for feasibility studies that will help advance domestic graphite, cobalt, and platinum mines into production. Provides funding for the development of flake graphite-based solutions for PFAS contamination, including foam fire suppressants. Related Issues: Defense, Veterans",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.paul.senate.gov/dr-rand-paul-honors-cottingham-hardware-of-alexandria-as-senate-small-business-of-the-week/,Dr. Rand Paul Honors Cottingham Hardware of Alexandria as Senate Small Business of the Week,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 23, 2022 Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized Cottingham Hardware of Alexandria, Kentucky as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Dr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record: Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Cottingham Hardware of Alexandria, Kentucky as the Senate Small Business of the Week. All across the nation are American small towns whose main street businesses bring color and vibrancy to their community. These businesses might be stores that occupy a specific niche, or may be the product of one entrepreneur’s dreams turned reality. Many of these businesses however, are simply shops that the community has come to rely on, with a top-quality product or service that keeps their customers coming back. Such is the case for Alexandria’s Cottingham Hardware, also referred to as Cottingham Ace, that was founded in 1957. This hardware store has been faithfully serving its’ customers for sixty-five years, easily cementing the business as community institution. Sixty-five years ago, Tom and Betty Cottingham opened Cottingham Hardware, a hardware store right in the heart of the little town of Alexandria, Kentucky. Since its’ inception over six decades ago, the store has been dutifully serving its customers, offering them whatever hardware goods they might need, including but not limited to, specialty chrome, electrical lighting, as well as lawn and garden tools. The store also carries a large selection of firearms and ammunition, making the shop especially popular during Northern Kentucky’s busy hunting season. In addition to the wide array of products available for purchase at Cottingham, the store has two mechanics who are always available to meet the needs of customers, with both mechanics having received the proper training and certification to handle practically any job. They boast a selection that is appropriate for all types of customers, whether they be a first-time home owner or the owner of multi-acre properties, they have the products and services to help with any project. Started by a married couple, Cottingham Hardware continues to be a family business. Tom and Betty’s three sons practically grew up in the store, so it would only make sense that the three men choose to perpetuate their parents’ dream and run the store with the same dedication and customer-friendly atmosphere that Tom and Betty created. The three sons, Tom, Mike, and Joe, took over the business in the mid 90’s, roughly a decade after Cottingham Hardware moved from their original location right in Alexandria out to U.S. Highway 27. The three brothers led the business through a vast array of modernizations, opting for computerized systems in place of the original manual inventory and registry systems. Today, Cottingham Hardware can easily locate a necessary piece of machinery as it travels along the supply chain before arriving at their store. The Cottingham men understood that to lead their parents’ business into the modern era requires these types of technological advancements, and they make sure Cottingham Hardware stays on the cutting edge of modern computer equipment. In addition to their eye for key modernizations to the hardware store, the Cottingham brothers understand that their parents’ success was due in large part to their dedication to family values. Tom, Mike, and Joe maintain a strict policy that at least one of the Cottingham brothers is in store at any given time during business hours, all seven days a week. Friends and neighbors are constantly coming through their doors to purchase tools or equipment and to visit with the familiar faces of the Cottingham store. These days even the brothers’ children occasionally work with them in store, entering in to a new generation of Cottingham family leadership. Moreover, Cottingham Hardware maintains their dedication to the Alexandria community, as they often participate in donations for local schools and churches. Additionally, Joe Cottingham is a member of the Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD), representing Campbell County. NKADD strives to achieve sustainable economic growth and improve the overall quality of life for the citizens of Kentucky. Clearly the Cottingham family is dedicated not only to running a successful family business, but to championing and supporting small businesses around the state as well. For that reason, it gives me great pleasure to honor this multi-generation family business as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Congratulations to the Cottingham brothers and the entire team at Cottingham Hardware. I look forward to seeing your continued growth and success in Kentucky. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America’s small businesses. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.paul.senate.gov/dr-rand-paul-releases-2022-festivus-report-on-government-waste/,Dr. Rand Paul Releases 2022 ‘Festivus’ Report on Government Waste,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 23, 2022 Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) incoming Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), released his 2022 “Festivus” Report, totaling $482,276,543,907 in government waste. This marks Dr. Paul’s eighth edition of the Festivus Report as he continues working to alert the American people to how their federal government uses their hard-earned money. Some of the highlights include the National Institutes of Health spending $2.3 million injecting beagle puppies with cocaine, and separately spending $187,500 to verify that kids love their pets. The Department of Health and Human Services spent $689,222 to study romance between parrots, the NIH funded a $3 million annual research project to watch hamsters on steroids fight, and the U.S. Census Bureau spent $2.5 million on Super Bowl Ads. You can find Dr. Paul’s 2022 Festivus Report HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom-news-releases-barrasso-statement-on-omnibus-spending-bill/,Barrasso Statement on Omnibus Spending Bill,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,barrasso,https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom/news-releases/,scraper,"CASPER, WY — U.S. Senator Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement after the Senate voted to approve an omnibus spending bill. “Over the past week, I’ve been with my wife Bobbi as she continues treatment for cancer. During this time, the Senate voted on an omnibus funding bill. This fall, I made it clear in a letter that my strong preference was to support a clean, short-term funding bill that would take us into the beginning of the 118th Congress. I remain committed to reining in wasteful Washington spending and combatting record-high inflation suffocating families across Wyoming.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-applauds-passage-of-amendment-providing-compensation-to-terrorism-victims,Cotton Applauds Passage of Amendment Providing Compensation to Terrorism Victims,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AR,Tom Cotton,C001095,www.cotton.senate.gov,cotton,https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Caroline Tabler orJames Arnold (202) 224-2353 December 22, 2022 Cotton Applauds Passage of Amendment Providing Compensation to Terrorism Victims Washington, D.C. — The Senate passed today Senator Tom Cotton’s (R-Arkansas) legislation that will extend financial compensation to American victims of terrorism and their families. Introduced with Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), the legislation will also extend coverage to victims of the 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing and their families and increase the available funds to help satisfy their judgments. “The passage of this amendment will direct funding to the brave Americans who were the targets of brutal terrorist attacks. The victims of acts of terrorism like 9/11 and the 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing cannot be compensated fully for their losses, but this legislation will help repay the debt of gratitude America owes them,” said Cotton. Video of Senator Cotton speaking on the amendment can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-vote-against-further-unrestrained-federal-spending,Crapo Statement on Vote Against Further Unrestrained Federal Spending,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ID,Mike Crapo,C000880,www.crapo.senate.gov,crapo,https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement on his vote against the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations package. “Instead of moving forward with individual spending bills to allow members of Congress to separate good policy from bad, we are once again having to vote on a single bill that will unfortunately add to our unsustainable debt crisis. The omnibus appropriations package contains some good policies I have supported and championed, like robust support for our servicemembers and their missions, and support for homeless veterans. It also includes legislation I authored as the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, including important legislation to strengthen retirement savings and improve federal health programs. “Unfortunately, these bipartisan provisions were combined with dozens of other provisions that likely would not have passed on their own, from Green New Deal style handouts to wasteful pet projects. Other broadly bipartisan items were woefully omitted, including widely-supported trade priorities and critical business tax incentives, particularly R&D tax credits that incentivize innovation and growth. “Unrestrained federal spending over the past two years has led to one of the most expensive holiday seasons in history. Idahoans are paying an estimated additional $819 per month--an increase of 16.5 percent--compared to two years ago. This behemoth funding package will only add fuel to the current inflationary fire. It is past time to rein in reckless, unnecessary government spending and get our fiscal house in order.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-issues-statement-on-omnibus-vote,Sen. Cruz Issues Statement On Omnibus Vote,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement on the omnibus vote: “Today we saw unaccountable politicians pass a 4,155-page, $1.7 trillion spending monstrosity. This is the kind of wasteful and irresponsible spending that has plagued Washington, D.C. for far too long. “It is the height of recklessness for Senate Republican leadership to cut a deal with House Democrats who were just voted out of power and give away the leverage that the incoming Republican majority in the House of Representatives could have used to force the Biden administration to change course on policies that are harming America. Without this leverage, the Biden administration will now be able to continue the reckless spending spree that has led to uncontrolled inflation. They will keep pushing anti-energy policies that have caused gas prices and home heating prices to rise. They will continue reckless immigration policies that have led to open borders and a massive influx of deadly drugs and illegal immigration. Their soft-on-crime policies will continue to endanger our communities. The main beneficiaries of this bill are those on the receiving end of left-wing pet projects and pork-barrel spending while the American people will get stuck paying the bill as they continue to suffer. “Due to the disastrous polices of Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats, inflation is out of control, the border is wide open, and crime is soaring. This $1.7 trillion spending boondoggle will drive inflation and prices even higher. For the sake of Texan and American families I voted no.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-north-dakotas-rising-population-due-to-strong-economy-pro-growth-business-climate,"Hoeven: North Dakota's Rising Population Due to Strong Economy, Pro-Growth Business Climate",2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: North Dakota's Rising Population Due to Strong Economy, Pro-Growth Business Climate WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the U.S. Census Bureau released estimates showing North Dakota with a record population of 779,261 residents in 2022. “We’ve worked hard in North Dakota to build a pro-growth business climate that attracts investment, creates good-paying jobs and supports a high quality of life,” said Hoeven. “As a result, our state has reached a record population of nearly 780,000 residents, while being one of the youngest states in the nation, showing our potential for continued growth. By advancing priorities like lower taxes, regulatory certainty, a low cost of living and public safety, we are continuing to build a strong and vibrant future for North Dakota.” -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=CD470C38-AE55-4ACB-9A06-7A8D854662BD,"Graham, Whitehouse Russian Oligarch Asset Seizure Amendment Unanimously Passes Senate",2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SC,Lindsey Graham,G000359,www.lgraham.senate.gov,graham,https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of consideration of their amendment calling for asset seizure for Ukraine reconstruction. The Graham-Whitehouse amendment allows the sale and proceeds from assets - including seized mega-yachts, private jets, mansions, and expensive art - from sanctioned Russian oligarchs and entities supporting Putin to be used to the benefit of the Ukrainian people. Ukrainian President Zelensky has called on nations to use seized assets to help pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The provisions outlined in the Graham-Whitehouse amendment would make Putin and his cronies pay for the infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and homes his military has destroyed without any cost to the American taxpayer. The amendment applies to sanctioned persons already designated for malign activity outlined in executive orders and for those who facilitate Putin’s war efforts. “I’m very pleased the Senate unanimously adopted my amendment with Senator Whitehouse to allow assets seized from sanctioned Russian oligarchs and entities supporting Putin to be used to the benefit of the Ukrainian people,” said Senator Graham. “This change in U.S. law allows the proceeds of seized assets to support Ukrainian war efforts, which is a win-win for the people of Ukraine and the American taxpayer. I expect over time billions of dollars in seized assets will be sent to help Ukraine in their fight for freedom. Our amendment also takes pressure off the American taxpayer.” “President Zelenskyy’s address last night was a reminder of what Senator Graham and I have believed from the earliest days – victory for Ukraine can be achieved with our continued support. My amendment with Senator Graham gives the Biden administration authority to transfer the proceeds from recovered Russian oligarch assets back to the victims in Ukraine. It unlocks billions of dollars for the Ukrainian people to rebuild their schools, hospitals, homes, and critical infrastructure that Putin’s military has destroyed – all at no cost to the American taxpayer,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Thank you also to Senators Blumenthal and Bennet and Representatives Malinowski and Wilson for helping us get this provision over the finish line.” The Department of Justice (DOJ) has a variety of tools to go after these assets, both criminal and civil. This amendment does not impact the tools DOJ has at its disposal to go after the assets of Russian oligarchs – it impacts what is done with those assets.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F3D64163-4140-4869-A324-1F503443DCDF,Graham on End of Year Spending Bill,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SC,Lindsey Graham,G000359,www.lgraham.senate.gov,graham,https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement after voting in favor of the end of year spending bill. “This bill is a big win for the American military. It gives a much-needed boost to the Department of Defense and a well-deserved pay raise to our men and women in uniform. A ten percent increase in defense spending will add real dollars to our defense budget. The legislation also contains vital aid to Ukraine to deal a decisive defeat to Putin in his war of aggression. I’m also pleased my amendment with Senator Whitehouse was adopted that allows the proceeds from confiscated property from Russian oligarchs to be sent to Ukraine to support their efforts to rebuild their country. This over time could be billions of dollars for Ukrainian war efforts.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=6DEACF57-625F-4C68-8CB4-30A50839A089,McConnell Secures Resources to Benefit Kentucky in this Year’s Government Funding Bill,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today this year’s Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill contains significant resources to support important Kentucky institutions and programs. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator McConnell advocated on behalf of the Commonwealth in this year's government funding process. Once the House passes the measure, it will go to the President for his signature. “This government funding bill makes a big, real-dollar increase in defense spending and a big, real-dollar cut to liberal domestic spending while still directing significant federal resources to Kentucky. It’s a win for every Kentuckian concerned with rising threats to our national security and the Commonwealth’s economy and health,” said Senator McConnell. “While I worked to ensure responsible spending in this bill, I also made sure it funds the programs that directly help Kentucky. This legislation devotes landmark resources to helping disaster-affected communities, securing our national defense, fighting back against substance abuse, investing in our infrastructure, and preserving our natural beauty.” Senator McConnell secured the following achievements in this year’s bill to benefit Kentucky: Protecting Land Between the Lakes “Land Between the Lakes is one of Kentucky’s finest natural treasures and drives tourism and job growth in a large portion of Western Kentucky. I’ve worked with constituent groups for years to preserve this Kentucky landmark for future generations, and was proud to continue those efforts in legislation included in this year’s government funding bill,” said Senator McConnell. “The Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act will improve funding and oversight and help solve the long list of issues facing LBL. I appreciate Congressman Comer’s work on the issue and look forward to the improvements it will make for visitors and LBL stakeholders.” Senator McConnell introduced the Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act in April and shepherded it through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously in July. Congressman James Comer (KY-01) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives. This year’s federal funding bill enacts the Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act into law, including the following provisions: Secures more federal resources to address Land Between the Lakes’ (LBL) maintenance needs and expand recreation opportunities. This includes additional funding from the U.S. Forest Service and regulations ensuring user fees collected at LBL are used to improve LBL. Makes changes to the LBL Advisory Board makeup to ensure consistent and responsive leadership. Bolsters law enforcement capacity in LBL and surrounding counties. Better defines the special status of the families who once resided in LBL and guarantees their direct descendants’ access to cemeteries within the territory. Helping Kentucky Rebuild from This Year’s Disasters “When I visited Eastern Kentucky following this summer’s devastating floods, I told my constituents that I would stand by their side for as long as the recovery process took. This year’s government funding bill helps build on that promise,” said Senator McConnell. “From funds for new housing, to resources for long-term recovery, to investments to lessen future flood risk, provisions in this legislation will directly help rebuild shattered Eastern Kentucky communities. There’s no easy way to recover from disasters as destructive as these floods, but I’m confident the Commonwealth will bounce back.” “Senator McConnell has stood with Eastern Kentucky since the moment floods hit this summer. With the provisions he secured in this year’s government funding bill, he is doubling down on his commitment to helping us rebuild better than before. We appreciate his help and look forward to using the funding in this legislation to continue our recovery process,” said Kentucky State Representative Chris Fugate. Senator McConnell advocated for robust funding for the following programs: The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program. The USDA’s Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program. This year’s government funding bill also funds federal programs that can help Kentucky communities affected by disasters rebuild homes and critical infrastructure. Those include initiatives within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Disaster Loans Program, the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (UDSA) and USDA’s Office of Rural Development. Securing our National Defense “Kentucky’s military installations and servicemembers form a crucial part of America’s defense infrastructure. With our nation’s enemies on the move across the globe, it’s more important than ever that we invest in our armed forces, in the Commonwealth and around the country,” said Senator McConnell. “This year’s government funding bill not only delivers record funding for our nation’s military; it also provides resources to take care of Kentucky veterans, better accommodate the Commonwealth’s military families, and develop the next generation of talent for our armed forces.” $35 million for the new Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky to cover construction cost increases. $1.059 billion for chemical agents and munitions destruction, a portion of which supports demilitarization operations at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, Kentucky. $135 million for the renovation of Vietnam War-era barracks to improve soldier quality of life at Fort Campbell. $20 million for an Army Research Lab manufacturing project, which supports research done at the University of Kentucky. $20 million for the National Security Agency (NSA) to support the University of Louisville’s cyber workforce training program. $350 million for the acquisition of the first Gray Eagle Unmanned Aerial Systems for Army National Guard units. Fighting Back Against Substance Abuse “Kentucky is facing record drug overdoses and, with fentanyl flooding across our southern border, the crisis is far from over. As we continue to fight our Commonwealth’s substance abuse epidemic, I’ve worked across party lines to bring federal drug czars to Kentucky and direct more than $650 million to fight back against addiction in our state. This year’s government funding bill goes even further than those past initiatives, directing millions of dollars to the programs that keep drugs off our streets and help Kentuckians beat addiction,” said Senator McConnell. This legislation extends the federal ban on fentanyl-like substances through the end of 2024 and provides robust funding to programs that help prevent and treat substance abuse in Kentucky. Those include the State Opioid Response Grant program, the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) program, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, the National Guard Counter-Drug program, the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, and the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery through Effective Employment and Reentry (CAREER) Act workforce and transitional housing programs. Investing in Kentucky’s Infrastructure and Economy “By investing in Kentucky’s infrastructure today, we are building the jobs, businesses, and economy that our Commonwealth needs for the future. Last year’s bipartisan infrastructure bill offered record resources to spur infrastructure development in our state and this year’s government funding bill will go even further. The programs funded by this legislation promise to help Kentucky stay at the crossroads of American commerce and cement our place in the global economy,” said Senator McConnell. Funds the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) RAISE discretionary grant program, which has funded over $286 million in new Kentucky transportation projects to date. Funds the Essential Air Service program, which benefits the Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah and the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport. $344.9 million to support workers performing necessary environmental cleanup operations at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. This includes $7.5 million for the treatment and offsite shipment of oxide cylinders and $2 million for a reindustrialization study for the site following the completion of its deconstruction. Funds the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support infrastructure development in Central Appalachia. This includes $16 million for basic infrastructure development – through a program Senator McConnell helped create - $13 million to address substance abuse, and $10 million to develop broadband. Funds the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS), a 3,090-mile network of highways linking Appalachian states like Kentucky to the national Interstate Highway System. $52 million to be split among the 12 Regional Biocontainment Laboratories, including the University of Louisville’s biocontainment laboratory, to support research in biodefense. Funds the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) program to provide enhanced worker training in rural areas. $21.75 million will be distributed to the ARC and Delta Regional Authority (DRA) each, both of which include Kentucky. $43.4 million for the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, which creates innovative products for visually-impaired students and people around the country. $30.1 million for the Delta Regional Authority to support economic and infrastructure development in the Mississippi Delta region, which includes a number of counties in Western Kentucky. $10 million for researching alternative uses for coal at the University of Kentucky. Funds programs to encourage broadband and telehealth improvements in rural areas. Ensures funding remains available for the Letcher County federal prison construction project to move forward. Preserving Kentucky’s Natural Beauty “Kentucky’s natural treasures don’t just make our Commonwealth beautiful; they also attract tourists, support jobs, and offer recreation opportunities to locals and visitors alike. This year’s government funding bill helps Kentucky preserve that natural inheritance for years to come, ensuring future generations can enjoy the parks and waterways we all cherish,” said Senator McConnell.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=01A40DDA-5C3B-448E-86D0-B60CEEC6DB4B,Sen. Moran Secures $15 Million Federal Investment for Fort Riley,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,moran,https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations – today announced a more than $15 million federal investment for the construction of new barracks at Fort Riley. This federal investment was included in the FY2023 Appropriations Package. “Already home to nearly 15,000 active duty servicemembers and the headquarters for the 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley will soon have the opportunity to expand its capabilities,” said Sen. Moran. “By building new barracks, the base will have greater capacity for additional soldiers to be housed at Fort Riley and will be in a better position to compete for future opportunities. I appreciated the opportunity to welcome Chief of Staff of the Army General James McConville to Fort Riley this summer to see firsthand Fort Riley’s capabilities.” “Throughout my time in Congress, and especially since the 1st Infantry Division’s return to Fort Riley in 2005, I am proud to have worked closely with the Department of Defense to invest in resources to grow and support Fort Riley’s critical infrastructure, including new middle and elementary schools and the state-of-the-art Irwin Army Hospital,” continued Sen. Moran. “With the addition of these new barracks, Fort Riley will continue to be one of the best places for our servicemembers to live, work and raise a family.” Sen. Moran hosted Gen. McConville at Fort Riley in August 2022 to meet with the troops and see Fort Riley’s capabilities firsthand. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=2987236F-6956-4967-8D42-79ADB17FE3E8,Sen. Moran Secures Federal Investment for Alzheimer’s Treatment at The University of Kansas Health System,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,moran,https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education – today announced a $5 million federal investment to help The University of Kansas Health System purchase MRI and PET technology for Alzheimer’s disease treatment and research. This funding was secured by Sen. Moran in the FY2023 Appropriations Package. “Alzheimer’s disease affects thousands of Kansans, and it’s important to have the resources to diagnosis and treat patients close to home,” said Sen. Moran. “This investment will provide The University of Kansas Health System with updated equipment to help families navigate and treat this terrible disease.” “This funding for new MRI and PET/CT technology at The University of Kansas Health System Alzheimer Disease Program will be incredibly impactful at just the right time,” said Jeff Burns, MD, co-director of The University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center. “The field is changing fast with new diagnostics and drugs ready for patients in the very near future. This new equipment will help us prepare for a new era in brain health.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=B6110F69-9408-4977-A224-CBEBE17133A0,Sen. Moran Secures $43 Million Federal Investment to Help Build New KU Cancer Center,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,moran,https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations – today announced a $43 million federal investment to plan and help build a new cancer research facility at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. The funding was secured by Sen. Moran in the FY2023 Appropriations Package through his role on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. In July of this year, The University of Kansas Cancer Center received the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Comprehensive Designation Status – the highest level of recognition awarded by the NCI and the gold standard for cancer centers. “After years of hard work and dedication, The University of Kansas Cancer Center was awarded the NCI’s Comprehensive Designation Status earlier this year, opening up new possibilities and greater federal investment,” said Sen. Moran. “The KU Cancer Center is already a nationally recognized leader in the fight to treat and cure cancer, and soon, with a new, state-of-the-art cancer center, KU can expand its legacy and capabilities to do research, development and treat patients. With the new center, even more Kansans will have the opportunity to receive care and treatment for cancer close to home. It has long been my priority for Kansas to be a place that not only recruits the top talent in the world to our state, but also keeps our students, their knowledge and intellect in Kansas. Now, more Kansans will have the opportunity to change the world right here at home, and one day, God willing, find a cure for cancer.” “The funding provided in this omnibus package will enable the KU Cancer Center to enhance its work in research and patient care while fulfilling its duty to provide public education and outreach programs, especially to underserved and high-risk populations,” said Douglas Girod, KU Chancellor. “More broadly, by strengthening the KU Cancer Center, this funding elevates the entire university and strengthens KU’s position as a leading national research institution and proud member of the Association of American Universities. We deeply appreciate Senator Moran’s continued support of the KU Cancer Center and the university, and we look forward to partnering with him in the future on initiatives that benefit Kansas."" “The funding will significantly bolster The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s research infrastructure and collaborative culture, leading to a broader portfolio of practice-changing clinical trials that we offer,” said Roy Jensen, MD, Vice Chancellor and Director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center. “It will also foster significant economic growth and further position our region as a hub for innovative biomedical research. We are grateful for Senator Moran’s resolute support of the cancer center.” Timeline of KU Cancer Center’s Comprehensive Designation Status Application: In 2012, KU Cancer Center was recognized as a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. In 2017, KU Cancer Center’s NCI designation was renewed, but the first attempt toward comprehensive status fell short. This same year, NCI made it a rule that no cancer center could be promoted to comprehensive status on its first five-year renewal, allowing KU time during the subsequent five years to focus on strengthening core areas necessary to achieving comprehensive status from NCI. In 2021, as its five-year cancer center renewal would soon come up for review, KU Cancer Center submitted its second application for comprehensive status. In June of 2022, KU Cancer Center officially received the National Cancer Institute’s comprehensive designation status. Additional Federal Resources: As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee with jurisdiction over the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the NCI, Sen. Moran also helped secure a total of $16 million in federal resources for KU Cancer Center in the FY2022 Appropriations bill. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/merkley-murkowski-bill-expanding-breastfeeding-protections-for-workers-poised-to-become-law-,Merkley-Murkowski Bill Expanding Breastfeeding Protections for Workers Poised to Become Law,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"Washington D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced that their bipartisan Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support as an amendment to Congress’s fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations package, which is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by President Biden this week. “Breastfeeding is great for the baby and great for moms,” said Senator Merkley. “We must make it possible for every new mom returning to the workplace to have the option to continue breastfeeding. That option is also really good for business. With this bill, parents will be empowered to make their own choices on breastfeeding, and businesses can improve retention of valuable employees. It’s a win-win-win.”? “The health benefits of breastfeeding are without question. What has been a question is a women’s protection at the jobsite to pump safely. If a mother chooses to breastfeed her baby, she deserves the legal protection to do so without having to worry about it impacting her career,” said Senator Murkowski. “I am encouraged to see the PUMP Act pass the Senate—good progress toward ensuring no mother ever has to choose between a job and nursing her child.” Inadequate time and space to pump in the workplace subjects countless employees to?harassment, reduced wages, and job loss, while others are forced to stop breastfeeding—with consequences for their own health and the health of their children. According to the Surgeon General, breastfeeding can help protect babies from illnesses like ear, skin, and respiratory infections, diarrhea, and vomiting, as well as longer-term conditions such as obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and asthma. It also lowers mothers’ risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and other ailments. The bipartisan?PUMP Act expands a 2010 law authored by Merkley and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12), which provides space and time for hourly employees to pump and store breast milk at work. This enables parents to continue breastfeeding, which is of enormous value to the health of our infants and breastfeeding parents. The new legislation expands these rights to salaried employees. Additionally, the legislation includes an anti-retaliation provision so workers have recourse against employers who flout the law.?",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2022/12/sen-johnson-requests-information-from-department-of-defense-on-covid-19-vaccines-harmful-effects-on-service-members,Sen. Johnson Requests Information from Department of Defense on COVID-19 Vaccines’ Harmful Effects on Service Members,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,ronjohnson,https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – On Monday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to Defense Health Agency Director Lieutenant General Ronald Place requesting detailed information about claims filed on Tricare, a military healthcare program, for active duty service members related to COVID-19 and potential COVID-19 vaccine injuries. “Although the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the military will end with the signing of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, my efforts to uncover and expose the vaccines’ harmful effect on our service members will continue. The brave men and women who serve our country deserve to know the truth about the short and long-term health effects these mandated vaccines will have on the rest of their lives,” the senator wrote. Sen. Johnson has heard from many whistleblowers — including service members — raising concerns about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. He has led multiple roundtables addressing pandemic response failures and has written over 45 public letters to federal health agencies demanding transparency about the COVID-19 vaccines. Last week, Sen. Johnson offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have provided additional protections for service members who were negatively impacted by the Department of Defense’s pointless and harmful COVID-19 vaccine policy. Sen. Johnson requested Lt. Gen. Place respond to his letter no later than January 9, 2023. Read more about the letter in The Post Millennial. The full text of the letter can be found here and below. December 19, 2022 Lt. Gen. Ronald J. Place Director Defense Health Agency Dear Lt. Gen. Place: Over the last year, I have heard from countless individuals across the country who have suffered life-altering injuries after receiving COVID-19 vaccines. My office has also been in contact with many men and woman of the U.S. military who have shared their concerns about the Department of Defense’s (DoD) pointless and harmful COVID-19 vaccine policy. In an effort to inform the public of the potential harm caused by these vaccines, I held three roundtables on this topic and have sent multiple letters to federal health agencies—including DoD—requesting information on vaccine safety and efficacy.[1] Unfortunately, despite the unprecedented number of adverse events and deaths associated with the COVID-19 vaccines on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, this administration has failed to provide full and transparent information on vaccine safety to Congress and to the public. Although the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the military will end with the signing of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, my efforts to uncover and expose the vaccines’ harmful effect on our service members will continue. The brave men and women who serve our country deserve to know the truth about the short and long-term health effects these mandated vaccines will have on the rest of their lives. As part of my effort to uncover the truth, I request the following information from Tricare for active duty service members: From January 1, 2017 – present, please provide the following annual data: Total number of claims filed; and Total number of hospitalization claims filed. From January 1, 2020 – present, please provide the following annual data: Total number of claims filed relating to a COVID-19 diagnosis; Of those claims, please provide the number of: i. Hospitalizations; ii. Remdesivir treatments; iii. Ventilator usages; iv. Treatments with no hospitalizations; v. No treatments and no hospitalizations; and vi. Deaths. From January 1, 2017 – present, please provide data by year for the number of claims filed relating to the following diagnoses: Breast cancer; Demyelinating; Female infertility; Guillain-Barre syndrome; Hypertension; Malignant neoplasms of esophagus; Malignant neoplasms of digestive organs; Malignant neoplasms of thyroid and other endocrine glands; Migraines; Multiple sclerosis; Myocarditis; Pericarditis; Pulmonary embolism; Ovarian dysfunction; Tachycardia; and Testicular cancer. Please provide the number of service members who received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of those individuals, please provide a monthly breakdown of the number of claims filed between January 1, 2020 – present for each diagnoses listed above. Please provide the total number of deaths that occurred in days 0 through 7 after a service member received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of those individuals that died in days 0 through 7 after receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine: i. How many had a preexisting medical condition? ii. What were the official causes of death? Please provide this information as soon as possible but no later than January 9, 2023. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2022/12/sen-johnson-votes-against-massive-omnibus-spending-bill,Sen. Johnson Votes Against Massive Omnibus Spending Bill,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,ronjohnson,https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) released the following statement after voting against final passage of the 4,000+ page, $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill that was fast-tracked through the Senate without proper consideration. “The Omnibus that just passed in the Senate is an abomination. There is no way anyone had time to read all 4,155 pages, much less comprehend how the massive deficit spending and major policy elements will negatively impact Americans. This takes Washington dysfunction and cynicism to an entirely new level. We were unable to amend the bill to eliminate at least $11 billion in earmarks or preserve Title 42 as the only restriction to Biden’s open border policy. Once again, Congress easily waived the ‘Paygo’ discipline to enable massive deficit spending to continue. We are mortgaging our children’s future and a majority of the members of Congress couldn’t care less. I voted no.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2022/12/senate-blocks-sen-johnson-s-amendments-to-eliminate-9-8-billion-in-earmarks-restrict-federally-funded-transportation-of-illegal-migrants-in-omnibus,"Senate Blocks Sen. Johnson’s Amendments to Eliminate $9.8 Billion in Earmarks, Restrict Federally Funded Transportation of Illegal Migrants in Omnibus",2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,ronjohnson,https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) secured a full vote of the United States Senate on his amendments to the $1.7 trillion, 4,000+ page omnibus spending bill. Sen. Johnson offered amendments to eliminate $9.8 billion in earmarks from the bill and to restrict federally funded transportation of illegal migrants. Unfortunately, the Senate voted in favor of keeping the nearly $10 billion of earmarks that will go to states that are sitting on almost $400 billion in surpluses. In a press conference on Tuesday, Sen. Johnson argued that earmarks are “the gateway drug to the massive deficit spending, to the mortgaging of our children's futures. It has to stop.” On the Senate floor today, the senator explained how the earmarks will go to states that are already “sitting on close to $400 billion of surpluses.” In response to the growing crisis on our southern border, Sen. Johnson explained that his amendment “takes whatever funds are appropriated for transporting illegal immigrants – it only allows those funds to be used to send them home or to a safe third country or to Mexico or to a detention facility here in America.” The full text of the amendments can be found here and here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/senator-tim-scott-votes-no-on-bloated-omnibus-bill/,Senator Tim Scott Votes “No” on Bloated Omnibus Bill,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SC,Tim Scott,S001184,www.scott.senate.gov,timscott,https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/jsf/jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released the following statement on his vote against the bloated and rushed omnibus spending package. “A rushed end-of-year vote on a $1.7 trillion spending package chock full of government waste is exactly the type of bad governance South Carolinians sent me to Washington to fight against,” said Senator Tim Scott. “For two years, Democrats’ out-of-control spending has fueled record-high inflation that’s squeezing the budgets of hard-working Americans and families growing up in poverty like I did. Instead of crafting a bill focused on bringing down prices, helping small business owners, securing our border, and increasing opportunity for all Americans, we are being asked to blindly pass legislation that will plunge our nation even further into debt in service of liberal priorities like more IRS funding and a radical climate agenda. “While I was pleased to see legislation I authored included in the package, I could not in good conscience vote for yet another debt-increasing, taxpayer-dollar-wasting, big-government spending bill. I will continue to stand up against this type of mismanagement that puts the American Dream further and further out of reach for the next generation.” Background Bundled with the omnibus spending bill was a legislative package that contained a number of Scott-led bills or supported provisions, including: An extension of the National Flood Insurance Program authorization and borrowing authority; Portions of Senator Scott’s MADE in America Act that strengthen the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain; A 2-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities; A 2-year extension of the hospital at home program, based off of language in Senator Scott’s Hospital Inpatient Modernization Act; Senator Scott’s Advancing Auto Portability Act, which cuts red tape to help Americans who change jobs frequently to increase retirement savings; and Key provisions of Senator Scott’s IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-votes-against-17-trillion-spending-bill,Sullivan Votes Against $1.7 Trillion Spending Bill,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) released the following statement today after voting against H.R. 2617, the 4,155-page, $1.7 trillion omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2023. “End of year omnibus votes are always difficult because of the looming threat of a government shutdown and the fact that some of the provisions in these bills inevitably are ones that benefit Alaska. However, these massive spending bills are usually crafted through backroom deals with no debate and no time for Senators to do their appropriate due diligence on what is actually in them. This dysfunctional process is not worthy of the country and people we represent. “There are a number of things in this bill that I support and strongly advocated for, such as robust funding for our military to counter the threats of this new era of authoritarian aggression led by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping. Specifically, this bill increases defense spending by $45 billion above the President's anemic request, which is something I fought for as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and will continue the significant buildup of the U.S. military in Alaska. This bill also addresses other important Alaska priorities, including items I authored and coauthored, like the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, the Visit America Act, language granting the University of Alaska’s land transfer, and funding to provide disaster relief for Alaska fishermen. “However, this is a more than $1.7 trillion dollar spending bill consisting of 4,155 pages, with thousands more in supporting documents, negotiated and agreed to only by House and Senate leadership, and their staff. We were given approximately 48 hours to read and analyze it. Decisions were made behind closed doors, many of which are clearly beyond the expertise of those making them, and the legislative process once again provided no meaningful opportunity for further input from Senators. “Case in point: The final package we’ve been asked to support undermines national security in the Arctic by cutting funding for the building of Polar Security icebreakers and striking funding for the purchase of an icebreaker that the Coast Guard is planning to home-port in Juneau. This was a priority for the Alaska delegation. We have worked hard to get both the Trump and Biden administrations to support these critical American Arctic assets, and we were able to get them included in President Biden’s budget request, as well as in appropriation and authorization bills. But in the final hours of this opaque omnibus process, these funds were removed. By whom and for what reason, is not clear. This decision could further set back our nation’s ability to provide persistent presence in the Arctic for years. This is a major disappointment for our state and country. “As I have repeatedly emphasized, we need to fix our broken budget process that is not serving our military, government or the American people well.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/tillis-votes-against-1-7-trillion-omnibus-package,Tillis Votes Against $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Package,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted against the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package. “I voted against the $1.7 trillion spending bill because it contains too much wasteful spending and misguided, left-wing priorities,” said Senator Tillis. “North Carolina families have struggled with inflation and have been forced to cut back on spending and make some tough decisions. Congress needs to start doing the same.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-help-small-businesses-grow-and-expand/,"Young, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Help Small Businesses Grow and Expand",2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) introduced the Solving the Unnecessary Contracting Cliff for Enterprises to Scale Successfully (SUCCESS) Act, bipartisan legislation to encourage the growth of small construction and engineering businesses as they compete in the federal marketplace. After hearing from constituent employers about the “contracting cliff” that was impacting their ability to compete, I am pleased to introduce the SUCCESS Act,” said Senator Young. “This bill will pilot a way for advanced small businesses to bridge the gap when growing from a small company to what is referred to as an “other-than-small” business in federal contracting terms. Removing barriers for job creators is an important way to increase the competitiveness of our industrial base.” Under current regulations, federal contractors transitioning from “small” to “other-than-small” status are ineligible for set-aside contracts, throwing newly-minted mid-sized firms into head-to-head competition against multinational conglomerates in highly concentrated sectors. Consequently, some small businesses are dissuaded from growing and expanding their operations, should they then be ineligible for certain federal contracts. This often applies even to companies that had previously been capable of fulfilling these contracts. Typically referred to as the “contracting cliff,” this problem means there are very few mid-sized competitors within the federal marketplace, which, when combined with fewer new businesses in the market, has contributed to an existential shrinking of the industrial base. The SUCCESS Act would allow small businesses within the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes 236220 (commercial and institutional building construction) or 541330 (engineering services) to elect to participate in a seven-year pilot program upon outgrowing their NAICS size standard, which would qualify them as “small” for federal contracts above a certain dollar threshold. To complete the program, participating firms would need to certify that they have met applicable activity targets and complied with certain restrictions to protect the smallest of small businesses. “As a small business federal contractor, it never really made sense to try to grow the business beyond small business status. A 2019 GAO report confirmed this reality, noting only 2.5% of small business federal contractors that outgrow their size standard successfully transition to the next levels. This transitioning initiative paves the way for a meaningful level of growth to enable companies in Indiana and across the country to remain viable at the next size level of federal government contracting. Our thanks to Senator Young for understanding the issues and putting forth thoughtful legislation that dramatically improves our odds of success,” said Luke Leising, President of Indianapolis-based Guidon Design. “We should all be concerned with the shrinking defense industrial base and its adverse impact on the economy and our national security. This transitioning initiative gives federal contractor owners in Indiana and throughout the United States a real chance to take our companies to the next level – to not only grow and remain competitive in the federal contracting market, but also to help grow the economy and strengthen our defense industrial base. Many thanks to Senator Young for acknowledging these challenges and sponsoring this legislation, which will have direct and meaningful impact in each of these areas,” said Mercedes Enrique, President of Bargersville-based CMS Corporation. U.S. Representatives Andy Barr (R-KY-06), Jason Crow (D-CO-06), and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO-03) introduced the House companion version of the bill today.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-joins-efforts-to-ensure-accountability-from-fcc-on-broadband-mapping/,Young Joins Efforts to Ensure Accountability from FCC on Broadband Mapping,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter to Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to ensure the FCC’s national broadband maps satisfy the goals of the Broadband DATA Act and provide a reliable depiction of broadband availability across the nation. “We have heard from constituents, state and local governments, and service providers alike of continuing concerns about the accuracy of the map, ranging from persistent issues with missing or incorrect serviceable locations to potentially overstated claims of coverage by providers,” the senators wrote. “To ensure the map can be used for decisions about where to direct tens of billions of dollars for broadband deployment, it is critical that these issues be examined and addressed in a systematic and thorough manner.” “We recognize that these steps will require more work now in ensuring all serviceable locations are represented and in sorting through challenges as to the availability of service and to the underlying Fabric data,” the senators continued. “But these processes must not be short-cut or millions of Americans in need of broadband risk being short-changed.” Senator Young joined Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in signing the letter. To ensure accountability and accuracy, the senators’ letter asks the FCC to: Work with stakeholders to make sure that all serviceable locations are represented on the map. Update the Fabric more than twice each year. Make sure that providers are held accountable for their reports if they are found to have overreported coverage. Ensure that its crowdsourcing process works effectively and promptly in response to parties filing robust testing data regarding performance of services that are available. Full text of the letter is available here and below: Dear Chairwoman Rosenworcel, We write today to highlight important next steps in ensuring that the national broadband map being developed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ultimately satisfies the goals of the Broadband DATA Act and provides a reliable depiction of broadband availability across the country. As an initial matter, we appreciate the efforts of you, your colleagues on the FCC, and the FCC staff in seeking to develop a nationwide Fabric that identifies serviceable locations and in amassing data detailing the level of broadband service available to each of them. We appreciate that this has involved the creation of a new means of capturing and presenting such data, and we are pleased that the public can now view a preliminary version of the map reflecting initial location estimates and initial service coverage reports from providers. But for all of the work done to date, as you and others have noted on multiple occasions, this is an “iterative” process. We have heard from constituents, state and local governments, and service providers alike of continuing concerns about the accuracy of the map, ranging from persistent issues with missing or incorrect serviceable locations to potentially overstated claims of coverage by providers. To ensure the map can be used for decisions about where to direct tens of billions of dollars for broadband deployment, it is critical that these issues be examined and addressed in a systematic and thorough manner. Accountability and accuracy must be paramount moving forward. A more granular map will be of little use if there is little confidence in the results and if providers are not accountable for reporting accurately. We encourage you therefore to work with stakeholders of all kinds to make sure that all serviceable locations are in fact represented on the map, such as by making it relatively simple for adjustments to be made to the Fabric. We also recommend that the Fabric be updated more than twice each year and that such updates, especially when adding new locations, also enable the identification of the locations as served or not. Similarly, we encourage you to make sure that providers are accountable for their reports – not just after the fact if they are found to have overreported coverage, but on the front end even prior to the map being finalized. This is especially important precisely because choices as to how billions of broadband dollars will be spent or not will turn on these claims. We therefore ask, for example, that you not allow a provider to claim coverage at locations where challengers can demonstrate they have tried to request service and been told the service is unavailable or cannot be delivered within 10 business days. Likewise, if a challenger submits robust testing data or publicly available coverage data indicating that a provider’s signals cannot in fact be received at a given location as promised, this should disqualify the provider from claiming to serve that location. In addition, the Commission should ensure that its crowdsourcing process works effectively and promptly in response to parties filing robust testing data regarding performance of services that are available. We recognize that these steps will require more work now in ensuring all serviceable locations are represented and in sorting through challenges as to the availability of service and to the underlying Fabric data. But these processes must not be short-cut or millions of Americans in need of broadband risk being short-changed. Thank you again for your work thus far in developing the map and for your attention to this letter. We look forward to continuing to work with you to promote accountability on the part of reporting providers and to ensure that we are working from a map that is both granular and accurate in making responsible decisions about distributing valuable taxpayer resources for broadband deployment.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-supports-boost-for-national-defense-in-annual-government-funding-package/,Young Supports Boost for National Defense in Annual Government Funding Package,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) voted in favor of H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, a package that rebalances America’s priorities and adheres to the Republican framework for appropriations negotiations – an increase for defense funding, a significant reduction for non-defense funding, preservation of all legacy policy riders including the Hyde Amendment, and no partisan poison pills. The bill includes a 10% increase in defense funding, a military pay raise, a down payment for implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, critical assistance for Ukraine, and funding for the federal government for Fiscal Year 2023. The legislation passed the Senate 68-29. “This legislation provides our Armed Forces with increased resources and the certainty needed to address threats to our national security while also cutting the Biden Administration’s wasteful non-defense budget request by more than half,” said Senator Young. “I’m also pleased the bill includes a down payment for implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, another priority important to our national security. “While I’m disappointed in the process and there are many things in this package that I don’t support, there is no feasible alternative method for getting this critical funding for defense. Going forward, I will continue to advocate for a return to regular order for government funding through passing a budget and then passing the twelve annual spending bills individually. However, that requires cooperation from members who often like to unreasonably slow progress on bills that have no chance of being signed into law.” Senator Young priorities included in the bill: Emergency Savings Act, introduced by Senators Young and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) to facilitate convenient and affordable access to workplace emergency savings accounts, helping families create stable emergency savings for unforeseen expenses, while keeping retirement accounts intact for the future. Special Needs Trust Improvement Act, authored by Senators Young and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) to give families greater flexibility in choosing the remainder beneficiary of trusts established for a loved one with a disability or chronic illness. Electoral Count Reform Act, bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator Young to reform and modernize the 1887 Electoral Count Act, which governs the joint session of Congress in which each state’s electoral votes are counted in accordance with the Twelfth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Manufacturing.gov Act, to revamp the manufacturing.gov website, and establish a single hub for information and questions relating to federal manufacturing programs. This legislation, introduced by Senators Young and Gary Peters (D-Mich.), is the result of a 2017 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office which found that the federal government maintains 58 different manufacturing programs across 11 federal agencies. Extension of telehealth services under Medicare for two years, which builds on Senator Young’s Telehealth Extension and Evaluation Act to ensure seniors continue to benefit from important remote health care services. Funding for the following programs Senator Young supports was also included:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom-news-releases-barrasso-smith-bill-to-improve-rural-health-care-passes-senate/,"Barrasso, Smith Bill to Improve Rural Health Care Passes Senate",2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,barrasso,https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom/news-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan bill to improve rural health care by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Co-Chairs of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) Reauthorization Act of 2022 will reauthorize a key program that supports health facilities in rural areas across the country. This bill ensures that State Offices of Rural Health have the financial resources needed to improve information-sharing, technical assistance, and care delivery in rural settings. Under the bill, the program will be reauthorized for five years, which will preserve the program’s flexibility to meet the needs of providers and patients across the country. The legislation now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. “With Senate passage, we’re one step closer to ensuring Wyoming’s Office of Rural Health has the critical resources needed to give our patients the quality of care they deserve,” said Barrasso. “As I doctor, I’ve seen firsthand how this program benefits our state’s rural health clinics and hospitals. I urge the House to take up our bill and pass it as soon as possible.” “When I meet with families, farmers, businesses and community leaders in greater Minnesota, one of the first issues that comes up is health care,” said Senator Smith. “This bipartisan legislation will help make sure State Offices of Rural Health have the resources they need to expand and improve health care services in rural communities. I’m proud of our work to pass this bill and help address the unique health care needs of rural America.” Cosponsors of this legislation include U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). The full text of the legislation can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom-news-releases-senate-confirms-rivertons-ruby-calvert-to-second-term-on-national-public-broadcasting-board/,Senate Confirms Riverton’s Ruby Calvert to Second Term on National Public Broadcasting Board,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,WY,John Barrasso,B001261,www.barrasso.senate.gov,barrasso,https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom/news-releases/,scraper,"CASPER, WY – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) congratulated Riverton resident Ruby Calvert on being unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be a member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) board. This will be Ruby’s second term on the board. “Ruby has served in the public television system in Wyoming and nationally for nearly 40 years. She’s a fierce advocate for public media that enriches, informs and educates the public,” said Barrasso. “Throughout her career, Ruby has shown she can tackle challenges unique to rural states while being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars. She will continue to represent Wyoming and rural America well on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting board.” The Corporation for Public Broadcasting oversees the government’s investment in public broadcasting, which supports the operations of nearly 1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. The president of the United States appoints each member, who, after confirmation by the Senate, serves a six-year term. Calvert worked for the Wyoming Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in Riverton for more than 30 years, including 10 years as general manager of the station and president of the Wyoming PBS Foundation. Calvert also served two terms on the national PBS Board. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-cotton-boozman-pay-tribute-to-fallen-arkansas-law-enforcement-officers,"Cotton, Boozman Pay Tribute to Fallen Arkansas Law Enforcement Officers",2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AR,Tom Cotton,C001095,www.cotton.senate.gov,cotton,https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Caroline Tabler orJames Arnold (202) 224-2353 December 21, 2022 Cotton, Boozman Pay Tribute to Fallen Arkansas Law Enforcement Officers Click here to watch the remarks WASHINGTON, D.C.–– Arkansas U.S. Senators Tom Cotton and John Boozman paid tribute on the Senate floor to the service and sacrifice of Benton County Sheriff’s Detective Paul Newell, Stuttgart Police Sergeant Donald Scoby, and Jonesboro Police Officer Vincent Parks. “All of Arkansas mourns the loss of these brave men in uniform. Their courage and selflessness will not soon be forgotten. I pray that God will bring their families and loved ones the peace that comes from knowing their sacrifice was not in vain,” Cotton said. “These individuals selflessly volunteer for this duty while accepting that the dangers of the job also put them in harm’s way. It takes a special person to take on that responsibility, and that fact must never be lost on us,” Boozman said. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=77BFD05B-D57C-477B-B290-1798AF7F611F,Graham Announces South Carolina Projects in Year End Spending Bill,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SC,Lindsey Graham,G000359,www.lgraham.senate.gov,graham,https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the South Carolina projects that were included in the year-end spending bill set to be debated and voted on in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate this week. Graham made these funding requests to the Senate Appropriations Committee, a committee on which he serves. Among the South Carolina funding included in the legislation: Aiken (City): $4.5 million for water treatment system upgrades. Aiken – Rural Health Services: $422,000 for facilities and equipment to improve health care access. Aiken County: $413,000 to purchase updated firefighting equipment. Aiken County: $5 million for wastewater treatment plant expansion. Anderson – Restoration Project Foundation: $650,000 to develop and implement curriculum. Beaufort (City): $800,000 for storm water management. Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry: $1.5 million for facility improvements. Calhoun County: $10.511 million for water infrastructure expansion. Cayce: $858,000 to upgrade police equipment. Charleston (City): $200,000 to conduct a feasibility study to mitigate the effects of tidal and inland flooding in the Charleston area. Charleston (City): $13.325 million for preconstruction, engineering, and design to protect against severe storms and storm surge impacts at the Charleston Peninsula. Cheraw: $423,000 for water plant improvements. Clemson: $2.629 million for public infrastructure improvements. Clemson University: $6 million to improve student health care delivery. Columbia International University: $915,000 for nursing education program and equipment. Folly Beach: $500,000 to mitigate extensive shoreline erosion due to severe storms. Francis Marion University: $1.09 million for equipment for science, health care, and engineering. Greenville – MetroConnects: $4 million for sewer system upgrades. Greenville – REWA Renewable Water Resources: $6.3 million to construct wastewater infrastructure sewer and pumping station upgrades in Greenville County. Greenville Water: $5.4 million for transmission main line upgrades. Horry County: $22 million for an interchange extension. Kershaw County Family YMCA: $1.1 million to develop a child care center and training facility. Kingstree (Town): $4.6 million for park infrastructure. Limestone University: $700,000 campus safety equipment. Laurens County: $14.552 million for road safety improvements. Lexington (Town): $2.275 million to acquire updated technology for the police department. Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort: $900,000 to plan and design a new fuel pier. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island: $75.9 million for the replacement of recruit barracks. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island: $4.8 million to plan and design a new dental clinic. Medical University of South Carolina: $6.25 million for facilities and equipment to improve cancer care. Mount Pleasant: $10 million for reimbursement to the state of South Carolina for harbor deepening. The state pre-funded harbor deepening in an effort to accelerate the timeline and ensure the project was not delayed waiting on annual federal appropriations. Mount Pleasant: $5.677 million for drainage resilience. Mount Pleasant – Enough is Enough: $960,000 to conduct online exploitation prevention. North Charleston – Carolina Youth Development Center: $361,000 to enhance security. Pendleton: $5.3 million for wastewater treatment plant expansion. Pickens Regional Joint Water: $4 million for a water treatment plant. Piedmont Technical College: $256,000 to improve student outcomes and increase graduation rates. Roper St. Francis Hospital: $6.475 million for facilities and equipment to improve oncology care. Roper St. Francis Hospital: $3.775 million to increase access to health care. Sumter (City): $510,000 to upgrade their ballistic evidence system. South Carolina Emergency Management: $7.5 million for facility upgrades and modernization. Tri-County Technical College: $1.211 million for an automotive training center. University of South Carolina Aiken: $830,000 for equipment for STEM program. University of South Carolina Beaufort: $1 million for facilities and equipment improvements to nursing simulation center. University of South Carolina Lancaster: $110,000 for facilities and equipment to improve health care education. University of South Carolina School of Law: $950,000 for Rule of Law curriculum development. University of South Carolina: $2.505 million for facilities and equipment to improve stroke research and care. University of South Carolina: $4.5 million for facilities and equipment to create a shared biomedical research core. University of South Carolina: $7.75 million for facilities and equipment to enhance clinical diagnosis and care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Walterboro – Genesis Health Care: $1 million to improve the delivery of health care. Other notable funding items related to South Carolina organizations and institutions included in the legislation: $1.2 Billion for Plutonium Pit Production at Savannah River Site: Allows for the continued construction on the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) project to achieve a production capability of at least 50 pits per year within South Carolina consistent with the NNSA’s recommended alternative for pit production. This advances our nation’s nuclear capability to counter threats like Russian and China. $71.764 Million for Surplus Plutonium Disposition at Savannah River Site: The Surplus Plutonium Disposition (SPD) project will add additional glovebox capacity at the Savannah River Site (SRS) to accelerate plutonium dilution and aid in the removal of plutonium from South Carolina. $12.137 Million for Savannah River Site Community and Regulatory Support: The Atomic Energy Act authorizes payments to communities to help offset losses in property taxes due to the presence of non-taxable federal lands within their boundaries. This critical funding is used in a variety of ways in South Carolina, including supporting public schools. $10.5 Million for Procurement and Industrial Base Protection. This request supports the production of the M240 machine gun in Columbia. Without additional procurement funding, the M240 line would be at risk and restarting the line in the future creates an unacceptable risk to American warfighters. #####",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=BF04436C-1269-481C-BCB8-992C0FD21F49,Graham: Where is the Commander in Chief When it Comes to the Border Crisis?,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SC,Lindsey Graham,G000359,www.lgraham.senate.gov,graham,https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) joined Jesse Watters on Fox News Channel to discuss the crisis on the southern border, including the expiration of a Biden Administration policy, known as Title 42, to prevent illegal immigrants from being deported due to public health concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic. GRAHAM:“…We went from the lowest illegal crossings when Trump was president to the highest of all time.” https://youtu.be/mC8tjz6zXbM?t=17 GRAHAM:“I am calling on President Biden tonight to reinstate Title 42 by executive action. That’s one thing to do. Number two, I’ll introduce a bill. You get behind it President Biden and we’ll get 80 votes in the Senate to make it a statute.” https://youtu.be/mC8tjz6zXbM?t=39 GRAHAM: “[Biden] is choosing to allow Title 42 authority to go away. He is choosing to allow the number of illegal immigrants to come into our country to double. He is choosing that.” https://youtu.be/mC8tjz6zXbM?t=56 GRAHAM:“If you want to look at a humanitarian nightmare, go to our border. I can’t believe the President of the United States has not visited the border. He is the Commander in Chief. You’ve got the Governor of California, a Democrat, who went to the border and said if we repeal Title 42, you’ll destroy California. You have the mayor of New York City, a Democrat, suggesting that if Title 42 is changed, it will overwhelm New York City.” https://youtu.be/mC8tjz6zXbM?t=94 GRAHAM:“El Paso has declared a state of emergency. Fourteen thousand pounds of fentanyl have come across this broken border. The border is not open, it’s been obliterated by the policies of Biden. He has surrendered the border. Where is the Commander in Chief when it comes to this crisis?” https://youtu.be/mC8tjz6zXbM?t=121 GRAHAM: “Title 42 authority allows the United States to deport people [in the country illegally] based on a COVID problem without a whole lot of delay. It is a tool that actually works. There are thousands of people waiting for it to expire. We are going to double the number of illegal immigrants literally in about 48 hours because people are waiting for Title 42 to go away. The President of the United States could by the stroke of a pen keep the policy in place or he could ask Congress to pass a law to reinstate Title 42. He is choosing not to do this. He is choosing to allow illegal immigration to double in 48 hours.” https://youtu.be/mC8tjz6zXbM?t=169 Watch Full Interview Here ##### Click play to view the video or follow this link https://youtu.be/mC8tjz6zXbM",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=369DFBA1-8F17-4A72-BEB4-FD1A1C9A00C7,Senate Confirms Kentuckian Wade White for TVA Board of Directors,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today regarding the Senate confirming the nomination of former Lyon County Judge-Executive Wade White to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors: “I applaud the Senate approving Wade White’s nomination and finally adding a Kentuckian to the TVA Board of Directors. As proven by his successful tenure as Lyon County Judge-Executive, Wade will be a leader in helping 215,000 Kentucky households access the reliable power TVA promises to provide. Wade’s heart has always been in serving his home state and his unique perspective will bring balance to the organization and its priorities. I thank Wade for his hard work on behalf of Kentucky and look forward to his service to our state and country on the TVA Board.” Senator McConnell recommended White to the President for this position and introduced him to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=6700DFCF-C103-4675-A940-5146E4DE1027,Funding Bill Makes Essential Investments in American Strength and Security,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding government funding: “The bipartisan government funding bill before this body is imperfect but strong. It will make huge new investments in our Armed Forces while cutting non-defense, non-veterans baseline spending in real dollars. “Let me say that again: The world’s greatest military will get the funding increase that it needs, outpacing inflation. Meanwhile, non-defense, non-veterans spending will come in below the rate of inflation, for a real-dollar cut. “This is a debate about American security, American servicemembers, and American interests on the world stage. “Month after month, year after year, competitors such as China are methodically pouring money and planning into upgrading and modernizing their own militaries. They are constantly probing new ways to expand their military, intelligence, economic, and political reach — indirectly or directly threatening American forces and our allies’ and partners’ forces. “Under these perilous circumstances, cutting defense spending in real dollars, as Democrats first wanted to do, is not an option. “And embarking on a potentially endless cycle of continuing resolutions that give our military real-dollar funding cuts because of inflation, and give Defense Department leaders no certainty to plan and invest — that is not an acceptable option either. “There is no question the bipartisan funding bill is imperfect. “If Senate Republicans controlled this chamber, we would have handled the appropriations process differently from top to bottom. “But given the reality of where we stand today, Senators have two options this week: We will either give our Armed Forces the resources and certainty that they need, or we will deny it to them.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=ACB7226B-B758-473A-94AE-4DB655512F6C,McConnell on Zelenskyy Visit: Helping Ukraine Directly Serves Core American Interests,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Ukraine: “Later today, members of Congress will have the opportunity to assemble in a Joint Meeting and hear from President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. “I look forward to welcoming President Zelenskyy to the Capitol, and to hearing from the Ukrainian people’s elected leader at a critical moment in their struggle for their safety and sovereignty against Russia’s unhinged aggression. The people of Ukraine have reminded the entire free world about the meaning of sovereignty and the price of freedom. They’ve fought back against the invaders with inspiring bravery. “And let’s be clear. The reason that a big bipartisan majority of the American people and big bipartisan majorities in Congress support continuing to assist Ukraine is not primarily about inspiring speeches or a desire to engage in philanthropy. “The Ukrainian people are courageous and innocent and they deserve our help. President Zelenskyy is an inspiring leader. But the most basic reasons for continuing to help Ukraine degrade and defeat the Russian invaders are cold, hard, practical American interests. “Helping equip our friends in Eastern Europe to win this war is also a direct investment in reducing Vladimir Putin’s future capabilities to menace America, threaten our allies, and contest our core interests. “Defeating Russia’s aggression will help prevent further security crises in Europe. “It will prevent even further economic chaos that would roil key American trading partners and hurt American workers and families directly. “It will massively wear down the arsenal that is available to Putin for future efforts to use bullying and bloodshed to redraw still other borders down the road. “And it will send a stark warning to other would-be aggressors like the People’s Republic of China. “By assisting Ukraine today, America is directly demonstrating our commitment to the basic principles of territorial integrity and national sovereignty — changing the calculus for others considering military aggression and lowering the odds of far costlier and far more deadly future conflicts in the process. “So I’ll say it one more time. Continuing our support for Ukraine is morally right, but it is not only that. It is also a direct investment in cold, hard, American interests. “That’s why Republicans rejected the Biden Administration’s original request for Ukraine assistance as insufficient. The Administration’s initial plan assumed there would be a lull in fighting over the winter and so the disbursement rates of weapons would decrease. But hoping for the best cannot mean that we fail to prepare for the worst. Rather than slowing assistance, we should be speeding up international deliveries to Ukraine, to help them take back more territory and better prepare for whenever they next go on the offensive. “So Republicans pushed hard here in the Senate to increase the amount of security assistance in this bill. I’m glad our Democratic colleagues came around. “The agreement on the table increases weapons purchases to support Ukraine beyond the President’s request. This assistance is in our national security interest, but it’s also in America’s economic interest. These investments will help expand our defense manufacturing capacity and contribute to an industry that supports high-paying American jobs. “The money is tied to strong oversight requirements to ensure that America’s investments reach only our intended targets. There has been meaningful oversight over our Ukraine assistance all along, including by three separate Inspectors General and the Government Accountability Office. And on top of that, last week’s NDAA will put in place even further expansions in oversight, more end-use monitoring, and stricter reporting requirements. And the oversight won’t stop there. Just as Senate ranking members have worked hard to maximize the impact of our assistance, the incoming House Republican majority will be able to use their gavels to keep an even closer eye on Ukraine aid and make sure the Biden Administration is doing everything possible to rebuild our defense-industrial base. “While America is uniquely capable of leading this supporting effort, we should not, and are not, doing so alone. Vital Eastern Front allies and partners – in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland – have risen to the challenge of backing Ukraine in the fight against tyranny. So, too, have some Western European powers. And some allies across Europe deserve credit for changing course, making substantial investments in their own militaries, and starting to unwind years of neglect of national defense. “But some other European allies have lagged behind. They can and must do more, both to stand with Ukraine today and rebuild their own strength going forward. “Finally, we all know that Ukraine’s fight to retake its territory is neither the beginning nor end of the West’s broader strategic competition with Putin’s Russia. Increasing the pressure on Putin’s regime can and should be a bipartisan priority. That will take concrete steps, like sanctions with teeth, not empty symbolism. If our Democratic colleagues are serious about joining this effort, Republicans stand ready to expose Russia’s long trail of wartime atrocities and meaningfully ratchet up the economic and political costs that Russia pays for its misdeeds, from Ukraine to Georgia to Moldova to the Middle East and beyond. “These threats and atrocities require more than symbols and resolutions. They require concrete actions and consequences. “The plight of the innocent people of Ukraine is offering the world the starkest, most painful, and most personal reminder imaginable that global security and national self-determination do not uphold themselves. That peace is far from inevitable, and freedom is far from self-fulfilling. That countries who benefit from global stability need to help deter countries who want chaos. “But even against the barbaric horrors of a war they never asked for — even in the face of torture, and executions, and inhumane attacks on infrastructure, and systematic terror campaigns against civilian cities — against all these things, against the cold fate that Putin has tried to deal Ukraine — we have seen the warmth of the Ukrainian people’s spirits win out. Their love for their homeland…. for their families... for their freedom. “The United States Congress will be honored to hear the message that their courageous president brings to us on behalf of the brave citizens he represents.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=E750AE47-E894-4068-AFDE-AD01713B83BB,Sen. Moran Statement on the Passing of Former State Lawmaker Ron Hein,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KS,Jerry Moran,M000934,www.moran.senate.gov,moran,https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today issued the following statement after the passing of former Kansas state lawmaker Ron Hein: “Ron Hein dedicated his life to public service, including many years serving our state in the Kansas Legislature. His desire to leave a positive, lasting impact on his community, state and country was apparent as he worked diligently on behalf of Kansans during his decades of involvement in state politics and government. “Our state is a better place because of his passion and dedication, and I am grateful to him for his many years of service to Kansans. I extend my sincere condolences to his wife, Julie, his children, Derek and Jennifer, and his five grandchildren. Robba and I are praying for them during this difficult time.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-sullivan-peltola-secure-new-white-house-commitments-on-willow,"Murkowski, Sullivan, Peltola Secure New White House Commitments on Willow",2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska), today released the following joint statement after a meeting at the White House about the Willow Project on Alaska’s North Slope. “We met today with senior officials from the White House, Department of the Interior, and Department of Labor regarding Alaska’s Willow Project, our second meeting in the past ten days. The Administration committed to having a final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement released by the end of January 2023, and the Record of Decision completed by the end of February 2023. That commitment includes all federal agency work required to comply with applicable laws in the permitting process. During the meeting, we urged the Administration to select Alternative E, which is responsive to the Alaska District Court’s ruling, and reiterated that approval of a project that is not viable would be viewed as a denial. We also underscored the strong support the Willow Project has among all Alaska stakeholder groups, including Alaska Native communities, as well as labor unions and building trades.” Timeline On September 20, the Alaska delegation sent a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to complete the permitting process for the Willow Project in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) by the end of the year, in time for the winter construction season. In July 2022, BLM Alaska issued a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Willow Project. On July 15, 2022, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan wrote a letter to Secretary Haaland reiterating their strong support of the Willow Project and urging the Department of the Interior to promptly approve it. On March 8, 2022, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan and the late Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) wrote a letter to Secretary Haaland urging the Department of the Interior to expeditiously complete an SEIS and re-approve the Willow Project. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief with the U.S. District Court for Alaska defending the Willow Project. After reviewing the final ROD for the Willow Master Development Plan (MDP), approved in October 2020 by the Trump administration, for consistency with the Biden administration’s initial executive orders on addressing climate change, the administration found the ROD legally sufficient. The filing followed weeks of advocacy and outreach by the Alaska delegation to President Biden and his administration. On April 26, 2021, the municipal mayors of Utqiagvik, Wainwright, and Atqasuk—three communities located within the boundaries of NPR-A—wrote to Secretary Haaland asking her to allow the Willow MDP to move forward. On April 21, 2021, George Edwardson, president of the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, wrote to Secretary Haaland in support of the Willow MDP. On April 15, 2021, North Slope Borough Mayor Harry Brower, Jr. and Alaska Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feige wrote to Secretary Haaland urging her to allow responsible oil and gas development on federal lands in Alaska to proceed. On February 13, 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals extended a District Court injunction of the Willow MDP, pending appeal. On February 1, 2021, the U.S. District Court for Alaska issued an injunction on the Willow MDP. On October 27, 2020, BLM issued the ROD for the Willow MDP. On August 14, 2020, BLM published the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Willow MDP. Related Issues: Energy",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/us-senate-reauthorizes-bipartisan-star-act-to-combat-childhood-cancer,U.S. Senate Reauthorizes Bipartisan STAR Act to Combat Childhood Cancer,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"Reed, Capito, Van Hollen & Murkowski Lead Effort to Advance Childhood Cancer Research, Improve Efforts to Identify and Track Incidence of Childhood Cancer, and Enhance the Quality of Life for Childhood Cancer Survivors In an effort to help thousands of children who undergo cancer treatment each year, support the pediatric cancer community, and find new cures and effective treatments, the U.S. Senate voted to reauthorize the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act of 2022 (S. 4120). Introduced by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) with strong bipartisan support from cosponsors Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), this bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, the most comprehensive childhood cancer bill ever passed by Congress, for another five years. The STAR Act helps advance pediatric cancer research and child-focused cancer treatments, while also improving childhood cancer surveillance and providing resources for survivors and those impacted by childhood cancer. Since being signed into law the STAR Act has helped deliver over $120 million to fund promising childhood cancer research and assist patients and families battling cancer. “Every two minutes, a child somewhere in the world is diagnosed with cancer and we're in a race to find better treatments, therapies, and a cure. Reauthorizing the STAR Act means more help for kids battling cancer. It targets federal research to ensure the medical community is better equipped to diagnose and treat pediatric cancers and assist young patients and their families,” said Senator Reed. “This reauthorization will help lead to major advancements in treating and curing pediatric cancer. It will develop new strategies to help survivors overcome late health effects, such as secondary cancers, and offer a lifetime of support.” “I was incredibly proud to be part of the passage of the STAR Act in 2018, which has made an important difference in the lives of children with cancer, as well as childhood cancer survivors and their families. Since that time, the legislation has resulted in unprecedented opportunities and funding for childhood cancer research, allowed us to better understand and track the incidence of disease, and improved the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors. I’m thrilled the Senate has passed this meaningful legislation, which will ultimately allow these opportunities to continue and bring us closer to a world without childhood cancer,” Senator Capito said. “We want a future where no child has to fight for their life in a battle with cancer. That’s why we authored and passed the Childhood Cancer STAR Act to bolster childhood cancer research, and why we fought to further build on its progress through this reauthorization of funds. This important bill will support continued advances in cancer research to deliver better treatments and lifesaving cures, many of which are being developed at Maryland’s NIH and NCI. The House should take up this legislation immediately so we can take another step forward in the fight against childhood cancer,” said Senator Van Hollen. “This bill takes a multifaceted approach to addressing childhood cancer by boosting research efforts and bolstering data collection. Through this legislation, we have an opportunity to help improve the quality of life for all the brave children who’ve survived cancer—and hope that future generations don’t experience this terrible disease at all,” said Senator Murkowski. “Our bipartisan bill is comprehensive, focusing on supporting survivors and finding treatments. I’m proud to be part of this effort to end childhood cancer.” There are over one hundred different subtypes of childhood cancers. Most new cancer diagnoses in children are for leukemia (28.1%) and brain/CNS cancers (26.5%), while malignant epithelial neoplasms and melanomas (23.3%) and brain/CNS cancers (21.9%) are top cancers for adolescents, according to Children’s Cancer Cause. Childhood cancer research has progressed in recent years, but after accidents, cancer is still the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14, according to the American Cancer Society. Health experts estimate that nearly 10,500 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2022. U.S. Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX), Jackie Speier (D-CA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), and Mike Kelly (R-PA), co-authored companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The U.S. House must act before the bill can be sent to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. Summary: The Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Reauthorization Act of 2022 (S. 4120) Expand Opportunities for Childhood Cancer Research: Due to the relatively small population of children with cancer and the geographic distance between these children, researching childhood cancer can be challenging. As such, the Childhood Cancer STAR Act reauthorizes and expands existing efforts at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to collect biospecimens for childhood cancer patients enrolled in NCI-sponsored clinical trials to collect and maintain relevant clinical, biological, and demographic information on all children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer. Improve Childhood Cancer Surveillance: Building upon previous efforts, this bill authorizes grants to state cancer registries to identify and track incidences of child, adolescent, and young adult cancer. This funding will be used to identify and train reporters of childhood cancer cases, secure infrastructure to ensure early reporting and capture of child cancer incidences, and support the collection of cases into a national childhood cancer registry. Help Improve Quality of Life Opportunities for Childhood Cancer Survivors: Unfortunately, even after beating cancer, as many as two-thirds of survivors suffer from late effects of their disease or treatment, including secondary cancers and organ damage. This legislation will enhance research on the late effects of childhood cancers, improve collaboration among providers so that doctors are better able to care for this population as they age, and establish a new pilot program to begin to explore innovative models of care for childhood cancer survivors. Ensure Pediatric Expertise at the National Institutes of Health (NIH): Requires the inclusion of at least one expert in pediatric oncology on the National Cancer Advisory Board and would improve childhood health reporting requirements to include pediatric cancer.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.paul.senate.gov/dr-rand-paul-introduces-legislation-to-bring-more-freedom-and-flexibility-to-healthcare/,Dr. Rand Paul Introduces Legislation to Bring More Freedom and Flexibility to Healthcare,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 2022 Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) continued his efforts to help Americans more easily meet their health care needs by introducing his Health Savings Accounts for All Act and his Health Marketplace for All Act. “As Americans’ health care costs continue to rise, my plan puts more power in the people’s hands, getting rid of unnecessary restrictions, expanding access, and trusting Americans to make the decisions that are best for them,” said Dr. Paul. Health Savings Accounts for All Act: Health savings accounts (HSA) give millions of Americans the freedom and flexibility to save and pay for medical costs their insurance doesn’t cover. Dr. Paul’s Health Savings Accounts for All Act will allow all Americans—regardless of income or insurance coverage—to take advantage of tax-free health savings accounts. You can read more about Dr. Paul’s Health Savings Accounts for All Act HERE and read the bill in its entirety HERE. Health Marketplace for All Act: Employer-sponsored health insurance is a great value for those who can get it, but many Americans can’t access affordable plans simply because they don’t work for a large corporation. A major problem in health insurance is that if you are on your own or part of a very small group, you have no leverage for prices, and if someone gets very sick, then you don’t have the protection of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people sharing the risk. Dr. Paul’s Health Marketplace for All Act will allow any membership organization to offer an ERISA health plan to its members—and to do so across state lines—regardless of an employment relationship. Nearly any conceivable membership-based entity would be empowered to collectively bargain with insurers to negotiate better rates. The possible sponsors for these bargaining groups are endless – they could include rideshare services, online retailers, wholesale clubs, credit unions, churches, etc. Any group of people who choose to join in common cause could access cheaper, better health insurance. You can read more about Dr. Paul’s Health Marketplace for All Act HERE and read the bill in its entirety HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2022/12/sen-johnson-offers-amendment-to-eliminate-earmarks-from-massive-omnibus-spending-bill,Sen. Johnson Offers Amendment to Eliminate Earmarks from Massive Omnibus Spending Bill,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,ronjohnson,https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"“The gateway drug to the massive deficit spending, to the mortgaging of our children’s futures” WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) was joined by Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in a press conference to oppose the $1.7 trillion, 4,000+ page omnibus spending bill and argue in favor of additional amendments. Sen. Johnson offered an amendment to eliminate all earmarks, totaling $9.8 billion in spending, from the omnibus bill. “There are, let me get the exact numbers, 9.8 billion dollars worth of earmarks. Thousands of individual projects here, both Democrat and Republican. It is interesting to note on the Republican side, we actually have a conference resolution that we don't support earmarks. Well, we're supporting over 4 billion dollars worth. Democrats are getting 5.4 billion dollars worth of earmarks. This is the gateway drug to the massive deficit spending, to the mortgaging of our children's futures. It has to stop, which is why I'm going to offer an amendment to eliminate all those earmarks in this massive omnibus spending bill,” the senator argued. Last week, Sen. Johnson led a press conference to oppose the omnibus bill and argue in favor of a short-term Continuing Resolution. He explained that the 535 members of Congress “literally are the Board of Directors of the largest financial entity in the world and we never talk numbers.” Senator Johnson’s full remarks can be found here and below. “I think what I found most disconcerting about this discussion, this debate, this process is the whistling past the graveyard nature of it. We're talking about this is a big win in terms of, you know, conservatism and for Republicans that we're getting a greater increase in defense spending. “One of the things I've been pointing out, because of the massive inflation, because a dollar that we all held at the start of the Biden administration is worth less than 88 cents, the 858 billion dollars we’re getting on defense is literally worth only 754 billion dollars in January of 2021 dollars. That's how much inflation has eroded the value of all spending, including defense spending. “But the fact that nobody talks about the numbers, I mean, in total, the macro numbers. I thought it was interesting last week, because I was asking my colleagues and quite honestly a number of you reporters, just the simple question – do you know how much we spent last year? And the blank stares I got from most people. I'm still asking that question. I think people are getting a little educated, so now they're starting to answer it but the answer is 6.3 trillion dollars last year. To compare that to before the pandemic, in 2019, we spent 4.4 trillion. “This, the discretionary side, less than 70% of what we spend, is gonna be 1.65 trillion dollars, which is 23% more than the 1.3 trillion dollars we spent in 2019. Again, that is a massive increase. My concern is overall federal spending will probably be about 6 trillion dollars for the fiscal year. Again, 6 trillion versus a baseline just three years ago of 4.4 trillion. “Something's gotta give. At some point, we do hit a debt crisis – and I would argue, you know, 7% plus inflation with really no ending in sight is certainly an inkling of what that debt crisis is going to look like, and how that is going to devastate Americans in all areas of the income spectrum, but particularly people at the lower end who spend their money, their disposable income on things that have actually risen at a higher rate than 7%. “The amendment that I'll be asking for and that Senator Schumer agreed to last week ,would be to eliminate all the earmarks. I've got my own prop here. So that's the entire omnibus. This is the language on earmarks only. There are, let me get the exact numbers, 9.8 billion dollars worth of earmarks. Thousands of individual projects here, both Democrat and Republican. It is interesting to note on the Republican side, we actually have a conference resolution that we don't support earmarks. Well, we're supporting over 4 billion dollars worth. Democrats are getting 5.4 billion dollars worth of earmarks. This is the gateway drug to the massive deficit spending, to the mortgaging of our children's futures. It has to stop, which is why I'm going to offer an amendment to eliminate all those earmarks in this massive omnibus spending bill.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murkowski-sullivan-peltola-secure-new-white-house-commitments-on-willow,"Murkowski, Sullivan, Peltola Secure New White House Commitments on Willow",2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska), today released the following joint statement after a meeting at the White House about the Willow Project on Alaska’s North Slope. “We met today with senior officials from the White House, Department of the Interior, and Department of Labor regarding Alaska’s Willow Project, our second meeting in the past ten days. The Administration committed to having a final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement released by the end of January 2023, and the Record of Decision completed by the end of February 2023. That commitment includes all federal agency work required to comply with applicable laws in the permitting process. During the meeting, we urged the Administration to select Alternative E, which is responsive to the Alaska District Court’s ruling, and reiterated that approval of a project that is not viable would be viewed as a denial. We also underscored the strong support the Willow Project has among all Alaska stakeholder groups, including Alaska Native communities, as well as labor unions and building trades.” Timeline On September 20, the Alaska delegation sent a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to complete the permitting process for the Willow Project in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) by the end of the year, in time for the winter construction season. In July 2022, BLM Alaska issued a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Willow Project. On July 15, 2022, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan wrote a letter to Secretary Haaland reiterating their strong support of the Willow Project and urging the Department of the Interior to promptly approve it. On March 8, 2022, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan and the late Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) wrote a letter to Secretary Haaland urging the Department of the Interior to expeditiously complete an SEIS and re-approve the Willow Project. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief with the U.S. District Court for Alaska defending the Willow Project. After reviewing the final ROD for the Willow Master Development Plan (MDP), approved in October 2020 by the Trump administration, for consistency with the Biden administration’s initial executive orders on addressing climate change, the administration found the ROD legally sufficient. The filing followed weeks of advocacy and outreach by the Alaska delegation to President Biden and his administration. On April 26, 2021, the municipal mayors of Utqiagvik, Wainwright, and Atqasuk—three communities located within the boundaries of NPR-A—wrote to Secretary Haaland asking her to allow the Willow MDP to move forward. On April 21, 2021, George Edwardson, president of the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, wrote to Secretary Haaland in support of the Willow MDP. On April 15, 2021, North Slope Borough Mayor Harry Brower, Jr. and Alaska Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feige wrote to Secretary Haaland urging her to allow responsible oil and gas development on federal lands in Alaska to proceed. On February 13, 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals extended a District Court injunction of the Willow MDP, pending appeal. On February 1, 2021, the U.S. District Court for Alaska issued an injunction on the Willow MDP. On October 27, 2020, BLM issued the ROD for the Willow MDP. On August 14, 2020, BLM published the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Willow MDP. # # # Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C29ED2A9-8105-4CFB-87E1-054232A79931,Thune: Effective Use of Federal Broadband Funds Will Help Bridge the Digital Divide,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,thune,https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases,scraper,"Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed his nationwide broadband oversight effort that will hold agencies accountable and ensure that previously authorized broadband funding is being used in the most efficient way possible to protect taxpayer dollars. Thune noted that in the last two years, Congress has allocated nearly $80 billion in funding for broadband-related services, which is split among 133 programs at 15 different agencies. As part of Thune’s effort, he recently sent a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Inspector General Peggy Gustafson for her failure to fulfill congressionally mandated oversight of previously authorized broadband funding. Thune also sent a letter to a diverse group of stakeholders, including broadband associations, public interest groups, and free-market think tanks to seek their input on the current broadband regulatory structure. Thune’s remarks below (as prepared for delivery): “Mr. President, as a resident of a rural state, expanding rural broadband access has long been a priority of mine. “And I’m not the only one. “Over the years Congress has dedicated significant resources to closing the digital divide. “And that has been especially true over the past three years. “Congress has appropriated a lot of money for broadband lately. “A whopping $79 billion to be precise dedicated solely to broadband-related projects. “$79 billion, on top of the billions of dollars the Federal Communications Commission disburses annually under its Universal Service Fund. “That is an unprecedented amount of money. “In fact, with that much money we ought to be able to deliver gold- and diamond-laced broadband to every household in the United States. “But, Mr. President, appropriating money is not enough. “We could throw trillions of dollars at the rural broadband problem and still not close the digital divide. “Because all the money in the world is useless if it’s not being spent the right way. “As I said, we have enough money now that we ought to be deploying gold- and diamond-laced broadband across the country. “But I have serious questions about whether this money is actually going to meaningfully move us toward closing the digital divide. “The money that we currently have, as much as it is, is spread out over 15 separate agencies and 133 programs. “133 programs. “To say that that is not conducive to a coherent rural broadband strategy is an understatement. “Now, the lion’s share of the funding does go through one agency – the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA. “But it is an agency with a very poor record of efficiently disbursing broadband funding. “The last time Congress provided NTIA with a big infusion of broadband funding – a fraction of the funding it is now responsible for – the agency struggled with implementation and ended up overbuilding existing broadband networks, resulting in billions of taxpayer dollars being spent with little to show. “And I’ve seen very little to convince me that NTIA is likely to do much better this time around. “In July of last year, NTIA called for volunteers to help determine how to allocate $1.5 billion Congress had provided to NTIA to improve broadband access. “Volunteers. “And yet Congress has now put the agency in charge of distributing the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. “I am deeply concerned that without serious oversight, NTIA will make – and is already making – similar mistakes when managing its current broadband programs. “That is why earlier this month I began an oversight effort to review the numerous federal broadband programs. “Oversight of how federal broadband dollars are being spent is necessary to ensure that agencies aren’t misusing billions of taxpayer dollars and, most importantly, to make sure the funding is going to areas that are actually unserved. “I’ve already requested input from a diverse group of stakeholders to identify ways we can improve broadband programs – and broadband policy more generally – as we head into the 118th Congress. “And I’ve requested that federal agencies provide information on their efforts to improve broadband infrastructure siting, a key component of deploying broadband networks. “In the new year, I will work on compiling these responses and presenting stakeholder concerns to NTIA, the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Agriculture, and the Treasury Department. “And if changes need to be made to the programs Congress has established, I will do everything I can to hold Congress and federal agencies accountable for making those changes so that all of these programs work as effectively as possible and as Congress intended. “Mr. President, to expand rural broadband access and actually close the digital divide, it’s not enough to just appropriate money. “We also need to make sure that money is being spent in the right way. “And I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that the money that has been appropriated for rural broadband actually goes to expanding access to those who are currently unserved.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/youngs-bipartisan-data-mapping-to-save-moms-lives-act-signed-into-law/,Young’s Bipartisan Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act Signed into Law,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) applauded news that President Biden has signed their bipartisan Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act into law. The legislation would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to identify areas where high rates of poor maternal health outcomes overlap with lack of access to broadband services in order to pinpoint where telehealth services can be most effective. “Unfortunately, Indiana has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the country. I’m glad the President has now signed our Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act into law to improve the lives of Hoosier mothers and families. This new law will identify where high maternal mortality rates coincide with lack of broadband services to help ensure these regions have access to the life-saving telehealth services that pregnant women need for better care,” said Senator Young. “I am proud to have worked in a bipartisan way to pass this critical law that will help better target where telemedicine improvements will be most effective to improve outcomes for expectant mothers and save lives,” said Senator Rosen. “The Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives law will go a long way towards improving maternal health outcomes for women in Nevada and across the country.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-after-voting-against-17-trillion-omnibus-spending-bill,Hoeven Statement After Voting Against $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Statement After Voting Against $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement opposing the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill: “With American families facing higher costs due to inflation, Congress needs to stop spending,” said Hoeven. “While there are provisions in this legislation that we support, the topline spending is too high. Instead of passing a massive $1.7 trillion bill, we should allow the next Congress to address government funding. Going forward, Congress needs to work through regular order to fund our priorities, while finding savings to control our debt and deficit.” -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-on-resignation-of-lieutenant-governor-brent-sanford-appointment-of-tammy-miller,"Hoeven Statement on Resignation of Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford, Appointment of Tammy Miller",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Statement on Resignation of Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford, Appointment of Tammy Miller WASHINGTON, DC - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after North Dakota Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford announced his resignation and Governor Doug Burgum appointed Tammy Miller to the post: “Look no further than the prosperous energy industry in North Dakota to see Brent Sanford’s hard work and dedication to our state. During his time as both mayor of Watford City and lieutenant governor, Brent was instrumental in helping to develop North Dakota’s energy industry, creating good jobs and growing our economy. For more than a decade, he dedicated his time and efforts to bettering our state and helping the people of North Dakota. We are grateful for his service, and Mikey and I wish him the best of luck on his next chapter. “We congratulate Tammy Miller on her appointment as Lieutenant Governor, and look forward to working with her on behalf of the people of North Dakota.” -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-welcomes-valley-city-high-school-student-to-senate-page-program,Hoeven Welcomes Valley City High School Student to Senate Page Program,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Welcomes Valley City High School Student to Senate Page Program WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today announced that Abby Redfearn of Jamestown has been selected to participate in the U.S. Senate Page Program’s fall 2022 session. A junior at Valley City High School, Abby is involved in competitive speech, tennis and student government. “It is a privilege to sponsor North Dakota students to serve in the U.S. Senate as official pages, and this prestigious, academically rigorous program is providing Abby with the unique opportunity to study the democratic process from within the halls of Congress,” said Hoeven. The Senate Page program dates back to 1829. Senate pages serve primarily as messengers, delivering documents throughout the Capitol complex. Other responsibilities include preparing the Senate Chamber for each day’s business, distributing the Congressional Record and other documents related to daily business and assisting in the cloakrooms and chambers. Senate pages complete their studies during early morning classes held at the Senate Page School, which is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/remembering-mike-leach-executive-session,REMEMBERING MIKE LEACH (Executive Session),2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,MS,Cindy Hyde-Smith,H001079,www.hydesmith.senate.gov,hydesmith,https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom,scraper,"Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 198 (Senate - December 20, 2022) PDF Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to pay tribute to a very special man who was held dear by many Mississippians, Mississippi State University head coach Mike Leach, who passed away on December 12, 2022. Today, thousands of Mississippians and people from across the country will gather in Starkville to celebrate the life of Mike Leach, who began his coaching at Mississippi State in 2020. Coach Leach's quirkiness, youthful spirit, and dynamic coaching style immediately endeared him to football fans across my State. His likeable and unique personality broke barriers among schools. Whether you were cheering for Mississippi State, Jackson State, Ole Miss, Southern, or any other school, you couldn't help but chuckle at the entertaining sideline interviews or admire how his ""Air Raid"" offense was changing the game. Coach Leach was an attorney. He started his coaching career shortly after graduating from law school. Mike Leach made a lasting impact on the game of football, to be sure, but, more importantly, his extraordinary leadership and passion for the game made a lasting impact on his players, his colleagues, and his loved ones. These remarks can't fully encompass Mike Leach's life as a husband, father, grandfather, scholar, mentor, and charitable man. Still, Mississippi is blessed to have been able to call Mike Leach one of our own these past years. While our State mourns, we remain grateful for the memories and the stories his legacy leaves. My heart goes out to his family and the entire Bulldog family. Hail State, and rest in peace, Coach.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=095682C7-1DD2-4252-B7A8-418F781B5F6D,"Bipartisan Bill Funds Our Troops While Cutting Non-Defense, Non-Veterans Baseline After Inflation",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding government funding: “President Biden’s proposal for fiscal year 2023 was a massive, real-dollar increase for liberal domestic spending and a significant real-dollar cut for the national defense. “Thanks to tireless work from Senator Shelby and a number of our colleagues, the government funding bill that we’ll be taking up this week does exactly the reverse of what the Biden Administration wanted. “This bill will significantly grow the baseline for defense and significantly cut the baseline for non-defense, non-veterans, after inflation. “A big real-dollar increase for the defense baseline, and a big real-dollar cut for the non-defense, non-veterans baseline. “This is an impressive outcome for the Republican negotiators, and more importantly, it is the outcome that our country needs — to keep helping Ukraine and our other friends; to keep out-innovating and outcompeting Russia and China; and to keep our brave men and women in uniform equipped with the best training, tools, and technologies the world has ever seen. “The Administration’s original vision for the federal budget — starving defense, while shoveling cash into miscellaneous domestic spending — was so out of whack that Democrats in Congress have joined Republicans in rejecting it. “Then there was some discussion that Democrats might only agree to make sufficient investments in our Armed Forces if they got to jack up domestic spending even higher, as compensation. “Of course, that didn’t make any sense either. The Commander-in-Chief’s own political party does not get to take our troops hostage in order to demand even more unrelated goodies. “Republicans’ position all along was very simple: Defending America and out-competing our rivals is a fundamental governing duty. It is the basic business that we’re supposed to take care of. Not something for which Democrats get special rewards. “And that’s precisely what is finally happening. Compared to where the negotiations started, we have transferred huge sums of money away from Democrats’ spending wish list, toward our national defense and Armed Forces — but without allowing the overall cost of the package to go any higher. “Now, there is no question that an omnibus spending bill less than one week before Christmas is not the right way to run the appropriations process or the Senate chamber. “Things should be done differently. More responsibly. With more foresight and planning. “And when Republicans controlled the majority, things were done differently, more responsibly, with more foresight. “When Republicans last controlled both chambers, we worked to conduct a more normal appropriations process. The subcommittees were more empowered to do their work. “We worked to break things into multiple bills and move minibuses across the floor before the 11th hour. “Instead, as Republicans spent this whole year calling on the Democratic Leader to prioritize his basic responsibilities like government funding and the NDAA, this majority spent month after month chasing shiny objects while procrastinating on core duties. “So I share many of my colleagues’ dissatisfaction with the dysfunctional Democrat-run process that’s brought us here. “But unfortunately, as we stand here today, going back in time and forcing Democrats to spend the last 11 months running the Senate more responsibly is not an option. From where we stand today, there are two options before us. “Number one: We can pass this bill; give our servicemembers and commanders the resources they need; flip the President’s broken budget request on its head; and actually cut baseline non-defense, non-veterans spending in real dollars while we’re at it. “Or number two: We can fail to pass this bill and give our Armed Forces confusion and uncertainty while the Chinese Communist Party continues to help their military commanders pour money into new research and weapons. “Between the two actual options before us, Mr. President, it’s not a close call. The Senate should pass this bill.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=CEEBE2B5-70A8-4BA6-A707-265812EE4117,Senator McConnell Comments on Passage of Burma Act,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding passage of the Burma Act: “The defense bill impacts a huge number of America’s efforts for good around the world that don’t always make top headlines. For example, I’m glad this NDAA makes headway on behalf of the people of Burma, and the decades-long struggle for democracy in that country, which I’ve been proud to support throughout my career. “Since Burma’s military junta launched a coup in early 2021, the country has plunged deeper into catastrophe. “More than 1 million people displaced. Sham trials and summary executions. The extrajudicial torture and murder of many more. Indiscriminate shelling and air strikes against ethnic villages. “Burma’s former leader – and my good friend – Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is reportedly being held in solitary confinement following a sham trial at the hands of her deposers. And in the absence of strong international condemnation, the junta is literally getting away with murder. “When Secretary Blinken visited Southeast Asia this summer, I called for less talk and more action. The people of Burma don’t have the luxury of waiting around for American assistance. “Now, with the passage of the Burma Act as part of this year’s NDAA, Congress is stepping up where the Administration has dithered. “This landmark bill mandates sharp sanctions against senior Tatmadaw officials and the state-owned businesses that keep their coffers full. “It compels the Administration to make decisions about whether and how to unravel the junta’s lucrative grip on Burma’s energy sector. “It codifies U.S. support for organizations that actually represent Burma’s people and authorizes new engagement with ethnic organizations that are defending the people against the brutal hand of the Tatmadaw, as well as new non-lethal and humanitarian assistance for society organizations. “It directs the President to improve coordination with America’s allies and partners to increase pressure on Burma’s illegitimate leaders and direct support to Burma’s people. “But Congress can only do so much through the legislative process. “The ball is now in the Biden Administration’s court, and time is ticking away. “Russia and other bad actors are actively courting the junta. The ongoing humanitarian disaster in Burma is already spilling over into neighboring countries. “Congress has given President Biden the tools to institute sweeping sanctions against our adversaries and generous aid for our friends. “It’s now up to the President to use them.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=EA8473EB-F0E2-426D-93C4-ABEE81C88531,NDAA Contains Key Wins That Don’t Make National Headlines,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding national defense: “Last week, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act, a landmark step forward for our Armed Forces. This year’s bill was named for our distinguished departing colleague, Ranking Member Inhofe. “As I’ve discussed at length, this year’s NDAA was a major step in the right direction to keep the U.S. the world’s preeminent superpower. “But another aspect that doesn’t get enough attention is the ways that Congress’s role in defending America also directly benefits military communities across each of our home states. “My home state of Kentucky is home to major Army installations like Fort Campbell and Fort Knox, the Kentucky Air and Army National Guard, and indispensable pillars of America’s defense industrial base. “This year’s NDAA provides record resources for those Kentuckians who support and serve in our Armed Forces. “Of special note in this year’s bill is its full funding of the Chemical Demilitarization Pilot Program at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, Kentucky. “If all goes according to plan, the Depot could wrap up its chemical weapon destruction mission by next year. That will be a landmark milestone in Kentucky history. “When I took office, many of America’s most potent chemical munitions were languishing at the Richmond facility. Community activists were understandably concerned about the dangerous weapons in their backyard and asked me to help coordinate the massive effort needed to get rid of them. “Working with those local leaders, I’ve spent the past four decades securing federal funding for the chemical munitions destruction mission. And now, the end of that project is within reach. “This year’s NDAA also authorizes a feasibility study to help local authorities plan for the future of the Depot after the chemical weapon destruction mission wraps up. That study will identify opportunities to enhance Richmond’s role as a defense logistics node and identify new missions for its world-class facilities once chemical weapons are gone. “And that’s just one of the many important initiatives this year’s NDAA will support in the Commonwealth. Kentucky’s servicemembers and military installations stand ready to protect America from its enemies. “The defense bill also impacts a huge number of America’s efforts for good around the world that don’t always make top headlines. For example, I’m glad this NDAA makes headway on behalf of the people of Burma, and the decades-long struggle for democracy in that country, which I’ve been proud to support throughout my career. “Since Burma’s military junta launched a coup in early 2021, the country has plunged deeper into catastrophe. “More than 1 million people displaced. Sham trials and summary executions. The extrajudicial torture and murder of many more. Indiscriminate shelling and air strikes against ethnic villages. “Burma’s former leader – and my good friend – Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is reportedly being held in solitary confinement following a sham trial at the hands of her deposers. And in the absence of strong international condemnation, the junta is literally getting away with murder. “When Secretary Blinken visited Southeast Asia this summer, I called for less talk and more action. The people of Burma don’t have the luxury of waiting around for American assistance. “Now, with the passage of the Burma Act as part of this year’s NDAA, Congress is stepping up where the Administration has dithered. “This landmark bill mandates sharp sanctions against senior Tatmadaw officials and the state-owned businesses that keep their coffers full. “It compels the Administration to make decisions about whether and how to unravel the junta’s lucrative grip on Burma’s energy sector. “It codifies U.S. support for organizations that actually represent Burma’s people and authorizes new engagement with ethnic organizations that are defending the people against the brutal hand of the Tatmadaw, as well as new non-lethal and humanitarian assistance for society organizations. “It directs the President to improve coordination with America’s allies and partners to increase pressure on Burma’s illegitimate leaders and direct support to Burma’s people. “But Congress can only do so much through the legislative process. “The ball is now in the Biden Administration’s court, and time is ticking away. “Russia and other bad actors are actively courting the junta. The ongoing humanitarian disaster in Burma is already spilling over into neighboring countries. “Congress has given President Biden the tools to institute sweeping sanctions against our adversaries and generous aid for our friends. “It’s now up to the President to use them.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/cornyn-padilla-tester-and-murkowski-bill-to-allow-unspent-covid-relief-dollars-for-infrastructure-disaster-relief-passes-senate,"Cornyn, Padilla, Tester, and Murkowski Bill to Allow Unspent COVID Relief Dollars for Infrastructure, Disaster Relief Passes Senate",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statements after the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act, which would make changes to several categories of infrastructure investments and disaster relief eligible for unspent COVID-19 relief dollars, passed the Senate unanimously: “Texas leaders from across the state have been left with more pandemic relief funding than eligible expenses, a problem not unique to the Lone Star State,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m grateful to my Senate colleagues for working with me on this legislation to give state and local governments more flexibility to invest unspent funds in critical projects their communities need, and I am urging the House to send this to the President’s desk as soon as possible.” “State, local, tribal, and territorial governments need flexibility to use the resources provided by the federal government to care for and serve their constituents as best they can. This bipartisan effort will help each region of the country respond to the unique challenges they face,” said Sen. Padilla. “As we continue to face unprecedented natural disasters both in California and across the country, our bill will also allow our communities to more quickly access the resources they need in times of tragedy.” “Butte-Silver Bow and Anaconda-Deer Lodge counties were left out of this critical funding source through no fault of their own—that’s wrong, so I’m fighting to ensure they get the resources they need,” said Sen. Tester. “Montanans can always expect me to hold Washington, D.C. accountable regardless of who is in charge.” “This bipartisan effort will benefit many of Alaska’s unified municipalities, who unfortunately were left out on relief funding intended to help address the economic impacts of the pandemic,” said Sen. Murkowski.“This legislation resolves the errors that made it harder for those communities to access and use those funds. I want to thank my colleagues for working on this common sense legislation, and for agreeing to a simple fix that will make a difference for communities across Alaska.” Background: The State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act would provide additional flexibility for states, tribes, and units of local government to spend their allocations of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The bill allows these funds to be used to provide emergency relief from natural disasters and creates a process for local officials to decline funds if their jurisdictions did not suffer budget shortfalls during COVID, an option not currently available to them. Under this legislation, the cap on how much of the COVID money can be spent on these new purposes would be the greater of $10 million or 30% of the funds. This bill does not place spending mandates on recipients of COVID funding and does not reclaim any distributed funding.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/electoral-count-reform-act-included-in-year-end-omnibus,Electoral Count Reform Act Included in Year-End Omnibus,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"Washington, DC— U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the inclusion of bipartisan legislation to reform and modernize the Electoral Count Act of 1887 within the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which is scheduled to be voted on this week. The legislation, known as the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, is led by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) and cosponsored by Senator Murkowski, along with 36 of their Senate colleagues. Murkowski was part of a small, core group who negotiated and authored the bill. The measure ensures that electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each state’s vote for President. It replaces ambiguous provisions within the original law with clear procedures that maintain appropriate state and federal roles in selecting the President and Vice President of the United States as set forth in the Constitution. If there is more than one apparent successful candidate for President, each candidate must be provided with equal access to federal government resources and information. “There is nothing more fundamental to American democracy than free and fair elections that are conducted with integrity and clear processes for determining the winners. There is no place within that for the manipulation of vague language from old laws, which occurred after the 2020 election and prompted this effort to improve the Electoral Count Act,” Senator Murkowski said. “These reforms are the result of numerous meetings, diligent research and counsel, and bipartisan compromise. Our final product is a bill that modernizes the current system for counting and certifying electoral votes in Presidential elections. I’m proud to have been part of this effort and thank my colleagues who put in the work to help restore vital trust in our Electoral College system.” “The Senate’s ECA reform effort is the result of nearly a year of bipartisan negotiation, including numerous meetings and debates among our colleagues as well as conversations with a wide variety of election experts and legal scholars,” said Senators Collins and Manchin. “Our bipartisan group worked tirelessly to draft this legislation that fixes the flaws of the archaic and ambiguous Electoral Count Act of 1887 and establishes clear guidelines for our system of certifying and counting electoral votes for President and Vice President. We are pleased that our legislation has been included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill and are grateful to have the support of so many of our colleagues. We look forward to seeing this bill signed into law.” Background: The Senators first introduced the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act on July 20, 2022. On August 3, the Rules Committee held a legislative hearing on the legislation. On September 27, the Rules Committee favorably reported the bill to the full Senate by a vote of 14-1. Click HERE for a one-pager on the Electoral Count Reform Act. Click HERE for a one-pager on the Presidential Transition Improvement Act.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-leads-senate-passage-of-land-transfer-legislation-to-improve-alaska-native-health-care-access-,Murkowski Leads Senate Passage Of Land Transfer Legislation To Improve Alaska Native Health Care Access,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved H.R.441, the Don Young Alaska Native Health Care Land Transfers Act of 2022. The bill contains three separate Senate land conveyance bills sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) that were merged into one bill, H.R.441, in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill now heads to the President’s Desk. “I thank my Senate colleagues for approving the Don Young Alaska Native Health Care Land Transfers Act. I have worked for several Congresses to advance these land transfers with Senator Sullivan and Congressman Young. I wish he could have been here to see it through with us,” said Senator Murkowski. “This legislation will allow for Tanana Tribal Council and Alaska Native health consortiums to modernize and continue to provide the highest quality health care for Alaskans. Whether it’s long overdue renovations to existing facilities, assisting in the delivery of water and sanitation construction to remote parts of the state, or expanding elder care and family wellness, these land transfers will improve public health in the communities they serve.” “The Tanana Tribal Council would like to express our deep appreciation to Senator Murkowski, our late Congressman Young, and all the congressional staff that have worked tirelessly to assist in transferring the Old Indian Health Service Hospital site to the Native Village of Tanana,” said Victor Joseph, Executive Director of Tanana Tribal Council. “SEARHC extends its deepest gratitude to Senator Murkowski and her continued commitment to all of Alaska - specifically rural and tribal healthcare in this legislation. Her leadership and support ensure that quality healthcare can be delivered throughout Alaska in some of the most challenging of environments in this country,” said Charles Clement, President and CEO of Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium. “Quyana (thank you) to Senator Murkowski for securing passage of Congressman Young’s Alaska Native land transfer bill, that enables ANTHC to more efficiently support sanitation construction projects in Alaska. This will help lower costs, directing more resources toward construction in rural communities. We applaud Senator Murkowski for her leadership and thank our Congressional delegation for helping ANTHC achieve this milestone,”said Valerie Nurr’araluk Davidson, President/CEO of Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The bill, H.R.441, includes three conveyances of property to the Tanana Tribal Council, Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, and Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The three conveyances do the following: Conveys Indian Health Service (IHS) lands in Tanana, Alaska to the Tanana Tribal Council (TTC), to expand and construct new health care facilities and to provide improved health services. Conveys IHS lands in Sitka, Alaska, to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC). The property transfer authorized would enable SEARHC to renovate existing, and construct new, health care facilities in order to provide improved services to surrounding communities in southeast Alaska. Conveys IHS lands in Anchorage, Alaska to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) to help improve the land and to ensure ownership of any improvements. The land transfer will allow ANTHC to ramp up their work providing water and sewer systems across rural Alaska. Related Issues: Alaska Natives & Rural Alaska",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/schatz-murkowski-tribal-land-transfer-bills-set-to-become-law,"Schatz, Murkowski: Tribal Land Transfer Bills Set To Become Law",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"Five More Indian Affairs Bills Head To House For Further Consideration WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, released the following statements on Senate passage of – H.R. 441, the Don Young Alaska Native Health Care Land Transfers Act of 2022; H.R. 478, the Blackwater Trading Post Land Transfer Act; H.R. 4881, the Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act; S. 989, the Native American Language Resource Center Act of 2021; S. 1402, the Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act of 2021; S. 3168, a bill to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to modify the enforceability date for certain provisions, and for other purposes; S. 3308, the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2021; and S. 4104, the Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022. “The bills headed to the President’s desk restore Tribal homelands, support Native health care and economic development, and help fulfill the federal trust responsibility to Tribal nations,” said Chairman Schatz. “Still more legislation that passed the Senate last night – which now head to the House – strengthen the U.S.’s support for Native American language revitalization efforts and provide life-saving water delivery systems while boosting conservation efforts by communities. I look forward to getting all these bills across the finish line.” “Yesterday, the Senate unanimously approved eight Indian Affairs bills. Three of the bills will head to the President’s desk to be signed into law, including the Don Young Alaska Native Health Care Transfers Act. These bills advance priorities important to Native communities, such as promoting Native American languages, development of water and sanitation systems, and returning lands of significance and cultural value to Tribes. I thank my friend and colleague, Chairman Schatz, for his partnership in advancing these important bills, as well as other Senate colleagues for their help in moving these important measures unanimously,” said Vice Chairman Murkowski. Related Issues: Alaska Natives & Rural Alaska",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-fischer-duckworth-and-colleagues-press-the-biden-administration-on-mexicos-proposed-ban-on-us-corn/,"Scott, Fischer, Duckworth, and Colleagues Press the Biden Administration on Mexico’s Proposed Ban on U.S. Corn",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SC,Tim Scott,S001184,www.scott.senate.gov,timscott,https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/jsf/jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) in authoring a bipartisan letter to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) expressing concern over Mexico’s efforts to ban certain American-grown corn. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s plans, which amount to unilaterally abandoning a long-held science-based regulatory system, would threaten the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). “These actions are unsupported by science and a breach of USMCA. It would be detrimental to food security in Mexico, hurt U.S. agricultural sustainability, and stifle future agricultural technology innovations that would benefit both nations. While we appreciate the efforts of USTR and USDA to resolve this issue by engaging with Mexican officials, we also encourage the administration to consider all options available in an effort to hold Mexico to their trade commitments including pursuing a dispute settlement process through USMCA,” the senators wrote in their letter. Joining Senators Scott, Fischer, and Duckworth on the letter are Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Debbie Stabebow (D-Mich.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Michael Rounds (R-S.D.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Rob Portman (R-Ohio). The full text of the letter is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-approves-sullivan-legislation-to-modernize-va-home-loan-program,Senate Approves Sullivan Legislation to Modernize VA Home Loan Program,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued the following statement regarding Senate passage of H.R. 7735, the Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Act of 2022. H.R. 7735, which was sponsored by Congressman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, will enhance the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan program by streamlining the home buying process for veterans and their families. The Senate version of this bill, S.4208, was introduced by Senator Sullivan earlier this year. “My team and I have heard from many Alaska veterans, particularly in the Interior, who have experienced lingering issues and delays regarding their VA home appraisals,” Sen. Sullivan said. “Congressman Bost and I put forward legislation to help save our veterans and their families time and money when possible. I thank my Senate colleagues for helping us pass our legislation, which will make the home buying process less burdensome and more expedient for those who have honorably served our country in uniform. I look forward to President Biden signing our bill into law.” The Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Act of 2022 will direct the VA to update their regulations on appraisals. Because of this law, the VA will be required to consider when an appraisal is not necessary and when a desktop appraisal should be used. Desktop appraisals are faster and less expensive than in-person appraisals because they allow appraisers to view and assess property virtually rather than in-person, which cuts down on closing costs for homebuyers and expedites the purchase of a home. To learn more about the Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Act of 2022, click here. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2EA7BE8D-32FA-4AAB-BBAF-B8EB26BC3382,Thune: South Dakotans Deserve Permanent Tax Relief,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,thune,https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases,scraper,"Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the upcoming five-year anniversary of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act being signed into law, which helped create an economic environment that encouraged growth and set the American people up for new opportunities, higher wages, and a more secure future. Thune noted that allowing key elements in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to expire would raise taxes in the midst of record-high inflation, and he encouraged his Democratic colleagues to work with Republicans to permanently extend various expiring provisions. Thune’s remarks below (as prepared for delivery): “Mr. President, I want to begin by congratulating the South Dakota State football team on an incredible win on Saturday in Brookings. “Thanks to their great performance in Saturday’s game – which included five scores in their first five possessions – the Jacks are headed to the FCS National Championship for the second time in three seasons. “Saturday’s win is the latest in a banner season for the Jacks, who have gone 13 and 1 and led the conference to become the number-one seed in the FCS tournament. “Of course, Saturday’s game would not have been possible without the men and women who worked to clear the roads around Brookings and the volunteers and staff who cleared the field and the seats after a major snowstorm last week. “I’m grateful for their hard work, which allowed thousands of Jacks fans like me to be there to cheer on our team. “And I’m looking forward to rooting for the Jacks next month when they take on North Dakota State in the championship in Frisco, Texas – where, hopefully, it will be a little warmer than nine degrees. “Mr. President, December 22 will mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. “It’s been five years since Republicans reformed the tax code to allow Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money. “Five years since we modernized the tax code to encourage businesses to invest in America and create good-paying jobs here. “And five years since our economy started to rebound after years of stagnant wages and slow growth. “Mr. President, Republicans know that government doesn’t create jobs and that Washington can’t legislate prosperity. “But government can certainly get in the way of prosperity. “And before tax reform, too often our tax code was getting in the way. “It was taking too much money from Americans’ paychecks. “It was making it difficult for businesses large and small to create jobs, increase wages, and grow. “And it contained perverse incentives for companies to park profits abroad and avoid manufacturing things here in the United States. “Republicans knew things needed to change. “And so we set to work to reform our tax code to put more money in American families’ pockets and help grow our economy. “We lowered tax rates across the board and simplified the tax code so that hardworking Americans would pay less in taxes – and spend less time filing them every April. “We lowered tax rates for owners of small and medium-sized businesses, farms, and ranches and made it easier for them to recover the cost of investing in their businesses – which in turn freed up cash for them to invest in their operations and their workers. “We lowered our nation’s sky-high corporate tax rate, which prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world, to make American businesses more competitive in the global economy and empower them to invest in wages and benefits for their workers. “And we modernized our international tax system so that American businesses would no longer be operating at a disadvantage next to their foreign counterparts. “And, Mr. President, it worked. “In the wake of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, wages and incomes for American workers grew. “Unemployment fell to a fifty-year low. “The poverty rate fell to the lowest level ever recorded. “African Americans and Hispanic Americans saw record-low rates of poverty and unemployment. “The income gap narrowed. “Business investment increased. “Companies created new jobs. “They invested in their employees. “And they opened new opportunities for American workers by moving production and capital into the United States. “Tax reform also spelled an end to the wave of companies moving their headquarters out of the United States. “Prior to tax reform, there was a growing trend of corporate inversions – tax-speak for companies picking up and moving their legal headquarters offshore – due to our dysfunctional tax code. “Since tax reform, there hasn’t been a single U.S. corporate inversion – which means more jobs and opportunities for workers here at home. “And, Mr. President, contrary to claims that tax reform mostly benefited the wealthy, it was actually lower- and middle-income Americans who saw the greatest benefits. “In fact, the top 1 percent of taxpayers are paying a greater share of taxes today than they were before tax reform. “And I haven’t even mentioned the fact that tax reform has helped result in record-high revenues for the federal government. “Mr. President, unfortunately, we were not able to make all of the tax reform in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, and some provisions have already begun to expire. “One important pro-growth provision on its way to phase-out is bonus depreciation. “Manufacturers, farmers and ranchers, and several other industries have relied on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s bonus depreciation provision, which allows them to immediately deduct the full cost of investment in short-term assets, such as machinery and equipment. “But bonus depreciation will soon begin to phase down, making new investment in productive equipment a more expensive proposition for businesses of all sizes. “Extending the bonus depreciation provision – or better yet, making it permanent – would not only provide certainty to American businesses, it would create tens of thousands of new jobs, increase wages, and grow our economy by making it easier for businesses to invest and expand. “And it would have even more of an impact in today’s high-inflation environment, where investment dollars are going a lot less far than they used to. “In addition, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, this year businesses lost the ability to fully expense research and development costs in the year they incur them. “Full R&D expensing is beneficial to many businesses, but it’s especially important for manufacturers and for high-tech industries, where cutting-edge research and development is critical for innovation and continued leadership in these fields. “And for the sake of American workers and American industry, we should restore full R&D expensing. “Mr. President, at the end of 2025, many of the lower tax rates for working families and small businesses will expire. “Middle-income families – who received a tax cut the year following tax reform – will see a tax hike in 2026 if middle-income tax cuts are not extended or made permanent. “Also at the end of 2025 the increased death tax exemption level is set to expire, leaving more family farms and small businesses subject to this punitive tax. “I’ve seen the consequences of the death tax when a family has to sell their farm, ranch, or small business because they don’t have enough cash to pay this massive tax on their loved one’s life’s work. “And I hope that we will not only extend the increased death tax exemption level but will permanently eliminate this unfair tax. “Mr. President, tax reform worked. “It worked for American families. “It worked for farmers and ranchers. “And it worked for American businesses. “Allowing key elements of tax reform to expire would reduce opportunity and raise taxes for hardworking Americans at a time when their pocketbooks are already strained thanks to the historic inflation crisis Democrats helped create. “And I hope that my colleagues across the aisle will recognize this and work with Republicans to permanently extend the expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – and continue efforts to make the tax code simpler, fairer, and more competitive. “The president likes to talk about giving families ‘a little breathing room.’ “Well, there’s no better way to give families breathing room than by allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned money. “And I hope the president will take an honest look at the success of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and come out in support of making these pro-growth policies permanent. “I am disappointed that my Democrat colleagues recently chose to forgo the chance to extend full R&D expensing and 100 percent bonus depreciation in the year-end funding bill. “Extending these should be a no-brainer – and Democrats should not be holding these essential business credits hostage to a partisan agenda. “Mr. President, tax reform helped create an economic environment that encouraged growth and set the American people up for new opportunities, higher wages, and a more secure future. “It’s time to build on these successes and extend the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for the long term.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8089F697-12CB-42D5-8F59-96834023F2F1,"Thune: NDAA is Crucial for Ellsworth Air Force Base, B-21 Bomber Mission",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,thune,https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases,scraper,"Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke about the importance of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for supporting the men and women at Ellsworth Air Force Base and the future B-21 bomber mission. Thune also recognized the recent mobilization of the 109th Support Group of the South Dakota National Guard and thanked the guardsmen and their families for their service and sacrifice. Thune’s remarks below: “The 109th Support Group of the South Dakota National Guard just mobilized a few days ago to head to Iraq and Kuwait as part of the counter-ISIS mission. And unfortunately, we weren't able to have the activation deployment ceremony because the weather wouldn't permit it in South Dakota this last weekend, but we just want to wish the members of the South Dakota National Guard in this unit the very best and thank them for their service and their sacrifice and for that of their families. “And also, to just say, I've always said that if you don't get national security right, the rest is conversation, which is why it was so important for us to get the National Defense Authorization bill across the finish line last week. There are so many provisions in there that are impactful when you live in a dangerous world. And if anything, the events of the last year have taught us we live in a very dangerous world. “The B-21 bomber was just unveiled. That is a new bomber, a sixth-generation bomber, that puts us, as a country, in the lead when it comes to long-range strike capability. There are only three countries in the world who have strategic bombers, and those are China, Russia, and the United States. “Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota is going to be the first home to the B-21 bomber. We're obviously very excited about that for the members, the airmen out there, for the community, for the base. No one could be more deserving of this very important mission. “And of course, the defense authorization bill provided a lot of the funding, not only for the continued development and buildout of that aircraft, but also for all the infrastructure associated with it when it comes to Ellsworth Air Force Base. And so again, the defense authorization bill is so critically important to making sure that American men and women in uniform who are tasked with defending, protecting, ensuring the safety and security of people here in the United States and helping defend America's interests both here at home and around the world are funded. And the defense authorization will make sure that they have everything they need to do that job.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-solidify-us-position-regarding-the-tibet-china-conflict/,"Young, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Solidify U.S. Position Regarding the Tibet-China Conflict",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at promoting a resolution to the ongoing Tibet-China conflict. The legislation reaffirms Tibetans’ right to self-determination as a people and clarifies that current Chinese government refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations over the unresolved conflict fails to meet U.S. government expectations. “The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) aggression towards Tibet is self-serving, with negotiations on the CCP’s terms. We must refresh U.S. policy towards Tibet, and push for negotiations that advance freedoms for the Tibetan people and peaceful resolution to the CCP’s conflict with the Dalai Lama,”said Senator Young. “This bill demonstrates America’s resolve that the CCP’s status quo – both in Tibet and elsewhere – is not acceptable.” “America’s values supporting freedom and self-determination for all people must be at the center of all of our actions and relationships around the world—especially as the Chinese government pushes an alternative vision,” said Senator Merkley. “This legislation makes clear that the United States views the Tibet-China conflict as unresolved and that the people of Tibet deserve a say in how they are governed. It sends a clear message to the People’s Republic of China: we expect meaningful negotiations over Tibet’s status and do not view current Chinese government actions as meeting those expectations.” “The Tibetan people, who have sought nothing more than good faith negotiations to resolve Tibet’s political status, have long been subjected to brutal persecution and their culture relentlessly attacked by the Chinese Government,” said Senator Leahy. “This bill reaffirms that Tibet has never been part of China, and that U.S. support for the right of the Tibetan people to self-determination is unwavering.” The Chinese government’s human rights violations in Tibet have continued despite international calls to negotiate a meaningful, lasting, and peaceful resolution. The Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act will help to clarify America’s position that it considers the People’s Republic of China’s rule in Tibet as unresolved in the absence of an agreement with Tibetan leadership based on negotiation, not subjugation. The Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act will: Make it official U.S. policy that the conflict between Tibet and China is unresolved and that Tibet’s legal status remains to be determined under international law. Recognize that Tibetans have a right to self-determination—and that China’s policies preclude them from exercising that right. Fault China for failing to meet expectations of participating in dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives. Reject as “historically false” China’s claim that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times. Empower the Office of the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues to counter Communist Party disinformation about the history of Tibet, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “The fact that this bill has now been introduced on a bipartisan, bicameral basis demonstrates the American people’s broad support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause. The people of the United States want justice and human rights in Tibet, and the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act is a vital step toward achieving that goal through peaceful dialogue between the two sides. ICT thanks Sens. Merkley, Young and Leahy for their leadership in introducing the bill today, and we look forward to working with them to make this bill law,” The International Campaign for Tibet said. This bill is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 8365, introduced in the House by Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA-02) and Michael McCaul (R-TX-10).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=2E8ED978-A3C9-49A8-B496-92EEFE64D7FD,McConnell Honors Retiring Senator Richard Shelby,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL): “I’ve saved my tribute for the most senior retiring Republican member for late in the year. “But even with mere days remaining until the end of his term, our colleague’s calendar has been packed — not with fancy farewell parties, but with a final chapter of high-stakes negotiations and tireless legislative work on behalf of his state, our nation, and in particular our Armed Forces. “It’s no surprise that Senator Richard Shelby’s final days in the Senate see him running through the tape and burning the literal midnight oil. “The state of Alabama has sent some prolific and powerful Senators to this chamber over its history. But Richard Shelby has surpassed them all. He is not just the longest-serving Senator from Alabama, he is the most influential. Our friend is one of the most effective legislators the United States Senate has ever seen. “Growing up outside Depression-era Birmingham, Richard Shelby was not automatically predestined for the halls of power. “But even before our friend had grown into the fullness of his commanding stature, I understand that young Richard Shelby was never afraid to throw his weight around, whether he was fighting for his team on the football field or putting himself between a classmate and a bully on the streetcar. “As a young man, there was hardly any academic or athletic test that Richard didn’t pass with flying colors. But the way I hear it, the most important test was ensuring that a pretty girl named Annette was delivered back home in time for curfew after their first date. “Annette was intrigued by this handsome young man, but she also loved and respected her own family, so she declared that if Richard was late dropping her off, the first date would be the last! “Thus, a partnership for the ages was born. “And ever since the Shelbys’ very first campaign victory in 1970, the people of Alabama have had a natural campaigner, a trailblazing problem-solver, and an intellectual giant looking out for their interests… and in addition to Annette Shelby, they’ve also gotten Richard in the package deal! “Dr. Annette Shelby has charted an historic course of her own here in Washington, including becoming the first woman to hold a tenured professorship at Georgetown’s Business School. “Meanwhile, across the city, the other half of the Shelby partnership was developing a reputation for visionary leadership here in Congress. Where Richard is concerned, the word ‘visionary’ is neither throwaway praise nor exaggeration. It’s simply accurate. People around the Senate like to say that Richard Shelby doesn’t just see down the road; he sees down the road and around the corner. “Our colleague has not just known how to fight for Alabama in the individual issues and debates that each day has brought. He has also invented creative, new, forward-looking visions and missions that nobody else had dreamed of — and then methodically set about turning them into reality. “Richard has trained his efforts on a small number of core priorities at one time — the places he is most convinced he can make an outsized difference. And once one of those big priorities is identified, it’s been a dog after a bone. “Take the city of Huntsville. As the story goes, a few decades ago it was a sleepy town by the Tennessee border. Today, it’s a booming technological hub for cutting edge industries like space exploration and missile defense. “Or take the Port of Mobile. The way I understand it, the spark was an overseas trip where Richard saw firsthand the latest international shipping infrastructure that was rapidly taking shape in Asia. I think the sentiment was more or less this: If Singapore can do this, why not Mobile? “So, today, what used to be a small inlet on the Gulf Coast is now a booming hub for shipping. A transformation that’s sending ripples of prosperity across the entire region. But even our visionary colleague’s prolific foresight occasionally hit its limits. “Richard’s good friend, our former colleague Phil Gramm, had the good judgment to switch to the Republican Party way back in 1983. He immediately started working on his good buddy to follow suit. “But even after a charm offensive that I’m told involved multiple White House lunches with President Reagan…Even after Robert Byrd had skeptically accused Senator Shelby of harboring, ‘definite Republican tendencies.’…It still took our friend until after Republicans’ landslide victories in 1994 to finally cross the threshold and join our team. “Well, the rest is history. “The iconic phrase “Chairman Shelby” could refer to our colleague’s time steering sensitive oversight at the helm of the Intelligence Committee…Or his mastery of the most complex matters as head of the Banking Committee…Or his time lending a steady hand to institutional priorities as Rules Committee chair…Or, most recently, the years our colleague has spent in the number-one or number-two slots on top of the Appropriations Committee, directing the American people’s money into key national priorities, most especially our constitutional duty to provide for the common defense. “But Richard’s Washington expertise never came at the expense of his home-state roots. Just the opposite. The national renown that Richard Shelby accrued was just a pathway by which his beloved Alabama came to punch more and more above its weight. “A long line of Shelby staffers have learned that there’s no need for a road map or a GPS when they’ve got the Senator himself in the car. Our friend knows every single back-road and highway exit. He knows every good ‘meat-and-three.’ And if there’s ever time to stop in for lunch or coffee, just pick a spot, and Richard will know a handful of the folks inside. “How, exactly, has our colleague sustained this level of sharpness and influence over such an historic career? For one thing, I understand the seasoned Chairman is a frequent visitor to the ‘Health Committee’ — his moniker for the Senate Gym. “Likewise, I have it on good authority that, at one point, our friend held the distinction of having more books checked out in his name from the Library of Congress than any other member in either chamber. “Occasionally, though, having such a voracious reader for a colleague can lead to trouble. “Years ago, shortly after the passing of President Reagan, I was wrapping up a meeting with my Banking Committee colleague when I half-wondered whether we could find a way to honor the Gipper with a place on our currency. “With no particular malice toward Alexander Hamilton in mind, I loosely suggested, what about, perhaps, the $10 bill? “But alas, little did I know, I was sitting across from the most recent person in America to finish Ron Chernow’s gigantic, newly-released biography of Hamilton. This was the book that would go on to inspire the hit musical and spark a big revival of interest in Hamilton. Richard Shelby had spent weeks eating up every page, admiring Hamilton’s genius more and more with every chapter. “Let’s just say, a few minutes later, I was back at the drawing board. “It’s difficult to imagine the Senate without Richard Shelby. But I’m not too concerned that the opposite will hold true. As much as Richard has loved this institution, and excelled in it, we know our colleague can imagine life beyond the Senate just fine. “There’ll be even more time to stay a student of history. Even more time for duck-hunting with good friends. The visionary brainstorming for Alabama and our nation won’t stop, oh no… “But our friend will get to balance it out with a whole lot more time with his beloved Annette, their two sons, and their grandkids. More time to enjoy the home state that has been literally transformed by Richard’s passion and vision. “Richard, thank you so very much.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=417C41F3-7990-459F-A065-9159C4D09AFB,Congress Should Fix the President’s Broken Defense Budget Request,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Mitch McConnell,M000355,www.mcconnell.senate.gov,mcconnell,https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding government funding: “When the Biden Administration put out their budget proposal, Republicans knew it was wrong for the country. “The Administration wanted to cut funding for our Armed Forces after inflation while massively increasing spending on non-defense. “Republicans have taken the President’s bizarre position and flipped it on its head. “The bipartisan government funding bill that Senators Shelby and Leahy have finished negotiating does exactly the opposite of what the Biden Administration first proposed. “This bill provides a substantial real-dollar increase to the defense baseline… and a substantial real-dollar cut to the non-defense, non-veterans baseline. “Let me say that again. “President Biden wanted to cut defense spending and grow liberal domestic spending in real dollars. “But Congress is rejecting the Biden Administration’s vision and doing the exact opposite. “This bill will grow defense spending and cut non-defense, non-veterans spending after inflation. “Just last week, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act on an overwhelming bipartisan basis. Senators on both sides acknowledged that President Biden and his Administration had failed to request the level of resources that our servicemembers and their commanders actually need. “So on a bipartisan basis, we ignored the Administration’s request and authorized what our Armed Forces need. “But the landmark investments in upgrading and modernizing our Armed Forces that we just laid out in the NDAA will not happen unless Congress follows through and appropriates the money to pay the bills. “That’s what Senators Shelby and Leahy have given us the opportunity to do: Make good on our commitments in the NDAA by following through with actual funding. “Americans want our nation to remain the preeminent global superpower. “We want our country to remain the mightiest civilization the world has ever seen. We want to keep helping Ukraine, keep out-competing Russia, and keep pace with the huge investments that China is making in their own military and new technologies. “It’s a strange position, to say the least, when Republicans in Congress have to poke and prod a Democratic Commander-in-Chief into sufficiently funding the men and women that he commands. “But as I said all along, funding our Armed Forces is a basic governing duty. Republicans were not going to let our Democratic colleagues demand extra left-wing goodies in exchange for doing their job and funding our troops. The President’s own party does not get to take our national defense hostage and demand rewards. “I am grateful that our Democratic colleagues backed down and accepted our position. “The bipartisan bill that our colleagues have negotiated equips our Armed Forces with the resources they need while cutting non-defense, non-veterans spending in real dollars. “This is a strong outcome for Republicans, and much more importantly, it’s the outcome that our nation’s security needs. I want to thank our distinguished colleague Senator Shelby for his hard work and I look forward to reviewing the full text soon.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-led-efforts-to-protect-alaskas-oceans-and-environment-pass-in-annual-ndaa_,Murkowski-Led Efforts to Protect Alaska’s Oceans and Environment Pass in Annual NDAA,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"Alaska’s Blue Economy, Ports, and More Benefit from Annual Defense Bill Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a co-chair of the Senate Oceans Caucus, applauded the recent passage of H.R. 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), which included several Murkowski-led provisions aimed at supporting the blue economy and protecting Alaska’s oceans and environment, such as the bipartisan BLUE GLOBE Act she championed with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). The bill also invests in port and harbor infrastructure through the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA), which authorizes funding for Alaska community port projects. “The security and safety of Alaska’s oceans and coastal communities are among my top priorities. I’m incredibly proud that the bipartisan BLUE GLOBE Act I led with Senator Whitehouse, legislation to support our blue economy, was included in the NDAA. Through passage of the NDAA, we are investing in technologies and programs meant to better understand and monitor our oceans and atmosphere while also authorizing funding for our port and coastal infrastructure,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “From protecting Alaska’s fishermen to advancing ocean monitoring and technology innovation, I’m proud to see this bipartisan effort includes so many provisions which place a priority on Alaska’s waters.” This year’s NDAA authorizes $857.9 billion for national defense, including support for our servicemembers and their families, and providing significant investments for national security efforts. Alaska priorities included in the annual funding bill, including the Murkowski-led Don Young Arctic Warrior Act, will provide continued support for enhanced Arctic security and work to improve the wellbeing and livelihoods of Alaska-based servicemembers. (Click here for highlights in the NDAA which include defense provisions and the Coast Guard reauthorization.) BILL HIGHLIGHTS: Protecting Alaska’s Oceans, Wildlife, and People BLUE GLOBE Act (Bolstering Long-term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries): Legislation introduced by Senators Murkowski and Whitehouse which will harness innovation, drive development of new marine technology and strengthen the federal maritime workforce in support of responsible stewardship of America’s oceans, bays, Great Lakes, and estuaries. Volcanic Ash and Fumes: Integrates the work of the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers in both Anchorage and in D.C. and creates a Memorandum of Understanding between NOAA and the Department of Commerce for support of emergency activities. Coral Reef Conservation Act: Explicitly makes Alaska, Indian Tribes, and Alaska Native Corporations eligible to participate in and benefit from the programs within the Act. Regional Ocean Partnerships: Authorizes funding for Regional Ocean Partnerships and Indian Tribes that participate in or engage with the Partnerships to manage and conserve ocean and coastal areas that span multiple jurisdictions. Marine Mammal Protection Act: Reauthorizes the Act, increases the study of marine mammal strandings in the Arctic and assesses training and resource needs in the Arctic. Western Alaska Oil Pollution Standards: Directs the USCG to promulgate a new higher standard for oil spill response organizations and regulated tank vessels to comply with in Western Alaska. The new standards will improve response time, response capacity and resource deployment during a time of increased vessel traffic. Port and Coastal Infrastructure Water Resources Development Act of 2022: Authorizes the navigation project for the Elim Subsistence Harbor. Modifies the cost share for Nome Arctic Deep Draft Port to provide the community with significant savings. Creates a program for projects to address storm damage prevention and reduction, coastal erosion, and ice and glacial damage in Alaska with a 10 percent cost share for economically-disadvantaged communities. Provides relief to the City of St. George from retroactive cost increases associated with the previously completed harbor project. Directs the Corps to expedite the Juneau Auke Bay wave attenuator study. Authorizes and improves the Tribal Partnership Program, revising the cost share requirements for projects and studies carried out in partnership with Indian tribes. Improves the technical assistance authorities of the Corps. Includes a technical fix to ensure the Unalaska Dutch Harbor project may be dredged to the appropriate depth at the existing cost share basis. Supporting the Maritime Administration (MARAD): Extends the ability of the MARAD Port Infrastructure Development Grant program for one year to pay for shore side dock electrification projects that serve passenger vessels and cargo vessels. Related Issues: Infrastructure, Alaska's Fisheries",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/tillis-announces-10-4-million-grant-to-improve-transit-services-for-rural-north-carolina,Tillis Announces $10.4 Million Grant To Improve Transit Services for Rural North Carolina,2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced the U.S. Department of Transportation Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant program awarded the N.C. Department of Transportation $10.4 million to expand on-demand transit services for up to 11 rural communities across the state of North Carolina. The grant includes funds for software deployment and vehicle acquisition to support the new services. The funds come from The Rural Surface Transportation Grant, part of the bipartisan infrastructure law that Senator Tillis helped negotiate and pass into law. “This grant is a big win for rural North Carolina and will improve and modernize on-demand transportation for more than 800,000 North Carolinians,” said Senator Tillis. “I was proud to advocate for this funding and help negotiate and support the bipartisan infrastructure law to bring this investment to our great state.” Senator Tillis sent a letter advocating for the award that can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-announce-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-legislation-to-support-fish-and-wildlife-restoration-in-the-great-lakes/,"Young, Colleagues Announce Senate Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Support Fish and Wildlife Restoration in the Great Lakes",2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) announced that the Senate passed their bipartisan legislation to support fish and wildlife restoration in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act reauthorizes critical resources to conserve and protect fish and wildlife populations in the Great Lakes. The bill will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “Many Americans across the country consider the Great Lakes to be a crown jewel of North America,” said Senator Young. “Reauthorizing the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act will provide the critical resources necessary to revive habitats across the Great Lakes Basin.” “The Great Lakes are a major part of Minnesotans’ way of life, providing clean drinking water, fish and wildlife habitat, and opportunities for outdoor recreation,” said Senator Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will provide resources to protect fish and wildlife, combat threats such as invasive species, and help ensure Minnesotans can safely enjoy the Great Lakes for years to come. Now that this bill has passed the Senate, I look forward to seeing it swiftly signed into law.” “I applaud the Senate for passing the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, which helps protect Lake Erie by delivering resources to Ohio and the Great Lakes region to address the greatest threats to our fish and wildlife — threats like invasive species and habitat degradation,” said Senator Portman. “By reauthorizing this program through FY 2027, we are providing the Fish and Wildlife Service with the resources it needs to protect our Lakes and preserve our environment for generations to come. I look forward to it being sent to the president’s desk for his signature shortly.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/16/2022/cotton-statement-on-senate-passage-of-ndaa,Cotton Statement on Senate Passage of NDAA,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AR,Tom Cotton,C001095,www.cotton.senate.gov,cotton,https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Caroline Tabler orJames Arnold (202) 224-2353 December 16, 2022 Cotton Statement on Senate Passage of NDAA Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) released the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act: “Our troops pledge their lives to the defense of the United States, and this bill gives them more support and funding to perform that important mission. It invests significantly more than President Biden called for, and it also excludes the worst aspects of the Democrats’ social engineering plans, like forcing women into the draft, gender-based fitness tests for ground-combat jobs, and ‘extremism’ training. I’m also pleased that this bill includes increased research and development for our nuclear defense, as well as for bolstering the munitions our military needs. While we must remain vigilant, America is now better prepared to ward off her enemies.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-republican-senate-colleagues-urge-pentagon-to-freeze-covid-19-vaccine-related-discharges-reinstate-discharged-soldiers-with-back-pay,"Crapo, Republican Senate Colleagues Urge Pentagon to Freeze COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Discharges, Reinstate Discharged Soldiers with Back Pay",2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ID,Mike Crapo,C000880,www.crapo.senate.gov,crapo,https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.--Following the Senate’s approval of the National Defense Authorization act (NDAA), U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined ten colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The Senators urged Secretary Austin to freeze all COVID-19 vaccine-related discharges, and to establish a quick and thorough process so all members who were discharged because they refused the COVID-19 vaccine can be reinstated with back pay and full benefits. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Florida), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) all co-signed the letter. Read the full letter below. December 16, 2022 The Honorable Lloyd Austin Secretary U.S. Department of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20301 Dear Secretary Austin, Now that the Senate has passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the legislation heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. This year’s NDAA, which provides essential funding and sets defense and national security policy for the United States, also contains a key provision we fought for which eliminates the requirement for service members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. While we are proud to see this needed change included, simply reversing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is insufficient to right the wrongs done to our service members. We write today to urge immediate action from the Pentagon to protect our service members and provide much-needed direction and stability for America’s brave heroes and their families. On December 7th, NBC News cited senior military and defense officials in its reporting that discussions about allowing the reinstatement of service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine are underway at the Pentagon.[1] This is welcome news. The Pentagon must take every action necessary to undo the harm American service members and their families suffered when they were forcibly discharged from service. We urge you to establish a quick and thorough process so all members who were discharged because they refused the COVID-19 vaccine can be reinstated with back pay and full benefits. Doing so would provide the clarity and stability American service members and their families deserve. Additionally, we urge you to freeze all COVID-19 vaccine-related discharges. Many service members are in limbo, and are facing discharge for their refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine just as Congress is removing the vaccine requirement. As the Secretary of Defense, you have the power to immediately end the uncertainty these members are feeling. All branches of our military are facing significant recruiting problems, including problems arising from the vaccine requirement. Therefore, it is in our readiness and security interests to keep these brave men and women within our ranks. Moving forward with discharges over a requirement that has been rescinded by Congress would be deeply misguided. Thousands of brave men and women were harmed because of the Pentagon’s misguided approach to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. You have the opportunity to immediately begin undoing the harm caused. For the current and future morale and benefit our Armed Forces, we urge you to act immediately. We appreciate your attention, and look forward to clarity from the Pentagon on this important issue.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-joins-colleagues-calling-on-pentagon-to-reinstate-soldiers-discharged-due-to-bidens-covid-19-vaccine-mandate,Hoeven Joins Colleagues Calling on Pentagon to Reinstate Soldiers Discharged Due to Biden's COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Joins Colleagues Calling on Pentagon to Reinstate Soldiers Discharged Due to Biden's COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today joined Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in urging U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to freeze all COVID-19 vaccine-related discharges, and to establish a quick and thorough process so all members who were discharged because they refused the COVID-19 vaccine can be reinstated with back pay and full benefits. The senators’ letter comes after the Senate approved the National Defense Authorization act (NDAA), which includes a provision Hoeven worked to include ending the Department of Defense’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. “This year’s NDAA, which provides essential funding and sets defense and national security policy for the United States, also contains a key provision we fought for which eliminates the requirement for service members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” the senators wrote. “While we are proud to see this needed change included, simply reversing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is insufficient to right the wrongs done to our service members. We write today to urge immediate action from the Pentagon to protect our service members and provide much-needed direction and stability for America’s brave heroes and their families.” In addition to Hoeven and Scott, the letter was signed by Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). Click here for the full text of the letter. -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-secures-commitment-from-interior-deputy-secretary-to-expedite-review-of-bni-mine-plan,Hoeven Secures Commitment from Interior Deputy Secretary to Expedite Review of BNI Mine Plan,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Secures Commitment from Interior Deputy Secretary to Expedite Review of BNI Mine Plan Senator Continues Working to Secure Approval for Center Mine WASHINGTON – At a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee this week, Senator John Hoeven secured a commitment from Department of the Interior (DOI) Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau to expedite review of a new federal mine plan for the Center Mine. The new plan is needed to provide certainty for BNI Coal and Minnkota Power Cooperative’s continued operations. Without its approval, BNI and Minnkota would have to incur significant costs to make and implement contingency plans for developing other portions of the mine, resulting in higher electricity prices across the region. Currently, the plan has been undergoing an environmental review for 17 months. “We secured a commitment from Deputy Secretary Beaudreau to expedite review of the federal mine plan for BNI’s Center Mine,” said Hoeven. “Interior’s delayed review has led to a tight timeline to advance the new plan, which is necessary to keep costs down for ratepayers and ensure the grid remains reliable. The new mine plan is also important in advancing Project Tundra, one of the world’s largest coal carbon capture projects. Further delays to the process only make it more difficult to advance the carbon capture project, and would bring higher electricity prices for customers across the region.” This is part of Hoeven’s continued efforts to secure approval for the mine plan. Last month, Hoeven arranged a meeting between North Dakota energy producers, including representatives from Minnkota and BNI, and DOI officials to press for approval of the Center Mine plan. Hoeven stressed the importance of preventing further energy price increases on American consumers and maintaining the affordability and reliability of the grid. Center Mine is owned and operated by BNI and supplies coal to the adjacent Milton R. Young Station, a 700-megawatt power plant that provides baseload electricity in North Dakota and Minnesota. -###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=567A1CC5-8DFA-4815-99F7-B1728FA0AD2A,Graham Applauds South Carolina Projects Included In Defense Bill,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SC,Lindsey Graham,G000359,www.lgraham.senate.gov,graham,https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on South Carolina priorities included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. “I’m very pleased that we were able to secure authorizations for a number of South Carolina priorities in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. This makes 62 years in a row that the NDAA has passed. This bill authorizes pay increases for our military, upgrades our national defense, benefits a number of critical South Carolina projects, and eliminates the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which was hurting recruiting and retention. Overall, this legislation is good for our nation’s men and women in uniform.” Senator Graham worked with South Carolina congressional delegation colleagues to secure authorizations for the following projects: Total FY23 South Carolina MILCON Authorizations: $91.6 million $38.3 million for the Marine Corps Depot Parris Island Recruit Barracks #2. $37.6 million for the Marine Corps Depot Parris Island Recruit Barracks #1. $10 million for the Shaw Air Force Base Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) Facility to provide safe and orderly air traffic control support and services for aircraft. $4.8 million for planning and design to replace the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island Ambulatory Care Center (Dental). $900,000 for planning and design to replace the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Fuel Pier. Total Savannah River Site (SRS) Authorizations: $3 billion, including: $1.258 billion for SRS Plutonium Modernization, including the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF). $460.3 million for SRS risk management operations. $12.137 million for SRS payments in lieu of taxes. Other South Carolina Priorities: Authorizes millions in defense related research and development funding that can benefit academic institutions across the state. Provision allowing for the transfer a small portion of Joint Base Charleston land to the city of North Charleston. South Carolina Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Projects: $165 million authorization for the Lakes Marion and Moultrie regional water supply project. $74 million authorization for environmental infrastructure improvements within and around North Myrtle Beach. $31 million authorization for environmental infrastructure improvements within and around Myrtle Beach. $25 million authorization for wastewater and storm water infrastructure improvements in Charleston. $19 million authorization for environmental infrastructure improvements within and around Horry County. $7.8 million authorization for Mount Pleasant wastewater and storm water infrastructure improvements. $7.4 million authorization for storm water management infrastructure in Beaufort. Provision that calls for expedited reimbursement for the Port of Charleston. $1.2 billion authorization for the Charleston Peninsula, Coastal Storm Risk Management Project. Authorization for the Folly Beach Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Project. Provision included for Edisto Beach to receive in-kind credit for work completed on beach groins before its authorized beach project began. Provision included that would increase the cost share and cost cap of the existing New Savannah Lock and Dam project to enable more solutions to be considered. Authorization for ecosystem restoration and flood risk management in Berkeley County.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-sullivan-peltola-announce-disaster-declarations-for-alaska-fisheries,"Murkowski, Sullivan, Peltola Announce Disaster Declarations for Alaska Fisheries",2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=27,scraper,"U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) welcomed determinations from the U.S. Department of Commerce that fishery disasters have occurred in numerous Alaska fisheries, allowing Alaska fishermen to receive critical relief funding. The funding can be distributed to fishermen and their crews, seafood processors, and research initiatives in the impacted regions. “Our fisheries have faced incredible challenges—from the fall red king crab and winter snow crab harvests being cancelled to a number of salmon fishery disasters. These are not only devastating to Alaska’s fishing and seafood industry and Alaskan families, but Alaska’s economy as a whole. I’m working to push policy initiatives to help understand the underlying issues, including through appropriations and legislation like the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, a bill Senator Sullivan and I led which just passed the Senate. But, as we work to learn as much as we can, as fast as we can, to get to the root of the problem and help Alaska get our fisheries back on track—this vital industry needs support now,” said Senator Murkowski. “I thank Secretary Raimondo for listening to the urgency of the Alaska Delegation’s request and understanding the importance of not only granting these disaster declarations, but doing so expeditiously. I’m now working diligently on the next step—securing the funding necessary to support these fishery disasters.” “Our state has suffered extraordinary economic hardship over the last few years with the impacts of the pandemic layered on top of an unprecedented number of fishery disasters,” Senator Sullivan said. “Our great fisheries resources provide a pillar within Alaska’s economy and culture. Now that a fishery disaster has been declared, we can work to secure appropriations to fund these fishery disaster declarations. I want to thank Secretary Raimondo for working so closely with the Alaska congressional delegation on these important determinations that will allow for much needed fishery disaster relief to reach Alaskans who are reliant on this resource.” “I want to thank Secretary Raimondo for making these fishery disaster declarations in a timely manner,” said Representative Peltola. “This is an important first step and I will continue to work with Senator Murkowski and Senator Sullivan to secure additional funding needed to provide relief to the Alaskan fishing communities impacted by poor returns and closed fisheries while stocks have a chance to recover.” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo today issued determinations that fisheries disasters occurred in: 2021/2022 Alaska Bristol Bay Red King Crab and Bering Sea Snow Crab Fisheries 2021 Alaska Kuskokwim River Salmon and Norton Sound Chum and Coho Salmon Fisheries 2021 Chignik Salmon Fisheries 2020 Copper River/Prince William Sound Coho and Pink Salmon Fisheries 2020/2021 Alaska Norton Sound Red King Crab Fisheries 2022/2023 Alaska Bristol Bay Red King Crab and Bering Sea Snow Crab Fisheries Background: On November 15, 2022, the Alaska delegation sent a letter to Secretary Raimondo in support of Governor Dunleavy’s 2020-2023 fisheries disaster declarations. On November 17, 2022, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, along with Senators Cantwell and Murray (both D-Wash.), sent a letter to Secretary Raimando requesting a federal disaster for several crab fisheries. Related Issues: Alaska's Fisheries",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-supports-bipartisan-permitting-reform,Murkowski Supports Bipartisan Permitting Reform,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"Broken Federal Process is Holding Back Vital Projects in Alaska, Across the Nation Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement after voting for the Building American Energy Security Act, a measure to reform the dysfunctional federal permitting process for energy and natural resource projects. U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, offered it as an amendment to H.R. 7776, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, after negotiations with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, and a small group of bipartisan members. “While this measure did not go as far as I wanted it to, it would have improved the federal permitting process and helped reduce some of the worst abuses within it. That is critical for the nation and especially for Alaska, a resource producing state where virtually every development project faces an absurd combination of litigation and bureaucratic delay,” Murkowski said. “I thank Senator Manchin for pushing this to the fore, for putting concrete ideas on the table, and for creating an opportunity for permitting reform that would not otherwise have existed. I also thank Senator Capito for helping to better the text through bipartisan negotiation. While today’s vote did not succeed, it sets a clear marker for the 118th Congress to prioritize an agreement on permitting reform that is at least as strong as this one.” The Building American Energy Security Act would make a number of improvements to the federal permitting process, including streamlined reviews for project authorizations and transparency for litigation. Among other features, the measure would require federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management to establish clear timelines to make decisions and complete any supplemental analysis ultimately required by courts. Under those timelines, federal permitting for Alaska’s Willow Project could have been completed 11 months ago, while permitting for the Ambler Access Project could have been completed 18 months ago. Instead, permitting for Willow is now at four years and three months (and counting), while permitting for Ambler is at five years and nine months (and counting). The interminable delays these projects – and many others – have faced serve mainly to deprive Alaskans of good jobs and economic opportunities, while denying the nation access to domestic sources of needed and responsibly developed energy and minerals. The Senate’s vote on the Building American Energy Security Act was 47-47, with 60 votes required for passage. More information about measure is available here. Related Issues: Energy",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/senate-passes-sullivan-murkowski-alaska-salmon-research-task-force-act,Senate Passes Sullivan-Murkowski Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26,scraper,"WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate this week voted unanimously to pass the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, legislation introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (both R-Alaska) that would form a panel of Alaska’s salmon stakeholders and research experts to study Pacific salmon trends and create a coordinated research strategy for Pacific salmon in Alaska to support robust salmon runs. The Research Task Force would be directed to conduct a comprehensive review of Pacific salmon science relevant to understanding salmon returns in Alaska, and publish a report, within one year of convening, to provide recommendations identifying knowledge and research gaps and further research priorities for salmon in Alaska. “Salmon are a fundamental part of life in Alaska—for our families, our communities, our economy, and our cultural traditions,” said Senator Sullivan. “In recent years, Alaskans have witnessed shocking and unprecedented declines among some salmon species in parts of the state while, in other parts, runs have been strong and historic. Many have speculated on the causes of these declines, but all Alaskans can agree—we need to identify and address research prioritization gaps with comprehensive data and the best scientific minds, including Indigenous communities that have harvested salmon for millennia. I want to thank my Senate colleagues for passing this legislation to expand our understanding of this challenge so we can realize increased abundance and stability in our salmon stocks for the benefit of all Alaskans.” “Salmon are the lifeblood of Alaska’s economy, history, and the subsistence way of life. In some regions, we are unfortunately not only seeing a decline in salmon runs, but stock crashes that are devastating to local economies as well as the culture and spirit of those who call Alaska home,” said Senator Murkowski. “We must act to address the problem, and gather the information we need to understand the root of it. That’s why Senator Sullivan and I are spearheading the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act. Our legislation unanimously passing the Senate takes us one step closer to better understanding salmon and their ecosystems during a time of ongoing change. We must work together – Alaskans, stakeholders, and all levels of government – to find solutions to sustain this precious resource.” The Research Task Force would be composed of between 13 and 19 members, with the secretary of commerce appointing a representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the U.S. section of the Pacific Salmon Commission. The secretary would also appoint between two and five representatives from Alaska covering the wide array of state fisheries stakeholders, including subsistence, commercial or recreational users. Lastly, the secretary would appoint five academic experts in salmon biology, management, and ecology, or marine research. The governor of Alaska would appoint one representative of the state. The bill also directs the Research Task Force to establish a working group specifically focused on salmon returns in the AYK region of Western and Interior Alaska, where salmon return failures have had devastating impacts, and provides flexibility for the Research Task Force to establish other geographically-focused working groups. Related Issues: Alaska's Fisheries",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.paul.senate.gov/dr-rand-paul-honors-just-for-you-boutique-of-frankfort-as-senate-small-business-of-the-week/,Dr. Rand Paul Honors Just For You Boutique of Frankfort as Senate Small Business of the Week,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 16, 2022 Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized Just For You Boutique of Frankfort, Kentucky as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Dr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record: Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Just For You Boutique of Frankfort, Kentucky as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Across the country you will not find two small businesses with the same origin story. In most cases, the tale behind how one gets started is just as unique as the business itself. Such is the story of Nicole Boyd’s business, Just For You Boutique. Nicole, a native of the Bluegrass state, was driving through its capital when she found herself stopped at a red light. As she gazed out the window towards an empty store front, she couldn’t help but notice a big “Available for Sale or Rent” sign in the window. It was in that moment that Nicole decided that she would open her own clothing store, right there in that location. Sometimes all it takes is a self-starting individual to make their dream a reality, as is the case with Nicole. Not long after that fateful stop in Frankfort traffic, Just For You Boutique opened up on March 8th, 2016. As an active member of the community, Nicole’s favorite aspect of owning her own business is that it enables her to really engage with the people of Frankfort, as she is constantly seeing friends and neighbors walk through her doors. Moreover, Nicole understands that successful businesses put their community first. She often collaborates with other small businesses around Frankfort to offer products and experiences that are unique to Kentucky and to Frankfort specifically. Nicole offers a wide variety of goods in her store, from fashion-forward apparel and jewelry to everyday home goods that could liven up any living space. Nicole pays special mind to feature homegrown Kentucky products, between coffee grinds made by local brewers and handcrafted artisanal soaps from local companies, Nicole makes Kentucky vendors her merchandise mainstay. Given the wide variety of goods she keeps in store, it would only make sense that Nicole would choose to name her boutique Just For You as it is a place where anyone, whether shopping for a gift or for themselves, can find something that is uniquely for them. Part of what makes Just For You Boutique so special is that Nicole understands that strength often comes in numbers. She jumps at every opportunity to amplify her store by collaborating with other small businesses around the state capital, thereby growing the customer base for businesses across Main Street. Just this past Halloween, Nicole participated in a “Trunk-or-Treat” trunk show where small businesses all around Frankfort came together in a local park to brave the autumn rain and sell their goods. The Halloween trunk show was just one of many community events that Just For You participates in, as they also enjoy vending their goods at other Frankfort festivals and events. Nicole has even offered a unique promotion where customers can show their receipts from other local businesses to receive ten percent off their purchase from Just For You Boutique. As an entrepreneur, it is clear the Nicole looks beyond the success of her own storefront and works to support those operating around her. Not only does Nicole do her best to support other small businesses around Frankfort, she runs her store with a charitable heart. When a young lady around Frankfort was diagnosed with breast cancer, Nicole jumped into action. Suzanna, who had spent a lot of time inside Just For You Boutique, designed shirts emblazoned with a pink cancer ribbon with the hashtag #SuzannaStrong. In a show of support for Suzanna, Nicole printed shirt with her design and began selling them in her store, with all proceeds from the sales going towards the cost of Suzanna’s medical treatment. It is acts of kindness such as these that sets Just For You Boutique apart from other businesses, as Nicole keeps her finger on the pulse of developments around the community and always keeps an ear out for those in need. I want to commend Nicole on making her dream of owning her own a store a reality, and thank her for all that she does to support small businesses. Congratulations to Nicole Boyd along with the entire team at Just For Your Boutique. I look forward to seeing your continued growth and success in Kentucky. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America’s small businesses. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2022/12/sen-johnson-colleagues-urge-pentagon-to-freeze-covid-19-vaccine-related-discharges-reinstate-discharged-soldiers-with-backpay,"Sen. Johnson, Colleagues Urge Pentagon to Freeze COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Discharges, Reinstate Discharged Soldiers with Backpay",2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,WI,Ron Johnson,J000293,www.ronjohnson.senate.gov,ronjohnson,https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – On Friday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and nine of his Republican colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin following the Senate’s approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senators urged Secretary Austin to freeze all COVID-19 vaccine-related discharges, and to establish a quick and thorough process so all members who were discharged because they refused the COVID-19 vaccine can be reinstated with back pay and full benefits. Sen. Johnson offered an amendment to the NDAA that would have immediately ended the military COVID-19 vaccine mandate, prohibited DoD from imposing future COVID 19 vaccine mandates without Congressional authorization and allowed service members to be reinstated with back pay if they were discharged for refusing the vaccine. “Thousands of brave men and women were harmed because of the Pentagon’s misguided approach to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. You have the opportunity to immediately begin undoing the harm caused. For the current and future morale and benefit of our Armed Forces, we urge you to act immediately,” the senators wrote. Sens. Johnson and Scott were joined on the letter by Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). The full text of the letter can be found here and below. December 16, 2022 The Honorable Lloyd Austin Secretary U.S. Department of Defense Dear Secretary Austin: Now that the Senate has passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the legislation heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. This year’s NDAA, which provides essential funding and sets defense and national security policy for the United States, also contains a key provision we fought for which eliminates the requirement for service members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. While we are proud to see this needed change included, simply reversing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is insufficient to right the wrongs done to our service members. We write today to urge immediate action from the Pentagon to protect our service members and provide much-needed direction and stability for America’s brave heroes and their families. On December 7th, NBC News cited senior military and defense officials in its reporting that discussions about allowing the reinstatement of service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine are underway at the Pentagon.[1] This is welcome news. The Pentagon must take every action necessary to undo the harm American service members and their families suffered when they were forcibly discharged from service. We urge you to establish a quick and thorough process so all members who were discharged because they refused the COVID-19 vaccine can be reinstated with back pay and full benefits. Doing so would provide the clarity and stability American service members and their families deserve. Additionally, we urge you to freeze all COVID-19 vaccine-related discharges. Many service members are in limbo, and are facing discharge for their refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine just as Congress is removing the vaccine requirement. As the Secretary of Defense, you have the power to immediately end the uncertainty these members are feeling. All branches of our military are facing significant recruiting problems, including problems arising from the vaccine requirement. Therefore, it is in our readiness and security interests to keep these brave men and women within our ranks. Moving forward with discharges over a requirement that has been rescinded by Congress would be deeply misguided. Thousands of brave men and women were harmed because of the Pentagon’s misguided approach to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. You have the opportunity to immediately begin undoing the harm caused. For the current and future morale and benefit of our Armed Forces, we urge you to act immediately. We appreciate your attention, and look forward to clarity from the Pentagon on this important issue. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-secures-victories-for-south-dakota-in-annual-defense-bill,Rounds Secures Victories for South Dakota in Annual Defense Bill,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,SD,Mike Rounds,R000605,www.rounds.senate.gov,rounds,https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after the Senate voted to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023: “This year’s NDAA secures major wins for South Dakota. It authorizes construction funding for Ellsworth Air Force Base and supports economic and research opportunities for multiple organizations across South Dakota. “Our members on the Armed Services committee have worked hard all year to craft this piece of legislation. This crucial bill is a prime example of Congress putting politics aside to provide for our strategic national security interests and to achieve results for our service members and their families. I am pleased this bipartisan legislation is heading to the president’s desk to be signed into law.” Rounds authored 47 unique pieces of legislation that were included in the NDAA. As the ranking member of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee, Rounds championed many provisions to enhance our offensive and defensive cyber capabilities. Additionally, Rounds supported an authorization for over $335 million in military construction funding for projects at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Supporting Quotes: “Senator Rounds understands the importance of being proactive in regard to cybersecurity,” said José-Marie Griffiths, President of Dakota State University. “Because of Senator Rounds’ ardent support of our programs, students, and forward-thinking endeavors, our distinctive graduates are poised to help protect the nation through a strong cyber presence. I commend and thank Senator Rounds for his ongoing commitment to getting priorities in the NDAA that will benefit DSU, South Dakota, and our country for years to come.” “Just as when he was Governor and he led the efforts to create the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority, Senator Rounds continues to support Ellsworth Air Force Base with his role on the Senate Armed Services Committee,” said Scott Landguth, Executive Director of the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority. “Senator Rounds’ continued support of the B-21 expansion at Ellsworth Air Force Base is a crucial piece to the success of the B-21 arriving in South Dakota. The Senator’s role on the Armed Service Committee is extremely valuable to these efforts. The South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority looks forward to continue to partner and work with the Senator to guarantee that the B-21 program and bed down at Ellsworth remains on schedule.” “Senator Rounds’ support of NDAA, which includes monies for DOD impact aid, is critical for the Douglas School District,” said Kevin Case, Superintendent of the Douglas School District. “DOD Impact Aid is the only federal education funding that comes with no strings attached and can be used for a wide array of educational needs. This is a win for our students. We are fortunate to have the backing of Senator Rounds on this issue, and we are thankful for his support for the future education of our children.” Major South Dakota Victories Supported by Rounds in NDAA: Authorizes $335.9 million in funding for military construction projects at Ellsworth Air Force Base, including a Low-Observable Restoration Hangar, Radio Frequency Hangar and Weapons Generation Facility to prepare for the B-21 Raider stealth bomber. Extends $12 million in funds for the Aircraft Maintenance Shops project at Joe Foss Field for the South Dakota Air National Guard. Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide details about how it will identify the school to serve as the University Cybersecurity Consortium Support Center, potentially benefiting Dakota State University. Authorizes $15 million to assist school systems that are projected to have a substantial increase in students because of DOD basing decisions, which will benefit Ellsworth Air Force Base and school systems in the Black Hills. Extends prohibition on reducing B-1 maintenance personnel or further reduction in aircraft unless replaced with B-21s. Authorizes $23 million for B-1 bomber squadrons, including $10 million for hypersonic integration validation testing. Includes a multi-year procurement authority for Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles used by the B-1. Authorizes $3.14 billion for B-21 bomber development and $1.78 billion for low-rate initial production of the aircraft. Rounds-Supported National Security Wins: Increases authorized defense funding by $45 billion above President Biden’s inadequate budget request. Rescinds DOD’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate amid the massive recruiting crisis. Authorizes funding to support a 4.6 percent pay raise for both military service members and the DOD civilian workforce. Requires a public version of the National Defense Strategy after the Biden administration failed to release one. Excludes a provision that would have forced America’s daughters and granddaughters to register for the Selective Service. Increases maximum special and incentive payments and bonuses by 30 percent. Authorizes a Survivor Benefit Plan open season for the first time since 2005. Makes certain improvements relating to behavioral health care in the military health system. Rounds’ Cybersecurity Wins in NDAA: Establishment of the DOD Cyber and Digital Service Academy scholarship-for-service program. Requires efforts to align the DOD’s international cybersecurity enterprise with the National Defense Strategy, the DOD Cyber Strategy and the DOD International Cyberspace Security Cooperation Guidance. Requires the DOD to engage Jordan’s Ministry of Defense for the purpose of expanded military cybersecurity cooperation. Authorizes sharing of cyber tools with allies and partners. Establishment of the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cybersecurity who will advise the Secretary of Defense on all cybersecurity matters. Creates the new position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murkowski-sullivan-peltola-announce-disaster-declarations-for-alaska-fisheries,"Murkowski, Sullivan, Peltola Announce Disaster Declarations for Alaska Fisheries",2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) welcomed determinations from the U.S. Department of Commerce that fishery disasters have occurred in numerous Alaska fisheries, allowing Alaska fishermen to receive critical relief funding. The funding can be distributed to fishery participants such as harvesters, processors, communities, and households, along with research initiatives in the impacted regions. “Our fisheries have faced incredible challenges—from the fall red king crab and winter snow crab harvests being cancelled to a number of salmon fishery disasters. These are not only devastating to Alaska’s fishing and seafood industry and Alaskan families, but Alaska’s economy as a whole. I’m working to push policy initiatives to help understand the underlying issues, including through appropriations and legislation like the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, a bill Senator Sullivan and I led which just passed the Senate. But, as we work to learn as much as we can, as fast as we can, to get to the root of the problem and help Alaska get our fisheries back on track—this vital industry needs support now,” said Senator Murkowski. “I thank Secretary Raimondo for listening to the urgency of the Alaska Delegation’s request and understanding the importance of not only granting these disaster declarations, but doing so expeditiously. I’m now working diligently on the next step—securing the funding necessary to support these fishery disasters.” “Our state has suffered extraordinary economic hardship over the last few years with the impacts of the pandemic layered on top of an unprecedented number of fishery disasters,” Senator Sullivan said. “Our great fisheries resources provide a pillar within Alaska’s economy and culture. Now that a fishery disaster has been declared, we can work to secure appropriations to fund these fishery disaster declarations. I want to thank Secretary Raimondo for working so closely with the Alaska congressional delegation on these important determinations that will allow for much needed fishery disaster relief to reach Alaskans who are reliant on this resource.” “I want to thank Secretary Raimondo for making these fishery disaster declarations in a timely manner,” said Representative Peltola. “This is an important first step and I will continue to work with Senator Murkowski and Senator Sullivan to secure additional funding needed to provide relief to the Alaskan fishing communities impacted by poor returns and closed fisheries while stocks have a chance to recover.” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo today issued determinations that fisheries disasters occurred in: 2021/2022 Alaska Bristol Bay Red King Crab and Bering Sea Snow Crab Fisheries 2021 Alaska Kuskokwim River Salmon and Norton Sound Chum and Coho Salmon Fisheries 2021 Chignik Salmon Fisheries 2020 Copper River/Prince William Sound Coho and Pink Salmon Fisheries 2020/2021 Alaska Norton Sound Red King Crab Fisheries 2022/2023 Alaska Bristol Bay Red King Crab and Bering Sea Snow Crab Fisheries Background: On November 15, 2022, the Alaska delegation sent a letter to Secretary Raimondo in support of Governor Dunleavy’s 2020-2023 fisheries disaster declarations. On November 17, 2022, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, along with Senators Cantwell and Murray (both D-Wash.), sent a letter to Secretary Raimando requesting a federal disaster for several crab fisheries. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-significant-infrastructure-provisions-for-alaskas-port-of-nome-other-projects,"Senate Passes Significant Infrastructure Provisions for Alaska’s Port of Nome, Other Projects",2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, celebrated the passage yesterday of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 on the Senate floor by a vote of 83 to 11 as part of the FY 2023National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation includes key victories for Alaska infrastructure, including increased federal cost-sharing for the Nome Arctic Deep Draft Port (resulting in community savings of an estimated $132 million) and authorization for the Elim Subsistence Harbor project. “Alaska is a resource-rich, but infrastructure-poor state,” Senator Sullivan said. “The Army Corps of Engineers continues to do its vital work throughout Alaska, and this legislation provides the tools needed to support new water resources infrastructure and improve existing projects. Since serving as a senator for Alaska, I’ve been advocating for projects that will help our state realize its full economic potential and keep our citizens safe. “I also want to thank my fellow committee members for their continued recognition of the vital role Nome’s deep-water port will play in advancing America’s capabilities in the Arctic. The Port of Nome is positioned to play a critical role in ensuring the United States is a leader in the Arctic region in terms of national security, international trade, and geopolitical influence.” Key provisions for Alaska in WRDA 2022: In recognition of the strategic importance to the nation, the bill modifies the cost share for Nome Arctic Deep Draft Port to provide the community with an estimated savings of $132 million. Creates a program for projects to address storm damage prevention and reduction, coastal erosion, and ice and glacial damage in Alaska with a 10% cost share for economically-disadvantaged communities. Authorizes the navigation project for the Elim Subsistence Harbor: Federal cost share: $99.057 million. Nonfederal cost-share: $2.517 million. Total cost: $101.574 million. Authorizes the Corps to dredge a deeper entrance channel in Unalaska Bay to meet keel clearance safety standards while maintaining the cost share for the community at the existing amount. Provides relief to the City of St. George from retroactive cost increases associated with the previously completed harbor project. Directs the Corps to expedite the Juneau Auke Bay wave attenuator study, and, upon completion, to immediately proceed to preconstruction planning, engineering, and design. Authorizes and improves the Tribal Partnership Program, revising the cost share requirements for projects and studies carried out in partnership with Indian tribes. Requires each Corps district to have on staff a Tribal liaison to serve as a direct line of communication between the District Commander and the Tribal communities. Improves the technical assistance authorities of the Corps. Timeline on the Port of Nome Expansion: Water resource projects developed by the Corps undergo a multi-stage process. Standard Corps project delivery consists of the Corps leading the study, design, and construction of authorized projects. However, each stage of that process must qualify for an existing authorization or receive a separate authorization from Congress, as well as receive congressional appropriation at each stage to proceed. Congress authorizes the Corps’ actions through periodic Water Resource Development Acts in the Senate EPW Committee and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In 2012, the Corps launched the Alaska Deep Draft Arctic Port System Study to evaluate potential locations on the northern and western coasts of Alaska, and to determine the feasibility of constructing navigation improvements as part of a larger system of port facilities in the Arctic and sub-Arctic region. Following the selection of Nome as the location for an Arctic port, the Corps began a feasibility study, assessing the costs of the port versus the benefits. The Corps paused the feasibility study following the departure of Shell Oil Company from the Arctic, which significantly tipped the cost-benefit ratio against the port project. In the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, Senator Sullivan and the late Representative Don Young (R-Alaska) included two provisions to justify a potential Arctic port based on its value to surrounding communities and its importance to national security. In 2017, following enactment of the WIIN Act, senior Corps leaders committed to Sullivan and Young to utilize the new authority to restart the feasibility study for the port. On February 2, 2018, the City of Nome and the Corps initiated a cost-sharing agreement. On October 23, 2018, President Trump signed America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA), which included Sullivan-Young language to expedite completion of a Corps feasibility study for the Nome port. On May 29, 2020, the Corps announced the completion of the chief’s report for the Port of Nome Modification Feasibility Study, making the project eligible for congressional authorization and funding. In December 2020, President Trump signed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020, which included language, championed by Sullivan and Young, authorizing $379 million for the federal share of the Nome Deep Draft Port Project. On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed into law. The bill provides $250 million over five years for the construction of remote and subsistence harbor projects. These projects are in locations that are not connected to a road system, and the ports are vital to the long-term viability of the community. On January 19, 2022, the Corps of Engineers announced that the entire $250 million from the IIJA for remote and subsistence harbor projects will be directed to the Port of Nome. On July 28, 2022, the Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. The legislation includes key victories for Alaska infrastructure, including increased cost-sharing for the Nome Deep Draft Port Project. # # # Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-sullivan-murkowski-alaska-salmon-research-task-force-act,Senate Passes Sullivan-Murkowski Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate this week voted unanimously to pass the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, legislation introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (both R-Alaska) that would form a panel of Alaska’s salmon stakeholders and research experts to study Pacific salmon trends and create a coordinated research strategy for Pacific salmon in Alaska to support robust salmon runs. The Research Task Force would be directed to conduct a comprehensive review of Pacific salmon science relevant to understanding salmon returns in Alaska, and publish a report, within one year of convening, to provide recommendations identifying knowledge and research gaps and further research priorities for salmon in Alaska. “Salmon are a fundamental part of life in Alaska—for our families, our communities, our economy, and our cultural traditions,” said Senator Sullivan. “In recent years, Alaskans have witnessed shocking and unprecedented declines among some salmon species in parts of the state while, in other parts, runs have been strong and historic. Many have speculated on the causes of these declines, but all Alaskans can agree—we need to identify and address research prioritization gaps with comprehensive data and the best scientific minds, including Indigenous communities that have harvested salmon for millennia. I want to thank my Senate colleagues for passing this legislation to expand our understanding of this challenge so we can realize increased abundance and stability in our salmon stocks for the benefit of all Alaskans.” “Salmon are the lifeblood of Alaska’s economy, history, and the subsistence way of life. In some regions, we are unfortunately not only seeing a decline in salmon runs, but stock crashes that are devastating to local economies as well as the culture and spirit of those who call Alaska home,” said Senator Murkowski. “We must act to address the problem, and gather the information we need to understand the root of it. That’s why Senator Sullivan and I are spearheading the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act. Our legislation unanimously passing the Senate takes us one step closer to better understanding salmon and their ecosystems during a time of ongoing change. We must work together – Alaskans, stakeholders, and all levels of government – to find solutions to sustain this precious resource.” The Research Task Force would be composed of between 13 and 19 members, with the secretary of commerce appointing a representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the U.S. section of the Pacific Salmon Commission. The secretary would also appoint between two and five representatives from Alaska covering the wide array of state fisheries stakeholders, including subsistence, commercial or recreational users. Lastly, the secretary would appoint five academic experts in salmon biology, management, and ecology, or marine research. The governor of Alaska would appoint one representative of the state. The bill also directs the Research Task Force to establish a working group specifically focused on salmon returns in the AYK region of Western and Interior Alaska, where salmon return failures have had devastating impacts, and provides flexibility for the Research Task Force to establish other geographically-focused working groups. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-kishida-government-national-security-strategy-has-potential-to-transform-us-japan-alliance,Sullivan: Kishida Government National Security Strategy has Potential to Transform U.S.-Japan Alliance,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement in support of the new national security strategy and related documents released today by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida: “I want to congratulate and commend Prime Minister Kishida and his cabinet for the groundbreaking leadership they have demonstrated with these transformative national security plans. The documents finalized and released today by the Kishida government have the potential to dramatically transform the U.S.-Japan alliance. Many of us in the U.S. Senate and in successive administrations have been encouraging Tokyo for many years to strengthen its national defense capabilities. “Today, Japan is taking bold and historic steps forward in this regard. And for the sake of the U.S. and Japan’s national security interests in the region, the peace and security of the entire Indo-Pacific region, and our common interest in combating authoritarian aggression from dictators like Putin and Xi Jinping, today’s bold announcement by Prime Minister Kishida and his government has the potential to secure peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region for decades to come. I’m especially pleased to see the convergence between our assessments of the strategic environment. Tokyo has become increasingly vocal about the Chinese Communist Party’s military threat to Taiwan, and now, in its national security strategy, it calls China what it is – an ‘unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge.’ “In the months to come, there will be opportunities to bring this extraordinary moment to bear on the alliance. I encourage the Biden administration to make the most of it. It will have my full support.” In October, Sen. Sullivan was in Japan to host a summit on the Alaska LNG Project and to meet with senior Japanese officials. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:41:06Z https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/final-ndaa-includes-numerous-tillis-provisions-to-improve-the-lives-of-north-carolina-servicemembers-and-families,Final NDAA Includes Numerous Tillis Provisions to Improve the Lives of North Carolina Servicemembers and Families,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Republican,Senate,NC,Thom Tillis,T000476,www.tillis.senate.gov,tillis,https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which included multiple provisions by U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to improve the lives of servicemembers and military families. The bipartisan legislation also includes the authorization of $302.3 million for North Carolina military installations. Since being elected in 2015, Senator Tillis has secured more than $3 billion for North Carolina’s military installations. “I was proud to lead a bipartisan effort to provide much needed improvements to installations across the country, including Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune,” said Senator Tillis. “North Carolina’s military installations continue to play a crucial role in protecting the United States against threats all across the world. Ensuring Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point, New River, and Seymour Johnson have the resources they need to successfully protect our great nation has been a top priority of mine since the first day I took office. This bipartisan legislation is a big win for North Carolina’s servicemembers and our military families, and I am proud it will be signed into law by President Biden. I will continue to work hard for our brave men and women in uniform.” Senator Tillis’ Priorities Secured in the NDAA: Takes care of our troops The NDAA rescinds DOD’s COVID vaccine mandate amid the nation’s massive recruiting crisis. The NDAA authorizes funding to support a 4.6 percent pay raise for both military service members and the Department of Defense civilian workforce. This legislation bans Uighur slave labor-made items in military commissaries and exchanges. The NDAA increases maximum special and incentive payments and bonuses by over 30 percent. The NDAA authorizes DOD to pay relocation and quarantine costs for pets during military moves. The NDAA authorizes a Survivor Benefit Plan open season for the first time since 2005. The legislation limits frequency of adjustments to overseas cost of living allowances to every 6 months. The NDAA permanently authorizes the DOD Skillbridge program. The NDAA authorizes a pilot program on hiring special education inclusion coordinators in Child Development Centers to ensure quality services are provided to children with special needs. The NDAA extends the reimbursement authority for spouse relicensing costs after a permanent change of station (PCS) for an additional 5 years. The NDAA authorizes the reimbursement of spouse business costs arising from a PCS. The NDAA authorizes $50 million for Impact Aid and $20 million for Impact Aid for military dependents with severe disabilities. The NDAA requires DOD to establish a comprehensive initiative for brain health, the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative, to improve cognitive performance and brain health of servicemembers. The NDAA makes improvements to the TRICARE Dental Program, including improving specialty care referrals under TRICARE Prime during permanent changes of station. The NDAA makes certain improvements relating to behavioral health care in the military health system. The NDAA authorizes transitional health care benefits to National Guard members who are separated from full-time duty in response to a national emergency declaration and supported by federal funds. FY2023 Military Construction for North Carolina Installations Fort Bragg - $84.5 million Fort Bragg - Automated Infantry Platoon Battle Course (P&D) - $1.35 million Fort Bragg Automated Record Fire Range (P&D) - $2 million Fort Bragg Child Development Center (P&D) - $3.6 million Fort Bragg Multipurpose Machine Gun Range (MPMG 2) (P&D) - $1.6 million Fort Bragg Multipurpose Training Range - $34 million Fort Bragg Albritton Middle School Addition (P&D) - $7.5 million Fort Bragg SOF Operations Building - $18.8 million Fort Bragg SOF Supply Support Activity - $15.6 million MCAS Cherry Point - $117.4 million Cherry Point Aircraft Maintenance Hangar (INC) – $21 million Cherry Point CH-53K Gearbox Repair and Test Facility – $38.4 million Cherry Point - F-35 Flightline Util Modernization Ph 2 (INC) – $58 million MCAS New River - $21 million New River Three Module Type II Hangar – $21 million MCB Camp Lejeune - $54 million Camp Lejeune Regional Communications Station, Hadnot Point - $47.4 million Camp Lejeune Lejeune Schools Modernization (P&D) - $6.6 million Seymour Johnson AFB - $3.8 million Seymour Johnson Combat Arms and Maintenance Complex (P&D) - $3.3 million Seymour Johnson KC–46 Alert Facility (P&D) - $530,000 Army National Guard - $19.5 million Mcleansville Camp Burton Road National Guard Vehicle Maintenance Shop - $15 million Morrisville Army Aviation Flight Facility #1 (P&D) - $4.5 million Army Reserve Center: Ashville, NC - $2 million Asheville Cost to Complete: Army Reserve Center - $2 million Total MILCON Funding - $302.3 million ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z