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://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-begich-returns-over-1-million-alaskans-through-casework,Congressman Begich Returns Over $1 Million to Alaskans Through Casework,2025-12-29,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ANCHORAGE, AK. – Dec. 29, 2025 – Today, Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) announced that his office has returned over $1 million in federal casework funds to Alaskans since taking office in January.

“I’m proud to announce that my constituent services team has returned over $1 million to Alaskans this year. Whether it’s ensuring a veteran receives long-overdue benefits or resolving a Social Security issue, my office is committed to delivering results,” said Congressman Begich. “Our office works diligently to cut through federal red tape on behalf of people across our state. Returning more than one million dollars is an important milestone, and I’m proud of the real impact this work has had on the lives of Alaskans across our great state.”

Below are recent constituent success stories from Alaskan residents who worked with Congressman Begich’s office:

“I want to express my sincere gratitude for the hard work and dedication shown in helping my family navigate a challenging situation. The commitment shown to veterans and their families has made a meaningful difference to us. We are truly grateful.” – Vince H.

""My wife and I had been waiting since 2023 for the disability benefits we were owed, and we were at a breaking point. Congressman Begich’s office took our case seriously and worked tirelessly to get answers. Because of their efforts, we received $32,500 in backpay. Their help changed our lives, and we can’t thank them enough."" –David N.

""After struggling for months to make progress with the Social Security Administration, Congressman Begich’s office stepped in and got results. With their help, I received more than $18,000 in backpay that I had been waiting on. I’m deeply appreciative of their hard work and compassion."" – Theresa H.

""Congressman Begich and his team helped me navigate a long and frustrating situation with Social Security. Thanks to their persistence, I finally received the benefits I was owed - over $11,000. Their support, especially the work of Casework Manager, Denali Tshibaka, took a huge weight off my shoulders and I’m truly thankful.""

– Robert C.

""I was owed a small IRS refund and kept running into roadblocks trying to get it resolved. Congressman Begich’s office treated my case with the same importance as any other and made sure I received the refund. It meant a lot to be heard and helped, no matter the size of the issue.""

– Jane B.

To request assistance with a federal agency, please visit Begich.House.gov to fill out a casework form.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-on-rural-health-transformation-fund-alaska-has-an-extraordinary-opportunity,Murkowski on Rural Health Transformation Fund: “Alaska has an extraordinary opportunity.”,2025-12-29,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Anchorage, AK – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced awards under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established through the reconciliation bill. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) highlighted the opportunity presented to Alaska’s rural health care system through the newly expanded fund, which will deliver $272 million per year to Alaska for the next five years.

“During the reconciliation negotiations, protecting health care access for rural communities in Alaska and across the country was my top priority,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “As one of the lead advocates to double the Rural Health Transformation Fund from $25 billion to $50 billion, I was intent on ensuring our rural providers had the resources to adapt, innovate, and continue to deliver care in challenging environments like ours. In addition to the funding, I fought for key provisions, including exemptions for Tribal members from SNAP and Medicaid work requirements and greater flexibility for states like Alaska to exempt regions with limited job availability. These safeguards will matter just as much as the funding. Taken together, they position Alaska well for the future and recognize the realities facing our rural and remote communities. We have an extraordinary opportunity in front of us, and I’m committed to working with our partners in the state to seize it.”

Background:

The Rural Health Transformation Fund was conceived during negotiations on H.R. 1. The fund provides $50 billion nationwide over five years (FY 2026–2031), including a $100 million per-state base allocation each year. Alaska will receive $272 million annually—totaling $1.36 billion over five years—to support rural health care priorities such as maternal and child health, access to essential services, preventive care, workforce recruitment and retention, and health care technology. Senator Murkowski’s negotiations directly led to the doubling of the fund from $25 billion to $50 billion.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-welcomes-272-million-investment-in-alaskas-health-care-system,Sullivan Welcomes $272 Million Investment in Alaska’s Health Care System,2025-12-29,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today welcomed a $272 million award from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to strengthen Alaska’s health care system, the first of five annual awards for Alaska under the five-year Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Sen. Sullivan was one of the lead authors of the $50 billion fund in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, the budget reconciliation bill signed into law in July, that established the RHTP. The program is intended to help states expand access to care in rural communities, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize rural facilities and technology, and support innovative models that bring high-quality, dependable care closer to home.

Sen. Sullivan announced the award at a press conference today in Anchorage alongside Governor Mike Dunleavy (R-Alaska), Congressman Nick Begich (R-Alaska), and Alaska Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg.

“This is the biggest investment in rural health care in American history, and certainly the largest investment in Alaska’s health care system from the federal government in our state’s history,” said Sen. Sullivan. “The $272 million per year that Alaska will receive for five years—nearly $1.4 billion from the federal government—is a generational opportunity to transform our health care system. It gives our communities, state officials, and the Legislature the opportunity and freedom to design a health care system that reflects Alaska’s unique needs. This is the opposite of the one-size-fits-all approach we too often see from Washington, DC. This funding will help keep care closer to home, reduce the need for costly and disruptive travel, strengthen rural clinics, and stabilize our health care workforce. With the application the Dunleavy administration put forth, this award is an example of the power of local, tribal and state leaders, and our federal delegation—all the stakeholders—working together to get results for Alaskans.”

According to CMS, the funding will be used by states to implement comprehensive strategies to improve care delivery, support providers, and advance new approaches to coordinating health care services across rural communities. Five key areas of focus for the program include:

Bringing more care within reach

Strengthening and sustaining the rural clinical workforce

Modernizing rural health infrastructure and technology

Driving structural efficiency and empowering community providers

Advancing innovative care models and payment reform

Below is a timeline of Sen. Sullivan’s work on the Rural Health Transformation Program.

During the first few months of 2025, Senate Republicans began working with the Trump administration on their legislative priorities to be included in a budget reconciliation bill.

Among many other important priorities for Alaska, Sen. Sullivan initially secured a 25 percent increase in Alaska’s Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) in the bill to better reflect the state’s high cost of living and high cost of health care delivery. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the change would’ve permanently generated more than an additional $200 million in increased annual federal Medicaid dollars for Alaska.

During the final stages of debate on the bill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Democrats challenged Sen. Sullivan’s FMAP provision by arguing to the parliamentarian of the Senate that it violated budget reconciliation rules. Following this review, the parliamentarian advised that the provision violated the requirements of the “Byrd Rule,” resulting in its removal.

It was disappointing that Sen. Schumer and Senate Democrats cut the estimated $200 million in increased annual Medicaid funding for Alaska, but Sen. Sullivan and his team quickly pivoted to another solution—shaping the formula for the Rural Health Transformation Fund to better address Alaska’s unique needs, doubling the fund’s overall size to $50 billion, and moving up the program’s start date to 2026.

On July 1, 2025, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation bill. On July 4, 2025, the legislation was signed into law.

On September 15, 2025, CMS unveiled details on how states could apply to receive funding from the RHTP. The State of Alaska then crafted an application with a plan for transforming Alaska’s health care system.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-begich-celebrates-presidential-signing-alaska-native-vietnam-era,Congressman Begich Celebrates Presidential Signing of Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act,2025-12-26,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 26, 2025 – Today, Congressman Nick Begich released the following statement after legislation he authored to extend the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment program was signed into law:

“Today, President Trump signed the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act into law. With the President’s signature, we are fulfilling a decades-old promise to Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans who were logistically prevented from accessing land allotment opportunities for Alaska natives made available during their military service overseas. Under the Biden Administration, selections were slow-rolled or denied, preventing veterans and their families from receiving these lands. Thank you to Senator Dan Sullivan for his work in the Senate getting this across the finish line before the end of 2025 and for championing this issue for many years. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to extend this vital program.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-begich-applauds-house-passage-speed-act,Congressman Begich Applauds House Passage of SPEED Act,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 18, 2025 – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4776, Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at reforming the federal permitting process and modernizing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Congressman Begich, a proud co-sponsor of the legislation, applauded its passage as a major step toward restoring balance to the regulatory permitting process and improving affordability for American families.

“For years, America’s outdated permitting system has acted as a self-imposed handicap – driving up costs and delaying infrastructure projects,” said Congressman Begich. “Projects that should take months are delayed for years, stalling infrastructure, energy development, and critical mineral production. The SPEED Act is a strong step forward in making life more affordable and allowing America to build again by establishing clear timelines for environmental reviews and limiting endless litigation that has too often been used to delay or block responsible development. Importantly, the bill preserves strong environmental protections while ensuring projects can move forward under higher standards here at home. Chairman Westerman’s leadership and the work of the House Natural Resources Committee have been instrumental in advancing a bipartisan solution that restores balance to the permitting process.”

As global competition accelerates, regulatory reform remains critical to ensuring American energy dominance, infrastructure development, and long-term economic security.

The SPEED Act was intentionally crafted as a bipartisan effort, with equal numbers of Republican and Democratic co-sponsors, reflecting broad agreement that regulatory reform is essential to strengthening the economy and restoring balance to the permitting process.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-highlights-alaska-wins-in-ndaa,Murkowski Highlights Alaska Wins in NDAA,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 77-20. The bill now goes to the President’s desk for his signature.

The FY26 NDAA provides a 3.8 percent pay raise for military personnel, expands investment in military construction, supports state-of-the-art defense technologies, and strengthens America’s alliances abroad, all while delivering meaningful wins for Alaska’s defense infrastructure.

“As Russia and China continue to strengthen their positions in the Indo-Pacific, the geostrategic significance of Alaska continues to grow for the United States—and that reality is clearly reflected in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act,” said Senator Murkowski. “By investing in our servicemembers and modernizing our military capabilities, we are ensuring that Alaska is prepared to serve as the frontline of our western defense. Whether through Arctic operations, missile defense, or space launch capacity, I will continue advocating for the resources our troops need to keep Alaska and America safe.”

NDAA FY26 Highlights for Alaska

Investing in Alaska’s Military Infrastructure

The NDAA authorizes critical new military construction (MILCON) projects across Alaska that will strengthen readiness, enhance quality of life, and support ongoing missions in the Arctic and Indo-Pacific.

Eielson Air Force Base: Base Civil Engineer Pavements and Grounds Facility; Coal Thaw Shed Addition; and Consolidated Munitions Complex.

Fort Wainwright: New barracks and dining facility to improve quality of life for soldiers.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER): Base Supply Complex; Joint Integrated Test and Training Center (JITTC); runway extension; and a maintenance facility.

Eareckson Air Station: Prohibits the Department of Defense from shutting down the AN/FPS-108 COBRA DANE radar located on Shemya Island, a critical piece of military infrastructure. This language was spearheaded by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK).

The NDAA also includes a Murkowski amendment expanding the Defense Community Infrastructure Program to allow demolition projects as eligible for assistance. This ensures that communities supporting nearby military installations can modernize obsolete structures.

Supporting Alaska’s Servicemembers and Their Families

Alaska’s servicemembers and their families sacrifice greatly to defend our nation, and Senator Murkowski has long prioritized ensuring they receive the support they need to carry out their missions and care for their loved ones. To that end, the legislation provides a 3.8 percent pay raise for military personnel.

The legislation also provides for:

Flyback Program for Unaccompanied Members: Extends the travel allowance for unaccompanied servicemembers assigned to Alaska through December 31, 2027, allowing them to return home for leave. Senator Murkowski has long championed this important quality-of-life program, first introducing it through her Arctic Warrior Act in 2022. Senator Murkowski was able to secure funding for the program through appropriations. The entire Alaska delegation remains committed to exploring new initiatives to support servicemembers’ mental health.

Improving Access to Training and Education: At Senator Murkowski’s request, the bill modifies payment requirements for the Department of Defense’s Regional Centers for Security Studies—including the Ted Stevens Center at JBER—to expand participation from allied nations and enhance joint training opportunities.

Cold Weather Gear Modernization: Authorizes Senator Murkowski’s $11.2 million request for the Comprehensive Protective Cold Weather Layering System to ensure troops operating in extreme environments are properly equipped.

Fire Suppression and Safety: Includes $5 million, requested by Senator Murkowski, for aerial fire suppression capabilities to bolster emergency response and protect installations across Alaska. These resources may also be used to combat wildfires statewide.

Expanding America’s Defense Capabilities

The FY26 NDAA invests in next-generation defense technologies and national security innovation while strengthening alliances to keep Americans safe at home and abroad.

Adds nuclear fission and fusion energy to the list of “covered technologies” for defense innovation programs—an effort Senator Murkowski has long championed as part of her commitment to advanced clean energy deployment.

Authorizes a comprehensive study on future U.S. space launch capacity, including infrastructure needs, long-term viability, and the potential for heavy and super-heavy launch operations—recognizing Alaska’s growing role in national space defense.

Supports the Golden Dome missile defense program by requiring the Department of Defense to submit a plan to achieve the President’s goals for an Iron Dome for America, as outlined in Executive Order 14186. Senator Sullivan has been a key voice in this effort to make Alaska the cornerstone of our national missile defense system.

Places restrictions on any attempted withdrawal of U.S. forces from Europe by requiring certifications to Congress at least 60 days before troop levels fall below 76,000 in U.S. European Command’s area of responsibility. The bill also prohibits divesting or returning any EUCOM-controlled facilities or relinquishing the role of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander.

Allows governors to leverage Active Guard and Reserve personnel for in-state disaster response while preserving military readiness for national-level crises.

Investing in our Coast Guard

With more than 47,000 miles of coastline—longer than the combined shorelines of the Lower 48—Alaska has a unique relationship with the United States Coast Guard. Senator Murkowski used this year’s Coast Guard Authorization Act (CGAA), included within the NDAA, to advance critical investments in the service.

The CGAA authorizes $11.8 billion in operations and maintenance funding for FY26 and $13.5 billion for FY27, and includes:

Annual reporting requirements on the progress of Coast Guard cutter homeporting projects within the Coast Guard Arctic District, including Fast Response Cutters, Offshore Patrol Cutters, and the USCGC Storis in Juneau. Senator Sullivan was a key voice in ensuring the USCGC Storis was homeported in Juneau.

Key improvements to the vessel of opportunity programs in Alaska to ensure continued oil spill response capacity in rural and remote areas. Senators Murkowski, Sullivan, and Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) all worked on this critical issue for Alaska.

Enhanced oversight through required reports detailing expenditure plans and project timelines for large acquisition and procurement programs.

Reporting requirements on the acquisition status of Polar Security Cutters, including notification to Congress of any significant changes to scope or funding.

Updates on renovated housing, food preparation, and maintenance facilities on St. Paul Island, as well as plans for a new hangar near the island’s airport.

Reimbursement authorization for Coast Guard members stationed in Alaska to travel within the United States or its territories during their tour, along with required briefings to Congress on COLA calculations and special pay incentives by February 1, 2027. This has been championed by Senators Sullivan and Murkowski. Senator Murkowski was able to secure funding for the program through appropriations.

Critical improvements to servicemember access to medical care through establishing the Coast Guard Embedded Behavioral Health Technician Pilot Program and enabling the service to hire five additional behavioral health specialists.

Updates to modernize and improve the Merchant Mariner Credential system, the primary framework for qualifying and credentialing U.S. merchant mariners.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/senator-murkowski-joins-colleagues-reintroduces-bipartisan-bill-to-ensure-no-cost-contraception-coverage-for-all-women,Senator Murkowski joins Colleagues Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Ensure No-Cost Contraception Coverage for All Women,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Susan Collins (R-ME) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to help ensure that all women have full access to no-cost contraception coverage. Currently, private insurance plans and Medicaid are required to cover all types of contraception, such as oral contraception and IUD insertion, at no cost to the patient. However, gaps in coverage remain and affect many women in the Granite State and across the country. The?Closing the Contraception Coverage Gap Act?seeks to close these remaining gaps and ensure that all women can access the best form of contraception for them without a copay or other out-of-pocket costs.

This bipartisan bill would require Medicare to also cover contraception at no cost to the patient, closing a known gap in contraception coverage for young and middle-aged women who experience long-term disabilities. Approximately one million women aged 20 - 49 rely on Medicare for their health coverage, which they are most often eligible for because of a long-term disability. The bill would additionally direct the Government Accountability Office to identify any remaining gaps in contraception coverage as well.

“Women with disabilities shouldn’t face greater barriers to contraception than anyone else,” said Senator Murkowski. “While Medicaid and private insurance already guarantee no-cost access to birth control, Medicare still leaves too many women without the same coverage. This bill would fix that by ensuring Medicare covers contraception at no cost to patients, removing a long overdue barrier to access contraception.”

“Every woman deserves access to the health care that she needs, and this bipartisan bill seeks to help ensure that all women can access no-cost contraception under all insurance plans,”?said Senator Hassan. “This bill will close a gap that has prevented women from accessing coverage for contraception and help ensure that there are no other gaps in this basic form of health care.”

“There’s no reason that women with disabilities should have a harder time accessing birth control than anyone else,” said Senator Duckworth. “By requiring Medicare to cover birth control without any cost to patients, our bipartisan bill would make sure all beneficiaries have equal access to birth control. It’s long overdue.”

“Unlike Medicaid and private insurance, which generally cover most FDA-approved contraceptive methods and services without cost to patients, Medicare coverage leaves thousands of women without the same access to these services,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would require Medicare to cover contraception methods and services at no cost to patients, removing a significant barrier to health care for women who qualify for Medicare because of a long-term disability.”

This bill has been endorsed by leading reproductive and disability rights groups, including the American Association of People with Disabilities. This legislation has also been endorsed by Upstream, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, National Women’s Law Center, National Partnership for Women & Families, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, New Disabled South, National Council of Jewish Women, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The full text of the bill can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-begich-house-passage-lower-health-care-premiums-all-americans-act,Congressman Begich on House Passage of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 17, 2025 – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6703, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, which expands access to quality care and provides every American with more options and flexibility. Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK), who voted in favor of the legislation, released the following statement:

“The passage of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act is an important step toward fixing a broken healthcare system.

For more than a decade, the health insurance system created by Democrats under Obamacare has proven completely unaffordable for the American health insurance customer. Premiums have skyrocketed, choices have disappeared, and American families are paying more every year for a product that fails to make us healthier.

We must now construct a system that delivers results - a system where Americans can honestly say they are getting their money’s worth. For healthcare to be delivered well, the products must be transparent, competitive, and built around the customer.

This legislation begins addressing the real drivers of high costs by expanding affordable options for small businesses and workers, reducing premiums in the individual market, and bringing long-overdue transparency to the prescription drug supply chain. Instead of writing more blank checks to insurance companies - companies which have actual incentive to deny coverage and increase rates, the legislation focuses on lowering prices and increasing choice.

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act helps move us away from a failing healthcare system and toward real reform that puts patients first and delivers a better value for the healthcare customer.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-celebrates-codification-of-arctic-ambassador-position,Murkowski Celebrates Codification of Arctic Ambassador Position,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the codification of the Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs position within the U.S. State Department through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Senator Murkowski has long pushed to elevate U.S. Arctic diplomacy, leading to the State Department’s establishment of the position in 2022.

“Today marks a truly significant step forward for the United States in Arctic diplomacy and national security,” said Senator Murkowski. “For too long, the United States has lacked a dedicated, senior-level diplomatic presence focused exclusively on the Arctic, even as competition in the region has intensified. The future is due north, and codifying this position ensures the United States is better positioned to protect our interests, strengthen cooperation with Arctic allies, and respond to growing security and economic challenges in the Arctic.”

The U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs will serve as the President’s senior diplomat for Arctic affairs, advancing and coordinating U.S. foreign policy programs across the region. Reporting through the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, the Ambassador will engage Arctic nations and multilateral institutions, coordinate across the Department of State and interagency, and support U.S. efforts to counter Russian and Chinese influence through the Arctic Watcher Program, consistent with the Arctic Region Security Policy. The position will play a central role in strengthening cooperation with our allies and partners, consulting with Arctic Indigenous communities, and promoting responsible environmental stewardship, scientific collaboration, and sustainable economic development.

Timeline

Prior to 2022: the United States relied on an Arctic Coordinator within the State Department. The individual was not confirmed by the Senate and had limited authority.

2022: Senator Murkowski formally elevated the matter to the U.S. Department of State to initiate the creation of the Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region position.

2023: the Biden administration nominated Alaskan Dr. Mike Sfraga to fill the recently created position of Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs.

2024: Senator Murkowski led sustained bipartisan efforts throughout the 118th Congress to advance and secure Dr. Sfraga’s confirmation to the post.

2025: Congress passed legislation codifying the Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs position, including its inclusion in the NDAA.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/final-fy-2026-defense-bill-includes-19-sullivan-provisions-prioritizes-alaska,"Final FY 2026 Defense Bill Includes 19 Sullivan Provisions, Prioritizes Alaska",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"Bill Incorporates Sullivan’s GOLDEN DOME Act, Authorizes $292 Million in New Alaska Military Construction

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today celebrated the Senate’s passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The $890 billion legislation (a nearly $12 billion increase over the baseline) includes 19 provisions and amendments offered by Sen. Sullivan, strongly supports U.S. service members and their families, incorporates a vast majority of Sen. Sullivan’s GOLDEN DOME missile defense legislation, and authorizes more than $292 million in military construction for Alaska. The bill now heads to the President’s desk.

“My work on the Armed Services Committee in each successive national defense authorization is always guided by three overriding priorities: taking care of our troops, advancing a policy of ‘Peace Through Strength,’ and continuing to build up our Alaska-based military,” said Sen. Sullivan. “The FY 2026 NDAA delivers on all three of these fronts and is chock full of wins for Alaska, for our military, and for our warfighters and their families. I pressed to authorize close to $300 million in military construction projects specifically for Alaska, recognizing our state’s unrivaled strategic location and the escalating aggression from the Russians and Chinese in the North Pacific and Arctic. This figure is in addition to the $441 million, which Senator Murkowski helped secure, for Alaska military construction projects in the military construction appropriations bill that was passed as part of the legislation to reopen the government in November—the largest amount appropriated for our state in the last eight years.

“This year’s NDAA also makes major investments in the ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense system, building on the $25 billion down payment in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and incorporating a significant piece of my GOLDEN DOME Act. These provisions will undoubtedly benefit Alaska, the cornerstone of America’s homeland missile defense system. I was also able to include provisions focused on a number of key priorities: securing America’s critical minerals supply chains, strengthening America’s defense industrial base, supporting America’s allies and partners, addressing the crisis in U.S. Navy shipbuilding, and investing robustly in our warfighters and warfighting capabilities to deter our adversaries around the world. I want to commend my colleagues and President Trump for working together to produce a strong defense authorization that advances America’s security interests and further recognizes and invests in Alaska’s critical role in our national defense.

“In the past few months, we have made huge strides in bolstering Alaska’s military and the infrastructure needed to support it in our state. Through the budget reconciliation bill signed into law in July, the appropriations bill to fund the government in November, and the NDAA and Coast Guard authorization bills we’ve passed today, our state will be receiving more than a billion dollars in investments. This will bolster America’s national security given our state’s strategic location, but it will also bolster our economy and create hundreds, if not thousands, of good-paying jobs in Alaska.”

The $292 million in military construction authorizations for Alaska include:

$82 million for the Air Force Joint Integrated Test & Training Center (JITTC) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER).

$80 million for an upgraded Army barracks at Fort Wainwright.

$46 million for an Army Reserve Base Supply Complex at JBER.

$46 million for an Army Reserve Maintenance Facility at JBER.

$15 million for a Base Civil Engineering (BCE) Pavements and Grounds Facility for the Alaska Air National Guard at Eielson Air Force Base.

$13.2 million for the design of an Air Force Consolidated Munitions Complex at Eielson.

$8 million for the design of an Army dining facility at Fort Wainwright.

$1.75 million for the design of an Air Force Coal Thaw Shed Addition at Eielson.

The FY 2026 NDAA supports U.S. service members and their families with provisions that:

Authorize funding to support a 3.8 percent pay raise for military members—on top of the historic pay raise of 14.5 percent passed in the FY 2025 NDAA.

Authorize an additional pay raise for service members stationed in Alaska.

Authorize annual travel reimbursement for service members stationed in remote areas, like Alaska, to return to their home of record or another approved destination.

Require DOD to more frequently calculate housing allowances so that they keep pace with inflation and the cost of living, and to make these reviews available to service members.

Require DOD to provide clear, plain-language explanations of military pay tables and allowances for service members. DOD is also required to establish an ongoing financial education campaign that ensures all service members understand their compensation, benefits, and the long-term financial outlook of their military service.

Require DOD to improve staffing of special education teachers and staff, and offerings at DOD schools.

Sen. Sullivan’s Alaska-related provisions in the FY 2026 NDAA:

Include provisions from Sen. Sullivan and Sen. Kevin Cramer’s (R-N.D.) Ground and Orbital Launched Defeat of Emergent Nuclear Destruction and Other Missile Engagements (GOLDEN DOME) Act, legislation introduced in June of 2025 to develop a modernized, layered homeland missile defense system that can counter, detect, track, and defeat existing and evolving threats. The GOLDEN DOME Act supports a January 27, 2025 executive order from President Trump. The Golden Dome-related provisions:

Authorize multi-year procurements for 10 missiles, including historic new low-cost cruise missiles and low-cost hypersonic strike systems and unprecedented seven-year authorizations for PAC-3, THAAD, and Tomahawk.

Codify into law prohibiting caps for the testing of Golden Dome’s kinetic and non-kinetic systems and direct the U.S. Space Force to identify alternate locations for its national launch sites, likely increasing testing activity at the Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska on Kodiak Island.

Prohibit military dining facilities and commissaries from purchasing or selling seafood that originates or is processed in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to help Alaska fishermen.

Require quarterly briefings from the Secretary of Defense on the planned expenditures of $115 million from the Working Families Tax Cuts Act meant for the exploration and development of existing Arctic infrastructure, like the former Naval Air Station at Adak.

Direct DOD to outline long-term sustainment and modernization plans for the COBRA Dane radar system located at Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, Alaska, a radar critically important to U.S. missile defense and space domain awareness.

Support the onshoring of critical mineral-based magnet processing and production for use in military equipment.

Support DOD’s effort to secure domestic and allied sources of critical minerals—many of which are found in Alaska—through modification to the Defense Industrial Base Fund in light of China’s control over the production of many of these resources vital for U.S. defense technologies.

Other Sullivan priorities in the FY 2026 NDAA:

Establish a pilot program on the use of automated shipbuilding technologies and capabilities to help alleviate workforce constraints and reduce construction times.

Direct the Secretary of Defense to consider whether NATO partners have submitted plans to reach their commitments to spend 5 percent of GDP on defense and related security infrastructure when deciding future U.S. military basing and training in Europe.

Establish an Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Armaments Cooperation to improve the DOD’s ability to work closely with allied and partner industrial bases and conduct win-win industrial base integration efforts that will better protect the country and create jobs for Americans.

Include provisions to get strategically important foreign purchases of American weapons systems on contract and out the door more quickly.

Support defense acquisition reform efforts, including reforming the Joint Requirements Oversight Council that decides important requirements for the joint force each year, and requiring DOD to issue guidance that speeds up software acquisition in support of the warfighters.

Extend several authorities contained in Senator Sullivan’s US-Israel Defense Partnership to strengthen Israel’s security, including for counter unmanned systems cooperation and anti-tunneling cooperation, funding for US-Israel emerging technology cooperation, and a required assessment of integrated air and missile defense architecture in the CENTCOM area of operations.

Incorporate the Fight China Act, which prohibits U.S. investments in certain Chinese technologies, including in Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computers, hypersonics, and other technologies that could one day be used to kill American Marines and sailors and threaten the freedoms of Americans at home.

# # #

Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-coast-guard-authorization-as-part-of-fy-2026-ndaa-with-sullivans-alaska-priorities,Senate Passes Coast Guard Authorization as Part of FY 2026 NDAA with Sullivan’s Alaska Priorities,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Coast Guard, Maritime and Fisheries Subcommittee, today celebrated the Senate’s passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2026. The legislation includes numerous provisions authored by Sen. Sullivan, many focused specifically on Alaska, and authorizes $15.5 billion in funding for the Coast Guard for FY 2026 and $17.2 billion for FY 2027.

“Between this $15.5 billion Coast Guard authorization for Fiscal Year 2026 and the historic $25 billion investment in the Coast Guard that I championed in the budget reconciliation bill earlier this summer, we are undertaking the largest investment in the Coast Guard in U.S. history,” said Sen. Sullivan. “No state will benefit more from these historic investments, with icebreakers and hundreds of millions of dollars in shoreside infrastructure all coming to our state. These investments will make great strides in fulfilling our commitment to this branch of the U.S. military with the support, funding and attention the Coast Guard deserves.

“As America’s only state with Arctic territory and with more coastline than the entire Lower 48 combined, Alaska is critical to the Coast Guard’s missions in defense of our nation. The Coast Guard serves an indispensable role in our state, defending our waters and ensuring the safety of Alaskans, a fact we were all reminded of witnessing the numerous search-and-rescue missions conducted and lives saved in Western Alaska in the aftermath of Typhoon Halong. From bolstering oil spill and emergency response, to providing greater support and quality of life improvements for our Coast Guardsmen, this Coast Guard authorization builds upon the strong relationship between Alaska’s communities and our Alaska-based Coast Guard and will help our service members support their families and fulfill their many critical missions in the Last Frontier.”

This Coast Guard authorization will support:

Coast Guard Missions and Infrastructure

Accountability on Homeporting Projects: Requires the Coast Guard commandant to submit an annual report on the status of all cutter homeporting projects in Alaska, specifically for Fast Response Cutters, Offshore Patrol Cutters, and the newly acquired icebreaker, Storis, which will be homeported in Juneau. The goal is to provide transparency, support congressional oversight, and ensure timely progress on these strategically important assets, which are critical to national security and Arctic operations in Alaska, particularly in Kodiak, Seward, Sitka, and Juneau, where the Coast Guard maintains or plans to expand its operational presence. The bill also requires regular reports on the Coast Guard’s efforts to establish a forward operating base in St. Paul.

Coast Guardsmen in Alaska

Dutch Harbor Dependents: Authorizes personnel stationed at Dutch Harbor in Alaska to now bring their families with them on the assignment, an issue Sen. Sullivan has been working on for years.

Travel Allowance: Expands travel benefits for any members stationed in Alaska to be able to visit their families in other states more frequently.

Travel Impacts: Requires the Coast Guard to study and report on how ferry travel affects members during permanent station moves, official travel, or commuting.

Incentive Program for Coast Guard Civilian Firefighters: Authorizes the Coast Guard to offer recruitment, relocation, and retention bonuses to civilian firefighters serving at remote Coast Guard fire departments. The goal is to attract and retain qualified personnel in these hard-to-fill positions.

Maritime Safety

Bering Strait Vessel Traffic: Directs a study of current and projected ship traffic in the Bering Strait over the next 10 years, and evaluates whether ports in Point Spencer, Nome, and Kotzebue have adequate infrastructure and emergency response capabilities. As vessel traffic grows with retreating Arctic ice, the study will help identify gaps and guide investments to protect Alaska communities, the environment, and U.S. national security.

Supports Alaska’s Fishing Communities: Continues to authorize the use of a satellite tracking system to mark fishing equipment locations, which ensures commercial fishing gear is not lost and avoids potential damage by vessel strikes. It also supports fishing vessels engaging in temporary towing operations as part of salmon hatchery management in Alaska.

Supports fishermen safety nationwide by funding Coast Guard–approved training that helps fishermen prevent accidents, respond to emergencies, and reduce fatalities in one of the nation’s most dangerous industries.

Alaska Natives and Natural Resources

Preserves oil spill response capacity in Alaska by ensuring continued operations of vessels that support response efforts from burdensome requirements that would otherwise sideline critical response vessels, like those in the Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS) program—ensuring sufficient, trained assets remain available to protect Alaska’s waters, sensitive ecosystems, and remote communities during spill emergencies.

Advances critical Exxon Valdez restoration and research efforts by moving forward a unanimously adopted Trustee Council amendment that prevents the loss of long-term research, mariculture, and education programs after 2027, unlocks nearly $40 million in restricted habitat funds, and ensures continued ecosystem restoration and community investment through 2031.

Creates the First-Ever Tribal Advisor: Creates a new civilian employee position within the Coast Guard to advise the commandant and other Coast Guard leadership on tribal affairs, such as government-to-government consultation, pollution response, fisheries enforcement, and other matters important to tribes.

Collaboration with Tribes on Research: Requires the commandant to identify potential collaborations and use of indigenous place-based knowledge and research to support Coast Guard mission needs in the Arctic.

North Pacific Research Board: Adds a new seat on the North Pacific Research Board specifically to represent Alaska Native people. The North Pacific Research Board oversees and funds scientific research focused on the North Pacific Ocean, including fisheries and ecosystem health. Adding this seat ensures that the perspectives and traditional knowledge of Alaska Native communities are included in decision-making, promoting more inclusive and culturally informed management of marine resources that directly affect their livelihoods and environment.

Sen. Sullivan has consistently championed robust investments in the Coast Guard, including in the budget reconciliation bill that was signed into law in July. Because of Sen. Sullivan’s strong advocacy in the negotiations, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act resulted in nearly $25 billion for Fiscal Year 2026 for the U.S. Coast Guard, including:

16 new icebreakers—three Polar Security Cutters (heavy icebreakers), three Arctic Security Cutters (medium polar icebreakers), and 10 light and medium icebreaking cutters;

22 new cutters—nine Offshore Patrol Cutters, 10 Fast Response Cutters, and three Waterways Commerce Cutters;

More than 40 new helicopters, six new C-130J aircraft, three new river cutters, and new maritime surveillance equipment (Many of these new Coast Guard aviation and ship assets will be coming to Alaska);

$300 million for the homeporting of theJuneau icebreaker, the Storis; and

$4.379 billion to repair docks, hangars, and shore facilities and replace aging infrastructure, funds that will help address the Coast Guard’s nationwide infrastructure backlog, as found in communities like Sitka, Seward, Kodiak and St. Paul.

# # #

Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-congressman-begich-bills-advancing-alaska-priorities,House Passes Congressman Begich Bills Advancing Alaska Priorities,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 16, 2025 – The U.S. House of Representatives passed three bills this week introduced by Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) that advance critical priorities for Alaska. The legislation includes H.R. 2815, the Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025; H.R. 3176, reauthorizing the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System; and H.R. 3620, the Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025.

“I’m proud to see the House move forward with these important pieces of legislation for Alaska and our communities,” said Congressman Begich. “Together, these bills honor long-standing commitments to Alaskans, enhance mental health services, and protect our infrastructure and air travel by strengthening vital warning systems for Alaska’s active volcanos. I want to thank my friends on the House Natural Resources Committee for their diligent work to ensure Alaska’s priorities are heard and addressed in the legislative process.”

BACKGROUND:

H.R. 3176 reauthorizes the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System (NVEWS), which monitors the nation’s most hazardous volcanoes. Alaska is home to more than half of the United States’ active volcanoes, making early warning and monitoring essential to protecting lives, infrastructure, and commerce.

H.R. 2815, the Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025, as amended, conveys approximately 180 acres of land to the Cape Fox Corporation, bringing long-awaited closure to outstanding Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act land entitlements. The bill streamlines land access and management, enabling new power production capacity and supporting economic development in Southeast Alaska.

H.R. 3620, the Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025, transfers approximately 3.4 acres of federal land and the existing Quyana Clubhouse facility in Anchorage to Southcentral Foundation (SCF). By conveying both the land and the facility, the legislation allows SCF to make long-needed upgrades and improvements to the Quyana Clubhouse. This transfer will enable SCF to expand mental health, health care, and social services and better meet the growing needs of the community.

All three bills now move to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

Congressman Begich now has a total of 10 bills passed out of the House during his first year in Congress.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-introduces-legislation-to-boost-resilience-and-build-stronger-communities,Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Boost Resilience & Build Stronger Communities,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – In an effort to make it easier for communities across the nation to better protect critical, at-risk infrastructure and community assets from worsening natural disasters, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jack Reed (D-RI) have introduced a bill that would reinstate the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and protect it against elimination in the future.

The Building Resilience and Stronger Communities Act reestablishes BRIC and makes key changes to amplify the local impact of federal investments made through the program and ensure Tribal eligibility.

Established by Congress in the Disaster Recovery Reform Act and signed into law by President Trump in 2018, BRIC serves as FEMA’s primary pre-disaster mitigation program. Congress further bolstered the program through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In April, the Trump Administration announced the abrupt cancellation of the BRIC program.

“In 2018, President Trump signed legislation creating the BRIC program because he recognized that strengthening our communities before disaster strikes is far more cost-effective than recovering after one,” said Senator Murkowski. “In Alaska, we’ve seen increasingly volatile and severe weather events threaten communities across the state, from landslides in the Southeast to typhoons in the western part of the state. Restoring the BRIC program will allow us to make strategic investments in critical infrastructure that enhance the resilience of our communities, effectively use taxpayer dollars, and ultimately save American lives.”

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When it comes to disaster preparedness, every dollar we proactively invest in boosting the resilience of our communities helps us save big in the long-term,” said Senator Reed. “This bipartisan legislation will reinstate the BRIC program and make it easier for Rhode Island’s towns and cities of all sizes to leverage federal funds for projects that better protect their community assets, homes, and businesses and save taxpayer dollars.”

Since 2020, BRIC has directed more than $4.5 billion in federal investments that have helped communities and Tribes across the country prepare for natural disasters, reduce the impacts of hazards, promote long-term safety, and better steward taxpayer funds through proactive and wise investments. Through BRIC, local governments, and Tribes have been able to carry out essential projects such as elevating at-risk infrastructure, reinforcing bridges, and improving drainage systems.

Studies have found that every dollar invested in resilience and preparedness save communities between $13 to $18 in damages, cleanup costs, and economic impact.

The legislation introduced by Senators Murkowski and Reed will make it easier for small communities and Tribes to leverage BRIC funding. Commonsense reforms in the bill include increasing the federal cost-share for small projects and for efforts to protect critical facilities like hospitals, schools, police and fire stations, and power stations. The bill also expands eligibility to ensure tribal governments can access funding.

A copy of the legislation can be viewed here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-5-year-extension-for-alaska-native-vietnam-era-veterans-land-allotment-program,Senate Passes 5-Year Extension for Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans Land Allotment Program,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska), thanked their Senate colleagues today for passing legislation to extend the Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran Land Allotment Program for an additional five years just days before the application period for the program was set to expire. The legislation, shepherded through the House by Congressman Begich in July, now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.

“Tonight, the Senate was able to deliver a Christmas gift for some great American heroes—our Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans,” said Sen. Sullivan. “Just days before the application period for this program was set to expire, my colleagues and I came together this evening to pass a five-year extension that grants these incredible veterans a renewed opportunity to apply for their congressionally mandated land allotments that many missed due to their service to our country overseas. We’ve faced many hurdles since we got my provision into law in 2019, especially the Biden administration’s four years of delays and red tape that led to just roughly 40 veterans receiving their allotments out of several thousand eligible. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working with me and my delegation colleagues to get this done right at the buzzer. Now, our work continues to get these heroes, or their heirs, the land allotments that they deserve.”

“For decades, Alaska Native veterans who served our nation during the Vietnam era have sought their rightful land allotments. When we re-established this program in 2019 through the Dingell Act, we hoped that thousands of eligible individuals and heirs would finally receive the lands they are owed in short order. Unfortunately, BLM has certificated just six percent of the applications it has received, and hundreds more veterans have not yet applied, compelling us to extend this program for another five years,” Sen. Murkowski said. “Thankfully, as a result of the bill we passed today, there should be no lapse in these veterans’ ability to apply for allotments. I also want to recognize that this measure didn’t just move on its own—Senator Sullivan has worked tirelessly for months to address concerns and clear holds so that it could pass before the application deadline arrives.”

“The passage of the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act marks an important milestone for the brave veterans who served our nation during the Vietnam War,” said Congressman Begich. “Extending this important program honors their service and upholds our promise to those who selflessly served. I want to sincerely thank Senators Sullivan and Murkowski for their leadership in the Senate to get this bill across the finish line and to the President’s desk. Today is a good day for Alaska and a great day for our veterans.”

Today, several Alaska Native and veterans leaders sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) stressing the importance of passing this legislation and renewing the application period for the allotment program before the end of the year.

Below is a timeline of Senator Sullivan and the Alaska congressional delegation’s work on the Alaska Native veteran land allotment issue.

In 1906, Congress passed a law allowing Alaska Native individuals to acquire 160-acre parcels of land.

In 1971, at a time when many Alaska Native men were serving in the military during the Vietnam War, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act(ANCSA) extinguished the 1906 allotment rights.

In 1998, the Alaska congressional delegation secured legislation to partially fix the injustice of Alaska Native veterans who missed the chance to apply for an allotment. However, due to certain restrictions, only about 500 veterans ultimately applied out more than 3,000 who were eligible.

On February 12, 2019, the Senate passed Sen. Murkowski’s S.47, the National Resources Management Act, including a Sullivan provision to establish the Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran Land Allotment Program. The late Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) shepherded the legislation through the House.

On March 12, 2019, President Donald Trump signed S.47, and the Trump administration began working on its implementation.

In January 2021, then-Interior Secretary David Bernhardt signed the revocation of 11 outdated public land orders (PLOs) issued in 1972 and 1973 that were put in place to allow Alaska Native Corporations to select lands promised to them by Congress 50 years ago. This important step allowed for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to revoke the PLOs.

In 2021, Sen. Sullivan met twice with Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) prior to her confirmation vote to be the next Secretary of the Interior. In both meetings, she committed to rapidly implement the Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran Land Allotment Program. She subsequently refused to follow through on this commitment.

In February of 2021, members of the Alaska congressional delegation condemned the Biden administration Department of the Interior’s (DOI) action to postpone the revocation of PLOs signed by former Interior Secretary Bernhardt.

In April of 2021, in a unilateral and unnecessary action, the BLM postponed the PLO revocations, requiring further environmental analysis on five PLOs with a two-year stay on the implementation of the PLO revocations.

On May 7, 2021, Sen. Sullivan and Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-Alaska) penned an op-ed in the Juneau Empire outlining the State of Alaska’s legislative effort to make state lands available to eligible Alaska Native veterans.

In June of 2021, Sens. Sullivan and Murkowski introduced legislation to amend the Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran Land Allotment Program and make an additional 3.7 million acres of federal land in the National Wildlife Refuge System available for selection.

On April 18, 2022, Sens. Sullivan and Murkowski sent a letter to Secretary Haaland urging her to lift the PLOs that would make over 28 million acres of federal land available for selection by eligible veterans or their heirs.

On April 21, 2022, Sen. Sullivan disputed Secretary Haaland’s claim that she is “[moving] expeditiously to deliver on [her] promise” to Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans as she accepted a “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI) from the acting Alaska BLM director on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran Land Allotment Program.

In February of 2023, Sens. Sullivan and Murkowski reintroduced S.175, legislation to codify the revocation of the five PLOs signed during the Trump administration and to undo the Biden administration’s efforts to unfairly halt access to federal public lands in Alaska.

In April of 2023, Sen. Sullivan condemned Secretary Haaland’s decision to order a new full environmental impact statement (EIS), which delayed the implementation of the allotment program even further.

On August 10, 2023, Sen. Sullivan criticized Secretary Haaland’s announcement of a PLO to open about 812,000 additional acres of public lands managed by BLM Alaska for selection, noting that the “new” land has already been spoken for by the State of Alaska, and the decision will result in more delays and legal hurdles for eligible veterans.

In February of 2024, Sens. Sullivan and Murkowski introduced S.3790, which would extend the program’s application period for another five years before its expiration in December of 2025. The bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent on the final day of the 118th Congress, but did not clear the House of Representatives.

On July 3, 2024, Sens. Sullivan and Murkowski criticized the BLM after it released a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) recommending the revocation of five PLOs signed in January 2021, an action that restricted the transfer of certain selected lands to Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans.

In March of 2025, Sens. Sullivan and Murkowski reintroduced legislationto extend the application period for the Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran Land Allotment Program for five additional years.

On July 14, 2025, the House passed Congressman Begich’s version of the extension legislation.

On October 8, 2025, Sen. Sullivan attempted to pass the extension legislation on the Senate floor, but it was blocked by Senate Democrats.

On November 19, 2025, Sen. Sullivan attempted to pass the extension legislation on the Senate floor, but it was blocked by Senate Democrats.

# # #

Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-applauds-extension-of-secure-rural-schools-program,Sullivan Applauds Extension of Secure Rural Schools Program,2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) praised the House of Representatives’ vote to reauthorize the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through 2026. This vote comes days after Sullivan and his Senate colleagues sent a letter to House leadership, calling for its passage. The SRS program lapsed at the end of 2023, substantially reducing payments to communities in Alaska that are surrounded by National Forests. The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025, cosponsored by Sullivan, would reauthorize the SRS program and provide retroactive payments for 2024 and 2025. It was passed unanimously by the Senate earlier this year. The bill now heads to the President to be signed into law.

“The Secure Rural Schools program is a vital source of support for many Alaskan communities surrounded by National Forests, like those in the Chugach and Tongass,” said Sen. Sullivan. “I’ve long supported efforts to sustain and strengthen this program. Earlier this year, we passed the budget reconciliation bill which mandated an increase in timber harvests and long-term contracts in National Forests—including the Tongass National Forest—strengthening the long-term sustainability of this program and ensuring our communities have the certainty and support they rely on. I want to thank my Senate and House colleagues for coming together in a bipartisan manner to reauthorize SRS and ensure we continue to deliver for Alaska.”

Background

SRS was enacted in 2000 in response to declining timber sales to financially assist communities surrounded by public, tax-exempt forest lands. The Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management administer the funds. The funding allocations are based on a formula that considers economic activity, timber harvest levels and other considerations that vary from community to community. SRS payments are critical to maintaining education programs and essential services for many rural areas, especially in Alaska.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-nick-begich-celebrates-presidential-signing-hj-res-131-and-hj-res,"Congressman Nick Begich Celebrates Presidential Signing of H.J. Res. 131 and H.J. Res. 106, Advancing Alaska’s Resource Future",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 11, 2025 – Today, Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) joined President Donald J. Trump in the Oval Office as the President signed H.J. Res. 131 and H.J. Res. 106 into law - two major Congressional Review Act resolutions led by Congressman Begich. These measures reverse restrictive Biden-era actions that locked up millions of acres across Alaska and stalled vital energy, mineral, and infrastructure development.

With today’s action, Congressman Begich has now had four bills signed into law during his first year in Congress - a historic pace for a freshman Member and a clear demonstration of his commitment to both unlocking Alaska’s potential and telling Alaska’s story in Washington.

“Alaska’s story is one of vast potential and opportunity. For too long that story was sidelined. This year, we changed that. Today’s bill signings continue a generational shift in how our nation views Alaska’s abundance and Alaska’s role in securing America’s future,” said Congressman Begich. “When Alaska is empowered to responsibly develop its resources, America is stronger, our economy is more secure, and our communities - from the North Slope to the Interior - have the opportunity to thrive. I am grateful for the longstanding work of Senator Murkowski and Senator Sullivan in the Senate and their commitment to Alaska. We are unlocking opportunity across the state at an historic pace, and I am proud to deliver these results for Alaskans.”

H.J. Res. 131 – Restoring Lawful Access to the 1002 Area and Strengthening America’s Energy Future

H.J. Res. 131 overturns the Biden administration’s 2024 Record of Decision that halted oil and gas development across 1.16 million acres of the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s Coastal Plain. By restoring the 2020 ROD, the resolution revives a balanced, lawful program that Congress established specifically for energy development and reinforces President Trump’s Executive Order 14154, which prioritizes unlocking Alaska’s strategic resources.

This measure ensures access to an estimated 7.7 billion barrels of oil in the 1002 Area - critical for revitalizing throughput in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, securing long-term national energy supply, and strengthening America’s strategic posture.

H.J. Res. 106 – Repealing the Central Yukon RMP and Reopening Opportunity in Alaska’s Interior

H.J. Res. 106 repeals the Biden administration’s Central Yukon Resource Management Plan, which locked up more than 13 million acres in one of Alaska’s most impoverished regions. The plan restricted access to lands essential for energy production, critical minerals, and infrastructure corridors.

Under the resolution, multiple-use management is restored, opening access to:

1.86 million acres previously closed under “critical environmental concern” designations

330,000 acres of essential transportation and utility corridors

Additional lands for oil, gas, and mineral leasing, supporting jobs and state revenue

The passage of H.J. Res. 106 marked Congressman Begich’s third bill to pass both chambers this Congress - and one of the fastest turnarounds for a freshman in modern Alaska history.

Today’s signings reflect a sustained effort by Congressman Begich to restore Alaska’s long-standing commitments under federal law, and secure generational economic opportunity for communities across the state and the nation.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-we-still-have-time-to-reach-bipartisan-consensus,Murkowski: “We Still Have Time to Reach Bipartisan Consensus.”,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement today following her votes to proceed on debate for the two proposals on healthcare:

“The cost of health care is already a significant burden, and in just a few short weeks, it is set to explode into a full-blown crisis for thousands of Alaskans and millions of Americans. We have known this cliff was coming for quite some time, but Congress has ignored opportunities to address it at every turn. This brought us to today, when I voted to begin debate on competing proposals that ostensibly aim to address this challenge.

“They were better than nothing, which is why I supported the motions to proceed to both of them. Yet both had substantial flaws, and neither was designed to actually pass the Senate. The Democrats’ proposal extended current subsidies for longer than necessary, while setting up a worse future cliff and making no meaningful reforms to restrain costs in the meantime. The Republicans’ proposal could help address costs over time but did little to resolve the immediate pain facing Americans, with increasing premiums, and included known poison pills for our Democratic colleagues.

“For over a year, I have been sounding the alarm about this looming cliff. During the reconciliation process, I proposed addressing an extension in the bill. In September, I introduced legislation that offered a clean two-year extension of the enhanced premium tax credits to give Congress a runway to address healthcare affordability. Later that month, I included a one-year extension of those tax credits as part of a framework for an appropriations plan.

“There are no excuses. Today, the Senate failed its responsibilities. But we still have time to reach bipartisan consensus before we leave for the holidays, and there is plenty of overlap among the proposals in both the Senate and the House that would work to extend the tax credits with needed reforms. We now know with certainty what we cannot do, but we must set aside what divides us. It is essential that my colleagues come to the table and focus on where we can reach agreement before open enrollment closes on January 15. I am going to continue doing everything I can to ensure Americans can access the care they need.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-votes-to-relieve-alaskans-from-obamacares-outrageous-costs,Sullivan Votes to Relieve Alaskans from Obamacare’s Outrageous Costs,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) issued the following statement after voting to advance both the Republican health care proposal and the Democrat proposal to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits.

“Obamacare, the so-called Affordable Care Act, has not made health care more affordable. The law crashed Alaska’s health insurance market, dropping us from four insurers before Obamacare was enacted down to only one, eventually leaving us now with just two insurers. Premiums for Alaskans skyrocketed. Insurance companies got rich and Alaskans paid the price. It’s also important to note that congressional Democrats created these Covid-era Obamacare subsidies and their expiration cliff in a party-line vote on the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021. Then, in another party-line vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats chose to extend the life of these credits only until 2025—not even as long as they did for electric vehicle tax credits.

“Nevertheless, there is little doubt that a lot of hard-working Alaskans, families, entrepreneurs and small business owners will be negatively impacted if these enhanced premium tax credits expire. For that reason, I voted to move forward and consider both the Republicans’ and the Democrats’ proposed legislation. I offered amendments to both bills that would extend the enhanced premium tax credits for two years, include income caps, bar illegal immigrants from receiving these benefits, and include at least a nominal payment for all plans to clamp down on fraud and abuse which was recently documented by the Government Accountability Office. Now that both the Republican and Democrat proposals failed to advance, I will redouble my efforts to develop a compromise solution. In the longer-term, we need to focus on getting federal government health care dollars out of the hands of insurance companies and into the hands of the people.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-begich-applauds-passage-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization-act,Congressman Begich Applauds Passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 10, 2025 – Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) applauded the House passage of S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that extends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) through 2026. Rep. Begich, a proud co-sponsor of the House companion bill, celebrated the legislation’s advancement, highlighting its importance to Alaska’s rural communities and school districts that rely on these funds for essential services.

“For more than two decades, Secure Rural Schools funding has been an important lifeline for Alaska’s rural boroughs and school districts,” said Congressman Begich. “This reauthorization ensures that students in remote areas have access to quality education and that borough governments can continue maintaining critical infrastructure despite limited local revenue options. The Secure Rural Schools program demonstrates what bipartisan, practical policy looks like. I’m grateful to my colleagues in both chambers for working together to get this done.”

BACKGROUND:

Alaska is home to over 22 million acres of national forest lands, predominantly in the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. Because these federal lands cannot be taxed, communities in Southeast Alaska and the Copper River region face structural revenue challenges that are unique in the nation.

The Secure Rural Schools program helps close that gap by providing annual payments to eligible boroughs and school districts—particularly in communities such as:

Wrangell, Petersburg, and Ketchikan, where SRS supports classroom resources, teacher retention, and extracurricular programming.

The Tongass-region boroughs, which rely on SRS funds for essential road maintenance and emergency response services.

Rural school districts statewide, which face some of the highest transportation and operational costs in the country.

The bill extends Secure Rural Schools payments through FY2026, ensuring stability for the communities that depend on these funds, while maintaining support for local resource advisory committees that guide federal land management projects. Additionally, the legislation continues support for federal land projects—including forest health, habitat restoration, and wildfire mitigation.

The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 now heads to the President’s desk for signature. Once enacted, SRS payments for FY2024 and FY2025 will be distributed within 45 days, offering immediate support for Alaska’s rural communities.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-applauds-3-million-investment-in-native-public-media-programming-by-corporation-for-public-broadcasting,Murkowski Applauds $3 Million Investment in Native Public Media Programming by Corporation for Public Broadcasting,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement applauding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) for awarding $3 million in new grants to Koahnic Broadcast Corporation (KBC). This investment will strengthen rural media capabilities, help bridge the gap for Alaska Native and Indigenous journalists, producers, and hosts, as well as support Native storytelling. The investment will also support two long-standing KBC programs: Native America Calling (NAC) and National Native News (NNN).

“I commend the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for this investment in Native Public Media Programming. This funding underscores the imperative of public broadcasting. After months of advocating to my Senate colleagues and the administration about the importance of supporting public broadcasting, I’m encouraged to know these grants will strengthen Native programming and deepen partnerships with public radio stations serving villages and rural regions. This funding came at a time when it was needed most,” said Senator Murkowski. “For Native communities that rely on public radio for news, cultural connection, and emergency information, this support is a lifeline that will help ensure Native-led media remains strong, sustainable, and culturally relevant.”

More information on CPB’s announcement can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-lauds-passage-of-secure-rural-schools-act,Murkowski Lauds Passage of Secure Rural Schools Act,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the House of Representatives’ passage of S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025. The House vote follows a letter Senator Murkowski and her colleagues sent to House leadership last week urging prompt action on the legislation. The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program offsets lost revenue resulting from declining timber receipts and provides funding for schools, roads, and other critical municipal services in eligible communities. Senator Murkowski has been a longtime champion of the program, which passed the Senate earlier this year by unanimous consent. The bill now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.

“Secure Rural Schools provides vital stability for communities across rural Alaska. These funds ensure that schools can remain open, roads are maintained, and emergencies can be responded to in a timely manner,” said Senator Murkowski. “I urge the President to sign it into law to prevent a lapse in funding for the communities that rely on this essential program.”

Background

The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act was enacted in 2000 to assist communities negatively impacted by declining timber sale revenues. Payments to eligible communities may be used to support schools and roads, fire prevention, emergency services, and eligible land projects.

The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act renews the program through fiscal year 2026 and directs the Treasury Department to issue all program payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 within 45 days of enactment. Those payments will be reduced by any federal funding boroughs have already received for those years. Boroughs’ 2023 elections regarding how to allocate leftover funds will apply to fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

The Forest Service manages 22 million acres of land in Alaska, including 17 million acres in Southeast and several million more in Southcentral. The amount each eligible borough receives is based in part on how much federal forest land lies within its boundaries.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-secures-long-overdue-fix-to-sba-rule-for-small-business-contracting,Sullivan Secures Long Overdue Fix to SBA Rule for Small Business Contracting,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) announced today that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has formally implemented his long-sought fix to the “bona fide place of business” requirement, an unnecessary barrier that for years prevented small businesses from fairly competing for federal construction contracts. Under the updated policy, 8(a) firms will no longer need to establish a staffed physical office in a state prior to bidding on a federal contract. Instead, businesses will have 60 days after a contract is awarded to meet any location requirement, allowing more small businesses across Alaska and the nation to compete for federal contracts.

“Throughout my time in the Senate, I have been a strong supporter of the SBA 8(a) Program, which has provided countless opportunities for Alaskans and Alaska businesses,” Senator Sullivan said. “Many 8(a) firms are proven federal contractors that perform mission-critical work for the federal government, particularly for the Department of Defense, with efficiency and speed. However, for years, the ‘bona fide office’ requirement worked directly against these objectives. By forcing small businesses to open a fully staffed physical office in every state before even bidding on a federal contract, SBA imposed an unworkable and unnecessary barrier to entry. Today, I’m pleased to share that, after years of my team and I relentlessly pushing the SBA, that barrier has finally been eliminated. Under this change, 8(a) firms will no longer be required to establish a physical office in a state before they have a contract in hand. This long-overdue fix opens the door for more of Alaska’s businesses—including disabled-veteran-owned firms, women-owned firms, and Alaska Native Corporations—to compete and deliver results for our federal government and for taxpayers. I very much appreciate Administrator Loeffler for working with me to get this commonsense solution across the finish line.”

“Senator Sullivan has been a tireless champion for Alaska Native Corporations participating in the SBA 8(a) Program, and we’re grateful for his leadership in securing this common-sense fix to the bona fide place of business requirement,” Chugach President Katherine Carlton said. “This change removes an onerous, one-of-a-kind restriction on 8(a) construction firms and will help Native and other 8(a) contractors compete, hire locally, and deliver for federal customers. For decades, ANC participation in the 8(a) Program has been constitutionally grounded, fiscally responsible, and essential to both Federal mission success and Alaska Native self-determination. This is a long-standing policy choice rooted in Federal Indian law and the Federal trust responsibility, and we are dedicated to ensuring the 8(a) Program can continue working as Congress intended: Empowering Alaska Native communities while delivering reliable, cost-effective results for the nation.”

Below is a timeline of Senator Sullivan and his team’s efforts to resolve the “bona fide place of business” barrier.

November 18, 2025: Sen. Sullivan had a phone call with SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, who committed to implementing the Sullivan-negotiated change to the “bona fide place of business” requirement.

October 20, 2025: Sen. Sullivan placed a hold on the nominee to be the inspector general of the SBA to obtain a commitment to implement the Sullivan-proposed change to the “bona fide place of business” requirement.

July 31, 2025: Sen. Sullivan introduced S.Amdt. 3246 to the Senate’s version of the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to remove the “bona fide place of business” requirement for Department of Defense (DoD) contracts.

July 30, 2025: Sen. Sullivan had a phone call with SBA Administrator Loeffler proposing a workable solution to the “bona fide place of business” requirement.

July 23, 2025: Sen. Sullivan sent a letter to SBA Administrator Loeffler requesting that the SBA clarify the timing of the “bona fide place of business” requirement for 8(a) firms to avoid unnecessary burdens on small businesses, after the SBA announced in June that it would not extend the moratorium on its implementation.

March 12, 2025: Sen. Sullivan introduced S.991, a bill to repeal the statutory language that the SBA relies on to require a small business to first have a staffed bona fide office within the state of a desired construction project before becoming eligible to compete for a federal government contract.

February 27, 2025: Sen. Sullivan met with the nominee to be administrator of the SBA, Kelly Loeffler. They discussed the 8(a) program and the “bona fide place of business” requirement.

July 11, 2024: Sen. Sullivan introduced S.Amdt. 2306 to the Senate’s version of the FY 2024 NDAA, an amendment to repeal the bona fide office rule for 8(a) contracts with the DoD. This language was included in the Senate-passed NDAA. However, it was not included in the House version and was not included in the final compromise NDAA.

June 12, 2024: SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman announced that the SBA was extending its moratorium on the bona fide office requirement for 8(a) small businesses through September 30, 2025.

August 2023: At Sen. Sullivan’s invitation, SBA Administrator Guzman visited Alaska and announced at two events that the bona fide office requirement would be suspended for one more year.

July 13, 2023: Sen. Sullivan introduced S.Amdt. 647 to the Senate’s version of the FY 2023 NDAA to repeal the bona fide office rule for 8(a) contracts with the DoD. This amendment was included in the Senate version of the NDAA. However, it was not included in the House version and was not included in the final compromise NDAA.

May 2, 2023: Sen. Sullivan introduced S.1407, a bill to repeal the statutory language that the SBA relies on to require a small business to first have a staffed bona fide office within the state of a desired construction project before becoming eligible to compete for a federal government contract.

August 26, 2021: SBA announced a 13-month moratorium on the “bona fide place of business” requirement.

August 5, 2021: Sen. Sullivan had a phone call with Administrator Guzman, asking her to reconsider the “bona fide place of business” requirement.

October 2020: SBA instituted a novel interpretation for implementing the “bona fide place of business” requirement, derived from Section 8(a)(11) of the Small Business Act, for 8(a) construction contracts. Previously, the SBA had a longstanding practice, which met statutory guidelines, of allowing contracting officers to determine when a bona fide office is required, thereby recognizing the words “to the maximum extent practicable"" in the statute as Congress intended.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-begichs-bill-strengthening-national-defense-and-securing-alaskas,House Passes Begich’s Bill Strengthening National Defense and Securing Alaska’s Strategic Role,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 9, 2025 – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5131, the Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025, legislation led by Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) to extend critical military land withdrawals in Alaska, New Mexico, and California for 25 years and provide long-term certainty for America’s most strategic training and testing ranges. Passage of H.R. 5131 marks the seventh bill Congressman Begich has successfully advanced through the House during the 119th Congress.

“Alaska is the tip of the spear for America’s defense. Our training ranges in Alaska and across the country are indispensable for Arctic readiness and missile defense,” said Congressman Begich. “This legislation ensures our servicemen and women have uninterrupted access to the world-class training spaces they need to remain the strongest fighting force on earth. By extending these land withdrawals, we are carrying out the President’s mission of peace through strength and giving our military the certainty and support required to counter emerging threats. I am grateful for the broad bipartisan support behind this bill and proud to see it pass the House.”

“The Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025 strengthens U.S. national security by ensuring our military retains access to some of our most critical, strategic training ranges. This legislation gives our military the space and stability necessary to prepare for emerging threats while maintaining responsible stewardship of federal lands. I commend Representative Begich for his leadership on this critical national defense priority, which directly benefits Alaska and the entire nation,” said Chairman Bruce Westerman.

BACKGROUND:

The Public Lands Military Readiness Act extends military land withdrawals for 25 years at Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright in Alaska, McGregor Range at Fort Bliss in New Mexico, and Fort Irwin in California, ensuring uninterrupted access through 2051. The bill strengthens military readiness by preserving premier joint training ranges essential for Arctic operations, missile defense testing, live-fire exercises, and Indo-Pacific preparedness.

It also promotes good governance by updating and correcting outdated federal land descriptions, improving transparency, and preventing costly legal or administrative conflicts. Finally, the legislation reinforces Alaska’s strategic role as a central hub for Arctic and Pacific defense operations. Extending these withdrawals ensures that the U.S. military can continue training in advanced, realistic environments that prepare them for any challenge.

H.R. 5131 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-begich-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-cut-red-tape-rural-and,Congressman Begich Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Cut Red Tape for Rural and Small Airports,2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 5, 2025 – Washington, D.C. – Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK), a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and Aviation Subcommittee, introduced H.R. 6427, the Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to reduce regulatory burdens on small and rural airports and lower the cost of airfield pavement projects across the country. Congressman Begich is leading this bill alongside Congressman Ed Case (D-HI), Congressman David Taylor (R-OH), and Congresswoman Jill Takuda (D-HI).

“Small airports serve as lifelines for rural America. In Alaska, airports are critical for our residents who rely on air travel as their main method of transportation. Many of Alaska’s rural communities simply have no other option. Outdated federal regulations make even basic runway projects far more expensive and complicated than they need to be. The Airport Regulatory Relief Act reduces costs and gives our state aviation leaders the flexibility they need without compromising safety,” said Congressman Begich. “This is a commonsense, bipartisan solution that will deliver real benefits to rural airports in Alaska and across the country.”

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, the FAA requires small airports to follow the same strict pavement specifications used for major commercial airports—even when building runways used only by light aircraft. This regulatory mismatch often drives up costs, extends construction timelines, and places unnecessary burdens on small airports that already operate with limited staffing and tight budgets.

This legislation would allow states to use their own state highway construction standards for certain runway and taxiway pavement projects at non-primary airports serving aircraft under 60,000 pounds. This bill would ensure safety by requiring FAA approval before state specifications are used.

The Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025 will help small airports by providing regulatory relief that reduces project costs and shorten timelines – allowing airports to better manage limited resources.

The National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), representing state aviation agencies nationwide, strongly supports the legislation.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/senate-votes-overturn-biden-era-restrictions-resource-development-alaskas,Senate Votes to Overturn Biden-Era Restrictions  for Resource Development on Alaska’s Coastal Plain,2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted to overturn an unlawful and restrictive Record of Decision (ROD) for the Coastal Plain oil and gas program that the Biden administration imposed in December 2024. The Senate moved yesterday to begin debate on S.J. Res. 91, sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), before voting to pass H.J. Res. 131, from Congressman Nick Begich (also R-Alaska). The Senate moved the House resolution because it can go directly to the President’s desk for signature.

These disapproval resolutions overturn the Biden administration’s unilateral rewrite of the Coastal Plain program. Through its ROD, the Biden administration restricted leasing on more than 74 percent of the Coastal Plain, while layering on additional restrictions and stipulations to prevent any development of the lands theoretically left open for leasing.

“For four years, the Biden administration ignored federal law and the people who live on the North Slope, especially Kaktovik, to undercut any potential for responsible development on our Coastal Plain. They paused everything, illegally canceled every lease, and then rewrote the program to ensure that neither leasing nor development would occur. Their worldview was exactly backwards: easing up on the likes of Iran and Venezuela, while clamping down on Alaska and refusing to accept that we can safely produce from a very, very small fraction of our Coastal Plain,” Murkowski said. “This resolution will help restore a balanced program that ensures both responsible energy development and environmental protection. It upholds the rule of law, bolsters our domestic energy security, and will limit the consequences of sending our dollars abroad for energy we have right here at home. I look forward to the President signing it.""

“The Biden administration’s 2024 ROD to restrict responsible development in the Coastal Plain of ANWR blatantly defied the clear language that the Alaska congressional delegation wrote in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” said Sen. Sullivan. “This action—one of 70 executive orders and actions targeting Alaska—also cancelled the voices of the Native people of the region who overwhelmingly support responsible development, because it builds vital infrastructure, supports their communities, and has literally led to their residents living longer. Today, we are on the cusp of righting this wrong, rolling back the lawless lock-up of ANWR, and unleashing good-paying jobs and opportunity for Alaska’s working families. I want to thank a majority of my Senate colleagues today for passing our legislation to support Alaska’s economy, strengthen American energy security, and vindicate the rule of law and the Iñupiat people of the North Slope.”

“For years, the Biden administration ignored the law and imposed restrictive policies that effectively shut down the 1002 Area, despite its immense strategic value to Alaska and to the nation. H.J. Res. 131 reverses the Biden administration’s unlawful and restrictive Record of Decision that effectively shut down the 1002 Area of the Coastal Plain - an area Congress specifically set aside for responsible development more than forty years ago,” said Congressman Begich. “The Alaska Delegation has worked tirelessly to reverse these harmful decisions and restore access to some of the most resource-rich lands in the United States and I am grateful for the efforts. By moving swiftly to pass H.J. Res. 131, we are restoring a lawful program that balances stewardship and allows Alaska to supply the affordable and reliable energy our nation needs. I am proud to see this generational opportunity for Alaska head to the President’s Desk. America is strongest when Alaska is empowered to responsibly develop its resources.”

Background: In 1980, as part a grand bargain to balance conservation and resource development in Alaska, Congress established the 19.3-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), an area nearly the size of South Carolina, while explicitly setting aside the 1.56-million-acre Coastal Plain aside for further study, exploration, and potential energy development.

In 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which established an oil and gas program for the Coastal Plain (also known as the 1002 Area) and required at least two area-wide lease sales over the next 10 years, the first by December 2021 and the second by December 2024. The 1002 Area is estimated to contain a mean of 7.7 billion barrels of oil that would help boost throughput through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, which sits at one-quarter of its peak capacity. Congress authorized development of no more than 2,000 surface acres in the 1002 Area—just 0.01 percent of ANWR—to bring those barrels to market.

In December 2024, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) replaced the 2020 ROD with an unlawful plan that immediately removed more than 1.1 million acres of the Coastal Plain from oil and gas leasing. The 2024 ROD adopted the “most restrictive” alternative, arbitrarily closing 74 percent of the Coastal Plain while making development on remaining acres impossible. According to BLM’s own analysis, their plan would have dramatically limited (and likely fully eliminated) future production from the Coastal Plain. This was evidenced soon after when the administration held a lease sale that was designed to fail and predictably resulted in no bids.

The Alaska delegation wrote to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) earlier this year, requesting that the 2024 ROD be deemed a “major rule” for the purposes of the Congressional Review Act. GAO affirmatively made that determination in August 2025, leading the delegation to file identical disapproval resolutions.

The House of Representatives passed H.J. Res. 131 with bipartisan support on November 18, 2025. The measure now heads to the President’s desk.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-nick-begich-highlights-need-secure-americas-critical-mineral,Congressman Nick Begich Highlights Need to Secure America’s Critical Mineral Supply Chain,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dec. 3, 2025 – Today, Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) participated in a Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing examining the critical need to secure America’s mineral supply chains.

“There is a broad recognition among the public and a growing recognition among the public that the United States needs a domestic supply for critical minerals. That is something many folks on both sides of the aisle recognize as important,” said Congressman Begich. “In Alaska, we have one the most responsible track records you’ll find anywhere in the world when it comes to resource development.”

Watch Rep. Begich’s line of questioning here.

BACKGROUND:

Critical minerals underpin virtually every sector of the modern economy. Global demand for energy-related critical minerals—including lithium, nickel, copper, cobalt, and graphite have skyrocketed in the past two decades.

Despite abundant domestic resources, the United States remains heavily dependent on foreign suppliers. Lengthy permitting timelines, restrictive federal policies, and regulatory uncertainty have caused domestic mining projects to languish.

Alaska is uniquely positioned to anchor America’s critical mineral future. Home to some of the largest undeveloped mineral resources in the world, the state contains significant deposits of graphite, rare earth elements, cobalt, copper, zinc, gold, and lead. Projects such as the Graphite Creek deposit—the largest known graphite resource in the United States—and promising rare earth prospects across the state showcase Alaska’s unmatched potential to support U.S. supply chain security.

Alaska’s vast land base, strong mining heritage, and highly skilled workforce provide a foundation for responsible development. The state has some of the highest environmental standards in the world and a proven track record of successful, sustainable resource production. With strategic infrastructure investments, Alaska can rapidly expand domestic production and serve as a reliable supplier for the nation’s most essential industries.

Congressional Republicans continue to advance policies that reverse restrictive regulations, modernize permitting, bolster U.S. processing capacity, and strengthen domestic supply chains.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/senate-votes-to-overturn-biden-era-restrictions-for-resource-development-on-alaskas-coastal-plain,Senate Votes to Overturn Biden-Era Restrictions for Resource Development on Alaska’s Coastal Plain,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC – Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted to overturn an unlawful and restrictive Record of Decision (ROD) for the Coastal Plain oil and gas program that the Biden administration imposed in December 2024. The Senate moved yesterday to begin debate on S.J. Res. 91, sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), before voting to pass H.J. Res. 131, from Congressman Nick Begich (also R-Alaska). The Senate moved the House resolution because it can go directly to the President’s desk for signature.

These disapproval resolutions overturn the Biden administration’s unilateral rewrite of the Coastal Plain program. Through its ROD, the Biden administration restricted leasing on more than 74 percent of the Coastal Plain, while layering on additional restrictions and stipulations to prevent any development of the lands theoretically left open for leasing.

“For four years, the Biden administration ignored federal law and the people who live on the North Slope, especially Kaktovik, to undercut any potential for responsible development on our Coastal Plain. They paused everything, illegally canceled every lease, and then rewrote the program to ensure that neither leasing nor development would occur. Their worldview was exactly backwards: easing up on the likes of Iran and Venezuela, while clamping down on Alaska and refusing to accept that we can safely produce from a very, very small fraction of our Coastal Plain,” Senator Murkowski said. “This resolution will help restore a balanced program that ensures both responsible energy development and environmental protection. It upholds the rule of law, bolsters our domestic energy security, and will limit the consequences of sending our dollars abroad for energy we have right here at home. I look forward to the President signing it.”

“The Biden administration’s 2024 ROD to restrict responsible development in the Coastal Plain of ANWR blatantly defied the clear language that the Alaska congressional delegation wrote in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” said Senator Sullivan. “This action—one of 70 executive orders and actions targeting Alaska—also cancelled the voices of the Native people of the region who overwhelmingly support responsible development, because it builds vital infrastructure, supports their communities, and has literally led to their residents living longer. Today, we are on the cusp of righting this wrong, rolling back the lawless lock-up of ANWR, and unleashing good-paying jobs and opportunity for Alaska’s working families. I want to thank a majority of my Senate colleagues today for passing our legislation to support Alaska’s economy, strengthen American energy security, and vindicate the rule of law and the Iñupiat people of the North Slope.”

“For years, the Biden administration ignored the law and imposed restrictive policies that effectively shut down the 1002 Area, despite its immense strategic value to Alaska and to the nation. H.J. Res. 131 reverses the Biden administration’s unlawful and restrictive Record of Decision that effectively shut down the 1002 Area of the Coastal Plain - an area Congress specifically set aside for responsible development more than forty years ago,” said Congressman Begich. “The Alaska Delegation has worked tirelessly to reverse these harmful decisions and restore access to some of the most resource-rich lands in the United States and I am grateful for the efforts. By moving swiftly to pass H.J. Res. 131, we are restoring a lawful program that balances stewardship and allows Alaska to supply the affordable and reliable energy our nation needs. I am proud to see this generational opportunity for Alaska head to the President’s Desk. America is strongest when Alaska is empowered to responsibly develop its resources.”

Background: In 1980, as part of a grand bargain to balance conservation and resource development in Alaska, Congress established the 19.3-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), an area nearly the size of South Carolina, while explicitly setting aside the 1.56-million-acre Coastal Plain for further study, exploration, and potential energy development.

In 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which established an oil and gas program for the Coastal Plain (also known as the 1002 Area) and required at least two area-wide lease sales over the next 10 years, the first by December 2021 and the second by December 2024. The 1002 Area is estimated to contain a mean of 7.7 billion barrels of oil that would help boost throughput through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, which sits at one-quarter of its peak capacity. Congress authorized development of no more than 2,000 surface acres in the 1002 Area—just 0.01 percent of ANWR—to bring those barrels to market.

In December 2024, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) replaced the 2020 ROD with an unlawful plan that immediately removed more than 1.1 million acres of the Coastal Plain from oil and gas leasing. The 2024 ROD adopted the “most restrictive” alternative, arbitrarily closing 74 percent of the Coastal Plain while making development on remaining acres impossible. According to BLM’s own analysis, their plan would have dramatically limited (and likely fully eliminated) future production from the Coastal Plain. This was evidenced soon after when the administration held a lease sale that was designed to fail and predictably resulted in no bids.

The Alaska delegation wrote to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) earlier this year, requesting that the 2024 ROD be deemed a “major rule” for the purposes of the Congressional Review Act. GAO affirmatively made that determination in August 2025, leading the delegation to file identical disapproval resolutions.

The House of Representatives passed H.J. Res. 131 with bipartisan support on November 18, 2025. The measure now heads to the President’s desk.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-unanimously-passes-sullivan-whitehouse-legislation-to-reauthorize-marine-debris-grant-programs,Senate Unanimously Passes Sullivan-Whitehouse Legislation to Reauthorize Marine Debris Grant Programs,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Representatives Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), celebrated the Senate’s recent unanimous passage of S. 3022, the Save Our Seas 2.0 Marine Debris Infrastructure Programs Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize key Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) marine debris programs to combat the worldwide crisis of trash entering the oceans and the threat of microplastics in the water. These programs were last authorized by the 2020 Save Our Seas (SOS) 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive legislation ever passed by Congress to address the threat of marine debris. Reps. Carter and Bonamici have introduced companion legislation in the House.

“Alaska has more coastline than the Lower 48 states combined, which means our state feels a disproportionate impact of the global marine debris crisis,” said Senator Sullivan. “These programs, last authorized by our Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, have helped our coastal communities clean up the debris that washes up onto our vast shoreline, provided access to clean drinking water, and supported the health and livelihoods of Alaskans, including our fishermen. I want to thank all my Senate colleagues for working to protect our coastal communities, ecosystems and economies, and I urge my House colleagues to join us in renewing these critically important programs before the end of the year.”

“In the first round of grants from one of our Save Our Seas 2.0 programs, every eligible state and territory requested funding,” said Ranking Member Whitehouse. “It is a clear demonstration of the enormous demand from both red states and blue states to address dangerous plastic pollution, and I’m pleased that the Senate has come together to reauthorize these programs. Together, we can protect our clean water and tackle the scourge of plastic waste washing up on shores from coast to coast.”

“From East to West, all Americans deserve access to clean water. Protecting our oceans, rivers, lakes, and drinking water is not a partisan issue. Reauthorizing these programs will keep trash out of U.S. waters, keep plastic out of our drinking water, and improve water systems across America. This is a must-pass bill that will make our citizens safer and help our environment thrive,” said Representative Carter.

“Clean water and a healthy ocean support every family in the country and every sector of the economy,"" said Representative Bonamici. ""Extending these successful EPA programs will strengthen the recycling and water systems that stop plastic at its source and support projects that clear debris that damages our shores. These tools work. They deliver cleaner recycling operations, safer drinking water systems, stronger wastewater treatment, and faster trash removal. I'm glad that the Senate advanced our bipartisan bill and look forward to its swift passage in the House to keep families and the environment healthy.”

Programs reauthorized by the legislation include the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grants, which support recycling and waste management efforts. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act appropriated $275 million for SWIFR grants from Fiscal Year 2022 to FY 2026. Alaska communities and tribes have received 17 grants totaling $24 million.

According to the Recycling Partnership, every ton of new materials recycled generates $65.23 in wages in the U.S. The nonprofit organization estimates that fully investing in residential recycling nationwide could save taxpayers $9.4 billion in landfill fees over the next five years.

Other EPA programs reauthorized in the bill include the Trash Free Waters programs, a partnership to prevent, remove, and research marine debris, as well as the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Programs.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-votes-to-overturn-biden-era-restrictions-for-resource-development-on-alaskas-coastal-plain,Senate Votes to Overturn Biden-Era Restrictions for Resource Development on Alaska’s Coastal Plain,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted to overturn an unlawful and restrictive Record of Decision (ROD) for the Coastal Plain oil and gas program that the Biden administration imposed in December 2024. The Senate moved yesterday to begin debate on S.J. Res. 91, sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), before voting to pass H.J. Res. 131, from Congressman Nick Begich (also R-Alaska). The Senate moved the House resolution because it can go directly to the President’s desk for signature.

These disapproval resolutions overturn the Biden administration’s unilateral rewrite of the Coastal Plain program. Through its ROD, the Biden administration restricted leasing on more than 74 percent of the Coastal Plain, while layering on additional restrictions and stipulations to prevent any development of the lands theoretically left open for leasing.

“For four years, the Biden administration ignored federal law and the people who live on the North Slope, especially Kaktovik, to undercut any potential for responsible development on our Coastal Plain. They paused everything, illegally canceled every lease, and then rewrote the program to ensure that neither leasing nor development would occur. Their worldview was exactly backwards: easing up on the likes of Iran and Venezuela, while clamping down on Alaska and refusing to accept that we can safely produce from a very, very small fraction of our Coastal Plain,” Senator Murkowski said. “This resolution will help restore a balanced program that ensures both responsible energy development and environmental protection. It upholds the rule of law, bolsters our domestic energy security, and will limit the consequences of sending our dollars abroad for energy we have right here at home. I look forward to the President signing it.”

“The Biden administration’s 2024 ROD to restrict responsible development in the Coastal Plain of ANWR blatantly defied the clear language that the Alaska congressional delegation wrote in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” said Senator Sullivan. “This action—one of 70 executive orders and actions targeting Alaska—also cancelled the voices of the Native people of the region who overwhelmingly support responsible development, because it builds vital infrastructure, supports their communities, and has literally led to their residents living longer. Today, we are on the cusp of righting this wrong, rolling back the lawless lock-up of ANWR, and unleashing good-paying jobs and opportunity for Alaska’s working families. I want to thank a majority of my Senate colleagues today for passing our legislation to support Alaska’s economy, strengthen American energy security, and vindicate the rule of law and the Iñupiat people of the North Slope.”

“For years, the Biden administration ignored the law and imposed restrictive policies that effectively shut down the 1002 Area, despite its immense strategic value to Alaska and to the nation. H.J. Res. 131 reverses the Biden administration’s unlawful and restrictive Record of Decision that effectively shut down the 1002 Area of the Coastal Plain - an area Congress specifically set aside for responsible development more than forty years ago,” said Congressman Begich. “The Alaska Delegation has worked tirelessly to reverse these harmful decisions and restore access to some of the most resource-rich lands in the United States and I am grateful for the efforts. By moving swiftly to pass H.J. Res. 131, we are restoring a lawful program that balances stewardship and allows Alaska to supply the affordable and reliable energy our nation needs. I am proud to see this generational opportunity for Alaska head to the President’s Desk. America is strongest when Alaska is empowered to responsibly develop its resources.”

Background: In 1980, as part of a grand bargain to balance conservation and resource development in Alaska, Congress established the 19.3-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), an area nearly the size of South Carolina, while explicitly setting aside the 1.56-million-acre Coastal Plain for further study, exploration, and potential energy development.

In 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which established an oil and gas program for the Coastal Plain (also known as the 1002 Area) and required at least two area-wide lease sales over the next 10 years, the first by December 2021 and the second by December 2024. The 1002 Area is estimated to contain a mean of 7.7 billion barrels of oil that would help boost throughput through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, which sits at one-quarter of its peak capacity. Congress authorized development of no more than 2,000 surface acres in the 1002 Area—just 0.01 percent of ANWR—to bring those barrels to market.

In December 2024, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) replaced the 2020 ROD with an unlawful plan that immediately removed more than 1.1 million acres of the Coastal Plain from oil and gas leasing. The 2024 ROD adopted the “most restrictive” alternative, arbitrarily closing 74 percent of the Coastal Plain while making development on remaining acres impossible. According to BLM’s own analysis, their plan would have dramatically limited (and likely fully eliminated) future production from the Coastal Plain. This was evidenced soon after when the administration held a lease sale that was designed to fail and predictably resulted in no bids.

The Alaska delegation wrote to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) earlier this year, requesting that the 2024 ROD be deemed a “major rule” for the purposes of the Congressional Review Act. GAO affirmatively made that determination in August 2025, leading the delegation to file identical disapproval resolutions.

The House of Representatives passed H.J. Res. 131 with bipartisan support on November 18, 2025. The measure now heads to the President’s desk.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-klobuchar-celebrate-passage-of-bill-to-support-individuals-living-with-fasd,"Murkowski, Klobuchar Celebrate Passage of Bill to Support Individuals Living with FASD",2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) celebrated the signing of their legislation, the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Respect Act of 2025. With the President signing the legislation into law, the bill improves and reauthorizes programs and funding to support individuals and families impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

“Those affected by FASD need access to services across the board, including early intervention, medical resources, and tailored educational and behavioral support,” Senator Murkowski said. “It’s why Senator Klobuchar and I have been so persistent regarding the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Respect Act of 2025 over the last two Congresses, and why we’re so pleased that it has finally crossed the finish line. This legislation will build a more informed and responsive system of care for those with FASD by strengthening prevention efforts, expanding diagnostic capacity, and improving coordination across states, Tribes, and local communities. Today belongs to the many advocates, families, and healthcare professionals who have worked tirelessly to improve outcomes for those with FASD.”

“Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders affect at least 1 in 20 people in the U.S., and too many lack access to diagnosis, treatment, and support services. Those impacted by FASD need access to care so they can be put on the best path forward towards a successful future,” said Senator Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan bill increases federal support for local, evidence-based services for people with FASD and their families. This progress is possible thanks to the tireless advocacy of former Minnesota First Lady Susan Shepard Carlson, who has led this fight for more than two and a half decades.”

“With today’s signing of the FASD Respect Act into law, our Federal Government has taken an enormous step toward fulfilling its promise to the FASD community. This milestone is a testament to the tireless determination of a movement powered by the FASD living experience,” said Tom Donaldson, President and CEO of FASD United. “Co-authors Lisa Murkowski and Amy Klobuchar, and their partners in the House, Betty McCollum and Don Bacon, are forever heroes. Now, it’s on us to ensure the robust implementation of each of the provisions in the FASD Respect Act.”

Susan Shepard Carlson, former FASD United Board Chair, retired juvenile court justice, and former First Lady of Minnesota said, “In the annals of FASD advocacy over the years, the signing into law of FASD authorization is truly historic and a huge victory for the FASD field. This would not have happened without the leadership of our lead co-sponsors, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Amy Klobuchar, and the united effort of so many advocates around the country.”

The FASD Respect Act of 2025:

Reauthorizes federal FASD programs by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish or continue a comprehensive FASD prevention, identification, intervention, and services delivery program which may include:

Educational and public awareness programs for professionals in systems of care

Develop and expand screening and diagnostic capacity for FASD

Research on FASD as appropriate

Build State and Tribal capacity for the identification, treatment, and support of individuals with FASD and their families

Builds local, Tribal, State, and national capacities to prevent the occurrence of FASD and other related adverse conditions, and to respond to the needs of individuals with FASD and their families. Eligible activities include:

Develop and support public awareness and outreach activities

Act as a clearinghouse for evidence-based resources on FASD prevention, identification, and culturally aware best practices

Disseminate ongoing research and developing resources on FASD to help inform systems of care for individuals with FASD across their lifespan.

Increase awareness and understanding of evidence-based FASD screening tools and culturally- and linguistically appropriate evidence-based intervention services and best practices across systems of care

Improve capacity for State, Tribal, and local affiliates dedicated to FASD awareness, prevention, and identification and family and individual support programs and services (technical assistance provided by FASD Center of Excellence).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-welcomes-liheap-aid-to-help-alaskans-lower-home-energy-bills,Murkowski Welcomes LIHEAP Aid to Help Alaskans Lower Home Energy Bills,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC — As families brace for cold weather and higher utility bills, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the news that approximately $3.7 billion of the $4.025 billion in delayed federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was delivered to states and Tribes across the country, including Alaska. LIHEAP is a crucial lifeline that keeps vulnerable citizens safe and warm during winter by helping low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills. The program also helps reduce energy costs through improved energy efficiency initiatives.

Murkowski, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, welcomed the release of funds and says it includes over $19 million for the State of Alaska and thirteen Tribal entities. Murkowski helped to lead a November 14 letter calling for the swift release of the funding.

“Affordable energy is a lifeline in Alaska as harsh winters can be unforgiving across the state,” said Senator Murkowski. “I am grateful the administration heard the request of my colleagues and I and took the requested swift action to release this critical funding as winter sets in around the country. I will continue to be a relentless advocate for this program, and work to alleviate the financial burden that many Alaskans face to keep their homes warm.”

Background:

The federal LIHEAP aid was held up during the beginning of the cold-weather season because of the federal government shutdown, which ended on November 12.

Murkowski has also worked on a bipartisan basis with Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) to include a $20 million increase for LIHEAP in the yet-to-be passed Senate version of the Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for FY26.

Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year, including over 4,700 Alaska households.

Alaskans wishing to apply for LIHEAP may click here to reach the State of Alaska’s Department of Health website to get more information and links to an online application.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-leads-effort-to-correct-ccps-revisionist-wwii-history,Sullivan Leads Effort to Correct CCP’s Revisionist WWII History,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"Commission chairs introduce resolution honoring U.S.-Republic of China victory in the war in the Pacific

WASHINGTON—To mark the shared sacrifices of the United States and Nationalist China (formally known as the Republic of China, whose government is now based in Taiwan) during World War II, the chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China(CECC)—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Representative Chris Smith’s (R-N.J.)—announced a joint, bicameral effort to challenge the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) attempts to rewrite World War II history and claim undue credit for Allied victory in Asia.

The chairs have introduced House and Senate resolutions to document the historical record of U.S.–Republic of China cooperation during World War II; condemn the CCP’s “stolen valor” historical revisionism, and recognize Japan’s postwar contributions to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The bicameral effort highlights that freedom in Taiwan, democracy in Japan, and stability across the Indo-Pacific are the result of courage, sacrifice, and an accurate accounting of history—not the CCP’s revisionist narrative.

“The Chinese Communist Party routinely employs propaganda and censorship to construct a distorted narrative about its past and present actions that are at odds with actual history,” said Sullivan. “Congressman Smith and I urge our colleagues to join us in passing our resolution to call out the CCP’s deception about the Allied Victory in World War II and urge the Trump administration, via public diplomacy and media outreach, to highlight the sacrifices and heroism of America’s veterans and those of our allies and partners, including the Republic of China, which helped halt the march of tyranny in the Indo-Pacific during one of the darkest chapters in human history.”

The resolution:

Condemns the CCP’s “stolen valor” historical revisionism regarding Allied victory in Asia;

Commemorates the immense human and material sacrifices made by the Republic of China and the United States during World War II;

Recognizes postwar Japan’s transformation into a democratic ally and its contributions to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific; and

Affirms enduring U.S. support for Taiwan’s freedom, security, and self-defense against coercion and aggression from the CCP.

Click here to view the resolution.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-celebrates-signing-of-landmark-legislation-to-address-substance-use-and-mental-health,Murkowski Celebrates Signing of Landmark Legislation to Address Substance Use and Mental Health,2025-12-01,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) celebrated the signing of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 into law. This legislation expands programs to address substance use disorders and overdoses, and includes major priorities the delegation has long championed, including provisions of Bruce’s Law and the reauthorization of the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program.

“Four years ago, Sandy Snodgrass faced every parent’s worst nightmare when she lost her son to fentanyl poisoning, but she turned her heartache into advocacy for families and those who struggle with substance use across the country,” said Senator Murkowski. “Now that Bruce’s Law has passed, there will be greater resources to educate the public on the dangers of fentanyl, develop new strategies to engage with young Americans at risk, and ultimately save lives.”

“Alaska has faced a five-alarm crisis in recent years as fentanyl and other synthetic opioids ravaged our communities, poisoned our kids and tore families apart,” said Sen. Sullivan. “Stemming the influx of this poison coming across our borders has been a top priority of mine here in Washington. I want to commend President Trump for signing Bruce’s Law as part of the SUPPORT Act to help combat this deadly scourge and raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, which has stolen the futures of far too many, like Bruce Snodgrass. This legislation is the result of one mother’s selfless mission to prevent other families from experiencing the heartbreak that she has had to endure. Thank you, Sandy, for your tireless efforts to keep Alaskans safe, and congratulations on achieving this major milestone in your noble fight against fentanyl.”

“On October 26, 2021, my 22-year-old son, Bruce, died of fentanyl poisoning in Anchorage, Alaska. Since that day, I have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and advocate for legislation to address its widespread impacts across the country,” said Sandy Snodgrass, Bruce’s Mom. “Today is the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration to pass Bruce’s Law, which brings communities together to save American lives. No mother should ever have to go through what I have experienced, and with Bruce’s Law, we are now closer to that goal.”

Congress originally passed the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) in 2018, which authorized funding for community-based treatment and recovery programs. In addition to the provisions listed below, the SUPPORT Act provides new tools to help organizations across multiple fields address this crisis.

In Alaska, drugs were involved in 245 deaths between March 2024 and March 2025.

Bruce’s Law

Senator Murkowski first introduced Bruce’s Law in 2022 and again in 2023. Named after Robert “Bruce” Snodgrass, an Alaskan who tragically passed away at age 22 from fentanyl poisoning, the legislation advances new strategies in the national fight against fentanyl and opioids, particularly among youth. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) were original co-sponsors of both versions.

The provisions from Bruce’s Law included in the SUPPORT Act authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to launch a public education and awareness campaign focused on the dangers of drugs laced with fentanyl, prevention strategies, and early warning signs of addiction among youth.

It also authorizes the Secretary of HHS to establish a Federal Interagency Working Group on Fentanyl Contamination of Illegal Drugs. This group will consist of federal agencies, state-level High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Directors, and will consult with individuals who have lost loved ones to fentanyl overdoses, and those with lived experience. The group will:

Work to develop strategies to improve responses to fentanyl-contaminated drug overdoses.

Carry out activities to raise public awareness of synthetic opioids and other emerging drug use and misuse issues

Review all federal efforts to prevent and minimize fentanyl-contaminated drug overdoses and recommend ways to better educate school-aged children and youth about these dangers.

Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment

One of the greatest challenges in healthcare is workforce shortages—an issue particularly acute in Alaska, where many struggle to find quality substance abuse treatment providers.

Senator Murkowski fought in committee to reauthorize the STAR Loan Repayment Program in this bill, providing loan repayment assistance to individuals who commit to working in substance use disorder treatment in shortage areas.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-and-murkowski-celebrate-signing-of-landmark-legislation-to-address-substance-use-and-mental-health,Sullivan & Murkowski Celebrate Signing of Landmark Legislation to Address Substance Use and Mental Health,2025-12-01,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) celebrated the signing of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 into law. This legislation expands programs to address substance use disorders and overdoses, and includes major priorities the delegation has long championed, including provisions of Bruce’s Law and the reauthorization of the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program.

“Four years ago, Sandy Snodgrass faced every parent’s worst nightmare when she lost her son to fentanyl poisoning, but she turned her heartache into advocacy for families and those who struggle with substance use across the country,” said Senator Murkowski. “Now that Bruce’s Law has passed, there will be greater resources to educate the public on the dangers of fentanyl, develop new strategies to engage with young Americans at risk, and ultimately save lives.”

“Alaska has faced a five-alarm crisis in recent years as fentanyl and other synthetic opioids ravaged our communities, poisoned our kids and tore families apart,” said Sen. Sullivan. “Stemming the influx of this poison coming across our borders has been a top priority of mine here in Washington. I want to commend President Trump for signing Bruce’s Law as part of the SUPPORT Act to help combat this deadly scourge and raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, which has stolen the futures of far too many, like Bruce Snodgrass. This legislation is the result of one mother’s selfless mission to prevent other families from experiencing the heartbreak that she has had to endure. Thank you, Sandy, for your tireless efforts to keep Alaskans safe, and congratulations on achieving this major milestone in your noble fight against fentanyl.”

“On October 26, 2021, my 22-year-old son, Bruce, died of fentanyl poisoning in Anchorage, Alaska. Since that day, I have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and advocate for legislation to address its widespread impacts across the country,” said Sandy Snodgrass, Bruce’s Mom. “Today is the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration to pass Bruce’s Law, which brings communities together to save American lives. No mother should ever have to go through what I have experienced, and with Bruce’s Law, we are now closer to that goal.”

Congress originally passed the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) in 2018, which authorized funding for community-based treatment and recovery programs. In addition to the provisions listed below, the SUPPORT Act provides new tools to help organizations across multiple fields address this crisis.

In Alaska, drugs were involved in 245 deaths between March 2024 and March 2025.

Bruce’s Law

Senator Murkowski first introduced Bruce’s Law in 2022 and again in 2023. Named after Robert “Bruce” Snodgrass, an Alaskan who tragically passed away at age 22 from fentanyl poisoning, the legislation advances new strategies in the national fight against fentanyl and opioids, particularly among youth. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) were original co-sponsors of both versions.

The provisions from Bruce’s Law included in the SUPPORT Act authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to launch a public education and awareness campaign focused on the dangers of drugs laced with fentanyl, prevention strategies, and early warning signs of addiction among youth.

It also authorizes the Secretary of HHS to establish a Federal Interagency Working Group on Fentanyl Contamination of Illegal Drugs. This group will consist of federal agencies, state-level High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Directors, and will consult with individuals who have lost loved ones to fentanyl overdoses, and those with lived experience. The group will:

Work to develop strategies to improve responses to fentanyl-contaminated drug overdoses.

Carry out activities to raise public awareness of synthetic opioids and other emerging drug use and misuse issues

Review all federal efforts to prevent and minimize fentanyl-contaminated drug overdoses and recommend ways to better educate school-aged children and youth about these dangers.

Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment

One of the greatest challenges in healthcare is workforce shortages—an issue particularly acute in Alaska, where many struggle to find quality substance abuse treatment providers.

Senator Murkowski fought in committee to reauthorize the STAR Loan Repayment Program in this bill, providing loan repayment assistance to individuals who commit to working in substance use disorder treatment in shortage areas.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-nick-begich-introduces-cold-weather-diesel-reliability-act-keep,Congressman Nick Begich Introduces the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act to Keep America’s Coldest Regions Moving,2025-11-25,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 25, 2025 — Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) introduced the House companion to theCold Weather Diesel Reliability Act, legislation that ensures trucks and heavy equipment operating in the nation’s coldest climates can continue running safely in extreme weather. The Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act updates federal policy to reflect how diesel engines can operate in freezing climates and ensures that safety guides emissions compliance for the states that rely on diesel the most.

“Alaska runs on diesel - from commercial trucking to remote community supply lines to critical infrastructure and national defense operations,” said Congressman Begich. “When the federal government imposes rules that literally freeze up engines and shut down equipment in subzero temperatures, it’s dangerous for our communities. This bill delivers a common-sense fix that keeps drivers safe, keeps freight moving, and brings Washington regulations back in line with the real-world conditions Americans face across the great North.”

BACKGROUND:

In subzero temperatures common across Alaska and much of the northern United States, EPA-mandated emissions systems can shut down diesel engines when diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) fails to reach proper operating temperatures. These automatic shutdowns can stop vehicles even when engines are functioning normally, putting drivers and maintenance crews at risk.

The Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act directs the EPA to update outdated, one-size-fits-all regulations and provide year-round exemptions from DEF system requirements for vehicles and equipment that operate primarily in cold-weather climates and ensures engines remain operational during extreme cold.

Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) introduced the Senate version earlier this month.

The legislation has broad backing across Alaska’s transportation, agriculture, freight, and heavy-equipment sectors.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-sullivan-react-to-proposed-offshore-oil-and-gas-program,"Murkowski, Sullivan React to Proposed Offshore Oil and Gas Program",2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) today issued the following statement after the Department of the Interior (Interior) released its Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which would guide offshore oil and gas lease sales in federal waters from 2026 to 2031.

“Offshore energy is an important part of our nation’s energy supply and security, and we must have a well-reasoned plan in place to support its responsible development. Much like the Trump administration’s approach in 2018, it’s important to remember that this is the start of a process to strike the right balance, not its end point,” Senator Murkowski said. “In Alaska, we need to focus on Cook Inlet—where we mandated sales through this summer’s budget reconciliation bill—to provide energy for Southcentral and complement our onshore opportunities in the NPR-A and the Coastal Plain. In the months ahead, Interior will need to consult with and fully consider the perspectives of Alaskans to understand why development in some of our waters—especially the offshore Arctic and the Bering Strait—should not be in the final version of this five-year plan.”

“I spoke with Secretary of the Interior Burgum earlier today about the Department of the Interior’s Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program announcement,” said Senator Sullivan. “He committed to me that DOI will continue to carefully listen to Alaskans throughout this process, particularly Alaska Native communities who live near the proposed leasing areas, including our whaling captains who bring generations of experience and deep knowledge of the Arctic Ocean.

“It’s important for Alaskans to know that this draft proposal is not a final decision or a directive that any particular offshore lease sale will occur. Before any potential proposal is finalized, there will be multiple opportunities for public comment, environmental review, and additional analysis. As my office reviews the proposal, I will work to ensure that we are weighing in and amplifying Alaskan voices and views.

“My focus remains on our tremendous potential for responsible resource development in Cook Inlet, the NPR-A, and the ANWR Coastal Plain, areas where resource development can deliver jobs, revenue, and energy security while respecting local voices and ensuring environmental stewardship.”

The DPP keeps most offshore areas available for leasing at this point in the process, contemplating up to 34 potential offshore lease sales in federal waters over a five-year period. This is similar to the approach the Trump administration took in 2018, when they initially proposed 47 offshore lease sales, including 19 in Alaska.

In 2018, Murkowski and Sullivan urged Interior to concentrate agency resources on offshore areas that have the broadest support from Alaskans and they continue to maintain that position.

A 60-day public comment period will begin when the DPP publishes in the Federal Register on Monday, November 24, 2025. More information about the DPP is available here. A Congressional Research Service outline of the federal process for offshore development is below and available here. Today’s announcement represents the second blue box in the top row, indicating how much process remains before leasing, let alone development.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murkowski-sullivan-react-to-proposed-offshore-oil-and-gas-program,"Murkowski, Sullivan React to Proposed Offshore Oil and Gas Program",2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) today issued the following statement after the Department of the Interior (Interior) released its Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which would guide offshore oil and gas lease sales in federal waters from 2026 to 2031.

“Offshore energy is an important part of our nation’s energy supply and security, and we must have a well-reasoned plan in place to support its responsible development. Much like the Trump administration’s approach in 2018, it’s important to remember that this is the start of a process to strike the right balance, not its end point,” Senator Murkowski said. “In Alaska, we need to focus on Cook Inlet—where we mandated sales through this summer’s budget reconciliation bill—to provide energy for Southcentral and complement our onshore opportunities in the NPR-A and the Coastal Plain. In the months ahead, Interior will need to consult with and fully consider the perspectives of Alaskans to understand why development in some of our waters—especially the offshore Arctic and the Bering Strait—should not be in the final version of this five-year plan.”

“I spoke with Secretary of the Interior Burgum earlier today about the Department of the Interior’s Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program announcement,” said Senator Sullivan. “He committed to me that DOI will continue to carefully listen to Alaskans throughout this process, particularly Alaska Native communities who live near the proposed leasing areas, including our whaling captains who bring generations of experience and deep knowledge of the Arctic Ocean.

“It’s important for Alaskans to know that this draft proposal is not a final decision or a directive that any particular offshore lease sale will occur. Before any potential proposal is finalized, there will be multiple opportunities for public comment, environmental review, and additional analysis. As my office reviews the proposal, I will work to ensure that we are weighing in and amplifying Alaskan voices and views.

“My focus remains on our tremendous potential for responsible resource development in Cook Inlet, the NPR-A, and the ANWR Coastal Plain, areas where resource development can deliver jobs, revenue, and energy security while respecting local voices and ensuring environmental stewardship.”

The DPP keeps most offshore areas available for leasing at this point in the process, contemplating up to 34 potential offshore lease sales in federal waters over a five-year period. This is similar to the approach the Trump administration took in 2018, when they initially proposed 47 offshore lease sales, including 19 in Alaska.

In 2018, Murkowski and Sullivan urged Interior to concentrate agency resources on offshore areas that have the broadest support from Alaskans and they continue to maintain that position.

A 60-day public comment period will begin when the DPP publishes in the Federal Register on Monday, November 24, 2025. More information about the DPP is available here. A Congressional Research Service outline of the federal process for offshore development is below and available here. Today’s announcement represents the second blue box in the top row, indicating how much process remains before leasing, let alone development.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-colleagues-introduce-visit-usa-act-to-restore-brand-usa-funding-promote-us-tourism,"Sullivan, Colleagues Introduce VISIT USA Act to Restore Brand USA Funding, Promote U.S. Tourism",2025-11-20,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.)—all members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee—have introduced the Vital Investment in Sustaining International Tourism to the USA (VISIT USA) Act to fully restore Brand USA’s funding in Fiscal Years (FY) 2026 and 2027. Brand USA is a public-private partnership charged with promoting America as a premier international travel destination and clearly communicating U.S. visa and entry policies abroad. This legislation will fully fund Brand USA to promote the United States as an international travel destination ahead of several significant events hosted in the U.S., including the 250thanniversary of America’s independence, the FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Olympic games. President Trump’s FY 2026 budget request also calls for fully funding Brand USA.

“The United States is the third most visited country in the world. As we prepare to host several once-in-a-generation global events—from America250, to the FIFA World Cup, to the 2028 Olympic Games—there has never been a better moment to showcase all that our country has to offer,” Sen. Sullivan said. “Restoring Brand USA’s full funding will help us welcome more international visitors, strengthen our tourism economy, and support the thousands of small businesses that make America and Alaska such remarkable places to experience.”

“Travel and tourism powers economic growth in communities in Minnesota and across our country,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will restore funding for Brand USA, providing the resources it needs to continue to support an additional 1.6 million visitors, $6 billion in spending, and nearly 80,000 jobs every year—all at no cost to taxpayers.”

“As the United States prepares to host major global events like the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, it is more important than ever that we put our best foot forward to attract international visitors. Tourism is a powerful economic driver for states like West Virginia and communities across the country, supporting local jobs and small businesses. This legislation will allow Brand USA to access existing surplus visa fee revenues, which will in turn help strengthen America’s ability to welcome travelers, promote our communities, and compete on the world stage,” Sen. Capito said.

“Nevada is a world-class destination with so much to offer, from entertainment and sports to National Parks,” said Sen. Rosen. “Our economy relies heavily on international tourism, which is why I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan legislation to fully restore funding for Brand USA over the next two years and show the world all of the wonderful things we have to offer. At a time when international visitation numbers are down, we need to do everything we can to encourage more tourists to come and visit our wonderful nation.”

“Alaska’s landscapes and cultures appeal to visitors from across the country and around the globe,” said Jillian Simpson, president and CEO of the Alaska Travel Industry Association. “The Alaska Travel Industry Association is grateful for Senator Sullivan’s ongoing support for Alaska’s small tourism businesses through his sponsorship of the VISIT USA Act. Restoring funding for the important Brand USA program will help the United States maintain a competitive position and remain top-of-mind with international travelers looking for their next adventure. Many thanks to Senator Sullivan for his leadership in sponsoring this critical piece of legislation.”

“This legislation is an important step forward, and we are grateful for Senators Sullivan and Klobuchar for leading this effort,"" said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. ""With the World Cup, America 250 and the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, the U.S. has a pivotal chance to capture global attention. By restoring Brand USA’s resources, Congress can help drive new visitors, support jobs nationwide and ensure the United States stands out on the world stage.”

The legislation is endorsed by the U.S. Travel Association, the Alaska Travel Industry Association, and Visit Anchorage. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) have introduced companion legislation in the House.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-speaks-at-hearing-for-alaska-federal-judge-nominee-peterson,Sullivan Speaks at Hearing for Alaska Federal Judge Nominee Peterson,2025-11-19,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today introduced Aaron Christian Peterson, of Eagle River, Alaska, at his nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On November 12, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Peterson to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, which currently has two vacancies.

Aaron Christian Peterson is a born-and-raised Alaskan and U.S. Air Force veteran who currently serves as senior assistant attorney general in the Alaska Department of Law’s (DOL) Natural Resources Section, where he serves as primary litigation counsel on fisheries matters in which the State of Alaska has an interest. Previously, Peterson served as assistant attorney general in the DOL’s Office of Special Prosecutions from 2015 to 2019, prosecuting statewide fish and wildlife crimes. He also served as assistant district attorney in Anchorage from 2012 to 2015, where he handled a wide range of criminal cases. Peterson began his legal career clerking for Alaska Superior Court Judge Michael Spaan from 2010 to 2011. Peterson earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and his Juris Doctor from the Gonzaga University School of Law.

Sen. Sullivan solicited potential applications to fill vacancies on the court through the Alaska Federal Judiciary Council (AFJC), originally convened by Sullivan in 2023 to recommend candidates for federal judgeship vacancies. The council conducted thorough reviews and recommended applicants, including Peterson, to Sen. Sullivan, who then submitted his name, among others, to the President, who made the final decision.

Below is a full transcript of Sen. Sullivan’s remarks in the hearing.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Senator Durbin, and my Senate colleagues on the Judiciary Committee. It is an honor to be here today to introduce a distinguished Alaskan before this committee, Aaron Peterson, who has been nominated by President Trump to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Alaska.

As you all know, the vetting process for a federal judge is rigorous and time consuming, as it should be. I want to thank Aaron and his family for their patience as this process has moved forward. As part of this nominating process, Aaron was interviewed by the Alaska Federal Judiciary Council, a bipartisan group of Alaskans who volunteered their time to interview federal judge candidates.

The recent controversy about a federal judge in Alaska, who was not my first choice and ended up being a real disgrace to Alaska and the federal judiciary, made it clear to me that we needed a much better vetting system in Alaska for federal judges. So, I established the Alaska Federal Judiciary Council. Aaron is the first nominee who was interviewed by that council. I convened this, as I mentioned, for better vetting. I actually took some advice from our senators from Texas and Senator Durbin, who have similar committees to nominate quality candidates. I know that this Alaska Federal Judiciary Council process will improve the selection of Alaska judicial candidates.

I want to publicly thank all the members of the council who put time and effort into this over the last year. When I first met Aaron, I was impressed by his integrity, his respect for the rule of law, and his deep commitment to public service, which also includes military service.

Alaska has more veterans per capita than any other state in the country. Aaron is one of those proud Alaska veterans. He served in security forces in the U.S. Air Force after 9/11, deploying in the Middle East and around the globe to protect airfields and airmen.

His legal experience is broad and deep and Alaska-focused. After receiving his Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law, he came back home to serve as a law clerk for Alaska Superior Court Judge Michael Spaan. He went on to serve as an assistant district attorney for the Anchorage District Attorney's Office, where he prosecuted serious criminal cases, including homicides and sex crimes.

Alaska is a great state, and my colleagues have heard me brag about it many, many times. But one thing we are not proud of in our state is our very high rates of sexual assault and domestic violence. It is a scourge on our state. Aaron's experience in prosecuting these cases and working closely with victims will be a huge asset to the federal court in Alaska.

Alaska is a unique state with many federal laws that specifically focus on our uniqueness. The Trans Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. These are massive, complex laws exclusively focused on Alaska.

Even more recent laws, like the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the 2020 CARES Act, and the recent budget reconciliation bill signed into law by President Trump in July, have entire sections in the federal law focused on Alaska. All of these laws have significant and important promises and commitments made by the Congress to Alaskans and our Alaska Native people.

But what has been a pattern for decades is that federal agencies charged with carrying out these laws often ignore these commitments to Alaskans. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan said it recently, and best in the two recent cases before the Supreme Court called Sturgeon I and Sturgeon II. Both were decided 9 to 0 by the U.S. Supreme Court in Alaska's favor.

In analyzing ANILCA in ANCSA—the statutes I just cited above—Justice Kagan concluded ANILCA and other federal laws reflect the simple truth that Alaska is often the exception, not the rule, and is very different from the rest of the country in terms of laws.

For a federal judge in Alaska, it is imperative that he or she have a deep understanding of these federal laws and their application. Aaron definitely does. He has been an assistant attorney general in both the civil and criminal divisions in the Department of Law for over ten years. He is currently the senior assistant attorney general in the natural resources section of the Alaska Department of Law. He is the primary litigation counsel on anything to do from fisheries, water rights, and access to federal lands.

Aaron is a lifelong Alaskan. He knows and understands our great state and the federal laws that reflect on Alaska. I think he will be a great federal judge. I urge his nomination be sent to the Senate floor with positive votes from all the members of this committee.

Thank you again, Mr. Chairman. It's an honor to introduce Aaron.

***

Below is a full transcript of Peterson’s opening remarks.

Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin, members of the committee, thank you for scheduling this hearing. I am thrilled to be here.

I want to thank President Trump for giving me the honor of this nomination. It truly is the professional honor of a lifetime. I want to thank Senator Sullivan, both for his support throughout this process and for that very kind introduction. I'd also like to thank Senator Murkowski for her support during this process.

I want to recognize some of the people who've traveled here to support me. First and foremost, my brilliant and beautiful wife, Kadra. We've been married over 21 years and she's been with me every step of the way. I definitely would not be anywhere near this opportunity without her unwavering love, patience, and support.

She's supported me throughout my career while pursuing her own very demanding careers as a math teacher and as a mother to our three children—our 12-year-old daughter and our nine-year-old twins. I want to thank her for all the sacrifices that she has made to make this a possibility. I also want to thank Kadra’s sister, Reagan, for watching our kids while we're here. Good luck, Reagan.

My father also traveled here from Alaska, and he wouldn't have missed this. He's been at every important life event for all of his children and his grandchildren. My father moved to Alaska from southern California in 1975. He planned to stay for a few months and have an adventure, and he's been there for 50 years. Fortunately, my mother agreed to go to Alaska with him, also from southern California, and I thank God every day that they chose to live there and that I got to be born and raised in the Last Frontier.

Unfortunately, my mother couldn't travel here today, but I know she's extremely proud watching back home in Eagle River. My sister, Lindsey, also came here and is at the hearing. And my uncle, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Larry Peterson, is also here.

On a professional level, I want to thank Judge Michael Spaan, for whom I had the privilege of clerking. Judge Spaan—it was truly an honor and a pleasure to work for him. When I told him I was thinking about this opportunity, he had been the U.S. attorney for many years in Alaska, and he encouraged me. I want to thank him for that encouragement. Judge Spaan approached his work diligently with humility and always respecting every litigant that appeared before him. I took so much away from that clerkship, and I've carried those lessons with me every day since.

Finally, I want to thank Attorney General Steve Cox and all of the fantastic people that I've had the pleasure to work with over the years at the Alaska Department of Law. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve my home state alongside all of those extremely dedicated public servants. I welcome the committee's questions.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-nick-begich-applauds-house-passage-alaska-resource-measures,Congressman Nick Begich Applauds House Passage of Alaska Resource Measures,2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 18, 2025 — Today, Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) applauded the House passage of two major Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions—H.J. Res. 131, sponsored by Congressman Begich, and S.J. Res. 80. These measures advance the America first agenda to unleash Alaska’s extraordinary resource potential and reverse Biden-era actions that severely restricted energy development across Alaska.

“H.J. Res. 131 and S.J. Res. 80 are crucial steps toward restoring America’s energy security and unlock Alaska’s resources for the benefit of the American people. In the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska and the 1002 Area of our North Slope—that’s twenty million acres unlocked for the benefit of the people of this nation,” said Congressman Begich. “By reversing these harmful Biden-era restrictions, we are unleashing American energy dominance and ensuring that our nation has the reliable, affordable energy it needs to power homes, our communities, and a growing economy. Alaska has the resources the nation needs—and the will and expertise to develop them responsibly. These resolutions send a clear message: America’s energy future begins with Alaska.”

“When the Biden administration locked up millions of acres of resource-rich lands throughout Alaska’s North Slope, it undermined America’s energy independence and hurt native communities that rely on the revenue stemming from energy production in the area. I applaud Rep. Begich for leading these resolutions to restore common sense to Alaska’s resource management,” said House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman.

Background:

H.J. Res. 131, Congressman Begich’s CRA resolution, overturns the Biden administration’s 2024 Record of Decision (ROD) that halted oil and gas development across 1.16 million acres of the 1002 Area of the North Slope.

By restoring the 2020 ROD, H.J. Res. 131 reinvigorates American energy and mineral dominance and advances President Trump’s Executive Order 14154, which prioritizes unlocking Alaska’s strategic resources.

The House also passed S.J. Res. 80, introduced by Senator Sullivan and led in the House by Congressman Begich, which repeals the Biden administration’s 2022 ROD for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) Integrated Activity Plan (IAP). The Biden administration’s IAP locked up nearly 12 million acres of energy-rich land on the North Slope.

S.J. Res. 80 restores the 2021 IAP, reflecting extensive tribal consultation and local engagement. The measure:

Unlocks 18.6 million acres of subsurface resources for oil and gas leasing and energy infrastructure.

Allows construction of essential infrastructure—roads, power lines, and pipelines—to support communities and future projects.

Builds on requirements in the Working Families Tax Cuts, mandating six NPR-A lease sales over the next decade.

Strengthens Alaska’s economy and encourages long-term investment in the region.

H.J. Res. 131 heads to the Senate for consideration and S.J. Res. 80 moves to the President’s desk for signature.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-congressman-nick-begich-joins-house-gop-leadership-discuss-energy,ICYMI: Congressman Nick Begich Joins House GOP Leadership to Discuss Energy Affordability,2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 18, 2025 — Today, Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) joined House GOP Leadership to address energy affordability by unlocking Alaska’s abundant resources for the benefit of the American people.

Full remarks below from today’s press conference with Speaker Johnson and House GOP Leadership:

“Every product in America is an energy product. Whether you’re producing that product, whether you’re sending that product to the grocery store, whether you’re going to the grocery store to pick up that product, whether you’re going to visit family for Thanksgiving - you’re expending energy. And if we want to address affordability in this nation, the best way to do that is to address the fundamental cost of energy. If we are going to do that, we’ve got to produce more of it.

I happen to be from the great state of Alaska where we do have abundant natural gas, where we do have abundant oil reserves. But in the previous four years under the Biden administration, we were not allowed to access those important resources for the American people. In fact, under Joe Biden, there were more than 70 executive orders and actions that specifically targeted Alaska – preventing us from developing the oil and gas resources in the state and the critical minerals we are hearing so much about today.

Today’s bills help unlock the resources of Alaska for the benefit of the American people and do so in a durable fashion. In the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska and the 1002 Area of our North Slope - that’s twenty million acres unlocked for the benefit of the people of this nation.

I want to thank the Leadership team who have prioritized affordability in this country again, who understands that affordability begins with resources and our ability to add value to those resources. Alaska is ready to be part of that solution.”

Majority Leader Scalise on Congressman Begich Delivering for Alaska:

“In the Working Families Tax Cut, we had a lot of provisions in that bill that Congressman Begich himself brought forward to open areas in Alaska. I walked the Alaska Pipeline and Section 1002 of the North Slope, and to see all the ability to produce energy in America that had been shut down under Joe Biden – we couldn’t even produce the energy we know we have because of policies by the Biden administration. We are reversing that. Many of those provisions that Congressman Begich campaigned on – he already delivered on in the Working Families Tax Cut. But there is more to do so we are bringing some of those bills to the floor this week.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-and-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-restore-va-employees-collective-bargaining-rights,Murkowski and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Restore VA Employees’ Collective Bargaining Rights,2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Representative Delia Ramirez (D-IL) introduced bipartisan legislation to restore and protect Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees’ collective bargaining rights in response to the Trump Administration’s cancellation of union contracts for 80% of VA employees.

“Our country made a promise to care for those who have served — and that promise is upheld by ensuring that our Veterans Affairs workforce is able to provide the best possible care to our former servicemembers. That includes upholding their right to collectively bargain so they have access to working conditions that allow them to focus on supporting our veterans,” said Senator Murkowski. “This legislation will defend those who speak up about waste, fraud, and abuse within the Department. When we protect this workforce, we protect veterans’ access to the high-quality care and benefits they’ve earned.”

“We must erase Trump’s unlawful executive orders restricting VA workers’ rights to collective bargaining,” said Senator Blumenthal. “VA worker rights are essential to imposing proper oversight and scrutiny and providing veterans the care and compensation they deserve. As this Administration broadly cuts federal employees and their pay, collective bargaining rights are more important than ever.”

The lawmakers’ VA Care and Benefits Accountability (VA CBA) Act will restore cancelled union contracts and nullify Executive Order 14251 (90 Fed. Reg. 14553) and Executive Order 14343 (90 Fed. Reg. 42683). This will restore union bargaining rights and protections for nearly 400,000 VA employees, among which almost 25% are veterans.

In August, Trump VA Secretary Doug Collins terminated union contracts for most of VA’s bargaining-unit employees—enforcing the executive orders despite ongoing litigation and the Office of Personnel Management’s recommendation to wait until court proceedings had been fully resolved. This decision impacts nearly 80% of VA’s workforce, including mission-critical positions like mental health providers, nurses, and claims processors. This action stripped employees of certain essential rights that help protect whistleblowers who advocate for accountable leadership and increased support and resources to provide quality, effective, and efficient services to all Americans.

The unions impacted by the Trump VA’s policy are the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE), National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

The lawmakers’ legislation is supported by key labor partners and veterans’ advocates.

“As a former servicemember, I am deeply appreciative of Senator Murkowski's support for the hard-working professionals who care for our veterans and their basic right to collectively bargain,” said Alaska’s AFL-CIO President, Joelle Hall. “The stripping of collective bargaining rights from America's civil service is bad for safety, bad for morale, and bad for the American public. The Alaska AFL-CIO urges Congress to pass this bill quickly and send a message that we respect the men and women who have served our country and the devoted workers who serve our veterans.”

“NFFE strongly supports H.R. 6015/S. 3174, the VA CBA Act of 2025, and urges its swift passage,” said National Federation of Federal Employees’ (NFFE-IAM) National President Randy Erwin. “This legislation is essential to restoring collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of VA employees—many of them veterans—so they can speak out about fraud, waste, abuse, or management failures without fear of retaliation. At a time when outside interests increasingly pressure the VA to prioritize private profit over patient care, these protections are more critical than ever. Collective bargaining is not just about supporting employees; it ensures they have the confidence and security to hold management accountable to the promises we make to veterans every day.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-its-past-time-that-everyone-involved-in-epsteins-illegal-operation-be-brought-to-justice,Murkowski: “It’s past time that everyone involved in Epstein’s illegal operation be brought to justice”,2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 4405, The Epstein Files Transparency Act,:

“This afternoon, the House voted almost unanimously to pass H.R. 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The bill requires the Department of Justice to publish all unclassified records, documents, communications, and materials in the Department’s possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffery Epstein—including any individuals named or referenced in connection with the investigation.

“The bill now comes to the Senate, and I support its immediate consideration and will vote for it as written.

“As the co-lead of a nearly identical counterpart bill, S. 2557, I urge my Senate colleagues to join me. We need to enforce transparency and integrity at the highest levels of government. It’s past time that all involved in Epstein’s illegal operation be brought to justice, so the survivors of these awful crimes can have closure.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/alaska-delegation-welcomes-repeal-of-unlawful-2024-npr-a-rule,Alaska Delegation Welcomes Repeal of Unlawful 2024 NPR-A Rule,2025-11-17,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Anchorage, AK—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today issued the following statements after the Department of the Interior (Interior) repealed a rule the Biden administration imposed in 2024 as it sought to halt future development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducted “a thorough legal and policy review” of the 2024 NPR-A Rule earlier this year. In a new final rule that was printed in the Federal Register today, BLM explains that “the 2024 NPR-A Rule conflicts with and exceeds its statutory authority under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976…undermines the purpose of that act, and is inconsistent with national energy policy.”

“I thank Secretary Burgum and his team for moving quickly to repeal the NPR-A management rule. The Biden administration imposed it over the objections of our congressional delegation, the Alaska State Legislature, the Governor, leaders from across the North Slope, and most Alaskans. Worse still, they deliberately ignored federal law and failed to meaningfully consult with the Alaska Natives who actually live in this region,” Senator Murkowski said. “After years of telling industry to focus on the NPR-A, this was a blatant attempt to shut down future development in our petroleum reserve. Officials from the Biden administration openly admitted they rushed the rule to evade the Congressional Review Act, but they failed to recognize that their successors could work with us to strike it. I’m glad they did and glad to see it go.”

“The Biden administration’s NPR-A rule was one of the most blatant examples of federal overreach we’ve seen in Alaska in decades,” said Senator Sullivan. “This rule locked up of about half of the National Petroleum Reserve—an area Congress explicitly set aside for energy production, ignored Alaska Native voices, violated clear congressional direction and undermined our state’s ability to responsibly develop the resources that support our communities, create good paying jobs, and strengthen our nation. But under the Trump administration, it is a new day filled with opportunity for Alaskans. I want to commend Secretary Burgum for taking action to rescind this rule on behalf of Alaskans, our jobs and economy, and for faithfully implementing President Trump’s comprehensive, Day One, Alaska-specific executive order.”

“The Department of the Interior’s decision represents another significant course correction from the Biden-era restrictions on Alaska’s resource potential. By rescinding the 2024 NPR-A rule, this Administration is unleashing the full potential of the National Petroleum Reserve and giving us the freedom to responsibly develop the vast energy resources that power our state and strengthen America’s energy security. With 50% of all new lease revenues in the NPR-A going to Alaska - increasing to 70% starting in 2034 - Alaska stands to generationally benefit from the rescission of this Biden-era rule” said Congressman Begich.

The NPR-A spans roughly 23 million acres in northwest Alaska. Congress specifically set the area aside for responsible oil and gas development, directing Interior, through BLM, to conduct an “expeditious program of competitive leasing of oil and gas.” Instead of following that directive, the Biden administration refused to hold a single lease sale in the petroleum reserve while repeatedly moving to restrict access, delaying projects, and layering on new restrictions to prevent future development.

Through the 2024 NPR-A Rule, the Biden administration sought to establish a presumption against new leasing across millions of acres in the petroleum reserve, while creating new restrictions and prohibitions that would have made it impossible to develop even existing leases.

Alaska’s congressional delegation opposed the 2024 NPR-A Rule from the start. Among other actions, the delegation sent a letter to Interior opposing the proposed rule in March 2024 and spent months making a public case against it. Interior ignored the delegation, refused to engage in meaningful consultation with North Slope leaders who similarly opposed the rule, and instead plowed forward on a rushed timeline that one former official openly admitted was to avoid the Congressional Review Act. As Interior finalized the rule, multiple companies asked BLM to suspend more than one million acres of leases they held within the NPR-A.

The delegation is working closely with the Trump administration to restore reasonable access in the NPR-A. In this summer’s budget reconciliation bill, the delegation added language requiring at least five lease sales in the petroleum reserve over the next decade, with each lease sale offering at least four million acres. The delegation also required those sales to be held consistent with the terms and conditions of the 2020 Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) for the reserve, as it struck a reasonable balance between responsible development and environmental protection.

In addition, the Senate recently passed a Sullivan-led, Murkowski-cosponsored disapproval resolution to overturn the restrictive IAP the Biden administration imposed in 2022 to close off roughly half of the NPR-A. Congressman Begich is leading an identical resolution in the House, which is expected to take it up soon.

Joining the delegation in support of repealing the 2024 NPR-A are the North Slope Borough, Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, State of Alaska, Alaska Oil and Gas Association, Resource Development Council for Alaska, Alaska Chamber, the Alliance (Alaska Support Industry Alliance), Alaska Petroleum Joint Crafts Council, and API.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-welcomes-repeal-of-unlawful-2024-npr-a-rule,Alaska Delegation Welcomes Repeal of Unlawful 2024 NPR-A Rule,2025-11-17,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today issued the following statements after the Department of the Interior (Interior) repealed a rule the Biden administration imposed in 2024 as it sought to halt future development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducted “a thorough legal and policy review” of the 2024 NPR-A Rule earlier this year. In a new final rule that printed in the Federal Register today, BLM explains that “the 2024 NPR-A Rule conflicts with and exceeds its statutory authority under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976…undermines the purpose of that act, and is inconsistent with national energy policy.”

“I thank Secretary Burgum and his team for moving quickly to repeal the NPR-A management rule. The Biden administration imposed it over the objections of our congressional delegation, the Alaska State Legislature, the State of Alaska, leaders from across the North Slope, and most Alaskans. Worse still, they deliberately ignored federal law and failed to meaningfully consult with the Alaska Natives who actually live in this region,” Senator Murkowski said. “After years of telling industry to focus on the NPR-A, this was a blatant attempt to shut down future development in our petroleum reserve. Officials from the Biden administration openly admitted they rushed the rule to evade the Congressional Review Act, but they failed to recognize that their successors could work with us to strike it. I’m glad they did and glad to see it go.”

“The Biden administration’s NPR-A rule was one of the most blatant examples of federal overreach we’ve seen in Alaska in decades,” said Senator Sullivan. “This rule locked up of about half of the National Petroleum Reserve—an area Congress explicitly set aside for energy production, ignored Alaska Native voices, violated clear congressional direction and undermined our state’s ability to responsibly develop the resources that support our communities, create good paying jobs, and strengthen our nation. But under the Trump administration, it is a new day filled with opportunity for Alaskans. I want to commend Secretary Burgum for taking action to rescind this rule on behalf of Alaskans, our jobs and economy, and for faithfully implementing President Trump’s comprehensive, Day One, Alaska-specific executive order.”

“The Department of the Interior’s decision represents another significant course correction from the Biden-era restrictions on Alaska’s resource potential. By rescinding the 2024 NPR-A rule, this Administration is unleashing the full potential of the National Petroleum Reserve and giving us the freedom to responsibly develop the vast energy resources that power our state and strengthen America’s energy security. With 50% of all new lease revenues in the NPR-A going to Alaska - increasing to 70% starting in 2034 - Alaska stands to generationally benefit from the rescission of this Biden-era rule” said Congressman Begich.

The NPR-A spans roughly 23 million acres in northwest Alaska. Congress specifically set the area aside for responsible oil and gas development, directing Interior, through BLM, to conduct an “expeditious program of competitive leasing of oil and gas.” Instead of following that directive, the Biden administration refused to hold a single lease sale in the petroleum reserve while repeatedly moving to restrict access, delaying projects, and layering on new restrictions to prevent future development.

Through the 2024 NPR-A Rule, the Biden administration sought to establish a presumption against new leasing across millions of acres in the petroleum reserve, while creating new restrictions and prohibitions that would have made it impossible to develop even existing leases.

Alaska’s congressional delegation opposed the 2024 NPR-A Rule from the start. Among other actions, the delegation sent a letter to Interior opposing the proposed rule in March 2024 and spent months making a public case against it. Interior ignored the delegation, refused to engage in meaningful consultation with North Slope leaders who similarly opposed the rule, and instead plowed forward on a rushed timeline that one former official openly admitted was to avoid the Congressional Review Act. As Interior finalized the rule, multiple companies asked BLM to suspend more than one million acres of leases they held within the NPR-A.

The delegation is working closely with the Trump administration to restore reasonable access in the NPR-A. In this summer’s budget reconciliation bill, the delegation added language requiring at least five lease sales in the petroleum reserve over the next decade, with each lease sale offering at least four million acres. The delegation also required those sales to be held consistent with the terms and conditions of the 2020 Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) for the reserve, as it struck a reasonable balance between responsible development and environmental protection.

In addition, the Senate recently passed a Sullivan-led, Murkowski-cosponsored disapproval resolution to overturn the restrictive IAP the Biden administration imposed in 2022 to close off roughly half of the NPR-A. Congressman Begich is leading an identical resolution in the House, which is expected to take the matter up soon.

Joining the delegation in support of repealing the 2024 NPR-A are the North Slope Borough, Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, State of Alaska, Alaska Oil and Gas Association, Resource Development Council for Alaska, Alaska Chamber, the Alliance (Alaska Support Industry Alliance), Alaska Petroleum Joint Crafts Council, and API.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-and-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-swiftly-release-liheap-home-heating-aid,Murkowski & Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Swiftly Release LIHEAP Home Heating Aid,2025-11-14,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – The federal government shutdown is over but as heating costs continue to rise, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), and Susan Collins (R-ME) are leading 28 additional Senators in a bipartisan push for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level possible. Currently, $4 billion in federal LIHEAP dollars are available to be distributed this year.

“As Congress works to finalize the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services, we urge you to immediately release the highest amount of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available under the Continuing Resolution,” the 31 U.S. Senators wrote.

The bipartisan group of Senators say the federal LIHEAP funding is a crucial lifeline that keeps vulnerable citizens safe and warm during winter by helping low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills. The program also helps reduce energy costs through improved energy efficiency initiatives.

Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year. In Fiscal Year 2024, Alaska received more than $21 million in LIHEAP to assist more than 17,000 households.

LIHEAP applications are now open for all income-eligible households. Senior citizens and those receiving Social Security Disability or SSI benefits are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but applications will be open to everyone through spring of 2026 — or until the funding is exhausted. For more information about LIHEAP through the State of Alaska, visit https://health.alaska.gov/en/services/division-of-public-assistance-dpa-services/heating-assistance/ or see a list of tribes that distribute LIHEAP assistance in certain areas of the state at https://health.alaska.gov/media/hawloap1/fy2026-hap-tribal-providers-listing.pdf. .

In addition to Murkowski, Reed, and Collins, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

According to a new forecast from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, home heating costs are estimated to rise nearly 8 percent over last winter on average, with costs for heating with electricity forecasted to increase even higher – to 10 percent above last year.

Full text of the letter follows:

The Honorable Robert Kennedy, Jr.

Secretary of Health and Human Services

200 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20201

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

As Congress works to finalize the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services, we urge you to immediately release the highest amount of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available under the Continuing Resolution.

As the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance during the cold winter and hot summer months. October marked the start of the heating season for many states, and with temperatures already dropping, low-income families and seniors are feeling additional strains on their household budgets.

As state agencies and tribes activate their LIHEAP programs for the coming winter, it is crucial that they have the resources on hand to help low-income households and seniors as soon as possible. As such, we request that you quickly release LIHEAP funds at the highest level possible, so that low-income households do not have to choose between paying for heat and affording other necessities like food or medicine.

We look forward to working with you on this critical program, and thank you for your attention to our concerns and those of our constituents.

Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-releases-statement-on-nomination-of-aaron-peterson-to-federal-bench,Murkowski Releases Statement on Nomination of Aaron Peterson to Federal Bench,2025-11-13,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after the announcement that Aaron Peterson will be nominated to one of the vacancies on the United States District Court for the District of Alaska:

“I have been informed by the White House that President Trump has nominated Aaron Christian Peterson to serve as a Judge on the United States District Court for the District of Alaska. Born and raised in Anchorage, Peterson has a strong record of practicing law here in our state. After speaking extensively with him last week about his many qualifications, I informed the White House that I would support his nomination. Alaska’s District Court has had two vacancies for far too long, and I hope the White House will soon announce a second qualified nominee whom I can support to fill out the bench.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-relieved-as-government-reopens-following-longest-shutdown-in-nations-history,Murkowski Relieved As Government Reopens Following Longest Shutdown in Nation's History,2025-11-13,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC — Following the signing of H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extension Act into law, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement:

""After 43 days, Congress has passed and the President has signed the Continuing Resolution, putting an end to the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history and one that was unnecessary.

""I want to thank my colleagues who put politics aside and worked across the aisle to reopen our government. I especially want to recognize the leadership of Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins for her determination to advance three essential appropriations bills that will support our veterans and troops, and provide full-year funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

""The last eight weeks have brought significant hardship to many families across Alaska and our nation. Moving forward, we must remember that nobody wins a government shutdown—least of all the people we represent. Both parties must commit to never using the government, and the vital services it provides, as a bargaining chip in political negotiations.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-secures-investments-for-alaska-in-appropriations-bills,Murkowski Secures Investments for Alaska in Appropriations Bills,2025-11-13,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured significant investments for Alaska through the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of 2026. The legislation—three of the twelve annual appropriations bills needed to fund the government—passed as part of the agreement that ended the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history.

Highlights from the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

Investments in housing and rural community development

Affordable housing and rural infrastructure needs are some of Alaska’s most pressing issues. Senator Murkowski secured $1.715 billion for the Rental Assistance Program, which will help low-income families access affordable rental housing in rural areas. She also secured $27 million for very low-income housing repair grants so Alaskans can stay in their homes safely through the winter.

Updating Alaska’s clean water and utility infrastructure

Senator Murkowski advocated for investments in essential community infrastructure to ensure Alaskans have access to clean water and affordable energy, regardless of where they live. She included $60 million for Rural Water and Waste Disposal Grants and inserted report language prioritizing Alaska Native communities. She also secured $8 million for the High Energy Cost Grant Program, which helps energy providers reduce energy costs for families facing very high household energy expenses.

Bolstering food security and agriculture

Senator Murkowski has long prioritized efforts to strengthen Alaska’s food security. She secured a number of Alaska-specific provisions, including:

$5 million for Micro-Grants for Food Security, with report language urging USDA to ensure that low-income, disadvantaged, and minority individuals are able to submit applications for projects that will increase the amount and quality of locally produced foods.

$5 million for Alaska Native-Serving Institutions to promote equal access to education in rural Alaska and provide sustainable food and energy solutions for Alaska Native communities

$3.5 million for the Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Transportation Program, helping offset high freight costs for Alaskan producers

$904.8 million for the Summer Food Service Program, with report language supporting the continued implementation of non-congregate meal service, such as Alaska Meals to You food boxes, to ensure low-income students can eat while school is out

$1.793 billion for the Agricultural Research Service, including continued funding for research on cover crops and cereal grains for northern climates and permafrost regions

In addition to broader programmatic funding, Senator Murkowski secured project-specific investments benefiting 10 Alaska communities or organizations. These projects were requested and prioritized by local governments and stakeholder groups:

Bethel: $605,000 to establish a permanent Food Bank and Pantry

Eagle: $750,000 for the construction of a fire hall/public safety building for the local fire department and EMS team

Houston: $1.95 million for the construction of a Public Works Facility to support preventive maintenance on equipment

Kenai Peninsula Borough: $2.045 million to install telecommunications infrastructure that will improve emergency response times and enhance public communications

Nunapitchuk: $55,000 to develop a Preliminary Investigation Feasibility Report on whether the Native Village of Nunapitchuk can pursue a community-wide relocation project in the Nunavakanukakslak Lake–Johnson River Watershed

Petersburg: $225,000 to purchase emergency response equipment for the local fire department

Statewide: $4.2 million for the Alaska Municipal League to purchase heavy equipment for multiple communities to conduct road improvements and maintain rural infrastructure

Statewide: $750,000 to expand veterinary care in rural Alaska to prevent zoonotic disease outbreaks in communities off the road system

Whittier: $310,000 for the removal and abatement of asbestos hazards in community housing where 85% of residents live

Wrangell: $2.438 million to rehabilitate Wrangell’s Public Safety Building and Emergency Operations Center

Highlights from the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon) Appropriations Bill

Supporting Alaska’s active servicemembers and veterans

Senator Murkowski is committed to supporting Alaska’s servicemembers—both veterans and those on active duty—to ensure they have access to up-to-date resources that honor their service to our nation. She again secured annual bill language allowing care-sharing agreements between Federally Qualified Health Centers in Alaska and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations that are part of the Alaska Native Health Compact with the Indian Health Service. She also ensured that the Department of Veterans Affairs received full funding for mental health services, telehealth, women veterans’ gender-specific care, homelessness programs, and the Office of Rural Health.

Advancing the Services’ priorities in Alaska:

Senator Murkowski secured funding for Army and Air Force construction projects of the utmost priority to the services, including:

Fort Wainwright: $208 million to construct a barracks

JBER: $46 million to construct a base supply complex

JBER: $152 million for the next phase of construction of the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center

These projects will improve the quality of life for the soldiers of the 11th Airborne Division, increase the readiness of our Alaska Air National Guard, and continue the development of the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center, which will become the Air Force’s premier, state-of-the-art flight training and operations facility.

In addition to programmatic funding, Murkowski secured additional investments in this bill specific to three of Alaska’s military installations through the Congressionally Directed Spending Process:

JBER: $45 million to complete the Air Force runway extension project

Eielson Air Force Base: $6.7 million to finish planning and designing for a new permanent party dormitory

Fort Wainwright: $7.7 million to begin planning and designing a new dining facility for the Army

Highlights from the Legislative Branch (LEG) Appropriations Bill

Senator Murkowski advocated for robust funding for the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP). These funds will allow USCP to hire new officers and provide additional resources to protect the public and Members of Congress. During the 43-day government shutdown, the Capitol Police worked without pay, a fact Senator Murkowski repeatedly highlighted as a key reason to reopen the government as soon as possible. With the Legislative Branch bill ensuring that their budget is fully funded for the next fiscal year, Capitol Police salaries will be paid regardless of any potential shutdowns in 2026.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/senator-murkowski-speaks-on-aaron-petersons-nomination-for-us-district-court-for-the-district-of-alaska,Senator Murkowski Speaks on Aaron Peterson's Nomination for U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska,2025-11-13,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC — United States Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement following the President's announcement of his intent to nominate Aaron Christian Peterson to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska:

“I have been informed by the White House that President Trump intends to nominate Aaron Christian Peterson to serve as a Judge on the United States District Court for the District of Alaska. Born and raised in Anchorage, Peterson has a strong record of practicing law here in our state. After speaking extensively with him last week about his many qualifications, I informed the White House that I would support his nomination. Alaska’s District Court has had two vacancies for far too long, and I hope the White House will soon announce a second qualified nominee whom I can support to fill out the bench.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-lummis-introduce-legislation-to-fix-onerous-cold-weather-roadblocks-for-diesel-engines,"Sullivan, Lummis Introduce Legislation to Fix Onerous Cold Weather Roadblocks for Diesel Engines",2025-11-13,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) recently introduced the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act to address Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions system malfunctions that can force diesel engines to shut down in extreme cold. Under current one-size-fits-all EPA regulations, trucks and heavy equipment are required to use emissions systems that can trigger engine shutdowns when diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)—which freezes at just 12 degrees Fahrenheit—fails to reach proper operating temperatures, even though the engine itself is working normally. This legislation directs the EPA to update its regulations to account for how diesel engines actually operate in cold-weather states, like Alaska and Wyoming, to prevent the automatic shutdowns caused by cold-related emissions faults, and to provide year-round exemptions from DEF system requirements for vehicles and equipment that operate primarily in cold weather climates.

“In extreme cold, diesel engines can shut down because EPA-mandated emissions systems weren’t designed for the harsh conditions we face in Alaska and across the northern United States,” said Sen. Sullivan, “That’s not just an inconvenience, it’s a compliance trap for the men and women who keep Alaska moving. The Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act makes sure trucks and heavy equipment can keep operating safely in freezing weather by preventing automatic shutdowns caused by cold-related emissions faults. Our legislation brings common sense to EPA rules, aligning federal policy with real-world conditions in the nation’s coldest regions.”

“Climate-alarmist bureaucrats in Washington do not understand that the consequences of their radical agenda are hurting real people in western communities,” said Sen. Lummis. “I am proud to join Senator Sullivan in correcting the Obama and Biden administrations’ disastrous policies and ensuring folks don’t get stranded in their ‘EPA-compliant’ vehicles, even during the harshest winter weather. The people of Wyoming should not have to choose between breaking the law or losing their lives.”

“Alaska is not only a cornerstone of America’s resource development and national defense—it is also one of the most logistically challenging environments in the country,” said Ryan Anderson, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. “Reliable, year-round transportation is the backbone of our economy, our communities, and our national security readiness. But current federal emissions regulations too often fail to account for the realities of operating in Arctic conditions, where subzero temperatures can disable critical diesel systems and strand operators in life-threatening situations. The Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act ensures that truckers, maintenance crews, and equipment operators can keep moving safely and effectively in extreme cold, without being sidelined by systems never designed for this environment. It’s a common-sense fix that protects lives, supports economic activity, and strengthens our nation’s ability to operate in the Far North.”

“Alaskans face exceptional challenges daily. Laws and rules are made without consideration for extreme weather with the sub-zero conditions we often endure,” said Justin Hargrove, owner of Different Strokes of Alaska. “Our industries here sometimes require exception for dependability of our equipment to complete the already complex, dangerous and arduous jobs. We need not be encumbered by things we can change, specifically if they can make enough of a difference to prevent hard working Americans and vital industries from risk. Emissions regulations that are already waived for the Department of Defense, because of the locally recognized environmental challenges, should be considered for the civilian population for the same benefit. With the current blanket emissions standards for non-DOD, our diesel engines in Alaska are unreliable and can ultimately put lives in jeopardy. Making a subtle change to diesel regulation in Alaska will save lives, increase productivity, provide reliability and help to remove a proven dysfunction that needlessly challenges Americans here nearly half of their lives.”

“On behalf of United Freight and Transport, Inc., a commercial carrier based in Alaska, I write to express our strong support for the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act of 2025,” said Samantha Brown, corporate director & manager of health and safety compliance for United Freight and Transport, Inc. “We believe this legislation is essential for safeguarding both public and driver safety throughout the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions we operate in daily. Alaska’s extreme cold weather presents unique and dangerous challenges for commercial drivers. Current emissions control systems, particularly shutdown and derate functions triggered by faults in sub-zero temperatures, can leave vehicles stranded in remote, rugged terrain with limited emergency access. This poses serious safety threats, including hypothermia, frostbite, or delayed response in life-critical deliveries and rescue operations. By allowing engine manufacturers to suspend derate or shutdown functions during cold weather, this bill provides a crucial operational safeguard. It ensures that trucks remain mobile, and drivers remain protected without compromising long-term emissions compliance. The ability to maintain vehicle performance under such conditions is not just a matter of convenience, it is a matter of life and death in Alaska’s most isolated regions. We urge swift passage of this important legislation and appreciate your commitment to common-sense safety measures that respect both environmental responsibility and human life.”

“Farmers and ranchers in cold climate states have long awaited exemption from DEF requirements in cold climates. It will be a great relief from the problems it has caused our equipment, and added expense to our supply chain,” said Scott Mugrage, president of the Alaska Farm Bureau. “This exemption has our full support.”

Senator Sullivan has long pushed back against heavy-handed overreach from federal agencies, like the EPA, especially the aggressive Biden administration EPA’s enforcement actions in Alaska, including armed raids on small mechanics in the Mat-Su. Earlier this year, Sen. Sullivan secured a commitment from EPA Administrator Zeldin to work with him to rein in these rogue enforcement tactics and to review impractical regulatory requirements that don’t work in Alaska’s extreme conditions.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-begich-statement-funding-bill-reopen-government,Congressman Begich Statement on Funding Bill to Reopen the Government,2025-11-12,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 12, 2025 — Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) released the following statement following House Republicans passing a funding bill to reopen the government:

“Tonight, the House took decisive action to reopen the federal government and ensure that essential services and paychecks are restored to hardworking federal employees, many of whom continued to serve throughout this shutdown.

This bill delivers a responsible solution that gets Americans back to work. With this funding package passed, it’s time to turn the page and continue to advance America first priorities: strengthening our economy, ensuring energy dominance, securing our borders, supporting our veterans, and fighting for the people of Alaska.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-celebrates-end-of-the-schumer-shutdown,Sullivan Celebrates End of the Schumer Shutdown,2025-11-12,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"Appropriations Legislation Funds Numerous Alaska Projects & Priorities, Including $441 Million in Military Construction

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) thanked his House colleagues who voted tonight on legislation the Senate passed earlier this week to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. On Monday, November 10, Sen. Sullivan voted with 59 of his Senate colleagues for a bipartisan continuing resolution to reopen and fund the federal government through January 30, 2026. Sen. Sullivan previously voted 14 times to keep the government open and to end the shutdown, which was spearheaded by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). The bill also contains military construction and Veterans Affairs funding, legislative branch funding, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding, including for the SNAP program, through the entirety of Fiscal Year 2026.

“For 43 days, thousands of Alaskans and millions of Americans have faced uncertainty about getting paid, putting food on the table, and supporting their families as the longest and most senseless government shutdown in history dragged on,” Senator Sullivan said. “This shutdown was completely avoidable. It was spearheaded by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and congressional Democrats to hold the American people hostage as a means to—in their own words—gain ‘leverage.’ The American people should have never been used as political pawns.

“Thankfully, a bipartisan group of senators who I had been working with for weeks came together to reopen the government and get our essential federal workers paid—from TSA personnel and air traffic controllers to federal law enforcement and our military. The pause on SNAP benefits is over, meaning thousands of Alaskans can once again count on that support to feed their families. The appropriations bills we passed also included significant provisions that will greatly benefit Alaska, bringing hundreds of millions of dollars to our state for military construction, funding our veterans’ care and benefits, and establishing a seafood industry liaison in the Department of Agriculture to advocate for Alaska’s fishermen and coastal communities. I’m thankful the House and the President acted quickly to finish the job and ensure our government reopens. This is an important step forward in getting our country back on track.”

Military Construction:

The bill includes $441 million in military construction funds for Alaska secured by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, much of which was included for authorization by Sen. Sullivan in previous National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) and in this year’s Senate-passed NDAA.

Included in the MILCON funding bill:

$184 million for a barracks at Ft. Wainwright.

$152 million for the Joint Integrated Testing and Training Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER).

$46 million for a Base Supply Complex for the Alaska Air National Guard at JBER.

$45 million to complete the runway extension at JBER.

$7.7 million for the design of a new dining facility at Ft. Wainwright.

$6.7 million for the design of a new base dormitory at Eielson Air Force Base.

Veterans Affairs:

The bill, passed by the House the day after Veterans Day, includes $133.2 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including funds for mental health services for Alaska and the rest of the country, telehealth services, veterans homeless programs, suicide prevention programs, addiction treatment services, and hundreds of millions of dollars for rural health initiatives in Alaska and across the country. Alaska has the highest per capita veteran population in the country.

Seafood Industry Liaison:

Finally, among other important measures for Alaska, the USDA funding portion of the legislation establishes a seafood industry liaison in the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture to advocate for Alaska fishermen; and prohibits federal funds from being used to procure raw or processed seafood from China for USDA nutrition programs.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-lauds-nomination-of-peterson-to-alaskas-federal-bench,Sullivan Lauds Nomination of Peterson to Alaska’s Federal Bench,2025-11-12,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) welcomed President Donald Trump’s announcement of his intent to nominate Aaron Christian Peterson to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Alaska.

“I congratulate Aaron Peterson on being nominated to serve on the federal bench for the District of Alaska. I also want to thank President Trump and his team for working closely with my office and putting forward this outstanding nominee today,” said Sen. Sullivan. “Aaron has extensive legal experience spanning criminal prosecution, natural resources law, and national security. Throughout his career, which includes military service, Aaron has demonstrated a commitment to the rule of law and federalism. He also understands the principle that the job of a federal judge is to interpret the law, not to make policy. I’d like to thank each of the members of the Alaska Federal Judiciary Council, who worked with me to fully vet a number of well-qualified Alaska nominees, including Aaron. The council’s diligent work and input were invaluable in ensuring Alaskans are represented by jurists and citizens of the highest caliber.”

Sen. Sullivan solicited potential applications to fill vacancies on the court through the Alaska Federal Judiciary Council (AFJC), originally convened by Sullivan in 2023 to recommend candidates for federal judgeship vacancies. The council conducted thorough reviews and recommended applicants, including Peterson, to Sen. Sullivan, who then submitted his name, among others, to the White House, which ultimately made the final decision.

Aaron Christian Peterson, of Eagle River, is a born-and-raised Alaskan and U.S. Air Force veteran who currently serves as senior assistant attorney general in the Alaska Department of Law’s (DOL) Natural Resources Section, where he serves as primary litigation counsel on fisheries matters in which the State of Alaska has an interest. Previously, Peterson served as assistant attorney general in the DOL’s Office of Special Prosecutions from 2015 to 2019, prosecuting statewide fish and wildlife crimes. He also served as assistant district attorney in Anchorage from 2012 to 2015, where he handled a wide range of criminal cases. Peterson began his legal career clerking for Alaska Superior Court Judge Michael Spaan from 2010 to 2011. Peterson earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and his Juris Doctor from the Gonzaga University School of Law.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-sen-sullivan-recognizes-service-and-sacrifice-of-americas-veterans,VIDEO: Sen. Sullivan Recognizes Service & Sacrifice of America’s Veterans,2025-11-11,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, released the following video message in recognition of Veterans Day.

Below is a full transcript of Sen. Sullivan’s Veterans Day message.

Greetings, Alaska, from Washington, D.C. on this Veterans Day. Thank you to all Alaskans for supporting our veterans and our military so much.

This is a very important, meaningful day for our whole country, but especially for our state. Patriotism and military service are a huge legacy and heritage of our great state. It literally runs in our DNA. We have more veterans per capita than any state in the country. And, with our big Active Duty and Reserve and Guard forces and their families in Alaska, it is a giant component of who we are.

Today, I want to begin by thanking all the veterans, all who have served our country—of course, our people who are still on Active Duty and Reserve duty, and their families. The families sacrifice so much and don't always get the attention that they deserve.

So, to our veterans, our military, and our families: Thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you have a very meaningful Veterans Day today.

Last year, I retired out of the Marine Corps after 30 years on Active Duty and in the Reserves. I’m wearing my Marine Corps tie here. We are in the shadow of one of the great memorials for our military in Washington, DC, which, of course, is the Marine Corps Memorial, depicting the flag raising at Iwo Jima.

Yesterday, November 10th, was the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. For all the Marines back home in Alaska, Semper Fi. Oorah! Happy 250th birthday. We are proud of the Marines. We view it as the finest fighting force in the world. We're also a little bit proud of the fact that the Marine Corps was actually founded in a bar: Tun Tavern in Philadelphia. I'm digressing, but that is an element of the legacy of the Marine Corps.

But back to our veterans, all veterans. Again, I want to thank you for your legacy, not just in Alaska, but for our nation. Think about this fact: Our military is probably one of the most powerful forces in the world for liberating men and women and children from tyranny and oppression—probably more than any other force. If you think about the Civil War and World War I and World War II, and the Korean War, and yes, our efforts in Vietnam and Iraq, and Afghanistan, which were all noble.

Our military has probably liberated hundreds of millions of people, not just keeping Americans safe, but around the world. No other country can say that, certainly not the dictators like China and the Soviet Union and Russia and Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. But we can. We're an exceptional nation because of our military and our veterans.

So, to all of you, on this important day, one of the most important days of the year, I hope you have a meaningful Veterans Day with you and your families.

To our veterans, know that I serve on the Armed Services Committee and I serve on the Veterans Affairs Committee. If our veterans have any issues at all working with the VA—not getting the benefits that you have earned as an American veteran—call my office, reach out to my team and me. This is one of the most important things we do—fight for our veterans and our military. Please reach out to us.

Enjoy this very important day.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/se,Murkowski Speaks on Vote to Reopen Government,2025-11-10,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC — Following the Senate’s vote on H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extension Act, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement:

""Tonight, I joined my Senate colleagues in voting to begin to reopen the federal government. We have agreed to a broad framework to fund government operations through January 30, pass three appropriations bills, provide back pay for federal workers, reinstate federal employees who were fired during the shutdown, and prevent mass firings for a roughly three-month period. Leader Thune has also agreed to hold a vote on a Democratic proposal to help tax credits that lower the cost of health insurance for Americans no later than the 2nd week in December. As we mark Day 41 of a shutdown that is severely impacting tens of millions of Americans, from missed paychecks to snarled air travel to the loss of SNAP benefits, I hope we are finally seeing light at the end of this truly miserable tunnel.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-statement-on-vote-to-reopen-the-government,Sullivan Statement on Vote to Reopen the Government,2025-11-09,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today released the following statement after voting to advance legislation to reopen and fund the government, as he has done 14 previous times since the end of September. Senate Democrats have, until tonight, prevented the Senate from reaching the 60 votes necessary to advance legislation. Tonight’s vote was the first step in opening the government after 40 days of a shutdown led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Click here to watch Sen. Sullivan’s message.

“I just got off the floor of the Senate voting for the 15th time to reopen our government. This has been the most senseless, unnecessary shutdown I've ever seen, instigated by Senator Schumer,” said Sen. Sullivan. “Way too many people have been hurt—SNAP beneficiaries, people who are required to work to protect us but aren't getting a paycheck. Think about it. It's everybody from Capitol police to air traffic controllers, TSA. But here's the good news: I think we finally have a breakthrough tonight where it looks like we're having the first steps to reopen our government. I've been in discussions with my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats across the aisle, for weeks on getting something moving like this. It's an important night, a good step forward. I hope we can keep the momentum tomorrow morning when we're back in session here in the Senate.”

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-sen-sullivan-reiterates-call-to-end-government-shutdown-on-ktuu,ICYMI: Sen. Sullivan Reiterates Call to End Government Shutdown on KTUU,2025-11-08,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—In an appearance on Alaska’s Political Pipeline on Alaska’s News Source on Thursday, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) again called for his Senate Democratic colleagues to vote for the clean, bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) to open the government in order to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), pay essential federal workers, and end the flight disruptions taking place across the country.

In his interview with Wil Courtney, Sen. Sullivan highlighted the failures of Obamacare—which has driven up Alaska’s already high health care premiums, and reaffirmed his commitment to work with Republicans and Democrats in Congress on potential reforms and extensions of expiring subsidies once the government is reopened.

Click here or the image above to watch the KTUU interview.

The Shutdown is Hurting Alaskans

“Too many people are hurting. Now, you're starting to see care, traffic, travel being disrupted. All of this could be fixed tonight or tomorrow here in the Senate. If we just had eight Democrat senators join the three who have already joined us and vote to reopen the government. That's what the American people want. That's what the vast majority of Alaskans want.”

FAA Flight Reductions “Look, that announcement is a really problematic announcement now, but it's all about safety. You know, we got a briefing on this. I'm on the Commerce Committee that they're doing these reductions in major airports, including Anchorage, including Seattle, because our FAA workers are tired.

They're not getting paid. Again, we've now gone into the longest shutdown in American history. So this is the most unnecessary, useless shutdown I've ever seen in my career here. We have voted now, Wil, 14 times to reopen the government, by the way, a bipartisan vote. The Democrats are voting with us. That would cure all these issues, not just air traffic control and FAA—the delays we're going to start seeing in airports, but SNAP, federal workers not getting paid, it would solve everything.

Then, Wil, you may have seen last week the Senate voted on my bill and Senator Johnson's bill to at least pay federal workers who are required to work like FAA workers, like TSA workers.

Again, bipartisan group of senators, Democrats and Republicans said that we should do that, but you need 60 here in the Senate. Senator Schumer keeps pressuring his Democrat senators not to vote to reopen the government, not to pay federal workers who are working. I'll tell you this, people are hurting. This is not a game.

[…] The Secretary of Transportation and the FAA Administrator today made this announcement and it's based on safety. You have FAA officials who are required to work, of course, who aren't getting paid. Some are coming into work, some are having to go do Uber jobs to get paid. All of this—it's going to delay flights.

There's no doubt airlines are already talking about canceling a certain number of flights. That's going to disrupt travel across America, across Alaska. Let me go back to the point, there's a real easy fix. Vote for the bipartisan, continuing resolution.”

Filibuster “I understand [President Trump’s] frustration. I'm frustrated. He's frustrated because, remember, the filibuster is this fancy word, what it essentially means in the Senate, the rule is that it requires 60 senators to move pretty much anything, with the exception of a few kind of bills.

[…]

We don't have the votes to get rid of that 60 vote rule, to get rid of the filibuster. For Alaskans, that rule has been really important to us. The national Democrats in the Senate, in the House, in the White House, we saw with Joe Biden, and we certainly see with Chuck Schumer their goal is to shut down Alaska.

If we didn't have the filibuster, trust me, Alaska would be one giant national park right now with no economy at all.

[…]

Look what Joe Biden did when he had four years in office. 70 executive orders exclusively focused on Alaska, almost all to undermine our economy, to kill jobs and they did a really good job at killing jobs. So, no, I think that the 60 vote threshold in the US Senate has saved Alaska from being shut down by national Democrats over many, many years.”

SNAP

“All the issues you're talking about, paying our military, paying the air traffic controllers, paying TSA, making sure we have SNAP funds, every single one of these get solved if there was a simple vote to reopen the government, which is what we've been trying to do.

[…]

I voted 14 times for SNAP. I'm going to vote for SNAP tomorrow. I've been voting to reopen the government with Senate Democrats. We’ll have more voting with us tomorrow. The one guy who's making sure SNAP benefits are not getting to Americans is the leader of the Democrat Party in the Senate.

In my view, he's put in politics above the interests of Alaskans. And it's shameful. Never seen anything like it.”

Obamacare Subsidies

“Obamacare, as you've seen, we have [in Alaska] the highest premiums in the country. Obamacare has not worked. The subsidies have driven up these costs. They go directly to the insurance companies. If you remember, the Democrats were the ones who put the end date on subsidies right now. That was their call.

[…]

There's been a lot of fraud in [the marketplace] and I'm working to bring down the health care costs, which are way too high.

[…]

That’s been driven by the failed Obamacare policies. And the cliff that we're talking about right now was put in place by Senate Democrats.

[…]

I am working very diligently on reforms and extensions to these subsidies, and I'm hopeful that we're going to be able to get there. One final thing: Senate Majority Leader Thune, President Trump, the Speaker of the House, they've all said, of course we'll have negotiations on this. Let's open the government. We're holding people as hostages, and let's get those negotiations and discussions going.”

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-votes-again-to-bring-war-powers-resolution-to-senate-floor,Murkowski Votes Again to Bring War Powers Resolution to Senate Floor,2025-11-06,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after her vote on Senate Joint Resolution 90:

“Tonight, I voted to proceed to debate on a resolution that would terminate the escalation of operations—covert, military, economic, or otherwise—against Venezuela without explicit approval from Congress.

“I have been briefed multiple times and reviewed classified documents that provide insight into the administration’s factual justification for these actions. Even with this additional context, I do not believe their case has met the standard of clarity and rigor that Congress needs to fully evaluate the legality and scope of these operations.

“This resolution follows recent reports of U.S. intelligence and military operations in and around Venezuela, which have the potential to disrupt international norms and escalate tensions in the region. After months of lethal strikes in international waters, bringing this resolution to the Senate floor would have allowed Congress to determine whether these actions warrant specific congressional authorization under Article I of the Constitution.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-speaks-on-workforce-development-in-alaska-with-industry-leaders,Murkowski Speaks on Workforce Development in Alaska with Industry Leaders,2025-11-05,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC — During a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions hearing today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) highlighted the importance of “wraparound services” in apprenticeship programs to train Alaska’s workforce. She also asked during the hearing about the versatility of workforce training across the state, and the need for a workforce that can help Alaska build out its all-of-the-above energy strategy.

Click thumbnail above or here to watch Senator Murkowski’s exchange

Rough Transcript

Murkowski: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your contributions here before the committee.

I wasn't here when Senator Baldwin was asking her questions, but we visited outside, and I felt both of us made some pretty good progress with the National Apprenticeship Act that we had worked on in the previous Congress.

One of the things that I had really taken away from the lead up to the introduction of that bill, I reached out to our unions around the state of Alaska, I reached out to those that have apprenticeship programs, and I said, “what's really the big challenge here when it comes to apprenticeships in a state like Alaska that is not only rural, it's really rural.”

And so, one of the things that we heard, and we heard it repeated, was a shortage of what we will call “wraparound services.” It’s everything from childcare. It's everything I need to take care of an aging parent. It's education, it’s housing. It's all the things that go into those barriers that keep someone from completing their apprenticeship training.

And so, I throw this out. You know, you've got shipbuilding here. You've got different interests represented. You've got some of our unions here. Is this an issue beyond just the state of Alaska? Can the federal government be helpful in ensuring that those who have the interest, those that have the talent, are going to be able to participate in some of these programs? Or do you just have to kind of figure it out on your own. And if you're lucky enough to be able to do that.

But if you all can weigh in on that, and I'm not going to identify anybody to go first, whoever wants to weigh in, go ahead.

John Downey, General President, International Union of Operating Engineers: Thank you, Senator. I would just point out two areas I think that the federal government can help, and it's already been discussed today. That would be in the pre-apprenticeship world, where we can attract the younger generation to come into the trades. Somebody had mentioned Job Corps. The IUOE (International Union of Operating Engineers) runs 10 Job Corps centers in the United States. We had 300 graduates last year, and of those 300, we put 40% of those into our apprenticeship programs.

So, I think there's an opportunity there to attract younger people.

Murkowski: Anybody else?

Josh Laney, Vice President of Apprenticeship and Work-Embedded Learning, Competency-Based Education Network: Yes, Senator Murkowski, I would say that Alabama has a lot of similarities there. We are rural, not as rural as Alaska, but we do face some of those same challenges [with] wraparound services, [with] the integration. Registered Apprenticeship is the only program that automatically qualifies for WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), go on the ETPL (Eligible Training Provider List).

The integration of those two things is not effective right now. There's money there. It's too difficult for the employers to access. Many of them would rather just not fool with it, because the juice is not worth the squeeze, as we say. So, we need to work on those integrations of existing programs so that we can take advantage. WIOA is there for those wraparound services. Registered Apprenticeship doesn't need to try to take that on independently, we need to address that with the existing programs.

Brent Booker, General President, Laborers’ International Union of North America: Just to add to that real quick. So, the wraparound services childcare tax credit is helpful to get people to allow to afford childcare where they're gone. We as a union have embraced and embarked upon providing a maternity leave policy for our female laborers who have been working to make sure that they don't have a choice between they or their baby's health and their career that we're going to pay for them while they're out.

And the last thing I would say is to sign a collective bargain agreement. There's no disparity between a man and a woman, race, color, creed, anything like that. When you're working under collective bargaining agreement, your wage is defined in that agreement, and that is a pathway, and a way, to participate.

Murkowski: Let me ask another question. We are a state where we've been very keenly focused on oil production, and that has been our backbone for a while. But we are also a state that recognizes that we've gotten all-of-the-above energy opportunity. But how do we build out that workforce?

So, you've got workers who are very skilled in the oil and gas field, but we also need them to be equally skilled when it comes to wind turbines, solar projects. How do we make sure that you've got this ability to be nimble, between the training programs, again, for what we would say, it's all-of-the-above in the energy world.

Booker: The first thing that we have is the operating engineers at UA (University of Alaska) and the Teamsters have a joint training facility in Fairbanks that is specific to pipeline, 88 acres.

Murkowski: We’re very excited, and very pleased about it.

Booker: I was there! I was there at the end of February, and that's another barrier to work on a pipeline. Go up on the North Slope in February, and that's going to be a barrier to entry as well.

Murkowski: It just proves what your mettle is.

Booker: Yeah, exactly. But you know, you have those training facilities that you do that we jointly train with. You know, our training curriculum is based off of training the labor to be effective in all fields of construction. So a construction craft laborer gets training across industries so that they do have the skill sets they need, whether they're going to work on a pipeline, or whether they're going to work on a wind or a solar farm, they can go back to that school if they need a very specific 20-, 30-, 40-hour class.

But the general registered apprenticeship training that we provide them is that they are a well-rounded in the skilled labor that can perform. They can produce safely, productively and quickly across the industry.

Murkowski: Versatility. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Laney: Can I just say, state apprenticeship agency. State apprenticeship agency. Your people in Alaska are looking at this idea already. That gives you exactly the kind of local control, flexibility to meet that very need that you have, so that you in Alaska can say, “these are our unique challenges with registered apprenticeship program.” That's what we need across the country, every state needs to be in control of their own destiny for these things.

Murkowski: Thank you for adding that.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-sen-sullivan-touts-alaska-lng-progress-on-bloomberg-tv,ICYMI: Sen. Sullivan Touts Alaska LNG Progress on Bloomberg TV,2025-10-31,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—In an appearance on Bloomberg TV’s Balance of Power on Thursday, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) touted the significant progress being made on the Alaska liquified natural gas (LNG) project.

Earlier this week, Tokyo Gas announced letters of intent with Glenfarne, the lead developer of the proposed Alaska LNG project, for purchases of Alaska gas representing 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). This followed a September letter of intent for 1 MTPA from JERA, Japan’s largest power generation company. Additionally, South Korea’s POSCO signed a heads of agreement with Glenfarne in September, signaling a strong demand from America’s Asian allies for a long-term, reliable supply of energy from the U.S. President Trump and senior Trump administration officials continued to promote the project and Alaska energy during their recent trip to Asia.

In the interview, Sullivan noted the Alaska LNG project has already garnered letters of intent from several countries representing more than half of the capacity of the 20 MTPA project.

Sullivan also celebrated the passage of his Congressional Review Act (CRA) legislation overturing the Biden administration’s restrictive 2022 Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) Record of Decision (ROD) for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). The bill passed the Senate on Thursday by a bipartisan vote of 52-45.

Click here or the image above to watch the Bloomberg interview.

Alaska LNG

“I want to just first do a thanks to President Trump. He has been relentless, Joe, on promoting Alaska energy—LNG, oil, critical minerals. We had a huge deal that he announced last week. He and his cabinet have been tremendous supporters of Alaska natural resources.

By the way, that's great for my constituents, but it's really good for America. And it's a huge contrast to the previous administration. Joe Biden issued 70 executive orders and actions singularly focused to shut down Alaska's resource development and economy. John Kerry went overseas to our Asian allies saying, don't buy American LNG, if you can believe that. He did. It's a giant contrast…”

[…] There are a lot of Asian countries that want American LNG from Alaska. It's exciting. It's strategic. It's going to help our country, it's going to help our allies, and it's going to help my state.”

NPR-A “The National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska right now is probably the hottest oil basin in the world. By the way, just on the Senate floor today, we passed my Senate resolution to pull back Biden's shut-down of the NPR-A. Bipartisan, by the way.

We have the capacity. We literally have about 50 to 100 years supply of conventional natural gas on the North Slope. The key is getting this project off the ground, which again, the Trump administration has been great on.

The One Big Beautiful Bill has an energy financing facility that we're going to use to get that done. We got federal loan guarantees in the infrastructure bill for just this project.

I'll tell you this. Right now, Glenfarne, which is the private sector developer of this project, has already subscribed over 50% of the capacity of this project through letters of intent. This is a 20 million metric ton per annum project. There are a lot of countries—Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand—who have already signed up with LOIs.”

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-sullivan-brings-senior-federal-officials-to-storm-ravaged-western-alaska-villages,ICYMI: Sullivan Brings Senior Federal Officials to Storm-Ravaged Western Alaska Villages,2025-10-31,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), along with Alaska state, local and tribal leaders, led a group of senior federal officials to Western Alaska last weekend to survey the villages hardest hit by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. Officials participating in the visit included Eric Ueland, deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget; Karen Evans, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) chief of staff; Kara Voorhies, senior advisor to the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Dillon McGregor, assistant secretary for the DHS Office of Legislative Affairs; Vince Maykovich, FEMA Region 10 administrator; Willie Nunn, FEMA Type 1 federal coordinating officer; Rear Admiral Bob Little, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic District; Captain Christopher Culpepper, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and the U.S. Arctic; and Denise Everhart, American Red Cross Pacific Division disaster executive.

Click here for photos from the delegation’s visit.

“It’s one thing to receive a PowerPoint briefing in D.C. about a disaster taking place thousands of miles away. It’s quite another experience to be on the ground, walking through a devastated community, speaking with the people who’ve lost so much,” said Sen. Sullivan. “That was my objective in bringing senior White House, Homeland Security, FEMA, military and Coast Guard officials to some of the hardest hit villages in Western Alaska last weekend. What we saw was severe, widespread damage to vital infrastructure, airports, boardwalks, homes, and other buildings. But we also saw incredible resilience among the people—Alaskans helping one another in their time of need, clearing debris and making repairs where possible in time for the fast-approaching winter weather. I want to once again commend the Coast Guard, Alaska National Guard, and local crews who conducted the immediate search-and-rescue missions and who continue to move goods and people—including our own delegation—to and from these communities. And, I want to thank the countless local, tribal, non-profit and state leaders who facilitated this important visit, giving me and these officials thorough insights on what these communities have been through and what they will need to recover over the near- and longer-term. Our objective now is to make sure our federal government matches the strength we all saw in Western Alaska with the action, resources, and urgency Alaskans here expect.”

Alaska officials participating in the visit included Natasha Singh, president and CEO of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium; Vivian Korthuis, CEO of the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP); Alaska State Senator Lyman Hoffman; Alaska State Representative Nellie Jimmie; Alaska State Representative Bryce Edgmon; Myron Naneng, Sr., member of the Calista Corporation Board of Directors; Lucy Martin, Native Village of Kwigillingok; Rose “Sugar” Henderson, mayor of the City of Bethel; Dan Winkelman, CEO of the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation; and Major General Torrence Saxe, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard.

The visit follows President Trump’s approval last week of Governor Mike Dunleavy’s (R-Alaska) request for a federal disaster declaration in response to the widespread devastation throughout the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta region. Sen. Sullivan personally asked President Trump to expedite the approval of this emergency declaration, which he did. In addition to approving the governor’s request, President Trump also announced $25 million in disaster relief funding to expeditiously cover initial recovery expenses as the state conducts damage and cost assessments, which will result in further federal relief funds.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-seeks-to-reassert-congressional-power-over-foreign-trade-and-tariffs,Murkowski Seeks to Reassert Congressional Power over Foreign Trade and Tariffs,2025-10-30,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC — This week, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined a majority of her colleagues in voting to reassert congressional authority over foreign trade and to terminate the President’s emergency declarations to place tariffs on Canada, Brazil, and other countries.

This vote series follows Senator Murkowski joining her colleagues in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the Court to affirm lower court rulings that the President’s use of an emergency declaration in this context violates federal law. As outlined in Article I of the Constitution, the authority to “regulate commerce with foreign nations” rests with Congress.

“For too long, Congress has taken a backseat as presidents of both parties have slowly seized more and more power,” Murkowski said. “This series of votes isn’t just about registering the Senate’s disapproval of the President’s emergency declaration on tariffs—it’s about Congress reasserting our authority as a co-equal branch of government with defined powers and responsibilities.”

The measures passed by the Senate this week – S.J.Res. 81, S.J.Res. 77, and S.J.Res 88 – will now be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Background: In April 2025, Senator Murkowski delivered remarks on the Senate floor urging her colleagues to reassert Congress’ constitutional power over foreign trade, including tariffs. Her remarks came after the Senate declined to terminate an emergency declaration from President Trump that was used to justify imposing tariffs on Canada. Senator Murkowski, alongside a bipartisan group of senators, has also introduced the Trade Review Act of 2025—modeled after the War Powers Resolution of 1973—which would reestablish limits on the President’s ability to impose tariffs without congressional approval.

Last week, Senator Murkowski joined her colleagues in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the President’s authority to issue tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The Senators argue that the statute—meant to be invoked in “unusual or extraordinary” circumstances—does not explicitly provide the executive branch with the authority to levy tariffs, rendering the President’s actions unlawful.

This week, the Senate voted on three separate resolutions to terminate the trade emergencies involving Brazil, Canada, and global tariffs more broadly. The measures passed the Senate by bipartisan votes of 52-48, 50-46, and 51-47, respectively.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/senate-nullifies-biden-era-lock-up-of-alaskas-national-petroleum-reserve,Senate Nullifies Biden-era Lock-Up of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve,2025-10-30,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC—The U.S. Senate, by a vote of 52 to 45, today passed Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Biden administration’s restrictive 2022 Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) Record of Decision (ROD) for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A).

The Biden-era NPR-A IAP replaced a 2020 Trump administration plan, closed nearly half of the NPR-A to oil and gas leasing, contradicted Congress’ clear direction in long-standing federal law, and disregarded the strong support of Alaska Native leaders of the region, which relies on responsible development to fund schools, emergency services, and infrastructure. On September 18, Congressman Nick Begich (R-Alaska) introduced a companion CRA resolution in the House. Once approved by the House, the legislation will go to the President’s desk for approval.

Watch Senator Murkowski’s full remarks here.

“In 2022, the Biden administration cut off access to millions of acres in our petroleum reserve and left only 52 percent of it available for potential energy leasing. Even as they relaxed sanctions on the likes of Iran and Venezuela, they ignored the requirements of federal law, the views of North Slope leaders, our history of responsible production, and the need for energy security as they tried to block some of our state’s best opportunities,” Senator Murkowski said. “The passage of this disapproval resolution will help us restore balanced management in the NPR-A, allowing responsible development to occur as we protect sensitive areas and provide for subsistence rights. I credit Senator Sullivan for leading this effort and hope the House will return to session very soon to take up this measure.”

“The Biden administration’s 2022 NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan was one of the most blatant examples of federal overreach we’ve seen in Alaska in decades,” said Senator Sullivan. “This plan effectively locked up about half of the National Petroleum Reserve—an area Congress explicitly set aside for energy production, ignored Alaska Native voices, violated clear congressional intent, and undermined our state’s ability to responsibly develop the resources that support our communities and strengthen our nation. As I said in my remarks on the Senate floor, responsible resource development builds infrastructure, supports communities, creates good-paying jobs, and literally leads to my constituents living longer. I wish more of my Senate Democratic colleagues recognized that truth and found the courage to stand up to the far-left Lower 48 eco-colonialists who are determined to lock up Alaska, kill good-paying jobs, and silence the people who live there. But I do want to thank the majority of my colleagues in the Senate who stood with me, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Begich in passing this resolution—restoring balance, upholding the law, and ensuring Alaska’s resources are managed responsibly for the benefit of our people, our economy, and America’s national security.”

“The Biden Administration tried to lock up Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve under the guise of environmental protection—policies that did nothing but drive up costs, kill jobs, and keep America dependent on foreign energy. This reckless lock-up of the NPR-A ignored both the law and the people who live closest to these resources,” said Congressman Begich. “Responsible development in the NPR-A means good jobs and greater energy security for our nation, and the passage of this joint resolution puts us one step closer to restoring Alaska’s right to responsibly develop our abundant resource potential. I thank Senators Sullivan and Murkowski for their leadership in the Senate on this important issue, and I look forward to advancing this resolution in the House to ensure Alaska’s voice is heard loud and clear.”

The CRA provides Congress an expedited mechanism to overturn certain federal agency rules through a joint resolution of disapproval and forbids the agency from issuing another rule in substantially the same form unless authorized later by law. A joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA is afforded special procedures, bypassing normal Senate rules and allowing for a vote on the Senate floor. If a CRA joint resolution of disapproval is approved by a simple majority in both chambers of Congress and signed by the President—or if Congress successfully overrides a presidential veto—the rule is invalidated.

On March 6, 2025, the Alaska congressional delegation sent a letter to the Comptroller General requesting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issue a decision as to whether the 2022 NPR-A IAP ROD is a rule for the purposes of the Congressional Review Act. On July 24, 2025, the GAO concluded that the 2022 ROD is a rule for the purposes of the CRA because it meets the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) definition of a rule, and no CRA exception applies.

The NPR-A is a region on the North Slope of Alaska first established in 1923 as Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 to serve as an emergency oil reserve for the U.S. Navy. Congress later redesignated the area as the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska in 1976 through the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act (NPRPA) and, subsequently, in 1980 directed the Secretary of the Interior to undertake an “expeditious program of competitive leasing of oil and gas” in the NPR-A.

The delegation’s legislation fulfills the objectives of President Trump’s Day One executive order, “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” which directs the Secretary of the Interior to rescind the Biden-era NPR-A IAP ROD and reestablish management consistent with the first Trump administration’s 2020 NPR-A IAP ROD. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, Congress mandated lease sales be offered in the NPR-A under the same terms and conditions set forth in the 2020 IAP.

Passage of the delegation’s S.J. Res. 80 provides durability against any future administration promulgating a substantially similar anti-development management plan for the NPR-A. The CRA resolution is supported by the Alaska North Slope Regional Trilateral—the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, the North Slope Borough, and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation; the Alaska Support Industry Alliance; the Alaska Oil & Gas Association; the American Petroleum Institute; the American Exploration & Production Council; Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions; and the Trump administration.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-rescinds-biden-era-lock-up-of-alaskas-national-petroleum-reserve,Senate Rescinds Biden-era Lock-Up of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve,2025-10-30,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate, by a vote of 52 to 45, today passed Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski’s (both R-Alaska) joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Biden administration’s restrictive 2022 Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) Record of Decision (ROD) for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A).

The Biden-era NPR-A IAP replaced a 2020 Trump administration plan, closed nearly half of the NPR-A to oil and gas leasing, contradicted Congress’ clear direction in long-standing federal law, and disregarded the strong support of Alaska Native leaders of the region, which relies on responsible development to fund schools, emergency services, and infrastructure. On September 18, Congressman Nick Begich (R-Alaska) introduced a companion CRA resolution in the House. Once approved by the House, the legislation will go to the President’s desk for approval.

“The Biden administration’s 2022 NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan was one of the most blatant examples of federal overreach we’ve seen in Alaska in decades,” said Sen. Sullivan. “This plan effectively locked up about half of the National Petroleum Reserve—an area Congress explicitly set aside for energy production, ignored Alaska Native voices, violated clear congressional intent, and undermined our state’s ability to responsibly develop the resources that support our communities and strengthen our nation. As I said in my remarks on the Senate floor, responsible resource development builds infrastructure, supports communities, creates good-paying jobs, and literally leads to my constituents living longer. I wish more of my Senate Democratic colleagues recognized that truth and found the courage to stand up to the far-left Lower 48 eco-colonialists who are determined to lock up Alaska, kill good-paying jobs, and silence the people who live there. But I do want to thank the majority of my colleagues in the Senate who stood with me, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Begich in passing this resolution—restoring balance, upholding the law, and ensuring Alaska’s resources are managed responsibly for the benefit of our people, our economy, and America’s national security.”

“In 2022, the Biden administration cut off access to millions of acres in our petroleum reserve and left only 52 percent of it available for potential energy leasing. Even as they relaxed sanctions on the likes of Iran and Venezuela, they ignored the requirements of federal law, the views of North Slope leaders, our history of responsible production, and the need for energy security as they tried to block some of our state’s best opportunities,” Sen. Murkowski said. “The passage of this disapproval resolution will help us restore balanced management in the NPR-A, allowing responsible development to occur as we protect sensitive areas and provide for subsistence rights. I credit Senator Sullivan for leading this effort and hope the House will return to session very soon to take up this measure.”

“The Biden Administration tried to lock up Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve under the guise of environmental protection—policies that did nothing but drive up costs, kill jobs, and keep America dependent on foreign energy. This reckless lock-up of the NPR-A ignored both the law and the people who live closest to these resources,” said Congressman Begich. “Responsible development in the NPR-A means good jobs and greater energy security for our nation, and the passage of this joint resolution puts us one step closer to restoring Alaska’s right to responsibly develop our abundant resource potential. I thank Senators Sullivan and Murkowski for their leadership in the Senate on this important issue, and I look forward to advancing this resolution in the House to ensure Alaska’s voice is heard loud and clear.”

The CRA provides Congress an expedited mechanism to overturn certain federal agency rules through a joint resolution of disapproval and forbids the agency from issuing another rule in substantially the same form unless authorized later by law. A joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA is afforded special procedures, bypassing normal Senate rules and allowing for a vote on the Senate floor. If a CRA joint resolution of disapproval is approved by a simple majority in both chambers of Congress and signed by the President—or if Congress successfully overrides a presidential veto—the rule is invalidated.

On March 6, 2025, the Alaska congressional delegation sent a letter to the Comptroller General requesting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issue a decision as to whether the 2022 NPR-A IAP ROD is a rule for the purposes of the Congressional Review Act. On July 24, 2025, the GAO concluded that the 2022 ROD is a rule for the purposes of the CRA because it meets theAdministrative Procedure Act (APA) definition of a rule, and no CRA exception applies.

The NPR-A is a region on the North Slope of Alaska first established in 1923 as Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 to serve as an emergency oil reserve for the U.S. Navy. Congress later redesignated the area as the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska in 1976 through the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act (NPRPA) and, subsequently, in 1980 directed the Secretary of the Interior to undertake an “expeditious program of competitive leasing of oil and gas” in the NPR-A.

The delegation’s legislation fulfills the objectives of President Trump’s Day One executive order, “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” which directs the Secretary of the Interior to rescind the Biden-era NPR-A IAP ROD and reestablish management consistent with the first Trump administration’s 2020 NPR-A IAP ROD. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, Congress mandated lease sales be offered in the NPR-A under the same terms and conditions set forth in the 2020 IAP.

Passage of the delegation’s S.J. Res. 80 provides durability against any future administration promulgating a substantially similar anti-development management plan for the NPR-A. The CRA resolution is supported by the Alaska North Slope Regional Trilateral—the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, the North Slope Borough, and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation; the Alaska Support Industry Alliance; the Alaska Oil & Gas Association; the American Petroleum Institute; the American Exploration & Production Council; Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions; the Resource Development Council for Alaska; the National Federation of Independent Businesses; Americans for Prosperity; and the Trump administration.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-restore-pay-for-capitol-police-during-shutdown,"Murkowski, Colleagues, Introduce Legislation to Restore Pay for Capitol Police During Shutdown",2025-10-29,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) co-sponsored legislation introduced by Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) that would ensure members of the United States Capitol Police, their civilian staff, and essential contractors continue to receive pay during a government shutdown.

“U.S. Capitol Police have continued to serve Congress faithfully throughout this shutdown—and it is we who are letting them down,” said Senator Murkowski. “Our officers and their families should not have to go without pay while we in Congress blame each other for the shutdown impasse. I am immensely grateful for their service and the sacrifices they make daily. The best way we can show them our appreciation is to take care of them as they take care of us.”

The Pay Our Capitol Police Act provides:

Continuing appropriations to pay members of the Capitol Police performing active service.

Pay for civilian employees and contractors who directly support Capitol Police operations.

Automatic coverage during any period in which interim or full-year appropriations are not in effect, retroactive to Oct. 1, 2025.

The bill is effective immediately upon enactment and remains in place until the passage of the next appropriations legislation or Sept. 30, 2026.

Full bill text can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-whitehouse-tillis-and-warner-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-expand-telehealth-access,"Murkowski, Whitehouse, Tillis, and Warner Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Telehealth Access",2025-10-28,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Mark Warner (D-VA) reintroduced the Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services (TREATS) Act. This bipartisan legislation addresses regulatory hurdles to accessing telehealth services for opioid use disorder by making permanent the resources that were made available during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Over 80 percent of our communities are off the road system in Alaska, which often leaves people to fly hundreds of miles to receive care,” said Senator Murkowski. “Expanded access to telehealth services has proven to be critical in meeting people in recovery where they are. This legislation makes permanent patients’ access to these services regardless of where they call home.”

“The opioid epidemic has taken a heartbreaking toll on families in Rhode Island and across the country,” Senator Whitehouse, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a former Rhode Island Attorney General and U.S. Attorney said. “There is a bipartisan commitment in Congress to supporting people who are on the long, noble road of recovery by preserving lifesaving recovery support from the comfort and privacy of home.”

“The opioid epidemic is one of the most pressing public health emergencies of our time,” said Senator Tillis. “During the pandemic, temporary flexibilities allowed life-saving opioid use disorder (OUD) treatments, such as buprenorphine, to be prescribed via telehealth. This bipartisan legislation will permanently allow health care providers to prescribe OUD treatments via telehealth as appropriate, and result in expanded access to treatments that are proven to be effective in treating substance use disorders. As the United States continues to experience an unacceptable number of opioid overdose deaths, we must pursue policies that reduce barriers and increase access to care, and I'm proud to work with my colleagues on the TREATS Act, which does exactly that.”

“Telehealth has become an essential part of patient care, helping providers reach people where they are, especially in rural and underserved communities in Virginia and across the country,” Senator Warner said. “For many, it’s been a literal lifesaver. But the current flexibilities are temporary, and this bipartisan bill would make sure patients can continue accessing the telehealth treatment and resources they rely on.”

Additional cosponsors include Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Fetterman (D-PA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Michael Bennet (D-CO).

Background

In March 2020, early in the Public Health Emergency declared during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) authorized healthcare providers to prescribe medication to treat opioid addiction via audio-only or audio-visual telehealth appointments. This expansion of coverage improved access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), improved retention in care, and reduced risk of overdose. These expanded services are set to expire at the end of the year. This legislation seeks to codify access to these treatment options.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-sullivan-whitehouse-fish-act-to-combat-illegal-foreign-seafood-harvest,Senate Passes Sullivan-Whitehouse FISH Act to Combat Illegal Foreign Seafood Harvest,2025-10-28,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) celebrated the Senate recently passing their Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The FISH Act would combat foreign illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by blacklisting offending vessels from U.S. ports and waters, bolstering the U.S. Coast Guard’s enforcement capabilities and partnerships, and advancing international and bilateral negotiations to achieve enforceable agreements and treaties. The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and John Kennedy (R-La.). House companion legislation has been introduced by Representatives Nick Begich (R-Alaska), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), and Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas).

“The geopolitics of the North Pacific and the Arctic are changing dramatically, with Russia and China increasing their aggression and ruinous activities near Alaska’s waters,” said Sen. Sullivan. “One particularly insidious threat is Chinese and Russian fishing fleets that ignore basic seafood harvest rules and best practices, and ravage fish stocks without regard for any other users or future generations. These gray fleets, which literally utilize slave labor in many cases, are a cancer on fisheries throughout the world and undercut our fishermen, who fish sustainably. I want to thank my Senate colleagues for advancing our FISH Act in the FY 2026 NDAA and helping us fight back against IUU fishing on behalf of our fishermen and coastal communities.”

“I was glad to work with Senator Sullivan, my longtime partner on oceans issues, to secure the inclusion of our bipartisan FISH Act in this year’s Senate-passed NDAA. Our bill cracks down on illegal pirate fishing operations to level the playing field for Rhode Island fishermen and processors who play by the rules, and it will help nurture the fisheries that keep our oceans and coastal communities so healthy and vibrant,” said Sen. Whitehouse, co-founder of the Senate Oceans Caucus.

“Alaska seafood is sold in over 100 countries. Therefore, our fishermen and seafood processors must compete in the challenging global market,” said Jeremy Woodrow, executive director of Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. “U.S. and Alaska seafood is regulated, harvested, and processed under the highest standards. In fact, in many cases, the U.S. sets the global standard. Unfortunately, numerous fisheries across the globe continue to operate illegally and unregulated. When these unchecked seafood products enter the global marketplace, they undercut the value of responsibly produced seafood. This impacts not only the marketplace but drives down the economic returns to Alaska’s fishing communities. Thank you, Senator Sullivan, for addressing this inequity and fighting for fairness on behalf of Alaska’s seafood industry.”

“Thank you, Senator Sullivan, for working to level the playing field for U.S. fishermen,” said Gabriel Prout, 3rd generation commercial fisherman, FV Silver Spray, and president of Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers. “While my family and I are out fishing Alaska crab, we can rest assured that you are working hard to address this problem that has cost Alaska fishermen over a billion dollars over the years.”

“I want to thank Senator Sullivan and Senator Whitehouse for working together to protect Alaska fishermen,” said Matt Alward, president of United Fishermen of Alaska. “Alaska’s seafood sector is facing very serious challenges. Illegal, unreported and unregulated foreign fishing exacerbates these challenges by undercutting lawful and sustainably caught American seafood. I’m grateful that Senator Sullivan is taking the issue seriously and working to crack down on IUU fishing through the FISH Act.”

“Silver Bay Seafoods commends Senator Dan Sullivan for his strong support for Alaska’s fishing industry. Alaska fisheries are highly regulated and sustainably managed,” said Cora Campbell, president and CEO of Silver Bay Seafoods. “This bill increases accountability for countries that do not have the same standards, which will help level the playing field and improve competitiveness of American sourced seafood.”

“Illegal fishing, and the human rights abuses associated with it, puts our oceans and fishers at risk. The United States must be a leader in holding bad actors accountable and leveling the playing field for U.S. fishers,” said Oceana Illegal Fishing & Transparency Campaign Director Dr. Max Valentine. “The FISH Act would help lift the veil on the identities of those involved in these illicit activities. Oceana thanks Sen. Sullivan and Sen. Whitehouse for their dedicated work to fight illegal fishing and protect American fishers and consumers.”

“NFI believes strongly in supporting concrete solutions to stopping and combatting Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing,” said Lisa Wallenda Picard, president & CEO of National Fisheries Institute (NFI). “Where it occurs, IUU fishing harms effective fishery management measures and undercuts harvesters that fish legally and responsibly. NFI applauds Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse for the FISH Act and for understanding that there needs to be a process that targets bad actors where they are, instead of imposing regulatory burdens and costs on American seafood companies. We view the FISH Act as the definitive statute on IUU and look forward to its enactment as part of the NDAA.”

“Illegal fishing practices are uniquely destructive to global fisheries and the billions of people that depend on them,”said Molly Masterton, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “By shedding a light on bad actors who benefit from skirting the law, the FISH Act takes important steps to better enforce against global illegal fishing and associated labor abuses in the seafood sector. Paired with tools to root out illegally harvested seafood from the U.S. market, it will also help level the playing field for U.S. fishing communities who play by the rules.”

The FISH Act builds on prior landmark legislation against IUU fishing, including the Maritime SAFE Act, authored by Senators Wicker and Chris Coons (D-Del.) and signed into law in December 2019 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Key provisions of the FISH Act:

Direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a blacklist of foreign vessels and owners that have engaged in IUU fishing.

Direct the administration to address IUU fishing in any relevant international agreement.

Direct the U.S. Coast Guard to increase its work with partner countries and increase at-sea inspection of foreign vessels suspected of IUU fishing.

Direct the administration to report to Congress on how new technologies can aid in the fight against IUU fishing, the complexities of the seafood trade relationship between Russia and China, and the economic costs of IUU fishing to the U.S.

On April 17, President Trump signed an executive order, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” directing the Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), and Interagency Seafood Trade Task Force to assess seafood competitiveness issues and collectively develop a comprehensive seafood trade strategy. Among these strategies, the USTR will examine the relevant trade practices of major seafood-producing nations, including IUU fishing and the use of forced labor in the seafood supply chain.

On April 30, the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee unanimously passed the FISH Act from committee. On June 12, Sen. Sullivan, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries, chaired a hearing on the threat of foreign IUU fishing to America’s and Alaska’s fishermen and coastal communities.

Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse have worked together extensively on ocean sustainability issues, most notably on the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive legislation ever to address the global marine debris crisis, which became law in 2020.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-chairs-commerce-hearing-on-reviving-commercial-us-navy-shipbuilding,"Sullivan Chairs Commerce Hearing on Reviving Commercial, U.S. Navy Shipbuilding",2025-10-28,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today chaired a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries which examined how to modernize and accelerate U.S. commercial and Navy shipbuilding while strengthening America’s broader maritime industrial base. In his opening remarks and questions of witnesses, Sen. Sullivan focused on the current crisis in U.S. shipbuilding and the national security risks of having China, America’s chief adversary, accounting for nearly half of all global vessel production. Sen. Sullivan highlighted the Trump administration’s commitment to working with Congress to revive American shipbuilding, specifically President Trump’s “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance” executive order, signed on April 9, 2025, and the historic tens of billions of dollars of investments being made in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard in the recent budget reconciliation bill.

Click here to watch the full hearing.

“The state of America's commercial shipbuilding industry is not just an economic concern. It is a national security imperative that we have let slide for way too long. The scale of the challenge we face today is real. It's urgent. I would say it's daunting,” said Sen. Sullivan. “The United States builds less than one percent of the world's commercial ships. Meanwhile, our adversary, China, alone accounts for nearly half of global production, backed by state planning, subsidies and, as always, coercive trade practices. This is not just an economic statistic. It is a dire warning. Maritime power is directly tied to our ability to project influence, support our Navy, mobilize sealift, sustain commerce, and ensure resilient supply chains in times of crisis.”

The subcommittee heard from several expert witnesses, including Matt Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America; Jeff Vogel, vice president of legal for TOTE Services; Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano, professor at Campbell University; and Tuuli Snow, talent acquisition & engagement manager at Snow & Company, Inc.

Below is the full transcript of Sen. Sullivan’s opening remarks as delivered.

This subcommittee examines how to modernize, accelerate U.S. commercial shipbuilding, which, of course, will have an impact on our Navy's shipbuilding while strengthening America's broader maritime industrial base as a foundation for economic security and national security.

This hearing could not be more timely. The state of America's commercial shipbuilding industry is not just an economic concern. It is a national security imperative that we have let slide for way too long. The scale of the challenge we face today is real. It's urgent. I would say it's daunting. The United States builds less than one percent of the world's commercial ships. Meanwhile, our adversary, China, alone accounts for nearly half of global production, backed by state planning, subsidies and, as always, coercive trade practices. This is not just an economic statistic. It is a dire warning. Maritime power is directly tied to our ability to project influence, support our Navy, mobilize sealift, sustain commerce, and ensure resilient supply chains in times of crisis.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the great state of Alaska. Key economic pillars of my state—the U.S. military, mining, fisheries, oil and gas, tourism—are all dependent on maritime transportation to move goods, resources, ammunition, and people. Alaska's remoteness, dependance on sea trade, and strategic position between the Pacific and Arctic theaters underscore the need to ensure stable, American controlled supply routes connecting the continental United States with its territories and its noncontiguous states—my colleague from Hawaii, I think, would agree with that—and to avoid reliance on foreign vessels for domestic and territorial trade, especially given Alaska's proximity to major foreign powers across the North Pacific.

We've seen what America can do when it chooses to lead. During World War II, as vividly captured in Arthur Herman's Freedom's Forge, we transformed from a nation unprepared for war into the world's industrial powerhouse, outbuilding our adversaries and our allies combined. We can do this. We've done it before. That shipbuilding surge didn't happen because we were forced into it. It happened because we chose to meet the moment with purpose, coordination and urgency.

That's why the Trump administration's executive order on Restoring America's Maritime Dominance is so important. It acknowledges that this is not a problem of isolated shipyards or fragmented markets. It is a national strategic challenge. I look forward to reviewing the forthcoming Maritime Action Plan from the administration, which is due next month. It will lay out the policies, investments and reforms needed to restore U.S. shipbuilding competitiveness and secure our maritime future.

[There are] three things that I think are critical for success in this town: White House leadership, appropriated dollars, and legislative action that is bipartisan. I think that we have the beginnings of all three of these on shipbuilding. Certainly, Congress has begun to act. The budget reconciliation bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill, has made historic investments in the Navy and shipbuilding—over $25 billion in the Coast Guard—over $25 billion—authorizing multiple destroyers, submarine oilers, and nearly $9 billion in new Arctic icebreakers. These investments are not only critical to national defense—they also provide steady demand signals to shipyards, suppliers and workers across the country.

We are also seeing important bipartisan momentum through legislation, such as the SHIPS for America Act. I don't know if Senator Kelly's still here. There he is. Senator Young, I'm sure, will be here. The two lead co-sponsors of that. I am a co-sponsor of [the SHIPS Act], which recognizes the revitalization of U.S. commercial shipbuilding must be a whole of nation effort. This legislation aims to strengthen domestic production capacity, incentivize innovation, and ensure that our industrial base can compete globally while advancing national security goals.

But more money won't alone solve the problem. We need smarter procurement systems—ones that reward performance, improve accountability, and avoid the delays and cost overruns that have plagued far too many federal programs. New approaches to contracting and digital integration are showing promise. We should build on that progress and replicate it across ship types and agencies—commercial and the U.S. Navy.

Finally, this is, most importantly, in my view, about people. Welders, naval architects, mariners, engineers and apprentices. Revitalizing America's shipbuilding means investing in a workforce that can design, build, and sail the ships for tomorrow. It means restoring the American maritime trades as a source of good jobs and national pride throughout communities across our great nation.

In that regard, I do want to mention to my colleagues, I certainly hope that, when we vote for the CR once again at 11:30, we get enough Democrats to just reopen the darn government. Enough is enough. The big federal government union came out and said to support this. This impacts shipbuilding. This impacts FEMA.

I was back home over the weekend. We had a big typhoon. We have tons of people in the federal government right now working without pay. Enough is enough. So reopen the government. We’ll negotiate on subsidies. I think many of you know, Senator Schumer has bent the knee to the far left.

Let's reopen the government and get these workers who build our ships in public yards paid as well.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-calls-on-colleagues-to-stay-in-dc-work-to-end-shutdown,"Murkowski Calls on Colleagues to Stay in DC, Work to End Shutdown",2025-10-27,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC — Today, on day 27 of the federal shutdown, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) called for the Senate to remain in Washington, DC for as long as it takes to reach agreement to reopen the government. During her remarks on the Senate floor, Murkowski read messages she has received from Alaskans impacted by the shutdown and expressed her frustration with the lack of progress being made on both sides of the aisle to end the stalemate.

Watch Senator Murkowski’s full remarks here.

Rough Transcript

Murkowski: Madam President, we are in day 27 of a government shutdown. 27 days where the government is shutdown.

Yet, we are here, you are presiding, there are pages on the floor, there are people in the gallery, there are people coming and going, we’ve got Capitol Hill Police in the area, and it just feels like business as usual. We’re going to have committee hearings this week, we’re going to be voting on judges and some CRAs, and it just kind of feels like business as usual.

And yet it is so not business as usual. We’re pretending that everything is okay.

We’re pretending that people are not being impacted by this shutdown.

I’m looking at the people that are here recording this, that will be working to process this vote. None of them are getting paid.

The Capitol Hill Police, that I visit with on a daily basis outside and inside, are not getting paid.

And they share with me, “Well, I still had to drive in, I’ve got a forty-minute drive to get here, so I’ve got to fill up my car. I have kids at home, young kids, and so they go to childcare… so I’ve still got to pay the childcare provider… my expenses are not going away.”

And yet every single one of them says, “I’m not complaining. I’m not complaining. I’ve signed up for this, this is my mission, and I will be here.”

And they’re proud to be here.

But what is wrong is that their families are stressed.

I was talking with one Capitol Hill police officer on Thursday of last week, and he said, “Every day I go home, and my wife says, ‘So? Did they open it up? Are we going to be paid?’”

And he said, “And I tell her nope, no progress today.”

And so, we’re starting to feel that. Because people who would otherwise be saying “I signed up for this, I’m not going to complain, I’m just going to what I’m going to do.”

But we’re starting to feel this in real time. It’s having an impact, not only financially, but I fear from a mental health perspective.

We had a call come in yesterday…actually today. And this is a person calling in from Fairbanks. And she said, “It’s getting chilly in Fairbanks. I woke up to a $2,500 bill for heating oil. Normally, this wouldn’t be that big of a problem for me, but I’m a federal employee. I love my job, but it’s been very frustrating to have constant threats of shutdowns and RIFs looming over my head. I work hard. I’m so tired of being labeled as one who’s not working hard. I’d first like to propose that Congress doesn’t get paid while we aren’t getting paid, and maybe take fewer long weekends.”

Well, I would let her know that for many of us, we have deferred our pay. It’s not right that our staff should not get paid and yet we get paid.

But she raises a good point. She says, “Maybe, we in Congress should take fewer long weekends.”

I think she is right.

We left here Thursday afternoon, members are just now coming back, we’ll have our first vote here at 5:30pm.

And in the meantime, people have done important stuff. We have important jobs. We go home; we do important things. And maybe we are able to carve out a little time to be with our families as well and try to have that balance.

But for some, they still had to come in this weekend. Some of those Capitol Hill Police Officers had to come in this weekend to keep this place moving.

Some of the folks who are here to provide services to the building had to come in this weekend, and they weren’t getting paid.

And so, I think the suggestion about us, maybe taking fewer long weekends, is something that not only we should consider, but I’m going to challenge this body.

I got a long commute home, folks. I’m not begrudging that. But I don’t think we should be going home and just behaving as if this was another week in the United States Senate. Not when we have a government shutdown.

There is so much that is coming at us like a freight train.

Little kids are excited because Friday is going to be Halloween. Let me tell you, the scary costumes on Halloween night are going to be the scariest thing. It’s going to be what is delivered, what’s left on the doorstep the next morning, November 1, when it then becomes official SNAP payments will not be processed. Will not be available for the 66,000 in Alaska who rely on those food benefits.

The WIC payments – the Women, Infant, and Children payments, those too will be impacted.

It is a reality for us that we are seeing an impact across our society in ways that are not only scary, but overwhelming, for some.

We had a pretty tough week-and-a-half with a major disaster – thank you to the President for declaring that Presidential disaster following ex-Typhoon Halong.

But I can tell you that those that are reliant on SNAP benefits are increasingly stressed because of what they have just gone through with displacement within their homes. And now, it’s across the whole state. And our food banks are stressed. We were stressed going into the beginning of winter already, we keep in close touch with our food banks.

But what I’m hearing is that we are already hearing the lines at the food bank growing longer. And, what is hard to hard to see, is knowing how many military families are part of those lines.

Now, Madam President, this is simply not right.

Now we may have what we call a “rifle-shot” votes this week, maybe we will take up again that will pay all the federal workers.

Maybe there will be a way that the military, who has been paid up until the end of this month, we will be able to make that next pay increment. I certainly hope so.

And not just our military, but our U.S. Coast Guard, and those that are in law enforcement.

Maybe there is going to be a vote that will allow us to pay our Capitol Police, I’ve signed on to that bipartisan measure.

Maybe there is going to be a vote for us to pay out the SNAP benefits, I’ve signed on to that legislation as well.

Maybe, but maybe not.

And again, if we do take the rifle-shot approach, who else are we leaving behind. What have we done for the men and women who make sure when we go through those airports [we’re safe], the TSA, what have we done to make sure that our air traffic controllers that are keeping us safe in the skies, that their wives aren’t yelling at the end of the long, stressful day, saying, “When is this going to end!”

So, we have got to figure this out.

And I know that we have our positions.

And if people don’t know what the Republican positions are and what the Democrat positions are, they haven’t been listening to this discussion for the past twenty-seven days. We know what it is.

We have got to come together, which means we’ve got to talk to one another.

And it can’t be about Republicans winning and Democrats losing. Or Democrats winning and Republicans losing.

Because right now, right now, those that are losing are the American people.

Those that are calling us up and saying, “Social Security hasn’t released my survivors benefit after my husband’s death.” Sorry, you’re just going to have to wait.

A fellow in Petersburg was told that his telehealth appointment with his cardiologist was cancelled because of the lapse in the authorization in telehealth benefits.

And so, they basically said, “If you want to keep this appointment, you’re going to have to fly to Seattle.”

Those of you know that know Alaska know that Petersburg and Seattle are not connected by a road and it’s not cheap.

A couple in Anchorage said they’ve been waiting on an approval from the FDA on a compassion-use exception for a medication to treat Stage IV Ovarian Cancer. And now, they’re told, “Just hold on, the government’s not operational right now.”

We have a lot in our maritime community, and in order for them to be lawfully on the water, they need have to have their licensed renewed through the new Merchant Mariner Credentialing. That’s on hold.

We’ve got a housing situation in Sitka, and we’ve got an Army Corps permit for the Housing Authority that’s been delayed. We can’t figure that one out.

We’re talking to people trying to get an SBA loan, a local business owner in downtown [Anchorage].

The school district in Sleetmute, they have been waiting to get the Impact Aid emergency construction dollars so that they can repair this roof that is literally falling down in the back of the school. And they’re told, “There’s nobody here to take your call, because the government is not open.”

So, for those that think this is not that big of a deal, they need to start asking people. Not only people who are federal employees. Not only people who are SNAP recipients.

They need to be asking people about some of the day-to-day, matter of fact things that happen when you have a small business, or you’re trying to get your fishing vessel out in the water.

Real Alaskans are being impacted. And real Alabamans are being impacted. Americans are being impacted when we don’t do our job.

And maybe this idea that we don’t go home this weekend until we resolve this, maybe it doesn’t work. Maybe we just look at each other and say, “I’m not going to talk to you.”

Maybe we just continue on with multiple rounds of the same vote we’ve been taking for the last twenty-seven days and see if we get a different result.

Now, some say that’s the definition of insanity. I don’t know.

But what I do know is that when we leave and we assume that things are fine, or we send that message that things are fine because we’ve just gone home, and it’s just business as usual here, then people whose lives are really being impacted right now, they think we don’t get it.

We do get it, we need to act to end the shutdown, and I’m going to call on all of my colleagues to stay here until we get it done.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-cosponsors-bill-to-avoid-snap-interruption-during-government-shutdown,Murkowski Cosponsors Bill to Avoid SNAP Interruption During Government Shutdown,2025-10-27,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has cosponsored legislation to ensure that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit payments continue uninterrupted should the government shutdown persist past October.

With the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) posting notice on its website stating that SNAP benefits will not be distributed on November 1 in the absence of a Continuing Resolution (CR) or appropriations bills, Senator Josh Hawley’s (R-MO) Keep SNAP Funded Act would specifically appropriate funds to direct USDA to continue benefits without interruption.

“It is unacceptable that Alaskans are anxiously watching as the shutdown impasse continues, unsure if they’ll be able to receive their SNAP benefits by the end of the week,” said Senator Murkowski. “Over 66,000 Alaskans rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table, and this legislation will ensure that these benefits aren’t interrupted.”

“Needy families in Missouri should not be going hungry because a bunch of politicians in DC can't figure out how to open the government,” said Senator Hawley. “650,000 people in Missouri depend on help when it comes to the price of food and groceries. I don't want to see these folks go without food. I hope everybody will support this legislation.”

In addition to Senators Murkowski and Hawley, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), James Lankford (R-OK), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-schiff-introduce-doenasa-research-bill-strengthening-us-energy-and-space-innovation,"Sullivan, Schiff Introduce DOE–NASA Research Bill Strengthening U.S. Energy and Space Innovation",2025-10-24,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) yesterday introduced the DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act to strengthen collaboration between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The bill encourages both agencies to share research, technology, and data—an effort designed to accelerate American innovation in science, energy, and space exploration.

“Alaska is where space and energy meet,” Senator Sullivan said. “We’re home to world-class launch facilities in Kodiak and leading micro-grid research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks—some of the most advanced in the country. This bill helps ensure our state’s scientists, engineers, and students are part of the national mission to explore, innovate, and power the future. The Department of Energy brings unmatched research labs and supercomputing capabilities. NASA brings world-leading space expertise. When they work together, it’s good for America—and it’s great for Alaska. I want to thank Rep. Begich for leading this effort in the House and look forward to working with Senator Schiff and our colleagues in the Senate to pass this legislation.”

“The partnership between the DOE and NASA is essential for the future development of scientific and energy innovations,” Senator Schiff said. “I am proud to join Senator Sullivan and Representatives Begich and Whitesides in ensuring both agencies can collaborate to promote and contribute to a variety of programs, including wildfire mitigation — something that is critical to communities in California.”

The legislation authorizes DOE and NASA to formalize their partnership and focus on joint research in areas such as advanced computing, energy storage, materials science, and space-based observation. Representatives Nick Begich (R-Alaska) and George Whitesides (D-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the House.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/delegation-celebrates-series-interior-announcements-alaska-day,Delegation Celebrates Series of Interior  Announcements for Alaska Day,2025-10-23,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC— U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, U.S. Congressman Nick Begich, and Governor Mike Dunleavy, all R-Alaska, today participated in an “Alaska Day” ceremony at the U.S. Department of the Interior with Secretary Doug Burgum. Secretary Burgum announced a series of administrative actions, including the signing of three land allotments for Alaska Native veterans, the restoration of the Coastal Plain oil and gas program, the reinstatement of key permits for the Ambler Access Project, and a land exchange agreement to facilitate a life-saving road for the isolated community of King Cove, Alaska.

Watch the full event here.

“Thank you to Secretary Burgum and his team for their significant efforts on these Alaska priorities. I appreciate the finalization of several Native allotments, while recognizing we need to extend that program. It is great to see the reinstatement of permits for Ambler that should have never been revoked in the first place, and the restoration of a Coastal Plain program that reflects federal law,” Murkowski said. “I’m also truly grateful that Secretary Burgum has added his name to the bipartisan list of Secretaries who have listened to the good people of King Cove and chose to help them. I’m hopeful this land exchange agreement will finally deliver a life-saving road for this predominantly Alaska Native community—delivering them from a seemingly never-ending federal cycle and providing them with reliable access to the all-weather airport in nearby Cold Bay. After decades of dangerous medevacs and terrible crashes that have cost human lives, it is past time to ensure that their health, safety, and quality of life is fully protected.”

“Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum has been in office for nine months and I can easily say he's been the best Secretary of Interior for Alaska in American history,” said Sen. Sullivan. “The contrast with the previous administration could not be clearer. Working closely with the Trump administration, we are rapidly checking off each of the Biden administration’s egregious 70 executive orders and actions that locked up Alaska and hurt our economy. From pushing through a land exchange for the long-sought life-saving road for residents of King Cove, to reopening the entire ANWR Coastal Plain to leasing, to reauthorizing the Ambler Access Project leading to a major deposit of critical minerals, to finalizing allotments for our courageous Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans after a decades-long fight, Secretary Burgum and the Trump administration are listening to Alaskans and delivering for our communities. These actions aren’t just important for economic opportunity for Alaska’s working families—the ability to access our lands and responsibly develop our resources is directly related the livelihoods and well-being of Alaskans. That might be the most important legacy of Secretary Burgum and President Trump in Alaska.”

“Today’s event at the Department of the Interior was a clear example of the strong partnership between the Trump Administration and Alaska. I want to thank Secretary Burgum, President Trump, and the entire Department of the Interior team for their steadfast commitment to Alaska. Today’s actions mark a turning point - proof that when the federal government works with Alaska, not against it, we can deliver real results for the people of our great state”, said Congressman Begich. “From honoring Alaska Native veterans through long-overdue land allotments, to authorizing the Ambler Access project and restoring the Coastal Plain program in ANWR, to finally securing the life-saving road to King Cove, this Administration is demonstrating that Alaska’s potential is America’s strength. These decisions unlock our resource potential and ensure that Alaska remains at the center of our nation’s strategic future.”

“From day one, President Trump directed us to unlock Alaska’s energy and resource potential while honoring commitments to the state and local communities,” said Secretary Burgum. “By reopening the Coastal Plain and advancing key infrastructure, we are strengthening energy independence, creating jobs and supporting Alaska’s communities while driving economic growth across the state.”

“Today’s announcements are historic for Alaska. President Trump and his administration are delivering on promises made to Alaska,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. “The land transfer for the King Cove Road will save lives, economic opportunities will be unlocked in the Ambler Mining District and ANWR’s Coastal Plain, and Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans will finally receive land allotments they were promised.”

More information about today’s announcements is below.

Alaska Native Allotments: The Alaska Native Vietnam-Era Veterans Land Allotment Program was established through a Sullivan-Murkowski provision in Murkowski’s 2019 lands package. The program has enabled thousands of Alaska Native veterans to apply for their rightful land allotments, which can range from 2.5 to 160 acres, on certain Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Alaska.

Secretary Burgum today announced the certification of three new allotments. With hundreds of applications still pending, and over one thousand more veterans or heirs eligible for allotments, the delegation is seeking to extend the program for five years. They are also seeking to open non-wilderness Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service lands for selection near eligible individuals’ homes and ancestral homelands.

Under current law, the deadline for allotment applications is December 29, 2025.

Coastal Plain: In 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), opening the non-wilderness Coastal Plain to responsible energy development. This 1.57-million-acre expanse is projected to be America’s largest untapped conventional oil and gas field. It is also known as the 1002 Area after the provision of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act that set it aside for potential future development.

TCJA limited development on the Coastal Plain to no more than 2,000 federal acres. In 2020, BLM’s Record of Decision included dozens of lease stipulations and required operating procedures to further ensure protection of the natural environment. Multiple leases were awarded through a lease sale held in January 2021. After taking office, President Biden and his administration ignored the law to suspend the program, revoke all leases, and arbitrarily restrict leasing to just 26 percent of the 1002 Area—even as they simultaneously reduced sanctions on Iran, Venezuela, and others to enable them to increase their energy production.

Secretary Burgum has now reversed the Biden administration’s unlawful actions and restored the previous Trump administration’s Record of Decision for the Coastal Plain program. In addition to being sound policy, this will facilitate a provision in the FY 2025 budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1, PL 119-21) requiring at least four lease sales area-wide on the Coastal Plain over the next 10 years. Congress required those sales to be conducted in accordance with the 2020 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and ROD that Secretary Burgum reinstated today.

Ambler Access Project: The Ambler Access Project will provide surface transportation access to the Ambler Mining District in central Alaska and enable the domestic development of critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, gallium, and germanium. The U.S. depends heavily on foreign nations for many of the minerals within the Ambler District, including several for which China has threatened to cut off U.S. supplies.

Congress spoke on the Ambler Access Project decades ago. ANILCA established a right-of-way and guaranteed access across federal land by stating that the Secretary of the Interior “shall permit” a road “from the Ambler Mining District to the Alaska Pipeline Haul Road.” That provision was included in ANILCA to ensure balance between conservation—the creation of the surrounding 8.4-million-acre Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve—and responsible resource development to benefit Alaska and the nation.

The previous Trump administration fully approved the Ambler Access Project and issued permits for it in 2020. Despite that, the Biden administration sought a voluntary court remand in 2022 to conduct a Supplemental EIS, and last year rejected the project in its entirety—again ignoring the law and greatly exaggerating its potential impacts to justify selection of a “no action” alternative.

On October 6, 2025, President Trump overturned that politically motivated project denial through a process provided for under Section 1106 of ANILCA. As part of his determination re-approving the project, President Trump directed federal agencies to re-issue and reinstate relevant permits within 30 days. Secretary Burgum announced today that the National Park Service, BLM, and Army Corps of Engineers have now done so.

King Cove: The remote Aleut community of King Cove is located between two volcanic peaks near the end of the Alaska Peninsula, about 625 miles southwest of Anchorage. The small gravel airstrip in King Cove is typically closed by bad weather for more than 100 days each year. Many of the flights not canceled are impacted or delayed by wind, turbulence, fog, rain, or snow squalls. By comparison, the federally-constructed, all-weather airport in Cold Bay, which is less than 30 miles away from King Cove, has one of the longest runways in the state and is closed an average of 10 days per year. Marine travel between the two communities is no easier, as local conditions often generate heavy seas with waves that can top twelve feet or more.

In 2009, Alaska’s congressional delegation secured the approval of legislation to facilitate a land exchange and life-saving road for King Cove. However, then-Secretary Jewell rejected that exchange on December 23, 2013, heartlessly declaring that it was not in the public interest.

Since then, the residents of King Cove have endured well over 200 emergency medevacs. Most occurred in dangerous weather conditions. Many had to be carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard, risking the lives of crews and patients alike and coming at significant expense to U.S. taxpayers.

The equal-value agreement with the King Cove Corporation that Secretary Burgum announced today will result in the net expansion of the Izembek refuge, clearly adding to its conservation and subsistence values. Under the agreement, Interior will receive or maintain roughly 14 times more land than it gives up.

Recent Secretaries Zinke, Bernhardt, and Haaland have also understood the need for a life-saving road for King Cove and supported land exchange agreements to facilitate it. When complete, this short road will connect two existing roads that already exist inside and outside of the refuge.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/delegation-celebrates-series-of-interior-announcements-for-alaska-day,Delegation Celebrates Series of Interior Announcements for Alaska Day,2025-10-23,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC— U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, U.S. Congressman Nick Begich, and Governor Mike Dunleavy, all R-Alaska, today participated in an “Alaska Day” ceremony at the U.S. Department of the Interior with Secretary Doug Burgum. Secretary Burgum announced a series of administrative actions, including the signing of three land allotments for Alaska Native veterans, the restoration of the Coastal Plain oil and gas program, the reinstatement of key permits for the Ambler Access Project, and a land exchange agreement to facilitate a life-saving road for the isolated community of King Cove, Alaska.

Watch the full event here.

“Thank you to Secretary Burgum and his team for their significant efforts on these Alaska priorities. I appreciate the finalization of several Native allotments, while recognizing we need to extend that program. It is great to see the reinstatement of permits for Ambler that should have never been revoked in the first place, and the restoration of a Coastal Plain program that reflects federal law,” Murkowski said. “I’m also truly grateful that Secretary Burgum has added his name to the bipartisan list of Secretaries who have listened to the good people of King Cove and chose to help them. I’m hopeful this land exchange agreement will finally deliver a life-saving road for this predominantly Alaska Native community—delivering them from a seemingly never-ending federal cycle and providing them with reliable access to the all-weather airport in nearby Cold Bay. After decades of dangerous medevacs and terrible crashes that have cost human lives, it is past time to ensure that their health, safety, and quality of life is fully protected.”

Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum has been in office for nine months and I can easily say he's been the best Secretary of Interior for Alaska in American history,” said Sen. Sullivan. “The contrast with the previous administration could not be clearer. Working closely with the Trump administration, we are rapidly checking off each of the Biden administration’s egregious 70 executive orders and actions that locked up Alaska and hurt our economy. From pushing through a land exchange for the long-sought life-saving road for residents of King Cove, to reopening the entire ANWR Coastal Plain to leasing, to reauthorizing the Ambler Access Project leading to a major deposit of critical minerals, to finalizing allotments for our courageous Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans’ after a decades-long fight, Secretary Burgum and the Trump administration are listening to Alaskans and delivering for our communities. These actions aren’t just important for economic opportunity for Alaska’s working families—the ability to access our lands and responsibly develop our resources is directly related the livelihoods and well-being of Alaskans. That might be the most important legacy of Secretary Burgum and President Trump in Alaska.”

“Today’s event at the Department of the Interior was a clear example of the strong partnership between the Trump Administration and Alaska. I want to thank Secretary Burgum, President Trump, and the entire Department of the Interior team for their steadfast commitment to Alaska. Today’s actions mark a turning point - proof that when the federal government works with Alaska, not against it, we can deliver real results for the people of our great state”, said Congressman Begich. “From honoring Alaska Native veterans through long-overdue land allotments, to authorizing the Ambler Access project and restoring the Coastal Plain program in ANWR, to finally securing the life-saving road to King Cove, this Administration is demonstrating that Alaska’s potential is America’s strength. These decisions unlock our resource potential and ensure that Alaska remains at the center of our nation’s strategic future.”

“From day one, President Trump directed us to unlock Alaska’s energy and resource potential while honoring commitments to the state and local communities,” said Secretary Burgum. “By reopening the Coastal Plain and advancing key infrastructure, we are strengthening energy independence, creating jobs and supporting Alaska’s communities while driving economic growth across the state.”

“Today’s announcements are historic for Alaska. President Trump and his administration are delivering on promises made to Alaska,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. “The land transfer for the King Cove Road will save lives, economic opportunities will be unlocked in the Ambler Mining District and ANWR’s Coastal Plain, and Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans will finally receive land allotments they were promised.”

More information about today’s announcements is below.

Alaska Native Allotments: The Alaska Native Vietnam-Era Veterans Land Allotment Program was established through a Sullivan-Murkowski provision in Murkowski’s 2019 lands package. The program has enabled thousands of Alaska Native veterans to apply for their rightful land allotments, which can range from 2.5 to 160 acres, on certain Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Alaska.

Secretary Burgum today announced the certification of three new allotments. With hundreds of applications still pending, and over one thousand more veterans or heirs eligible for allotments, the delegation is seeking to extend the program for five years. They are also seeking to open non-wilderness Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service lands for selection near eligible individuals’ homes and ancestral homelands.

Under current law, the deadline for allotment applications is December 29, 2025.

Coastal Plain: In 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), opening the non-wilderness Coastal Plain to responsible energy development. This 1.57-million-acre expanse is projected to be America’s largest untapped conventional oil and gas field. It is also known as the 1002 Area after the provision of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act that set it aside for potential future development.

TCJA limited development on the Coastal Plain to no more than 2,000 federal acres. In 2020, BLM’s Record of Decision included dozens of lease stipulations and required operating procedures to further ensure protection of the natural environment. Multiple leases were awarded through a lease sale held in January 2021. After taking office, President Biden and his administration ignored the law to suspend the program, revoke all leases, and arbitrarily restrict leasing to just 26 percent of the 1002 Area—even as they simultaneously reduced sanctions on Iran, Venezuela, and others to enable them to increase their energy production.

Secretary Burgum has now reversed the Biden administration’s unlawful actions and restored the previous Trump administration’s Record of Decision for the Coastal Plain program. In addition to being sound policy, this will facilitate a provision in the FY 2025 budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1, PL 119-21) requiring at least four lease sales area-wide on the Coastal Plain over the next 10 years. Congress required those sales to be conducted in accordance with the 2020 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and ROD that Secretary Burgum reinstated today.

Ambler Access Project: The Ambler Access Project will provide surface transportation access to the Ambler Mining District in central Alaska and enable the domestic development of critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, gallium, and germanium. The U.S. depends heavily on foreign nations for many of the minerals within the Ambler District, including several for which China has threatened to cut off U.S. supplies.

Congress spoke on the Ambler Access Project decades ago. ANILCA established a right-of-way and guaranteed access across federal land by stating that the Secretary of the Interior “shall permit” a road “from the Ambler Mining District to the Alaska Pipeline Haul Road.” That provision was included in ANILCA to ensure balance between conservation—the creation of the surrounding 8.4-million-acre Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve—and responsible resource development to benefit Alaska and the nation.

The previous Trump administration fully approved the Ambler Access Project and issued permits for it in 2020. Despite that, the Biden administration sought a voluntary court remand in 2022 to conduct a Supplemental EIS, and last year rejected the project in its entirety—again ignoring the law and greatly exaggerating its potential impacts to justify selection of a “no action” alternative.

On October 6, 2025, President Trump overturned that politically motivated project denial through a process provided for under Section 1106 of ANILCA. As part of his determination re-approving the project, President Trump directed federal agencies to re-issue and reinstate relevant permits within 30 days. Secretary Burgum announced today that the National Park Service, BLM, and Army Corps of Engineers have now done so.

King Cove: The remote Aleut community of King Cove is located between two volcanic peaks near the end of the Alaska Peninsula, about 625 miles southwest of Anchorage. The small gravel airstrip in King Cove is typically closed by bad weather for more than 100 days each year. Many of the flights not canceled are impacted or delayed by wind, turbulence, fog, rain, or snow squalls. By comparison, the federally-constructed, all-weather airport in Cold Bay, which is less than 30 miles away from King Cove, has one of the longest runways in the state and is closed an average of 10 days per year. Marine travel between the two communities is no easier, as local conditions often generate heavy seas with waves that can top twelve feet or more.

In 2009, Alaska’s congressional delegation secured the approval of legislation to facilitate a land exchange and life-saving road for King Cove. However, then-Secretary Jewell rejected that exchange on December 23, 2013, heartlessly declaring that it was not in the public interest.

Since then, the residents of King Cove have endured well over 200 emergency medevacs. Most occurred in dangerous weather conditions. Many had to be carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard, risking the lives of crews and patients alike and coming at significant expense to U.S. taxpayers.

The equal-value agreement with the King Cove Corporation that Secretary Burgum announced today will result in the net expansion of the Izembek refuge, clearly adding to its conservation and subsistence values. Under the agreement, Interior will receive or maintain roughly 14 times more land than it gives up.

Recent Secretaries Zinke, Bernhardt, and Haaland have also understood the need for a life-saving road for King Cove and supported land exchange agreements to facilitate it. When complete, this short road will connect two existing roads that already exist inside and outside of the refuge.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/delegation-celebrates-series-of-interior-announcements-for-alaska-day,Delegation Celebrates Series of Interior Announcements for Alaska Day,2025-10-23,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, U.S. Congressman Nick Begich, and Governor Mike Dunleavy, all R-Alaska, today participated in an “Alaska Day” ceremony at the U.S. Department of the Interior with Secretary Doug Burgum. Secretary Burgum announced a series of administrative actions, including the signing of three land allotments for Alaska Native veterans, the restoration of the Coastal Plain oil and gas program, the reinstatement of key permits for the Ambler Access Project, and a land exchange agreement to facilitate a life-saving road for the isolated community of King Cove, Alaska

""Thank you to Secretary Burgum and his team for their significant efforts on these Alaska priorities. I appreciate the finalization of several Native allotments, while recognizing we need to extend that program. It is great to see the reinstatement of permits for Ambler that should have never been revoked in the first place, and the restoration of a Coastal Plain program that reflects federal law,” Murkowski said. “I’m also truly grateful that Secretary Burgum has added his name to the bipartisan list of Secretaries who have listened to the good people of King Cove and chose to help them. I’m hopeful this land exchange agreement will finally deliver a life-saving road for this predominantly Alaska Native community—delivering them from a seemingly never-ending federal cycle and providing them with reliable access to the all-weather airport in nearby Cold Bay. After decades of dangerous medevacs and terrible crashes that have cost human lives, it is past time to ensure that their health, safety, and quality of life is fully protected.”

“Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum has been in office for nine months and I can easily say he's been the best Secretary of Interior for Alaska in American history,” said Sen. Sullivan. “The contrast with the previous administration could not be clearer. Working closely with the Trump administration, we are rapidly checking off each of the Biden administration’s egregious 70 executive orders and actions that locked up Alaska and hurt our economy. From pushing through a land exchange for the long-sought life-saving road for residents of King Cove, to reopening the entire ANWR Coastal Plain to leasing, to reauthorizing the Ambler Access Project leading to a major deposit of critical minerals, to finalizing allotments for our courageous Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans after a decades-long fight, Secretary Burgum and the Trump administration are listening to Alaskans and delivering for our communities. These actions aren’t just important for economic opportunity for Alaska’s working families—the ability to access our lands and responsibly develop our resources is directly related the livelihoods and well-being of Alaskans. That might be the most important legacy of Secretary Burgum and President Trump in Alaska.”

“Today’s event at the Department of the Interior was a clear example of the strong partnership between the Trump Administration and Alaska. I want to thank Secretary Burgum, President Trump, and the entire Department of the Interior team for their steadfast commitment to Alaska. Today’s actions mark a turning point - proof that when the federal government works with Alaska, not against it, we can deliver real results for the people of our great state”, said Congressman Begich. “From honoring Alaska Native veterans through long-overdue land allotments, to authorizing the Ambler Access project and restoring the Coastal Plain program in ANWR, to finally securing the life-saving road to King Cove, this Administration is demonstrating that Alaska’s potential is America’s strength. These decisions unlock our resource potential and ensure that Alaska remains at the center of our nation’s strategic future.”

“From day one, President Trump directed us to unlock Alaska’s energy and resource potential while honoring commitments to the state and local communities,” said Secretary Burgum. “By reopening the Coastal Plain and advancing key infrastructure, we are strengthening energy independence, creating jobs and supporting Alaska’s communities while driving economic growth across the state.”

“Today’s announcements are historic for Alaska. President Trump and his administration are delivering on promises made to Alaska,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. “The land transfer for the King Cove Road will save lives, economic opportunities will be unlocked in the Ambler Mining District and ANWR’s Coastal Plain, and Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans will finally receive land allotments they were promised.”

More information about today’s announcements is below.

Alaska Native Allotments: The Alaska Native Vietnam-Era Veterans Land Allotment Program was established through a Sullivan-Murkowski provision in Murkowski’s 2019 lands package. The program has enabled thousands of Alaska Native veterans to apply for their rightful land allotments, which can range from 2.5 to 160 acres, on certain Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Alaska.

Secretary Burgum today announced the certification of three new allotments. With hundreds of applications still pending, and over one thousand more veterans or heirs eligible for allotments, the delegation is seeking to extend the program for five years. They are also seeking to open non-wilderness Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service lands for selection near eligible individuals’ homes and ancestral homelands.

Under current law, the deadline for allotment applications is December 29, 2025.

Coastal Plain: In 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), opening the non-wilderness Coastal Plain to responsible energy development. This 1.57-million-acre expanse is projected to be America’s largest untapped conventional oil and gas field. It is also known as the 1002 Area after the provision of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act that set it aside for potential future development.

TCJA limited development on the Coastal Plain to no more than 2,000 federal acres. In 2020, BLM’s Record of Decision included dozens of lease stipulations and required operating procedures to further ensure protection of the natural environment. Multiple leases were awarded through a lease sale held in January 2021. After taking office, President Biden and his administration ignored the law to suspend the program, revoke all leases, and arbitrarily restrict leasing to just 26 percent of the 1002 Area—even as they simultaneously reduced sanctions on Iran, Venezuela, and others to enable them to increase their energy production.

Secretary Burgum has now reversed the Biden administration’s unlawful actions and restored the previous Trump administration’s Record of Decision for the Coastal Plain program. In addition to being sound policy, this will facilitate a provision in the FY 2025 budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1, PL 119-21) requiring at least four lease sales area-wide on the Coastal Plain over the next 10 years. Congress required those sales to be conducted in accordance with the 2020 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and ROD that Secretary Burgum reinstated today.

Ambler Access Project: The Ambler Access Project will provide surface transportation access to the Ambler Mining District in central Alaska and enable the domestic development of critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, gallium, and germanium. The U.S. depends heavily on foreign nations for many of the minerals within the Ambler District, including several for which China has threatened to cut off U.S. supplies.

Congress spoke on the Ambler Access Project decades ago. ANILCA established a right-of-way and guaranteed access across federal land by stating that the Secretary of the Interior “shall permit” a road “from the Ambler Mining District to the Alaska Pipeline Haul Road.” That provision was included in ANILCA to ensure balance between conservation—the creation of the surrounding 8.4-million-acre Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve—and responsible resource development to benefit Alaska and the nation.

The previous Trump administration fully approved the Ambler Access Project and issued permits for it in 2020. Despite that, the Biden administration sought a voluntary court remand in 2022 to conduct a Supplemental EIS, and last year rejected the project in its entirety—again ignoring the law and greatly exaggerating its potential impacts to justify selection of a “no action” alternative.

On October 6, 2025, President Trump overturned that politically motivated project denial through a process provided for under Section 1106 of ANILCA. As part of his determination re-approving the project, President Trump directed federal agencies to re-issue and reinstate relevant permits within 30 days. Secretary Burgum announced today that the National Park Service, BLM, and Army Corps of Engineers have now done so.

King Cove: The remote Aleut community of King Cove is located between two volcanic peaks near the end of the Alaska Peninsula, about 625 miles southwest of Anchorage. The small gravel airstrip in King Cove is typically closed by bad weather for more than 100 days each year. Many of the flights not canceled are impacted or delayed by wind, turbulence, fog, rain, or snow squalls. By comparison, the federally-constructed, all-weather airport in Cold Bay, which is less than 30 miles away from King Cove, has one of the longest runways in the state and is closed an average of 10 days per year. Marine travel between the two communities is no easier, as local conditions often generate heavy seas with waves that can top twelve feet or more.

In 2009, Alaska’s congressional delegation secured the approval of legislation to facilitate a land exchange and life-saving road for King Cove. However, then-Secretary Jewell rejected that exchange on December 23, 2013, heartlessly declaring that it was not in the public interest.

Since then, the residents of King Cove have endured well over 200 emergency medevacs. Most occurred in dangerous weather conditions. Many had to be carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard, risking the lives of crews and patients alike and coming at significant expense to U.S. taxpayers.

The equal-value agreement with the King Cove Corporation that Secretary Burgum announced today will result in the net expansion of the Izembek refuge, clearly adding to its conservation and subsistence values. Under the agreement, Interior will receive or maintain roughly 14 times more land than it gives up.

Recent Secretaries Zinke, Bernhardt, and Haaland have also understood the need for a life-saving road for King Cove and supported land exchange agreements to facilitate it. When complete, this short road will connect two existing roads that already exist inside and outside of the refuge.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-democrats-block-bill-to-pay-federal-workers-during-schumer-shutdown,Senate Democrats Block Bill to Pay Federal Workers During Schumer Shutdown,2025-10-23,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), an original cosponsor of the Shutdown Fairness Act, urged his Democratic colleagues in the Senate to support the legislation today before they voted to block it. The Shutdown Fairness Act, introduced by Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) and cosponsored by Senator Sullivan, would guarantee pay for essential federal employees who are required to work during a government shutdown. These include Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel, air traffic controllers, members of the military, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and other federal law enforcement officers.

The bill failed to reach the necessary 60-vote threshold to advance. In a procedural move, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) voted no in order to be able to bring the bill up again for consideration.

Click here or video above to watch Sullivan’s remarks.

“I have a bill with Senator Johnson of Wisconsin that we're getting ready to vote on here in the Senate,” said Sen. Sullivan in a video released today ahead of the vote on the Shutdown Fairness Act. “I'm hoping it's going to break this logjam of this very unnecessary shutdown. It's day 23 of the Schumer shutdown. We're starting to hear some really interesting language from Democrat leaders here in the Congress. Senator Schumer recently said “every day” of this shutdown “gets better for us.” Who's us? I don't know who “us” is. The deputy whip over there in the House, somebody named Clark—not sure who the heck she is, but she recently said, of course “families are going to suffer, but it's the only way we get leverage.” Who's we? I don't know, but it's certainly not Alaskans. I'll tell you who it's really not. It's not federal workers who are required to go to work without getting paid. So that's what my bill is going to do. Today, my bill is going to say, if you're a federal worker—think about it, Capitol Police; look at these great heroes—they're required to work. They're not getting paid. ICE, air traffic control, TSA, all these great Alaskans, all these great Americans, they're required to work, let alone the Marines and the Army and the Navy. They're required to work during the Schumer shutdown. They're not getting paid. My bill simply says, if you're required to work during a shutdown, you should get paid. Everybody should be for that. Everybody should be for that. So hopefully that's going to break the logjam here in the United States Senate.

“But, look, when Schumer and this woman Clark—I don't know who she is—says we're benefiting, “we,” because of a shutdown is hurting millions of families, I think the jig is up. This is a partisan shutdown. The only reason they're doing it is because they're scared of the far-left of their party. Come on, let's open the government. Vote for my bill, Senator Johnson's bill. Pay the people who are working, for goodness sake. Let's compromise on that. Let's get this government open.”

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/alaska-delegation-applauds-president-trumps-approval-federal-disaster,Alaska Delegation Applauds President Trump’s Approval of Federal Disaster Declaration for Western Alaska,2025-10-22,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON— U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today thanked President Donald Trump for swiftly approving Governor Mike Dunleavy’s (R-Alaska) request for a federal disaster declaration in response to the widespread devastation caused by the remnants of Typhoon Halong across Western Alaska, particularly throughout the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta region. President Trump also announced an initial $25 million in disaster relief funding to expeditiously cover initial recovery expenses as the state conducts damage and cost assessments, which will result in further federal relief funds.

The declaration will enable federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to deploy additional resources to support recovery and rebuilding efforts. This announcement follows a letter sent to President Trump last Friday by the Alaska congressional delegation pressing for a federal disaster declaration and highlighting the swift and coordinated efforts of Alaska’s first responders, tribal governments, and state emergency personnel.

“I want to sincerely thank President Trump for promptly approving the Governor’s request for a federal disaster declaration,” Senator Sullivan said. “Yesterday, I spoke directly with the President about the devastating situation across Western Alaska and this Emergency Declaration. This swift approval means critical federal resources can now begin flowing to communities across the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta that were hit hard by Typhoon Halong’s remnants. Thousands of Alaskans have lost homes, businesses, personal property, and essential infrastructure—fuel storage sites, runways, and utilities—as winter approaches. I plan on being in Western Alaska this weekend with top FEMA and DHS officials, and my team and I will continue working closely with the Trump administration and our state, local, and tribal partners to make sure these incredible Alaskans get the help they need to recover and return to their communities.”

“I raised Alaska’s disaster declaration directly with President Trump yesterday at the White House and thank him for quickly approving it to ensure impacted western communities have federal support in the wake of Typhoon Halong,” said Senator Murkowski. “I also appreciate FEMA’s expedited review of this request, which is one of the quickest federal responses in recent years. To all Alaskans impacted, please know that your congressional delegation, state, and nation stand united and will continue to coordinate recovery efforts as you move forward.”

“President Trump’s swift approval of the disaster declaration will bring critical federal resources to families and communities across Western Alaska and ensure that federal resources will be deployed quickly to help these families restore their homes and repair vital infrastructure,” said Congressman Begich. “When I visited Western Alaska last month, I witnessed firsthand the strength and resiliency of Alaskans in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region. I’m grateful for the strong partnership among our federal, state, and local teams to assist those in need. Our focus as a delegation remains on ensuring every Alaskan family impacted by this storm receives the resources and support needed throughout the long process of rebuilding their lives.”

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/alaska-delegation-applauds-president-trumps-approval-of-federal-disaster-declaration-for-western-alaska,Alaska Delegation Applauds President Trump’s Approval of Federal Disaster Declaration for Western Alaska,2025-10-22,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"WASHINGTON— U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today thanked President Donald Trump for swiftly approving Governor Mike Dunleavy’s (R-Alaska) request for a federal disaster declaration in response to the widespread devastation caused by the remnants of Typhoon Halong across Western Alaska, particularly throughout the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta region. President Trump also announced an initial $25 million in disaster relief funding to expeditiously cover initial recovery expenses as the state conducts damage and cost assessments, which will result in further federal relief funds.

The declaration will enable federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to deploy additional resources to support recovery and rebuilding efforts. This announcement follows a letter sent to President Trump last Friday by the Alaska congressional delegation pressing for a federal disaster declaration and highlighting the swift and coordinated efforts of Alaska’s first responders, tribal governments, and state emergency personnel.

“I raised Alaska’s disaster declaration directly with President Trump yesterday at the White House and thank him for quickly approving it to ensure impacted western communities have federal support in the wake of Typhoon Halong,” said Senator Murkowski. “I also appreciate FEMA’s expedited review of this request, which is one of the quickest federal responses in recent years. To all Alaskans impacted, please know that your congressional delegation, state, and nation stand united and will continue to coordinate recovery efforts as you move forward.”

“I want to sincerely thank President Trump for promptly approving the Governor’s request for a federal disaster declaration,” Senator Sullivan said. “Yesterday, I spoke directly with the President about the devastating situation across Western Alaska and this Emergency Declaration. This swift approval means critical federal resources can now begin flowing to communities across the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta that were hit hard by Typhoon Halong’s remnants. Thousands of Alaskans have lost homes, businesses, personal property, and essential infrastructure—fuel storage sites, runways, and utilities—as winter approaches. I plan on being in Western Alaska this weekend with top FEMA and DHS officials, and my team and I will continue working closely with the Trump administration and our state, local, and tribal partners to make sure these incredible Alaskans get the help they need to recover and return to their communities.”

“President Trump’s swift approval of the disaster declaration will bring critical federal resources to families and communities across Western Alaska and ensure that federal resources will be deployed quickly to help these families restore their homes and repair vital infrastructure,” said Congressman Begich. “When I visited Western Alaska last month, I witnessed firsthand the strength and resiliency of Alaskans in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region. I’m grateful for the strong partnership among our federal, state, and local teams to assist those in need. Our focus as a delegation remains on ensuring every Alaskan family impacted by this storm receives the resources and support needed throughout the long process of rebuilding their lives.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/senate-commerce-advances-bill-to-reauthorize-the-young-fishermens-development-program,Senate Commerce Advances Bill to Reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Program,2025-10-22,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee yesterday advanced bipartisan legislation—introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan and Lissa Murkowski (both R-Alaska), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) in July—to reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Program. The program, first authorized in law in 2021 for five years, seeks to mitigate the challenges and hurdles facing the next generation of entrants into the fishing industry. The senators’ legislation would authorize $2 million annually through FY 2031 to support regional training opportunities and apprenticeship programs to support individuals building their early careers in the fishing industry.

“The Young Fisherman’s Development Act has helped the next generation of fishermen access the resources they need to keep Alaska seafood on America’s table,” said Sen. Murkowski. “By reauthorizing this legislation, we’re providing more young Alaskans with hands-on training and financial resources to reduce the high barriers of entry that prevent the next generation from grabbing the helm. I thank Senator Sullivan for guiding this bill through committee and will continue working alongside my colleagues to bring this to the Senate floor.”

“The Young Fishermen’s Development Program is the only federal program providing competitive funding to educate and train young fishermen and to prepare them for success in the fishing sector, which is critically important to Alaska’s economy and our coastal communities,” said Sen. Sullivan. “Over the past four years, this vital program has delivered on its mandate—helping to lower costs and barriers to entering the industry, expanding training opportunities, and empowering our fishermen to continue sustainably harvesting our world-class seafood. I thank my committee colleagues for standing with our fishermen and advancing this bill to strengthen our fleets and America’s seafood industry.”

“The Young Fisherman’s Development Program ensures that we adequately support future generations of young fishermen in Massachusetts and in coastal communities across the nation,” said Sen. Markey. “The fishing industry is a critical part of the Bay State’s economy, but its barriers to entry are higher than ever. We must stand by the young men and women looking to build their careers by providing them with training and resources that allow them to get out on the water and feed the nation. I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating the advancement of our reauthorization bill and look forward to bolstering future generations of fishermen from coast to coast.”

“The fishing industry is crucial to the economic success of coastal Mississippi,” said Sen. Wicker. “The Young Fishermen’s Development Act encourages future generations of anglers to take advantage of opportunities to perfect their skills. Fishermen of all ages should have the resources to be successful.”

Fishing employs more individuals than any other industry in Alaska. However, barriers—such as high costs to enter a fishery, financial risk, and limited entry-level opportunities—make it difficult for young men and women to gain access to the fishing industry.

Specifically, this legislation would:

• Provide training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen entering the industry.

• Authorize competitive grants to support new and established local and regional training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen, including programs, workshops, and fishing related services.

• Authorize $2 million annually for program funding through FY 2031.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-applauds-president-trumps-approval-of-federal-disaster-declaration-for-western-alaska,Alaska Delegation Applauds President Trump’s Approval of Federal Disaster Declaration for Western Alaska,2025-10-22,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON— U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today thanked President Donald Trump for swiftly approving Governor Mike Dunleavy’s (R-Alaska) request for a federal disaster declaration in response to the widespread devastation caused by the remnants of Typhoon Halong across Western Alaska, particularly throughout the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta region. President Trump also announced an initial $25 million in disaster relief funding to expeditiously cover initial recovery expenses as the state conducts damage and cost assessments, which will result in further federal relief funds.

The declaration will enable federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to deploy additional resources to support recovery and rebuilding efforts. This announcement follows a letter sent to President Trump last Friday by the Alaska congressional delegation pressing for a federal disaster declaration and highlighting the swift and coordinated efforts of Alaska’s first responders, tribal governments, and state emergency personnel.

“I want to sincerely thank President Trump for promptly approving the Governor’s request for a federal disaster declaration,” Senator Sullivan said. “Yesterday, I spoke directly with the President about the devastating situation across Western Alaska and this Emergency Declaration. This swift approval means critical federal resources can now begin flowing to communities across the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta that were hit hard by Typhoon Halong’s remnants. Thousands of Alaskans have lost homes, businesses, personal property, and essential infrastructure—fuel storage sites, runways, and utilities—as winter approaches. I plan on being in Western Alaska this weekend with top FEMA and DHS officials, and my team and I will continue working closely with the Trump administration and our state, local, and tribal partners to make sure these incredible Alaskans get the help they need to recover and return to their communities.”

“I raised Alaska’s disaster declaration directly with President Trump yesterday at the White House and thank him for quickly approving it to ensure impacted western communities have federal support in the wake of Typhoon Halong,” said Senator Murkowski. “I also appreciate FEMA’s expedited review of this request, which is one of the quickest federal responses in recent years. To all Alaskans impacted, please know that your congressional delegation, state, and nation stand united and will continue to coordinate recovery efforts as you move forward.”

“President Trump’s swift approval of the disaster declaration will bring critical federal resources to families and communities across Western Alaska and ensure that federal resources will be deployed quickly to help these families restore their homes and repair vital infrastructure,” said Congressman Begich. “When I visited Western Alaska last month, I witnessed firsthand the strength and resiliency of Alaskans in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region. I’m grateful for the strong partnership among our federal, state, and local teams to assist those in need. Our focus as a delegation remains on ensuring every Alaskan family impacted by this storm receives the resources and support needed throughout the long process of rebuilding their lives.”

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/coast-guard-authorization-advances-in-fy-2026-ndaa-with-sullivans-alaska-priorities,Coast Guard Authorization Advances in FY 2026 NDAA with Sullivan’s Alaska Priorities,2025-10-22,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Coast Guard, Maritime and Fisheries Subcommittee, celebrated the Senate’s recent passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which incorporates the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2026. The legislation includes 14 provisions authored by Sen. Sullivan, many focused specifically on Alaska, and authorizes $14.8 billion in funding for the Coast Guard for FY 2025 and $15.5 billion for FY 2026.

“My colleagues on the Commerce Committee and I have crafted a strong Coast Guard bill that builds on the historic $25 billion investment in the Coast Guard that I championed in the budget reconciliation bill we passed this summer—the largest investment in the Coast Guard in U.S. history. With these investments, our country is making great strides in fulfilling our commitment to this branch of the U.S. military with the support, funding and attention the Coast Guard deserves,” Sen. Sullivan said. “As America’s only state with Arctic territory and with more coastline than the entire Lower 48 combined, Alaska is critical to the Coast Guard’s missions in defense of our nation. The Coast Guard serves an indispensable role in our state, defending our waters and ensuring the safety of Alaskans, a fact we were all reminded of witnessing the numerous search-and-rescue missions conducted and lives saved in Western Alaska in the aftermath of Typhoon Halong. From expanded travel privileges for our Alaska-based Coast Guardsmen to visit home, to additional funds for local infrastructure projects, this Coast Guard authorization builds upon the strong relationship between Alaska’s communities and our Alaska-based Coast Guard and will help our service members support their families and fulfill their many critical missions in the Last Frontier.”

This Coast Guard authorization will support:

Coast Guard Missions and Infrastructure

Accountability on Homeporting Projects: Requires the Coast Guard commandant to submit an annual report on the status of all cutter homeporting projects in Alaska, specifically for Fast Response Cutters, Offshore Patrol Cutters, and the newly acquired icebreaker, Storis, which will be homeported in Juneau. The goal is to provide transparency, support congressional oversight, and ensure timely progress on these strategically important assets, which are critical to national security and Arctic operations in Alaska, particularly in Kodiak, Seward, Sitka, and Juneau, where the Coast Guard maintains or plans to expand its operational presence. The bill also requires regular reports on the Coast Guard’s efforts to establish a forward operating base in St. Paul.

Expands Affordable Housing Opportunities: Allows the Coast Guard to acquire housing that is available on the market and in new housing construction programs. This is particularly important in areas where it’s hard for Coast Guard families to find affordable, quality housing. This bill also expands the Coast Guard's ability to enter into long-term leases for medical facilities, child development centers and training facilities, reducing administrative expenses and allowing for additional improvements to these facilities.

Coast Guardsmen in Alaska

Dutch Harbor Dependents: Authorizes personnel stationed at Dutch Harbor in Alaska to now bring their families with them on the assignment.

Travel Allowance: Expands travel benefits for any members stationed in Alaska to be able to visit their families in other states more frequently.

Travel Impacts: Requires the Coast Guard to study and report on how ferry travel affects members during permanent station moves, official travel, or commuting.

Incentive Program for Coast Guard Civilian Firefighters: Authorizes the Coast Guard to offer recruitment, relocation, and retention bonuses to civilian firefighters serving at remote Coast Guard fire departments. The goal is to attract and retain qualified personnel in these hard-to-fill positions.

Maritime Safety

Bering Strait Vessel Traffic: Directs a study of current and projected ship traffic in the Bering Strait over the next 10 years, and evaluates whether ports in Point Spencer, Nome, and Kotzebue have adequate infrastructure and emergency response capabilities. As vessel traffic grows with retreating Arctic ice, the study will help identify gaps and guide investments to protect Alaska communities, the environment, and U.S. national security.

Supports the Commercial Fishing Industry: Continues to authorize the use of a satellite tracking system to mark fishing equipment locations, which ensures commercial fishing gear is not lost and avoids potential damage by derelict gear. It also supports fishing vessels engaging in temporary towing operations as part of salmon hatchery management in Alaska.

Tribes and Natural Resources

Creates the First-Ever Tribal Advisor: Creates a new civilian employee position within the Coast Guard to advise the commandant and other Coast Guard leadership on tribal affairs, such as government-to-government consultation, pollution response, fisheries enforcement, and other matters important to tribes.

Collaboration with Tribes on Research: Requires the commandant to identify potential collaborations and use of indigenous place-based knowledge and research to support Coast Guard mission needs in the Arctic.

North Pacific Research Board: Adds a new seat on the North Pacific Research Board specifically to represent Alaska Native people. The North Pacific Research Board oversees and funds scientific research focused on the North Pacific Ocean, including fisheries and ecosystem health. Adding this seat ensures that the perspectives and traditional knowledge of Alaska Native communities are included in decision-making, promoting more inclusive and culturally informed management of marine resources that directly affect their livelihoods and environment.

# # #

Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-commerce-advances-bill-to-reauthorize-the-young-fishermens-development-program,Senate Commerce Advances Bill to Reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Program,2025-10-22,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee yesterday advanced bipartisan legislation—introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in July—to reauthorize the Young Fishermen’s Development Program. The program, first authorized in law in 2021 for five years, seeks to mitigate the challenges and hurdles facing the next generation of entrants into the fishing industry. The senators’ legislation would authorize $2 million annually through FY 2031 to support regional training opportunities and apprenticeship programs to support individuals building their early careers in the fishing industry.

“The Young Fishermen’s Development Program is the only federal program providing competitive funding to educate and train young fishermen and to prepare them for success in the fishing sector, which is critically important to Alaska’s economy and our coastal communities,” said Sen. Sullivan. “Over the past four years, this vital program has delivered on its mandate—helping to lower costs and barriers to entering the industry, expanding training opportunities, and empowering our fishermen to continue sustainably harvesting our world-class seafood. I thank my committee colleagues for standing with our fishermen and advancing this bill to strengthen our fleets and America’s seafood industry.”

“The Young Fisherman’s Development Program ensures that we adequately support future generations of young fishermen in Massachusetts and in coastal communities across the nation,” said Sen. Markey. “The fishing industry is a critical part of the Bay State’s economy, but its barriers to entry are higher than ever. We must stand by the young men and women looking to build their careers by providing them with training and resources that allow them to get out on the water and feed the nation. I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating the advancement of our reauthorization bill and look forward to bolstering future generations of fishermen from coast to coast.”

“The fishing industry is crucial to the economic success of coastal Mississippi,” said Sen. Wicker. “The Young Fishermen’s Development Act encourages future generations of anglers to take advantage of opportunities to perfect their skills. Fishermen of all ages should have the resources to be successful.”

“The Young Fisherman’s Development Act has helped the next generation of fishermen access the resources they need to keep Alaska seafood on America’s table,” said Sen. Murkowski. “By reauthorizing this legislation, we’re providing more young Alaskans with hands-on training and financial resources to reduce the high barriers of entry that prevent the next generation from grabbing the helm. I thank Senator Sullivan for guiding this bill through committee and will continue working alongside my colleagues to bring this to the Senate floor.”

Fishing employs more individuals than any other industry in Alaska. However, barriers—such as high costs to enter a fishery, financial risk, and limited entry-level opportunities—make it difficult for young men and women to gain access to the fishing industry.

Specifically, this legislation would:

Provide training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen entering the industry.

Authorize competitive grants to support new and established local and regional training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen, including programs, workshops, and fishing related services.

Authorize $2 million annually for program funding through FY 2031.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-speaks-at-alaska-federation-of-natives-convention,Murkowski Speaks at Alaska Federation of Natives Convention,2025-10-21,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Anchorage, AK — Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) addressed the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) at their annual convention in Anchorage, Alaska. The AFN Convention “serves as the principal forum and voice for the Alaska Native community in addressing critical issues of public policy and government.” This year’s theme was “Standing Strong, Standing United.”

Click here to watch Senator Murkowski’s remarks, shared with permission from AFN

Senator Murkowski – Remarks As Delivered

Gunalchéesh. Thank you, Ana. Thank you for the introduction, but better than the introduction, just thank you for the friendship over the years. Thank you for your 12 years of leadership here at AFN as co-chair. They have been remarkable, and I am so grateful for that.

We have had strong leaders. We will continue to have strong leaders. I want to congratulate Gayla Hoseth on her election to that very important role. To Joe, to Ben, to the full AFN board, thank you again for the opportunity to be back with you.

I'm just really full right now. Full like a good Thanksgiving, where there has been comfort. And that comfort and that feeling of Thanksgiving comes from the morning that I've just spent downstairs. So many hugs, so many selfies, lots of pictures, but just the warmth that I receive here that is like no other place, maybe the Ted Stevens International Airport when I'm moving in between flights and I see many of you, and we have those same hugs.

I share this because I am truly grateful for the support and the encouragement that I received from so many of you.

I stood right here, I think, right exactly in this spot just five days ago. It was the beginning of Elders and Youth, and now I am here. At Elders and Youth, I think I was one of the first speakers, and now I'm your wrap up, so I feel like I'm bookending an incredible week here in Anchorage.

At Elders and Youth, I was looking out at this extraordinarily beautiful medley of young people and elders, it was this blend of energy and optimism that the youth presents, sitting alongside the wisdom and the guidance that is earned over so many years.

They say it was the largest gathering of Elders and Youth. But I tell you, it was not just the size, it was the hope that I felt as I looked across that room. And there was a table of young people from Kwigillingok, and I went over to speak to them, because, of course, Kwig has been impacted so horribly as a result of this storm. We were talking, and I was asking how everyone was doing, and I said to this one young man, he's 16 years old, I said, “What is your source of power?”

And he didn't answer, “my cell phone here.”

He said, “Native dance.”

Native dance. And he says this as he's learning in real time about the devastation to his village from Typhoon Halong. He and his classmates were safe in Anchorage. But it gave me hope to think here is this young man who knows that his source of strength is not from some technology, it's from knowing who he is, where he's from, and his culture.

So yesterday, I missed AFN. I was not here. I try to be here as many days as I can. Instead, I flew to Bethel. I took the jet in the morning, and I was seated next to Herman and Lynn Hootch, they're from Emmonak. And Herman was telling me that they had seen the impact from this storm as well in Emmonak. Many, many, many of the boats were swamped or flipped. And he was talking about the impact to his community and told me about the storm there, and I said, “I'm going to be in Bethel. I'm hoping to get out to see some of the impact in some of the other communities. But what should I expect?”

And Herman said, “Look. Look and listen, and then you can talk.”

And I thought those were some pretty powerful suggestions. Pretty powerful to observe first. To hear carefully what the needs are before, before we swoop in from Washington or from afar, to tell you what to do in your communities. And so, it was a pretty tough day yesterday, but it was inspirational as well.

We went to the National Guard Armory, and I have to tell you, our scouts that were out there, the Alaska Defense Force, our Alaska National Guard, were doing exceptional things as they were managing movements of people. But to be in that armory, and to welcome, and I think it was welcome, but it felt awkward to say even welcome. But to receive people who were coming in off of a Black Hawk helicopter, at the time they were coming in from Tuntutuliak.

And they were elders in wheelchairs and young people carrying younger babies and bags on their back. And I asked them, “are you okay?” knowing that they didn't know the answer to that.

So, it was more, instead of talking, it was a time to give hugs and to say, “You're safe. You're safe here now.”

But to see the uncertainty, to see the uncertainty in people's eyes. That doesn't leave you. You don't forget that.

We had an opportunity to fly over to Kipnuk with our Alaska Guard team. And you've seen the pictures. You know how hard it is, but to be walking through a village where you realize that not even a week ago, there were children running up and down the boardwalks and dogs and four wheelers zipping in and out and people moving.

But to see, to see the devastation in person, to hear the quiet. It was so quiet. And that was not right. And flying over, you realize there is no retreat to higher ground, because there is no higher ground out in many parts of the Delta.

And as I walked by one house that was devastated, I looked in the window, and here's two Christmas cactuses. For those of you that don't know, Christmas cactuses bloom once a year, and they're very lovely. But here, in the midst of all this devastation and just darkness, was the life of a plant, two plants. Two plants.

So, sometimes in hard situations, you don't really know what to do, how you can help. We were in the school, we met with the teachers. One takeaway that I'm receiving, one thing that I heard to my heart was the more that we can keep these children and these families together in these communities while they are displaced, while they are out of their home, that is what we can do to help them. We can give them their traditional foods. We can come together in ways where they can celebrate through dance, but to be together, particularly in a big city like this.

So how do we do this going forward? These are the hard things going forward. But when you want to try to help and bring a little bit of humanity back to those who have been displaced, I will confess to you, I brought two dogs back. One was a puppy we named Kipnuk, and we're hoping that Kipnuk gets reunited. The other one was a German Shepherd mix that we named Chinook because we were flying in a Chinook helicopter.

To Nellie from Kipnuk, know that I have your Christmas cactuses, and I want to return them to you, because I want you to see them bloom as they will.

We have to come together in times of tragedy and disasters. We know that, and it is that strength of our unity and our culture and our faith that sees us through the trauma. It's going to take years. Don't let anyone fool you. It's going to take years to recover from the disaster of what we have seen with this storm. And that reality, that it is a long road, has only reinforced what is happening here at AFN. The importance of AFN’s theme, “Standing Strong, Standing United.”

So, we must be so grateful to those who have assisted in so many ways, those who were there to rescue those stranded in their homes, surrounded by the rising waters in the dark. We're so grateful for our Coast Guard, I mentioned our Guard, all of our federal and state and our Tribal partners who assisted at that time.

I want to share with you though that what I witnessed yesterday in that armory was a compassion and a respect as those from the village were being greeted in that armory. Respect in every way, and true compassion. And I'm so appreciative of those who are there today, who are there tomorrow.

We thank the Governor for moving quickly with the disaster declaration, and the full delegation has advanced that on to the President.

As I mentioned, we know full well that when disaster hits, whether it's Merbok or whether it's now what we see with Halong, after the flood waters recede, after the damage to the homes and the fish camps is calculated, there's so much work that remains and so much healing that is needed.

And it's not just the homes and the buildings that are lost. It's those who have been displaced. It's the subsistence foods that have been so carefully gathered throughout the entire season that are now lost. But how the people of this region, how the people from Kipnuk, how the people from Kwigillingok, how the people from Napakiak, and so many other impacted communities, how they move forward will define them for generations.

And so, this is a time to remember that again, when we come together, we are stronger.

Think about the beautiful baskets that so many of our treasured elders have shared with us over the years, those individual blades of grass that move in the wind or that are blown away when they are woven together, they make a basket that is tight. We need to be that tight basket.

So, know that my prayers are with those that we have lost and all who have been impacted by this storm. I am here. My team and I are here, we're downstairs literally. But know that we're not just here today and not just for this weekend, not just for this week, but for every day of every week, for as long as it takes for this effort, as you rebuild, as you relocate, or whatever you decide is best.

And I want to underscore “what you decide is best.”

Because I will not accept that there are those who are from Washington, DC, from other parts of the country, who have never been to your region, who have never heard your stories. That they feel that somehow, they can determine your future.

I am offended.

I am outright mad that some have suggested that it is a waste of taxpayer dollars to protect Alaskan communities. We are Americans. Every single person that has been impacted is an American that deserves to be treated with that level of respect.

There are so many issues that you face. And we need to take a lesson from you and your communities that when we come together, we can move forward, and we can do that in Congress, too. We can do that in Congress when we come together. That's how we negotiated, and we passed this bipartisan infrastructure bill. It's now in its fifth year, but we're still seeing funding for broadband, for clean water, for new energy for communities throughout our regions.

It's how we passed Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act to begin to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, and to improve coordination on these important cases.

It's how we convinced the EPA to make a historic investment of $100 million for upgrades to bulk fuel storage across our state.

Earlier this year, we passed legislation to ensure that our Native elders can receive their dividends without losing federal assistance, and to return control of more village lands to village corporations.

It's how we addressed Tribal adoption, subsistence whaling, community development, quota activities, and resource development on the North Slope.

We did this because we were working together. And I'm telling you we're not going to be able to address the issues of our government unless we can come together. It's what we need. Unity is what we need to end a government shutdown, which is now in its 18th day.

There is nothing good that comes from a government shutdown. No money is saved. Nobody wins. Nobody wins.

So, when things aren't happening, what do you do? You put an idea out there on the table. I put what I thought was a constructive solution out there: to avoid harmful increases in health care premiums, that would advance our appropriations bill, that would provide funding for public broadcasting, and that would halt the administration's effort to claw back funding that we had already approved in Congress.

So, I offered that. I offered that, but we're still at an impasse.

And I tell you, it is vitally important—I'm glad that our military and our Coast Guard are being paid during this shutdown—but they only got it for the first pay period.

And it's just wrong that our other federal employees, those who work for our federal government, including those who adjudicate the probate backlog at BIA and those who are trying to facilitate the Native allotment applications, it is wrong to have their work halted and to know that they're not certain whether or not they're going to get paid. That is wrong.

So, we have to do our work. Congress' failure to do our work is inexcusable.

What's happening, you've seen it, you've seen it. You have both sides that are blaming the other side for the situation. Instead of blaming the other side, let's solve the issue.

It's like your two boys. My boys were 21 months apart, and when they were sitting in the back seat, they were doing what boys are doing. They're poking at one another. It's like, “knock it off, you guys.”

And they're like, “well, he started it!”

“No, he started it!”

And you say, “I don't care who started it, knock it off, or I'm going to stop the car and we're going to have a conversation.”

Well, I feel like we need to stop the car and get Congress working again, so, I'm going to try that.

So, on Monday, Elders and Youth started with language instruction, and it translated to the theme of “Perseverance and Fortitude.” And I was really going to try to pronounce again those words, but I know my speech has gone on longer than Ben wants me to. So, I'm not going to try it, Ben.

But it was so important for me to learn how words are translated. How words are translated is so important, and I appreciate that. And as I was thinking about that at Elders and Youth, I was thinking how much of my work in Washington, DC requires me to translate Alaska to Washington, DC. Because they don't necessarily get us. They just don't.

So, one example is how I navigated this reconciliation bill this summer. This bill, this bill was going to pass one way or another. And so, what I did was I directed my team, “look, we have to make sure that we help Alaska as best we can.”

And so, I did my best to protect the vulnerable and ensure our obligations to Native people would be upheld across the nation, and especially here in Alaska, and I conveyed the significance that Medicaid plays in filling the gap in funding that the Indian Health Service has long, long faced. I explained that “look, we have rural villages. They are rich in subsistence opportunities, but they simply do not have the same cash economies that fit federal work requirements. So, it doesn't work here.”

I made sure that Tribal members would be exempted, fully exempted from these new work requirements for those on Medicaid and on SNAP.

I've worked hard to really, to educate, again, to help translate, to the Trump administration from the first days. And I particularly worked hard to make sure that they understood the relationship between Indian Tribes and the federal government. This is a legal obligation based on political status. Indigenous peoples are not a DEI initiative.

So, when your priorities were unfairly frozen or terminated, we worked together. I worked with you, the delegation, Dan and Nick and I worked to help free up the funding to build hydro at Thayer Creek, a long, long-sought project to help. Yes, there's Jody! Jody's been at the helm ever since.

But doing more for the relocation for Newtok, to stabilize the cemetery there at St. Paul, so much more.

And we're still, we're still fighting for the funding that we secured, including the resilience grants for Kipnuk that were canceled earlier this year. And while that funding may not have come in time to prevent the disaster that we saw this past week, they may prevent future disasters, and that's the point. That's the point of this.

So, it's not it's not just what happens today. It's the ability to look forward, out into the future, to make it better into the future.

So, know that the delegation is not going to rest on this one. We have to keep pushing the administration.

But simply recovering from this storm isn't enough. We have to be ready for the next one and the next one to follow, in Kipnuk and in every village, because these once-in-a-century storms are now arriving seemingly every year, and we have to prepare. We have to prepare for that.

One issue, one issue that I have not been as successful in translating to DC, is how imperative public broadcasting is across rural Alaska. The administration, you know this full well, sought to rescind all funding for public radio and TV, even though Congress had already recognized the need, we'd already said, “this is important.” And we provided the funding for it.

So, I stood up, I fought to have it reinstated, but we lost that vote. Even though at the very time that we took the vote, it was like two o'clock in the morning. And what was happening in real time, they had just had this earthquake over in Russia and the people in Unalaska and the people in Kodiak and the people in False Pass were listening to KUCB, and they were listening to the public radio in Kodiak. And they were waiting to hear whether they needed to move to safety.

And I shared that on the floor of the United States Senate. And I tried to explain to them, I tried to explain to people who live in nice, safe homes what it means. What it means to have warnings of ice conditions upriver on the Kuskokwim during breakup. How important it is for the people of Selawik to know we're still on boiled water notice. What it means to be listening to the radio and hear a birthday greeting from your grandchild who lives in another community, and you haven't seen them in a while, because our communities are not connected by road.

And now, now I'm explaining what it means for communities like Kotzebue and Kwigillingok to have the latest storm updates from KOTZ and KYUK. And I'm so grateful for the extraordinary support, the extraordinary support that has come from so many who have reached into their pockets, philanthropic groups that have come together across the country to provide for donations to help public broadcasting here in Alaska and beyond.

It does help that Senator Sullivan and I were able to get funding for fourteen of the stations here in the state, not all of them, but fourteen.

But that’s one-time money. That's this year.

What about next year?

What about those who are in fear of that next tsunami warning, that next storm? We need to make sure that people understand the value of what it means to our communities to have this communications infrastructure that helps us all.

A couple months ago, in August, I was in Napakiak. I went out there with the Secretary of Housing. It's great to be there, to see the resilience of this community. They've got a Tri-Party Coalition is formed by the city, the Tribe, and the Native Corporation, and really working very well together. They're planning, they're planning for their own retreat from the threats.

The new school there at Napakiak is built on higher ground. I think we were perhaps maybe the first non-contractor people to go in. And I kind of like, knocked down the door and said, “Can I come in and look?”

And they said, “No.”

I'm like, “if I take off my boots, can I?”

“Yeah.”

It was beautiful. But now we know that it served as the higher ground as the evacuation point during the typhoon, sheltering more than 100 community members. Walter Nelson is the managed retreat coordinator there, and he has said that this storm was the worst-case scenario that they had imagined.

I think about, had they not begun preparation, would it have been worse in Napakiak. But I highlight Napakiak because recovery efforts are in just so many of our villages are just beginning, and it really does take all of us. And I've focused a lot in my comments today on the Y-K area, because this is where we have seen the most devastating impact.

But all of our communities face challenges. I mean, my heart has just been broken, broken down in communities where we have seen landslides, whether in Wrangell, in Ketchikan, in Haines, in Sitka. Salmon disasters across our communities in so many parts, but particularly in the Yukon and the Kuskokwim.

And then we have disasters that impact our ability, again, to connect with one another, like when you have ice scouring that cuts broadband and connectivity on the North Slope.

There was so much that I wanted to share with you today. So much I wanted to speak with you about: subsistence, food security. There's just so much there.

What I will say is, is that no matter where you are, what you're facing right now, standing together moves things forward and makes things better.

We were able to work together to secure advanced appropriations for the IHS, and now the government shutdown that we are experiencing does not have nearly the same effect on Tribal members. So, that was very important.

We're now focused on storm recovery, building resilience for future storms, where you have the commitment from so many to move forward and to help you with that.

But as we look to the future, we know where our priority should be. Our priority is with our children.

We need to prioritize Native children, youth, and families. So, 12 years ago, we created the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children. And now, now it's time to fulfill their recommendations through legislation.

So, I've released a draft, it addresses a whole litany of issues. It's Tribal child welfare programs, it’s education, it's maternal and mental health, it's substance abuse, it's child nutrition, it's homelessness, it's juvenile justice, it's victim services.

And I am so, I'm really very grateful we got such good input. On Monday, we held a workshop, and we solicited ideas from young and old. Because we said, “this is how you should direct your future: it’s you, your voices.”

There were some hard, hard subjects. But we don't run from the hard subjects, we have to have the hard conversations and do the hard work to find the solutions.

So, as we navigate challenging times, I think it just feels right to focus on the children. It's a reminder of what our priorities should be, on our communities and the good that we do for one another. On how we can help one another, how we can lift one another up. I think that feels like the least that we can do right now. So, I'm glad to be with people who live that same approach.

You know how honored I am with my Tlingit name, Aan Shaawátk’i, Lady of the Land. But I am equally, equally honored by the name gifted to me by the Aleut people of King Cove, Sixsadag^ulux, which means “never breaks in two.”

There's a lot in this land that could break us in two, but we are resilient.

We will overcome storms, we will overcome shutdowns, and everything that comes in our way, because when we stand strong, we stand united.

So, thank you for the immense honor of knowing you, of sharing with you and your communities, and being present with you today.

Gunalchéesh.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-secures-53-provisions-prioritizes-alaska-in-fy-2026-defense-authorization,"Sullivan Secures 53 Provisions, Prioritizes Alaska in FY 2026 Defense Authorization",2025-10-21,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"Bill Incorporates Sullivan’s GOLDEN DOME Act, Authorizes $284 Million in New Alaska Military Construction

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and his colleagues recently advanced the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) through the Senate on a vote of 77 to 20. The $924 billion legislation—a nearly $46 billion increase over the baseline—includes 53 provisions and amendments offered by Sen. Sullivan, many of which will increase the U.S. military’s presence in Alaska. The legislation strongly supports U.S. service members and their families, incorporates the vast majority of Sen. Sullivan’sGOLDEN DOME missile defense legislation, and authorizes more than $283 million in new military construction for Alaska.

“My work on the Armed Services Committee in each successive national defense authorization is always guided by three overriding priorities: taking care of our troops, advancing a policy of ‘Peace Through Strength,’ and continuing to build up our Alaska-based military,” said Sen. Sullivan. “The FY 2026 NDAA delivers on all three of these fronts and is chock full of wins for Alaska, for our military, and for our warfighters and their families. I pressed to secure close to $300 million in military construction projects specifically for Alaska, recognizing our state’s unrivaled strategic location and the escalating aggression from the Russians and Chinese in the North Pacific and Arctic. This figure is in addition to the NDAA’s major investments in the ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense system, building on the $25 billion down payment in the One Big Beautiful Bill and incorporating approximately 75 percent of my recently introduced GOLDEN DOME Act. These provisions will undoubtedly benefit Alaska, the cornerstone of America’s homeland missile defense system. I was also able to include provisions focused on a number of key priorities: securing America’s critical minerals supply chains, strengthening America’s defense industrial base, supporting America’s allies and partners, addressing the crisis in U.S. Navy shipbuilding, and investing robustly in our warfighters and warfighting capabilities to deter our adversaries around the world. I will be working with my Senate and House colleagues to preserve all of these vital provisions and expeditiously deliver this important legislation to President Trump’s desk.”

The $284 million in military construction authorizations for Alaska include:

$82 million for the Air Force Joint Integrated Test & Training Center (JITTC) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER).

$63 million for an upgraded Army barracks at Fort Wainwright.

$46 million for an Army Reserve Base Supply Complex at JBER.

$46 million for an Army Reserve Maintenance Facility at JBER.

$16 million for a Base Civil Engineering (BCE) Pavements and Grounds Facility for the Alaska Air National Guard at Eielson Air Force Base.

$13.2 million for the design of an Air Force Consolidated Munitions Complex at Eielson.

$8.04 million for the design of an Air Force Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) Operations Facility at Eielson.

$8 million for the design of an Army dining facility at Fort Wainwright.

$1.75 million for the design of an Air Force Coal Thaw Shed Addition at Eielson.

The FY 2026 NDAA supports U.S. service members and their families with provisions that:

Authorize funding to support a 3.8 percent pay raise for military members—on top of the historic pay raise of 14.5% passed in the FY 2025 NDAA.

Authorize annual travel reimbursement for service members stationed in remote areas, like Alaska, to return to their home of record or other approved destination.

Include Sen. Sullivan’s SAFE Act, which aims to improve counseling and access to information related to foster care opportunities for military families.

Require DOD to publish how housing allowances are calculated, what housing types are covered, and to pilot a new calculation method based on rental costs by bedroom size to help service members and their families get fair compensation.

Improve the transparency and understanding of military compensation by requiring clear explanations on pay statements, creation of a regular military compensation pay table, and an education campaign for service members and families on military compensation.

Require DOD to improve staffing of special education teachers and staff, and offerings at DOD schools.

Sen. Sullivan’s other Alaska-related provisions in the FY 2026 NDAA:

Include approximately 75 percent of Sen. Sullivan and Sen. Kevin Cramer’s (R-N.D.) Ground and Orbital Launched Defeat of Emergent Nuclear Destruction and Other Missile Engagements (GOLDEN DOME) Act, legislation introduced in June of 2025 to develop a modernized, layered homeland missile defense system that can counter, detect, track, and defeat existing and evolving threats. The GOLDEN DOME Act supports a January 27, 2025 executive order from President Trump. The Golden Dome-related provisions:

Include more than $2 billion in related spending authorizations above the baseline for critical munitions, including for the Next Generation Interceptor that will be based at Ft. Greely in Alaska.

Codify into law the direct report program manager for the Golden Dome system, as well as his authorities to accelerate the procurement and development of critical missile defense technologies.

Codify into law a robust testing regime for Golden Dome’s kinetic and non-kinetic systems and encourage the U.S. Space Force to continue diversifying its national launch sites, likely increasing testing activity at the Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska on Kodiak Island.

Require the Golden Dome program manager to assess funding needs to accelerate the fielding of a number of critical technologies, like the Next Generation Interceptor and construction of up to 80 silos, almost certainly at Ft. Greely, by FY 2028 in accordance with the President’s timeline for the initiative.

Prohibit military dining facilities and commissaries from purchasing or selling seafood that originates or is processed in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to help Alaska fishermen.

Require quarterly briefings from the Secretary of Defense on the planned expenditures of $115 million from theOne, Big, Beautiful Bill Act meant for the exploration and development of existing Arctic infrastructure, like the former Naval Air Station at Adak.

Direct DOD to outline long-term sustainment and modernization plans for the COBRA Dane radar system located at Eareckson Air Station, Shemya Island, Alaska, a radar critically important to U.S. missile defense and space domain awareness.

Order the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to prioritize consideration for clearance—to the maximum extent possible—applications and white papers for energy and mining projects submitted to DOD that will be significantly impacted by seasonal Arctic climate conditions. If a mining application belongs to a project in Alaska with a short mining season, it will see expedited prioritization for clearance from the DOD.

Support the onshoring of critical mineral-based magnet processing and production for use in military equipment.

Support DOD’s effort to secure domestic and allied sources of critical minerals—many of which are found in Alaska—through the Industrial Base Resilience program’s investments, in light of China’s control over the production of many of these resources vital for U.S. defense technologies.

Encourage DOD to provide greater understanding of the defense budgeting and acquisition process so that companies and 8(a) small businesses outside of traditional defense contractors can gain access to these projects and contribute to the defense industrial base.

End the moratorium on safe, approved forms of incineration and removal of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from military bases, allowing Alaska military bases to safely dispose of PFAS contaminated soil.

Allow Coast Guard installations to apply for grants under the Defense Community Infrastructure Program as a pilot to improve aging Coast Guard infrastructure vital to national security.

Require the Marine Corps to recommend one regiment to Congress as the USMC’s Arctic Response Force, and to brief Congress on a suggested three-year glidepath for training and equipping such a force to support worldwide missions, particularly in the Arctic and Indo-Pacific.

Other Sullivan priorities in the FY 2026 NDAA:

Extend the tour of the U.S. Navy Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) commander to eight years and makes the last three years available to this individual at a 4-star level.

Require a report on private investment options available to build additional West Coast shipyard capacity to enhance Navy shipbuilding.

Build upon Sen. Sullivan’s FY 2023 and 2024 NDAA provisions requiring the Navy to maintain 31 amphibious ships, including 10 large deck carriers, by redefining when a ship is considered “temporarily unavailable” so that ships cannot sit in dry dock for years and be counted against the 31-ship requirement.

Direct the Secretary of Defense to consider whether NATO partners have submitted plans to reach 5 percent of GDP in defense spending when deciding future U.S. military basing and training in Europe.

Establish an Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Armaments Cooperation to improve the DOD’s ability to understand allied and partner industrial bases and conduct win-win industrial base integration efforts. The measure ensures that there is no net increase in Assistant Secretaries of Defense to cut back on Pentagon bureaucracy.

Support defense acquisition reform efforts, including reforming the Joint Requirements Oversight Council that decides important requirements for the joint force each year, and requiring DOD to issue guidance that speeds up software acquisition in support of the warfighters.

# # #

Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/alaska-delegation-presses-for-federal-disaster-declaration-for-western-alaska-storm-devastation,Alaska Delegation Presses for Federal Disaster Declaration for Western Alaska Storm Devastation,2025-10-17,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today sent a letter urging President Donald Trump to approve Governor Mike Dunleavy’s (R-Alaska) request for a federal disaster declaration in response to the devastation of communities in Western Alaska, particularly throughout the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region, from the remnants of Typhoon Halong. Once the President approves a major disaster declaration, additional federal resources can be deployed.

“While first responders, tribal and local governments, and State emergency management personnel have acted swiftly and effectively, the scale of this disaster surpasses the State’s ability and capacity to respond without federal support,” the delegation members wrote. “With winter fast approaching, and transportation and broadband connectivity limited, there is an urgent need for federal aid to repair housing, restore utilities, and secure heating fuel before severe winter conditions set in.”

On October 9 and 12, Governor Dunleavy issued a state disaster declaration, mobilizing additional state resources across Western Alaska. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is currently supporting efforts to make damage assessments and working with the State of Alaska and tribe to provide technical assistance.

Below is the full text of the delegation’s letter.

President Donald J. Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Trump:

We write to urge your swift approval of Governor Mike Dunleavy’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration under Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act following the severe storm and coastal flooding in Western Alaska caused by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. This significant storm affected thousands of miles of coast, spanning the Aleutian Islands to the North Slope. Immediate federal assistance is needed to support Alaskans recovering from the damage of this storm and to mitigate the impact of future severe weather events.

Between October 9 and 13, powerful winds exceeding 100 miles per hour and record-high water levels caused severe damage to homes, businesses, personal property, utilities, fuel storage facilities, runways, and other critical infrastructure across numerous villages, particularly throughout the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta region. On October 9 and 12, Governor Dunleavy issued a state disaster declaration, mobilizing additional state emergency resources across Western Alaska. However, the preliminary devastation rivals, and in some areas exceeds, the impacts of Typhoon Merbok in 2022, when many of these same communities had not yet completed rebuilding or received full recovery assistance before this latest storm struck.

While first responders, tribal and local governments, and State emergency management personnel have acted swiftly and effectively, the scale of this disaster surpasses the State’s ability and capacity to respond without federal support. With winter fast approaching, and transportation and broadband connectivity limited, there is an urgent need for federal aid to repair housing, restore utilities, and secure heating fuel before severe winter conditions set in.

We appreciate the ongoing coordination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) with the State of Alaska on emergency and search- and-rescue operations, and we encourage your Administration to act quickly on the Governor’s request so that federal partners can deploy urgently needed personnel, equipment, and resources to affected areas without delay. In light of the extraordinary circumstances, and consistent with the action taken following Typhoon Merbok, we also request that the Administration authorize a 100 percent federal cost share for emergency work during this recovery.

The people of Western Alaska are once again facing the onset of winter and the immense challenge of rebuilding in the aftermath of another coastal storm. Quick federal action will help ensure that families remain safe, critical services are restored, and communities are stabilized before winter arrives. We stand ready to support the coordinated response and recovery efforts necessary to help Alaskans rebuild stronger and safer.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-presses-for-federal-disaster-declaration-for-western-alaska-storm-devastation,Alaska Delegation Presses for Federal Disaster Declaration for Western Alaska Storm Devastation,2025-10-17,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today sent a letter urging President Donald Trump to approve Governor Mike Dunleavy’s (R-Alaska) request for a federal disaster declaration in response to the devastation of communities in Western Alaska, particularly throughout the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region, from the remnants of Typhoon Halong. Once the President approves a major disaster declaration, additional federal resources can be deployed.

“While first responders, tribal and local governments, and State emergency management personnel have acted swiftly and effectively, the scale of this disaster surpasses the State’s ability and capacity to respond without federal support,” the delegation members wrote. “With winter fast approaching, and transportation and broadband connectivity limited, there is an urgent need for federal aid to repair housing, restore utilities, and secure heating fuel before severe winter conditions set in.”

On October 9 and 12, Governor Dunleavy issued a state disaster declaration, mobilizing additional state resources across Western Alaska. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is currently supporting efforts to make damage assessments and working with the State of Alaska and tribes to provide technical assistance.

Below is the full text of the delegation’s letter.

President Donald J. Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Trump:

We write to urge your swift approval of Governor Mike Dunleavy’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration under Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act following the severe storm and coastal flooding in Western Alaska caused by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. This significant storm affected thousands of miles of coast, spanning the Aleutian Islands to the North Slope. Immediate federal assistance is needed to support Alaskans recovering from the damage of this storm and to mitigate the impact of future severe weather events.

Between October 9 and 13, powerful winds exceeding 100 miles per hour and record-high water levels caused severe damage to homes, businesses, personal property, utilities, fuel storage facilities, runways, and other critical infrastructure across numerous villages, particularly throughout the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta region. On October 9 and 12, Governor Dunleavy issued a state disaster declaration, mobilizing additional state emergency resources across Western Alaska. However, the preliminary devastation rivals, and in some areas exceeds, the impacts of Typhoon Merbok in 2022, when many of these same communities had not yet completed rebuilding or received full recovery assistance before this latest storm struck.

While first responders, tribal and local governments, and State emergency management personnel have acted swiftly and effectively, the scale of this disaster surpasses the State’s ability and capacity to respond without federal support. With winter fast approaching, and transportation and broadband connectivity limited, there is an urgent need for federal aid to repair housing, restore utilities, and secure heating fuel before severe winter conditions set in.

We appreciate the ongoing coordination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) with the State of Alaska on emergency and search- and-rescue operations, and we encourage your Administration to act quickly on the Governor’s request so that federal partners can deploy urgently needed personnel, equipment, and resources to affected areas without delay. In light of the extraordinary circumstances, and consistent with the action taken following Typhoon Merbok, we also request that the Administration authorize a 100 percent federal cost share for emergency work during this recovery.

The people of Western Alaska are once again facing the onset of winter and the immense challenge of rebuilding in the aftermath of another coastal storm. Quick federal action will help ensure that families remain safe, critical services are restored, and communities are stabilized before winter arrives. We stand ready to support the coordinated response and recovery efforts necessary to help Alaskans rebuild stronger and safer.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-outlines-senate-work-promoting-alaska-native-interests-at-annual-afn-convention,Sullivan Outlines Senate Work Promoting Alaska Native Interests at Annual AFN Convention,2025-10-17,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—Addressing the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) annual convention today, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) opened his remarks by talking about the devastation wrought by Typhoon Halong across the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta, and reaffirmed his commitment to securing federal support for recovery efforts. He also spoke about the progress made over the past year to advance the interests of Alaska Native people at the federal level and highlighted ongoing work with Alaska Native communities to address challenges facing rural Alaska, including coastal erosion protection. He also highlighted his work to address the variability in salmon runs across the state, protect Alaska Native artists, stem the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault, and advance economic opportunities for Alaska Native people in government contracting.

Sen. Sullivan also spoke about the implementation of key provisions in the recent budget reconciliation bill, what he calls the Alaska Opportunity Act, like the roughly $300 million a year expected to come to Alaska from the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund. He also countered false claims about cuts to Medicaid and Medicare in the legislation, and spoke about resource development provisions in the bill that will bring economic opportunity to Alaska Native communities. Finally, Sen. Sullivan spoke about the many strong Alaska Native people he has highlighted in his “Alaskan of the Week” speeches on the U.S. Senate floor.

Below is a full transcript of Senator Sullivan’s remarks.

Introduction

Well, thank you, Ana, and good morning, AFN! It's wonderful to be home. It is an honor to be with all of you. It's incredible to look out and see all of our leaders, our elders, our delegates, our youth representatives, and community members gathered here today. Thank you for the great work of this organization and for all of you that work to lift up our communities, preserve your cultures, and strengthen our state. All of us together.

By the way, I heard the Elders and Youth Conference went really well. I want to thank First Alaskans Institute—it went really well—and FAI’s President, Roy Agloinga, and their young leaders for the fine job they did, not just this year, but they do every year with regard to the Elders and Youth Conference, which is such an empowering event.

I want to thank AFN leadership and Ben Mallott. I think Ben is having a great first year. Joe, all the leadership here—it’s such a strong group at AFN, and I really want to do a shout-out to my very good friend Lyman Hoffman, who was awarded yesterday for his lifelong service.

I can't think of a more fierce advocate, not just for Alaska Natives, but for Alaska. You don't want to get on Lyman Hoffman's bad side. I've always tried to avoid that in my career. He is an incredible advocate and a good friend.

And, of course, the most important Alaska Native in the world for me is also here: my wife, Julie. We recently celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary, so I'm a very lucky guy. Thank you to my wife, who, by the way, always sits in the front row and likes to cheer me on. So it's great.

Western Alaska Storm Devastation

I want to begin, of course, by talking about Typhoon Halong's devastation across the Y-K Delta. The tragedy of this size and immensity is something we have to all focus on.

So many of you have loved ones who have been very negatively affected. This morning, your congressional delegation sent a letter to President Trump requesting swift approval of the state's disaster declaration to get the federal dollars flowing and I have been, for the last several days, in touch—regular contact—with federal officials, state officials, tribal officials, senior White House officials, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the FEMA Director, the Vice President.

Hopefully some of you saw, the Vice President put a social media post out this morning. He says, “President Trump and I are closely tracking the storm devastation that resulted in over 1,000 of our citizens being airlifted out of Alaska Native villages in Western Alaska. Alaskans,” he says to all of us, “our prayers are with you, and your federal government is going to work to get you the help that you need.”

I think that's good when it comes from the top of the administration. And, of course, I want to thank everybody here for all the hard work you're doing. Tragically, one life has been lost, two others remain missing as this powerful storm raged. But seeing Alaskans coming together—more than 50 people were rescued by our courageous Coast Guard and Alaska National Guard forces—that is really incredible. Now, of course, we have almost 1,400 Alaskans forced from their homes, sheltering in buildings and temporary centers.

So we are grateful for AFN and everybody affiliated here for stepping up to help. We are working longer term. We've been doing this for a number of years on this issue.

What do I mean? As these storms grow more frequent and severe, I've been focused on longer term protections for rural Alaska. Last year, we secured, in the bipartisan infrastructure bill Senator Murkowski and I worked on a couple of years ago, more than $45 million in resilience grants for our rural communities.

And importantly, working directly recently with the EPA administrator, we secured a historic amount of money for the Denali Commission—almost $140 million for the Denali Commission from the EPA to focus on these kinds of infrastructure issues.

Perhaps most importantly, as part of what's called the WRDA Act—that's the Water Resources and Development Act, in 2022 and 2024, I put in a provision in there that’s specific only to Alaska to combat storm damage, erosion, and flooding. The good part about that bill is that 90 percent of that is paid for by the federal government.

Right now, the efforts from that bill are making a difference in places like Utqiagvik, where we were able to get almost $400 million for the seawall there—that's complete erosion protection—and in Juneau and in other areas. So we think that's very important, but we have we have more work to do.

Let me mention, infrastructure for rural Alaska also means the ability to communicate, which is why my team and I work night and day to make sure our rural radios continue to get the funding they need to stay on the air. So that's also infrastructure. We are working hard on that. But, as I mentioned, we believe more needs to be done.

I recently spoke with the CEO of AVCP, Vivian Korthuis, about her idea of establishing a Western Alaska emergency response hub, an inter-agency, inter-tribal, federal and state partnership to strengthen coordination for future disasters. We think this is a really good idea and we're looking into it.

So, again, to our first responders, tribal leaders, Coast Guard: Thank you again. Julie and I continue to pray for everybody. How about another round of applause for all of them?

Addressing the Crisis in Salmon Runs

So this year's theme, “Standing Strong, Standing United” could not come at a better time. These are not just words. They are a way of life. They are focused on resilience. Standing strong means holding fast to your values, your traditions. Standing united means that we work together. When we work together, we can accomplish so much.

One of the things we're working on is salmon. Salmon is a way of life in Alaska, especially rural Alaska. When the salmon are strong, our communities are strong. That's why, over the past several years, I've made the salmon crisis one of my top priorities in the Senate, especially when it comes to subsistence on our great rivers, like the Yukon and Kuskokwim.

A number of years ago, I passed the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, which brought together our best minds—Native, state, federal, tribal, university—to address the big question we all have: What is happening to the different salmon runs in our state, and why is there such great variability, particularly when it comes to, like I said, the Yukon and Kuskokwim? This research that we got done in this bill is now underway to begin getting results—real data that will guide us to what we all want: strong, sustainable salmon runs across all species in all Alaska rivers.

We've been working on the next phase of new legislation to strengthen salmon management and habitat restoration, building on what the task force has found. We are going to do a new bill, which will include components for developing and employing technologies and policies to reduce salmon bycatch in the ocean that are harming our salmon runs.

The ARTIST Act

I also worked hand-in-hand with so many here to promote and protect Alaska Native artists and your culture, and we've got some good news from last week when it comes to that.

For nearly a decade, we have been working to fix a real injustice. Laws in other states intended to stop the trafficking of illegal African elephant ivory ended up hurting Alaska Native artists who are lawfully and sustainably using walrus ivory in your traditional, beautiful artwork.

It made no sense and, by the way, it was devastating when states were saying we can't buy Alaska Native walrus ivory. In terms of the artwork that they do, our Alaska Native artists had done everything right in terms of abiding by the law, and suddenly they couldn't sell their beautiful artwork across state lines. It was an attack on generations of culture and heritage.

We held hearings, actually here at AFN, on this issue and we held specific briefings back in Washington, D.C. with many of our artists. I am pleased to say that last week, after almost ten years of trying, the Senate passed my “Alaska's Right to Ivory Sales and Tradition Act,” what we called the “ARTIST Act,” and we passed that unanimously.

So, I want to thank everybody. There were so many people who worked so hard on this. Melanie Bahnke, Vera Metcalf, Nagruk Harcharek, and our incredible walrus ivory artisans. There's so many. You guys are seeing them here at AFN. They do great work. We’ve got to pass this in the House. We're going to sign this into law. Then, our Alaska Native artists can sell their beautiful work anywhere in America, as it should have been for many, many years.

Defending the 8(a) Program

Let me turn to another issue we're working on, and that is our 8(a) program. By the way, I want to thank all of you—our 8(a) program, but our ANCs, village corporations, regional corporations, tribes. I know Natasha said in her remarks yesterday, [she] made some really important points on how much this matters to our economy, not just for Alaska Natives, but for everybody.

We have undertaken a comprehensive strategy to make sure that people in Washington, D.C. understand the value of this program. Of course, it means a lot to us, but it means a lot when you look at it. For example, to our Department of Defense, to our Pentagon, we have been making the case to everybody. We recently got a nice letter from one of the senior Pentagon officials who said, we understand the 8(a) program. We're going to keep it going, and we're going to expand it.

That is great for Alaska. That’s great for our Alaska Native communities. It's also great for our military. So I want to thank all of you who have done such great work on that.

Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans Land Allotment Program

Another issue that we've been working on, and one of the most important bills that I've worked on in my time in the U.S. Senate, is our bill to extend the Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans Land Allotment program for another five years. Now, this is an issue that I get kind of emotional on because I see our Native veterans: George Bennett, Benno Cleveland and Bill Thomas. These are American heroes who, generation after generation, our Alaska Native community have served our country with what I call “special patriotism.”

Alaska Natives serve in the military at higher rates than any other ethnic group in the country. Yet, when our Vietnam veterans came home, they couldn't apply for their allotment. They weren't treated well. So, in 2019, I was able to get my Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans bill passed and I said, “Hey, if you were serving in the military, especially in Vietnam, when a lot of people, let's face it, American men were avoiding service, and you missed a chance to apply for your allotment, you get to do it now.”

That bill passed. Unfortunately, the implementation of that bill by the last administration was very, very, very slow. They approved, in four years, 40 allotments out of 2,000. Not good.

Guess what? The program is going to expire in two months. So, two weeks ago on the Senate floor, I went to the floor. I said, pass my legislation to extend this for five more years. Unfortunately, we had some senators who blocked it. I talked to them after. I'm like, come on, guys, what are you doing? This is outrageous. Don't block this.

So here's my ask of AFN: Let's work together. Let's go to some of these senators who are blocking it. We’ve got two more months before this program expires. This is a just cause and if we work together, we can get five more years of this program. We can expand the lands available for our Alaska Native Vietnam Vets. We really want to work together with all of you on this important legislation.

The Alaska Opportunity Act

I've talked about some of the issues that we literally work on in the Senate day after day after day. Our focus on Alaska Native issues is a daily thing we focus on and we're honored to do that, because all of you are so important to us, to our state. But I want to talk about one of the real big wins we had recently. This is the Senate bill that was passed in the budget reconciliation bill in July—what I like to call the Alaska Opportunity Act.

There's so many things in this bill that we have been trying to get done as a state for our Native communities and I would say, due to the work of Senator Murkowski, Congressman Begich and myself, we're very confident no state in the country did as well as we did in this big bill.

What I want to do is talk a little bit about what we tried to do, because the Alaska Native issues, for all of us, we weaved into almost every component of this bill in a way that we think is going to have huge impacts for our Alaska Native community.

First, I want to talk about that one bill…When this bill was written, it had Alaska in mind, particularly our Alaska Native community with regard to health care. Let me be clear on a whole host of things that's in this bill. It doesn't touch Social Security. It doesn't touch Medicare. For Alaska, it doesn't touch Medicaid in terms of funding. That's a fact.

Let me get some more specifics. For example, Alaska Native health organizations have always had 100 percent federal funding for Medicaid. Some people talked about reducing that. I said, no way. This bill has 100 percent funding for Alaska Native health organizations for Medicaid, period. That's in the bill.

Second, this bill creates, and the delegation from Alaska were the ones who led on this, a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program that was built with Alaska specifically in mind. This will deliver hundreds of millions of additional federal dollars for Alaska over the next five years to modernize clinics, hospitals, telemedicine, and workforce training across our state.

Let me give you some more examples as it relates to Alaska Native organizations.

There's a commonsense work and volunteer requirement for Medicaid and SNAP, but it does not apply to Alaska Natives. That is something else we worked to make sure didn't happen. We secured a redetermination extension for Alaska to have more time and flexibility on updating its Medicaid eligibility. That was very focused on Alaska Natives.

We made sure that the telehealth system that our state has innovated on, that our Alaska Native health organizations have done such a good job on, is made permanent and is expanded so that telehealth can be even more important in rural Alaska.

Correcting the Record on Medicaid Funding

There are a whole host of provisions in this bill that we think are going to be outstanding for our state, particularly health care. So, imagine my surprise that we've seen a lot of ads on TV, on social media, in my view, trying to scare people, trying to scare elders, trying to scare seniors, saying that this bill is actually going to hurt them or cut funding for Alaska. It's simply not true. It's not true.

Here's the reality. The one thing as we were debating this bill on the floor, amending it—the one group that tried to actually cut Medicaid for Alaskans during the negotiations was the Democratic leader of the U.S. Senate, Senator Schumer. So we stopped them. We stopped them from doing that. We put in this health care rural transformation fund.

On a whole host of other comprehensive, positive things for our state, especially for Alaska Natives, this senator kept trying to come in and get rid of them. But, here's the thing. Your delegation knows how to fight for the people we represent. That means you. Almost every single one of these times they tried to come into this bill and strip out things that were good for Alaska Natives—there was a lot of them, and they tried to do it a lot—we fought and we beat them. That's what we're trying to do, in terms of your delegation, to represent all of you strongly.

Those are the facts, and you need to know them when you see these ads on TV that are not true.

Alaska Whaling and CDQ Group Tax Provisions

Let me go through a couple of the other provisions that we think are going to be really positive. First, for our North Slope communities, we were able to get, for our whaling captains and our hunters, extension of tax benefits for the communities as it relates to whaling and hunting expenses. This is something that was really important for the communities on the North Slope, for our whaling captains. A lot of people didn't like it. Your delegation made sure that was in there.

We did something similar for the Community Development Quota program that supports jobs and training and economic development in Western Alaska. The CDQ programs are really important programs for jobs in our Native villages for economic development. Again, we were able, in this bill, despite some opposition, to strengthen those and make sure those are going to be even more important for rural development in Alaska Native villages.

Other Provisions in the Alaska Opportunity Act

If you go to the next slide, more broadly, we are able to get provisions dealing with securing the border, which we think is really important.

People ask me, “Senator, why do you care about securing the border 4,000 miles away?” Because we have the highest fentanyl overdose rates in the country, and a lot of those are in Alaska Native villages. Last year, two years in a row, we've had the highest fentanyl overdose rates. Last year, we had almost 400 young people die of this poisoning. One way to stop it is to secure the border and make sure that drug traffickers don't come into our Alaska Native villages, don't come into our states.

We think this is another huge priority of ours for our state. If you look at this slide, it has a whole host of things for small businesses, for resource development in our state, responsible resource development, that, again, so many communities here were focused on. For housing—this expands the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, makes it permanent, which is really important.

So all of these things are in this bill. We think it's a really strong bill. Our delegation worked hard together to put Alaska's interests, and particularly Alaska Native interests, in this bill. We want to work with you on the implementation of this bill, because it's so important.

Bringing Federal Officials to Alaska

Let me conclude with a few other items here. One of the things that we're trying to do—and we're trying to do it right now with Homeland Security and other folks—is bring federal officials to Alaska. Hopefully you've seen that. You guys have been such great hosts. Over the course of the last several years—it doesn't matter, Democrat or Republican administration, whenever someone goes through their cabinet advice and consent confirmation in the U.S. Senate, I always say to them, “You’ve got to come up to Alaska. You’ve got to get out to rural Alaska. You’ve got to meet with my wonderful constituents.” When they do that, they come away much more inclined to support us.

I want to thank all of you. We've done this year after year—Obama administration, Biden administration, Trump administration; it doesn't matter. It's having huge impacts. Let me just give you one example.

Some of you might remember the broadband summit we put on recently, or a couple of years ago, as it relates to getting broadband Internet connectivity to our rural communities. When we wrote the bipartisan infrastructure bill, Senator Murkowski and I fought really hard for a formula on broadband, federal dollars, to make sure that it favored rural communities.

There was a big debate. You had a lot of senators saying, “Hey, I represent urban areas. I want to go from 4G to 5G. We were kind of like, “Yo, what about ‘No G?’” Right? Rural Alaska has “No G.” we need to prioritize rural Alaska communities first. We brought all the telecom officials up to our state, held a big summit. And, what are we seeing now? We are seeing hundreds of millions, if not billions, in federal dollars [coming] to our communities to connect via the Internet and broadband. That is part of what we've been doing.

We've had other visits just since June. You saw Secretary Burgum. This is a slide that shows several of the Cabinet secretaries: Secretary Burgum, the Secretary of Energy, Secretary Wright, Secretary of Health and Human Services. I want to thank Tanana Chiefs and ANTHC for hosting Secretary Kennedy. It was so important in his visit to Alaska a couple of weeks ago. These visits are absolutely essential. I want to thank all of you, because you guys have been such great hosts.

U.S. Military Apologies to Kake, Angoon and Wrangell

I want to mention one other visit. There was something that I pressed the Pentagon on for a number of years. Some of you might remember the important visits just last year with senior military officers who offered their apologies to the villages of Kake, Angoon and Wrangell for attacks on Alaska Natives during the late 1800s. Like I said, I strongly encouraged our military to do this.

Now, you know, last year I retired from the Marine Corps after 30 years. I deeply respect our military, its traditions, its service, its sacrifice—like I know so many of you do, but no organization is perfect. When our country makes mistakes, acknowledging them should be viewed as an act of strength, not weakness.

I was honored to attend the ceremony in Angoon. Julie attended the ceremony and Wrangell. Members of my team also attended the ceremony and Kake. These were important ceremonies to continue the healing process after generations of pain. It was good to have our military finally do that in the communities.

Visits to Communities Across Alaska

I'll just end with a couple more visits we had. Julie and I were recently in Wrangell for the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood Grand Camp meetings. The ANB and ANS are some of the oldest indigenous organizations in America. We had a great, great visit. I am very proud to be an honorary member of ANB Camp 76 of Tenakee Springs. This is my ANB Camp 76 Tenakee Springs hat. Thank you, Sasha Soboleff and others. This is a huge honor for me. During that visit, I spoke about one of the most extraordinary members of ANS, Elizabeth Peratrovich. My Senate resolution to establish Elizabeth Peratrovich Day—which, by the way, passes the U.S. Senate every year—is meant to honor this great American civil rights leader.

By the way, I love that mural in Juneau. That's a selfie picture right there. My hope is, someday, she'll be recognized in the same category as Martin Luther King, Jr. by all Americans, not just Alaskans, as one of our nation's great civil rights leaders. And I know ANS and ANB are fully supportive in that important endeavor as well.

Ending Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Let me conclude with just two final topics. One is one that I talk about pretty much every year, and it goes to the heart of who we are as a state and a people. That's the fight to end sexual assault and domestic violence in our state.

We are a great state in so many ways, but on this statistic, we are not so great. I think we all need to just say it again: Violence against women, especially Alaska Native women, is a scourge on our state, on our country, that we should not tolerate.

Earlier this month, I went to the Senate floor to pass my Choose Respect Day resolution—Senate resolution—which reaffirms our commitment to ending domestic violence in our state and country. I think, working with so many in AFN when I was Alaska's attorney general, we launched our state's Choose Respect campaign. We passed laws. We ran public service announcements.

We held rallies from the smallest villages to our largest cities on this topic, and a clear message: Domestic violence has no place in our homes or communities. As your Senator, I've continued to focus on this difficult issue. But it's an issue we all need to look at and face. It's why I've authored the Choose Respect Act, which passed in 2022, and, very importantly, what's called the POWER Act.

This bill, which passed, is making a profound difference, because the bill has tens of thousands of lawyers now helping survivors escape abuse, navigate the courts, and rebuild their lives, free of charge. That's what this bill was all about. It has a particular emphasis on providing legal services for Native American women. This is so important, because when a survivor gets an attorney, they can often break out of the cycle of violence in which they found themselves. I know this is a hugely important issue for AFN and so many of you. We're going to continue to focus on it. These are the kinds of things that we're starting to make an impact on.

Alaskans of the Week

So let me conclude with this. One of the great joys of my job and the honor of your of being your U.S. senator is, I often go to the Senate floor to highlight somebody I call the “Alaskan of the Week” in a speech. These Alaskans have one thing in common: They help others and they serve their communities. And guess what? I didn't intend to do it this way, but we were looking at all the people we've honored—so many of them are Alaska Natives, which I think reflects the essential contribution of Alaska Natives to the betterment of our state and to the betterment of our country. So many.

A couple examples you see on this slide—of course, Julie Kitka, for her decades of leadership, wisdom and relentless advocacy, leading AFN for 34 years. Cynthia Erickson, who through her non-profit, Setsoo Yeh, has devoted countless of hours to creating safe spaces for children in trauma.

And, of course, some of these great Alaskans are unfortunately no longer with us. But their legacies live on in all of our lives, because they touched so many of our lives. John Active, of Bethel, one of the first Yupik language broadcasters whose voice carried the news and spirit of his people across western Alaska. Saul Atkinson—look at that handsome guy in his Navy uniform right there—one of the original Navy Seals, what they call a “plank holder” in the Navy Seals; a hero of three combat tours in Vietnam who went on to train not just Navy Seals, but astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. From Metlakatla.

And after all this, he came home, ran for mayor, and continued to fight for the rights of veterans and serve his community until the end of his days. Then, of course, Jake Adams, a brilliant leader, a pillar of the North Slope, whose mentorship and friendship to me, and countless others, is a blessing that I will always cherish.

Alaska has the best people who are standing strong, standing, united in. So many of them are from our Alaska Native community. So many of them are from all of you here. It is an honor to be united, serving and working together. I want to thank AFN again. I want to thank all of you. Thank you very much.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-speaks-on-storms-resilience-of-western-alaskans-on-senate-floor,"Murkowski Speaks on Storms, Resilience of Western Alaskans on Senate Floor",2025-10-16,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding the recent storms that have displaced more than 1,000 Alaskans and devastated communities along the coast of Western Alaska.

Watch Senator Murkowski’s full remarks here.

The rough transcript of Senator Murkowski’s remarks can be found below.

Rough Transcript

Murkowski: Mr. President, I came in at the tail end of the comments from my colleague and my friend from Delaware, and he underscored some points that I think are important to remind us here in the Senate, but also people who are watching as we are now on day 16 of a government shutdown.

There’s no great secret as to how we get the government fully functioning again. It’s going to come about through cooperation. It’s going to come about through good faith efforts by good folks who are intentioned to address the matters in front of us. We deal with politics. This is a political world. But I can tell you, so many of the people I’m talking to don’t really care about the politics of our situation. They don’t care if the Democrats are winning or the Republicans are winning. They feel like, as Americans, they’re the ones caught in this backwash.

They don’t understand why their flight was delayed or cancelled this morning. They don’t understand why the individual they’re trying to reach at an agency is not picking up the phone or why they get a message saying this office is closed until the government reopens. What they care about is that we figure it out. That we figure it out. And that requires communication. It requires talking with one another.

That’s why I appreciate much of what my colleague has shared, because as we position ourselves as two sides seemingly dug in on this 16th day of a shutdown, real people are wondering: Is their government going to be there for them?

Mr. President, I didn’t come to the floor this afternoon necessarily to focus on the shutdown. I came to speak about a situation in my state that has literally closed off, shut down, and collapsed whole communities.

We had a storm—a series of storms—hit the west coast of Alaska just over the weekend. In this smaller inset here, you see the state of Alaska, and this square panel shows the extent of the damage. This was a thousand-mile storm going from the north in Kotzebue, all the way down into the Bristol Bay region, with the bulk of the damage focused on these small Native communities on the coasts and up the Kuskokwim River.

It has been a disaster of major proportions.

We have communities being evacuated, and when we talk about evacuation, what that means is significant. People in the villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok are being told everyone from their village is being evacuated—not just to a town a few miles down the road for safety, but airlifted 500 miles to Anchorage or possibly closer to Bethel.

Before I detail some of that, it’s important to recognize what happened over the weekend. This was a massive storm bringing winds in excess of 100 miles an hour, flood surges pummeling the coast with inundation levels we’ve never seen before.

We heard stories of people trapped in their homes at night when the home was literally lifted off its foundation and carried away in the current with families inside. One father of four children woke them up to say, “We all need to go into one corner of the house in case it tips,” yet the fear, the terror of being trapped in your own home as it floated into the ocean was palpable.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Alaska National Guard were on deck, as they always are, saving lives. The Coast Guard rescued and saved 34 people. The Alaska Air Guard saved eight. The Alaska Air National Guard saved nine. Unfortunately, we did have one confirmed death, two others are believed deceased, and one is yet unaccounted for.

Sharing pictures of the extent of the damage, it’s amazing more did not lose their lives. This is a picture of Kipnuk with the inundation—the airport and the community literally beneath water. You can see boats upended, roofs ripped off homes, destruction that’s violent.

This is a home drifting in the river water, again in Kipnuk. Many of these communities are “boardwalk communities” because we don’t have roads. Movement is on small four-wheelers, whether to school or elsewhere. But literally everything is upended—power poles snapped in half, no power, no water, no safe place.

Those individuals were initially rescued to schools for safety but now are part of a massive evacuation project. More than a thousand people from 11 communities have been displaced. For example, in Kipnuk, about 680 people were evacuated into a small school, and in Kwigillingok, about 400 people took shelter at the local school for a couple of days—without running water or functioning restrooms.

Efforts by search and rescue, the Coast Guard, the National Guard, and humanitarian groups such as World Central Kitchen, Samaritan’s Purse, and the Red Cross have been considerable in getting people to shelter and safety.

Here’s a picture taken late yesterday evening: inside a [C-17], about 300 people from Kipnuk were seated on the floor, being evacuated to Anchorage—400 miles away. Anchorage is preparing, using the Alaska Airlines Center sports arena, an auxiliary gym to shelter 350 to 500 people, plus a convention center facility for another 800.

This is all very temporary, but the reality is many will not have homes to return to. About 120 homes in Kipnuk are completely destroyed and unrepairable; about 40 may be repairable. It’s October 16, and winter is coming. Construction in winter doesn’t happen. The last fuel barge to this region came and went, so the ability to move supplies and do construction is halted. Many people are displaced without homes.

But I remind you—they are not homeless. They are evacuees. All they want is to be safe for the moment.

Looking forward, it will be very challenging to address the threats they face. We get storms every year, but we’re seeing increasing frequency of lethal storms. Several years ago, Typhoon Merbok came across from Japan—a thousand-mile storm that pummeled the coast. We’re still recovering from that. Last year, another series of disasters hit the same coast, and then just this past weekend, Typhoon Halong again crossed from Japan.

These storms usually come in October, but it used to be that by then, ice would be forming in northern waters, cooling and slowing storms. Without the ice, the waters warm, which churns the typhoons and makes them more intense.

We are seeing the real-time impacts of a warming ocean and less ice.

How we deal with these issues and build resilience is extraordinarily hard right now. Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones, homes, and so much more—who are anxious about what the future holds and how we can support them.

I have great respect and admiration for all who are pulling together to provide relief and are thinking long term about how to ensure the people of Kwigillingok, Kipnuk, Nightmute, Newtok, Stebbins, Toksook, and communities all along the coast remain safe in their homes where they have lived for thousands of years.

Right now, the largest gathering of Alaska Natives is convening in Anchorage for their annual convention, much of which will focus on resilience and community support.

I share these observations not because Alaska’s storms are more powerful or more devastating than storms in other states. Mr. President, your state of Tennessee has seen awful flooding recently as well. But it’s a reminder to Congress of our role—many communities cannot provide this protection for themselves.

How do we build more resilient communities? And when disaster strikes, how can we support those affected in ways that are real and meaningful, especially in cultures where traditions differ from what we know in Washington, DC?

I’ll end with comments from a recent press briefing by the Governor about the disaster’s ongoing impact:

U.S. Coast Guard Captain Christopher Culpepper said, “If you think about previous instances of major inundations, such as Hurricane Katrina, that will start to paint the picture for what you might imagine what has happened along Western Alaska.”

Our General Saxe said this may be the largest off-road National Guard response in about 45 years.

Our reality is hard and challenging. But one thing I know about the people in this region and my state is their resilience and determination. They are connected to their lands and want to maintain their cultural identity and connection to the places they’ve called home for thousands of years.

Finally, I want to acknowledge those engaged in rescue efforts— those pulling people from floating homes, flying overflights in miserable storms, and working on the ground. They did their job even when it was uncertain if they would be paid. That point of tension has been resolved now that the President announced the military and Coast Guard will be paid through the next pay period.

This is critically important. Our responsibility is to ensure they don’t have to worry about pay when they’re flying rescue missions—not thinking about groceries or rent.

We have work to do.

To those back home in Alaska working closely to care for those truly afraid about their future, know that we are all working with you, and our hearts are with you.

With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-and-colleagues-urge-administration-to-follow-law-on-back-pay-for-furloughed-federal-workers,Murkowski and Colleagues Urge Administration to Follow Law on Back Pay for Furloughed Federal Workers,2025-10-15,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA-08) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05) led their colleagues in sending a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought urging OMB to follow the law—which President Donald Trump signed in 2019—that requires furloughed federal employees to receive back pay after a government shutdown ends.

The members underscore that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 is clear that all federal employees, whether they are excepted or furloughed, are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends.

“The law is clear: all impacted government employees, regardless of excepted or furloughed status, are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends, which is consistent with the guidance currently provided by federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM),” the members wrote. “OPM’s shutdown guidance from September 2025 still states that furloughed federal workers will be provided back pay once the government reopens.”

The members continued, “The decision by OMB to remove critical guidance on federal employee back pay is causing unnecessary stress for the federal workforce comprised of nearly 2.2 million employees.”

“We request you immediately clarify and update the Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations Document and other relevant materials to affirm that furloughed employees will receive back pay, as is required by law,” the members concluded.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Director Vought:

The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) recent update to the Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations document implies that furloughed federal workers are not entitled to back pay. Additionally, a draft OMB memo stated the administration would deny back pay to furloughed federal workers for the current government shutdown. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, we worked with President Trump to enact the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA) of 2019, the intent of which is clear – federal employees are entitled to retroactive pay in the event of a government shutdown. We applauded President Trump for signing this bipartisan bill into law.

On January 16, 2019, the Senate unanimously passed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act to guarantee back pay for all impacted federal workers once a government shutdown ends. This law was enacted during the longest government shutdown which lasted 35 days at the end of 2018, and into the beginning of 2019. Prior to the law’s passage, Congress had to pass specific legislation after each shutdown to ensure furloughed workers received back pay.

Explicitly, the law guarantees back pay for all federal employees in the event of a government shutdown. “Each employee of the United States Government or of a District of Columbia public employer furloughed as a result of a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for the period of the lapse in appropriations, and each excepted employee who is required to perform work during a covered lapse in appropriations shall be paid for such work, at the employee’s standard rate of pay, at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations ends, regardless of scheduled pay dates, and subject to the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse.” The law requires that retroactive pay be required in the event of any government shutdown after December 22, 2018.

The law is clear: all impacted government employees, regardless of excepted or furloughed status, are entitled to back pay after a government shutdown ends, which is consistent with the guidance currently provided by federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). OPM’s shutdown guidance from September 2025 still states that furloughed federal workers will be provided back pay once the government reopens. The decision by OMB to remove critical guidance on federal employee back pay is causing unnecessary stress for the federal workforce comprised of nearly 2.2 million employees.

Thus, we request you immediately clarify and update the Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations Document and other relevant materials to affirm that furloughed employees will receive back pay, as is required by law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-ndaa-strengthens-national-defense-by-investing-in-alaska,Murkowski: NDAA Strengthens National Defense By Investing in Alaska,2025-10-11,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC – Yesterday evening, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 77-20. This year’s NDAA authorizes $925.8 billion for U.S. defense and national security programs.

The FY26 NDAA provides a 3.8 percent pay raise for military personnel, expands investment in military construction, supports state-of-the-art defense technologies, and strengthens America’s alliances abroad, all while delivering meaningful wins for Alaska’s defense infrastructure.

NDAA FY26 Highlights for Alaska

Investing in Alaska’s Military Infrastructure

The NDAA authorizes critical new military construction (MILCON) projects across Alaska that will strengthen readiness, enhance quality of life, and support ongoing missions in the Arctic and Indo-Pacific.

Eielson Air Force Base: Base Civil Engineer Pavements & Ground Facility; Coal Thaw Shed Addition; Consolidated Munitions Complex; and the JPARC Operations Facility.

Fort Wainwright: New barracks and dining facility to improve quality of life for soldiers.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER): Base Supply Complex, Joint Integrated Test and Training Center (JITTC), and Maintenance Facility.

Also included was a Senator Murkowski amendment that will expand the Defense Community Infrastructure Program to allow demolition projects as eligible for assistance, ensuring that communities supporting nearby military installations can modernize obsolete structures.

Supporting Alaska’s Servicemembers and Their Families

Our servicemembers and their families sacrifice so much to defend our nation, and Senator Murkowski has always prioritized that Congress provide the support they need to execute their mission and provide for their loved ones. To that end, this legislation provides a 3.8 percent pay raise for our military personnel.

The legislation also provides for:

Flyback Program for Unaccompanied Members: Directs the Department of Defense to establish a government-funded travel program allowing unaccompanied servicemembers stationed overseas to return home for leave. An important quality-of-life measure to support morale, Senator Murkowski has long been a champion of this program for those serving in Alaska, first introducing it through her Arctic Warrior Act in 2022. She is committed to exploring new and innovative initiatives to support our servicemembers mental health and help combat suicide.

Improving Access to Training and Education: The bill modifies payment requirements for the Department of Defense’s Regional Centers for Security Studies, including the Ted Stevens Center at JBER in Alaska, to expand participation from allied nations, enhancing joint training opportunities.

Cold Weather Gear Modernization: Authorizes $11.2 million for the Comprehensive Protective Cold Weather Layering System, ensuring that troops operating in Alaska and other extreme environments are properly equipped for their missions.

Fire Suppression and Safety: Provides $5 million for aerial fire suppression capabilities to bolster emergency response and protect installations across Alaska. The materials can also be used to help fight wildfires throughout the state.

Nuclear Micro-Reactor Development: Authorizes $5 million to advance the Nuclear Mobile Micro-Reactor Program, promoting energy resilience and operational flexibility for remote bases.

Expanding America’s Defense Capabilities

The FY26 NDAA invests in the next generation of defense technology and national security innovation while investing in our allies to keep Americans safe at home and abroad.

Adds nuclear fission and fusion energy to the list of “covered technologies” for defense innovation programs—an effort Murkowski has long championed as part of her commitment to clean, advanced energy.

Authorizes a comprehensive study on future U.S. space launch capacity, including infrastructure, long-term viability, and potential for heavy and super-heavy launch operations. This study recognizes Alaska’s growing potential role as a leader in national space defense initiatives.

Supports the Golden Dome missile defense program and allocates up to $200 million to strengthen Israel’s missile defense capabilities.

Authorizes $500 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and extends it through 2028, underscoring our commitment to global security.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-duckworth-bipartisan-legislation-to-expand-leave-benefits-for-public-health-commissioned-officers-passes-senate,"Murkowski, Duckworth Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Leave Benefits for Public Health Commissioned Officers Passes Senate",2025-10-10,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=5,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to help expand leave benefits for the devoted health professionals serving in the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps passed the Senate by unanimous consent. Despite being responsible for leading our nation’s emergency response to dangerous public health crises and natural disasters, PHS officers are still the only federal entity—civilian or uniformed—without access to essential leave benefits, including extended parental leave, emergency leave, court appearance leave and rest and recuperation leave. The Senators’ Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act would rectify this issue by ensuring PHS officers have access to the same authorized leave that is available to members of the Armed Services.

“I was proud to help lead the effort to advance the Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act, first in the HELP Committee and then on the Senate floor, bringing us one step closer to fixing this longstanding inequity,” said Murkowski. “Our Public Health Service officers stand on the front lines during national crises—from public health emergencies to natural disasters—and deserve the same benefits afforded to their fellow uniformed service members.”

“When disease or disaster threatens our public safety, PHS officers are on the front lines helping keep the American people healthy and out of harm’s way—there’s no reason they shouldn’t have the same leave benefits that officers of the Army, Navy or any of our other uniformed services do,” said Duckworth. “This bipartisan legislation would help ensure these devoted health professionals have equal access to the benefits they deserve, and I’m proud it passed the Senate by unanimous consent.”

When it comes to leave benefits, the inequity that persists between PHS and the other uniformed services undermines PHS’s ability to recruit and retain qualified professionals that help our nation tackle public health crises like natural disasters, COVID-19 or Ebola. Not only does this inequity compromise the wellbeing of PHS officers, but it also ultimately threatens our nation’s public health emergency preparedness.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/senate-votes-to-overturn-biden-central-yukon-plan-restore-balanced-management,"Senate Votes to Overturn Biden Central Yukon Plan, Restore Balanced Management",2025-10-10,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4,scraper,"Washington, DC— The U.S. Senate, by a vote of 50 to 46, last night passed Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski’s (both R-Alaska) joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Biden administration’s Central Yukon Resource Management Plan (CYRMP) Record of Decision (ROD), issued in November of 2024. The Biden-era CYRMP ignored the need for balanced management, purposely restricting access to resource development and economic opportunities in the region. It also blatantly contradicted multiple federal laws, including the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), the Alaska Statehood Act, and the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act, while abdicating the principles of multiple-use management required by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). On September 3, the House passed Congressman Nick Begich’s (R-Alaska) companion CRA resolution. The legislation now goes to the President’s desk for approval.

Watch Senator Murkowski’s full remarks here.

“Senator Sullivan and I advanced this disapproval resolution for the Central Yukon RMP because the 1,800-page plan finalized last year – over our objections – unnecessarily restricted access to millions of acres of Alaska and kept obsolete Public Land Orders in place,” Sen. Murkowski said. “Re-opening the Central Yukon RMP will allow BLM to develop a more balanced plan that complies with numerous federal laws – including ANCSA, ANILCA, and ALTAA – as well as the fundamental principle of multiple use on public land. I expect a new final plan to address long-standing access issues, provide greater opportunity for economic development, including key energy and mineral resources, and ensure Alaska Native landowners in the region can maximize the use of their own lands while still protecting subsistence and conserving where truly necessary.”

“The Biden administration’s Central Yukon Resource Management Plan was an egregious case of federal overreach and just one of the administration’s 70 executive orders and actions singularly focused on harming Alaska, our economy, and our working families,” said Sen. Sullivan. “This particular scheme effectively locked up millions of acres of Alaska’s land, ignored Alaska Native voices, undermined long-standing federal law, and blocked access to critical mineral, energy, gravel, and material resources that our local communities, state and nation need. As I said in my remarks on the floor today, these issues of access to lands and responsible resource development are not just theoretical. Over time, they actually impact the very health and livelihoods of my constituents. I wish more of my Senate Democratic colleagues would’ve respected this fact, shown some courage, crossed the far-left Lower 48 eco-colonialist groups endlessly trying to lock up our state, and stood with Alaskans. I do want to thank a majority of our colleagues in the Senate—and of our House colleagues in early September—for standing with me, Senator Murkowski and Congressman Begich, and helping to ensure Alaska’s resources are managed responsibly for the benefit of our people, economy, and national security.”

“The Biden-era Central Yukon plan locked up millions of acres of land and cut off access to resources critical to our national and economic security in Alaska. With Senate passage of this resolution, we are re-opening opportunity in one of Alaska’s most impoverished regions,” said Congressman Begich. “By continuing to restore Alaska’s ability to responsibly develop its own resources, we strengthen America’s national security and lower costs for working families across our state. I am proud to see this legislation head to the President’s desk and grateful for the work of Senator Murkowski and Senator Sullivan to get this across the finish line as we continue to unlock Alaska’s resource potential.”

The CRA provides Congress an expedited mechanism to overturn certain federal agency regulations and actions through a joint resolution of disapproval. A joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA is afforded special procedures, bypassing normal Senate rules and allowing for a vote on the Senate floor. If a CRA joint resolution of disapproval is approved by a simple majority in both houses of Congress and signed by the President—or if Congress successfully overrides a presidential veto—the rule is invalidated.

On February 28, 2025, Alaska’s congressional delegation submitted a request to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to determine whether the Biden-era CYRMP ROD constituted a “rule” under the CRA. GAO issued its legal opinion on June 25, 2025, concluding that the CYRMP is subject to CRA disapproval. The opinion was entered into the Congressional Record on June 26, 2025, triggering the CRA timeline.

The delegation’s legislation fulfills the objectives of President Trump’s Day One executive order, “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” which directs the Secretary of the Interior to rescind the Biden-era CYRMP and reinstate a prior draft plan, recognizing that the 2024 ROD imposes unjustified barriers to development, access, and land use in violation of longstanding federal policy toward Alaska.

The legislation does not remove conservation designations for areas established by ANILCA or other legislation, provide automatic approval for the Ambler Access Project or other potential resource development projects, facilitate public land sales, or exclude this area from federal laws pertaining to land management or permitting.

The Alaska delegation’s CRA resolution is supported by Doyon, Limited, an Alaska Native Corporation and major landowner in the region; the Alaska North Slope Regional Trilateral—the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, the North Slope Borough, and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation; the Alaska Miners Association; the Resource Development Council of Alaska; Americans for Prosperity; American Energy Alliance; the National Federation of Independent Business; the American Exploration and Mining Association; Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions; and the Trump administration.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-welcomes-usfinland-partnership-to-close-americas-icebreaker-gap,Sullivan Welcomes U.S.–Finland Partnership to Close America’s Icebreaker Gap,2025-10-10,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today applauded the announcement of a new agreement between the United States and Finland to build up to four advanced polar icebreakers. The $6.1 billion agreement will mark a significant expansion of U.S. icebreaking capacity as Russia and China continue to expand their military and commercial presence in the Arctic.

This partnership reinforces the trilateral Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact between Finland, the United States, and Canada, allowing all three nations to significantly accelerate icebreaker development and production through shared expertise and resources in support of America’s Arctic security. This builds on years of work by Senator Sullivan to revitalize America’s polar security capabilities. As chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee overseeing the Coast Guard, Sen. Sullivan was instrumental in securing nearly $25 billion in historic Coast Guard investments through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That package included$300 million for shoreside infrastructure to homeport the USCGC Storis—the first new icebreaker in a generation—in Juneau, Alaska.

“If any state in the country knows one of our national security challenges, it's this and it's us: We have an icebreaker gap,” said Sen. Sullivan in a video released today. “Right now, we have two icebreakers—one is broken—and the Russians have 54, many of which are nuclear-powered, and weaponized. But here's the really good news: We are closing the icebreaker gap in a whole bunch of ways. Just in August, we were in Juneau to commission the Coast Guard icebreaker Storis. It was a great ceremony. I'd been working on that for ten years. The budget reconciliation bill has $300 million in shoreside infrastructure just for Juneau to homeport that icebreaker. Then, that bill also has the biggest build-up in the Coast Guard's history for icebreakers, cutters, helicopters. I chair the Senate Commerce subcommittee in charge of the Coast Guard. We're going to have at least 16 new icebreakers because of that bill—three are what they call ‘medium’ security icebreakers. Guess where I'm going to work my tail off to get them homeported? In our great state!

“Finally, yesterday, President Trump and the president of Finland announced more progress on this ICE Pact. $6.1 billion and having the Finns help us build and purchase icebreakers for us, hopefully for Alaska. I've talked to the President. I've talked to the president of Finland about this. President Trump's been on this icebreaker gap way since his first term. This is real progress. The one state that's going to benefit better than anyone is us.”

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/senate-passes-rep-begich-resolution-overturn-bidens-central-yukon-land-lock,Senate Passes Rep. Begich Resolution to Overturn Biden’s Central Yukon Land Lock-Up,2025-10-09,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oct. 9, 2025 — Today, the U.S. Senate passed H.J. Res. 106, legislation led in the House by Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Biden Administration’s restrictive Central Yukon Resource Management Plan (RMP). The measure now heads to the President’s desk—marking Congressman Begich’s third bill to advance to the White House this Congress.

“The Biden-era Central Yukon plan locked up millions of acres of land and cut off access to resources critical to our national and economic security in Alaska. With Senate passage of this resolution, we are re-opening opportunity in one of Alaska’s most impoverished regions,” said Congressman Begich. “By continuing to restore Alaska’s ability to responsibly develop its own resources, we strengthen America’s national security and lower costs for working families across our state. I am proud to see this legislation head to the President’s desk and grateful for the work of Senator Murkowski and Senator Sullivan to get this across the finish line as we continue to unlock Alaska’s resource potential.”

The Central Yukon RMP, finalized in November 2024, replaced land management plans that had been in place since 1991, 1986, and 1981 – imposing sweeping new land-use restrictions across more than 13 million acres of land in one of Alaska’s most impoverished regions.

Under the Congressional Review Act, the passage of H.J. Res. 106 immediately invalidates the Biden-era plan, reinstating the previous RMPs that prioritize multiple use, responsible development, and local decision-making. The change reopens access to:

1.86 million acres previously designated as “critical environmental concern” for multiple use.

330,000 acres of utility and transportation corridors vital for infrastructure

Additional lands for oil, gas, and nonenergy mineral leasing, supporting jobs and revenue for Alaskans and ensuring resource security for the United States.

This marks Congressman Begich’s third piece of legislation to pass both chambers in the 119th Congress.

H.J. Res. 106 now heads to the President’s desk for signature.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-votes-to-bring-war-powers-resolution-to-the-senate-floor,Murkowski Votes to Bring War Powers Resolution to the Senate Floor,2025-10-09,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=5,scraper,"Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after her vote on Senate Joint Resolution 83.

“Last night, I voted to support a motion to discharge from committee a resolution that would terminate military hostilities against transnational criminal organizations newly designated as foreign terrorist organizations without the express approval of Congress. To be clear, this resolution does nothing to hold back the United States from defending itself against an armed attack or imminent threat.

“I was briefed by the administration just this afternoon, but aspects of the briefing were lacking—including a failure to provide the opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel being used as justification for these actions. While I commend the administration’s concerted efforts to address the devastation of drug trafficking on communities across the country, I do not believe the information I have received justifies this interpretation of the President’s Article II powers.

“I take very seriously my Article I responsibility when it comes to Congress’s power to declare war. I don’t think that full information on the legal and factual justification for armed attacks on suspected drug traffickers is too much to ask.

“Allowing this resolution to come to the Senate floor would have provided the administration with ample time to furnish Congress with additional information. I would have used that information to make a final decision on how to vote on the underlying resolution.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-sullivan-legislation-protecting-alaska-native-artists-cultural-heritage-and-economic-opportunities,Senate Passes Sullivan Legislation Protecting Alaska Native Artists’ Cultural Heritage and Economic Opportunities,2025-10-09,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) celebrated the Senate’s unanimous passage yesterday of his bill, the Alaska’s Right to Ivory Sales and Tradition (ARTIST) Act, which protects the legal rights of Alaska Native artists using walrus ivory in traditional handicrafts, art, ceremonial regalia, and clothing. In recent years, several states have enacted overly broad ivory bans intended to curb illegal elephant ivory trafficking, but those laws have unintentionally included Alaska’s lawful, sustainable handicrafts from walrus ivory. This bill clarifies that states may not ban the import, sale, or possession of authentic Alaska Native handicrafts, ensuring that this lawful and culturally vital tradition can continue to be practiced and shared with people across the country.

“For thousands of years, Alaska Natives have responsibly harvested whales, walruses, and other marine mammals. These animals are eaten, shared, honored, and no part of the animal goes to waste,” said Sen. Sullivan. “The bones, the ivory, the baleen are used to create some of the most beautiful art in the world. Unfortunately, some of the lawfully harvested and crafted walrus ivory works of Alaska Native artisans have been targeted by well-intentioned but overly broad state laws aimed at stopping the illegal African elephant ivory trade. I thank my Senate colleagues for unanimously passing my ARTIST Act—which we’ve been working on for over eight years, affirming the right of the Alaska Native people to continue these centuries-old traditional practices, and supporting a critically important economic driver for Alaska’s rural communities.”

Below are statements from key leaders and stakeholders in support of Sen. Sullivan’s legislation.

Ben Mallott, president of the Alaska Federation of Natives: “The passing of this legislation marks a significant step forward in recognizing and respecting the cultural heritage and livelihoods of Alaska Native artisans. We celebrate this victory for our communities, as it acknowledges the importance of traditional practices and supports the continuation of our cultural expressions. We thank Senator Sullivan for his advocacy on this matter, and look forward to a swift passage in the House.”

Melanie Bahnke, president of Kawerak, Inc: “For thousands of years, Alaska Natives have sustainably harvested Pacific Walrus to survive in theArctic. As our ancestors have, we continue to rely on this resource for food, tools, and to create artwork celebrating our culture. We are grateful that the Senate passed this bill to ensure that our artwork and tools are not deemed illegal in various parts of the United States. On behalf of Kawerak and the people we serve, thank you Senator Sullivan, for recognizing that banning our culture is wrong, and for championing this bill through the Senate. We hope that the House will also find that our way of life is worthy of protection and this bill is signed into law.”

Vera Metcalf, director of the Eskimo Walrus Commission: “The Eskimo Walrus Commission (EWC) strongly supports this bill and thanks Senator Sullivan and his staff for working with us on it. We also greatly appreciate the support from Kawerak, the Indigenous People’s Council on Marine Mammals (IPComm), the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), WWF Arctic Program, and especially our Alaska Native communities. The Pacific walrus remains a significant component of our Indigenous food security and remains a major feature of Alaska Native cultural heritage. Our use of ivory gives full expression to our traditional relationship with the Pacific walrus and our way-of-life. EWC thanks Congress for passing this bill to ensure the cultural and economic well-being of Alaska Native communities thrive.”

Nagruk Harcharek, president and CEO of Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat:“This is an important cultural milestone for the North Slope Iñupiat, who have utilized walrus ivory from our traditional subsistence hunting activities as tools, arts, and crafts. Our communities have relied on this natural resource for thousands of years, and we are pleased that this legislative effort seeks to protect our cultural heritage for generations to come.”

Steve MacLean, managing director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) U.S. Arctic Program: “The ARTIST Act reaffirms the rights of Alaska Native artists to create and sell authentic artworks and traditional handicrafts in the U.S. that are made from sustainably sourced marine mammal products, including walrus ivory. This longstanding cultural tradition is a vital source of economic opportunity and income for many Alaska Native communities, and walrus remain a critical component of Indigenous food security and cultural expression. Senator Sullivan, working with the Eskimo Walrus Commission, has shown dedication and leadership in crafting this bill, which helps to restore opportunities for Alaska Native artists to share their artwork and provide for their families. We now encourage the House to take it up and pass it into law.”

The full bill text can be found here.

Timeline:

In January 2025, Sen. Sullivan reintroduced the ARTIST Act at the start of the 119th Congress to continue his effort to protect the rights of Alaska Native artists.

In October 2024, Sen. Sullivan introduced the ARTIST Act.

In September 2020, Sen. Sullivan led a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on the Empowering Rural Economies Through Alaska Native Sustainable Arts and Handicrafts Act, Sen. Sullivan’s bill to preempt states from banning walrus ivory, whale bone, and other marine mammal products that have been legally carved by Alaska Native people under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

Sen. Sullivan has advocated for Etsy and Facebook to amend their guidelines on handicraft sales to include products or artwork made by Alaska Native artists using sealskin, otter, walrus ivory, and other protected materials.

In September 2017, Sen. Sullivan wrote the National Governors Association and National Conference of State Legislatures with the Alaska congressional delegation to highlight the “potentially devastating and unintended consequences of broadly crafted state ivory bans that are currently in place or under consideration in nearly half of the United States.”

In September 2017, Sen. Sullivan introduced the Allowing Alaska IVORY Act, legislation to preempt states from banning walrus ivory or whale bone products that have been legally carved by Alaska Native people under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

In October 2016, Sen. Sullivan convened a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee field hearing at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention to discuss a series of reported problems and confusion surrounding state laws across the country that prohibit ivory sales and harm Alaska Native artisans.

In June 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a regulation banning most commercial and non-commercial trade in raw and worked ivory of African elephants following a global decrease in elephant populations due to illegal poaching. Many states have since enacted broader bans on ivory sales that generally include walrus, mammoth, and fossilized ivory used by Alaska Natives and Alaskans to produce artistic carvings, clothing, or authentic handiworks. These actions led to confusion among consumers regarding other legal ivory products, resulting in decreased demand for legal Alaska Native handicrafts and mammoth ivory carvings.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-murkowski-begich-celebrate-senate-overturning-biden-central-yukon-lock-up,"Sullivan, Murkowski, Begich Celebrate Senate Overturning Biden Central Yukon Lock-Up",2025-10-09,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate, by a vote of 50 to 46, today passed Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski’s (both R-Alaska) joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Biden administration’s Central Yukon Resource Management Plan (CYRMP) Record of Decision (ROD), issued in November of 2024. The Biden-era CYRMP ignored the need for balanced management, purposely restricting access to resource development and economic opportunities in the region. It also blatantly contradicted multiple federal laws, including the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), theAlaska Statehood Act, and the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act, while abdicating the principles of multiple-use management required by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). On September 3, the House passedCongressman Nick Begich’s (R-Alaska) companion CRA resolution. The legislation now goes to the President’s desk for approval.

“The Biden administration’s Central Yukon Resource Management Plan was an egregious case of federal overreach and just one of the administration’s 70 executive orders and actions singularly focused on harming Alaska, our economy, and our working families,” said Sen. Sullivan. “This particular scheme effectively locked up millions of acres of Alaska’s land, ignored Alaska Native voices, undermined long-standing federal law, and blocked access to critical mineral, energy, gravel, and material resources that our local communities, state and nation need. As I said in my remarks on the floor today, these issues of access to lands and responsible resource development are not just theoretical. Over time, they actually impact the very health and livelihoods of my constituents. I wish more of my Senate Democratic colleagues would’ve respected this fact, shown some courage, crossed the far-left Lower 48 eco-colonialist groups endlessly trying to lock up our state, and stood with Alaskans. I do want to thank a majority of our colleagues in the Senate—and of our House colleagues in early September—for standing with me, Senator Murkowski and Congressman Begich, and helping to ensure Alaska’s resources are managed responsibly for the benefit of our people, economy, and national security.”

“Senator Sullivan and I advanced this disapproval resolution for the Central Yukon RMP because the 1,800-page plan finalized last year – over our objections – unnecessarily restricted access to millions of acres of Alaska and kept obsolete Public Land Orders in place,” Sen. Murkowski said. “Re-opening the Central Yukon RMP will allow BLM to develop a more balanced plan that complies with numerous federal laws – including ANCSA, ANILCA, and ALTAA – as well as the fundamental principle of multiple use on public land. I expect a new final plan to address long-standing access issues, provide greater opportunity for economic development, including key energy and mineral resources, and ensure Alaska Native landowners in the region can maximize the use of their own lands while still protecting subsistence and conserving where truly necessary.”

“The Biden-era Central Yukon plan locked up millions of acres of land and cut off access to resources critical to our national and economic security in Alaska. With Senate passage of this resolution, we are re-opening opportunity in one of Alaska’s most impoverished regions,” said Congressman Begich. “By continuing to restore Alaska’s ability to responsibly develop its own resources, we strengthen America’s national security and lower costs for working families across our state. I am proud to see this legislation head to the President’s desk and grateful for the work of Senator Murkowski and Senator Sullivan to get this across the finish line as we continue to unlock Alaska’s resource potential.”

The CRA provides Congress an expedited mechanism to overturn certain federal agency regulations and actions through a joint resolution of disapproval. A joint resolution of disapproval under the CRA is afforded special procedures, bypassing normal Senate rules and allowing for a vote on the Senate floor. If a CRA joint resolution of disapproval is approved by a simple majority in both houses of Congress and signed by the President—or if Congress successfully overrides a presidential veto—the rule is invalidated.

On February 28, 2025, Alaska’s congressional delegation submitted a request to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to determine whether the Biden-era CYRMP ROD constituted a “rule” under the CRA. GAO issued its legal opinion on June 25, 2025, concluding that the CYRMP is subject to CRA disapproval. The opinion was entered into the Congressional Record on June 26, 2025, triggering the CRA timeline.

The delegation’s legislation fulfills the objectives of President Trump’s Day One executive order, “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” which directs the Secretary of the Interior to rescind the Biden-era CYRMP and reinstate a prior draft plan, recognizing that the 2024 ROD imposes unjustified barriers to development, access, and land use in violation of longstanding federal policy toward Alaska.

The legislation does not remove conservation designations for areas established by ANILCA or other legislation, provide automatic approval for the Ambler Access Project or other potential resource development projects, facilitate public land sales, or exclude this area from federal laws pertaining to land management or permitting.

The Alaska delegation’s CRA resolution is supported by Doyon, Limited, an Alaska Native Corporation and major landowner in the region; the Alaska North Slope Regional Trilateral—the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, the North Slope Borough, and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation; the Alaska Miners Association; Americans for Prosperity; American Energy Alliance; the National Federation of Independent Business; the American Exploration and Mining Association; Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions; the Resource Development Council of Alaska; and the Trump administration.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-begich-commends-president-trumps-action-advance-ambler-road-access,Congressman Begich Commends President Trump’s Action to Advance Ambler Road Access,2025-10-06,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,AK,Nicholas J. Begich III,B001323,begich.house.gov,begich,https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — October 6, 2025 – Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) released the following statement applauding President Trump’s decision directing federal agencies to reinstate permits for the Ambler Road project and reverse the Biden Administration’s 2024 Record of Decision disapproving access to lands owned by the people of Alaska.

“The Ambler Mining District is a strategic asset for Alaska and an important pathway to critical mineral development in the United States,” said Congressman Begich. “By advancing this access, we are creating new opportunities for Alaskans while strengthening America’s supply chain and reducing dependence on foreign adversaries for our critical mineral needs. I applaud the President’s decision to support this appeal, and I look forward to working with the Administration, state leaders, and Alaska Native communities to ensure this project moves forward in a way that benefits all Alaskans.”

Background

The Ambler Access Project is a road that will provide surface transportation access to the Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska. The district contains world-class deposits of copper, cobalt, zinc, germanium, and other critical minerals essential for America’s technology manufacturing and national security.

Congress guaranteed access to the Ambler District in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) passed in 1980. That law explicitly requires the Secretary of the Interior to permit access from the Ambler Mining District to the Alaska Pipeline Haul Road.

The road was first approved in 2020 under President Trump, following years of environmental review, public engagement, and comment. In 2022, the Biden Administration sought and received a court remand that revoked the 2020 approval and required additional environmental review and public comment. Then, in 2024, the Biden Administration issued a new Record of Decision unlawfully denying access to state lands.

President Trump’s executive order reverses that decision, directing federal agencies to reinstate the Ambler Road permits and move forward with access. The action follows AIDEA’s Section 1106 appeal and signals a renewed federal recognition of Alaska’s right to responsibly develop its lands and resources.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/alaska-delegation-commends-president-trumps-re-approval-of-the-ambler-access-project,Alaska Delegation Commends President Trump’s Re-Approval of the Ambler Access Project,2025-10-06,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,murkowski,https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=5,scraper,"Washington, DC—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich, all R-Alaska, today released the following statements after President Donald J. Trump issued a determination re-approving the Ambler Access Project in Alaska. President Trump made his decision in accordance with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), which allows the project’s applicant, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), to appeal its federal disapproval directly to the President.

In addition to the President’s ANILCA determination, the Department of Defense (War) announced a strategic partnership with Ambler Metals today that will provide a $35.6 million investment to advance mining exploration in the world-class Ambler Mining District in exchange for an equity stake in Trilogy Metals, which is part of the Ambler Metals joint venture.

“I thank President Trump for issuing this determination and getting the Ambler project back on track after it was derailed by politics at the end of the Biden administration. Congress enshrined this project’s approval into federal law in 1980 as part of a ‘grand bargain’ to conserve more than 100 million acres of land in Alaska, and it has more national significance now than ever,” Senator Murkowski said. “The President’s re-approval will unlock a world-class mining district, deliver quality-of-life benefits for communities in the region, and help grow Alaska’s economy. It will also improve our national security by strengthening our mineral security and enabling us to produce more of our most important resources here at home. I look forward to federal agencies promptly re-issuing permits and authorizations so that the Ambler access project can finally proceed, and to working with the local people and Alaska Native Corporations to ensure a successful project.”

“I want to thank President Trump and his team, especially Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum, for granting this appeal under Section 1106 of ANILCA, rolling back the Biden administration’s egregious and lawless denial of a right-of-way for the Ambler Access Project,” said Senator Sullivan. “This appeal is great news for Alaska, for jobs for our workers, for American national security, for reducing our country’s critical mineral dependence on China, and for the incredible Alaskans of the region. I just spoke by phone with the President about this important announcement, and he reiterated his strong commitment to advancing the Ambler Access Project, and so many other important projects for our state, including the King Cove Road and the Alaska LNG Project. I’ve always said the Ambler Access Project has to be done right, with close consultation with Alaska Native and community leaders and with respect for our environment and subsistence way of life. We were able to make great progress on these fronts under the first Trump administration, but the Biden administration came in and killed this project and the thousands of good-paying jobs, economic opportunity, and improved cost of living across the region that would come with it, subverting the clear intent of ANILCA. I’m glad to see another critically important project for our state’s economy and working families being put back on track.”

“The Ambler Mining District is a strategic asset for Alaska and an important pathway to critical mineral development in the United States,” said Congressman Begich. “By advancing this access, we are creating new opportunities for Alaskans while strengthening America’s supply chain and reducing dependence on foreign adversaries for our critical mineral needs. I applaud the President’s decision to support this appeal, and I look forward to working with the Administration, state leaders, and Alaska Native communities to ensure this project moves forward in a way that benefits all Alaskans.”

The Ambler Access Project will provide surface transportation access to the Ambler Mining District and enable the domestic development of critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, gallium, and germanium. The U.S. heavily depends on foreign nations for many of the minerals within the Ambler District, including several for which China has threatened to cut off U.S. supplies.

ANILCA established a right-of-way (ROW) and ensured access across federal lands by stating that the Secretary of the Interior “shall permit” a road “from the Ambler Mining District to the Alaska Pipeline Haul Road.” That provision was included in ANILCA to ensure balance between conservation—the creation of the surrounding 8.4-million-acre Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve—and responsible resource development to benefit Alaska and the nation.

Federal permitting for Ambler began a full decade ago, in 2015. The project was fully approved, and ROW permits were issued, in 2020. In 2022, however, the Biden administration sought a voluntary court remand to conduct a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). Last June, the Biden administration stunningly rejected the project in its entirety, ignoring the law and greatly exaggerating its potential impacts to justify its selection of the “no action” alternative.

When a federal agency rejects a transportation or utility system project on non-federal-wilderness land in Alaska, Section 1106 of ANILCA allows the project sponsor to directly appeal that decision to the President. AIDEA submitted an application appealing the Biden administration’s decision on Ambler earlier this year, starting a 120-day clock for a presidential determination. The President’s determination is based on factors listed in the statute, including the need for the transportation system and the national security interests of the United States.

Now that President Trump has approved AIDEA’s Section 1106 application for the Ambler project, ANILCA requires all relevant federal agencies to “promptly issue, in accordance with applicable law, such rights-of-way, permits, licenses, leases, certificates, or other authorizations as are necessary with respect to the establishment of the system.”

To read the President’s determination, click here.

To access the full text of ANILCA, including Section 1106, click here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-commends-president-trumps-re-approval-of-the-ambler-access-project,Alaska Delegation Commends President Trump’s Re-Approval of the Ambler Access Project,2025-10-06,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich, all R-Alaska, today released the following statements after President Donald J. Trump issued a determination re-approving the Ambler Access Project in Alaska. President Trump made his decision in accordance with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), which allows the project’s applicant, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), to appeal its federal disapproval directly to the President.

In addition to the President’s ANILCA determination, the Department of Defense (War) announced a strategic partnership with Ambler Metals today that will provide a $35.6 million investment to advance mining exploration in the world-class Ambler Mining District in exchange for an equity stake in Trilogy Metals, which is part of the Ambler Metals joint venture.

“I thank President Trump for issuing this determination and getting the Ambler project back on track after it was derailed by politics at the end of the Biden administration. Congress enshrined this project’s approval into federal law in 1980 as part of a ‘grand bargain’ to conserve more than 100 million acres of land in Alaska, and it has more national significance now than ever,” SenatorMurkowski said. “The President’s re-approval will unlock a world-class mining district, deliver quality-of-life benefits for communities in the region, and help grow Alaska’s economy. It will also improve our national security by strengthening our mineral security and enabling us to produce more of our most important resources here at home. I look forward to federal agencies promptly re-issuing permits and authorizations so that the Ambler access project can finally proceed, and to working with the local people and Alaska Native Corporations to ensure a successful project.”

“I want to thank President Trump and his team, especially Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum, for granting this appeal under Section 1106 of ANILCA, rolling back the Biden administration’s egregious and lawless denial of a right-of-way for the Ambler Access Project,” said Senator Sullivan. “This appeal is great news for Alaska, for jobs for our workers, for American national security, for reducing our country’s critical mineral dependence on China, and for the incredible Alaskans of the region. I just spoke by phone with the President about this important announcement, and he reiterated his strong commitment to advancing the Ambler Access Project, and so many other important projects for our state, including the King Cove Road and the Alaska LNG Project. I’ve always said the Ambler Access Project has to be done right, with close consultation with Alaska Native and community leaders and with respect for our environment and subsistence way of life. We were able to make great progress on these fronts under the first Trump administration, but the Biden administration came in and killed this project and the thousands of good-paying jobs, economic opportunity, and improved cost of living across the region that would come with it, subverting the clear intent of ANILCA. I’m glad to see another critically important project for our state’s economy and working families being put back on track.”

“The Ambler Mining District is a strategic asset for Alaska and an important pathway to critical mineral development in the United States,” said Congressman Begich. “By advancing this access, we are creating new opportunities for Alaskans while strengthening America’s supply chain and reducing dependence on foreign adversaries for our critical mineral needs. I applaud the President’s decision to support this appeal, and I look forward to working with the Administration, state leaders, and Alaska Native communities to ensure this project moves forward in a way that benefits all Alaskans.”

The Ambler Access Project will provide surface transportation access to the Ambler Mining District and enable the domestic development of critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, gallium, and germanium. The U.S. heavily depends on foreign nations for many of the minerals within the Ambler District, including several for which China has threatened to cut off U.S. supplies.

ANILCA established a right-of-way (ROW) and ensured access across federal lands by stating that the Secretary of the Interior “shall permit” a road “from the Ambler Mining District to the Alaska Pipeline Haul Road.” That provision was included in ANILCA to ensure balance between conservation—the creation of the surrounding 8.4-million-acre Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve—and responsible resource development to benefit Alaska and the nation.

Federal permitting for Ambler began a full decade ago, in 2015. The project was fully approved, and ROW permits were issued, in 2020. In 2022, however, the Biden administration sought a voluntary court remand to conduct a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). Last June, the Biden administration stunningly rejected the project in its entirety, ignoring the law and greatly exaggerating its potential impacts to justify its selection of the “no action” alternative.

When a federal agency rejects a transportation or utility system project on non-federal-wilderness land in Alaska, Section 1106 of ANILCA allows the project sponsor to directly appeal that decision to the President. AIDEA submitted an application appealing the Biden administration’s decision on Ambler earlier this year, starting a 120-day clock for a presidential determination. The President’s determination is based on factors listed in the statute, including the need for the transportation system and the national security interests of the United States.

Now that President Trump has approved AIDEA’s Section 1106 application for the Ambler project, ANILCA requires all relevant federal agencies to “promptly issue, in accordance with applicable law, such rights-of-way, permits, licenses, leases, certificates, or other authorizations as are necessary with respect to the establishment of the system.”

To read the President’s determination, click here.

To access the full text of ANILCA, including Section 1106, click here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z