url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/year-end-omnibus-appropriations-package-signed-into-law,Year-End Omnibus Appropriations Package Signed Into Law,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.28.20 Year-End Omnibus Appropriations Package Signed Into Law U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded a year-end omnibus bill being signed into law, which includes a 12-bill appropriations package to fund the government through the end of Fiscal Year 2021, including Senator Murkowski's Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This historic funding package also provides nearly $900 billion for COVID-19 relief; Senator Murkowski's bipartisan, bicameral Energy Act of 2020; a bipartisan compromise to address the issue of Surprise Medical Billing; a major tax extenders package, and more. I am glad that Congress was able to put our differences aside and work together in a bipartisan manner to do what's right for our nation. Together, we've crafted an omnibus bill which directs critical federal funding to where it is needed most, said Senator Murkowski. The 12-bill appropriations package invests in every sector of America. It will create economic opportunities for Alaskans, strengthen our national defense and military infrastructure, support Alaska's fisheries, and invest in transportation. It includes funding for a number of Native and rural programs, as well as provisions to protect Alaska's land and people. Building on my efforts to address Alaska's public safety crisis, including the crisis of missing, trafficked, and murdered indigenous women, additional funding is included for the BIA to continue to address those issues. We secured a number of funding initiatives that will build on my work to increase America's presence in the Arctic, as well as funding is included to improve healthcare for Alaskans. Full funding is also included for the PILT program which supports vital services, such as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations. Reaching this agreement took significant bipartisan compromise from members across the board, and I'm proud to have been a part of that good work. The President's decision to sign this legislation without further delay, which includes critical COVID-19 relief, is welcomed news. ALASKA HIGHLIGHTS: (Note: Numbers are nationwide program funding levels.) Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Bill Highlights USGS Earthquake, Volcano, and Landslide Hazards: Provides funding for Alaska to develop and enhance earthquake monitoring capabilities, as well as operational funding to upgrade volcano monitoring equipment. Additionally, the bill provides funding for a site-specific landslide hazard assessment and a long-term monitoring strategy in Prince William Sound. Missing, Trafficked, & Murdered Indigenous Women: In order to improve the federal response to the epidemic of missing, trafficked, and murdered indigenous women, an additional $6.7 million is included for the BIA to continue to address these issues. Specifically, the bill includes $2 million for cold case work, $1 million for equipment needs, $3 million to support the goals of Operation Lady Justice, and $750,000 for victim witness specialists. The bill also continues language of the need to boost both coordination and data collection among Tribal, local, state, and federal law enforcement by directing BIA to designate an official within the agency to work with Tribes to develop a set of guidelines on how to best collect statistics. Native American women face high rates of violence and the lack of data on the number of women and girls who go missing or murdered further complicates the Nation's ability to address this crisis. Payment in Lieu of Taxes: Provides full funding at $515 million for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. The PILT program provides monetary compensation to local governments throughout Alaska that contain federal lands that are not subject to state or local taxation. The revenue helps local governments provide vital services, such as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations. Timber Industry in Alaska: Dedicates resources critical to programs that support jobs and opportunities in the timber industry in Southeast Alaska. Also notes the harm the retaliatory Chinese tariffs are having on the Alaska timber industry and encourages the Department of Agriculture to consider including domestic timber products on the list of agriculture commodities covered for tariff relief. Denali National Park Road: Requires National Park Service to provide a long-term plan for addressing road improvements at Polychrome Pass. For a fill list of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill highlights, click here. Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Bill Highlights Micro-Grants for Food Security Program: Includes $5 million for the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program, which was created by Senator Murkowski in the 2018 Farm Bill, to help support Alaskans' ability to grow their own food. Genetically Engineered (GE) Salmon: Building on her previous efforts to inform consumers they are purchasing genetically engineered salmon, Senator Murkowski again secured bill language requiring the term genetically engineered in the market name of any GE animal approved for human consumption by the FDA prior to February 2019. Organic Certification for Wild Seafood: The bill includes report language urging USDA to reestablish the Wild Caught Working Group under the National Organic Standards Board to consider developing organic certification standards for wild seafood. Rural Broadband and telephone infrastructure: The bill includes $35.5 million for rural electric and telephone infrastructure loans and $97 million for Distance Learning, Telemedicine and Broadband grants. Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program: $68 million was included for this program, which includes funding Alaska Natives. The Senator secured report language that encourages the Secretary to distribute these funds in line with the fiscal year 2014 distribution to the degree practicable, which provided a higher amount for the portion dedicated to Alaska. For a full list of Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill Highlights, click here. Commerce, Justice, Science Bill Highlights Tsunami Preparedness: The bill provides a $500,000 increase to NOAA's Tsunami Warning Program and directs NOAA to work with other federal and state agencies to monitor the tsunami risk at Barry Glacier and inform emergency planning efforts for nearby communities like Whittier. National Weather Service (NWS): Provides $1.1 billion for the NWS, alongside report language highlighting continued concerns about staffing in Alaska. Human Trafficking and the FBI: Includes report language Senator Murkowski championed, directing the FBI to continue to designate a lead agent in each field office as a Human Trafficking Program Coordinator. In addition, the FBI is urged to allocate additional resources to those field offices in States with the highest rates of modern slavery and human trafficking. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the FBI shall submit a report on those field offices' capacity to investigate all crimes of slavery and human trafficking in their jurisdiction. The report should further detail any additional resources that have been provided to those field offices for these efforts. STOP School Violence Act (Byrne-JAG and COPS): $132,000,000 is included in support of this program. This program supports both student education and teacher/school-official training, to better identify and respond to signs of mental distress that might precipitate violent attacks on schools. This program also supports evidence-based efforts to improve school security and overall safety. Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF): Funding is maintained at $65 million for the PCSRF, a program established in 2000 the help reverse declining steelhead and Pacific Salmon stocks in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. For a full list off Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill highlights, click here. Defense, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs Bill Highlights Military Pay Raise: The bill takes care of our troops by providing funding for a 3% pay raise our servicemembers as authorized by the NDAA. Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies: Provides $10 million to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to establish the sixth and newest DoD Regional Center with a focus on Arctic Security. F-35A Aircraft Procurement: Provides an increase of $2 billion to fund an additional 17 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters and associated spare parts, including 12 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant and 5 F-35C takeoff and landing variant for a total of 96 F-35s in FY2021. Innovative Readiness Training (IRT): In an effort to increase real world training opportunities and deployment readiness, $30 million is provided for the Innovative Readiness Training program. The program can bring military reservists from across the country to Alaska for advanced training by providing public and civil-society programs that are rarely practices outside of typical training iterations. These programs typically include building critical infrastructure or providing mobile health and/or dental clinics to support the local communities that they are embedded with. Fort Greely Communications Center: Includes $48 million for the construction of a Communications Center at Fort Greely. For a full list of Defense, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill highlights, click here. Energy and Water Development Bill Highlights Arctic Energy: Includes report language directs the Department of Energy to support a renewed focus on the Arctic region and to reestablish the Arctic Energy Office. Once reconstituted, the office will serve as a centralized area to support the integration of research and development and innovative activities of the Department, including microgrids and integrated energy systems. Provides over $5 million for program direction. Nuclear Energy: Provides $250 million in continued funding for the advanced nuclear reactor demonstration program. This funding closely tracks the provisions within the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act, which is included in Division Z of the same bill. Office of Indian Energy (OIE):Includes $22 million, for a key program that assists tribes with energy needs and projects on their lands. Also includes report language tasking DOE to prioritize state entities in Alaska for technical assistance and directing OIE to design funding opportunity announcements that do not exclude tribes based on land ownership structures. This program recently awarded grants for projects in Iguigig, Kwethluk, and Togiak. Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response: Provides $156 million for the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) at the Department of Energy, which addresses emerging threats to our nation's energy supply by improving energy infrastructure security. For a fill list of Energy and Water Appropriations bill Highlights, click here. Homeland Security and State, Foreign Operations Bill Highlights Polar Security Cutter (PSC) and Polar Sustainment: Provides $555 million towards acquisition of the second polar security cutter as well as $15 million for a service-life extension to rehabilitate and restore the critical systems onboard the icebreaker POLAR STAR. Transboundary Watershed Management: Provides up to $500,000 to support State Department engagement with other Federal agencies to identify remaining gaps in the Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between British Columbia and Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, relating to mining activity in transboundary watersheds. PFAS: Includes $5 million for environmental remediation projects related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances evaluation and response. Fishing Safety: Provides $6 million to help the Coast Guard implement the Fishing Safety Training and Fishing Safety Research Grant Programs. For a full list of Homeland Security and State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill Highlights, click here. Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Highlights: Alaska Native Education Equity Program (ANEP): An increase of $500,000 for a total of $36.453 million for a program designed to meet the unique educational needs of Alaska Native students. Native Language Immersion Grants: An increase to an estimated $2.5 million to support Native American and Alaska Native Language Immersion Schools and Programs grants, crafted by Senator Murkowski in the Every Student Succeeds Act. It has been determined that schools where indigenous language is the primary language of instruction have a strong, positive effect on Alaska Native students. Opioid Response Grants: Includes $1.5 billion for Opioid Response Grants for education, treatment, behavioral health services, and recovery support, $50 million of which shall be made available to Indian tribes or tribal organizations and for State with the highest mortality rate related to opioid use disorder. Area Health Education Centers: Includes $43.2 million, a $2 million increase, for Area Health Education Centers, which support efforts to recruit, retain, and train healthcare personnel in rural and underserved areas, Alaska's AHEC program supports workforce development across Alaska. For a full list of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Highlights, click here. Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Bill Highlights Essential Air Service: Includes $165 million for Essential Air Service to help increase access for rural communities that are otherwise isolated from the National Air Transportation System. Essential Air Service is a lifeline securing consistent passenger, mail and bypass mail service delivering medicine, foodstuffs and other necessities to these otherwise isolated communities. Ferry System: Includes funding to support the FAST Act, including $38 million for a competitive grant program which could help support maintenance and improvements of Alaska's ferry system through the construction of ferry boats, acquiring right-of-way, and constructing ferry terminal facilities. Tribal Housing: Makes significant steps towards addressing the immense housing and urban development needs in rural Alaska by allocating $747 million for Native American Housing Block Grants, vital funding to designated housing entities to address the housing needs of tribal communities. $100 million is included for Competitive Grant funding again. $70 million is included for the Indian Community Development Block Grant fund to support tribal economies and community development efforts. In addition, the bill includes $1.5 million for the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund, which provides lenders with a 100-percent guarantee for mortgages to American Indian and Alaska Native borrowers to address the unique nature of tribal trust land used as collateral. For a full list of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Bill Highlights, click here. Related Issues: Education, Energy, Alaska Natives & Rural Alaska, COVID-19 Resource Page, Alaska's Fisheries, Arctic, Health, Veterans",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-statement-on-ndaa-veto,Murkowski Statement on NDAA Veto,2020-12-24,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.24.20 Murkowski Statement on NDAA Veto President Donald J. Trump vetoed H.R. 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. Following the announcement, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement: It's incredible that the President chose to veto the annual National Defense Authorization Act, particularly because his reason for doing so is an issue not related to national defense. Congress has passed a defense authorization bill for 60 years, which emphasizes the priority. In Alaska and across our nation, military members and their families are grappling with the challenges of COVID-19 while standing on the front lines of our national defense. This is a disservice to military members, their families, and our nation, said Senator Murkowski. It is pivotal that this bill becomes law so that our service members, their families and veterans receive the support they have earned and our military forces are fully equipped to defend our national interests. Related Issues: Defense Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-outlines-covid-19-emergency-relief-bill-in-year-end-omnibus-package,Murkowski Outlines COVID-19 Emergency Relief Bill in Year-End Omnibus Package,2020-12-23,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.23.20 Murkowski Outlines COVID-19 Emergency Relief Bill in Year-End Omnibus Package The U.S. Senate passed a year-end omnibus bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which includes nearly $900 billion in targeted COVID-19 emergency relief for vulnerable Americans. The final COVID-19 emergency relief package was based on the Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, legislation which Senator Murkowski recently unveiled alongside U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representatives Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) and Tom Reed (R-NY-23). The health and economic impacts of COVID-19 have been devastating, having touched every corner of the nation. Americans are counting on Congress for support. Following months of standstill and arguing over COVID-19 negotiations, I joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues committed to find compromise. We put our differences aside, put in the necessary time, and developed an emergency relief framework that put Americans first. I am proud to have been a part of a good-faith effort which led to the final COVID-19 relief legislation before us today, said Senator Murkowski. For small businesses struggling to keep their doors open, additional funding is included for the Paycheck Protection Program. The bill also temporarily provides $300 per week supplemental unemployment insurance as well as a $600 economic impact payments for many Americans who are struggling to make ends meet. The bill includes funding to support health care providers, schools, renters facing eviction, the Postal Service, and the food insecure. The bill also includes funding to expand the purchase and distribution of vaccines, taking us one step closer to ending the pandemic. There is still work to be done, but the targeted relief measures included in this bill will deliver direct and timely results for those who have been hit hardest by the pandemic. ALASKABILL HIGHLIGHTS SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC STABILITY: Paycheck Protection Program:Includes a second round of loans through the Paycheck Protection Program a forgivable, non-taxable, simplified loan forgiveness program established by the CARES Act this spring. PPP Clarifying language: Clarifying language is added which explains that deductions are allowed for otherwise deductible expenses paid with the proceeds of a PPP loan that is forgiven, and the tax basis and other attributes of the borrower's assets will not be reduced as a result of the loan forgiveness. The provision is effective as of the date of enactment of the CARES Act. The provision provides similar treatment for Second Draw PPP loans, effective for tax years ending after the date of enactment of the provision. Local radio and TV stations as well as newspapers are now eligible for this funding. PPP Improvements: Includes a simplified forgiveness application. The bill allows for second draw loan applicants (less than $150,000 loans) to certify that the entity meets the revenue loss requirements. The bill also allows borrowers whose loan calculations have increased due to changes in interim final rules to work with lenders to modify their loan value regardless of whether the loan has been fully disbursed, or if Form 1502 has already been submitted. Repeal of EIDL Advance Deduction: Repeals section 1110(e)(6) of the CARES Act, which requires PPP borrowers to deduct the amount of their EIDL advance from their PPP forgiveness amount. Extension of time to spend CARES funding:Extends the deadline for spending CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund aid on COVID-related expenses through December 31, 2021. This applies to states, localities, and tribes. Individual Economic Impact Payments An additional round of $600 for individuals making up to $75,000 per year and $1,200 for couples making up to $150,000 per year, as well as a $600 payment for each qualified child dependent under 17.The bill also address families with mixed immigration status, allowing one-half ($600) to married filing jointly so long as at least one adult member of a filing couple has an SSN. Eligible children must also have a Social Security Number. These two provisions are retroactive to the CARES Act, so married filing jointly should be able to claim for additional credit when they file their 2020 taxes. CARES provided a first round of EIP of $1,200/$2,400 with same phase-out thresholds and $500 for children under 17. Provisions from the Community Services Block Grant Act: Includes language to address problems within the CARES Act that limited small states' ability to utilize the CSBG program. This would ensure Alaska would receive their remaining $3.625 million in CSBG CARES Act funds from HHS. CARES Act Section 3610 Extension: Extends until March 31, 2021, section 3610 of the CARES Act, which provides relief to certain federal contractors who cannot perform work at their duty-station or telework because of the nature of their jobs due to COVID-19. Unemployment Insurance:Extends Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) to March 14, 2021 and allows individuals receiving benefits as of March 14, 2021 to continue through April 5, 2021, as long as the individual has not reached the maximum number of weeks. The bill also restores the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) federal supplement to all state and federal unemployment benefits at $300 per week, starting after December 26 and ending March 14, 2021. Small Brewers Excise Tax Reduction: Includes a permanent reduction of excise tax on domestic beer production. This is been a priority for Alaska's small brewers. IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLNESS: SAMHSA: $4.25 billion overall for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration including a $125 million set-aside for tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations to address substance use disorder and behavioral health efforts. Mental Health Services Block grant: $1.65 billion for Mental Health Services Block grant, of which no less than 50 percent of funds shall be directed to behavioral health providers. Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG): Includes $1.65 billion for Substance Abuse and Prevent Treatment Block Grant which was authorized by Congress to provide funds to States, Territories, and Indian Tribes for the purpose preventing and treating substance abuse. COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution:Includes$8.75 billionto plan, prepare for, promote, distribute, administer, monitor, and track coronavirus vaccines. Of this amount: $4.5 billion goes to states, localities, territories, and tribes, with $210 million to be transferred to IHSfor distribution to tribes, tribal organizations,Urban Indian Health Organizations, and health service providers to tribes. $300 million forhigh-risk and underserved populations, includingrural communities Provider Relief Fund:Provides $3 billion for the Provider Relief Fund, a program established by the CARES Act to help health care providers recover lost revenue and net changes in expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 Testing, Contact Tracing, and Surveillance:Includes $22.4 billionto states, localities, territories, andtribes, of which$790 million will be transferred toIHS for distribution totribes, tribal organizations,Urban Indian Health Organizations, and health service providers to tribes,and$2.5 billionisdedicated to expandingtesting for high-risk and underserved populations, including rural populations. SUPPORTING TRANSPORTATION: Federal Aviation Administration: Includes $2 billion in assistance to airports. Of this amount $5 million is included to help small communities address air service issues. Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS):Includes $2 billion to support payroll for parts of the transportation industry that didn't get relief in the CARES Act, including Alaska's ferries and the motor coach industry. Airport grant funding:Includes $4 billion to help large and small airports, including those in Alaska, with combatting coronavirus debt service payments, and rent relief for airport concessions. Federal Transit Administration grants: Includes $14 billion for FTA Grants. Alaska's ferry system is eligible for this funding. Federal Highway Administration Programs: Includes $10B for FHWA state highways programs. Alaska will receive a portion of this funding which can be used to support the state's ferry system. Essential Air Service funding:Includes $23 millionin support of the Essential Air Service Program, which is vital to many of Alaska's rural communities. Airline Payroll Support Program:Includes $15 billion forthe airline payroll support program (PSP) and extends it through March 31, 2021. SUPPORTING EDUCATION AND FAMILIES: Child Care: Includes $10 billion for child care providers that participate in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to provide child care assistance to families and help providers cover operational costs. Head Start: Includes $250 million for Head Start providers Education Stabilization Fund: Includes $81.9 billion for the Education Stabilization Fund, including $819 million for the Bureau of Indian Education and outlying areas. Emergency Rental Assistance: Provides $25 billion for emergency rental assistance, which will provide protections for renters who would otherwise be at risk of losing their homes this winter. Included in this amount is $800 million for Tribes or their Tribally Designated Housing Entities. INVESTING IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY: Fisheries:Includes $300 million total for fishery assistance, which includes a set aside of $30 million for Tribes. Seafood Purchases and Protective Costs: Includes $1.5 billion for the Secretary to purchase food and agricultural products, including seafood, and provide grant and loan support to food processors, including seafood processing facilities and processing vessels, and other organizations for COVID response and worker protection. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) Benefits:Temporarily increases the value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) monthly benefits to address the higher cost of food. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): Includes $400 million for TEFAP which provides food to food banks. Commodity Supplemental Food Program: Includes $13 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to provide food boxes to senior citizens. Related Issues: COVID-19 Resource Page Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-schatz-cantwell-bill-to-strengthen-improve-noaa-corps-signed-into-law,"Sullivan-Schatz-Cantwell Bill to Strengthen, Improve NOAA Corps Signed into Law",2020-12-23,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) today welcomed the signing of S. 2981, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2020, their bill to improve and modernize the management of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. “The mission and work of NOAA and the NOAA Corps are incredibly important to Alaska, the state with our nation’s largest fishery, more coastline than the Lower 48 states combined, and America’s only Arctic territory,” said Senator Sullivan. “NOAA officers perform highly-specialized duties with the same sense of service and dedication as our other uniformed services, and I appreciate the President for signing our legislation to more fully embrace the NOAA Corps’ contributions to our country.” “NOAA Corps officers fly Hurricane Hunters into storms threatening Hawaii on a moment’s notice and at great risk to themselves to keep us safe. With our bill now law, we will finally recognize the critical work they do by providing them with the support they deserve,” said Senator Schatz. “For over 100 years, the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps has conducted the highest quality science missions to inform fisheries management and research, which is fundamental in supporting Washington’s maritime economy,” said Senator Cantwell. “In addition to investing in the NOAA Corps, this bill will pave the way for future innovative collaborations, as well as advance meaningful improvements in sexual assault and harassment policies to protect women serving in the NOAA Corps.” The NOAA Corps is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. The 321 officers of the NOAA Corps operate NOAA’s ship and aircraft fleet, and are deployed for extended periods fulfilling NOAA’s missions. Officers also routinely support the missions of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard when necessary. The legislation will improve personnel management and readiness of the Corps, strengthen recruitment and retention of Corps personnel by creating a mandatory service obligation and offering benefits and services to officers, and better integrate the Corps with NOAA by providing increased opportunities for officers to continue their federal service with the agency after leaving the Corps. The Military Coalition, an organization representing more than 5.5 million military service members, veterans and their families wrote a letter to congressional leaders in support of S. 2981. “Even though members of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps often put themselves in harm’s way and are subject to the same deployment requirements as members of the armed forces, NOAA lacks some of the statutory authority to grow, maintain, and manage personnel — specifically their Officer Corps,” wrote Jack Du Teil, president of TMC. “This important legislation addresses those authorities and benefits not granted to the Corps, whose officers consist of experts in varying fields, including but not limited to oceanography, meteorology, engineering, earth sciences, and fisheries science.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401852,"Reps. Price, Young Secure $15 Million for New World Languages Program in Omnibus Appropriations Bill",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC(December22, 2020) Today,Congressman David Price (D-NC)andCongressman Don Young (R-AK)announced that$15 millionto beginthe World Language Advancement and ReadinessGrants programwas includedin the Fiscal Year 2021(FY21)omnibus appropriations bill. This program wasoriginally authorizedin December 2019as part of theFiscal Year 2020 (FY20) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It wasbased on theWorld Language Advancement and Readiness Act(H.R. 1094), a billintroduced by Reps. Price and Youngin response toreports highlighting the shortfalls in language and cultural skills in the United States. These shortfalls areunfortunatelyalso foundinour nation's military and intelligence communities,whichcould threaten ournational security,priorities,and missions around the globe.This newprogram willallow the federal government to provide support forhigh-qualityworld language programs in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools and school systems nationwide that host a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program. Studies showthatthe U.S. lags behind itsglobalpeers in language and cultural skills, and the World Language Advancement and Readiness Grants program is a first steptowardscorrectingthese deficiencies and ensuringbetteropportunitiesfor studentsand educators,said Congressman Price. I'm pleased this year's government funding bill includes$15 million infunding to stand up this grant program,improvingour national competitiveness in anincreasingly globalizedworld. ""We should be doing all we can to ensure that America's students are equipped to become leaders in business and civic life,"" said Congressman Don Young. ""I have been a longtime advocate for advancing language and cultural skills. I am pleased that the omnibus includes first-ever funding for the World Language Advancement and Readiness Grants program, created in partnership with my good friend, Congressman David Price. This funding will help America keep pace with other nations by providing the language education our students need to secure good jobs, achieve success in global marketplaces, and successfully navigate multi-lingual business environments. Funding will also support building a pipeline for growing experts in the languages critical to our national defense. I am grateful to my colleagues for supporting this vital program, and will continue working for an America that leads the world in language skills and development."" ""The World Language Advancement and Readiness Grants program defines a new and essential pathway for the growth of programs that empower students to become multilingual, globally prepared citizens,"" said Rita A. Oleksak, President of the Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies. ""By funding this program, Congress demonstrates that it understands that strong world language programs create a sustainable pipeline of multilingual talent critical to our country's economic and national security. JNCL-NCLIS is gratefulfor the leadership of Representatives Price and Young in authorizing and now appropriating funding for this vital language program. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/critical-year-end-bill-package-passes-us-senate,Critical Year-End Bill Package Passes U.S. Senate,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.20 Critical Year-End Bill Package Passes U.S. Senate Includes FY2021 Appropriations Bills, COVID-19 Relief Funding, Murkowski-Manchin Energy Bill, Tax Extenders Package, Health Care Package Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded Senate passage of a year-end omnibus bill, which includes 12 appropriations bills to fund the government through the end of Fiscal Year 2021, among which is Senator Murkowski's Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This historic funding package also includes a nearly $900 billion COVID-19 relief package; Senator Murkowski's bipartisan, bicameral Energy Act of 2020; a bipartisan compromise to address the issue of Surprise Medical Billing; a major tax extenders package, and more. The bill passed the Senate with a 91-7 vote and now heads to the President's desk. Today the Senate passed a year-end bill package that includes significant targeted emergency relief for hardworking Americans and their families at a time when they need it most. As a result of COVID-19, Alaskans are struggling with so much uncertainty, including devastating health impacts, economic disparity, and difficult changes to their everyday lives. I spent weeks working with a bipartisan group of colleagues from both chambers on a relief bill, and that product spurred action that resulted in the bill we passed today. This legislation is not the end-all, be-all of COVID-19 relief, but it will provide Americans and Alaskans with much-needed support to help get them through this difficult time, said Senator Murkowski. In addition to COVID-19 relief funding, the package also includes a number of other policy initiatives that are critical to Americans, including appropriations bills to fund the entire federal government on a bipartisan basis, and a number of bills to address the quality and cost of healthcare.I'm also proud that through my leadership as Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the first comprehensive modernization of our nation's energy policies in 13 years is included in this package. I applaud my colleagues for the bipartisan work that has been put forth to reach a deal before the holidays. My hope is that this package will not only take us one step closer to normal', but will help make our nation stronger than we were, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Related Issues: Health, COVID-19 Resource Page, Budget, Spending, and the National Debt, Energy Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-applauds-senate-passage-of-interior-appropriations-bill-,Murkowski Applauds Senate Passage of Interior Appropriations Bill,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.20 Murkowski Applauds Senate Passage of Interior Appropriations Bill Improves Health, Safety and, Livelihoods of Alaskans U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded Senate passage of an Appropriations Package for Fiscal Year 2021, which included the Interior-Environment Appropriations bill. As chairman of the Interior Subcommittee, Murkowski crafted a bill which invests in health and wellness, reduces regulatory burdens, increases economic opportunity, improves Alaskans' abilities to respond to natural disasters, support for the arts and humanities, and more. Building on my long-standing efforts to address issues of public safety in rural Alaska, including the crisis of missing, trafficked, and murdered indigenous women, additional funding is included to support the BIA. Full funding is included for the PILT program which supports vital government services, such as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations. The bill invests in mineral security, aids Alaska's timber industry, and supports Alaska's public lands. To improve the health and safety of Alaskans the bill includes support for a Zero Suicide Initiative, alcohol and substance abuse prevention programs, and village built clinics, said Senator Murkowski. Throughout my time as chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I've worked hard to ensure the needs of Alaskans are well-represented. This year, with the added health and economic challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the fiscal security and stability this bill brings is as important as ever. Click here for a full list of FY2021 Alaska Interior Appropriations Bill Highlights. Investing in Clean Air, Water, and Land The bill increases funding for Targeted Airshed Grants to ensure communities like Fairbanks have the resources to continue to reduce harmful levels of PM 2.5. The bill provides robust funding to improve wastewater and drinking water systems in rural Alaska as well as funding for technical assistance, training, and guidance to sanitation operators and communities in Native villages. The bill addresses PFAS contamination through funding to support state-led cleanup and remediation efforts of PFAS contaminated water sources, water systems, and lands as well as increased funding for USGS for testing and mapping of PFAS contamination. Funding also is included to conduct preliminary appraisal and valuation related to potential future land acquisitions in the Bristol Bay ecosystem. Supporting Infrastructure Development The Interior bill fully funds the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program which provides monetary compensation to local governments throughout Alaska that contain federal lands that are not subject to state or local taxation. The revenue helps local governments provide vital services, such as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations. The bill prioritizes infrastructure improvements on our nation's public lands, which is key to both local visitors and the tourism sector and implements the Great American Outdoors Act and funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The bill provides the National Park System with an additional $100 million to address critical operations in our nation's parks. The bill also includes funding for Forest Service (FS) recreation access including cabins, trails, and campgrounds and provides resources to help expand recreation-based businesses to operate in the Chugach and Tongass National Forests in Alaska. Improving Health and Safety The bill provides dedicated funding for 105 (l) tribal lease payments and maintains support for Village Built Clinics. These clinics are the backbone of Alaska's rural health program and are often the only source of medical care available to Alaskans in rural areas. The bill also includes substantial funding to provide support for infrastructure improvements through Small Ambulatory Clinics. To help address the disproportionate level of violence against Native American women and the lack of data on the number of women and girls who go missing, additional funding is included for Missing, Trafficked, and Murdered Indigenous Women initiatives. The bill also provides for domestic violence prevention initiatives, specific VAWA tribal court needs, and to help communities develop tribal court systems. Preparing and Responding to Natural Hazards The bill includes additional funding to address landslide concerns in the state of Alaska through the development of site-specific hazard assessments and the installation of monitoring equipment to surveil potential landslide motion. This legislation includes funding for the earthquake hazards program, which will help states like Alaska develop and enhance earthquake monitoring capabilities. Funding is also provided for wildfire prevention and suppression efforts work to help reduce the risk of wildfires. In addition, the bill maintains funding for Alaska mapping initiatives. The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee controls funding levels for federal agencies and departments including the Department of the Interior (DOI), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Forest Service (FS), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and Indian Health Service (IHS), as well as National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the Smithsonian Institution. Related Issues: Alaska Natives & Rural Alaska, Health, Education, Budget, Spending, and the National Debt Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401850,"Congressman Don Youngs Legislation to Create Opportunities for Young People in the Fishing Industry Passes the Senate, Heads to the Presidents Desk",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Last night, the Young Fishermen's Development Act (H.R. 1240), legislation authored by Alaska Congressman Don Young, was passed by the U.S. Senate. H.R. 1240 addresses the longtime decline in younger Americans entering the commercial fishing industry. This legislation would create the first ever national grant program through the Department of Commerce to support training, education, and workforce development for the nation's next generation of commercial fishermen. H.R. 1240 was introduced earlier in the 116th Congress with Representative Jared Golden (D-ME), along with original cosponsors Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Aumua Amata (R-American Samoa). The bill passed the House earlier this month and now heads to the President's desk. The Senate companion, S.496 was sponsored by Senator Dan Sullivan. ""I want to sincerely thank my colleagues in the Senate for passing this crucial legislation, and special thanks is due to our Senator, Dan Sullivan, for his leadership on this bill. Passage of the Young Fishermen's Development Act is welcome news for Alaska's fishing industry, and young people across the country hoping to make a living on the water. Young commercial fishermen are facing bigger challenges than ever before new barriers to entry, limited training opportunities, lack of support, and now, a global pandemic,"" said Congressman Don Young. ""Fishing is important not only to Alaskan culture, but it is central to our rich history. Our legislation is about supporting the livelihoods of fishing communities across the nation by making the next generation aware of the opportunities available in the commercial fishing industry. I am grateful to my friends, Representatives Golden, Moulton, and Amata, for partnering with me on this initiative. My work on behalf of our fishing fleet is not done. The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated our fishermen, processors, and countless others who depend on a strong, thriving seafood industry. In the 117th Congress, I will continue fighting for a future of opportunity and prosperity for fishermen of all ages."" ""The average age of Maine lobstermen is over 50. Same goes for scallop fishermen. The future of the fishing industry depends on young people learning the ropes right now, said Congressman Jared Golden. The Young Fishermen's Development Act takes important action to help young Mainers get ready for fulfilling careers in fishing and lobstering so they can stay in Maine, build our economy, and support our communities. I'm proud of this bipartisan effort and encourage the president to sign the bill when it reaches his desk. Alaska is the unquestioned superpower of seafood, thanks to our world-class, sustainably-managed fisheries and our countless hard-working fishermen, said Senator Dan Sullivan. The sustainability and endurance of this vital industry, which employs more people in Alaska than any other, depends on up-and-coming qualified fishermen. Helping the next generation of Alaskans enter our fisheries will help ensure Alaska remains the superpower of seafood. I appreciate my partners in the House and Senate for joining in this effort to support our great fishing sector and, like so many Alaskans, I eagerly await the President signing the Young Fishermen's Development Act into law. Commercial fishing is part of Gloucester's and New England's identity and economy, but the legacy will end if we don't make it easier for the next generation to get started, Congressman Seth Moulton said. These grants will help the industry expand and evolve. Every fisherman and lobsterman I've ever met wants to keep the fish stock and our oceans healthy. I'm proud that this money will give new opportunities to young people and also help teach fishermen how to build new gear and fish in new ways that protect our oceans. Congress's investment will pay off in new technology that works and has buy-in from the people using it to make a living. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401851,Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following Passage of COVID Relief and Government Funding Package,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following Passage of COVID Relief and Government Funding Package Washington, D.C. Following House passage of legislation to provide for federal government appropriations and COVID-19 relief, Alaska Congressman Don Young released the following statement: ""It is no secret that we are living through unprecedented times. Amid a global pandemic and in the midst of the holidays, families in Alaska and across the country have been left wondering if they will be able to put food on their dinner tables, make rent, or send their children back to school. COVID-19 has devastated our economy, and the threat of a government shutdown would have only made it worse. Americans are counting on Congress not only to deliver pandemic relief, but to keep the federal government open for the countless military families and public servants most threatened by a shutdown. It is my great hope that this package provides the assistance necessary to get our families through the holidays, and into a New Year full of opportunity, growth, and the end of this pandemic. This is a vital bill that arrives at a critical moment in our fight against COVID-19. Individuals and families will once again receive direct cash assistance, expanded Unemployment Insurance will be available for those who need it, and the highly successful Paycheck Protection Program will make billions available to help keep our businesses open and employees on the payroll. I am pleased that we have reached a deal on COVID relief and government funding. Full-year funding and resources to save lives and livelihoods is a significant accomplishment. But our nation deserves confidence and stability; eleventh-hour negotiations and arbitrary dayslong government funding extensions are no way to govern. Too many people are hurting in what otherwise should be a joyous time of year. Our constituents sent us to Washington to keep our country running; shutdowns are never the answer, and we must recommit ourselves to fulfilling our constitutionally-mandated duties."" ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401853,"Bonamici, Young, Deutch Bill to Strengthen Marine Energy Passes House",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC [12/21/20] Today the House passed bipartisan legislation to increase federal investments in marine energy led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Congressman Don Young (R-AK), and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL). The Water Power Research and Development Act strengthens water power programs at the Department of Energy (DOE) and provides funding for research, development, demonstration, and commercialization of marine energy. The legislation passed the Houseas part of a funding and COVID relief package. It will authorize $186.6 million for the DOE Water Power Technologies Office over the next four years, including $137.4 million for federal investments in marine energy. Our ocean holds tremendous potential to mitigate the climate crisis, but for too long the power of waves, tides, and currents has been an untapped clean energy resource,said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici.We must expedite our transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy, and scaling up the development of marine energy technologies can help sustainably power our homes, buildings, and communities, and also create good-paying jobs. I am thrilled that our Water Power Research and Development Act will be signed into law because it will accelerate innovative research and development, including the efforts of Oregon State University and the Pacific Marine Energy Center. I appreciate the support and collaboration of Rep. Don Young and Rep. Ted Deutch in moving this bill forward. ""Hydropower is crucially important to Alaska, and I am very proud that the Water Power Research and Development Act has made it into the final omnibus package. I have long supported harnessing Alaska's vast hydropower capabilities. I was very proud to support projects such as the Terror Lake Hydroelectric Plant and the Swan Lake Hydroelectric Project. Both of these ventures are generating energy, and sustaining good-paying jobs in our communities,""said Congressman Don Young.""As a nation, we need to get serious about helping renewables compete on a level playing field. Hydropower represents enormous potential for the State of Alaska, and we should be empowered to pursue it. As we look to diversify America's energy portfolio, it is my great hope that our legislation will assist with the development of hydropower projects across our country. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of their aisle for supporting this critical effort, and I am especially grateful to Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and Congressman Ted Deutch for their partnership on this bill."" Reducing the increasing impacts of climate change requires that our nation move toward renewable sources of energy,said Congressman Ted Deutch. Harnessing marine and hydrokinetic power from ocean currents, waves, tides, and other sources can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and decrease carbon emissions.This bill will invest in research, development, and deployment of marine and hydrokinetic power that is currently being conducted by research centers, such as Florida Atlantic University.This is an investment in the energy of the future and one that I strongly support. Importantly, the bill authorizes funding for existing and new National Marine Energy Centers, including the Pacific Marine Energy Center operated by Oregon State University, the University of Washington, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Florida Atlantic University's Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center. The Pacific Marine Energy Center at Oregon State University is working at the forefront to advance science, facilitate innovation, and develop the future workforce for what will become a multi-billion dollar marine energy sector,said Bryson Robertson, Co-Director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center at Oregon State University.Enactment of the Water Power Research and Development Act sends an important and clear signal that the US remains committed to pursuing a commercially viable domestic marine energy sector that can reliably contribute toward a carbon-free energy portfolio. This is an exciting time for this emerging field. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-manchin-house-colleagues-reach-agreement-on_energy-package-for-year-end-appropriations-bill,"Murkowski, Manchin, House Colleagues Reach Agreement on Energy Package for Year-End Appropriations Bill",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.20 Murkowski, Manchin, House Colleagues Reach Agreement on Energy Package for Year-End Appropriations Bill U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., today announced that their bipartisan, bicameral Energy Act of 2020 has been included as Division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, must-pass legislation that will be considered in the House and Senate starting today. The Energy Act features consensus provisions from the Senate's American Energy Innovation Act (S. 2657) and the House's Clean Economy Innovation and Jobs Act (H.R. 4447). It stands to become the first comprehensive modernization of our nation's energy policies in 13 years. Murkowski and Manchin, Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, spent months negotiating with Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J.-6, and Ranking Member Greg Walden, R-Ore.-2, of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, as well as with Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas-30, and Ranking Member Frank Lucas, R-Okla.-3, of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to reach six-corner' agreement on the final package. The Energy Act represents the first modernization of our nation's energy policies in well over a decade. This bipartisan package will foster innovation across the board on a range of technologies that are critical to our energy and national security, our long-term economic competitiveness, and the protection of our environment, Chairman Murkowski said. This has been a years-long effort that would not have been possible without great partners on both our committee and the committees of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives. I'm also grateful to Leader McConnell and Senator Schumer for recognizing the importance of our work and agreeing to include it in this year-end legislation. This all-of-the-above energy package is the first comprehensive national energy policy update in 13 years. The Energy Act of 2020 provides a down payment on the technologies that will be critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the powersector, industry, and buildings and addressing climate change. This focus on research, development, and demonstration will create high quality jobs and ensure the United States continues to lead the world in the clean energy future. The Energy Act also reauthorizes popular and effective programs like ARPA-E and the Weatherization Assistance Program and creates new programs to facilitate the transferal of technologies to the private sector. This legislation is the culmination ofstrong bipartisan work throughout the 116th Congress in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the result of collaboration with our House colleagues leading the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Science, Space, and Technology. This energy package is an important reminder that when we work in a bipartisan way, the American people come out on top,said Ranking Member Manchin. The Energy Act prioritizes research, development, and demonstration of next-generation technologies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector, industry, and buildings while keeping American energy affordable and globally competitive. The package focuses on energy storage; advanced nuclear; carbon capture, utilization and storage; carbon removal; renewable energy; critical minerals and materials; fusion; industrial technologies; smart manufacturing; and grid modernization, among other areas. It reauthorizes popular, proven-effective programs like ARPA-E and Weatherization Assistance. The package also includes a range of measures that will boost energy efficiency and brings administrative reforms to improve the Department of Energy. The Energy Act is the culmination of years of bipartisan work spearheaded in the Senate by Murkowski and Manchin. Under their leadership, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a series of hearings, legislative markups, and bipartisan negotiations over the course of the 116th Congress to shape the focus on this effort and reach consensus on the dozens of individual measures. In total, nearly 70 senators sponsored or cosponsored provisions included in the Energy Act. All or part of 37 Senate bills are included, including 29 bipartisan bills. The full text of the Energy Act can be found here. Click here for a high-level summary. Click here for a section-by-section. Click here for a list of included Senate bills. Related Issues: Energy Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-six-sullivan-veterans-bills-headed-to-presidents-desk-including-k2-toxic-exposure-study,"Six Sullivan Veterans Bills Headed to President’s Desk, Including K2 Toxic Exposure Study",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), thanked his colleagues for recently passing the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act,a large package of veterans legislation featuring six bills championed by Sullivan, including S. 4384, theK2 Veterans Advocacy Act of 2020. The bill, introduced with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into an agreement with the administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, to assess possible linkages between toxic exposure at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base (K2) in Uzbekistan and cancers and other diseases experienced by U.S. service members and veterans. “There is a long and troubling history of our courageous men and women in uniform being exposed to toxic substances during their service overseas, and K2 is strongly suspected of being a hot-spot for such exposure, including for a number of veterans in Alaska who have reached out to my office,”said Senator Sullivan. “In order to get to the bottom of this serious concern, my legislation moves to establish what toxic substances were present at K2, the medical conditions that these veterans have experienced, and the possible links between the two. I thank my colleagues for joining me in this critical first step, one of many that we need to take in order to do right by these service members and their families.” Between 2001 and 2005, approximately 7,000 U.S. military service members served at K2 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A 2015 study conducted by the U.S. Army found that service members who had deployed to K2 were more than five times as likely to develop cancer as their counterparts deployed to South Korea. Since the study, it is estimated that the number of veterans suffering from cancer and other serious medical conditions has increased dramatically, with many service members having died potentially due to toxic exposure at K2. The VA and Department of Defense (DOD) have collaborated for years on research to understand the effects of military service and deployments to certain installations on veterans’ health, but additional research is necessary to determine causation or correlation between service at K2 and cancer or other illnesses and diseases. The other pieces of legislation introduced by Sullivan and passed by the Senate last week include: S.3898, the Homeless Veterans Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 Introduced by Sullivan and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) in June, this legislation would grant the VA greater flexibility in caring for and meeting the needs of homeless veterans in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Among other provisions, the legislation would loosen certain regulations and enable the VA to use existing resources to offer homeless veterans the additional assistance they may need, including transportation, communication devices and services, and basic amenities, like clothing, blankets and hygiene items. The law would also allow the VA to work with partner organizations to set up shelters on its properties. Finally, the bill ensures homeless veterans have access to the VA’s telehealth services. S.3182, the Helping Expand and Launch Transitional Health for Women (HEALTH) Act Introduced by Sullivan and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), the bill would direct the VA secretary to carry out a women’s health transition training pilot program to better connect female veterans with the health benefits and services they have earned. S.2485, the Medal of Honor Surviving Spouses Recognition Act Introduced by Sullivan, and inspired by Wasilla Vietnam veteran Dave Glenn, this legislation would extend the Medal of Honor (MOH) special pension to the surviving spouses of certain MOH recipients. S.850, the Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Program Extension Act Introduced by Sullivan and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), this legislation would require the VA to establish a national protocol for volunteer drivers in its transportation programs. S.524, the VA Tribal Advisory Committee Act Introduced by Sullivan and Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the legislation would establish a VA Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs. The committee would facilitate communication and understanding between the VA and tribal governments to better address the unique barriers Native American veterans face when accessing VA services. All six pieces of legislation were included in theJohnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act, which now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-votes-for-covid-19-relief-government-funding-bill,"Sullivan Votes for COVID-19 Relief, Government Funding Bill",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) voted with 91 of his Senate colleagues on Monday for a COVID-19 relief package and an omnibus appropriations bill that funds the government through September 30, 2021. This critical piece of legislation—along with the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included the Coast Guard Authorization Act for the first time ever—makes great strides in supporting America’s front-line health care workers and the fight against COVID-19; providing relief to families, small businesses, and hard-working Alaskans; bolstering the state’s economic recovery from the pandemic; funding necessary infrastructure, including ports and harbors; and strengthening Alaska’s fisheries. Senator Sullivan, working hand-in-glove with Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young (both R-Alaska), and groups from across the state, played a critical role in these accomplishments, which are detailed below. “It’s been a very difficult time for our state and our country—and we are going to continue to face challenges in the months ahead,” said Senator Sullivan. “But there is hope in both the near term and in the long term. Through the remarkable triumph of science, a whole-of-government approach, and private sector involvement, Americans and Alaskans will soon be offered a vaccine, and this COVID relief bill will help ensure that Alaskans across our state have access to it, along with a surge of resources to medical professionals on the front lines. “This legislation also includes a second round of Paycheck Protection Program funding for the hardest-hit small businesses, including our seasonal businesses and our fishermen, and additional money to help schools reopen and safely operate. But Alaskans also need to know that we are working to ensure that our economy is set to come back strong once we get through this pandemic. The recently-passed NDAA authorizes more than $150 million for our state. Also, within the water and infrastructure portion of the omnibus bill, we authorized hundreds of millions of dollars for significant projects to improve our ports and harbors across Alaska. Finally, working with Alaska fishermen, we were able to pass numerous bills to strengthen our fisheries and clean up our oceans, ensuring that we remain the superpower of seafood for generations to come.” Below is a breakdown of some of the major sections of the omnibus and COVID-19 relief bill, aswell as other recent legislation championed by Senator Sullivan. Health Care and COVID-19 Relief Among the health care-related and COVID-19 relief measures, the legislation: Provides $20 billion for the purchase of vaccines, making them available at no charge to all Americans who need them, $8 billion to distribute vaccines, and $20 billion to support state testing efforts. Provides billions of dollars for hospitals. Bolsters mental health by permanently allowing mental health services to be delivered through telehealth. This was a top priority for Senator Sullivan, author of the FRONTIER Community Act. Ends surprise medical billing, legislation that Senator Sullivan cosponsored, which will prohibit patients from receiving medical bills from out-of-network providers while receiving services from in-network facilities. This legislation empowers patients by requiring transparency from health care facilities and insurance companies, which must now provide patients with a clear and honest cost estimate at least three days prior to a medical procedure. Extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for five years. Increases transparency in health care by banning gag clauses, requiring more transparency when there are kick-backs for referrals, and includes new reporting requirements about prescription drug prices. Extends, for three years, the public funding for federal health programs, like community health centers, the National Service Corps, and the Special Diabetes Program. Approves $4 billion to support substance abuse programs, building on the significant legislation passed in recent years to combat the opioid crisis. This includes $1.5 billion for state opioid response grants and $50 million for tribal opioid response. Protects seniors’ access to health care by allowing low-income seniors to enroll in Part D prescription plans sooner; phases out the Medicare coinsurance for positive colorectal cancer screenings; and promotes the use of a real-time benefit tool so providers can help seniors find the lowest drug prices. Economic Recovery and Support for Families The omnibus package and COVID-19 relief bill renew many of the programs in the CARES Act that were successful in ensuring small businesses, families and local governments could weather the economic challenges caused by the pandemic. The legislation: Renews the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) at $284 billion, giving small businesses hardest hit by the pandemic—like bars, restaurants and Alaska’s tourism-reliant businesses—the opportunity to apply for a second PPP loan, and making 501(c)(6) organizations and faith-based organizations eligible for PPP relief. Includes language giving seasonal and commercial fishing businesses the ability to increase their first PPP loan if they have not already done so. Provides a new round of economic recovery stimulus checks, up to $600 for adults and their dependents. Provides an additional $300 per week in federal pandemic unemployment relief, and extends the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, covering self-employed and gig economy workers for eleven weeks, from December 26, 2020 until March 14, 2021. Provides $82 billion to help schools and universities reopen and return to in-person learning. Provides $25 billion in rental relief for Americans who lost their income during the pandemic, and extends the eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021. Provides $15 billion to support theaters, entertainment venues, museums, and aquariums. Provides $7 billion to expand broadband access, including $2 billion to replace vulnerable foreign-sourced equipment, $300 million specifically for rural broadband infrastructure, and $250 million for telehealth services. Provides $10 billion to help child care centers and providers reopen safely. Increases Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by 15% for six months. Provides the U.S. Postal Service with the opportunity to have its $10 billion CARES Act loan forgiven. Provides $2 billion to help the bus, motorcoach, and passenger vessel industry that has been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Extends the Aviation Workers Payroll Support Program, providing $15 billion for passenger air carrier workers, and $1 billion for the employees of contractors that provide ground services directly to air carriers, such as catering services or on-airport functions. Extends the deadline for which states, localities and tribes can spend original CARES Act funds until the end of 2021. Includes a $200 million fund to support timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses impacted by COVID-19. Bolstering America’s National Defense and Coast Guard The omnibus legislation passed on Monday also appropriates funds for the Department of Defense (DOD) and for the Coast Guard, which resides in the Department of Homeland Security. Both appropriations measures included several priorities and projects fought for by Senator Sullivan. The legislation: Provides a three percent pay raise for U.S. service members. Provides $10 million for a new regional DOD Center, named after the late Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), which would be the first DOD regional center in the Arctic and the first new DOD regional center established since 2000. This provision was authorized in the FY 2021 NDAA. Provides $50 million for Arctic communications, also authorized in the FY 2021 NDAA. Provides $12.8 billion in overall funding for the U.S. Coast Guard. Provides $555 million for construction of the second heavy Polar Security Cutter, $260 million for construction of four Fast Response Cutters, $14 million for VHF (very high frequency) radio modernization of the Rescue 21 distress and response system in Alaska, $28.4 million for WLB Pier replacement project in Sitka, and $32 million for the construction of housing at U.S. Coast Guard Base Kodiak. Provides more than $40 million for important Arctic-focused initiatives, including accelerating development of a new tracked Arctic vehicle, purchasing cold weather clothing for the Army and the Marine Corps, and funding counter-UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) technology in Arctic environments. Provides robust funding for missile defense, including an additional $250 million for a service life extension program for the existing ground-based interceptors (GBI) at Fort Greely, an additional $150 million in new boosters, and an additional $200 million for the development of the Next-Generation Interceptor, the future replacement of the existing GBIs. Provides $48 million in military construction for Alaska for a communications center at Fort Greely. Provides $30 million for the Innovative Readiness Training Program, more than doubling the funding for the program, which is often utilized in Alaska. Infrastructure, Water, Ports & Harbors The omnibus legislation incorporates the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (AWIA), passed by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in May. Sullivan, a member of the committee, championed several provisions in the bill, including authorization of the nation’s first deep-water Arctic port at Nome, Alaska. Among other provisions, the omnibus bill: Authorizes $379 million for the federal share of the Nome Deep Draft Port project, to be matched with $126 million in non-federal funds. Authorizes $27 million to dredge the entrance channel of the harbor in Unalaska, Alaska to a depth of 58 feet, to be matched with $9 million in non-federal funds. Authorizes $147.8 million for the St. George, Alaska harbor project, to be matched with $16.5 million in non-federal funds. Directs $10 million to map the coastlines of areas that are experiencing rapid environmental changes, including Alaska. Provides the Denali Commission with $15 million. Extends the responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain the damaged Lowell Creek Flood Diversion System in Seward, Alaska. Bolstering Alaska’s Fisheries Among the fisheries and oceans-related provisions, the legislation passed on Monday: Provides an additional $300 million to help fishermen and coastal communities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Includes a $1.5 billion fund to purchase food and agricultural products, including seafood, and also includes loans and grants for small and mid-sized food processors or distributors, seafood processing facilities and vessels, farmers markets, and producers to respond to and protect workers from COVID-19. Provides $32 million for hydrographic surveys, including $2 million for the National Ocean Service to coordinate mapping and exploration for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as well as the Arctic and sub-Arctic shoreline and near-shore of Alaska. Provides $40.5 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) for regional observations. Provides the NOAA Marine Debris Program with $9 million, and includes language prioritizing projects in rural and remote communities that lack infrastructure to address marine debris problems. Provides $75 million for ocean plastic pollution prevention and clean-up through grants and programs outside of NOAA, which will bolster the efforts of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, Sullivan’s comprehensive marine debris legislation that was signed into law last Friday. Provides the Pacific Salmon Treaty with $31.5 million, an increase of $4 million beyond last year, to support obligations set forth in this agreement. Provides $1 million for NOAA fisheries data collections, surveys, and assessments, along with direction to ensure that historical survey coverage levels are achieved in fiscal year 2021. The National Marine Fisheries Service is expected to conduct no fewer than six fisheries surveys for Alaska this year. Provides the North Pacific Observer Coverage Program with no less than $7.5 million, and includes language directing NOAA to identify and implement efficiencies that would mitigate the cost burden shouldered by small vessel operators in the fixed-gear fleet. Provides $15.5 million to NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, a $2.5 million increase, to help understand the growing impacts of ocean acidification on oceans and marine productivity. Provides language directing active monitoring of Barry Glacier in Prince William Sound for tsunami preparedness in Alaska, along with an additional $500,000 beyond 2020 levels for the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. Other recent legislation supporting healthy oceans and fisheries championed by Senator Sullivan include: Young Fishermen’s Development Act: This bill creates a national training program through grants awarded for training, technical support and apprenticeships to support entry-level fishermen establishing themselves in the industry. Save Our Seas 2.0 Act: A bill to address the marine plastic crisis that is threatening coastal economies and harming marine life. The legislation builds on the success and initiatives of the 2018 Save Our Seas Act, and is the most comprehensive marine plastics bill ever signed into law. Recreational Quota Entity: A provision authorizing the collection of fees from participating charter guides to purchase commercial halibut quota to transfer and use within the charter guide fleet, and for management of the program. # # # Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/final-covid-19-emergency-relief-package-based-on-original-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation,"FINAL COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF PACKAGE BASED ON ORIGINAL BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL LEGISLATION",2020-12-20,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.20.20 FINAL COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF PACKAGE BASED ON ORIGINAL BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL LEGISLATION Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) and Tom Reed (R-NY-23) applauded the final COVID-19 emergency relief package. Following months of deadlock in Congress while millions of Americans were at risk of losing their lifelines, we put our heads down and worked around the clock for nearly a month to produce a bipartisan, bicameral bill to address the emergency needs of our country. We are relieved Congress has finally agreed on a COVID-19 emergency relief package. Our consensus bill was the foundation of this final package and we applaud Congressional leadership for finishing what we started. Workers, businesses, and families need help right now and we urge our colleagues to quickly pass this bill and President Trump to immediately sign the legislation to provide Americans with relief. Related Issues: COVID-19 Resource Page Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-honors-linda-behnken-as-alaskan-of-the-week,Sullivan Honors Linda Behnken as “Alaskan of the Week”,2020-12-19,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—On the floor of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) recognized Linda Behnken, of Sitka, the executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association. Linda was recently honored with the prestigious Heinz Award for the Environment for her work championing sustainable fisheries and helping to preserve Alaska’s coastal ecosystems. Senator Sullivan recognized Behnken as part of his series, “Alaskan of the Week.” TRIBUTE TO LINDA BEHNKEN Mr. President, it is getting toward the end of the week here. We still have got a lot of work to do in the U.S. Senate, particularly on a relief package and end-of-the-year appropriations. So we are working hard on that. But I also want to take the opportunity, given it is the end of the week, to do what I consider one of my favorite activities of the entire week each week in the Senate, and that is talking about someone in my State who is making a difference, helping out our communities and making Alaska one of the best States--the best State, in my view--in the country. This is the individual we call the Alaskan of the Week. So I want to do an acknowledgment to some of our Hill reporters who have taken an interest in the ``Alaskan of the Week'' each week. I think sometimes because they recognize it is finishing up the week. We are not yet done yet, though. We have a lot of work to do. But I also appreciate them reporting on it because it is just good to see stories about people who are doing good work for their State and their community. What we try to do with this series, which we have been doing now for a number of years, is to talk about people who don't always get the recognition that they deserve, people who are making a big difference. You know, Alaska, like really every other State in the country, is experiencing serious challenges right now as a result of COVID-19, but I am confident, just like the rest of the country, we will get through this more resilient than ever. We have a saying. I certainly love this saying: Tough times don't last, but tough people do. Americans, Alaskans, North Dakotans are tough, and we are going to get through this. I would like to introduce our Alaskan of the Week, Linda Behnken, from the gorgeous city of Sitka, AK, in Southeast Alaska. The ``Paris of the Pacific,'' it is called, Sitka. A fun fact about Sitka, it is the largest city in the United States by land area, encompassing over 4,800 square miles, including water. That is big. The population is fairly big for our State. It is beautiful. If you haven't been to Sitka, you have got to go. It is gorgeous. Now, Linda--boy, talk about Linda. Linda is innovative, caring, and she has a deep and abiding commitment to our great State, her community, and to the profession that she has devoted her life to, one that is revered and so important in Alaska, and that is commercial fishing. For more than 30 years now, Linda has been on a boat catching fish out of Alaska's waters. It is the best seafood, mind you, in the world. No doubt about that one--wild Alaskan seafood. Not only is she a successful fisherman, which is, of course, a full-time job, she has also worked to ensure that Alaska continues to have sustainable fisheries. We are what I call the superpower of seafood. Over 60 percent of all fish caught in the United States is harvested in Alaska's waters--6-0. That is huge. But we need to make sure we have oceans that are clean and sustainable and that the profession is safe and small fishermen can thrive and the young fishermen can enter the profession. That is what Linda has been focused on for her entire career in Alaska. So for this work and so much more, including a huge role in helping needy families, particularly during this pandemic, Linda was recently awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for the Environment, named after the late U.S. Senator John Heinz. It is a very prestigious award. Here is the thing. Linda didn't even apply for it. She didn't seek it. She was sought out and I believe shocked when she found out she received this very prestigious award that comes with a $250,000 cash prize. Now, that is a big deal. I will say more about that cash prize in a minute. Let me tell you a bit about Linda's story and how she came to be such a passionate steward of our fisheries, of our sea, and of our ocean. Born and raised in Connecticut, Linda headed to Alaska in 1982 during a summer break from college. She wanted to make some money. She heard that one of the ways she could do it was to fish in the great State of Alaska. She took a ferry from Bellingham, WA, to Sitka, and she immediately fell in love with this gorgeous--and I mean gorgeous--community the minute she got off the boat. It took her about a month pounding the docks to find a deckhand job. There weren't a lot of women in this business then. She did eventually find not just a job but a wonderful community. ``The fishing community,'' she said, ``is full of independent and resourceful people who are really there for each other'' in their times of need. She also described how, when the fishing was done or when it was bad weather, people would gather around the docks. Some would light up the grill. Some would bring pie, a loaf of bread. Instruments would come out. Stories were told. Kids played. Linda said: ``I found a sense of community that I really hadn't [found]'' anywhere else. So she loved it. She went back to the lower 48 to finish her undergraduate degree, but Alaska was always with her. She knew that she had found a home and a mission to help create more sustainable fisheries in the great State of Alaska. To that end, she enrolled in a master's degree program in resource development at Yale and then came back to Alaska.’`What I saw going on in the ocean drove me to . . . graduate school.'' During that time, in the 1980s, she said that the way the fishing was managed wasn't working well for the smaller fishermen, nor was there much of an emphasis back then on sustainability. When she came back to Alaska, she began to fish again, eventually buying her own small commercial fishing boat, which she now fishes with her husband and two sons who have themselves been fishing since a very, very young age. I have always said that the Alaskan fisherman is the quintessential small business man and small business woman. It is often family businesses. They take huge risks. They create a great product. They work hard as can be. They are the quintessential small business men and women in America, and Linda proves the point. She became the executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association, which is an alliance of small-boat commercial fishermen committed to sustainable and safe fisheries. Let me talk about safety on our waters in Alaska. Fishing, particularly in Alaska's waters, is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. Linda has had many harrowing stories--caught out fishing in the frigid waters for hours in the center of storms, man overboard, challenges, wind whisking away equipment. But all in all, it is much safer now than it used to be when Linda first started to fish. Then, when a certain fishery opened, everyone rushed out at once to get as much fish as possible regardless of the conditions. That has changed. Now fishing is a safer--but still dangerous--business in my great State. Linda was also involved in limiting bigger commercial vessels from operating in the waters of Southeast Alaska and worked for more stringent environmental regulations on the cruise ship industry. Among other things related to fisheries, she served 9 years on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and is a founding member of the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust, which promotes Alaska seafood, helps younger men and women enter the field, and helps feed the hungry from the bounty of the sea--all of which contributed to her winning the Heinz Award. This pandemic that we are experiencing has negatively impacted so many lives, but it has also brought out some of the best in us in Alaska and in America, people across the country, reaching out to their neighbors, volunteering their time to do as much as they can. This includes Linda. When she read early on in the pandemic that a grocery store in her area stopped accepting checks, she got to work. Working with her groups, the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust and the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association, they began delivering food--fish--to people's doors, locally caught and processed seafood to those who were in need. So far--get this--with their partners, they have provided over 400,000 pounds of delicious Alaska seafood. They brought in 400,000 pounds--wow--to children's programs, food pantries, women's shelters, Tribal organizations, and military organizations. You get the picture. She is working hard. They have done amazing work. And I want to thank her and so many who worked with her for this great effort. Something else that Linda did, a decision she made for her community. Earlier, I spoke about that cash prize that came with the Heinz Award--$250,000. She took $100,000 of that money, which was her prize money, and donated it back to the organization that she helped found, the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust, to work on sustainable fisheries, combating climate change, and to help young fishermen enter the profession so we have sustainable fisheries going forward. I am sure Linda probably heard the good news: Our legislation, my legislation, the Save Our Seas 2.0 legislation to clean up our oceans passed the Senate recently and is on its way to the President's desk for his signature. More good news. As she said: ``We won't have jobs if we don't take care of our fisheries.'' Keep them sustainable ``and get young people into the profession.'' People like Linda--committed, organized, generous of spirit, hard-working, in love with what she does in her State and her community--will get us through this pandemic. These are the people in Alaska, in America. And it is people like her that will also ensure that Alaska remains the superpower of seafood, not just for America but for the world. So, Linda, for all that you do, for all that you are going to continue to do, thank you, thank you, thank you. Great work, and congratulations on being our Alaskan of the Week. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401849,Bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act Signed into Law,2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Don Young (R-Alaska), today welcomed the signing of theSave Our Seas(SOS) 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive legislation ever passed by Congress to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal ecosystems and communities, and harming marine life. After two years of collaboration, hard work and advocacy, I am incredibly excited to announce that the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is now the law of the land,said Senator Sullivan. This historic accomplishment is the result of so many people who love our oceans: members of Congress who span the country and political spectrum, members of the administration, stakeholders in industry and environmental groups, and everyday citizens. SOS 2.0 will improve America's ability to clean up waste, advance international cooperation with nations responsible for the majority of trash entering the oceans, and explore innovative ways to manage and even reuse plastic waste. This bill will be particularly important for Alaska, a state that disproportionately experiences the impact of ocean debris with our thousands of miles of coastline. I commend President Trump for signing SOS 2.0 into law, and I also thank my colleaguesSheldon Whitehouse, Bob Menendez, Suzanne Bonamici, Don Young, and all of the other cosponsorsfor being such strong partners and champions for our oceans, fisheries, wildlife and coastal communities. Save Our Seas 2.0 is officially lawanother milestone in our effort to clean up marine debris and ocean plastic pollution across the globe,said Senator Whitehouse, who co-founded the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus to find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts.I'm grateful for the bipartisan partnership of Senators Sullivan and Menendez on this issue.We're already hard at work expanding on the laws we've passed to tackle the scourge of plastic waste washing up on shores from coast to coast. I am thrilled to witness this monumental legislation be signed into law to bolster U.S. leadership and global engagement in confronting the plastic waste and marine debris crisis,SenatorMenendez said. Pollution in our world's oceans is a global problem with dramatic and enduring implications for our livelihoods and well-being. As a landmark bipartisan environmental victory, SOS 2.0 represents a stepping stone toward greater collaboration and progress in our efforts topreserve a most vital resource that sustains life today and will provide for generations to come. Across the globe, ourwidespreaduse ofplasticsispollutingour ocean and exacerbatingthe climate crisis,said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. Save Our Seas2.0isanimportant steptostrengthenthe NOAA Marine Debris Program and invest in infrastructureto prevent the mismanagementof plastic waste, and I am glad it was signed into law. I will continueworking with my fellow House and Senate Oceans Caucus colleagues to advancecomprehensive actionto minimize the production of newplastics, remove waste, reduce pollution,and protect the health of our ocean. ""This is a great day for our oceans, marine ecosystems, and the countless communities they support. Our state is home to more coastline than any other, and Alaskans know that healthy oceans are essential to our economy and way of life,""said Congressman Don Young.""Serving as House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair has allowed me to stand up and fight for Alaska's waters, and I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish in both the House and Senate. Save Our Seas 2.0 builds on our successes in combating marine debris by bolstering plastics research and providing funding crucial for infrastructure improvements. Countless Alaskan families earn a living on the water; clean oceans are not just an environmental issue, but an economic one as well. I am sincerely grateful to my friend and Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, for fighting alongside me to get this bill across the finish line and signed into law. Our Senator, Dan Sullivan, has been an unwavering leader on this issue, and I am especially grateful for his efforts in the Senate to get this done. There is still work ahead of us in the 117th Congress. I will continue fighting to ensure that our marine ecosystems stay healthy and productive for generations to come."" TheSave Our Seas2.0 Actis composed of three main pieces: 1) Strengthening the United States' domestic marine debris response capability with a Marine Debris Foundation, a genius prize for innovation, and new research to tackle the issue. 2) Enhancing global engagement to combat marine debris, including formalizing U.S. policy on international cooperation, enhancing federal agency outreach to other countries, and exploring the potential for a new international agreement on the challenge. 3) Improving domestic infrastructure to prevent marine debris through new grants for and studies of waste management and mitigation. SOS 2.0builds on the success of theSave Our Seas Act, introduced by Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse in the Senate, and Representatives Bonamici and Young in the House, and signed into law by President Trump in October 2018. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/bipartisan-bicameral-group-finish-what-we-started-,"BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL GROUP: FINISH WHAT WE STARTED",2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.20 BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL GROUP: FINISH WHAT WE STARTED Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) and Tom Reed (R-NY-23) called on Congress to deliver immediate COVID-19 relief to the American people. Earlier this week, the Senators and the Problem Solvers Caucus shared two bills, one of which, the bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, is serving as the framework for the final COVID-19 relief package. Today we find ourselves in the middle of a global pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 310,000 Americans, and hours away from a government shutdown that threatens to delay urgent aid to people in need throughout the nation. We must set our differences aside. The American people elected us to govern on their behalf, and at a time when they need us more than ever we must end the partisan games and meet this moment together for the good of the country. On Monday, our bipartisan, bicameral group presented a bill that helps provide for the emergency needs of the millions of families struggling to make ends meet. Once again, we encourage the leaders to finish what we started and deliver immediate assistance to the workers, families and businesses that need it most. Related Issues: COVID-19 Resource Page Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-statement-on-fda-approval-of-moderna-covid-19-vaccine,Murkowski Statement on FDA Approval of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine,2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.20 Murkowski Statement on FDA Approval of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an emergency use authorization for Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine, the second to receive such approval in the U.S. The FDA approval of a second highly effective and safe vaccine option is welcomed news, as it will not only substantially increase America's vaccine supply, but will also provide additional shipping options for hard to reach areasparticularly important for a state like Alaska, said Senator Murkowski. With Pfizer vaccines currently being distributed and Moderna vaccines arriving as soon as next week, this is a strong signal of hope for Alaskans as they continue to navigate the significant health and economic challenges of COVID-19. It is still vital that Alaskans continue to follow public health guidelines, including wearing masks, avoiding large gatherings, and social distancing, but the roll-out of these two vaccines is significant progress. This is the light at the end of the tunnel that we've all been waiting for. Related Issues: COVID-19 Resource Page Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bipartisan-save-our-seas-20-act-signed-into-law,Bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act Signed into Law,2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46,scraper,"SOS 2.0 is America’s most comprehensive marine debris legislation ever WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Don Young (R-Alaska), today welcomed the signing of the Save Our Seas (SOS) 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive legislation ever passed by Congress to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal ecosystems and communities, and harming marine life. “After two years of collaboration, hard work and advocacy, I am incredibly excited to announce that the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is now the law of the land,” said Senator Sullivan. “This historic accomplishment is the result of so many people who love our oceans: members of Congress who span the country and political spectrum, members of the administration, stakeholders in industry and environmental groups, and everyday citizens. SOS 2.0 will improve America’s ability to clean up waste, advance international cooperation with nations responsible for the majority of trash entering the oceans, and explore innovative ways to manage and even reuse plastic waste. This bill will be particularly important for Alaska, a state that disproportionately experiences the impact of ocean debris with our thousands of miles of coastline. I commend President Trump for signing SOS 2.0 into law, and I also thank my colleagues—Sheldon Whitehouse, Bob Menendez, Suzanne Bonamici, Don Young, and all of the other cosponsors—for being such strong partners and champions for our oceans, fisheries, wildlife and coastal communities.” “Save Our Seas 2.0 is officially law—another milestone in our effort to clean up marine debris and ocean plastic pollution across the globe,” said Senator Whitehouse, who co-founded the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus to find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts. “I’m grateful for the bipartisan partnership of Senators Sullivan and Menendez on this issue. We’re already hard at work expanding on the laws we’ve passed to tackle the scourge of plastic waste washing up on shores from coast to coast.” “I am thrilled to witness this monumental legislation be signed into law to bolster U.S. leadership and global engagement in confronting the plastic waste and marine debris crisis,” Senator Menendez said. “Pollution in our world’s oceans is a global problem with dramatic and enduring implications for our livelihoods and well-being. As a landmark bipartisan environmental victory, SOS 2.0 represents a stepping stone toward greater collaboration and progress in our efforts to preserve a most vital resource that sustains life today and will provide for generations to come.” “Across the globe, our widespread use of plastics is polluting our ocean and exacerbating the climate crisis,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Save Our Seas 2.0 is an important step to strengthen the NOAA Marine Debris Program and invest in infrastructure to prevent the mismanagement of plastic waste, and I am glad it was signed into law. I will continue working with my fellow House and Senate Oceans Caucus colleagues to advance comprehensive action to minimize the production of new plastics, remove waste, reduce pollution, and protect the health of our ocean.” ""This is a great day for our oceans, marine ecosystems, and the countless communities they support. Our state is home to more coastline than any other, and Alaskans know that healthy oceans are essential to our economy and way of life,"" said Congressman Don Young. ""Serving as House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair has allowed me to stand up and fight for Alaska's waters, and I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish in both the House and Senate. Save Our Seas 2.0 builds on our successes in combating marine debris by bolstering plastics research and providing funding crucial for infrastructure improvements. Countless Alaskan families earn a living on the water; clean oceans are not just an environmental issue, but an economic one as well. I am sincerely grateful to my friend and Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, for fighting alongside me to get this bill across the finish line and signed into law. Our Senator, Dan Sullivan, has been an unwavering leader on this issue, and I am especially grateful for his efforts in the Senate to get this done. There is still work ahead of us in the 117th Congress. I will continue fighting to ensure that our marine ecosystems stay healthy and productive for generations to come."" The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is composed of three main pieces: Strengthening the United States’ domestic marine debris response capability with a Marine Debris Foundation, a genius prize for innovation, and new research to tackle the issue. Enhancing global engagement to combat marine debris, including formalizing U.S. policy on international cooperation, enhancing federal agency outreach to other countries, and exploring the potential for a new international agreement on the challenge. Improving domestic infrastructure to prevent marine debris through new grants for and studies of waste management and mitigation. SOS 2.0 builds on the success of the Save Our Seas Act, introduced by Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse in the Senate, and Representatives Bonamici and Young in the House, and signed into law by President Trump in October 2018. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/national-landslide-preparedness-act-heads-to-presidents-desk,National Landslide Preparedness Act Heads to Presidents Desk,2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.17.20 National Landslide Preparedness Act Heads to President's Desk The Senate yesterday passed bipartisan, bicameral legislation to help communities prepare for and respond to landslides and other natural hazards, sending it to the President's desk for signature. The Senate first passed S. 529, the National Landslide Preparedness Act, in July, and yesterday unanimously passed a modified version of the bill as H.R. 8810, which the House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate last week. Sens. Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., along with Sens. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., shepherded the bill through the Senate a second time. The legislation will improve emergency preparedness and planning by targeting key gaps in current science and mapping, which are critical to understanding landslide hazards and risks. The passage of this legislation is particularly timely in the wake of landslides that have impacted Southeast Alaska in recent weeks. Two young Alaskans remain missing after landslides devastated Haines earlier this month, which remains under threat of even more landslides, Murkowski said. The tragedy in Haines, the threat from the Barry Arm landslide in Prince William Sound, and the 2015 Sitka landslides are some recent real-world examples of why there needs to be a national strategy to prepare for, monitor, and respond to landslides. I'm glad that we can finally round out the suite of hazards programs and complement the great work already being done by our federal partners to address earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and avalanches. Six years after the Osolandslide, everyone in the State of Washington remembers the devastating impactslandslides can have, Cantwell said.This bill woulddramaticallyincrease our use of LIDAR data needed to map, identify, and track landslide risk areas. Employing our best science and mapping technologies will help communities across our state save lives, safeguard property, and improve our emergency planning and response. The National Landslide Preparedness Act establishes a National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to better identify and understand landslide risks, protect communities, save lives and property, and improve emergency preparedness. The bill also codifies USGS' 3D Elevation Program to update and coordinate the collection of elevation data across the country using enhanced, high-resolution surveys. Enhanced elevation data helps communities plan for and respond to natural hazards and provides critical data to inform decision-making for public safety, national security, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resource management. Clickherefor more information. Murkowski is Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Cantwell is Ranking Member on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Related Issues: Energy Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/qanda-with-murkowski-bipartisan-bicameral-covid-19-emergency-relief-package,"Q&A WITH MURKOWSKI: Bipartisan, Bicameral Covid-19 Emergency Relief Package",2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.17.20 Q&A WITH MURKOWSKI: Bipartisan, Bicameral Covid-19 Emergency Relief Package Murkowski Highlights Alaska Highlights This week, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representatives Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) and Tom Reed (R-NY-23) to unveil the legislative text for the two bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 emergency relief bills. Today, Senator Murkowski took part in a Q&A to help further explain details of the legislation. QUESTION 1: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NOTABLE WINS FOR ALASKA IN THE TWO-BILL PROPOSAL? CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO QUESTION 2: WHAT MAKES THIS COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF PROPOSAL UNIQUE? CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO I think what is important to recognize is what went into this. This bipartisan, bicameral group was initially four Republicans and four Democrats. We actually met at my house for a dinner. We came together to talk about what we might be able to dohow we could respond to the urgency of the issue. We broadened that group to include members of the Problem Solvers Caucus in the House, said Senator Murkowski. This is a reflection of the good work that can come when you've got a commitment to work together to really reach compromise when Americans are in need. We know this is not the end-all and be-all; we were trying to focus on targeted emergency relief and that's what you see reflected in this proposal. It's something the American people have asked for, something Alaskans need, and I am proud to have put my muscle behind it. QUESTION 3: WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FOR ALASKANS? CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO I think people need to know that when things are really hard, members can come togetheracross parties, across the halls of Congressand say what is it that we can do to respond', said Senator Murkowski. As I think about the policy contours that we have laid down that offer hope to Alaskans, I hope that people not only look at this process but also at those who step forward to say we can put our parties aside, and we will focus on the need and we are going to deliver a product', and hopefully that hope, cooperation, and willingness to work together will carry over into the new year. I'm proud of the process we have engaged in. I don't know how it will move forward as the Leadership takes up its negotiations but I think we have given them an extraordinary work product with which to base. The bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020 would provide as much as $748 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. The State and Local Support and Small Business Protection Act of 2020 would provide $160 billion in funding for state and local governments and tribes, as well as liability protections. ALASKA BILL HIGHLIGHTS: Extension of time to spend CARES funding: Extends the deadline for spending CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund aid on COVID-related expenses through December 31, 2021 Unemployment Insurance: Extends all pandemic unemployment insurance programs by 16 weeks, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), from their expiration at the end of December. The proposal also expands federal supplemental unemployment insurance benefits by $300 per week for 16 weeks, from the end of December into April 2021. Small Businesses: Includes additional aid for small businesses, including a second round of loans through the Paycheck Protection Program a forgivable, non-taxable, simplified loan forgiveness program established by the CARES Act this spring. Provisions from the Community Services Block Grant Act: Language to address This would ensure Alaska would receive their remaining $3.625 million in CSBG CARES Act funds from HHS. Support for Transportation Systems: Includes $8 billion to support payroll for parts of the transportation industry that didn't get relief in the CARES Act, including Alaska's ferries and the motor coach industry. Airport grant funding: Includes $4 billion to help large and small airports, including those in Alaska, with combatting coronavirus debt service payments, and rent relief for airport concessions. Essential Air Service funding: Includes $23 billion in support of the Essential Air Service Program, which is vital to many of Alaska's rural communities. Airline Payroll Support Program: Includes $17 billion for the airline payroll support program (PSP) and extends it through March 31, 2020. State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Includes $160 billion in total funding for state, local, and tribal governments including: $152 billion for state and local governments with $500 million minimum to states. $8 billion set aside for tribal entities including tribal governments, tribal organizations, and Alaska Native Corporations COVID-19 Testing, Tracing, and Isolation: Includes provisions from Senator Murkowski's bill the TRACE Act, introduced with Senator King (I-ME), which would help enhance coronavirus testing, contact tracing, and supported isolation efforts. Fisheries: Includes $500 million for fishery assistance with a set aside of $50 million for tribes. Provider Relief Fund: Provides $35 billion for the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) including $7 billion for rural providers and $1 billion for tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, and health service providers to tribes. Vaccine Distribution: Includes $6 billion to help support COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts. Rural Water Infrastructure: Includes $500 million to build out water infrastructure in rural Alaska villages, the territories, and on Indian reservations Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) Benefits: Temporarily increases the value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to address the higher cost of food. Tribal Funding for Behavioral Health: Includes $185 million set-aside for tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations for substance use disorder and behavioral health efforts. Opioid and other drug-related overdose deaths: Includes provisions from Senator Murkowski's Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act to help address the increase in opioid and other drug-related overdose deaths during COVID-19. Flexibility for E-rate: Includes flexibility for the E-rate program, which makes telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools and libraries. This flexibility would allow schools in remote villages to better deliver services to the homes of students. Relief for Students: Includes an extension of suspensions on student loan repayment until April 1, 2021. Broadband: Includes $100 million for the state to fund new broadband infrastructure as well as at least $50,000 to each Tribe in Alaska to support broadband Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-sullivan-whitehouse-and-menendez-celebrate-passage-of-save-our-seas-20-act,"ICYMI: Sullivan, Whitehouse & Menendez Celebrate Passage of Save Our Seas 2.0 Act",2020-12-16,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) yesterday held a colloquy on the Senate floor to celebrate Congress’s recent unanimous passage of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, their legislation, introduced in June of 2019, to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal economies and harming marine life. The legislation, which builds on the success and initiatives of the 2018 Save Our Seas Act, now awaits the President’s signature. The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is composed of three main pieces: Strengthening the United States’ domestic marine debris response capability with a Marine Debris Foundation, a genius prize for innovation, and new research to tackle the issue. Enhancing global engagement to combat marine debris, including formalizing U.S. policy on international cooperation, enhancing federal agency outreach to other countries, and exploring the potential for a new international agreement on the challenge. Improving domestic infrastructure to prevent marine debris through new grants for and studies of waste management and mitigation. The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is cosponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), in addition to Senators Whitehouse, Sullivan, and Menendez. TRANSCRIPT Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I want to talk today with my colleagues Senator Menendez and Senator Whitehouse on a really important piece of legislation that is heading to the President's desk, and this is Save Our Seas 2.0. It is the follow-on to the Save Our Seas Act that we passed in the Congress last Congress, and that was an important one mostly about ocean cleanup, but we thought we could do more. We thought, working with different groups--so many groups--and the executive branch, the Trump administration, that we could do a lot more. So we got to work. I want to thank my colleagues on the floor today--Senator Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Senator Menendez of New Jersey--for their work, their leadership, their cooperation. Senator Whitehouse in particular I really want to single out as probably the Member of the U.S. Senate who is focused on our oceans. He and I started collaborating on these issues about 6 years ago, right after I first came to the U.S. Senate, and I have learned a lot from Senator Whitehouse on these issues. We have kind of been an odd couple. We don't always agree on everything politically, but on these issues and a lot of other issues we not only agree but our teams work together, we work together, and, importantly, we are getting a lot--a lot--done. There have been a lot of folks who have really helped us in this regard and, again, in a bipartisan way. This bill is an important bill. This bill had three committees of the U.S. Senate and eight committees in the House. So Members--whether it was Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member Carper of the EPW Committee, as I mentioned; on Foreign Relations, Chairman Risch; and, of course, Senator Menendez as the ranking member on the Commerce Committee; Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Cantwell; on the House side, I just got off the phone with the dean of the House, Congressman Don Young, a great, great Congressman; Representative Bonamici. She also has been a great advocate. We all were aware of the challenge. This is a huge challenge: ocean debris, plastics. It is a gigantic challenge for my State. Now, I brag about Alaska a lot. Here is a little bit more bragging: We have more coastline than the rest of the country combined, in terms of their coastline. So we see the garbage. We see the trash. We see it, unfortunately, washing up on the shores of Alaska, and that impacts negatively not just the environment but the economy, our fishing industry, our fishing communities, our coastal communities. You may have heard about this World Economic Forum study that said if we don't do anything about the pollution challenge that relates to plastics, by 2050 there could be more weight in terms of plastics in the ocean than there are fish. Think about that. That is a challenge. So we got to work, and here is the thing that I think is so exciting: This is a solvable issue. Estimates are that up to 80 percent of all plastics in the ocean around the globe come from 10 rivers in Asia and Africa. So, of course, it has a huge international component to it. But I just want to thank both Senators Whitehouse and Menendez. I am going to turn the floor over to Senator Menendez to say a few words on this, particularly the international side, which is so important. I will talk a little bit more about what is in the legislation, but this is an example--and it happens a lot; we don't always read about it--of this body coming together on big issues and making a big impact. So Save Our Seas 2.0 is heading to the President's desk. I do want to compliment the President and his team. They had a lot to do with this. They have been very motivated on these issues as well. This is everybody coming together to address a problem that we know is a problem but that we can solve, and we are putting American leadership out front, which will be good for Alaska, good for Rhode Island, good for New Jersey, good for America, and good for the world. Senator Menendez. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey. Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, let me thank Senator Sullivan for his introduction of our efforts here today and to really commend him for working in such a bipartisan spirit to drive an important piece of legislation, to really address the future of future generations of Alaskans, of Rhode Islanders, and New Jerseyans--and Americans, as well as other people across the world. I agree with Senator Sullivan that Senator Whitehouse's name is synonymous with the oceans and his focus on this is singular and his perspective is of the utmost importance. I want to rise to join my colleagues from Alaska and Rhode Island to celebrate the enactment of Save Our Seas 2.0 and to thank our colleagues, both in the House and the Senate, for their votes in support of the most comprehensive piece of legislation to address the growing global environmental threat of plastic waste in our oceans. I want to thank Representatives Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon and Don Young of Alaska for their commitment and leadership in shepherding the bill through the House. To my colleagues, Senator Sullivan and Senator Whitehouse, it has been a great pleasure working with you on these issues. The passion, the knowledge, the persistence you have brought to solving the problem of plastic waste in the world's oceans is incredible, and it was essential to our shared success. Plastic pollution in our oceans is truly a global problem that literally washes up on New Jersey shores, impacting businesses and communities across our State. This calamity is yet another reminder that Americans are directly impacted by the policies and practices of countries around the world. Plastic debris in our oceans does not respect international borders. The abundance of plastic waste in our ocean requires comprehensive action alongside the fight against climate change. Save Our Seas 2.0 will bolster U.S. leadership and global engagement to combat plastic waste and marine debris, improve plastic waste management, and enhance marine debris response and innovation. As the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I take special pride in the international title of this bipartisan legislation, which formalizes U.S. foreign policy to address this issue, supports USAID's work to curb ocean plastic, and encourages the United States to explore the development of an international agreement to foster cooperation on addressing plastic waste globally. I think this legislation can be the catalyst for that. The Earth's oceans are a global resource that sustains life everywhere, whether it is your country, State, or district that has a coastline or is landlocked. Eighty percent of New Jerseyans live in a coastal area, and our economy is heavily dependent on these vibrant communities. Families who depend on our fishing, their real estate, hospitality, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries rely upon clean and safe oceans. These families know that beyond their daily livelihoods, plastic pollution also threatens human health on a global scale. Once in the environment, plastics accumulate in and contaminate both human and animal food chains leading to an array of health risks. Save Our Seas 2.0 calls on various agencies to research and assess the effects of microplastics and food supplies and sources of drinking water so that we can better understand the way plastic is dangerous to use. Even at a time--this is where I will close--when Washington seems more politically divided than ever before, SOS 2.0 represents a significant bipartisan environmental victory that I sincerely hope will serve as a stepping stone toward more progress to tackle this growing global problem. There is no single solution to the marine debris crisis. Ocean stewardship is critical to preventing the collapse of marine ecosystems that support global fisheries that feed billions of people around the world. Addressing plastic waste of the ocean supports economic growth and trade, public health, and safe recreation. I look forward to building upon the bipartisan support we have achieved with this bill and working with the next administration on ensuring the dutiful execution of the programs we established in SOS 2.0 and securing appropriations in support of the bill's goals and objectives. Again, with my congratulations to my colleagues and my thanks for the work they have done together, I will yield the floor to our colleague from Rhode Island. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, today is a happy day for me to be joining my friends Senator Menendez and Senator Sullivan here on the Senate floor to celebrate the successful conclusion of a second chapter in a long effort to address the problem of ocean plastics pollution, which has been described so well by my friend Senator Sullivan. When we began, there was actually no program whatsoever on ocean plastics in the Senate. There had never been legislation in this area. With Senator Sullivan's support, we decided to see what the traffic would bear, see what the Senate and the House might tolerate in terms of legislating in a new area. For that, we undertook the Save Our Seas bill. And at the end of the day, after a certain amount of static, actually on both sides of the aisle, we were able to get Save Our Seas passed by unanimous consent. Every single Member of the Senate had to agree to it. To me, that was a really exciting test to the proposition that Senators actually care about this. One of my favorite moments in that whole episode was when a Senator, with whom I am often at war--Senator Inhofe of landlocked Oklahoma--became an ally and a friend and a supporter of Save Our Seas, the original bill. And he did so because he had childhood experiences on the gulf coast with sea turtles that made him care about the plastic that was piling up in the oceans and strangling and drowning sea creatures. It has, this topic, a gift, I guess, for bringing people together. And based on that success and that unanimous consent--and it cleared the House the same way on what they call suspension over there--we undertook 2.0; 2.0 is going to be bigger, better than 1.0. And it sure is bigger, better. And the role of Senator Menendez in putting some real structure to the international component of this was essential. Senator Menendez is our ranking member on the Foreign Relations Committee. In that role, he was essential in seeing to it that this bill, with such a big Foreign Relations Committee footprint, cleared that committee with momentum and good to go. We are now in the happy position that 2.0 has passed as well. It creates a new marine debris foundation. It creates a genius prize for innovation in trying to get rid of or reinvent or reimagine our plastic disposal system. It creates new research to tackle this issue. It focuses more, as I said, directly on our international relations because so much of the marine plastic waste comes out of foreign shores and down foreign rivers. It also focuses on our domestic waste management program. This is a good step. I have heard people say that 2.0 is not enough. Darn right it is not enough, but this is how you build momentum. You prove that you can do something and that the Senate is willing to act on it. Then, you stand on that platform and you build a bigger, better bill, and you get that passed. And now Senator Sullivan and I are already discussing what 3.0 might look like. I am not in a position to speak for Senator Sullivan, but I am interested in looking under the hood of the recycling industry. When you put your plastic waste into a blue bin to go off and get recycled, how much of it actually does get recycled? How can we make sure that there is, in fact, a circle in which plastic gets manufactured, put into use, brought back out of the system, and not left in the ocean, not left as waste on our lands? How can you develop what is called the circular economy for plastic? Plastic is a weird thing. Nature hasn't seen plastic before. It doesn't biodegrade the way things that were made by the Lord biodegrade. Nothing eats it. If something does eat it, it just piles up in its body or goes through it neutrally. It provides no nutrition or value to anything. It is just this new thing out there. We need to figure out how to deal with it, and we need to get it the heck out of our oceans. More to come on this. But let me take this moment to thank Senator Menendez for his leadership, particularly, on the foreign side of this, and Senator Sullivan for his leadership and for being such a terrific ally in this cause. With that, I yield back. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska Mr. SULLIVAN. Let me wrap up here by mentioning that, as we already talked about, the Congressional Research Service has called this the most comprehensive ocean cleanup legislation ever to come out of the Congress. As Senator Whitehouse said, 6 years ago, we were starting at nothing. And then we got Save Our Seas 1.0, primarily about cleaning up our own coastlines. There are a lot of funny stories there, but we did have a really interesting--and I thought entertaining--signing ceremony at the White House with the President and Senator Whitehouse. The two hadn't met before. They got along really well, particularly talking about this issue. And it did motivate the Trump administration to start focusing more. You may have seen in the new NAFTA, the USMCA, the first trade agreement has a whole section on ocean cleanup and a whole section on fisheries and sustainable fisheries. This is a really important precedent for the U.S. government, regardless of party. As Senator Menendez mentioned, a lot of focus internationally. I want to thank him again, in terms of the Foreign Relations Committee. Our ability to help other countries--we are certainly not perfect, but the big challenge on a lot of the oceans, in terms of cleanup and what comes onto the shores of the United States, what comes onto the shores of Alaska in terms of plastics and pollution, comes from overseas. We need to help there. As Senator Whitehouse also mentioned, improving our domestic infrastructure to prevent marine debris--so we are setting our own example, not just helping other countries--and then enhancing our own domestic response. Senator Whitehouse mentioned this Marine Debris Foundation. This is a congressionally chartered private organization. There are not many in the country. This is a big deal. Thank the Red Cross. Thank the American Legion. These are congressionally chartered organizations that will give this effort public-private partnership energy to address the problem. That is exactly what we are focused on here, and that is why we thought it was so important to have a Marine Debris Foundation as an enduring element of the U.S. leadership that is now exemplified by Save our Seas 2.0. I will mention one final thing. You know, one of the things that I thought was very important--we are going to keep this together--is we worked hard not to single out one industry or one area: Hey, you are not doing a good job; you need to get your act together. What we said when we put this bill together is we are going to bring in all the stakeholders--Democrats, Republicans, the executive branch, Federal agencies, industry, key environmental groups, ocean conservancy, World Wildlife Foundation--and get everybody together--the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, which is an initiative in the private sector, and say: What can we do together to solve this problem? That is what we did. All the stakeholders came together. Everybody worked closely together, good ideas, pulling on the same oar. And that is how we got this done. You know, one of our finest Senators, Lamar Alexander, gave his farewell speech just last week, and he talked about this idea of a split screen in the Senate. Yes, there is contention. Yes, there are battles. The media loves to play those up. But there is also another element about what we do here where there is strong bipartisan support on really big issues: the CARES Act, the NDAA, the Great American Outdoors Act--probably the biggest conservation bill in 50 years--21st Century Cures; these are all things that we are getting done here that matter to the American people in a bipartisan way. You don't always read about them in the press, but they are still happening. And now we can add to that list the biggest ocean cleanup legislation in the history of the country going to the President's desk for signing here in the next couple of days. It is something our fellow Americans should know about. And as Senator Whitehouse said, we are going to build on that too. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island. Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, I should add a few other thank-yous because this, obviously, took a lot of effort to get through all these different committees in the Senate and the House and to get it passed on the Senate and House floor. I want to start on the House side, with the equivalent of the Whitehouse-Sullivan show is the Young-Bonamici show on the other side; Representative Bonamici and Representative Young, whom Senator Sullivan mentioned, were the key people working this issue. I want to thank my delegation, Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, because, during key points when it looked like things were jamming up over there, they jumped up with their leadership and with their colleagues to help move things along, and I believe Representative Young did as well. I want to thank the majority leader, Steny Hoyer, who at a really critical moment, when this could have gone one way or another, made sure it went the right way and got us teed up to get the thing done in the House and back here where we could move it in the Senate. In the Senate, I have spoken about Senator Menendez's critical role, but, of course, as chairman, Senator Risch also had to support and permit this to go forward. It had to clear Commerce, where Senator Wicker and Senator Cantwell were supportive and helped move this along. Senator Wicker, indeed, has been a member of our Oceans Caucus from an early stage and has been very helpful on oceans issues. Then on our--Senator Sullivan's and my--Environment and Public Works Committee, Chairman Barrasso and our ranking member, Senator Carper, were all very supportive. Things like this don't get done without a lot of people pulling together, and I just wanted to make sure that I thanked all of them as I close out here on this subject. So thank you. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-coons-graham-and-whitehouse-introduce-bipartisan-unite-for-our-oceans-act,"Sullivan, Coons, Graham and Whitehouse introduce bipartisan UNITE for our Oceans Act",2020-12-16,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46,scraper,"Bill would direct the U.S. government to work with the international community to address plastic pollution and marine debris on a global scale WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introduced legislation that would bring the international community together to address the increasing amount of plastic and trash polluting the oceans and marine environments. The Unify Nations in Trash Elimination (UNITE) for our Oceans Actwould direct the U.S. government to work with international partners to finance promising projects that promote the sustainable management of materials and reduce the amount of plastic and other waste polluting the world’s oceans. The introduction of the legislation comes in the same month that Congress passed the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, Sullivan’s legislation to further address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal economies and harming marine life. “The UNITE for our Oceans Act is set to build on the groundswell of bipartisan progress we’ve seen in Congress on tackling the global marine debris crisis,” said Senator Sullivan. “Complementing the important initiatives of my Save Our Seas Act and the recently-passed SOS 2.0, our legislation will establish a Marine Debris Trust Fund, increase the grants available around the world to prevent debris from entering the ocean, and encourage the reuse and recycling of plastics and the use of sustainable alternatives. I thank Senators Coons, Graham, and Whitehouse for their partnership on this global environmental challenge that not only tremendously impacts Alaska’s economy and environment, but the world’s.” “Each year, billions of pounds of trash – much of it plastic – makes its way into our oceans. This incredible amount of harmful material is having devastating effects not only on marine animals and ecosystems, but also on human health and economies around the world,” said Senator Coons. “We cannot address this problem alone. I am proud to lead this bill with my colleague, Senator Graham, to ensure the United States collaborates with the international community to address this critical issue.” “This is a major step forward for the United States. We’re going to lead the way with a global fund to aggressively deal with plastics in our oceans,” said Senator Graham. “This new initiative is an effort by America to put our money where our mouth is and will be used to leverage other nations to contribute so we have an all-hands-on-deck approach to dealing with the overwhelming problem presented by plastics in the ocean.” “If we don’t find answers fast, we’ll have more tons of plastic waste in our oceans than living fish by the middle of the century. Solving that problem requires work with other nations on new international solutions,” said Senator Whitehouse. “I’m excited that Senators Graham and Coons, and my ocean plastics partner Senator Sullivan, have joined together to introduce this bipartisan bill to combat a massive challenge facing our oceans.” “This bill demonstrates a clear bipartisan commitment to invest in a more sustainable future by tackling the plastics problem at the global level. WWF commends Senators Coons and Graham for prioritizing investments in global solutions to a global problem. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to make these and related concepts reality,” said Roberta Elias, director of policy for the World Wildlife Fund. “Marine debris is a global issue that needs an international response. The Senate and House Oceans Caucus have prioritized this issue, resulting in a number of important legislative outcomes. Senator Graham’s and Senator Coons’ UNITE for our Oceans Act of 2020 is a giant step forward that displays the desperately needed U.S. leadership on this issue and will provide a mechanism to leverage other countries' contributions for a truly unified approach to achieving a solution,” said David Barron, chairman of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation Group’s Board of Directors. “We congratulate Senators Coons and Graham for their leadership in proposing this ambitious legislation and continuing a tradition of bipartisan support on the issue. Beyond authorizing a substantial investment, the bill importantly recognizes that incineration is not a sustainable solution while also providing flexibility to direct resources at the local level where they are needed most. While we have a lot to do at home – from prioritizing the reduction or phasing out of single-use unnecessary plastics to improving our own recycling rates – this bill would provide much-needed assistance to the international community to prevent and reduce marine plastic pollution, and help keep our global ocean healthy,” said Chever Voltmer, plastics initiative director at the Ocean Conservancy. The Unify Nations in Trash Elimination (UNITE) for our Oceans Act would: Direct the U.S. Secretary of State to work with federal agencies, individual countries, and international organizations to establish a “Trust Fund for Marine Debris and Plastic Pollution” (Trust Fund). The goal of the Trust Fund is to prevent and reduce marine debris and plastic pollution and facilitate the sustainable production and consumption of resources. The Trust Fund would be managed by a board of trustees comprised of representatives of the countries that contribute. Specify that the Trust Fund will award grants to national and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and other entities to complete projects that would reduce marine debris and plastic pollution. These projects include efforts to reduce the amount of trash and plastics entering marine environments, encourage the use of sustainable materials, reduce the use and improper disposal of single-use plastics, and promote reduction, reuse, and recycling of materials that pollute marine environments. Direct the U.S. Secretary of State and the Board of Trustees to appoint an administrator to manage the Trust Fund, implement standards and procedures to monitor the use of funds, and establish criteria to determine how grants will be awarded. Establish an advisory board to the Trust Fund to provide guidance in the development and implementation of grant projects and in leveraging contributions to the fund. Require the U.S. Secretary of State to submit annual reports to Congress outlining the goals of the Trust Fund and the criteria that have been established to determine the programs and activities that it supports. Authorize $150 million to be appropriated for U.S. contributions to the Trust Fund each year for two years. The bill text is available here, and a summary of the bill is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/bipartisan-senators-representatives-share-details-of-two-bipartisan-covid-19-emergency-relief-bills,"BIPARTISAN SENATORS, REPRESENTATIVES SHARE DETAILS OF TWO BIPARTISAN COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF BILLS",2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.20 BIPARTISAN SENATORS, REPRESENTATIVES SHARE DETAILS OF TWO BIPARTISAN COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF BILLS Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) and Tom Reed (R-NY-23) shared additional details for the two bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 emergency relief bills. The Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, shared by Senators Manchin, Collins, Warner, Cassidy, Shaheen, Murkowski, King, Romney, Hassan, Portman and Durbin would provide as much as $748 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. The Bipartisan State and Local Support and Small Business Protection Act of 2020, shared by Senators Manchin, Collins, Cassidy, Murkowski, Romney and Portman would provide $160 billion in funding for state and local governments and liability protections. The Problem Solvers Caucus is working on a version in the House. The American people are hurting in ways we haven't seen in generations. The next several months are going to the most difficult stretch of the COVID-19 pandemic in this country, and we as Members of Congress have a responsibility to act. Food banks are overwhelmed with requests, small businesses are being forced to shut their doors again, we are on the verge of a devastating housing crisis and millions of Americans still find themselves unemployed. The two bipartisan, bicameral emergency relief bills shared today are a compromise that will carry the American people through April 1st of next year to ensure our healthcare crisis doesn't become an economic catastrophe. For Congress to do nothing in the face of a national crisis of this magnitude is unacceptable and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support these bipartisan solutions. We're not going home for Christmas until this gets done, Senator Manchin said. We have had a Christmas miracle occur in Washington. We worked night and day for over a month to put together an emergency COVID relief package. My hope is that our hard work will spur our leadership on both sides of the aisle to take our products and use them as the basis for a COVID relief package that is urgently needed by our struggling families, hard-hit small businesses, health care providers, Postal Service, schools, and so many others, said Senator Collins. I'm particularly proud of the $300 billion package that Senator Jeanne Shaheen and I led. It includes an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program, which has saved millions of jobs in this country, including 250,000 jobs in Maine alone. Undoubtedly, depending on the course of this pandemic, we may have to do more, but surely we can come together and provide this relief before we break for the Christmas holiday. The American people deserve no less. I will be the first to admit that this deal is imperfect. But these challenges are simply too urgent to allow politics to interfere, and an imperfect deal is better than no deal. With unemployment and other benefits scheduled to run out just before Christmas, the American people cannot afford for us to wait. After several weeks of work, I hope that this bipartisan bill moves us closer to providing real relief to the American people without further delay, said Senator Warner. COVID infections are rising. Small businesses owners and their employees are afraid of going bankrupt and losing their jobs. Families are wondering how to afford food and rent. This bill reflects weeks of good-faith negotiations from both Republicans and Democrats to find a solution that delivers relief to struggling Americans. This is Congress' last chance to pass a relief bill before Christmas. We must deliver for the good of our country, said Dr. Cassidy. 300,000 Americans have been taken by COVID-19. As hospital beds fill up, small businesses close their doors and Americans struggle to put food on the table, the urgency to get financial relief to our communities cannot be overstated. The bipartisan legislation we've announced today written in good-faith and across party lines are the only relief bills that can clear Congress. Senate and House leaders must act swiftly, said Senator Shaheen. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis has been overwhelming and no person or industry has been spared. This legislation responds to those who have been hardest-hit, including our small businesses and child care providers, and it addresses pre-existing problems in our society that have been worsened by the pandemic, such as food insecurity and the substance use disorder epidemic. This legislation will help Americans get through the darkest months of this crisis, but our work is not over. We will need to build on this bipartisan effort in the weeks and months ahead to ensure New Hampshire families and all Americans have the assistance they need to recover. Across the nation, Americans continue to struggle with significant health and economic impacts due to COVID-19. In Alaska, I continue to hear from small businesses who are struggling to keep their doors open as well as many who are uncertain they will be able to pay rent or even feed their family. Congress must fulfill our obligation to the American people by providing emergency relief to those who have been hit the hardest by the impacts of this pandemic. People are looking to Congress for leadership in a time of serious need and these targeted measures will make an immediate difference,said Senator Murkowski. It is time to put partisan differences aside and provide Americans with the relief they so desperately need. I urge my colleagues to support this much needed legislation for the sake of all those who are struggling. After weeks of negotiations marked by good-faith efforts on both sides of the aisle to strike a compromise, today we have reached an agreement that would provide hundreds of billions of dollars for Americans who are struggling, said Senator King. This agreement extends unemployment benefits for workers who've lost their jobs due to the pandemic's economic impact; provides another crucial lifeline for the nation's small businesses, and strengthens our public health infrastructure as healthcare providers across the country prepare to deliver vaccine doses in the months ahead. Our agreement is far from perfect; I strongly would have preferred additional funding for unemployment, and would rather that the critical funds for state and local infrastructure were included in the overall package rather than broken out. However, we don't have time to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. When you look at our initial framework, this final agreement isn't a glass that's half full -- this glass is eighty percent full. I support this measure because the American people are in desperate need of relief, and they don't have time for months of Congressional haggling; they need action, now. This legislation should be viewed as a starting point, to get us through the worst of the long winter ahead and in the next several months, Congress should continue negotiating in an effort to prepare additional relief legislation this coming spring. After many weeks of good faith efforts, I'm pleased we were able to reach agreement on a two part relief package that includes emergency relief for small businesses, unemployment insurance, funding for vaccines and health care providers, as well as state and local assistance and a national liability shield for COVID-related lawsuits. This compromise represents the best path forward for Congress and the Administration to provide much-needed relief for the American people before the end of the year, said Senator Romney. People in New Hampshire, and across the country, urgently need additional COVID-19 relief, said Senator Hassan. We have come together, compromised, and found bipartisan agreement on a strong emergency relief package that will help protect lives and livelihoods and there is significant bipartisan, bicameral support for it. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this across the finish line. The Senate should not adjourn until we have passed a new COVID-19 package to provide the relief Americans need, and I'm pleased to announce this bipartisan effort with my colleagues. Together, we have crafted two packages, one that will support our health care response to this pandemic and, just as important, provide a bridge of additional aid to bolster our economy until vaccines are widely available and Americans feel safe returning to normal life. The second package is focused on ensuring that state and local governments have the funding they need to provide essential services while protecting businesses, nonprofits, schools, and faith-based organizations from frivolous lawsuits. I hope all of our colleagues will support these bipartisan products, said Senator Portman. It is clear that we are at a critical moment. I'm hopeful that with the first shipment of a vaccine arriving today at hospitals across the country, we will be able to turn the corner on this pandemic. But we also know that it will take time and resources to vaccinate enough people, and the winter is going to be hard for many families and businesses. With this in mind, this group of Democrats and Republicans came together and worked on compromise, emergency relief legislation in the areas where we could agree totaling $748 billion. This package does not include everything I think we need. However, it is an honest compromise, Senator Durbin said. While the fight continues over state and local funding and corporate liability immunity, we must provide some emergency relief for the American people before we go home for the holidays. I support the $748 billion bipartisan package. I urge my colleagues to support this package, and I call on the Senate Majority Leader to bring it to the floor for a vote this week. This team effort is an example of how Congress should, can, and must work together, and a model for governing in a way that the country needs and deserves. This remarkable, bipartisan, bicameral effort from rank and file members has fulfilled our mission to develop an emergency relief down payment that can help our entire nation, said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). Now, the House and Senate must come together in the spirit of unity, in the spirit of humanity, and in the spirit of America and pass this emergency relief package before Christmas, so that our country can begin the new year in the spirit of hope and optimism and with much needed relief. By staying in the room and refusing to give up, we've crafted a comprehensive proposal that directly addresses the short-term economic needs of the nation and ensures millions of American families will go into the holidays with the federal support they deserve, said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY). This effort proves working together is not dead, and it is possible to solve problems if by listening in good faith. Let's get emergency relief across the finish line and passed into law without delay. Background documents for the bills can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-congratulates-president-elect-biden-and-vice-president-elect-harris-on-presidential-campaign-victory,Murkowski Congratulates President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on Presidential Campaign Victory,2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.20 Murkowski Congratulates President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on Presidential Campaign Victory Thanks Trump Administration for Past Four Years U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement after the Electoral College declared President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the winners of the 2020 presidential election: Today Electoral College delegations voted in their respective states. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have crossed the 270-vote threshold needed to be declared our elected President and Vice President. I congratulate them on their victory. I thank President Trump, Vice President Pence, and all who served within their administration for the contributions they made to our state, and our nation, during their time in office. On behalf of Alaska, I am grateful for their diligent work on our behalf. As the Biden administration begins their time in office, we are grappling with the ongoing pandemic, working to revitalize our economy, striving to address social justice issues, and tackling a number of challenging policy initiatives. Now, more than ever, is the time for us to come together as a nationto put differences aside move forward for the benefit of the American people. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-welcomes-kaleb-froehlich-back-to-team-as-chief-of-staff,Murkowski Welcomes Kaleb Froehlich Back to Team as Chief of Staff,2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.20 Murkowski Welcomes Kaleb Froehlich Back to Team as Chief of Staff Announces Promotions and Departures Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed Kaleb Froehlich back to her team in Washington, D.C. as her Chief of Staff and announced the promotion of Garrett Boyle to Deputy Chief of Staff. I am excited to welcome Kaleb back to my team, said Senator Murkowski. He has spent much of his career working on behalf of Alaskans and has a deep passion for our state. Kaleb's previous experience and strong work ethic will help us achieve many successes for Alaska. Kaleb Froehlich will become Senator Murkowski's Chief of Staff. Kaleb is a born and raised Alaskan from Juneau. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. From 2009-2014, Kaleb served as Senior Counsel to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee under Sen. Murkowski. I am also pleased to announce that Garrett Boyle will be promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Counsel, said Senator Murkowski. Garrett's steady shepherding of our legislative agenda as my Legislative Director has been both invaluable to the team and made the difference securing critical policy wins for Alaska. Boyle received his bachelor's degree from Seattle University and is a graduate of Tulane University School of Law.He was raised in small towns throughout Alaska, including Ouzinkie, Unalakleet, and Seward.Prior to joining Senator Murkowski's staff, he ran his own business dealing with oil and gas and patent law issues, and served as an extern in the Eastern District of Louisiana while in law school. I am blessed to able attract young Alaskans who want to serve their state in Washington to my office, said Senator Murkowski. But we all know Alaska is home and there comes a time when it is time to go home. I want to thank Michael Pawlowski Fish for his years of service to Alaska as my Chief of Staff. I know he will continue working for a better Alaska in his new venture but we will all miss his counsel and efforts in Washington. Michael Pawlowski joined the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as a Senior Policy Advisor in 2015 after serving in various positions at all levels of State Government. Better known to many Alaskans as simply Fish, Pawlowski has served as Senator Murkowski's Chief of Staff since January 2016. Michael recently announced his intent to return to Alaska to partner with former State Senator Jerry Mackie in a new venture, Strategy North Group. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-works-to-include-coast-guard-in-defense-authorization-for-first-time,Sullivan Works to Include Coast Guard in Defense Authorization for First Time,2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46,scraper,"Bill authorizes $745 million for 2nd U.S. heavy icebreaker in a generation WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) on Friday welcomed the Senate’s passage of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included the Sullivan-authored Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020, reauthorizing the U.S. Coast Guard for fiscal years 2020 through 2021. This is the first time the Coast Guard authorization bill has been coupled with the annual defense authorization, an effort that Sullivan has championed for several years. “It has long been a goal of mine to integrate the annual Coast Guard Authorization Act with the defense authorization that we pass every year with strong, bipartisan majorities,” said Senator Sullivan. “We did it this year, and I am hopeful this sets a good precedent for future NDAAs. By joining these authorizations together, we are demonstrating to our brave Coast Guardsmen that their service and sacrifice are just as important to our country as our other uniformed military members.” The 2020 reauthorization aims to ensure the Coast Guard can carry out vessel capitalization and infrastructure development, and support its range of missions, including maritime safety, drug and illegal migrant interdiction, U.S. laws at sea enforcement, protection of our nation’s borders, and support for Department of Defense operations. Importantly for Alaska, the bill also authorizes $745 million for the second heavy Polar-class icebreaker. In the Fiscal Year 2019 NDAA, Senator Sullivan secured a provision authorizing the construction of six new icebreakers for the Coast Guard, America’s first new icebreakers in forty years. A contract has since been awarded for the first icebreaker, with options to build up to three. Construction on the first new icebreaker will begin in 2021. “Alaskans know better than most the invaluable work done by the U.S. Coast Guard, which stands as the first line of defense, and rescue and crisis response for our 33,000 miles of coastline,” said Senator Sullivan. “This year’s authorization will give the Coast Guard the resources and direction it needs to successfully execute its missions, and also protect America’s national security and economic interests in the Arctic region, led by an emerging fleet of heavy icebreakers.” Among the provisions important to Alaska, Senator Sullivan’s Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 will: Authorize the Coast Guard to maintain the contract for three heavy Polar Security Cutters (icebreakers) and to award contracts for construction of three more, for a total of six Polar Security Cutters; Authorize $745 for construction of the second heavy Polar Security Cutter; Authorize $650 million for construction of the twelfth National Security Cutter; Authorize $265 million for construction of four Fast Response Cutters; Authorize $335 million, over two years, for shoreside infrastructure; Direct the Coast Guard to prioritize missions and capability development in the Arctic; Streamline the maintenance and repair of Coast Guard vessels in District 17 (Alaska); Direct the Coast Guard to report to Congress on the need for search-and-rescue support for Arctic communities; Provide regulatory certainty for commercial fishing vessels from onerous, unenforced regulations; Provide relief for the Alaska fishing and hunting guide operations from one-size-fits-all regulations that have stymied their ability to hire and train locally; Provide increased federal funds for fishing safety training and research grants; Establishes an Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee to provide policy recommendations on Arctic maritime transportation; Focus on expanding the use of unmanned aircraft systems and providing an emphasis on employing this capability in the Arctic; Increase protections for survivors of sexual assault; Improve measures aimed at recruiting and retaining women in the Coast Guard; and Improve the services offered to family members of Coast Guardsmen, including access to affordable child care, improvements to housing, and review of health care access—especially for those stationed in remote regions. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-applauds-new-polar-security-cutters-authorized-in-coast-guard-bill,Murkowski Applauds New Polar Security Cutters Authorized in Coast Guard Bill,2020-12-13,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.13.20 Murkowski Applauds New Polar Security Cutters Authorized in Coast Guard Bill Icebreakers Critical to U.S. Arctic Operations U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded the authorization of additional Polar Security Cutters (icebreakers) in the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, which passed Congress as a part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. The bipartisan provision was authored by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Since coming to the senate, Senator Murkowski has focused on Arctic issues, working to raise awareness of the significance of the region and is recognized as the congressional leader on the arctic. For years, Murkowski has led the charge to recapitalize and expand America's fleet of Polar Security Cutters to further prioritize the U.S. presence in the Arctic region. My priority in the arctic has long been to raise awareness of America's role in this rapidly evolving region. As recognized by this year's NDAA now, more than ever, it's time to move from awareness to action. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have worked aggressivelyto help secure a robust fleet of Polar Security Cutters to meet our nation's needs in the Arctic, to protect our interests in the region, and to strengthen our national security. I'm proud of the progress that we have made to help the U.S. strengthen its capacity and presence in the Arctic as other Arctic and non-Arctic nations expand theirs, said Senator Murkowski. The authorization of additional Polar Security Cutters in the final NDAA is significantand a sign that we are moving in the right direction. The reality is, there is a race on for the Arctic passageway, and we need to be ready, said Senator Cantwell. This formal authorization of six polar icebreakers will send a strong message to the rest of the world: the United States is showing up in the Arctic. And with three of the icebreakers homeported in Seattle, this is a big win for the State of Washington and an opportunity for us to continue to pave the way in Arctic exploration, scientific research, and protecting our nation's foreign policy interests. I am pleased that the bipartisan Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 is included in this year's National Defense Authorization Act, said Chairman Wicker. In addition to authorizing the funds necessary to support our Coast Guard, this legislation would provide for the purchase of an advanced new class of polar security cutters proudly being built by Mississippi shipbuilders. These vessels are the future of U.S. presence in the polar regions and will be critical to meeting our nation's economic, commercial, maritime, and national security needs. The highways of the Arctic are paved by icebreakers, and the authorization of Polar Class icebreakers in this year's NDAAbuilding on my previous defense authorization workwill put America in a much better position to operate in the region and protect our national security and economic interests, saidSenator Sullivan. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, from all corners of the country, for recognizing the importance of the Arctic,and for supporting the vessels and infrastructure that are needed to realize America's role as an Arctic nation. The U.S. currently has only has two polar icebreakers, POLAR STAR and HEALY. Due to the HEALY's fire this past summer, only the POLAR STAR is operational, putting the country at a disadvantage in comparison to other Arctic nations with much larger fleets. According to the most recent Coast Guard data, Russia has fifty-three icebreakers and Canada has seven. Even smaller Arctic nations have icebreaker fleets that outnumber that of the U.S.Finland has ten icebreakers, Sweden has seven, and Denmark has four. Polar Security Cutters are essential to developing a strategic and consistent presence in the polar regions, providing America with greater opportunities for research and development and the ability to respond to issues in some of the world's most remote and isolated regions. The diminishing sea ice we are seeing in the Arctic has led to greater opportunities for economic activity and greater accessibility regarding commercial transit and shipping. Background: In June 2020, Senator Murkowski commended the Trump Administration for issuing a Presidential Memorandum entitled Safeguarding U.S. National Interests in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions. The memorandum and statement of support from President Trump prioritizes some of our nation's most urgent Arctic needs, including the consideration of all assets and capabilities needed for the region, such as a full fleet of polar security cutters. In November 2019, Senator Murkowski introduced the Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee Act, legislation to urge the U.S. to prioritize emerging opportunities in the Arctic for maritime transportation, and ensure that increased Arctic shipping proceeds safely and securely. In April 2019, Senator Murkowski introduced the Shipping and Environmental Arctic Leadership Act (SEAL Act), a bill that establishes a congressionally charted seaway development corporation in the Arctic to help fund the infrastructural and environmental demands of safe and reliable shipping in the region. In April 2019, Senator Murkowski introduced the Arctic Policy Act (APA), legislation to increase local and indigenous voices in federal science and policy in the Arctic by aiming to improve coordination and collaboration across agencies to advance an integrated plan for the Arctic, including establishing an Advisory Committee with local and tribal input in shaping national Arctic priorities. In April 2019, Senator Murkowski joined the Alaska Delegation in welcoming the announcement from the DoD Contracting Office on awarding the contract to build the nation's first new heavy Polar Security Cutter (PSC) in more than forty years. In February 2019, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murkowski worked to ensure funding in a year-end budget package for long lead-time materials (LLTM) for design and construction of a second Polar Security Cutter. Related Issues: Arctic, Defense Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-comments-on-fda-authorization-of-pfizer-biontech-vaccine,Murkowski Comments on FDA Authorization of Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine,2020-12-12,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.12.20 Murkowski Comments on FDA Authorization of Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine: The FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine to combat COVID-19, meaning administration of the first doses for frontline health workers and long-term care facility residents in Alaska could begin as soon as next week. This is a major milestone in the fight against the pandemic, said Senator Murkowski. In the midst of the holiday season, adhering to the changes that COVID-19 requires of us is increasingly difficult. But, as the rollout of a nationwide vaccine distribution plan begins, it is as important as ever that all Alaskansall Americanscontinue to follow public health guidelines, including social distancing, avoiding large gatherings, wearing masks, and washing your hands. This announcement is good progress, but this is just the first step in a long journey back to normal'. As we navigate this phase of recovery, the best gift we can give each other is to continue our efforts to protect the health and safety of ourselves and others. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401848,New DOD Arctic Security Studies Center Approved by Congress,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Senate today passed theNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA), including a provision authorizing a new regional Department of Defense (DOD) Center named theTed StevensCenter for Arctic Security Studies.U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, successfully included key elements of a bill he introduced earlier this Congress with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) successfully included the provision in the House's version of the NDAA, which passed on Tuesday. The Ted Stevens Center, the first DOD regional center in the Arctic and the first new DOD regional center since 2000, will support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a unique academic forum, while also fostering strong international networks of security leaders. This year's defense authorization will be recognized as one of the most impactful in recent memory for our country, particularly for the Arctic region,said Senator Sullivan.In addition to the historic investments being made in the Arcticincluding new icebreakers,space-based communications, critical militaryinfrastructure, and new initiatives for remote locationswe will soon have an institute to cultivate theArcticpolicyexpertise that is desperately needed in the Department of Defense.In order to address the rise of Great Power' competitorsin the Arctic,the Ted Stevens Centerwill bea new focal point for strategic thinkingas it combines Alaska's extensive reserveofArctic expertise with the best and brightest minds from around the world. I want to thank Senator Murkowski, who conceived of this idea, and Congressman Young, who included the provision in the House NDAA. Both of them worked with me to make the Ted Stevens Center a reality and honor the legacy of the center's namesake, a seminal Alaskan leader on whose shoulders we stand today. Throughout his time in the Senate, the late Senator Ted Stevens recognized the critical role the Arctic plays in our national defense. He understood the importance of improving the capabilities of our military in the region to safeguard our national interests and improve economic security. I'm proud to have shepherded support for the new Ted Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies, the firstDOD Regional Center in the Arctic,said Senator Murkowski.We are seeing drastic geopolitical, environmental, and security changes in the High North, which are driving increased activity in the region and placing greater emphasis on the strategic importance of the Arctic. This new security center will help solidify America's place in the region and ensure that our country is equipped with the information it needs to support defense strategy objectives, advance defense readiness, improve international cooperation and multilateralism, and best address pressing regional and global security issues. The delegation worked hard to secure this new opportunity in the Arctic and I look forward to the ways it will benefit America while honoring the legacy of Ted Stevens in the process. ""My friend, our late Senator Ted Stevens, was not only a steadfast advocate for Alaska, but he also fully recognized the strategic importance of the Arctic to America's national security, said Congressman Young. Establishing the Ted Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies has been one of my highest priorities, and I am proud that our Delegation has always fought for its creation. America's national security is not a partisan issue. Naming the Arctic Center for Security Studies after a consensus builder like Senator Stevens is an incredible testament to his legacy of patriotism and multilateralism. I am very pleased that this year's NDAA makes tremendous progress toward its creation, and I am grateful to my colleagues in the House and Senate for supporting it. In the 117th Congress and beyond, I will continue working with the Alaska Delegation and my friends on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the doors of the Ted Stevens Center finally open, and the critical work to defend America's interests the Arctic continues."" The DOD is authorized, within 120 days, to establish aTed StevensCenter for Arctic Security Studies.As a part of this authorization, the DOD is required to submit a plan to Congress on the stand-up of the center.The plan will detail the benefits of an Arctic security studies center, including identifying and considering suitable locations with close proximity to the Arctic, such as Alaska, and co-locating the center on military installations or at local universities. The report will also study associated costs, the suitability of using existing infrastructure, curriculum, and partnership opportunities with other Arctic nations. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-applauds-senate-passage-of-ndaa,Murkowski Applauds Senate Passage of NDAA,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.20 Murkowski Applauds Senate Passage of NDAA U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today voted in favor of the final Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill passed the Senate by an 84-13 vote and now heads to the President's desk. This major national security bill authorizes the annual budget for the Department of Defense (DoD), providing funding for training and readiness, to improve the livelihoods of military members and their families, modernize military technology, and includes multiple provisions to address high rates of suicide among the military community. The legislation includes portions of a bill introduced by Senators Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) which authorizes a new regional Department of Defense (DoD) Center for Arctic Security Studies. The Center, named after the late Ted Stevens, would be the first DoD Regional Center focused on the Arctic, its infrastructure and America's leadership in the region. The bill will also reform the Department of Defense's 1033 program, which authorizes the federal transfer of military equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies. Around the globe, emerging conflicts and security challenges require us to remain as vigilant as ever. In order to ensure America's national security, we must first ensure that our military forces are fully equipped to carry out their assigned duties, both on American soil and overseas. At a national level, this legislation invests in all sectors of the militarytechnology and equipment, training, infrastructure, and most importantly, the overall well-being of our troops and their families. We also include a pay raise for service members, provisions to help shore up some of the gaps in our military's mental and behavioral health needs, and reforms to the Department of Defense's 1033 program. Recognizing the emerging threats and challenges in the Arctic, this legislation prioritizes the needs of Alaska's military and America's role in the Arctic region. Within the legislation we authorize military construction projects for Fort Greely and Fort Wainright, including infrastructure to support missile defense and improve child care capabilities. Building on my longstanding efforts to bolster America's presence in the Arctic, the bill includes provisions that improve Arctic security, enhance communications infrastructure, and focuses our military and national security leadership on defense strategies in the region. I'm proud that the bill includes a provision that the Alaska delegation worked hard to secureauthorization for the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies. And to address our nation's growing dependence on foreign countries, including China, for minerals and metals, we include two key provisions championed by Senator Sullivan. The passage of NDAA is good news for Alaska and America. ALASKA HIGHLIGHTS: Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies: Includes a key provisions from legislation introduced by Senators Murkowski and Sullivan creating a new Department of Defense (DoD) Regional Center focused on the Arctic, named in honor of the late U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. If enacted, the Ted Stevens Center for Security Studies would be the first DoD Regional Center focused on the Arctic. The center's aim is to support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a unique academic forum and to foster strong international networks of security leaders to support multilateralism and diplomacy in the region. Polar Security Cutters: Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to enter into one or more contracts for the procurement of three Polar Security Cutters, previously approved in 2019, as well as three additional Polar Security Cutters. Military Construction:Authorizes $162M for MILCON projects in Alaska, including: Fort Greely Communications Center Fort Wainwright Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing Fort Wainwright Child Development Center Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 For the first time ever, the Coast Guard authorization is included in NDAA. The Authorization will continue through fiscal year 2021, and enables the Coast Guard to carry out needed vessel capitalization and infrastructure development, and support its range of missions, including maritime safety, drug and illegal migrant interdiction, enforcement of U.S. laws at sea, protection of our nation's borders, and support for DOD's national security operations. Maritime transportation system emergency relief program: Creates a grant program, administered by MARAD, to provide relief for U.S. port owners and operators and those involved in vessel construction, transportation by water, or support activities for transportation by water during a national emergency such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or natural disasters. North Warning System Modernization Report:The North Warning System is a series of long and shortrange radar stations which provide observation and surveillance capability for cruise missiles. The bill directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a report on the status of the North Warning System infrastructure and to create a plan to modernize the system. Pay Raise for Troops: Includes a 3% pay raise for the troops, increases hazardous duty pay by 10%, and reauthorizes more than 30 other types of bonuses and special pay. Suicide Prevention Initiative:Includes several provisions to address the disproportionate rates of suicide among the military community. The report will provide an assessment of current policy guidelines, prevention programs, standards for response actions and data collection, and protection of privacy regarding suicide at remote installations. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - This year's bill has a collection of PFAS related provisions such as, prizes for development of non-PFAS containing fire-fighting agents, notification requirements for agricultural areas exposed to DoD PFAS use. Additionally, an interagency body will be stood up to research PFAS. The agencies comprising this body include EPA, NIEHS, NSF, DoD, NIH, DOI, NOAA, DOT, DHS and many others. The interagency group will provide strategic focus on the many federally funded PFAS studies already ongoing, focus on alternatives to PFAS, and methods of removal or destruction of PFAS. Additionally, this year's NDAA restricts DoD from procurement of PFAS in houseware and other equipment and promotes development of alternatives. Senator Murkowski also cosponsored an amendment included in the final bill to increase funding for CDC's study of PFAS health implications. Strategic and Critical Materials: Includes a provision secured by U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) that requires DoD to acquire strategic and critical materials from domestic sources whenever possible. This recognizes the important role that Alaska's world-class mineral base can play in support of our nation's economic and national security. Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program: Authorizes an unprecedented $30M for the DoD to continue utilizing the IRT program to provide hands-on and mission-essential training for Active, Reserve and National Guard forces across the country. The IRT Program, which is being used in Alaska, is a militarytraining opportunity that increases deployment readiness by providing key services such as health care, construction, transportation, and cybersecurity to American communities. Native American lands environmental mitigation program: Creates an environmental mitigation program for Native lands. Within this program, the Secretary of Defense will be able to undertake actions, including the identification, investigation, and documentation of suspected environmental effects attributable to past Department of Defense actions, develop mitigation options for such environmental effects, including development of cost-to-complete estimates and a system for prioritizing mitigation actions, and direct mitigation actions that the Secretary determines are necessary and appropriate. Micronuclear Reactor Programs and Report: Includes a provision calling for a report assessing the costs and feasibility of deploying micronuclear reactors to provide power and heat to Department of Defense facilities. Some of the most promising sites for potential micronuclear deployment are located in Alaska. The report also authorizes $50 million for the program to develop mobile micronuclear reactors that could be deployed in Alaska after testing is completed in the lower 48. ARCTIC HIGHLIGHTS: Assignment of Arctic Issues to Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere: Establishes Arctic focused leadership at the senior level within the DoD by requiring the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs to assign responsibility for the Arctic region to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere or another Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee: This provision establishes a Federal advisory committee tasked to develop recommendations on matters related to Arctic maritime transportation. Specifically, the committee shall recommend policies to enhance the leadership role played by the United States in the Arctic, policies that would improve the safety and reliability of Arctic maritime transportation in accordance with customary international maritime law, and consider establishing a congressionally chartered Arctic seaway development corporation modeled on the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. Additionally, the bill requires a Special Representative for the Arctic Region, appointed by the Department of State, to coordinate any activities recommended by the committee's implementation plan and to facilitate multilateral dialogues with member and observer nations of the Arctic Council. Senator Murkowski is the author of this legislation and championed inclusion in this year's Coast Guard Authorization. Permafrost Studies:Directs the Secretary of Defense to complete a study on the impact of permafrost from a warming climate in areas that possess critical infrastructure vital to national defense. Arctic Communications:Authorizes funding to establish more robust communications in the Arctic to support an initial satellite capability for the region. U.S. Coast Guard Unmanned Aircraft Program: Includes a provision to require the Coast Guard and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to assess the feasibility and advisability of using unmanned aircraft systems for Arctic surveillance in order to establish and maintain regular maritime domain awareness, respond to illegal activities, and collaborate with State, local, and tribal authorities, and international partners, in surveillance missions over the water. Related Issues: Defense Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/new-dod-arctic-security-studies-center-approved-by-congress,New DOD Arctic Security Studies Center Approved by Congress,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.20 New DOD Arctic Security Studies Center Approved by Congress The U.S. Senate today passed theNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA),including a provision authorizing a new regional Department of Defense (DOD) Center named theTed StevensCenter for Arctic Security Studies.U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, successfully included key elements of a bill he introduced earlier this Congress with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) successfully included the provision in the House's version of the NDAA, which passed on Tuesday. The Ted Stevens Center, the first DOD regional center in the Arctic and the first new DOD regional center since 2000, will support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a unique academic forum, while also fostering strong international networks of security leaders. This year's defense authorization will be recognized as one of the most impactful in recent memory for our country, particularly for the Arctic region,said Senator Sullivan.In addition to the historic investments being made in the Arcticincluding new icebreakers,space-based communications, critical militaryinfrastructure, and new initiatives for remote locationswe will soon have an institute to cultivate theArcticpolicyexpertise that is desperately needed in the Department of Defense.In order to address the rise of Great Power' competitorsin the Arctic,the Ted Stevens Centerwill bea new focal point for strategic thinkingas it combines Alaska's extensive reserveofArctic expertise with the best andbrightest minds from around the world. I want to thank Senator Murkowski, who conceived of this idea, and Congressman Young, who included the provision in the House NDAA. Both of them worked with me to make the Ted Stevens Center a reality and honor the legacy of the center's namesake, a seminal Alaskan leader on whose shoulders we stand today. Throughout his time in the Senate, the late Senator Ted Stevens recognized the critical role the Arctic plays in our national defense. He understood the importance of improving the capabilities of our military in the region to safeguard our national interests and improve economic security. I'm proud to have shepherded support for the new Ted Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies, the firstDOD Regional Center in the Arctic,said Senator Murkowski.We are seeing drastic geopolitical, environmental, and security changes in the High North, which are driving increased activity in the region and placing greater emphasis on the strategic importance of the Arctic. This new security center will help solidify America's place in the region and ensure that our country is equipped with the information it needs to support defense strategy objectives, advance defense readiness, improve international cooperation and multilateralism, and best address pressing regional and global security issues. The delegation worked hard to secure this new opportunity in the Arctic and I look forward to the ways it will benefit America while honoring the legacy of Ted Stevens in the process. ""My friend, our late Senator Ted Stevens, was not only a steadfast advocate for Alaska, but he also fully recognized the strategic importance of the Arctic to America's national security,said Congressman Young. Establishing the Ted Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies has been one of my highest priorities, and I am proud that our Delegation has always fought for its creation. America's national security is not a partisan issue. Naming the Arctic Center for Security Studies after a consensus builder like Senator Stevens is an incredible testament to his legacy of patriotism and multilateralism. I am very pleased that this year's NDAA makes tremendous progress toward its creation, and I am grateful to my colleagues in the House and Senate for supporting it. In the 117th Congress and beyond, I will continue working with the Alaska Delegation and my friends on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the doors of the Ted Stevens Center finally open, and the critical work to defend America's interests the Arctic continues."" The DOD is authorized, within 120 days, to establish aTed StevensCenter for Arctic Security Studies.As a part of this authorization, the DOD is required to submit a plan to Congress on the stand-up of the center.The plan will detail the benefits of an Arctic security studies center, including identifying and considering suitable locations with close proximity to the Arctic, such as Alaska, and co-locating the center on military installations or at local universities. The report will also study associated costs, the suitability of using existing infrastructure, curriculum, and partnership opportunities with other Arctic nations. Related Issues: Defense, Arctic Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/us-senate-passes-continuing-resolution-to-fund-the-government,U.S. Senate Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund the Government,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.20 U.S. Senate Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund the Government U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today made the following statement after voting in favor of a continuing resolution to fund the government at current levels through December 18, 2020: Today I supported a short-term continuing resolution to fund the government through December 18, to keep the government functioning and to avoid adding unnecessary economic strain on hard-working Americans. For the thousands of Alaskans that are federal employees and contractors, and for all Americans who rely on government services, keeping the government open as we work to finalize FY2021 funding bills is crucial, said Senator Murkowski. Passing this resolution allows Congress the needed time to find compromise on a number of appropriations bills, including funding to support national defense, energy and water initiatives, education, and so much more. And in an effort to support Alaskans and Americans who are struggling to navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, I continue to work with colleagues on a bipartisan measure to provide much-needed emergency relief. A CR is not ideal, but during this additional work week, we have the opportunity to advance key policy initiatives in support of the American people. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/congress-passes-60th-consecutive-annual-national-defense-authorization-act,Congress Passes 60th Consecutive Annual National Defense Authorization Act,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"FY 2021 NDAA Includes More Than $150 Million in Military Construction for Alaska WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, today joined 83 of his colleagues in voting to pass the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) following a constructive conference process between the House and the Senate. The bill authorizes $740.5 billion in critical defense spending and includes numerous provisions and amendments introduced by Sullivan, many of which directly impact Alaska and will bring more than $150 million in military construction to the state. “This year’s NDAA marks the sixtieth year in a row that Congress has passed this vital defense authorization bill,” said Senator Sullivan. “This amazing achievement clearly demonstrates to the American people that bipartisanship does, in fact, exist in the halls of the U.S. Capitol and it tells our service membersthat Congress continues to have their back. “As our country recovers from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, we must continue to provide our men and women in uniform with the resources they need to defend America. This strong, bipartisan legislation builds on the robust military investments we’ve made over the last four years with meaningful investments in the health and well-being of our service members—including another pay raise—as well as investments in advanced weapons systems, missile defense, domestic supply chains, and much-needed development of the Arctic.” Strategic Importance of the Arctic The FY 2021 NDAA includes a number of Arctic-related provisions that Senator Sullivan pushed for from his seat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, to include the establishment of a Department of Defense (DOD) regional center for security studies focused specifically on the Arctic. This bill highlights the strategic importance of Alaska in the Arctic and invests in military infrastructure and capabilities the U.S. needs to successfully compete with Russia and China in the region. “Building on years of past successes, this year’s NDAA is one of the most consequential defense policy bills Alaska has seen in recent years,” said Senator Sullivan. “Foremost among these successes is the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, which will establish a forum for strategic thinkers from all over the world to tackle the present and future challenges our nation faces in the Arctic. I look forward to continue working with Senator Murkowski to make sure this center is stood up as soon as possible.” Ted Stevens Arctic Center: The FY 2021 NDAA includes a Sullivan-authored, Senator Murkowski-inspired amendment for a new regional DOD Center, named after the late Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), which would be the first DOD regional center in the Arctic and the first new DOD regional center established since 2000. The center would be authorized for establishment in Alaska and would support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a unique academic forum, while also fostering strong international networks of security leaders. $46 Million for Arctic Communications Capabilities: The FY 2021 NDAA authorizes $46 million for an initial satellite capability to begin to establish more robust communications at the northern latitudes of the Arctic. The U.S. is an Arctic nation and stable communications is a basic first step to ensuring that the U.S. is appropriately postured for “great power competition” in the Arctic region. $162 million for Alaska Military Construction: The FY 2021 NDAA authorizes $48 million for a communications center at Fort Greely, and $59 million for a new dorm-style barracks and $55 million for a child development center at Fort Wainwright. DASD for the Arctic: The FY 2021 NDAA requires the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs to assign responsibility for the Arctic region to the deputy assistant secretary of defense (DASD) for the Western Hemisphere or any other DASD that the secretary of defense considers appropriate. North Warning System Modernization: The FY 2021 NDAA directs the DOD to conduct a report on the status of North Warning System infrastructure and develop a plan to modernize the system for integration with space-based infrastructure. The North Warning System is a string of 47 long- and short-range radar stations that stretch across the Arctic from Labrador, Canada to Alaska. These stations provide electronic observation and surveillance capability across the poles for cruise missiles. Rural Incentive Payments: The FY 2021 NDAA authorizes award incentive payments to be given to employees working at locations with geographic remoteness, isolation, or extreme climate conditions—like Eielson Air Force Base, Fort Greely, and Clear Air Force Station. Study on Prevention of Suicide at Remote Locations: The FY 2021 NDAA requires the DOD to complete a study addressing suicide among service members at remote installations, including an assessment of the availability of information from indigenous populations and graduate research programs in the area. Securing Supply Chains The FY 2021 NDAA focuses on securing vital defense industrial base supply chains and decreasing U.S. reliance on unsecure foreign sources of materials critical to national security. Senator Sullivan fought to include provisions that seek to secure critical mineral supply chains to combat Chinese dominance in the manufacturing and processing of minerals critical to the defense industrial base. Senator Sullivan also held a hearing on this topic back in October with Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord. “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the striking vulnerabilities and gaps in our domestic supply chains, and the need to invest in critical mineral manufacturing and processing has taken on a new urgency,” said Senator Sullivan. “The U.S. needs to place a new emphasis on home-shoring the production of these critical minerals, particularly in states, like Alaska, where these minerals are found in abundance.” Critical Minerals: The FY 2021 NDAA includes two Sullivan-authored amendments to address the United States’ rising dependence on China and other foreign countries for minerals and metals that are critical for virtually all modern technology, including strategic defense technologies. These provisions set forth U.S. policy to achieve ambitious 15-year critical mineral goals and would require the DOD to produce a study on U.S. defense critical mineral needs. Other key Sullivan priorities in the FY 2021 NDAA include: Missile Defense: The FY 2021 NDAA includes several Sullivan-authored missile defense amendments that mandate a new program of record for a new interim ground-based interceptor (GBI) to more quickly fill the twenty empty silos at Fort Greely, and includes funding for the Missile Defense Agency to develop the Hypersonic Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS). Diversity and Inclusion: The FY 2021 NDAA includes a Sullivan-authored diversity and inclusion amendment that supports oversight of the DOD’s efforts to foster diversity and equality through the creation of both an immediate-term Defense Board and a longer-term Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in the Armed Forces. Native Lands Mitigation Program: The FY 2021 NDAA authorizes the DOD to participate in and establish a program to mitigate environmental effects attributed to past DOD actions on Native American and Alaska Native lands. Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program: This provision encourages the DOD to continue utilizing IRT wherever possible and authorizes nearly $30 million to help more units and communities participate in this important program. Additional provision of note in the FY 2021 NDAA include: A three percent pay raise for service members; Resources to help the military respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; Reforms to the DOD’s inefficient business operations; Direction and funding to reposition U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region to effectively compete with Russia and China; Reforms and oversight of sexual assault prevention, military privatized housing, and military health care; and Funding for emerging technologies, such as hypersonics, biotechnologies, and cybersecurity. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-dod-arctic-security-studies-center-approved-by-congress,New DOD Arctic Security Studies Center Approved by Congress,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=46,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today passed theNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA),including a provision authorizing a new regional Department of Defense (DOD) Center named the “Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies.” U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, successfully included key elements of a bill he introduced earlier this Congress with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) successfully included the provision in the House’s version of the NDAA, which passed on Tuesday. The Ted Stevens Center, the first DOD regional center in the Arctic and the first new DOD regional center since 2000, will support defense strategy objectives and policy priorities through a unique academic forum, while also fostering strong international networks of security leaders. “This year’s defense authorization will be recognized as one of the most impactful in recent memory for our country, particularly for the Arctic region,”said Senator Sullivan. “In addition to the historic investments being made in the Arctic—including new icebreakers, space-based communications, critical military infrastructure, and new initiatives for remote locations—we will soon have an institute to cultivate the Arctic policy expertise that is desperately needed in the Department of Defense. In order to address the rise of ‘Great Power’ competitors in the Arctic, the Ted Stevens Center will be a new focal point for strategic thinking as it combines Alaska’s extensive reserve of Arctic expertise with the best and brightest minds from around the world. I want to thank Senator Murkowski, who conceived of this idea, and Congressman Young, who included the provision in the House NDAA. Both of them worked with me to make the Ted Stevens Center a reality and honor the legacy of the center’s namesake, a seminal Alaskan leader on whose shoulders we stand today.” “Throughout his time in the Senate, the late Senator Ted Stevens recognized the critical role the Arctic plays in our national defense. He understood the importance of improving the capabilities of our military in the region to safeguard our national interests and improve economic security. I’m proud to have shepherded support for the new Ted Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies, the first DOD Regional Center in the Arctic,” said Senator Murkowski. “We are seeing drastic geopolitical, environmental, and security changes in the High North, which are driving increased activity in the region and placing greater emphasis on the strategic importance of the Arctic. This new security center will help solidify America’s place in the region and ensure that our country is equipped with the information it needs to support defense strategy objectives, advance defense readiness, improve international cooperation and multilateralism, and best address pressing regional and global security issues. The delegation worked hard to secure this new opportunity in the Arctic and I look forward to the ways it will benefit America while honoring the legacy of Ted Stevens in the process.” ""My friend, our late Senator Ted Stevens, was not only a steadfast advocate for Alaska, but he also fully recognized the strategic importance of the Arctic to America's national security,”said Congressman Young. “Establishing the Ted Stevens Arctic Center for Security Studies has been one of my highest priorities, and I am proud that our Delegation has always fought for its creation. America's national security is not a partisan issue. Naming the Arctic Center for Security Studies after a consensus builder like Senator Stevens is an incredible testament to his legacy of patriotism and multilateralism. I am very pleased that this year's NDAA makes tremendous progress toward its creation, and I am grateful to my colleagues in the House and Senate for supporting it. In the 117th Congress and beyond, I will continue working with the Alaska Delegation and my friends on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the doors of the Ted Stevens Center finally open, and the critical work to defend America's interests the Arctic continues."" The DOD is authorized, within 120 days, to establish a Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies. As a part of this authorization, the DOD is required to submit a plan to Congress on the stand-up of the center. The plan will detail the benefits of an Arctic security studies center, including identifying and considering suitable locations with close proximity to the Arctic, such as Alaska, and co-locating the center on military installations or at local universities. The report will also study associated costs, the suitability of using existing infrastructure, curriculum, and partnership opportunities with other Arctic nations. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401847,Congressman Don Youngs Bill to Create Opportunities for Young People in the Fishing Industry Sails Through the House,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, the Young Fishermen's Development Act (H.R. 1240), legislation authored by Alaska Congressman Don Young, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 1240 addresses the longtime decline in younger Americans entering the commercial fishing industry. This legislation would create the first ever national grant program through the Department of Commerce to support training, education, and workforce development for the nation's next generation of commercial fishermen. H.R. 1240 was introduced earlier in the 116th Congress with Representative Jared Golden (D-ME) along with original cosponsors Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Aumua Amata (R-American Samoa). This is a great day for Alaska's fishing industry, and young people across the country hoping to make a living on the water. Young commercial fishermen are facing bigger challenges than ever before new barriers to entry, limited training opportunities, and a lack of support, said Congressman Don Young. Fishing is important not only to Alaskan culture, but it is central to our rich history. Our legislation is about supporting the livelihoods of fishing communities across the nation by making the next generation aware of the opportunities available in the commercial fishing industry. I want to sincerely thank Representatives Golden, Moulton, and Amata for partnering with me on this critical issue. I am also deeply grateful to my colleagues in the House for supporting its passage. My work on behalf of our fishing fleet is not done. The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated our fishermen, processors, and countless others who depend on a strong, thriving seafood industry. I will continue to fight to ensure a strong future full of opportunity and growth for fishermen of all ages. ""The average age of Maine lobstermen is over 50. Same goes for scallop fishermen. The future of the fishing industry depends on young people learning the ropes right now, said Congressman Jared Golden. The Young Fishermen's Development Act takes important action to help young Mainers get ready for fulfilling careers in fishing and lobstering so they can stay in Maine, build our economy, and support our communities. I'm proud of this bipartisan effort and encourage the president to sign the bill when it reaches his desk. Congressman Young introduced the Young Fishermen's Development Act with Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to create a competitive grant program modeled closely after the successful Department of Agriculture's Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program that provides meaningful resources for younger generations of Americans entering and progressing in the fishing industry. Congressmen Young and Golden are pleased to be joined by original cosponsors Congresswoman Aumua Amata (American Samoa) and Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06). Commercial fishing is part of Gloucester's and New England's identity and economy, but the legacy will end if we don't make it easier for the next generation to get started, Congressman Seth Moulton said. These grants will help the industry expand and evolve. Every fisherman and lobsterman I've ever met wants to keep the fish stock and our oceans healthy. I'm proud that this money will give new opportunities to young people and also help teach fishermen how to build new gear and fish in new ways that protect our oceans. Congress's investment will pay off in new technology that works and has buy-in from the people using it to make a living. Fishing is the most important aspect of our island economy, said Congresswoman Amata Radewagen. Congratulations to Dean of the House Don Young, a champion of American fishing for many years, Rep. Golden and Rep. Moulton on this bipartisan achievement to strengthen fishing. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-statement-on-uae-arms-sale-,Murkowski Statement on UAE Arms Sale,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.20 Murkowski Statement on UAE Arms Sale U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today made the following statement after voting against S.J. Res. 77 and S.J.Res.78, Resolutions of Disapproval which would block portions of an arms deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE): Along with many colleagues, I had significant concerns with the speed of this sale. I wanted to be certain the sale was following protocols that ensure Foreign Military Sales don't compromise information pertaining to sophisticated technology, and measures in place to safeguard the equipment, and that the U.S. has proper oversight going forward. I was able to get questions pertaining to those matters answered and given assurances. I am now comfortable moving forward with the sale. The UAE is a reliable partner to the U.S. and military operations. This sale ensures the Emiratis are properly equipped to defend themselves from threats in the region and remain an important partner for America. Resolution Details: S.J.Res.77 provides Congressional Disapproval for the sale of up to 18 MQ-9B reaper drones plus equipment and armaments. S.J.Res.78 provides Congressional Disapproval for the sale of up to 50 F-35A Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-statement-on-npfmc-closing-eez-waters-to-commercial-fishing-in-cook-inlet,Murkowski Statement on NPFMC Closing EEZ Waters to Commercial Fishing in Cook Inlet,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.09.20 Murkowski Statement on NPFMC Closing EEZ Waters to Commercial Fishing in Cook Inlet Following the announcement that the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC) has decided to close all Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters to commercial fishing in the Cook Inlet, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement: I am disappointed by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council's decision to close federal waters in Cook Inlet to commercial fishing, but I am also very concerned about the prospect of federal management over resources that have been, and should be, managed by the State of Alaska. I understand this decision was made under difficult circumstances, and to meet the deadline required under the Ninth Circuit decision affecting management of the salmon fishery in Cook Inlet's federal waters. Nonethelessthis outcome underscores the need to collaboratively resolve tensions that have long persisted in Cook Inlet.Our fishery management process is intended to give the public a voice in decision-making, allow for a deliberative discussion of management policies, and foster compromise, but it cannot address serious management challenges arising from the Ninth Circuit's flawed interpretation of the Magnuson Stevens Act. I stand ready to work with Cook Inlet stakeholders, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the State of Alaska on a better long-term solution that supports fishing livelihoods in Cook Inlet. Related Issues: Alaska's Fisheries Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/coast-guard-vice-commandant-commits-to-improving-communication-with-alaska-fishing-fleet-following-irresponsible-russian-exercises-in-bering-sea,Coast Guard Vice Commandant Commits to Improving Communication with Alaska Fishing Fleet Following “Irresponsible” Russian Exercises in Bering Sea,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Security, convened a hearing yesterday, attended by Admiral Charles Ray, vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, to examine the ability of the Coast Guard to safeguard America’s national security and economic interests in the Arctic region, and the Coast Guard’s response to recent Russian war games in the Bering Sea. The hearing comes one week after Senator Sullivan chaired a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support hearing on the capabilities of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in the Arctic. In last week’s hearing, Sullivan also pressed Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite about the Navy’s response to the Russian military exercises. “We've seen Russia push all in on controlling the Arctic,” said Senator Sullivan. “Russia has opened sixteen deep-water ports, fourteen airfields, built Arctic military bases, and even formed a new northern Arctic command. In fact, Vladimir Putin has referred to the northern sea route as the new Suez Canal, which he says Russia intends to fully control. In recent months, Russian provocation has only increased…Without persistent U.S. presence in the Arctic, we risk leaving an opening for these types of aggressive actions to continue.” Sullivan went on to describe the work Congress and the Trump administration have done to significantly increase America’s presence in the Arctic, including historic progress on the nation’s first deep-water port in Nome, authorization of six new Polar-class icebreakers, and a White House memorandum on Arctic security. Later in the hearing, Sullivan asked Admiral Ray about the concerns of many Alaska fishermen who were threatened in the August large-scale Russian military exercises. “First of all, our fishermen, in my view, should never be essentially forced out of the American EEZ when they're legally fishing. And yet, that did happen because the Russians are being quite forceful,” said Sullivan. “Secondly, there seemed to be somewhat of a lack of information flow…Can you comment on that and how we avoid that from happening again, and what steps we need to take, and if you're looking at coordinating with NORTHCOM and the U.S. Navy on this “This was not our best day with regard to doing our role to look after American fishermen,” said Admiral Ray. “What we are doing to hopefully prevent this from ever happening again, we are having bi-weekly meetings with the industry groups, in particular, the at-sea fish processing group…to understand how we can communicate that to the fleet so that the fleet knows in advance when they think that could cause a challenge to their fisheries operations. And we're dedicated to doing a better job at that. This is not a one and done thing. This is going to be a persistent effort on the part of the U.S. Coast Guard to keep that fleet informed.” The committee also heard from a second panel of witnesses that included two Alaskans: Stephanie Madsen, executive director of the At-Sea Processors Association, and retired Air Force Major General Randy Kee, executive director of the Arctic Domain Awareness Center and a recent appointee to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission. “I want to share two main messages with the committee,” said Madsen. “First, in any future incident such as this, U.S. authorities must be far more active in safeguarding our sovereign fishing rights. We would later learn that these confrontations were related to a major Russian military exercise of which the government received notice, yet nothing about the exercise was communicated to our industry…Second, this kind of harassment simply cannot be allowed to become a new normal. In a rapidly-changing Arctic, we fear being caught in a crossfire of Russia's effort to establish a more assertive military and economic presence. Our sovereign right to legally fish within the U.S. EEZ must be protected…From our vantage point, a robust U.S. military presence to protect U.S. interests in the region is simply non-negotiable.” General Kee reinforced Admiral Ray’s and Madsen’s calls for a more robust U.S. military and Coast Guard presence in the Arctic to meet the challenges posed by Russia. “With a dominant number of icebreakers, Russia can project surface forces in multiple directions simultaneously,” said General Kee. “Russian national decision making and defense planning are opaque at best. And Russia's Arctic military advantage should be met with resolve and strength as America cannot afford to be perceived as weak in our Arctic commitment to the Kremlin.” To watch the full Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing, click here. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401845,House Passes the Water Resources Development Act with Crucial Provisions Championed by Congressman Don Young,2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, Alaska Congressman Don Young helped the U.S. House of Representatives pass S. 1811, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020. This WRDA bill reauthorizes the activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and sets Congressional priorities to improve our nation's ports, inland waterways, dams, levees, aids to navigation, flood control, and the operational functions the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers undertake in support of national, state and local water resources development needs. The bill will now head to the Senate for passage before heading to the President's desk. Following House passage of the bill, Congressman Don Young released the following statement: ""Today is a great day for the State of Alaska, our coastline, waterways, and ports. This bill's passage is the single most significant step forward for the development of Arctic port infrastructure in the state of Alaska in its history and a huge step forward for the future of our state's economy and national security. Alaska's 33,904 miles of shoreline dwarf the Lower 48, and with fewer miles of paved road than Rhode Island, Alaska's rivers, highways, and ports are the lifeblood of our state's communities. These simple facts make WRDA especially important for Alaska. The Army Corps Alaska District is an integral partner to Alaska's communities, managing significant project demand with limited resources. In Alaska, where infrastructure needs continue to outpace demand, I am encouraged by the progress we made in this WRDA bill with provisions that recognize Alaska's uniqueness. I want to thank my House and Senate colleagues for both recognizing the needs of Alaska, and understanding that the investments in this bill will benefit the nation as a whole. For the Nome and Dutch Harbor communities, this bill is an essential milestone in the Army Corps project development process. I am very pleased that the Port of Nome, the Unalaska Dutch Harbor, and the St. George Harbor project authorizations are included in this bill. I will continue to support these projects as they seek federal funding. In the case of the Port of Nome improvement project, this step was made possible through years of work hard work by the people of Nome and the Delegation. The Nome project will create a strategic transportation hub to meet the needs of U.S. Arctic Policy by strengthening the U.S. presence in the region, in what will hopefully become the first in a 'system of U.S. Arctic Ports.' The Port of Nome expansion will ensure more effective search and rescue and environmental response activities as vessel traffic increases throughout the Arctic. The port will serve the country's national interests and support Coast Guard and Navy operations. It will also expand an existing logistics hub for more than 50 Alaskan coastal communities to help reduce the cost of living and create economic opportunities throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. This is a WRDA bill that recognizes how monumental our nation's water infrastructure and planning needs are, and I am proud to have helped ensure that Alaska is a direct recipient of that investment. The bill improves the Corps Tribal Partnership Program to help Alaska Natives pursue water infrastructure projects on their lands. Additionally, it includes an extension of Corps responsibility to maintain the damaged Lowell Creek Flood Diversion System in Seward and rectifies a contracting dispute injustice that will save the Aleutians East Borough $4 million. As many know, one of my mottos is 'Alaska to the future.' Looking ahead, as the only Arctic state in the Union, Alaska will play the central role in hosting future Arctic infrastructure projects, including the construction of ports to strengthen our national security as government and commercial activities increase in the years ahead. I want to thank my colleagues, Chairman DeFazio, and Ranking Member Graves, for their leadership in these unusually challenging times. I eagerly look forward to the President signing this bill into law, so that our nation's ports, harbors, levees, and dams are strong, safe, and reliable for decades to come."" Alaska Specific Provisions Secured by Congressman Young: Project Authorizations Port of Nome Improvements: The bill will authorize $505 million for the Arctic Deep Draft Port project in Nome. Unalaska Dutch Harbor Dredging: The bill will authorize $35 million for a dredging project for Unalaska Dutch Harbor. The project will dredge the entrance channel of the harbor to 58 feet, improving the ability of commercial, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and additional U.S. military assets and ships from allied nations to utilize the harbor. St. George Harbor: The bill will authorize $164 million for St. George's navigation improvements. The project will provide for the operability, safety, and reliability of the St. George Harbor, as promised by the federal government, to aid the economic transition from fur seals to commercial fishing on the Pribilof Islands. Policy and Programs: Seward's Lowell Creek Flood Diversion System: The system has been severely damaged as a result of frequent flooding over the last 15 years. The Corps is currently working on a study to develop a new flood control system. In the 2007 WRDA, Congress transferred responsibility for maintaining the tunnel to the Corps for 15 years. This bill will extend that period by five years so that the Corps must maintain the tunnel through 2027, saving potential maintenance costs to Seward. Aleutians East Borough: The bill includes a provision to hold harmless nonfederal project sponsors that have been impacted by a judgement against the Army Corps of Engineers in favor of a project contractor. This provision will save the Aleutians East Borough approximately $4 million. Sense of Congress on Arctic Deep Draft Port Development: The bill includes some of the strongest language in law on the importance of the Arctic to national security and maritime transportation interests of the United States. It calls for the development and enhancement of Arctic maritime transportation infrastructure and the deep draft strategic seaport in Nome, AK for the USCG and Navy. Coastal Mapping: The Secretary of the Army for Public Works will be required to develop a plan for the reoccurring mapping of coastlines that are experiencing rapid changes, specifically, Alaska which is essential to navigational safety and waterborne commerce in Alaska. Aquatic and Invasive Species: The scope of the Corps Engineering Research and Development Center's research into invasive species will be expanded to include the Arctic recognizing a growing challenge for the state's fisheries and ecosystems. Tribal Partnership Program: The bill will expand the per-project federal cost-share cap for the Tribal Partnership Program (TPP) to $15 million from $12.5 million. The TPP provides authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform water-related planning activities. Activities related to the study, design, and construction of water resources development projects are located primarily on tribal lands that substantially benefit federally recognized tribes. This improvement is a step in the right direction and begins to take into account the challenges Alaska faces with rising project costs. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401846,"Congressman Don Young Fights for Troops, Helps House Pass FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act with Critical Alaska Provisions",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, with the support of Alaska Congressman Don Young, the House of Representatives passed the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 legislation to set the annual budget for the Department of Defense. This year's NDAA also includes the annual Coast Guard Authorization and Maritime Administration reauthorizations. In addition to supplying needed funding for military expenditures, providing a 3% military pay raise, and bolstering natural disaster preparedness, this legislation also includes several provisions of importance to the State of Alaska and Alaska Native communities. Following House passage of the NDAA, Congressman Young issued the following statement: ""I am very proud of this year's NDAA, and am grateful to everyone involved who fought for our Armed Forces by securing its passage. These are unprecedented times, which makes this year's bill an especially important one. The FY 2021 NDAA takes critical steps to strengthen our national defense, maritime security, provide a well-deserved pay raise for the brave men and women serving in our Armed Forces, and to equip our military with the resources necessary to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. In Congress, relationships are crucial; this year, I worked with my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee to include my amendments, which strengthen communications in the Arctic and take action to turn the tide in the fight against military suicides. My good friend, Senator Ted Stevens, was a steadfast advocate for our great state. I am especially pleased that this year's NDAA makes essential progress to ensure that the Ted Stevens Center for Security Studies becomes a reality. Senators Murkowski and Sullivan have been important partners in establishing the Stevens Center, and I will keep working to ensure that its work goes on to make Ted proud. If we are to have a first-rate military, we must ensure that we stand by our troops at every turn. This year's NDAA not only gives our troops a three percent pay raise, but it also secures funding for all branches of our military, including our Space Force. Finally, I am proud that the NDAA re-authorizes the United States Coast Guard and Maritime Administration, whose service Alaskans rely on to keep our seas safe and navigable. I am proud to see such broad bipartisan support for our nation's military, which is especially important in these uncertain times. Our servicemembers frequently find themselves on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic; they must be supported. My commitment continues to be the men and women who risk their lives to keep us safe. In Congress, I will always champion their causes and make sure they know that Congress has their backs. Congressman Young's Initiatives Included in the Final House Bill: Ted Stevens Center for Security Studies: Congressman Young's Floor amendment requires that a plan be submitted to Congress on the establishment of a Regional Center for Security Studies for the Arctic, and, after the submission of the plan, establishment of the center may begin. This is a shared priority with Senators Murkowski and Sullivan. Arctic Deputy Assistant Secretary: This amendment calls for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs to assign responsibility for the Arctic Region to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere or any other Deputy Assistant Secretary that the Secretary considers appropriate. Prevention of Suicide at Remote Locations:Congressman Young worked with Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) of the House Armed Service Committee on an amendment requiring the Department of Defense to complete a study addressing servicemember suicides in remote installations. The study will include an assessment of the availability of suicide prevention information from indigenous populations and graduate research programs in the area. Alaska Military Construction (MILCON) funding: Authorizes $162M in MILCON projects for Alaska. Innovative Readiness Training (IRT): The Conference Report contains language to encourage the DoD to continue utilizing IRT wherever possible, it authorizes $30M for this very important program. Arctic Mission: The NDAA codifies the Coast Guard's prioritization of its Arctic mission, including the Arctic Search and Rescue mission. Additionally, it prioritizes planning for Armed Forces Arctic domain awareness and readiness capability. Collaboration with Alaska Natives: The final NDAA directs the Commandant to engage with Alaska Native whaling and fishing groups when conducting the Alaskan Arctic Coast Port Access Route Study. Foreign Adversaries: The NDAA includes language directing the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a report on the Arctic Capabilities of the Armed Forces and how U.S readiness compares to Russia and China. Search and Rescue Capabilities: The bill directs the Commandant to issue a report within 180 days on the Coast Guard's Search and Recuse capability in Arctic coastal communities. Maritime Commerce: The bill creates an Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on emerging opportunities for Arctic maritime transportation. Maritime Workforce: The bill strengthens the Maritime Administration's Maritime Security Program and creates the Tanker Security Program to help ensure the preservation of U.S. flagged and U.S. manned vessel readiness and availability. Unmanned Aviation: The NDAA includes the establishment of a demonstration program through the Coast Guard to assess the feasibility of using unmanned aircraft systems for operations in the Arctic. Icebreakers: The final bill authorizes the following amounts for ship acquisition and procurement in fiscal 2021: $610 million for a Polar Security Cutter (PSC). Authorizes the procurement of three additional PSCs. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/icymi-baldwin-murkowski-digital-coast-act-passes-congress,ICYMI: Baldwin-Murkowski Digital Coast Act Passes Congress,2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.07.20 ICYMI: Baldwin-Murkowski Digital Coast Act Passes Congress Bipartisan Legislation Aids Shoreline Communities by Delivering Next Generation Coastal Data Recently, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) passed theUnited States Senate.TheDigitalCoastActwill help shoreline communities along the Great Lakes and oceancoasts better prepare for storms, cope with varying water levels and strengthen economic development efforts. Following today'saction, the bill now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. Wisconsin's Great Lakes are a great asset for our quality of life and also for our long-term economic security,said Senator Baldwin. I'm proud that this bipartisanlegislationhas passed both chambers of Congress to strengthen our shoreline communities, which face a variety of challenges to keep their harbors open, their waters clean and their beaches ready for visitors. This bipartisan bill ensures that our Great Lakes communities have the resources and tools they need to adapt to changing environmental conditions, maintain healthy shores, and make smart planning decisions to support their local economies and way of life. I'm looking forward to the President signing this bill into law. With more than 46,000 miles of shoreline - more than all the Lower 48 states combined - measures to improve coastal mapping and development through research and analysis are critical to Alaska. The Digital Coast Act will help ensure coastal managers and developers have readily accessible and up-to-date tools to inform their decisions on emergency weather preparation and response, coastal restoration, and economic development. Coastal communities rely on these data sets to make informed decisions on issues such as coastal erosion, sea level rise, ecosystem restoration, and storm surge. I am hopeful the President will quickly sign this bill into law, helping to deliver accurate and relevant data to our coastal communities, said Senator Murkowski. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) currently assembles and hosts theDigitalCoastProject, a collaborative online database of the most up-to-datecoastal information, and makes it available to both the public and private sectors.DigitalCoastalso provides tools forcoastal communities to decipher and use the high-tech mapping data to make accurate decisions and smart investments incoastal communities. TheDigitalCoastActauthorizes the next phase incoastal mapping at NOAA, delivering local leaders essential information for responding to bluff erosion, high lake levels, and economic development needs.The bill supports further development of the current project, including increasing access to uniform, up-to-date data to help communities get thecoastal data they need to respond to emergencies, plan for long-termcoastal resilience, and manage their water resources. Supporters of the bipartisanDigitalCoastActinclude Quantum Spatial, Inc., The Nature Conservancy, Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors, Association of State Floodplain Managers, U.S. GEO, National Society of Professional Surveyors, National States Geographic Information Council, MAPPS (a national association of geospatial firms), American Planning Association,Coastal States Organization, National Association of Counties, and theDigitalCoastal Partnership Advocacy Coalition. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/op-ed-defense-is-on-the-ballot-in-georgia,OP-ED: “Defense Is on the Ballot in Georgia”,2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"With a majority, Chuck Schumer and Bernie Sanders would resume cuts to vital military spending. The stakes in the Georgia U.S. Senate races on Jan. 5, 2021, between Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler and their respective challengers, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, are very high for a host of reasons. One that has not received enough attention is the readiness of our military. The U.S. faces rising threats from China, Russia and Iran, and continued robust funding of our military is clearly at stake in Georgia, which will decide the Senate majority. Nowhere is the divide between Democrats and Republicans more important. For decades the Democratic Party has staked out a position of diminishing the importance of U.S. military readiness. President Jimmy Carter slashed defense spending in the first three years of his term. This created a hollow force, only to have the Soviets and Iranians take advantage of America’s weakened presence in the Middle East, which forced Mr. Carter to increase spending at the end of his term. President Bill Clinton cut the size of the military by a third, reversing a decade of progress under the Reagan and first Bush administrations. More recently, Barack Obama and Joe Biden oversaw a 25% reduction in the military budget during their second term. The cuts were more than numbers—they dramatically undermined our military’s combat readiness and the morale of our troops. In 2015, only three of the Army’s 58 brigade combat teams—the 5,000-strong deployable units in the Army—were combat-ready and capable of completing their missions. Less than half of the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ aviation fleets were flight-ready, and only half of the Navy’s amphibious ships were available to support contingency operations. The circumstances in late 2016 and early 2017 were so dire that the Army publicly expressed concerns about running out of bullets. A main reason Mr. Perdue and I first ran for office in 2014 was to reverse these reckless cuts to our military. We were part of the class of 12 freshman who ushered in Republican control of the Senate and later worked closely with President Trump to give priority to the rebuilding of our military, its morale and readiness. We have made historic progress. In the past four years, the Senate voted to increase the defense budget by $454 billion, a 16% increase over the last four years under Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden. This included the highest, and much-needed, pay raises for troops in more than 10 years, robust investments in advanced weapons, and a return to the high levels of readiness that the American people expect for their military. The Army now reports that half of its brigade combat teams are rated at the highest levels of tactical readiness—a nearly 900% increase from four years ago—and Marine Corps aviation has reached 80% readiness goals. These investments were accompanied by increases in fiscal responsibility and oversight, including streamlining the Pentagon bureaucracy, cutting red tape around procurement, and completing the first ever Defense Department audit, for which Sen. Perdue played the leading oversight role. He, Sen. Loeffler and other Republicans will continue to give priority to rebuilding our military. Would a Senate controlled by Democrats be so inclined? The answer is clearly no. This year as the Senate debated the National Defense Authorization Act, Sen. Bernie Sanders offered an amendment that would have slashed defense spending by 10%, exempting only military personnel and health programs, resulting in a total 14% reduction across all other defense programs. Before the vote, and in keeping with the “defund the police” fever that gripped Democrats this summer, Mr. Sanders wrote an op-ed titled “Defund the Pentagon: The Liberal Case.” The Sanders amendment was a wrecking ball aimed at our nation’s military readiness, which is why I led the effort to oppose it on the Senate floor. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, on the other hand, made clear that the Sanders amendment had his support, and by extension his fellow Democrats, tweeting “Proud I fought alongside @SenSanders to ensure we vote in July on his amendment to cut $740B defense budget by 10%. . . . I proudly support this amendment.” Republicans including Sens. Perdue and Loeffler worked to defeat the “Defund the Pentagon” priority of Sens. Schumer and Sanders. There is little doubt that a government run entirely by Democrats—Mr. Schumer with Joe Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi —would usher in a new wave of reckless cuts to our military. These cuts would severely damage readiness and morale, as well as hurt the economies of states like Alaska and Georgia, which count tens of thousands of military members and their families as residents. The Republican military buildup in recent years has helped create thousands of jobs, with benefits for small businesses and overall economic growth. Georgia has nine major military installations, including the only East Coast ballistic-missile submarine bays, the future home of the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System, and the home of Army Cyber Command Headquarters. If Republicans can maintain their Senate majority, we will check the Democratic Party’s demonstrated priority to gut our military again. But if Sens. Perdue and Loeffler are not re-elected, and Sen. Schumer becomes majority leader, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, we will have condemned ourselves to a history we have not learned from, and America will be much less safe for it. By: Sen. Dan Sullivan Source:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-joins-bipartisan-bicameral-group-in-calling-for-permanent-expansion-of-telehealth-coverage-in-end-of-year-legislation,"Murkowski Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Group In Calling For Permanent Expansion Of Telehealth Coverage In End Of Year Legislation",2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.04.20 Murkowski Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Group In Calling For Permanent Expansion Of Telehealth Coverage In End Of Year Legislation Telehealth Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries Increased By Nearly 13,000% In Just Over A Month U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling for the expansion of access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic to be made permanent. Provisions from the Schatz-authored CONNECT for Health Act that have allowed Medicare beneficiaries in all areas of the country, and in their homes, to utilize telehealth services, as well as more types of health care providers to provide telehealth, were included in previous COVID-19 legislation but will expire following the pandemic unless congressional leaders act now to make those measures permanent. Telehealth has been a critical tool during the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring that patients can continue to receive the health care services that they need while minimizing the spread of the virus and keeping health care providers and patients healthy and safe, the lawmakers wrote. We continue to hear from our constituents and health care providers that the uncertainty about the long-term future of Medicare telehealth coverage is a barrier to organizations investing fully in telehealth. Congress needs to act now to better serve patients and health care providers during the pandemic, and to ensure that telehealth remains an option after the pandemic is over. In their letter, the lawmakers highlight the growing use and benefits of telehealth during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as patients seek to avoid traveling to hospitals and other providers and instead receive care at home. New data shows that the number of Medicare beneficiaries using telehealth services increased by nearly 13,000 percent in just a month and a half during the pandemic. In addition to Schatz and Murkowski, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Angus King (I-Maine), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), David McKinley (R-W.Va.), Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), David N. Cicilline (D-R.I.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Brendan F. Boyle (D-Pa.), Tom O'Halleran (D-Ariz.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Elise M. Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), and Ron Kind (D-Wis.). The full text of the letter is below and available here. Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy: As we near the end of the year and the 116th Congress, we urge you to include provisions in end of the year legislation to make permanent expanded coverage of Medicare telehealth services. Specifically, immediate action to permanently waive geographic restrictions for originating sites, authorize health centers in rural and underserved areas to provide telehealth, and allow beneficiaries to use telehealth in their homes would be key steps to ensure much-needed certainty about Medicare telehealth coverage for health care providers and to improve access to care for patients. Telehealth has been a critical tool during the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring that patients can continue to receive the health care services that they need while minimizing the spread of the virus and keeping health care providers and patients healthy and safe. Telehealth is also important in increasing capacity at health care facilities and reducing health care providers' use of scarce personal protective equipment. For these reasons, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance at the beginning of the pandemic advising individuals and health care providers to optimize the use of telehealth services. The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act included provisions from our bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act to increase access to telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, waivers of statutory geographic and originating site restrictions have allowed Medicare beneficiaries to use telehealth services in all areas of the country, as well as in their homes. In addition, more types of health care providers including health centers in rural and underserved areas, are authorized to provide distant site telehealth services, among other important flexibilities. This new authority resulted in a rapid increase in telehealth utilization. An early analysis of the expansion of Medicare telehealth coverage during the pandemic shows that before the public health emergency, about 13,000 beneficiaries in fee-for-service Medicare received telehealth services in a week, but by the last week of April, nearly 1.7 million beneficiaries received telehealth services. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also found that beneficiaries are getting care through telehealth at similar rates across demographics. In response to these findings, CMS stated that, The rapid adoption of telemedicine among providers and patients has shown that telehealth is here to stay. However, the authority for this expanded coverage of Medicare telehealth services is temporary and tied to the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration, which is renewed in three-month increments. We continue to hear from our constituents and health care providers that the uncertainty about the long-term future of Medicare telehealth coverage is a barrier to organizations investing fully in telehealtheven now during the pandemic. Ramping up telehealth requires significant costsincluding the purchase of equipment such as tablets and webcams, telehealth platforms, additional staff, provider training, and changes to electronic health records, billing, and patient engagement processes. Without more certainty about the future of Medicare coverage, many organizations are not investing in all of these areas to optimize the use and availability of telehealth. Therefore, Congress needs to act now to better serve patients and health care providers during the pandemic, and to ensure that telehealth remains an option after the pandemic is over. We understand that further data analysis is underway to assess the impact of the telehealth changes that have been available during the public health emergency. However, to fully benefit from telehealth during the pandemic, there are steps Congress should take before the end of the year to expand access to telehealth with appropriate guardrails and beneficiary protections. In particular, Congress should immediately provide permanent authority to waive or remove the geographic restrictions on originating sites in section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act so that a beneficiary's ability to receive telehealth services is no longer based on where he or she lives. Services that CMS has determined to be clinically appropriate to be delivered through telehealth should be available to all beneficiaries, not just some. CMS concurs, stating that The data have shown that telehealth can be an important source of care across the country, not just for those living in rural areas. We also urge action to permanently authorize Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics to provide distant site telehealth services and to allow patients to receive clinically appropriate telehealth services in their homes. These actions would address the restrictions on originating sites that CMS has stated are the greatest barriers to the expansion of Medicare telehealth services as well as ensure that health centers can continue their pivotal role in providing health care in rural and underserved areas. Telehealth is an area of strong bipartisan support, and Congress can, and should, act now to lead the way in ensuring expanded access to telehealth. We appreciate your collaboration on this important issue. Sincerely, Related Issues: COVID-19 Resource Page, Health",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/sullivan-markey-murkowski-applaud-senate-passage_of-young-fishermens-development-act,"Sullivan, Markey, Murkowski Applaud Senate Passage of Young Fishermens Development Act",2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.04.20 Sullivan, Markey, Murkowski Applaud Senate Passage of Young Fishermen's Development Act U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) applauded the Senate's passage of theYoung Fishermen's Development Act,legislationto mitigate the challenges facing the next generation ofentrants into the fishing industry bysupporting regional training opportunities and apprenticeship programs. Alaska istheunquestioned superpower of seafood, thanks to our world-class, sustainably-managedfisheries and our countless hard-working fishermen, saidSenator Sullivan. The sustainability and endurance of this vital industry, which employs morepeoplein Alaska than any other, depends onup-and-coming qualified fishermen. I thank my Senate colleagues for passing our legislation toreduce basic barriers to entry through new grants, training opportunities andapprenticeship programs. Helping the next generation of Alaskans enter our fisheries will help ensure Alaska remains the superpower of seafood. Despite centuries of fishing tradition in Massachusetts's coastal communities, new fishermen are finding it a challenge to join the industry,said Senator Markey.Our legislation will help ensure that our fishing industry continues to attract and grow future generations of young fishermen. More young men and womenwillbe pushing off the dock into new careers andfully participating in the economy of their communities. I thank my colleagues for their partnership on this hopeful legislation and look forward to enacting it into law. I appreciate Senator Sullivan leading this effort and am glad to once again join him in addressing some of the barriers facing young people as they try to join the commercial fishing fleet. This legislation will support education, training, and workplace development of future fishermen and help maintain sustainable fishing careers, strengthen food security, and encourage future generations of Alaskans to pursue jobs in this important industry,said Senator Murkowski.It is my hope that enactment of this legislation will help us pass down the values and lifestyles that fishing has woven into the fabric of our state. The United States is among the leading fishing nations in the world, generating more than $200 billion in sales and supporting 1.7 million jobs per year. The positive impact of U.S. commercial fisheries on the economy largely reflects the effective laws put into place under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the collectiveeffortsof National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, regional fisheries management councils, and stakeholders tosustainably manage U.S. fisheries. In recent years,incoming generations of commercial fishermenseeking toenter the industryhave metnew challenges and higher barriers to entry, contributing to several shifts in the demographics of commercial permit holders. In several regions, commercial fisheries have seen anincrease by10 yearsor more in theaverage participant'sageover thepreviousgeneration of fishermen, and rural communities have lost 30 percent of local permit holders. Several studies suggest this graying of the fleet has led to an increase in financial capital and risk needed to enter intothecommercialfishingindustry. Modeled after the U.S. Department of Agriculture's successful Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, thislegislation creates the first federal program dedicated to training, educating, and assisting the next generation of commercial fishermen.The Young Fishermen's Development Program would include: A competitive grants program for collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally-based networks or partnerships. A mentorship/apprenticeship program to connect retiring fishermen and vessel owners with new and beginning fishermen. Financial support for local and regional training and education in sustainable and accountable fishing practices, marine stewardship, and business practices, and technical initiatives that address the needs of beginning fishermen. TheYoung Fishermen's Development Actwill now be considered by the House. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401843,House Passes Legislation Championed by Representatives Don Young and Suzanne Bonamici to Improve Ocean Data Collection and Information Sharing,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, Congressman Don Young (R-AK-At Large) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan House Oceans Caucus, applauded passage of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act legislation they championed in the House to improve data collection and information sharing between the federal agencies and coastal observation partners dedicated to monitoring oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes. ""This is a great day for our oceans and the health of our marine ecosystems for generations to come. This is not just an environmental issue, but an economic one too. Our integrated Ocean Observation System helps make maritime commerce possible,"" said Congressman Don Young. ""Equipping our fishermen and ship captains with the best possible data is essential to making our waters safer and more navigable. Accurate data collection is also critical to maritime search and rescue operations, fisheries' health, and the mitigation of coastal hazards. I am very grateful to my Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Suzanne Bonamici, for her continued partnership on this and countless other Caucus priorities. Our work is not done. In the 117th Congress and beyond, I look forward to continuing to move future Oceans Caucus priorities across the finish line. The health of our waters depends on it."" The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the planet, but despite our intrinsic connection to our ocean we know very little about what is beneath its surface, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. Coastal communities rely on accurate ocean data and monitoring for information about ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, sea level rise, flooding, navigation, and port security. In the Pacific Northwest, we are fortunate to have the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems leading the way. I was pleased to work with my House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congressman Don Young, to support these important ocean observation efforts. The bill, which includes the technical changes implemented by the U.S. Senate, would reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act through Fiscal Year 2024. The eleven regional association networks of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) work with regional partners to develop, operate, and maintain more than 300 observing assets that collect oceanographic and coastal data, including information about rising sea levels, coastal flooding, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxia. It now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. The bipartisan House Oceans Caucus is committed to taking action to protect the health and future of our oceans. This Congress, the Caucus is focused on environmental stressors (including ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxia); marine debris; ocean data and monitoring; coastal resiliency; and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401844,Delegation Welcomes Announcement of First Coastal Plain Lease Sale,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DCU.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that a Notice of Sale for the first lease sale in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) will be published on December 7, 2020. BLM's announcement means we are now just weeks away from a long-awaited lease sale in the 1002 Area, Murkowski said. This is a tremendous opportunity for Alaska's resources to continue benefitting our nation and providing American families with well-paying jobs. Alaskans have proven, over and over again, that we can responsibly develop our resources while being good stewards of our lands and waters. I thank Secretary Bernhardt and his team for their efforts to ensure the first lease sale is carried out, as required by law, enabling us to strengthen our state's economy over the long-term. This is great news for Alaska. Responsibly developing the untapped resources of ANWR's Coastal Plain will be critically important to filling TAPS, bolstering Alaska's economy, and providing jobs for hard-working Alaskans in the decades to come,Sullivan said. I applaud the Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management for working diligently to implement the provision we as a delegation included in the 2017 tax law, and announcing a leasing program that Alaskans have fought so hard for more than 40 years to secure. This is an exciting day not only for Alaska, but for American energy dominance. I am very pleased that BLM has announced its first Notice of Sale for the 1002 Area of ANWR. This is a tremendous step forward for our state and the countless Alaskans who make a living in our energy sector. Finally achieving what was promised by ANILCA four decades ago is in sight, and I want to thank everyone involved for their ongoing hard work and commitment. As we approach the day when drilling can begin, I will be working hard with our Delegation, BLM, and the operators who will make our long-time fight a reality, Young said. President Trump signed H.R. 1, theTax Cuts and Jobs Act,in December 2017. The second title of the Act authorizes the surface development of up to 2,000 federal acres of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (roughly one ten-thousandth of all of ANWR). The U.S. Geological Survey estimates this area contains 10.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. New production from the 1002 Area will help refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System while creating high-paying jobs, generating revenues for the state and federal treasuries, keeping energy prices affordable for families and businesses, and strengthening national energy security. Alaska has a strong record of responsible resource development. The footprint of drilling pads on the North Slope has declined by 80 percent since the 1970s, while the reach of underground drilling has grown by 4,000 percent. The result is that less land is being used to develop resources than ever before; many modern sites cover just a few acres and are miles apart. The Central Arctic Caribou herd, which ranges throughout Prudhoe Bay, has seen its population grow for sustained periods alongside development on the North Slope. ANWR spans 19.3 million acres, an area of land roughly equal in size to South Carolina, in northeast Alaska. In 1980, Congress designated more than eight million acres within ANWR an area of land significantly larger than Maryland as federal wilderness as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. That same legislation set aside the 1.57-million acre Coastal Plain for petroleum exploration and potential future development, which is supported by a majority of Alaskans. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/delegation-welcomes-announcement-of_first-coastal-plain-lease-sale,Delegation Welcomes Announcement of First Coastal Plain Lease Sale,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.03.20 Delegation Welcomes Announcement of First Coastal Plain Lease Sale U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that a Notice of Sale for the first lease sale in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) will be published on December 7, 2020. BLM's announcement means we are now just weeks away from a long-awaited lease sale in the 1002 Area, Murkowski said. This is a tremendous opportunity for Alaska's resources to continue benefitting our nation and providing American families with well-paying jobs. Alaskans have proven, over and over again, that we can responsibly develop our resources while being good stewards of our lands and waters. I thank Secretary Bernhardt and his team for their efforts to ensure the first lease sale is carried out, as required by law, enabling us to strengthen our state's economy over the long-term. This is great news for Alaska. Responsibly developing the untapped resources of ANWR's Coastal Plain will be critically important to filling TAPS, bolstering Alaska's economy, and providing jobs for hard-working Alaskans in the decades to come,Sullivan said. I applaud the Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management for working diligently to implement the provision we as a delegation included in the 2017 tax law, and announcing a leasing program that Alaskans have fought so hard for more than 40 years to secure. This is an exciting day not only for Alaska, but for American energy dominance. I am very pleased that BLM has announced its first Notice of Sale for the 1002 Area of ANWR. This is a tremendous step forward for our state and the countless Alaskans who make a living in our energy sector. Finally achieving what was promised by ANILCA four decades ago is in sight, and I want to thank everyone involved for their ongoing hard work and commitment. As we approach the day when drilling can begin, I will be working hard with our Delegation, BLM, and the operators who will make our long-time fight a reality, Young said. President Trump signed H.R. 1, theTax Cuts and Jobs Act,in December 2017. The second title of the Act authorizes the surface development of up to 2,000 federal acres of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (roughly one ten-thousandth of all of ANWR). The U.S. Geological Survey estimates this area contains 10.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. New production from the 1002 Area will help refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System while creating high-paying jobs, generating revenues for the state and federal treasuries, keeping energy prices affordable for families and businesses, and strengthening national energy security. Alaska has a strong record of responsible resource development. The footprint of drilling pads on the North Slope has declined by 80 percent since the 1970s, while the reach of underground drilling has grown by 4,000 percent. The result is that less land is being used to develop resources than ever before; many modern sites cover just a few acres and are miles apart. The Central Arctic Caribou herd, which ranges throughout Prudhoe Bay, has seen its population grow for sustained periods alongside development on the North Slope. ANWR spans 19.3 million acres, an area of land roughly equal in size to South Carolina, in northeast Alaska. In 1980, Congress designated more than eight million acres within ANWR an area of land significantly larger than Maryland as federal wilderness as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. That same legislation set aside the 1.57-million acre Coastal Plain for petroleum exploration and potential future development, which is supported by a majority of Alaskans. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/delegation-welcomes-announcement-of-first-coastal-plain-lease-sale,Delegation Welcomes Announcement of First Coastal Plain Lease Sale,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that a Notice of Sale for the first lease sale in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) will be published on December 7, 2020. “BLM’s announcement means we are now just weeks away from a long-awaited lease sale in the 1002 Area,”Murkowski said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Alaska’s resources to continue benefitting our nation and providing American families with well-paying jobs. Alaskans have proven, over and over again, that we can responsibly develop our resources while being good stewards of our lands and waters. I thank Secretary Bernhardt and his team for their efforts to ensure the first lease sale is carried out, as required by law, enabling us to strengthen our state’s economy over the long-term.” “This is great news for Alaska. Responsibly developing the untapped resources of ANWR’s Coastal Plain will be critically important to filling TAPS, bolstering Alaska’s economy, and providing jobs for hard-working Alaskans in the decades to come,” Sullivan said. “I applaud the Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management for working diligently to implement the provision we as a delegation included in the 2017 tax law, and announcing a leasing program that Alaskans have fought so hard for more than 40 years to secure.” “This is an exciting day not only for Alaska, but for American energy dominance. I am very pleased that BLM has announced its first Notice of Sale for the 1002 Area of ANWR. This is a tremendous step forward for our state and the countless Alaskans who make a living in our energy sector. Finally achieving what was promised by ANILCA four decades ago is in sight, and I want to thank everyone involved for their ongoing hard work and commitment. As we approach the day when drilling can begin, I will be working hard with our Delegation, BLM, and the operators who will make our long-time fight a reality,” Young said. President Trump signed H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, in December 2017. The second title of the Act authorizes the surface development of up to 2,000 federal acres of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (roughly one ten-thousandth of all of ANWR). The U.S. Geological Survey estimates this area contains 10.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. New production from the 1002 Area will help refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System while creating high-paying jobs, generating revenues for the state and federal treasuries, keeping energy prices affordable for families and businesses, and strengthening national energy security. Alaska has a strong record of responsible resource development. The footprint of drilling pads on the North Slope has declined by 80 percent since the 1970s, while the reach of underground drilling has grown by 4,000 percent. The result is that less land is being used to develop resources than ever before; many modern sites cover just a few acres and are miles apart. The Central Arctic Caribou herd, which ranges throughout Prudhoe Bay, has seen its population grow for sustained periods alongside development on the North Slope. ANWR spans 19.3 million acres, an area of land roughly equal in size to South Carolina, in northeast Alaska. In 1980, Congress designated more than eight million acres within ANWR – an area of land significantly larger than Maryland – as federal wilderness as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. That same legislation set aside the 1.57-million acre Coastal Plain for petroleum exploration and potential future development, which is supported by a majority of Alaskans. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/navy-previews-forthcoming-arctic-strategy-in-sullivan-hearing-on-navy-and-marine-corps-readiness,Navy Previews Forthcoming Arctic Strategy in Sullivan Hearing on Navy & Marine Corps Readiness,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"Military leaders pressed on Russian harassment of Alaska-based fishing vessels in August; Say more Arctic presence is needed to counter Russia and China WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, hosted a hearing yesterday on the readiness and capabilities of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, and to preview a new U.S. Navy strategy for the Arctic. The subcommittee heard from three witnesses: Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael M. Gilday, and Commandant of the Marine Corps General David H. Berger. In the hearing, Senator Sullivan questioned the leaders of the two military service branches about the rise of “Great Power Competition” between the United States and China and Russia, and the importance of a strong and consistent U.S. presence in the Arctic region. Specifically, Sullivan raised the troubling incursion of Russian vessels and aircraft into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in August in the Bering Sea, and the Russians’ aggressive and harassing maneuvers toward Alaska-based fishing crews who were lawfully operating in the area but were ultimately forced to depart. “As our country seeks to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever that our military maintains its readiness and lethality,” said Senator Sullivan. “Our Navy and Marine Corps have a great history of operating effectively under the most difficult conditions. As Russia continues its military build-up in the Arctic, it is not a time to become complacent and it remains imperative that our Navy and Marine Corps are able to operate effectively in all climates, to include expanding their capabilities in the harsh conditions of the Arctic region.” In his first line of questioning, Senator Sullivan asked Secretary Braithwaite and Admiral Gilday what the Navy is doing to deter Russian aggression in the Arctic following the widely-reported large-scale Russian military exercises in August, and how communication can be improved so that Alaska fishermen never find themselves in this situation again. “The Russian exercise that I mentioned caught our fishing fleet by surprise,” said Senator Sullivan. “I know that there's been an ‘after action,’ but our fishing fleet was ordered out of the EEZ—which, of course, is our EEZ, where they fish—and [they] shouldn't be ordered out by the Russians. But they were buzzed. They were harassed. What are we doing in terms of an after action to make sure that that doesn't happen again?” “I share your concern, Senator,” said Admiral Gilday. “I actually meet with the NORTHCOM Commander later on this week, and I know they're looking at what potentially happened with communication breakdowns, potentially to our fishermen, and perhaps miscommunication between agencies and the U.S. government. But U.S. fishermen should not feel threatened by another nation, and in our own EEZ, in terms of fishing. I think our continued presence up there will have some blunting effect to that. But I think perhaps more needs to be done, including through the Arctic Council, to have honest discussions about it.” Secretary Braithwaite agreed with Admiral Gilday on the importance of naval surface presence in the Arctic. “We need that visible presence, as the chief of naval operations talked about just a few moments ago,” said Secretary Braithwaite. “Power projection, sea control, and the ability to ensure to our partners and allies and our own people that we, the United States Navy, have first and foremost in our minds. We are about to release an Arctic strategy that you and I talked about during our recent trip to Alaska and the importance of how that blueprint will recommit ourselves in a much more visible way to activities in the Arctic…Russia has re-militarized the Arctic, China has recommitted itself to build icebreakers...The United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, Senator, is committed, to being present in the Arctic in a much more visible way than we've historically been.” During the hearing, Senator Sullivan also highlighted the Navy’s soon-to-be-released Arctic Strategy, and emphasized the need to home-port the next generation of U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers – the Polar Security Cutter – in the Arctic to support naval operations. In June, the White House released a historic “Memorandum on Safeguarding U.S. National Interests in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions”that calls for assets and resources in the Arctic to ensure a persistent United States presence in the area, including a fleet of icebreakers that is operationally tested and fully deployable by Fiscal Year 2029. Additionally, in October, Sullivan penned an op-ed in Roll Call calling for the new vessels to be based in Alaska. “I'm hopeful to hear some positive news about a new Navy Arctic strategy, which this committee has been encouraging all of the services to produce Arctic strategies, and I am hopeful that we could also have a discussion on…the support for building six Polar-class icebreakers that our nation needs,” said Senator Sullivan. “I authored language in the NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act] a couple of years ago that put forward the authorization to build [these] icebreakers between the Coast Guard and the Navy. I think it makes strategic sense for America, if you're going to have icebreakers, you need to base them in the place where the action is, and that's in the Arctic, not in Florida or other places where there's no ice. Do you have a view on where we should be basing these?” “As far as home-porting those ships, if they fell under the control of the United States Navy, of course we would home-port them closer to where they would be required to fulfill their mission,” said Secretary Braithwaite. “Going into Kodiak, I was extremely impressed with the Coast Guard facility there, meeting with the station commander again. [This is] a phenomenal base with the infrastructure to support additional ships being home-ported there.” To watch the full subcommittee hearing, click here. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-markey-murkowski-applaud-senate-passage-of-young-fishermens-development-act,"Sullivan, Markey, Murkowski Applaud Senate Passage of Young Fishermen’s Development Act",2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) applauded the Senate’s passage yesterday of the Young Fishermen’s Development Act, legislation to mitigate the challenges facing the next generation of entrants into the fishing industry by supporting regional training opportunities and apprenticeship programs. “Alaska is the unquestioned superpower of seafood, thanks to our world-class, sustainably-managed fisheries and our countlesshard-working fishermen,” said Senator Sullivan. “The sustainability and endurance of this vital industry, which employs more people in Alaska than any other, depends on up-and-coming qualified fishermen. I thank my Senate colleagues for passing our legislation to reduce basic barriers to entry through new grants, training opportunities and apprenticeship programs. Helping the next generation of Alaskans enter our fisheries will help ensure Alaska remains the superpower of seafood.” “Despite centuries of fishing tradition in Massachusetts’s coastal communities, new fishermen are finding it a challenge to join the industry,” said Senator Markey. “Our legislation will help ensure that our fishing industry continues to attract and grow future generations of young fishermen. More young men and women will be pushing off the dock into new careers and fully participating in the economy of their communities. I thank my colleagues for their partnership on this hopeful legislation and look forward to enacting it into law.” “I appreciate Senator Sullivan leading this effort and am glad to once again join him in addressing some of the barriers facing young people as they try to join the commercial fishing fleet. This legislation will support education, training, and workplace development of future fishermen and help maintain sustainable fishing careers, strengthen food security, and encourage future generations of Alaskans to pursue jobs in this important industry,” said Senator Murkowski. “It is my hope that enactment of this legislation will help us pass down the values and lifestyles that fishing has woven into the fabric of our state.” The United States is among the leading fishing nations in the world, generating more than $200 billion in sales and supporting 1.7 million jobs per year. The positive impact of U.S. commercial fisheries on the economy largely reflects the effective laws put into place under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the collective efforts of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, regional fisheries management councils, and stakeholders to sustainably manage U.S. fisheries. In recent years, incoming generations of commercial fishermen seeking to enter the industry have met new challenges and higher barriers to entry, contributing to several shifts in the demographics of commercial permit holders. In several regions, commercial fisheries have seen an increase by 10 years or more in the average participant’s age over the previous generation of fishermen, and rural communities have lost 30 percent of local permit holders. Several studies suggest this “graying of the fleet” has led to an increase in financial capital and risk needed to enter into the commercial fishing industry. Modeled after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s successful Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, this legislation creates the first federal program dedicated to training, educating, and assisting the next generation of commercial fishermen. The Young Fishermen’s Development Program would include: A competitive grants program for collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally-based networks or partnerships. A mentorship/apprenticeship program to connect retiring fishermen and vessel owners with new and beginning fishermen. Financial support for local and regional training and education in sustainable and accountable fishing practices, marine stewardship, and business practices, and technical initiatives that address the needs of beginning fishermen. TheYoung Fishermen’s Development Act will now be considered by the House. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-welcomes-doe-effort-to-strengthen-domestic-mineral-supply-chains,Murkowski Welcomes DOE Effort to Strengthen Domestic Mineral Supply Chains,2020-12-02,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.02.20 Murkowski Welcomes DOE Effort to Strengthen Domestic Mineral Supply Chains U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Department of Energy's (DOE) Loan Programs Office issued new guidance encouraging applications for projects that support secure supply chains of critical minerals. I thank Secretary Brouillette for his continued efforts to boost our economic and national security by strengthening our mineral security, said Murkowski. This guidance will help ensure that reasonable support is available to help domestic producers, refiners, and recyclers supply the minerals that make our modern life possible. It is critical that this policy be maintained and that Congress do its part to build robust domestic supply chains. Today'sannouncementbuilds on executive orders issued by President Trump and actions taken by various Departments and agencies.Specifically, the guidance applies to applicants for the Title XVII and the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan programs. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the United States imported at least half of its supply of 46 different nonfuel minerals in 2019, including 100 percent of 17 of them. China, in particular, hasconsolidated controlover the supply chains of many of the minerals used to make medical equipment, smart phones, clean energy, and defense technologies. TheWorld Bankreleased a report earlier this year estimating that demand for lithium, graphite, and cobalt will increase 500 percent by 2050 to meet clean energy demand. Murkowski has long been an advocate of U.S. mineral security. Her bipartisan legislation, theAmerican Mineral Security Act, would ensure timely surveying of domestic deposits of critical minerals, cut down on unnecessary permitting delays for projects to produce them, promote workforce development, and invest in research and development to increase recycling and the development of alternatives. It has been included in three proposed Senate coronavirus relief packages. As Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Murkowski has focused congressional attention on mineral security. Last year, she convened ahearingfocused on the link between minerals and clean energy technologies. In June, she convened ahearingfocused on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on supply chains and the fundamental role that minerals play in them. More information about DOE's announcement is availablehere. Related Issues: Energy Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-welcomes-epa-grant-to-alaska-to-improve-air-quality-,Murkowski Welcomes EPA Grant to Alaska to Improve Air Quality,2020-12-02,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.02.20 Murkowski Welcomes EPA Grant to Alaska to Improve Air Quality U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded news that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $14.7 million to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to help improve air quality in Fairbanks. A portion of the Fairbanks North Star Borough is currently designated as a PM2.5 non-attainment area, with wood stoves serving as a major contributor to non-attainment. The funding, which is part of the EPA's Targeted Airshed grant program, will be used to continue a wood stove change out and conversion program to help reduce air pollution. For many Alaskan communities, burning wood is the most affordable option to stay warm. Unfortunately, older, inefficient heaters contribute to local air pollution and negatively impact public health. I worked hard to ensure that Fairbanks was eligible for this funding and have worked year-after-year to ensure that the program continues. There is still work to be done, but this funding from the EPA is good progress toward providing Alaskans with safer, more cost-effective home heating options. I commend the EPA for directing these much-needed funds to Alaska and thank Region 10 Administrator Hladick for understanding Alaskans' unique challenges, said Senator Murkowski. Background: Senator Murkowski has long worked to ensure the EPA provides grant assistance to the Fairbanks North Star Borough to meet new particulate matter standards (PM 2.5) for air quality. Senator Murkowski previously secured an amendment to modify the Targeted Airshed grant program so that communities like Fairbanks, where wood stoves have been a major reason for not meeting air quality standards, could qualify for federal aid. Most recently, as Chairman of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murkowski increased funding for the program for Fiscal Year 2020. Senator Murkowski has also cosponsored bipartisan legislation, the Wood Heater Emissions Reduction Act, to create a dedicated grant program at EPA to support transitions to cleaner-burning heat sources. Related Issues: Health, Energy Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murphy-murkowski-applaud-final-passage-of-save-our-seas-20,"Murphy, Murkowski Applaud Final Passage Of Save Our Seas 2.0",2020-12-02,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.02.20 Murphy, Murkowski Applaud Final Passage Of Save Our Seas 2.0 U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) applauded passage of Save Our Seas 2.0, legislation to combat marine debris. Murphy and Murkowski are both cosponsors of the bill, which was introduced and led by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) and Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey). The legislation includes a Murphy-Murkowski drafted provision that allows for the establishment of a new Genius Prize to fund the development of materials to replace single use plastic and innovations that remove and prevent plastic waste. The amount of plastic flowing into our oceans poses a huge problem. That's why I was proud to work with Senators Sullivan, Whitehouse and Menendez on the bipartisan Save our Seas 2.0 Act, which will reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans at home and abroad, said Senator Murphy. I am also grateful the final bill includes language I drafted with Senator Murkowski to allow for the establishment of a genius prize to clean up marine debris and replace single-use plastics. There's more work to do, but this bill is an important step in the right direction. Alaskans depend on healthy oceans and coastlines to support the marine resources that so many of our communities depend on. Whether it's for our fisheries, tourism, or subsistence activitiesmaintaining a healthy marine environment is essential to our everyday lives. I applaud Senator Sullivan for his leadership on legislation to eliminate plastic waste polluting our oceans and am pleased by the Senate passage of Save Our Seas 2.0, legislation that I cosponsored, said Senator Murkowski. The bill includes a provision of mine with Senator Murphy to fund a new Genius Prize, which would reward innovation and creative strategies to combat the growing issue of marine debris. By creating incentives for the development of projects to clean up our oceans and shorelines, as well as to replace or improve single-use plastics, we are taking important steps to ensure healthier ocean environments for generations to come. Related Issues: Alaska's Fisheries Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-joins-bipartisan-bicameral-working-group-announcing-covid-19-emergency-relief-framework-,"Murkowski Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Working Group Announcing COVID-19 Emergency Relief Framework",2020-12-01,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.01.20 Murkowski Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Working Group Announcing COVID-19 Emergency Relief Framework Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Gottheimer (D-NJ-5), Tom Reed (R-NY-23), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Dean Phillips (D-MN-3), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-7), and Fred Upton(R-MI-6) of the Problem Solvers Caucus, to announce a bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 emergency relief framework that will help American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. A breakdown of the COVID-19 emergency relief framework can be found here. For video of Senator Murkowski, click here. I am honored to work with an exceptional group of Senators, as well as colleagues in the House, on a bipartisan measure to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In my home state of Alaska, Anchorage is officially going into our third round of hunker-down orders, shutting down businesses, restaurants, bars, hair salons, gymsessentially bringing to a halt the day-to-day life of many people in Anchorage. Many of our rural villages and off road communities are also in various stages of shutdown to control the spread of this awful virus. These lockdowns come at a significant cost. As the long winter approaches, the uncertainties of job loss, food insecurity, and stable housing all continue to grow, said Senator Murkowski. Our response our responsibility is to come together not as Republicans with a plan or Democrats with a counter-plan, but coming together with a proposal that will provide for targeted emergency relief for the American people. I am calling on my colleagues to join us in advancing the proposal we offer today, to provide much-needed relief for our nation. For video of today's full press conference, click here. Millions of Americans have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are hurting, but Congress has been deadlocked for months with both sides unwilling to compromise to help our fellow Americans who are in desperate need, said Senator Manchin. The bipartisan, bicameral framework announced today proves that we can reach across the aisle and create meaningful compromise that will help those who need it most. Our $908 billion framework provides our students, families, small businesses, and healthcare providers with the support they need and deserve during this devastating pandemic. I urge my fellow colleagues to work with our bipartisan, bicameral group on this proposal so Congress can finally pass a COVID-19 relief package to help Americans and West Virginians during these difficult times. This bipartisan, bicameral group worked night and day throughout the Thanksgiving recess because we recognize that families all across America are struggling, that businesses are closing, and that hospitals are overwhelmed, said Senator Collins. I am particularly pleased that this package includes funding for another round of Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans, which has helped keep our small businesses afloat. In Maine alone, the PPP has helped sustain the jobs of 250,000 workers. After many days of bipartisan negotiations, I'm proud that we've reached a compromise to help Americans get through the holiday season, while providing much-needed relief for small businesses, local governments, health care providers, and low-income and minority communities, among others, said Senator Warner. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put the months of stalled negotiations behind us, and to support this bipartisan compromise in order to ensure that families across the country are not forced to spend the holiday unable to put food on the table. This is a bipartisan, bicameral effort that creates a pathway forward to bring relief to those who need it most. Republicans and Democrats in both chambers got much of what we wanted, and neither got everything we wanted. That combination reflects what Congress is supposed to do: reconcile priorities and deliver for the American people, said Senator Cassidy. Throughout New Hampshire from small businesses struggling to make payroll to hospitals fighting to keep their doors open and beds available I'm hearing from Granite Staters who cannot wait any longer.And they shouldn't. Over a quarter of a million Americans have died from COVID and more than 13.5 million Americans have been afflicted with it. The human toll of this crisis is crushing and that's before we even address the severe economic fallout it created, said Senator Shaheen. Some of those hardest hit have been our small businesses. When this body came together in March, we worked in good-faith to deliver the CARES Act that provided immediate relief through the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.We put our heads together again and have come up with a new bipartisan framework to build on that progress to help small businesses get to the other side of this crisis, and to provide funds for state and local government governments, support for vaccine development and distribution, assistance for our schools and universities, and relief for our health care providers. But this is just step one. We need more leaders on both sides of the aisle to join us so we can finish what we've started and deliver the relief that Americans are calling for. After nearly nine months of the coronavirus pandemic and far too little federal support, millions of Americans are facing financial ruin. It's past time for Congress to put political arguments aside and step up for those in need, said Senator King. If enacted into law, today's bipartisan package would increase unemployment benefits to help families make ends meet, give essential assistance to small businesses on the verge of closing, provide funds to the state and local governments who've led the response to this crisis, and much more including support for schools, hospitals, and vaccine distribution. This plan isn't perfect, and will require future Congressional action in order to help our country fully weather this pandemic but if we pass this bill before the year's end, we'll extend a lifeline to millions of Americans in need just as cases are spiking, CARES Act protections are expiring, and winter is arriving. The American people need us to work together to save lives and livelihoods so let's get it done. This is not a $1.8 trillion stimulus bill. This is a relief measure half that amount$908 billion, with $560 billion in repurposed funds from the first CARES Act, so the amount of new money is actually $348 billion, Senator Romney said. Included in this measure is a liability provision that provides a temporary suspension of any liability-related lawsuits at the state or federal level associated with COVID-19, giving states enough time to put in place their own protections. I am very pleased to be part of this effort, and urge my colleagues to come together on a deal. Our bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief framework provides the most viable path forward in months, and we must seize this opportunity now to provide critical relief for the American people,said Senator Hassansaid. I am grateful to my colleagues from both parties for coming together on this bipartisan effort, and I will do everything I can to get a deal across the finish line. ""This is a win for the American people, for common sense, and for problem solving. With cases spiking, winter around the corner, and countless small businesses closing every day, and far too many families hurting, we simply cannot leave anyone out in the cold. This is an essential down payment on what our families, small businesses, and local communities need,"" said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. ""This four-month COVID-19 emergency relief package will get us through the hardest months of winter and into a new Administration."" For far too long, working families, small businesses, local governments, critical health care providers, and school districts across America have been left wondering when Washington would stop the partisan bickering and pass a comprehensive stimulus package, said Congressman Tom Reed (NY-29), Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. Now, we have a bipartisan, bicameral deal that directly addresses the needs of the nation and best positions the country for an effective rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine. It's time to come together as proud Americans and get the job done. With the development of multiple successful vaccines, we are on the cusp of beating covid-19 and restoring our way of life, but we are not there yet. This sensible, bipartisan, bicameral proposal will provide those most in need with the bridge necessary to see us through this crisis. The time to act is now, said Representative Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16). Our nation's top economists have made it clear: Congress needs to act sooner than later on targeted focused relief, said Representative Dusty Johnson (SD-AL). I'm proud to be a part of this bipartisan, bicameral group that's put much-needed relief before politics. More than half of these dollars have been repurposed from CARES Act funding it's a responsible proposal. Our teachers, healthcare workers, business owners, and producers continue to step up as we battle COVID-19, it's time Congress does too. The need is great, the time is short, and the urgency is real. Our bipartisan, bicameral working group has found common ground, and now Congress must begin restoring faith in our government by passing an emergency COVID relief measure before year's end, said Representative Dean Phillips (MN-3). Working families, small businesses, restaurant owners, and our communities need relief and Congress must act. The failure to provide that relief over the last several months has been shameful, especially given that there are relief provisions and programs that are supported by both parties and both chambers of Congress, and most importantly, needed by the American people and our economy, said Representative Abigail Spanberger (VA-7). This bipartisan, bicameral package reflects the priorities of the Seventh District including funding for unemployment assistance, PPP, food assistance programs and our district's farmers, rental assistance, broadband internet, and opioid treatment. Today we have demonstrated that we can unite around a common purpose in the face of a national emergency, and I urge my colleagues as well as House and Senate leadership to bring this package forward for a vote. Michigan just had the deadliest month from COVID-19 since the pandemic begin. I hear daily from constituents who are struggling to make ends meet. Congress should not go home until we are able to get a COVID-19 deal passed and signed, delivering real help to those who need it most. It's time for us to step up, and our colleagues need to get behind this effort or out of the way, said Representative Fred Upton (MI-6)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-whitehouse-menendez-marine-debris-bill-heads-to-presidents-desk,Sullivan-Whitehouse-Menendez Marine Debris Bill Heads to President’s Desk,2020-12-01,2020,2020-12,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"Senate approves technical changes to Save Our Seas 2.0 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) are applauding final Senate passage of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act this evening. The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act was introduced in June 2019 to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal economies and harming marine life. The legislation seeks to help reduce the creation of plastic waste, find uses for the plastic waste that already exists to keep it from entering the oceans, spur innovation, and tackle the problem on a global scale. It builds on the initial progress secured by the Save Our Seas Act, which was sponsored by Sullivan and Whitehouse and signed into law by President Trump in 2018. “Save Our Seas 2.0 is the most comprehensive marine debris legislation ever to pass Congress,” said Senator Sullivan. “This proves that major bipartisan achievements on some of the biggest environmental challenges are possible. The progress we have made over the past few years on the marine debris crisis, beginning with the original Save Our Seas Act, is historic and constitutes a whole-of-government approach to helping protect our pristine environment across the globe and, particularly, in Alaska, which has more coastline than the rest of the Lower 48 combined. I thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for coming together to clean up our oceans, spark innovation on managing plastic waste, and protect our fisheries and coastal communities.” “While marine debris presents a massive international challenge, it’s a manmade problem that we can solve by finding creative solutions at home and abroad,” said Senator Whitehouse, who co-founded the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus to find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts. “Save Our Seas 2.0 is a wide-reaching, bipartisan bill that builds on progress we’ve already made addressing ocean pollution. There’s much more that needs to be done to tackle the scourge of plastic waste washing up on our shores—Save Our Seas 3.0 is already in the pipeline.” “Today is a great day for New Jerseyans and all Americans in the fight to protect our beautiful coastlines and beach communities from the growing scourge of plastic waste washing up on our shores. Save Our Seas 2.0 provides the most comprehensive set of tools to help bolster the United States’ leadership and response to this growing global environmental and economic challenge and I’m so pleased to see it become law,” said Senator Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Roughly eight million metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste from land enters the oceans each year. Ninety percent of this plastic enters the oceans from ten rivers, eight of which are in Asia. The plastic breaks down into tiny pieces that can enter the marine food chain and harm fish and wildlife, and wash ashore on even the most remote stretches of coastline. Plastic has been found in areas as remote as the Mariana Trench, the deepest known point in the ocean. The Senate first passed Save Our Seas 2.0 in January and today approved technical changes made in the House. The House version of the bill was sponsored by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Don Young (R-Alaska). # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401842,Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following U.S. Army Corps Decision to Deny Permit to Pebble Mine,2020-11-25,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following U.S. Army Corps Decision to Deny Permit to Pebble Mine Washington, D.C. Following a decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny a permit to the proposed Pebble Mine, Alaska Congressman Don Young issued the following statement: From the very beginning of the debate surrounding Pebble Mine, I have been consistent in my position that we needed to allow the process to play out and that decision making should be based on sound science. Today, it appears that the process has concluded. This is state land, and to me, this has always been a states' rights issue. Although I thank the Army Corps of Engineers for their work and am confident that they faithfully followed the process, I remain disappointed that the federal government gets to decide before Alaskans do. Now there must be a consideration of how the federal government will compensate the State for the loss of economic potential. The proposed mine has always been subject to political intrigue and the whims of outsiders who simply do not understand our state. Throughout my career, I have always defended our right to extract oil and minerals responsibly. Going forward, I will continue fighting to ensure that proposed projects are fairly judged on their merits, so that the voices of outside extremists do not stifle Alaska's potential for jobs and economic growth. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-and-sullivan-army-corps_right-to-reject-pebble-permit,Murkowski and Sullivan: Army Corps Right to Reject Pebble Permit,2020-11-25,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.25.20 Murkowski and Sullivan: Army Corps Right to Reject Pebble Permit U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) formally rejected the Pebble Limited Partnership's application for a permit to discharge dredged or fill material into navigable waters under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Army Corps determined the Pebble project is contrary to the public interest. Murkowski and Sullivan, while staunch advocates of mining in Alaska, oppose the project and voiced their strong support for the Army Corps' decision to deny the permit. The agency's denial concludes the permitting process on the application submitted by the Pebble Partnership in December 2017. After years of review and analysis, the Army Corps has found that this project is contrary to the public interest,' ending consideration of its permit application and affirming that this is the wrong mine in the wrong place. I thank the agency and the broader Trump administration for completing a rigorous, impartial, and science-based process to determine the best course of action, Murkowski said. This is the right decision, reached the right way. It should validate our trust and faith in the well-established permitting process used to advance resource development projects throughout Alaska. It will help ensure the continued protection of an irreplaceable resource Bristol Bay's world-class salmon fishery and I hope it also marks the start of a more collaborative effort within the state to develop a sustainable vision for the region. Iwelcome the Army Corps' Record of Decision to deny the permit,said Senator Sullivan.The Pebble Limited Partnership had its opportunity to present a project that could meet the high environmental standards in Alaska that we demand. Today, the Army Corps has made the correct decision, based on an extensive record and the law, that the project cannot and should not be permitted. Resource development is one of the key industries that drives Alaska's economy and provides thousands of hard-working Alaskans withgood-payingjobs and opportunity for the future. I will continue to be a strong advocate for these resource-development jobs and economic opportunities in our state. However, given the special nature of the Bristol Bay watershed and the fisheries and subsistence resources downstream, Pebble had to meet a high bar so that we do not trade one resource for another. As I have been saying since August, Pebble did not meet that bar and, accordingly, the Corps rightly denied the permit. Throughout this process, I've emphasized to senior federal officials and Alaskans that this decision needed to be based on science and data, not politics. I want to thank the Army Corps and the Trump administration for acting accordingly, giving this permit a fair hearing through the regular process, and ultimately following the law and the record to deny the permit. The Pebble project is a proposed open-pit, large-scale mine in the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska. Earlier this summer, the Army Corps determined the project would impact several thousand acres of wetlands and waters and roughly 120 miles of streams in the Koktuli River Watershed. The Army Corps determined the project cannot be permitted as proposed and directed Pebble to submit a plan for in-kind and other compensatory mitigation within 90 days. Pebble reportedly did so, but the agency found that the project remained contrary to the public interest and therefore denied the permit. Murkowski and Sullivan both oppose the Pebble mine and have worked to ensure that federal decisionmakers are aware of Alaskans' views on the project. Earlier this month, Murkowski included report language in her Interior-EPA Appropriations bill urging the Army Corps to deny Pebble's permit if the project did not provide a full and functional compensatorymitigation plan that meets all requirements within the Corps' requested 90-day timeframe. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murkowski-and-sullivan-army-corps-right-to-reject-pebble-permit,Murkowski and Sullivan: Army Corps Right to Reject Pebble Permit,2020-11-25,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) formally rejected the Pebble Limited Partnership’s application for a permit to discharge dredged or fill material into navigable waters under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Army Corps determined the Pebble project is “contrary to the public interest.” Murkowski and Sullivan, while staunch advocates of mining in Alaska, oppose the project and voiced their strong support for the Army Corps’ decision to deny the permit. The agency’s denial concludes the permitting process on the application submitted by the Pebble Partnership in December 2017. “After years of review and analysis, the Army Corps has found that this project is ‘contrary to the public interest,’ ending consideration of its permit application and affirming that this is the wrong mine in the wrong place. I thank the agency and the broader Trump administration for completing a rigorous, impartial, and science-based process to determine the best course of action,” Murkowski said. “This is the right decision, reached the right way. It should validate our trust and faith in the well-established permitting process used to advance resource development projects throughout Alaska. It will help ensure the continued protection of an irreplaceable resource – Bristol Bay’s world-class salmon fishery – and I hope it also marks the start of a more collaborative effort within the state to develop a sustainable vision for the region.” “I welcome the Army Corps’ Record of Decision to deny the permit,” said Senator Sullivan. “The Pebble Limited Partnership had its opportunity to present a project that could meet the high environmental standards in Alaska that we demand. Today, the Army Corps has made the correct decision, based on an extensive record and the law, that the project cannot and should not be permitted. Resource development is one of the key industries that drives Alaska’s economy and provides thousands of hard-working Alaskans with good-paying jobs and opportunity for the future. I will continue to be a strong advocate for these resource-development jobs and economic opportunities in our state. However, given the special nature of the Bristol Bay watershed and the fisheries and subsistence resources downstream, Pebble had to meet a high bar so that we do not trade one resource for another. As I have been saying since August, Pebble did not meet that bar and, accordingly, the Corps rightly denied the permit. Throughout this process, I’ve emphasized to senior federal officials and Alaskans that this decision needed to be based on science and data, not politics. I want to thank the Army Corps and the Trump administration for acting accordingly, giving this permit a fair hearing through the regular process, and ultimately following the law and the record to deny the permit.” The Pebble project is a proposed open-pit, large-scale mine in the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska. Earlier this summer, the Army Corps determined the project would impact several thousand acres of wetlands and waters and roughly 120 miles of streams in the Koktuli River Watershed. The Army Corps determined the project “cannot be permitted” as proposed and directed Pebble to submit a plan for in-kind and other compensatory mitigation within 90 days. Pebble reportedly did so, but the agency found that the project remained “contrary to the public interest” and therefore denied the permit. Murkowski and Sullivan both oppose the Pebble mine and have worked to ensure that federal decisionmakers are aware of Alaskans’ views on the project. Earlier this month, Murkowski included report language in her Interior-EPA Appropriations bill urging the Army Corps to deny Pebble’s permit if the project did not “provide a full and functional compensatory mitigation plan that meets all requirements within the Corps’ requested 90-day timeframe.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/icymi-murkowski-cortez-masto-op-ed-on-fight-against-mmiw-crisis,"ICYMI: Murkowski, Cortez Masto Op-Ed on Fight Against MMIW Crisis",2020-11-23,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.23.20 ICYMI: Murkowski, Cortez Masto Op-Ed on Fight Against MMIW Crisis A pathway toward ending the dark history of violence against Native women In case you missed it, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) wrote an Op-Ed for Indian Country Today to share their collaborative efforts to help respond to the inordinate violence that Native American women and girls face. In October, President Trump signed into law Savanna's Act and Not Invisible Act, two bills led by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) to address the crisis of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women. Specifically, the bills work to improve the federal government's response through increased coordination, development of best practices, and creation of a joint commission on violent crime, ensuring Alaska Natives and survivors have a voice in developing methods to end these horrible crimes. To read the Senators' Op-Ed, click here or see below: November marks National Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich history, immense diversity and important contributions of Native people, while also acknowledging our country's dark history toward tribal nations. As representatives of states with vibrant tribal communities, we wanted to share how we're working together to help respond to the inordinate violence that Native American women and girls face. For years now, we've known that Native American communities are facing a crisis of missing, murdered and trafficked American Indians and Alaska Nativesin particular women and children. One of those victims was Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a member of the Spirit Lake Nation who wasbrutally murderedby her neighbor in August 2017. She was only 22 years oldand eight months pregnantat the time of her death. This heartbreaking tragedy drew widespread attention upon a frightening reality that's been going on for generations: more thanfour in fiveAmerican Indian and Alaska Native women experience violence in their lifetimes, and on some reservations, and in Alaska, are murdered at a rate more thanten timesthe national average. It's unacceptable that so many Native women are being taken and that their families have failed to receive justice. Homicide is the third leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls under the age of 19, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Butconflicts over jurisdiction and gaps in sharing informationhave hampered investigations into those deaths and denied closure to too many families. To make the problem worse, we still lack sufficient data on the crimes, and what data exists isn't always shared. In 2018, an Urban Indian Health Institutesurvey foundthat out of the 5,712 Alaska Native and American Indian women and girls known to be missing, only 116 were registered in the Department of Justice database. The federal government must do far more to address violent crimes against Native women. While countless lives have been lost over the years, they were never forgotten. That is why in January 2019 we re-introducedSavanna's Act,originally authored by our former colleague Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. In April of that same year, we introduced theNot Invisible Act,with the goal of dedicating even more effort to combatting the violence against Native American women and girls. After the unanimous passage of both bills in the Senate and House this year, President Trump signed them into law in October, making them the first legislation specifically addressing this epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. WithSavanna's Actand theNot Invisible Act, we are making real progress in seeking justice for the families of those missing, murdered and trafficked, and in curbing violence against Native women. Both laws require federal agencies to improve coordination with local partners and ensure tribal governments have the federal backing to address a crisis that has been under-resourced for far too long. The memory of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind lives on in the law that bears her name.Savanna's Actwill create standardized, yet region-specific guidelines for responding to cases of missing or murdered Native Americans, with meaningful consultation from tribes. These guidelines will go a long way to making sure that the different local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement involved in responding to these tragic cases actually work together effectively. The law also requires thatdata on missing or murdered Native Americans finally be collected and reported to Congress, along with recommendations for improving the quality of that data. Just as important, it makes sure that tribes have access to relevant federal law enforcement databases essential for fighting violent crime. TheNot Invisible Actrequires the Secretary of the Interior to appoint a person within the Bureau of Indian Affairs whose job it will be to make sure all federal agencies are actually working together, not in agency silos, to reduce violent crime against Native Americans and prosecute the perpetrators. The legislation also recognizes the historical failures of the federal government in interacting with our tribal nations by ensuring that tribes have a voice at the table. The law establishes a commission starting in the spring of 2021made up of law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of victims, and survivorsto make recommendations on what more must be done to combat the epidemic of missing, murdered and trafficked Native Americans. Our work is far from done, and more focus and determination will be needed in the coming weeks, months and years to ensure that we remain on track to curb this epidemic. The signing of theNot Invisible ActandSavanna's Actinto law by President Trump gives us hope. It means that Native communities finally have federal support to more effectively protect women and no longer have to fight this crisis alone. We thank Senator Heitkamp for her leadership, and we are grateful to Native American community leaders for their tireless advocacy over the years. Families of victims deserve answers; today is the beginning of the end of the legacy of violence against Native women and girls and the start of seeking justice for countless lives. If you or someone you know has been a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking,resourcesare available to you. Related Issues: Alaska Natives & Rural Alaska",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401841,ALASKA DELEGATION WELCOMES CURRENCY RULE PREVENTING BANK EXCLUSION OF ENERGY SECTOR,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska), welcomed aproposed rule announced todayby the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to ensure that national banks are providing fair access to banking services to customers based on objective risk, withoutexcludinglegal businesses and individuals. The announced rule comes after a sustained effort by members of Congress, led by the Alaska congressional delegation, urging the country's senior federal financial regulators to examine the legality of decisions in late 2019 and early 2020 by several of the nation's largest banks to withhold financing from oil and gas development projects in the Arctic, including the 1002 Area of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). For too long, we have seen financial institutions making policy decisions in attempts to de-bank disfavored industries. Perhaps the most recent example came late last year, as Alaskans witnessed a deeply troubling trend of America's big banks pledging to black-list energy development projects in the Arctic, without regard for the people who live here in some of the most economically-challenged parts of the country,said the delegation. Not only were these pledges callous, they also very likely violated federal law. We quickly got to work, informing our congressional colleagues about the dangerous precedent this trend could set for other industries, and calling on the regulators who oversee the big banks to step forward and correct this injustice. We thank Comptroller Brooks and the OCC team for upholding the principle of free and fair access to capital today and acting on behalf of all Americans, including the Alaskans we represent. This is not a partisan issue only affecting oil and gas. This rule is to ensure fair access to banking services for all, not just for favored industries. Fair access to financial services, credit, and capital are essential to our economy,saidActing Comptroller of the Currency Brian P. Brooks. This proposed rule would ensure that banks meet their responsibility to provide their services fairly since they enjoy special privilege and powers because if the system fails to provide fairness to all, it cannot be a source of strength for any. According to the OCC, the proposal builds upon the fundamental principle of nondiscrimination, under Title III of theDoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, and would prevent banksalone or in coordination with othersfrom limiting fair access to banking through broad-based, categorical decisions against entire categories of customers, rather than individual and objective risk assessment. The rule will next be published in the federal register, starting a comment period that will close by January 4, 2021. After the OCC considers the comments, the office will publish a final rule. Timeline In December of 2017, President Donald Trumpsigned theTax Cuts and Jobs Act, which included a title authored by Senator Murkowski to authorize energy development in a small portion of the non-wilderness 1002 area of ANWR. InDecember of 2018, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the oil and gas leasing program in ANWR. In January of 2020, sixteen Democratic U.S. senatorssent a letterto the leaders of the nation's fifteen largestbanks, urging them to withhold funding from Arctic oil and gas projects. Also in January, Mayor Harry Brower Jr. of Alaska's North Slope Boroughpenned an op-edcondemning the subtly racist attitude of some of thebanksblocking economic opportunities for Alaska Native peoples who reside on the North Slope. In April of 2020, Sullivan and President Trumpcriticizedthe actions of thebanksin a press conference at the White House. In May of 2020,the Alaska delegationsent a letterwithmore than 30oftheircongressional colleagues to President Trump urging the administration to take action against large American financial institutions forexcludingAmerican energy companies and their workers. In June of 2020, Senators Sullivan and Murkowski, and Congressman Young,sent a letterto Chairman Jerome Powell and Vice Chair Randy Quarles of the Federal Reserve, Acting U.S. Comptroller of Currency Brian Brooks, and Chairwoman Jelena McWilliams of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, urging these officials to consider regulatory action and oversight of large American financial institutions following theactions against Arctic communities. On July 24, 2020, Comptroller of the Currency Brookssent a response letterto the delegation stating, As requested, the OCC will take a serious look at these banks' actions. The OCC intends to seek additional information from the banks involved to understand the rationale for these decisions as well as their effect on our national economy and local communities. This will, in turn, help us analyze whether these actions violate any duty or obligation under federal laws. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-congressional-delegation-files-amicus-brief-in-support-of-alaska-native-corporations,Alaska Congressional Delegation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Alaska Native Corporations,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"Continue Push for ANCs to Be Eligible for COVID-19 Tribal Assistance WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska,have filed an amicus curiae brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to grant the petition for a writ of certiorari in support of Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) eligibility for tribal assistance appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The amicus brief states that the indigenous peoples of Alaska will suffer severe negative consequences as a result of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals’ September 25, 2020 decision, which held that ANCs are ineligible for CARES Act tribal coronavirus relief funding. The Alaska Congressional Delegation argued the decision should be reversed, citing decades-old precedent and federal Indian law which supports ANCs eligibility for this funding. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s September ruling overturned an earlier June 26 ruling by a U.S. District Court that concluded ANCs are eligible for the aid. “We worked hard to secure funding within the CARES Act to provide emergency-relief funds to 'Indian tribes' as defined by the Indian Self-Determination Education and Assistance Act—which includes Alaska regional or village corporations—to help provide the maximum benefit to all indigenous people to help overcome the impacts of COVID-19. The ruling by the D.C. Circuit deeming ANCs as ineligible for this critical funding is unacceptable as it goes against the language of ANCSA, ISDEAA, and the CARES Act, erasing more than 45 years of precedent, with the potential to undo the tribal systems of health care, education, housing, and more,” said the delegation. “The pandemic is hitting Alaska Native villages hard with COVID cases continuing to rise. We stand with the ANCs who are fighting for the health and safety of all Alaska Natives.” Click here for the full amicus brief. Excerpts from the Amicus Brief: “To undermine programs during a global pandemic is a failure to understand how Native entities work together in Alaska and calls for review by this Court.” “As Members of Congress who represent the only indigenous population that has been singled out for this disparate treatment, we have a unique interest in participating in this briefing and will be useful for this Court in interpreting the laws we have consistently passed for nearly half a century.” “The DC Circuit's decision, if allowed to stand, will have a widespread and deleterious effect on numerous agencies' precedents and practice, and calls into question laws that have been relied upon, with good reason, by the indigenous people of Alaska and this Nation, for nearly half a century.” “The DC Circuit's decision singles out the indigenous people of Alaska, the constituency we represent, and forces them to try to seek redress from the State rather than the federal government, which owes them a special duty under the trust relationship as Indians. Not only is that incorrect for legal and historic reasons, but it is also not the reality of how services are received or delivered in Alaska.” “Additionally, due to the sweeping nature of the DC Circuit's decision, the full impact of the injury is unknown, but may prove fatal to more than one system of delivering services to the Indian population of Alaska.” “While a global pandemic spreads to the remote villages of Alaska, the system that delivers health care has been called into question and critical funding withheld.” “Currently, COVID cases in the remote villages hit 20 percent and little safeguards within the communities. Over 30 villages lack basic sanitation infrastructure; there is no running water for all the residents, no flush toilets— the lack of which only enables the pandemic to spread. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 survey, 15.8% of Alaska's overall population is Alaska Native and American Indian alone. With the pandemic just reaching the villages, Alaska Native and American Indian people already account for 32.3% of total deaths in Alaska. This is occurring while needed relief funds are being withheld.” “ANCSA makes clear that the Alaska Native people are the heart and soul of the ANCs, and for whom the ANCs were formed to benefit. Alaska Native people are not to be considered ""less than"" other Indian people just because they fall into one designation rather than another. With its passage in 1975, ISDEAA also explicitly recognized and imported ANCs into concepts of self-determination by including them in the definition of 'Indian tribe.'” “The DC Circuit's decision found that the systems of receiving and delivering Indian services in Alaska should be set-aside because it did not conform to the Lower 48 model of a traditional sovereign tribe with reservation land; this is a fundamental misunderstanding of Alaska which has grave consequences.” Timeline: On March 27, the CARES Act was signed into law, including an $8 billion set-aside for tribal governments. On April 14, the Alaska Congressional Delegation wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt detailing the unique legal framework and circumstances for tribal entities in Alaska. The letter provided a historical background on Alaska regional corporations, which are made eligible for CARES Act assistance because of the definition of “Indian tribe” used in the bill. In April, several tribes filed lawsuits to prevent CARES Act funds from being distributed to ANCs. On April 23, the delegation penned an op-ed in the Anchorage Daily News to correct the mischaracterizations about ANCs and explain why the entities are eligible for CARES Act funds. On June 26, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled ANCs are eligible for the aid. Judge Mehta based his decision on the definition of “Indian tribe” provided by the 1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and used in the CARES Act, which included ANCs. On September 25, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned the June 26 ruling and determined ANCs are ineligible for tribal assistance appropriated by the CARES Act. # # # Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-welcomes-currency-rule-preventing-bank-exclusion-of-energy-sector,Alaska Delegation Welcomes Currency Rule Preventing Bank Exclusion of Energy Sector,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska), welcomed a proposed rule announced today by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to ensure that national banks are providing fair access to banking services to customers based on objective risk, without excluding legal businesses and individuals. The announced rule comes after a sustained effort by members of Congress, led by the Alaska congressional delegation, urging the country’s senior federal financial regulators to examine the legality of decisions in late 2019 and early 2020 by several of the nation’s largest banks to withhold financing from oil and gas development projects in the Arctic, including the 1002 Area of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). “For too long, we have seen financial institutions making policy decisions in attempts to de-bank disfavored industries. Perhaps the most recent example came late last year, as Alaskans witnessed a deeply troubling trend of America’s big banks pledging to black-list energy development projects in the Arctic, without regard for the people who live here in some of the most economically-challenged parts of the country,” said the delegation. “Not only were these pledges callous, they also very likely violated federal law. We quickly got to work, informing our congressional colleagues about the dangerous precedent this trend could set for other industries, and calling on the regulators who oversee the big banks to step forward and correct this injustice. We thank Comptroller Brooks and the OCC team for upholding the principle of free and fair access to capital today and acting on behalf of all Americans, including the Alaskans we represent. This is not a partisan issue only affecting oil and gas. This rule is to ensure fair access to banking services for all, not just for favored industries.” “Fair access to financial services, credit, and capital are essential to our economy,” said Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian P. Brooks. “This proposed rule would ensure that banks meet their responsibility to provide their services fairly since they enjoy special privilege and powers because if the system fails to provide fairness to all, it cannot be a source of strength for any.” According to the OCC, the proposal builds upon the fundamental principle of nondiscrimination, under Title III of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, and would prevent banks—alone or in coordination with others—from limiting fair access to banking through broad-based, categorical decisions against entire categories of customers, rather than individual and objective risk assessment. The rule will next be published in the federal register, starting a comment period that will close by January 4, 2021. After the OCC considers the comments, the office will publish a final rule. Timeline In December of 2017, President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which included a title authored by Senator Murkowski to authorize energy development in a small portion of the non-wilderness 1002 area of ANWR. In December of 2018, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the oil and gas leasing program in ANWR. In January of 2020, sixteen Democratic U.S. senators sent a letter to the leaders of the nation’s fifteen largest banks, urging them to withhold funding from Arctic oil and gas projects. Also in January, Mayor Harry Brower Jr. of Alaska’s North Slope Borough penned an op-ed condemning the “subtly racist attitude” of some of the banks blocking economic opportunities for Alaska Native peoples who reside on the North Slope. In April of 2020, Sullivan and President Trump criticized the actions of the banks in a press conference at the White House. In May of 2020, the Alaska delegation sent a letter with more than 30 of their congressional colleagues to President Trump urging the administration to take action against large American financial institutions for excluding American energy companies and their workers. In June of 2020, Senators Sullivan and Murkowski, and Congressman Young, sent a letter to Chairman Jerome Powell and Vice Chair Randy Quarles of the Federal Reserve, Acting U.S. Comptroller of Currency Brian Brooks, and Chairwoman Jelena McWilliams of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, urging these officials to consider regulatory action and oversight of large American financial institutions following the actions against Arctic communities. On July 24, 2020, Comptroller of the Currency Brooks sent a response letter to the delegation stating, “As requested, the OCC will take a serious look at these banks’ actions. The OCC intends to seek additional information from the banks involved to understand the rationale for these decisions as well as their effect on our national economy and local communities. This will, in turn, help us analyze whether these actions violate any duty or obligation under federal laws.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401840,Alaska Congressional Delegation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Alaska Native Corporations,2020-11-19,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, filed an amicus curiae brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court togrant the petitionfor a writ of certiorari in support of Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) eligibility for tribal assistance appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The amicus brief states that the indigenous peoples of Alaska will suffer severe negative consequences as a result of theD.C.Circuit Court of Appeals' September 25, 2020 decision,which heldthatANCs are ineligible for CARES Act tribalcoronavirus relief funding. The Alaska Congressional Delegation argued the decision should be reversed, citing decades old precedent and federal Indian law which supports ANCs eligibility for thisfunding. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit's September ruling overturned an earlier June 26 ruling by a U.S. District Court that concluded ANCs are eligible for the aid. We worked hard to secure funding within the CARES Act to provide emergency-relief funds to 'Indian tribes' as defined by the Indian Self-Determination Education and Assistance Actwhich includes Alaska regional or village corporationsto help provide the maximum benefit to all indigenous people to help overcome the impacts of COVID-19. The ruling by the D.C. Circuit deeming ANCs as ineligible for this critical funding is unacceptable as it goes against the language of ANCSA, ISDEAA, and the CARES Act, erasing more than 45 years of precedent, with the potential to undo the tribal systems of healthcare, education, housing, and more, said the delegation. The pandemic is hitting Alaska Native villages hard with COVID cases continuing to rise. We stand with the ANCs who are fighting for the health and safety of all Alaska Natives. Click here for the full amicus brief. Excerpts from the Amicus Brief: To undermine programs during a global pandemic is a failure to understand how Native entities work together in Alaska and calls for review by this Court. As Members of Congress who represent the only indigenous population that has been singled out for this disparate treatment, we have a unique interest in participating in this briefing and will be useful for this Court in interpreting the laws we have consistently passed for nearly half a century. The DC Circuit's decision, if allowed to stand, will have a widespread and deleterious effect on numerous agencies' precedents and practice, and calls into question laws that have been relied upon, with good reason, by the indigenous people of Alaska and this Nation, for nearly half a century. The DC Circuit's decision singles out the indigenous people of Alaska, the constituency we represent, and forces them to try to seek redress from the State rather than the federal government, which owes them a special duty under the trust relationship as Indians. Not only is that incorrect for legal and historic reasons, but it is also not the reality of how services are received or delivered in Alaska. Additionally, due to the sweeping nature of the DC Circuit's decision, the full impact of the injury is unknown, but may prove fatal to more than one system of delivering services to the Indian population of Alaska. While a global pandemic spreads to the remote villages of Alaska, the system that delivers health care has been called into question and critical funding withheld. Currently, COVID cases in the remote villages hit 20 percent and little safeguards within the communities. Over 30 villages lack basic sanitation infrastructure; there is no running water for all the residents, no flush toilets the lack of which only enables the pandemic to spread. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 survey, 15.8% of Alaska's overall population is Alaska Native and American Indian alone. With the pandemic just reaching the villages, Alaska Native and American Indian people already account for 32.3% of total deaths in Alaska. This is occurring while needed relief funds are being withheld. ANCSA makes clear that the Alaska Native people are the heart and soul of the ANCs, and for whom the ANCs were formed to benefit. Alaska Native people are not to be considered ""less than"" other Indian people just because they fall into one designation rather than another. With its passage in 1975, ISDEAA also explicitly recognized and imported ANCs into concepts of self-determination by including them in the definition of 'Indian tribe.' The DC Circuit's decision found that the systems of receiving and delivering Indian services in Alaska should be set-aside because it did not conform to the Lower 48 model of a traditional sovereign tribe with reservation land; this is a fundamental misunderstanding of Alaska which has grave consequences. Timeline: On March 27, the CARES Act was signed into law, including an $8 billion set-aside for tribal governments. In April, several tribes filed lawsuits to prevent CARES Act funds from being distributed to ANCs. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/alaska-congressional-delegation-files-amicus-brief-in-support-of-alaska-native-corporations,Alaska Congressional Delegation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Alaska Native Corporations,2020-11-19,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.19.20 Alaska Congressional Delegation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Alaska Native Corporations Continue Push for ANCs to Be Eligible for COVID-19 Tribal Assistance U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, filed an amicus curiae brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court togrant the petitionfor a writ of certiorari in support of Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) eligibility for tribal assistance appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The amicus brief states that the indigenous peoples of Alaska will suffer severe negative consequences as a result of theD.C.Circuit Court of Appeals' September 25, 2020 decision,which heldthatANCs are ineligible for CARES Act tribalcoronavirus relief funding. The Alaska Congressional Delegation argued the decision should be reversed, citing decades old precedent and federal Indian law which supports ANCs eligibility for thisfunding. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit's September ruling overturned an earlier June 26 ruling by a U.S. District Court that concluded ANCs are eligible for the aid. We worked hard to secure funding within the CARES Act to provide emergency-relief funds to 'Indian tribes' as defined by the Indian Self-Determination Education and Assistance Actwhich includes Alaska regional or village corporationsto help provide the maximum benefit to all indigenous people to help overcome the impacts of COVID-19. The ruling by the D.C. Circuit deeming ANCs as ineligible for this critical funding is unacceptable as it goes against the language of ANCSA, ISDEAA, and the CARES Act, erasing more than 45 years of precedent, with the potential to undo the tribal systems of healthcare, education, housing, and more, said the delegation. The pandemic is hitting Alaska Native villages hard with COVID cases continuing to rise. We stand with the ANCs who are fighting for the health and safety of all Alaska Natives. Click here for the full amicus brief. Excerpts from the Amicus Brief: To undermine programs during a global pandemic is a failure to understand how Native entities work together in Alaska and calls for review by this Court. As Members of Congress who represent the only indigenous population that has been singled out for this disparate treatment, we have a unique interest in participating in this briefing and will be useful for this Court in interpreting the laws we have consistently passed for nearly half a century. The DC Circuit's decision, if allowed to stand, will have a widespread and deleterious effect on numerous agencies' precedents and practice, and calls into question laws that have been relied upon, with good reason, by the indigenous people of Alaska and this Nation, for nearly half a century. The DC Circuit's decision singles out the indigenous people of Alaska, the constituency we represent, and forces them to try to seek redress from the State rather than the federal government, which owes them a special duty under the trust relationship as Indians. Not only is that incorrect for legal and historic reasons, but it is also not the reality of how services are received or delivered in Alaska. Additionally, due to the sweeping nature of the DC Circuit's decision, the full impact of the injury is unknown, but may prove fatal to more than one system of delivering services to the Indian population of Alaska. While a global pandemic spreads to the remote villages of Alaska, the system that delivers health care has been called into question and critical funding withheld. Currently, COVID cases in the remote villages hit 20 percent and little safeguards within the communities. Over 30 villages lack basic sanitation infrastructure; there is no running water for all the residents, no flush toilets the lack of which only enables the pandemic to spread. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 survey, 15.8% of Alaska's overall population is Alaska Native and American Indian alone. With the pandemic just reaching the villages, Alaska Native and American Indian people already account for 32.3% of total deaths in Alaska. This is occurring while needed relief funds are being withheld. ANCSA makes clear that the Alaska Native people are the heart and soul of the ANCs, and for whom the ANCs were formed to benefit. Alaska Native people are not to be considered ""less than"" other Indian people just because they fall into one designation rather than another. With its passage in 1975, ISDEAA also explicitly recognized and imported ANCs into concepts of self-determination by including them in the definition of 'Indian tribe.' The DC Circuit's decision found that the systems of receiving and delivering Indian services in Alaska should be set-aside because it did not conform to the Lower 48 model of a traditional sovereign tribe with reservation land; this is a fundamental misunderstanding of Alaska which has grave consequences. Timeline: Related Issues: COVID-19 Resource Page, Alaska Natives & Rural Alaska Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-responds-to-pentagon-announcement-of-troop-withdrawals-in-afghanistan-and-iraq,Murkowski Responds to Pentagon Announcement of Troop Withdrawals in Afghanistan and Iraq,2020-11-19,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.19.20 Murkowski Responds to Pentagon Announcement of Troop Withdrawals in Afghanistan and Iraq Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller recently announced plans to reduce U.S. troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan by January 15, 2021. In response, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement: I do not support indefinite American troop presence in Afghanistan and Iraq and generally support efforts toward their removal, but it must be done in a thoughtful and strategic manner. I find the recent announcement of an abrupt troop withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan troubling with the deadline for removal coming shortly before the expected transition of presidential administrations, and the recent termination of former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. A premature withdrawal of troops from these theaters could have lasting negative impacts on national and regional security and be a disservice to the thousands of Americans who have fought and died in these wars. I encourage taking a pause in major shifts in our military posture. We must ensure that any future plans do not risk American lives or unravel the progress that has been made in counterterrorism efforts. I look forward to the opportunity to be briefed further on the details of this decision. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-sullivan-briefs-alaskans-on-operation-warp-speed-vaccine-development,VIDEO: Sullivan Briefs Alaskans on Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Development,2020-11-19,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today issued the following message to Alaskans after receiving an extensive briefing on Operation Warp Speed, the public-private partnership to develop and distribute a vaccine for COVID-19. The briefing for all U.S. senators was hosted by General Gustave F. Perna, chief operating officer ofOperation Warp Speed, and Doctor Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific advisor for the operation. In the briefing, senators were informed that two companies developing COVID-19 vaccines are seeking emergency-use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which could be issued by mid-December, followed soon after by distribution of vaccines on a per capita basis to individual states. TRANSCRIPT Good afternoon, Alaska. I wanted to make sure that—as we've done throughout the pandemic—the challenges we've been facing as a state and as a country, whenever I've gotten briefings from senior officials in charge of the response, I've tried to get that information out as quickly as possible for all of you. This morning, participating with the vast majority of U.S. senators, we were given an update on Operation Warp Speed. This was something that I was very focused on in the CARES Act to make sure there was significant funding for the rapid development of therapeutics and a vaccine. This morning, we were briefed by the two senior leaders of Operation Warp Speed—General Perna, who is the COO and logistics lead for the entire operation, and Dr. Slaoui, who is the chief scientist for Operation Warp Speed. The briefing, I will say, presents some good news. You have to be cautiously optimistic with regard to the pandemic, therapeutics, and the vaccine. But, as we're seeing challenging times in Alaska and throughout the country, I thought it was important to provide, directly from them, what they are seeing. The bottom line is there are two companies that you have been reading about, I'm sure, in the press that are likely to have FDA approval very soon, with more companies coming online probably soon thereafter. They are expecting to have upwards of 20 million vaccines by next month, and to start administering these as well. Then they will, week by week, continue to administer the vaccine to Americans across the country with the goal that, they estimate right now, by the end of May to have pretty much the entire country vaccinated for those Americans who choose to have a vaccine. This is pretty remarkable news. Vaccines normally take eight to ten years to develop and get tested. There were a lot of opportunities for questions. The focus of when and how and who will be vaccinated first, and in what order, is primarily being left with the states. Our state right now is putting together a plan, in coordination with Operation Warp Speed and the federal government, on exactly the priorities of where, when, who and how will get this vaccine, and in what order. That will be done at the state level, state by state. I did ask about the logistical challenges that we have with regard to delivery of the vaccine, especially in a place like our great state that has a huge territorial expanse and a limited population size. We want to be able to make sure everybody has access to this. The general told me that, similar to testing, they are very focused on Alaska. They recognize our challenges. They recognize the long distances. They recognize the lack of medical capacity in many of our villages. They recognize the challenges that can come with weather. He said they are very focused on making sure that Alaska is at the top of their areas of concern on the logistics. In terms of distribution, the original vaccines are going to be distributed on a per capita basis. Each state, given the size of its population, is going to get the vaccine quantities that reflect how big the population of the state is. In terms of continuing what we need to be focused on, of course, Alaska, like the rest of the country, continues to be challenged with dramatic increases in COVID-19 cases. People need to continue to abide by state and federal guidelines—social distancing, other elements and wearing masks to make sure that we are limiting the spread. But I thought that this was very important news. In many ways, (it is) light at the end of the tunnel. We need to be cautiously optimistic here, but as soon as I got this briefing, I wanted to make sure that all Alaskans were available to get the same information as my office. We will continue to update everybody as we get information on, not only the development of vaccines, but there was also a briefing on the development of therapeutics, which is also dramatically improving the survivability of Americans who are getting COVID-19 and reducing, relative to last April and March and May, the hospitalization rates. As we continue to get this information on vaccines and therapeutics from senior officials in the federal government, I will continue, with my team in my office, to get this information out to as many Alaskans as possible. Thank you. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401839,"ICYMI: House Passes Young, Ruppersberger Bill to Help Coastal Communities Prepare for Storms, Floods",2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressmen Don Young (R-AK) and C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) that will help local and state governments protect the country's 95,000 miles of shoreline. The Digital Coast Act will now be considered by the U.S. Senate, which already passed the legislation before technical changes were made. The Digital Coast Act creates a new program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), allowing it to begin a comprehensive mapping process of the nation's shorelines. Coastal communities home to 42 percent of our country's population and millions of businesses that supply most of our gross domestic product will be able to use the data to prepare for storms, manage floods, restore ecosystems and plan smarter developments near America's coasts, harbors, ports and shorelines. Today is a great day for our coastlines and waterways. No other state in the nation understands the need for coastal resilience and mapping more than Alaska, said Congressman Young. With more than 44,000 miles of coastline, much of which is not fully mapped, Alaska's coastal communities rely heavily on our waterways and shipping channels to support all forms of social and economic prosperity: goods from the Lower 48, critical transportation needs, search and rescue operations, and the state's largest private-sector employer our fishing industry. The Digital Coast Act is an important step towards developing a system that supports our coastal communities, and I am grateful to my colleagues for supporting it today. I look forward to working with my friends in the Senate to get it across the finish line."" I have spent a decade pushing this legislation because, while it is critical to coastal communities like mine in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, we all have a stake in protecting America's shorelines, Congressman Ruppersberger said. This bill is more important now than it was when I first introduced it. We're seeing more storms that are stronger and sea level rise is accelerating. We can't wait any longer. Today, we're arming local planners and managers with the tools they need to save people and property. Geospatial mapping information can be complicated, expensive to collect and difficult to use without in-house expertise. The Digital Coast Act will empower NOAA to train decision-makers at the local and state level on how to use the datasets to answer questions about storm surge, erosion, and water level trends. The data will also be available on NOAA's website for free and easy public access. In the Senate, companion legislation was introduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). That bill, S. 1069, passed in late September. The House made slight technical amendments that the bill sponsors are hopeful will be adopted by the Senate as well. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/blumenthal-and-murkowski-lead-bipartisan-push-to-preserve-legal-rights_protections-of-servicemembers--veterans,Blumenthal & Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Push To Preserve Legal Rights & Protections Of Servicemembers & Veterans,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.18.20 Blumenthal & Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Push To Preserve Legal Rights & Protections Of Servicemembers & Veterans U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led a bipartisan group of eleven senators urging the conference committee working on reconciling the differences between the House and Senate-passed versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to retain provisions passed by the House that would preserve servicemembers and veterans' access to justice. Access to the court system to enforce rights granted under the law is one of the fundamental principles of our democracy, wrote the senators in a letter to House and Senate Armed Services Committee leadership. Servicemembers and veterans should not be denied their right to their day in court if their federal, statutory rights are violated. Forced arbitration deprives servicemembers of that basic right. Arbitration is a private system without any legal protections. There is no public filing of cases, public review of decisions, or requirement that arbitrators have legal training or even follow the law. Laws like the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protect servicemembers from consumer scams, abuses, and fraud. These protections are undermined by mandatory arbitration clauses that deprive servicemembers from being able to seek justice in courts or joining together to seek accountability for claims of wrongdoing. The senators urged the NDAA conference committee to include a provision that would prohibit forced arbitration for USERRA claims. A number of consumer, military, and veterans groups support the House-passed provisions of the NDAA, including the American Association for Justice, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Military Officers Association of America, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Their letter of support can be viewed here. A copy of the full letter is available here and below. November 16, 2020 The Honorable Jim Inhofe The Honorable Jack Reed Chairman Chairman Ranking Member Senate Armed Services Committee Senate Armed Services Committee 205 Russell Senate Office Building 228 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Adam Smith The Honorable Mac Thornberry Chairman Ranking Member House Armed Services Committee House Armed Services Committee 2216 Rayburn Office Building 2216 Rayburn Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Chairmen and Ranking Members: As you work to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 2021 NDAA), we write to urge you to retain House-passed provisions that would protect servicemembers from being forced into arbitration when trying to uphold their federal rights granted by Congress under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The primary mission of the brave women and men of the U.S. Armed Forces is to protect our nation a mission that can be jeopardized when their lives are interrupted with consumer scams, abuses, and fraud. This risk is heightened by the particular burdens faced by servicemembers, such as limited access to internet or banking services while deployed. Congress has enacted laws such as SCRA to protect our servicemembers from these types of unscrupulous financial practices. Despite these laws, predatory lenders and other bad actors have circumvented federal protections through forced arbitration. The Department of Defense has long recognized the relationship between financial issues which negatively impact servicemembers and the use of forced arbitration and indeed stated in a 2006 report[1]: Service members should maintain full legal recourse against unscrupulous lenders. Loan contracts to Service members should not include mandatory arbitration clauses or onerous notice provisions, and should not require the Service member to waive his or her right of recourse, such as the right to participate in a plaintiff class. Waiver isn't a matter of choice' in take-it-or-leave-it contracts of adhesion. Just as no servicemember should be the victim of corporate financial abuse, no servicemember should face employment discrimination because of their service. Take the case of Kevin Ziober[2], a U.S. Navy reservist whose employer fired him just hours after throwing him a going away party before his imminent deployment to Afghanistan. Ziober sued his employer, arguing that the company violated USERRA when they fired him for fulfilling his military service. His employer, however, forced him into arbitration. Ziober fought all the way to the Supreme Court to be able to bring his claim in court, but was unable to enforce his rights under USERRA due to a forced arbitration clause in his employment contract. Access to the court system to enforce rights granted under the law is one of the fundamental principles of our democracy. Servicemembers and veterans should not be denied their right to their day in court if their federal, statutory rights are violated. Forced arbitration deprives servicemembers of that basic right. Arbitration is a private system without any legal protections. There is no public filing of cases, public review of decisions, or requirement that arbitrators have legal training or even follow the law. Attached is a letter from numerous military and veterans organizations in strong support of this effort to protect our men and women in uniform: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), among many others. As the letter states: Forced arbitration is a one-sided, non-transparent process in which servicemembers have very little chance at achieving a favorable outcome when their rights and protections set forth under these federal laws are violated. We urge you to retain the following provisions from Division A of the House-passed NDAA in the final FY 2021 NDAA: - Sec. 534 . Clarifications Regarding Scope of Employment And Reemployment Rights Of Members Of The Uniformed Services. This provision would ensure servicemembers are protected from the use of forced arbitration when they enforce their rights under USERRA. - Sec. 540A. To Resolve Controversies Under Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; - Sec. 540B. Limitation on Waiver Of Rights And Protections Under Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; and - Sec. 540C. Clarification Of Private Right Of Action Under Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. These provisions would ensure that servicemembers are protected from the use of forced arbitration when they enforce their rights under SCRA. We urge you to include these protections in the FY 2021 NDAA to support our nation's servicemembers' and veterans' fundamental right to seek remedies through the court system for being unjustly fired or exploited Sincerely [1] Department of Defense, Report On Predatory Lending Practices Directed at Members of the Armed Forces and Their Dependents (Aug. 9, 2006), http://1.usa.gov/rVdafq. [2] Ziober v. BLB Res., Inc., 839 F.3d 814, 823 (9th Cir. 2016),cert. denied,137 S. Ct. 2274 (2017).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/enr-advances-ferc-nominees,ENR Advances FERC Nominees,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.18.20 ENR Advances FERC Nominees The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today held abusiness meetingand reported the following nominees to the full Senate: Mr. Mark Christie to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and Ms. Allison Clements to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Mr. Christie has been nominated to replace former Commissioner Bernie McNamee for a term that ends on June 30, 2025. Ms. Clements has been nominated to replace former Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur for a term that ends on June 30, 2024. The committee favorably reported both Christie and Clements by voice vote. Both nominees will now be added to the Senate's Executive Calendar for potential floor consideration. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-highlights-need-for-university-land-grant_ancsa-fulfillment-act-at-legislative-hearing,"Murkowski Highlights Need for University Land Grant, ANCSA Fulfillment Act at Legislative Hearing",2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.18.20 Murkowski Highlights Need for University Land Grant, ANCSA Fulfillment Act at Legislative Hearing U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today highlighted two bills important to Alaska at an Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining (PLFM)legislative hearing. Murkowski spoke about the need to provide long-term fiscal stability for the University of Alaska (University) and to resolve a set of outstanding issues from the almost 50-year-old Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). Murkowski's first bill, S. 4696, the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, will resolve the University's outstanding land grant by directly transferring up to 360,000 acres of land from the federal estate to the University. The transferred land will count against Alaska's Statehood entitlement, so it will come at no net loss to the federal government. Murkowski also submitted statements of support from Governor Dunleavy, the President of the Alaska State Senate, the University's Board of Regents, and the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities for the record of today's hearing. Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, is a cosponsor of S. 4696 and Congressman Don Young, also R-Alaska, has introduced companion legislation in the House. Right now our largest state has a land-grant university with a land grant smaller than just about every other land-grant university in every other state. Alaska has a tremendous need for long-term support and stability for our University system as we navigate some of the most significant economic headwinds our state has ever faced,Murkowski said.This bill brings the State of Alaska and federal government together to cooperatively execute a program to fulfill the University's land entitlement. Murkowski's second bill, S. 4889, the ANCSA Fulfillment Act,is a package that aims to resolve a number of outstanding issues related to the landmark 1971 law, including: addressing the outstanding entitlement for the villages of Kaktovik and Canyon Village; ensuring Alaska Native elders are still eligible for federal need-based assistance; and authorizing the five landless communities in southeast Alaska to form urban corporations and receive lands. Sullivan is also a cosponsor of S. 4889 and Young has introduced companion legislation for the landless communities in the House. This bill aims to fulfill the spirit of ANCSA in a number of important ways. It would help alleviate the poverty and healthcare challenges faced by many rural Alaska communities, address delays for outstanding land entitlements, and end an outdated requirement for village corporations,Murkowski said.It will also remedy the half-century injustice where five southeast communities were omitted from ANCSA's authorizations to form urban corporations and thus have not received land entitlements. I encourage my colleagues tolistento the Alaska Native leaders whose parents pushed for the passage of ANCSA when they were children, and who are now passing the torch to their own children to right this wrong. Today's PLFM hearing featured testimony on multiple lands-related bills. An archived video, the full hearing agenda,and witness testimony from the subcommittee hearing are available on the committee'swebsite. Related Issues: Alaska Natives & Rural Alaska, Education Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401838,One Step Closer: Interior Issues Call for Nominations for First Lease Sale in Alaskas Coastal Plain,2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it will issue a Call for Nominations for tracts to be offered in the first lease sale in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The Call for Nominations follows the administration's Record of Decision in August and will include 32 tracts covering 1.6 million acres. This is a key step that puts us on track to have a lease sale in the 1002 Area as soon as January 2021,Murkowski said.While we face headwinds, from global economic conditions to an organized effort to prevent leasing, the Department's rigorous environmental review has provided a solid framework to ensure responsible exploration and development. We are now within sight of the first-ever lease sale on the Coastal Plain, and I appreciate the continued good work of Secretary Bernhardt and his team to help us reach this point. A lease sale in ANWR's Coastal Plain will be a major step in cementing the historic progress we've made for Alaska's economic future over the past four years,Sullivan said.This development could mean thousands of jobs forhard-workingAlaskans and hundreds of thousands of barrels in daily pipeline throughput. I applaud Secretary Bernhardt and the Interior Department team for faithfully implementing the law we passed in 2017 and moving us one step closer to responsibly developing the 1002 Area for the benefit of Alaskans and the entire country. Alaskans have always been strong environmental stewards who know how to develop our resources responsibly. Securing the longtime promise of development on ANWR's Coastal Plain was a tremendous victory for Alaska, and this call for nominations is a critical step toward a lease sale. Make no mistake: the voices that want to lock away Alaska from development are only growing louderand less Alaskan. There is light at the end of the tunnel in our fight, and the time is now to finally achieve what was promised by ANILCA four decades ago. As we approach the day where the first drilling rigs arrive and crude starts flowing, I will continue working to ensure that Alaska is front and center as we blaze the trail towardcontinuedAmerican energy dominance,Young said. BLM's Call for Nominations will officially appear in the Federal Register tomorrow. It will be open for 30 days, until December 17, 2020. During that time, members of the public can nominate tracts within the program area for potential inclusion in the upcoming lease sale. The lease sale itself will require 30 additional days of notice before it can be held. President Trump signed H.R. 1, theTax Cuts and Jobs Act,in December 2017. The second title of the Act authorizes the surface development of up to 2,000 federal acres of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (roughly one ten-thousandth of all of ANWR). The U.S. Geological Survey estimates this area contains 10.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. New production from the 1002 Area will refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System while creating high-paying jobs, generating revenues for the state and federal treasuries, keeping energy prices affordable for families and businesses, and strengthening national energy security. Alaska has a strong record of responsible resource development. The footprint of drilling pads on the North Slope has declined by 80 percent since the 1970s, while the reach of underground drilling has grown by 4,000 percent. The result is that less land is being used to develop resources than ever before; many modern sites cover just a few acres and are miles apart. The Central Arctic Caribou herd, which ranges throughout Prudhoe Bay, has seen its population grow for sustained periods alongside development on the North Slope. ANWR spans 19.3 million acres an area of land roughly equal in size to South Carolina in northeast Alaska. In 1980, Congress designated more than eight million acres within ANWR an area of land significantly larger than Maryland as federal wilderness as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. That same legislation set aside the 1.57-million acre Coastal Plain for petroleum exploration and potential future development, which is supported by a majority of Alaskans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-hassan-push-legislation-to-extend-deadline-for-communities-to-spend-cares-act-funding-through-september-2021,"Murkowski, Hassan Push Legislation to Extend Deadline For Communities to Spend CARES Act Funding through September 2021",2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.17.20 Murkowski, Hassan Push Legislation to Extend Deadline For Communities to Spend CARES Act Funding through September 2021 U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced legislation that extends the period during which States, Indian Tribes,territories,and local governments may use Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) payments, allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. If enacted, thisbipartisanlegislation will allow the relief funds to be used until September 30, 2021, rather than the original deadline of the end of this year, December 30, 2020. The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, allocated$150 billion to create the Coronavirus Relief Fund, out of which$8 billionwere reservedfor tribal governments. However, Indian Country did not receive any funds until May 5, 2020, well after the bill's statutory deadline. Alaska Natives in small, remote villages often travel long distances for healthcare, have limited internet to high-speed internet, and many homes lack running water and electricity, making legislation to extend the deadline to use CARES Act funding even more urgent. In crafting the CARES Act, Congress worked hard to ensure that Americans continue to have access to much needed, targeted relief. Unfortunately, a number of American Indian and Alaska Native communities, many of which have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, did not receive any funds until well after the CARES Act's statutory deadline.Particularly for our smaller communities in Alaska, spending this funding by the current deadline is an unreasonable task which is only compounded by the difficulties of preparing for Alaska's harsh winter. As local governments continue to assess and respond to the needs created by this pandemic, it's imperative that we aren't putting up red tape,said Senator Murkowski.As we continue our efforts to respond to the impacts of COVID-19, I remain committed to putting the needs of Alaskans first. Right now, that means allowing the recipients of CARES Act funding the time and flexibility they need to put that vital funding to good use. Local and state governments need additional assistance to protect public health and support our economy as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, said Senator Hassan. Just this week I led a roundtable with Granite State leaders who shared with me that they need more funding to combat COVID-19, as well as more time to use it effectively. That's why I'm working on a bipartisan basis to extend the deadline for state and local governments to use CARES Act funding, and I continue to push for additional funding for public health needs, state and local governments, small businesses, and individuals. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/one-step-closer-interior-issues-call-for-nominations-for_first-lease-sale-in-alaskas-coastal-plain,One Step Closer: Interior Issues Call for Nominations for First Lease Sale in Alaskas Coastal Plain,2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.17.20 One Step Closer: Interior Issues Call for Nominations for First Lease Sale in Alaska's Coastal Plain U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it will issue a Call for Nominations for tracts to be offered in the first lease sale in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The Call for Nominations follows the administration's Record of Decision in August and will include 32 tracts covering 1.6 million acres. This is a key step that puts us on track to have a lease sale in the 1002 Area as soon as January 2021, Murkowski said. While we face headwinds, from global economic conditions to an organized effort to prevent leasing, the Department's rigorous environmental review has provided a solid framework to ensure responsible exploration and development. We are now within sight of the first-ever lease sale on the Coastal Plain, and I appreciate the continued good work of Secretary Bernhardt and his team to help us reach this point. A lease sale in ANWR's Coastal Plain will be a major step in cementing the historic progress we've made for Alaska's economic future over the past four years,Sullivan said. This development could mean thousands of jobs forhard-workingAlaskans and hundreds of thousands of barrels in daily pipeline throughput. I applaud Secretary Bernhardt and the Interior Department team for faithfully implementing the law we passed in 2017 and moving us one step closer to responsibly developing the 1002 Area for the benefit of Alaskans and the entire country. Alaskans have always been strong environmental stewards who know how to develop our resources responsibly. Securing the longtime promise of development on ANWR's Coastal Plain was a tremendous victory for Alaska, and this call for nominations is a critical step toward a lease sale. Make no mistake: the voices that want to lock away Alaska from development are only growing louderand less Alaskan. There is light at the end of the tunnel in our fight, and the time is now to finally achieve what was promised by ANILCA four decades ago. As we approach the day where the first drilling rigs arrive and crude starts flowing, I will continue working to ensure that Alaska is front and center as we blaze the trail towardcontinuedAmerican energy dominance, Young said. BLM's Call for Nominations will officially appear in the Federal Register tomorrow. It will be open for 30 days, until December 17, 2020. During that time, members of the public can nominate tracts within the program area for potential inclusion in the upcoming lease sale. The lease sale itself will require 30 additional days of notice before it can be held. President Trump signed H.R. 1, theTax Cuts and Jobs Act,in December 2017. The second title of the Act authorizes the surface development of up to 2,000 federal acres of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (roughly one ten-thousandth of all of ANWR). The U.S. Geological Survey estimates this area contains 10.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. New production from the 1002 Area will refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System while creating high-paying jobs, generating revenues for the state and federal treasuries, keeping energy prices affordable for families and businesses, and strengthening national energy security. Alaska has a strong record of responsible resource development. The footprint of drilling pads on the North Slope has declined by 80 percent since the 1970s, while the reach of underground drilling has grown by 4,000 percent. The result is that less land is being used to develop resources than ever before; many modern sites cover just a few acres and are miles apart. The Central Arctic Caribou herd, which ranges throughout Prudhoe Bay, has seen its population grow for sustained periods alongside development on the North Slope. ANWR spans 19.3 million acres an area of land roughly equal in size to South Carolina in northeast Alaska. In 1980, Congress designated more than eight million acres within ANWR an area of land significantly larger than Maryland as federal wilderness as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. That same legislation set aside the 1.57-million acre Coastal Plain for petroleum exploration and potential future development, which is supported by a majority of Alaskans. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401837,Health Update from Congressman Don Young,2020-11-16,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"There has been much speculation in the media on my current condition, and I want Alaskans to know that their Congressman is alive, feeling better, and on the road to recovery. As you know, last week, I tested positive for COVID-19. Over the weekend, I was admitted to Providence Hospital for treatment and monitoring. The team at Providence did an outstanding job, and their commitment to patient care is to be commended. I have been discharged and continue recovering and working from home in Alaska. Very frankly, I had not felt this sick in a very long time, and I am grateful to everyone who has kept me in their thoughts and prayers. Unfortunately, a lot of what you may have heard about my condition was based on speculation in the media that did not respect my privacy. This is irresponsible, and I do not want any Alaskans to be scared of seeking testing or treatment out of privacy concerns. COVID-19 is a serious virus, and its recent surge in our state has made this a critical moment. I encourage all Alaskans to continue following CDC guidelines: practice social distancing; use a mask; avoid crowds whenever possible. The economy, in both Alaska and our entire nation, has been devastated by this virus. This is not just a public health emergency, but an economic crisis as well. Today, we received encouraging news that a second COVID-19 vaccine candidate has shown to be successful. This development represents tremendous potential, but we must continue looking out for one another. Fighting the spread of this virus is crucial if we are to recover. We cannot hunker down forever, but I sincerely believe that we will be successful in fighting COVID-19, so that we can restore our economic health in the present, and secure a bright future for all Alaskans; our children and grandchildren are depending on us. Stay safe, and may God Bless Alaska and our frontline workers. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/one-step-closer-interior-issues-call-for-nominations-for-first-lease-sale-in-alaskas-coastal-plain,One Step Closer: Interior Issues Call for Nominations for First Lease Sale in Alaska’s Coastal Plain,2020-11-16,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it will issue a Call for Nominations for tracts to be offered in the first lease sale in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The Call for Nominations follows the administration’s Record of Decision in August and will include 32 tracts covering 1.6 million acres. “This is a key step that puts us on track to have a lease sale in the 1002 Area as soon as January 2021,” Murkowski said. “While we face headwinds, from global economic conditions to an organized effort to prevent leasing, the Department’s rigorous environmental review has provided a solid framework to ensure responsible exploration and development. We are now within sight of the first-ever lease sale on the Coastal Plain, and I appreciate the continued good work of Secretary Bernhardt and his team to help us reach this point.” “A lease sale in ANWR’s Coastal Plain will be a major step in cementing the historic progress we’ve made for Alaska’s economic future over the past four years,” Sullivan said. “This development could mean thousands of jobs for hard-working Alaskans and hundreds of thousands of barrels in daily pipeline throughput. I applaud Secretary Bernhardt and the Interior Department team for faithfully implementing the law we passed in 2017 and moving us one step closer to responsibly developing the 1002 Area for the benefit of Alaskans and the entire country."" “Alaskans have always been strong environmental stewards who know how to develop our resources responsibly. Securing the longtime promise of development on ANWR's Coastal Plain was a tremendous victory for Alaska, and this call for nominations is a critical step toward a lease sale. Make no mistake: the voices that want to lock away Alaska from development are only growing louder and less Alaskan. There is light at the end of the tunnel in our fight, and the time is now to finally achieve what was promised by ANILCA four decades ago. As we approach the day where the first drilling rigs arrive and crude starts flowing, I will continue working to ensure that Alaska is front and center as we blaze the trail toward continued American energy dominance,” Young said. BLM’s Call for Nominations will officially appear in the Federal Register tomorrow. It will be open for 30 days, until December 17, 2020. During that time, members of the public can nominate tracts within the program area for potential inclusion in the upcoming lease sale. The lease sale itself will require 30 additional days of notice before it can be held. President Trump signed H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, in December 2017. The second title of the Act authorizes the surface development of up to 2,000 federal acres of the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (roughly one ten-thousandth of all of ANWR). The U.S. Geological Survey estimates this area contains 10.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. New production from the 1002 Area will refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System while creating high-paying jobs, generating revenues for the state and federal treasuries, keeping energy prices affordable for families and businesses, and strengthening national energy security. Alaska has a strong record of responsible resource development. The footprint of drilling pads on the North Slope has declined by 80 percent since the 1970s, while the reach of underground drilling has grown by 4,000 percent. The result is that less land is being used to develop resources than ever before; many modern sites cover just a few acres and are miles apart. The Central Arctic Caribou herd, which ranges throughout Prudhoe Bay, has seen its population grow for sustained periods alongside development on the North Slope. ANWR spans 19.3 million acres – an area of land roughly equal in size to South Carolina – in northeast Alaska. In 1980, Congress designated more than eight million acres within ANWR – an area of land significantly larger than Maryland – as federal wilderness as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. That same legislation set aside the 1.57-million acre Coastal Plain for petroleum exploration and potential future development, which is supported by a majority of Alaskans. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/appropriations-bills-for-fiscal-year-2021-unveiled,Appropriations Bills for Fiscal Year 2021 Unveiled,2020-11-12,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.12.20 Appropriations Bills for Fiscal Year 2021 Unveiled This week the Appropriations Committee released all twelve of its Fiscal Year 2021 draft funding bills. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, where she is the Chairman of the Interior and Environment Subcommittee. Our full Committee and subcommittees worked hard on these bills as it's critically important that we fund agencies and programs vital to Americans and our communities. Senator Murkowski said. As Americans grapple with the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, having a full-year funding agreement signed into law will bring much needed fiscal certainty at a time when Alaskans and all Americans need their government to function smoothly. Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food & Drug Administration Bill Text Explanatory Statement Commerce, Justice, Science Bill Text Explanatory Statement Defense Bill Text Explanatory Statement Energy and Water Development Bill Text Explanatory Statement Financial Services and General Government Bill Text Explanatory Statement Homeland Security Bill Text Explanatory Statement Interior and Environment [Note: Senator Murkowski is chairman of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee. Click here for bill highlights.] Bill Text Explanatory Statement Labor, Health & Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Bill Text Explanatory Statement Legislative Branch Bill Text Explanatory Statement Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Bill Text Explanatory Statement State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Bill Text Explanatory Statement Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Bill Text Explanatory Statement Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-honors-american-veterans,Murkowski Honors American Veterans,2020-11-11,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.11.20 Murkowski Honors American Veterans It doesn't take a big ceremony or long speeches to honor those who have dedicated their life in service to America' U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) shared the following message with Alaskans on Veterans Day: (Click here to watch Murkowski's video message.) To all of you on Veterans Day, this year is different as many of our Veterans Day ceremonies are cancelled or as we follow new guidance due to COVID-19. But it doesn't take a big ceremony or long speeches to honor those who have dedicated their life in service to America. Whether you're attending an in-person event, joining a virtual celebration, or offering a simple thank you' to a veteran, I encourage everyone to find their own way to honor the brave men and women who have answered the call to serve. They have sacrificed their safety, their time, and so much more in the name of America's freedom and protection. Close to 70,000 veterans live among us in Alaska, more veterans per capita than any other state70,000 men and women who have shown commitment, strength, and perseverance for the sake of the freedoms we enjoy. We honor them for their devotion to duty, both to Alaska and to our great nation. Today and every day we pay tribute to all our veterans who have fought and served honorablywhether in times of war or in times of peace. You are our heroes. Thank you. Click here for Senator Murkowski's legislative efforts in support of veterans during the 116th Congress. Related Issues: Veterans Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401836,Delegations Landless Legislation Rectifies 50-Year Injustice,2020-11-10,2020,2020-11,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, andRep.Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued statements on new legislation they introduced to allow the Alaska Native communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Tenakee to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). The five Southeast communities were not included in ANCSA, which divided 44 million acres of land among more than 200 regional, village, and urban corporations to resolve land claims throughout Alaska. Thedelegation's new bill entitled the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act would amend ANCSA to provide each community with the right to form an Alaska Native Urban Corporation and receive 23,040 acres, or one township, of federal landjust as ANCSA granted to other Southeast Native communities 50 years ago. The identity of Alaska's first people is inextricably tied to the land they have inhabited for centuries, Murkowski said. For five decades, these five landless communities have sought the same benefits ANCSA granted to other Alaska Natives throughout Southeast. This is a matter of equity. Our new legislation will help correct this historical wrong. It is simply a matter of fairness that the five landless' Alaska Native communities in Southeast have the same access to land that other communities received following the historic enactment of ANCSA, Sullivan said. Our legislation directs the federal government to make good on its promises to the indigenous communities that were excluded from this seminal agreement, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to help them understand the unique importance of this bill to the people of my state. For too long, the so-called 'landless' Alaska Natives, from the communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, have been denied the land and local resources that other village and urban corporations received under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971, Young said. Very frankly, this was an error that should have never happened, and I have always fought to secure the recognition that these communities deserve. Access to land is crucial, and will help bring economic opportunity and upward mobility to the Alaska Natives in Southeast. I am very proud to introduce the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act. Just as we have with Alaska Native communities across our state, this bill would finally amend ANCSA to provide each landless community with the right to form an Alaska Native Urban Corporation, making them eligible to receive 23,040 acres of federal land. I am grateful to have Senators Murkowski and Sullivan as partners in this important initiative, and I sincerely appreciate the extensive input and engagement from stakeholders in Southeast. Securing a better tomorrow for Alaska Natives starts with ensuring fair treatment under law, and Alaskans can count on me to work hard to get this bill across the finish line. We are at a unique time in our history, as the United States comes to a collective reckoning of its past, while socially and institutionally reforming to rebuild its present, said Cecilia Tavoliero, Petersburg landless shareholder and president of the Southeast Alaska Landless Corporation, the nonprofit coalition of the five landless communities fighting for recognition. As we rebuild, Alaska Natives Without Land is fighting for Indigenous land rights for the descendants of the ancient villages of the Southeast Alaskan communities known today as Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee Springs and Wrangell. Sullivan and Murkowski filed the measure in the Senate earlier today, and Young will introduce it Thursday, when the House is back in session. There is no consensus on why the five communities were left out of ANCSA, but a congressionally-directed 1994studyby the University of Alaska's Institute of Social and Economic Research found that the examined history of the five communities showed strong similarities to other communities in the region that were granted corporations under ANCSA. The new legislation is the result of extensive and ongoing outreach to stakeholders in Southeast Alaska. Unlike previous measures, it identifies specific parcels of land that would be conveyed to the new urban corporations, which are depicted on official maps produced by the U.S. Forest Service. The legislation also includes detailed terms to protect many existing uses of those lands and to ensure that reasonable public access can continue. To read the legislation, clickhere. To see the Forest Service's maps, clickhere.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/delegations-landless-legislation-rectifies-50-year-injustice,Delegations Landless Legislation Rectifies 50-Year Injustice,2020-11-10,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.10.20 Delegation's Landless Legislation Rectifies 50-Year Injustice Bill Would Provide Lands and Rights Under ANCSA to Five Southeast Native Communities U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, andRep.Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued statements on new legislation they introduced to allow the Alaska Native communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Tenakee to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). The five Southeast communities were not included in ANCSA, which divided 44 million acres of land among more than 200 regional, village, and urban corporations to resolve land claims throughout Alaska. Thedelegation's new bill entitled the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act would amend ANCSA to provide each community with the right to form an Alaska Native Urban Corporation and receive 23,040 acres, or one township, of federal landjust as ANCSA granted to other Southeast Native communities 50 years ago. The identity of Alaska's first people is inextricably tied to the land they have inhabited for centuries, Murkowski said. For five decades, these five landless communities have sought the same benefits ANCSA granted to other Alaska Natives throughout Southeast. This is a matter of equity. Our new legislation will help correct this historical wrong. It is simply a matter of fairness that the five landless' Alaska Native communities in Southeast have the same access to land that other communities received following the historic enactment of ANCSA, Sullivan said. Our legislation directs the federal government to make good on its promises to the indigenous communities that were excluded from this seminal agreement, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to help them understand the unique importance of this bill to the people of my state. For too long, the so-called 'landless' Alaska Natives, from the communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, have been denied the land and local resources that other village and urban corporations received under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971, Young said. Very frankly, this was an error that should have never happened, and I have always fought to secure the recognition that these communities deserve. Access to land is crucial, and will help bring economic opportunity and upward mobility to the Alaska Natives in Southeast. I am very proud to introduce the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act. Just as we have with Alaska Native communities across our state, this bill would finally amend ANCSA to provide each landless community with the right to form an Alaska Native Urban Corporation, making them eligible to receive 23,040 acres of federal land. I am grateful to have Senators Murkowski and Sullivan as partners in this important initiative, and I sincerely appreciate the extensive input and engagement from stakeholders in Southeast. Securing a better tomorrow for Alaska Natives starts with ensuring fair treatment under law, and Alaskans can count on me to work hard to get this bill across the finish line. We are at a unique time in our history, as the United States comes to a collective reckoning of its past, while socially and institutionally reforming to rebuild its present, said Cecilia Tavoliero, Petersburg landless shareholder and president of the Southeast Alaska Landless Corporation, the nonprofit coalition of the five landless communities fighting for recognition. As we rebuild, Alaska Natives Without Land is fighting for Indigenous land rights for the descendants of the ancient villages of the Southeast Alaskan communities known today as Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee Springs and Wrangell. Sullivan and Murkowski filed the measure in the Senate earlier today, and Young will introduce it Thursday, when the House is back in session. There is no consensus on why the five communities were left out of ANCSA, but a congressionally-directed 1994studyby the University of Alaska's Institute of Social and Economic Research found that the examined history of the five communities showed strong similarities to other communities in the region that were granted corporations under ANCSA. The new legislation is the result of extensive and ongoing outreach to stakeholders in Southeast Alaska. Unlike previous measures, it identifies specific parcels of land that would be conveyed to the new urban corporations, which are depicted on official maps produced by the U.S. Forest Service. The legislation also includes detailed terms to protect many existing uses of those lands and to ensure that reasonable public access can continue. To read the legislation, click here. To see the Forest Service's maps, click here. Related Issues: Energy, Alaska Natives & Rural Alaska Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-unveils-interior-environment-bill-,Murkowski Unveils Interior-Environment Bill,2020-11-10,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.10.20 Murkowski Unveils Interior-Environment Bill Prioritizing Health, Safety, and Well-being of Alaskans Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released her Fiscal Year 2021 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act bill. The Committee is responsible for funding agencies that are tasked with ensuring clean water and clean air, managing public lands, meeting federal trust responsibilities for Native peoples, and funding cultural agencies and museums. As chairman of the Interior Subcommittee, Murkowski crafted a bill with funding to strengthen local economies and create safer and healthier communities. For Alaskans, this Interior bill means cleaner air and water, as well as safer and healthier communities. Through my work on this bill we are prioritizing the need to protect our people, our water, and our lands. As we continue to navigate the detrimental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, this bill will help to create an economic boost and opportunities for communities across Alaska, Senator Murkowski said. I look forward to working with my colleagues to finalize our work and have a bill signed into law that will bring much needed fiscal certainty at a time when Alaskans and all Americans need it most. Click here for the bill text. Click here for the explanatory statement. Investing in Communities The Interior bill fully funds the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program at $515 million. The PILT program provides monetary compensation to local governments throughout Alaska that contain federal lands that are not subject to state or local taxation. The revenue helps local governments provide vital services, such as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations. As the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) serve a vital role in Alaska, bill fulfills the federal promises made to Alaska Natives by allocating full funding for Contract Support Costs, the operational costs of tribes to deliver services including federal Indian health programs. The bill provides dedicated funding for 105 (l) tribal lease payments and maintains support for Village Built Clinics. These clinics are the backbone of Alaska's rural health program and are often the only source of medical care available to Alaskans in rural areas, as well as provide support for infrastructure improvements through Small Ambulatory Clinics. The bill prioritizes infrastructure improvements on our nation's public lands, which is key to both local visitors and the tourism sector. The bill provides the NPS with an additional $71 million to address critical operations in our nation's parks. The bill also includes funding for Forest Service (FS) recreation access including cabins, trails, and campgrounds and provides resources to help expand recreation-based businesses to operate in the Chugach and Tongass National Forests in Alaska. In addition, the bill directs the FS to continue workforce initiatives in the Tongass National Forest and create economic opportunities for Alaska's Southeast region. Creating Safer Communities Native American women face high rates of violence and the lack of data on the number of women and girls who go missing or murdered further complicates the Nation's ability to address this crisis. An additional $6 million is included for Missing, Tracked, and Murdered Indigenous Women initiatives, with funding specifically for cold cases, equipment, and to support the goals of the Operation Lady Justice Task Force. The bill also provides for domestic violence prevention initiatives, specific VAWA tribal court needs, and to help communities develop tribal court systems. The bill also provides funding for important programs that help emergency responders respond to natural hazards and inform the public. Funding for the earthquake hazards program will help states like Alaska develop and enhance earthquake monitoring capabilities. Support for wildfire prevention and suppression efforts work to help reduce the risk of wildfires. In addition, the bill provides for data collection and landslide hazard assessments in Alaska's Prince William Sound area. Prioritizing Healthier Communities The bill provides robust funding to improve wastewater and drinking water systems through EPA programs which help bring basic water and sewer infrastructure to communities including increased funds for the improvement of existing water systems and sanitation facilities, along with training, in Native Villages. The bill addresses PFAS contamination by providing funding which support state-led cleanup and remediation efforts of PFAS contaminated water sources, water systems, and lands as well as increased funding for USGS for testing and mapping of PFAS contamination. The bill also recognizes the importance of the world-class Bristol Bay ecosystem and concurs with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' [Corps] assessment of August 24, 2020, that the Pebble mine project in southwest Alaska, as proposed, cannot be permitted under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Federal agencies should deny the permit for the project if Pebble Limited Partnership is unable to provide a full and functional compensatory mitigation plan that meets all requirements within the Corps' requested 90-day timeframe. Furthermore, the bill provides funding for preliminary appraisal and valuation work for potential land acquisitions and exchanges in high-priority conservation areas, such as the Bristol Bay ecosystem. The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee controls funding levels for federal agencies and departments including the Department of the Interior (DOI), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Forest Service (FS), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and Indian Health Service (IHS), as well as NEH, NEA, and the Smithsonian Institution (SI). Related Issues: Alaska Natives & Rural Alaska, Health, Budget, Spending, and the National Debt",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-welcomes-court-ruling-declaring-ge-salmon-unlawful,Murkowski Welcomes Court Ruling Declaring GE Salmon Unlawful,2020-11-06,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.06.20 Murkowski Welcomes Court Ruling Declaring GE Salmon Unlawful U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after a US District Court Judge for the Northern District of California ruled yesterday the Food and Drug Administration violated core environmental laws in approving the genetically engineered (GE) salmon: The impacts that genetically engineered salmon could have on Alaskans, our commercial fishing industry, and seafood consumers all over the world are concerning, and, as this ruling found, understudied. Yesterday's court ruling is welcome news. It confirms the FDA's decision to allow GE salmon to be produced in different locations across North America was in violation of the law, and did not consider the potential for severe consequences on nature's best brain food wild salmon. I have introduced legislation for years identifying these exact flaws within FDA's wholly inadequate assessment of the threat GE salmon poses to wild salmon stocks. I'm glad the court has caught up with my reasoning and recognized the concerns raised by many Alaskans about GE salmon. Background: In the 116th Congress, Senator Murkowski introduced the Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act to ensure that any GE salmon products in the U.S. market are clearly labeled genetically engineered in the market name. In the year-end Fiscal Year 2020 funding bill, Senator Murkowski secured a provision which requires the market name of any genetically engineered product approved prior to the effective date of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard to include the term genetically engineered. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/icymi-vaccine-discussion-with-senator-murkowski-and-alaska-chief-medical-officer-dr-zink-in-light-of-covid-19-and-flu-season,ICYMI: Vaccine Discussion with Senator Murkowski and Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Zink in Light of COVID-19 and Flu Season,2020-11-05,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.05.20 ICYMI: Vaccine Discussion with Senator Murkowski and Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Zink in Light of COVID-19 and Flu Season Just like winter, COVID, if we plan and prepare to mitigate it, we will be safer In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) held a virtual discussion with Alaska's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anne Zink, last week to discuss vaccines and the important role of seasonal influenza vaccinations as Alaskans continue to face the health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. They covered everything from efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the need for preventing a bad flu season, Alaskan concerns regarding vaccines, and efforts to prepare for a COVID-19 vaccine. Click here for video of their entire discussion. Dr. Zink first provided an update on current state of play of COVID-19 in Alaska and explained the importance of Alaskans working together to slow the spread, particularly as the winter flu season approaches. COVID fatigue is real and we are seeing that across our state and we are seeing cases rise because of it. So as we are really facing a very challenging time in our state right now we need to remember that prevention works, that masks work, that distance works, and we need to do it collectively. There's no one magic answer. It's a series of tools that we use in collection to really slow the spread. There's no one policy, no one person, no one thing that's going to make this go away. It's going to be all Alaskans working together, said Dr. Zink. The important message with us right now is to recognize that the protocols and the guidance haven't changed, said Senator Murkowski. Our numbers are not where we want them to be. In fact we are going in a direction that all of us had hoped we wouldn't see. The outbreaks that we are seeing in rural Alaska right now are quite concerning to all of us, because we recognize that we have much more limited capacity out there and you also have vulnerabilities among Alaska Native peoples that also present other challenges. Senator Murkowski then asked Dr. Zink what advice she's giving to those in rural areas of Alaska versus urban areas. Dr. Zink responded, I think some things have to be different. If you don't have running water and sewer it's hard to say wash your hands in the same way. And so I think we need to recognize the challenges and limitations. If you have 15 people living in two rooms, it's hard to say stay in your own separate place.' There are just physical limitations that are there. I think the big things that I would say is that many of our rural communities have really been able to slow the spread by quarantining before people come in and testing before people come in, but those restrictions on travel are not sufficient. They're not alone enough. No one single thing is going to protect it. And we need to create kind of speed bumps, or potholes, in the road of COVID to slow things down. Senator Murkowski asked Dr. Zink to discuss why this year with the COVID-19 pandemic upon us coupled with the seasonal influenza, it's more important than ever for Alaskans who are able, to receive a flu vaccine. Dr. Zink explained how while we work to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we also need to minimize the flu. Dr. Zink said, We also have really limited healthcare capacity in Alaska. And if you've ever had to wait in the emergency department for an admission, if you've ever had to be transferred to another hospital, you know what that means. You know that we have limited capacity. Just yesterday we had no ICU beds in Mat-Su and five in Anchorage, both overall. So we are full, we are really full right now. Only just about 8% are COVID related, but still we have limited capacity. The flu vaccine decreases your chance of needing ICU care by 83%. So when we talk about those beds and the needs to keep those beds open, the flu vaccine is an important tool to minimize your chance of needing hospitalization or potentially dying, for you. And it also minimizes the chance that we could spread it to others. We recognize it is not 100 percent effective but what you're sharing is that, while it might not keep you from getting the flu, how you respond to that flu virus is going to be easier for you to get through it if you had had the flu vaccine, Murkowski responded. This is one way that we can stop the spread of that but if you do get it, your reaction will typically be less severe, less difficult, less complicated. Dr. Zink stressed that while a vaccine is another tool to minimize risks, we always need to be supporting our immune systemincluding mental healthensuring your immune system is strong and robust. Senator Murkowski prompted Dr. Zink to address vaccine hesitancy and explain concerns from Alaskans on whether or not the flu vaccine would make someone sick. On the issue of child vaccinations, Murkowski cited that Alaska ranks at the bottom of the nation on percentage of those who have received their vaccinations. Murkowski explained, I supposed you can say that some of it is related to access, some of it is related to not being in a position to have good information about vaccines, but I'd like to hear from your perspective as we think about children's vaccinations and the importance of children getting their vaccines, not only to protect them but to protect others, whatever the outbreak may be. I can totally understand the reason for vaccine hesitancy in so many ways. And I think even just as a parent the balance that I had to remind myself, and not every parent has this advantage, is seeing kids in the emergency department struggling to breathe because of influenza, because of other vaccine preventable diseases. And having parents say to me I would do anything to have protected my kid and I didn't realize that I hadn't protected them.' And I never wanted to be in that situation. And until you see your child suffering and struggling, it's miserable. And so you know, my kid is going to throw a temper tantrum if I take away that candy, but it's going to be the right thing for them. My kid might cry when I poke them when they get their vaccine but it's the right thing to do to protect their health and the health of the community. There's probably no single thing that we do in medicine that has been as well studied as well as so effective as vaccines, except for maybe clean water. And so I think making sure we have clean water is a hugely important thing, but after that vaccines are probably next up there. We have been so successful at suppressing these diseases, so we don't see them and we don't see the risk of them. And it's because we don't see and feel that risk that it's hard to see the need for prevention, said Dr. Zink. Senator Murkowski then turned to efforts underway for a COVID-19 vaccine. We've got Operation Warp Speed that's moving forward to try to advance a vaccine quickly, but to do it safely. And again, to the issue of vaccine hesitancy, if people think that this vaccine has been too rushed, if it is not safe, there's going to be kind of a wait and see. And if what we're really trying to do is arrest this COVID virus, then a safe, effective vaccine is going to be important, but making sure that people take that vaccine is going to be a priority, said Murkowski. The vaccine and process toward a vaccine has become viewed as political. It should never be political. It should be a matter of science and research and the best and most brilliant minds coming together really designing a vaccine to save lives. Murkowski spoke to her efforts in Congress to make sure that through the vaccine development process there's increased transparency, helping boost public trust to help reassure Americans when a vaccine is available, that it is safe. Murkowski then asked Dr. Zink to speak to how Alaska is preparing for a future COVID-19 vaccine. It has to be safe, that's the number one thing. And then advantageous, it needs to work. And like we talk about the flu, it doesn't have to work perfectly to be useful and that's okay. There may be some additional steps that need to be taken in combination, but we want to make sure that it is number one safe and then number two, advantageous. It is very reassuring to see that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have completed their enrollment. They have also completed their enrollment with a diverse population, including many people who have underlying health factors for COVID, so that's great to see. It's really important, said Dr. Zink. And from the state perspective we are preparing and being ready to vaccinate and move out quickly once that vaccine is available. We've set up essentially almost like a department for vaccination, we have 8 subgroups and we're doing it in parallel with ANTHC. While we know that Alaska Native population is 15 percent of our population, 50 percent of our test sights are run via some type of tribal entity. Many of our rural communities, that's just where people get care and how people get care and the same will be true of vaccines. And so having a really close partnership there, particularly as we're thinking about really complex distribution ultra-cold storage, cold storage, timing, multiple vaccine, all of these challenges on the logistics endwe want to make sure the logistics isn't the limiting factor and that we're able to rapidly get vaccines out to those who want it. Related Issues: COVID-19 Resource Page, Health",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401833,Alaska Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following De-Listing of the Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act,2020-10-30,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Alaska Congressman Don Young Issues Statement Following De-Listing of the Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act Washington, October 30, 2020 Washington, D.C. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the successful recovery and subsequent de-listing of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Following their de-listing, state and tribal wildlife management agencies will resume responsibility for sustainable management and protection of gray wolves in states with gray wolf populations. After the announcement, Alaska Congressman Don Young issued the following statement: ""The people are always the best stewards of their land, and very frankly, Alaskans know that better than anyone. The de-listing of the gray wolf re-affirms that state, local, and tribal governments in the Lower 48 should bear responsibility for hunting, fishing, and wildlife management. As Congress intended, wildlife management under the Endangered Species Act should be based on sound science. It has been well-established that unchecked gray wolf populations jeopardize the balance of our ecosystem. Unless properly managed, gray wolves threaten caribou, moose, elk, and other wildlife populations. I am very pleased that President Trump has shifted the gray wolf's management to state and tribal organizations. Restoring local powers has always been one of my highest priorities, and I will continue working in Congress and with the Administration to ensure that the people are trusted to make decisions for themselves, said Young. More information can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-applauds-usgs-funding-to-improve-earthquake-monitoring-and-response-in-alaska-,Murkowski Applauds USGS Funding to Improve Earthquake Monitoring and Response in Alaska,2020-10-30,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.30.20 Murkowski Applauds USGS Funding to Improve Earthquake Monitoring and Response in Alaska The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently announced an award of $2.85 million to the Alaska Earthquake Center at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks to support operations of the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS), including stations received from the National Science Foundation USArray. When an earthquake strikes, the ANSS a collaboration between regional, state, and academic institutes and the USGS works to collect and analyze real-time data, and distribute information to the local government, emergency responders, media, and the public. Year-after-year, in her role as Chairman of the U.S. Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has secured funding to support the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. For Alaskans, earthquakes are a part of life. But the destruction caused by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that took place in Alaska in November of 2018 was a stark reminder that our efforts to improve earthquake research, monitoring, and real-time date is imperative. This funding will play a critical role in supporting ANSS and the University of Alaska-Fairbanks in their efforts to reduce the impacts of earthquakes in Alaska as well as to keep the public informed and prepared in the face of disaster, said Senator Murkowski. In my role as Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I've worked hard to secure funding to support efforts to help develop and enhance earthquake monitoring capabilities, including the purchase of seismic monitors that are part of the USArray. I'm proud to have played a role in securing funding which helped make this announcement possible and thank the USGS for prioritizing the needs of Alaskans. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/senate-and-house-introduce-accelerating-access-to-critical-therapies-for-als-act,Senate and House introduce Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act,2020-10-30,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.30.20 Senate and House introduce Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act Early access to promising treatments offers new hope in fight against ALS and improved infrastructure for neurodegenerative disease drug development This week, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) along with Representatives Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) and Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) introduced an updated version of ACT for ALS,Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act, in the United States Senate and House of Representatives. The two new pieces of legislation, S.4867in the Senate and H.R.8662in the House, create new pathways for faster and broader access to therapies for those most in need, including those facing a fatal disease like ALS. For years I've been working with the ALS community to help increase research opportunities and ensure those living with this deadly disease have the support they need. We've made progress, but even with promising treatments in clinical trials, patients unable to enroll in those research studies unfortunately have very few options for treatment. Through a new pilot grant program, as well as other additional funding, this bipartisan legislation will help address barriers to utilizing the current expanded access pathway, while also broadly supporting the development of ALS treatments. As someone whose family has been personally impacted by ALS, I'm proud to help Senator Coons lead this effort,said Senator Lisa Murkowski. ""We must do all we can to support thetens of thousandsof Americansimpacted byALS, aterrible diseasewithout a cure.ACTfor ALS will expand early treatment options and support the cutting-edge research needed to improve quality of life and find a cure. Weshouldtake steps to facilitate access to new therapies, drug treatments, and medical breakthroughsto aid Americans who sufferfromALS orotherforms of neurodegenerative disease,said Senator Chris Coons. ""This new legislation represents a monumental shift for those suffering from ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.It breaks the paradigm of disease research and creates a new pathway to deliver promising treatments.With this new law, we can break through faster for those who have suffered so much,said Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. ""For too long, ALS and diseases like it have gone under researched and under resourced at the federal level. That changes today. The new ACT for ALS bill is the product of intense engagement over many months and is our best opportunity in decades to disrupt the status quo, move the ball forward, and expedite treatment options for those living with terminal illnesses like ALS. I've been so proud to work alongside a diverse group of stakeholderspatients, advocates, scientists, researchers and doctors, both in and outside of government to produce a bold, bipartisan piece of legislation that offers new hope to those suffering from ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases with few treatments and no cures. I want to thank my partner in this effort, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, and all those who worked with us to improve this legislation, and I am honored to give voice to the ALS patient community, without whom this effort would simply not be possible,said Congressman Mike Quigley. The revised ACT for ALS addresses several challenges associated with ALS therapeutic development.First, ALS clinical trials do not always employ expanded access programs that facilitate access to experimental treatments outside of the trial.This legislation tackles the financial barrier for therapies being tested from small biopharmaceutical companies by creating a grant program that funds access to investigational ALS treatments to patients not participating in the clinical trial. Additionally, the grant will fund a research project as part of providing expanded access to people living with ALS, adding to the understanding of how treatments impact the disease. The revised legislation also invests in neurodegenerative disease research through a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Rare Neurodegenerative Disease Grant Program. With this investment, Congress prioritizes making progress in the development of treatments and cures for ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, ACT for ALS would establish an HHS Collaborative for Neurodegenerative Diseases jointly led by the FDA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the first federal effort explicitly charged with the responsibility to speed the development and approval of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. This collaborative is charged with coordinating efforts across the public and private sector to accelerate therapeutic development and regulatory review of treatments and cures for ALS and neurodegenerative diseases, including: Coordination among the centers of the Food and Drug Administration to achieve the goals specified in the draft guidance entitled Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Developing Drugs for Treatment Guidance for Industry, published in September 2019; Facilitation of access to investigational drugs for ALS; Definition or development of the regulatory and translational pathway for emerging therapeuticcategories; and Development and implementation of an ongoing mechanism to share feedback and information and develop strategies with the neurodegenerative disease community, including patients, treating physicians, national organizations that facilitate provision of care services, access andresearch, researchers, drug sponsors, drug manufacturers and Federal agencies. The bills have the full support and coordination of three leading ALS organizations in I AM ALS, The ALS Association and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The revised ACT for ALS addresses several challenges associated with ALS therapeutic development. We made a commitment at the start of 2020 to firmly stand behind this legislation and the drive to make it a reality for ALS patients waiting for critical, needed treatments. This bill will provide additional opportunities to access promising ALS therapies and create a collaborative focused squarely on expediting development and approval of new ALS treatments and cures. We now look forward to working with the community and Congressional leaders to take one more step toward changing the course of history as we end ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases,I AM ALS CEO Danielle Carnival, PhD,said. ""The strengthenedAccelerating Access to Critical Therapies (ACT) for ALS Actcould betransformativefor the ALS community. It will help provide effective treatments for everyone living with ALS today, and expanded access to experimental ones. Itcreates thefirst federalentityexplicitlychargedwith finding effective treatments for ALS as quickly as possible. We thank Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE),Mike Quigley (D-IL)and Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE) and LisaMurkowski (R-AK)for introducing this bill to meet these goals,stated Neil Thakur, PhD, The ALS Association Chief Mission Officer. ""The introduction of a strengthened ACT for ALS represents a substantial step forward in the effort to bring safe, effective, and innovative new treatments to the ALS community. We are proud to endorse this bill, and in coordination with the ALS patient community, we call on Congress to pass this legislation as soon as possible,saidKristin Stephenson, EVP, Chief Advocacy and Care Services Officer, Muscular Dystrophy Association. Link to Senate Bill:https://bit.ly/34GW6ou Link to House Bill:https://bit.ly/37POqlG BACKGROUND: Related Issues: Health",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401824,Alaska Delegation Proposes US-Canada Border Crossing Solutions,2020-10-29,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"In an effort to address US-Canada border crossing issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Congressman Don Young, and Governor Mike Dunleavy (all R-AK) sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, raising issues severely impacting Alaskans. In their letter, the Alaska Delegation highlighted specific, persisting challenges impacting the health and safety of Alaskans and proposed reasonable solutions. As we continue to work together to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, to keep our residents and citizens safe and healthy, we appreciate the consideration for reasonable land crossing exceptions for essential travel between Alaska and the contiguous United States through your country. The Delegation explained that each year Alaskans, many elderly and with medical conditions, journey south, traveling through Canada to the contiguous United States, in order to be closer to comprehensive medical facilities better equipped to address their healthcare needs in addition to being in a warmer climate, which is easier on their health. Such travel is currently considered non-essential according to Canada's cross-border travel restrictions. In addition, the Delegation raised the unique circumstance of residents in Hyder, Alaska who are being impacted by current border closures. For example, the only grocery store in the region is located in nearby Stewart, British Columbia, and Hyder children typically attend the nearby Canadian schools. While there are many more individual instances of travel restrictions impacting daily lives, we highlight these two as some of the most pressing issues, but ones for which we think there are reasonable solutions to ensure the safety and health of both Canadians and Alaskans alike. We all agree that we must remain vigilant against the threats to the health and wellbeing of our people that COVID-19 has created. We have at-risk Alaskans who will soon be unable to complete their journey south by road due to snow and difficult winter conditions. We have Alaskans and Canadians, neighbors and families, separated by a single border post, unable to connect and collectively bear the burdens these global conditions have imposed on them. The Delegation proposed the following solutions, which would allow Alaskans to move forward with necessary travel while protecting Canadians from additional exposure to COVID-19: Allow an exception for non-discretionary, essential travel permitting Alaskans to transit south for the winter. This includes supporting a requirement that each Alaskan allowed to travel must present a negative COVID-19 test prior to transiting through Canada. Ease the current travel restrictions and grant a travel bubble to Hyder and Stewart, allowing residents to visit family and access essential supplies, schooling, medical care, religious services and other essential functions for these two highly-integrated, and very isolated communities. Click herefor the Alaska Delegation letter, which is also below. Dear Prime Minister, We write to you as a united delegation from Alaska, the state with the most extensive shared border with Canada, to bring to your attention some specific issues severely impacting our constituents as the border crossing restrictions due to COVID-19 continue. Thank you, and your Canadian colleagues, for the high level of support and understanding in regard to the unique travel needs between our shared borders. As we continue to work together to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, to keep our residents and citizens safe and healthy, we appreciate the consideration for reasonable land crossing exceptions for essential travel between Alaska and the contiguous United States through your country. The purpose of this letter is to highlight some of those challenges which persist, but for which we believe, through working together, we can find reasonable solutions in a safe and healthy manner. Canadians and Alaskans alike know that winter will soon be upon us. Each year, Alaskans, many elderly and with medical conditions, pack up their vehicles and journey south to the contiguous United States. They travel south because Alaska's winter can be harsh, complicating underlying medical conditions. Their winter homes in the Lower 48 are closer to comprehensive medical facilities which are better equipped to address their healthcare needs. There, they can receive ongoing care in a warmer climate that is easier on their health. A recent challenge expressed by many Alaskans trying to return to their winter homes relates to current cross-border travel restrictions, which presently consider this travel non-essential. We submit that such travel is essential for these senior citizens, as well as for the health and safety of broader populations in regions where access to healthcare is limited. We understand and appreciate the magnitude of the task facing your government. Due to our own unique challenges, Alaska was the first state in the United States to require COVID-19 testing in our airports. Early on, we made the hard decision to shut down intrastate travel to protect our rural communities. We have been relatively fortunate so far; Alaska has seen no increase in excess mortality the gold standard by which a pandemic response can be judged. Alaskan residents of the community of Hyder also face unique challenges. Hyder, Alaska, and the British Columbia community of Stewart, straddle the border of our two countries, and have been living as one community for generations. Hyder's children attend Canadian schools, and their only road connects solely to Canada. The town's utilities and grocery needs are wholly located in Stewart. Hyder and Stewart remain divided by the current border closure. Families, some facing end-of-life issues, have been separated for over half the year. Hyder residents are disallowed from visiting their family down the street in Stewart, their children barred from school. Stewart's residents can walk down the road into Hyder, but must quarantine for two weeks upon return. While there are many more individual instances of travel restrictions impacting daily lives, we highlight these two as some of the most pressing issues, but ones for which we think there are reasonable solutions to ensure the safety and health of both Canadians and Alaskans alike. We all agree that we must remain vigilant against the threats to the health and wellbeing of our people that COVID-19 has created. We have at-risk Alaskans who will soon be unable to complete their journey south by road due to snow and difficult winter conditions. We have Alaskans and Canadians, neighbors and families, separated by a single border post, unable to connect and collectively bear the burdens these global conditions have imposed on them. In recent weeks, we have had several conversations with members of your government and provided specific suggestions, which we believe, would allow Alaskans to move forward with necessary travel while protecting Canadians from additional exposure to COVID-19. These include the following: First, allow an exception for non-discretionary, essential travel permitting Alaskans to transit south for the winter. Currently, Canada has very reasonable travel requirements for land crossings, including limited time in which to move from border to border, limiting time within the vehicle, no stops except for non-recreational purposes, etc. Those restrictions reasonably limit the amount of time any Alaskan would spend transiting border crossings. We know many presently need to transit via motorhomes, further limiting their time outside the vehicle. For Alaskans wishing to travel as described above, we would support a requirement that each Alaskan allowed to travel must present a negative COVID-19 test prior to transiting through Canada. This is currently a requirement that the State of Alaska has in place for all out-of-state air travelers, including Alaskans returning to the state, and is a reasonable requirement for non-residents. Alaskans currently have many means of access to free COVID-19 testing; therefore, we do not believe this would be a significant problem for such travelers. We are certain Alaskans journeying south would respect any conditions your government sets for them as they undertake passage through Canada. Second, ease the current travel restrictions and grant a travel bubble to Hyder and Stewart, allowing residents to visit family and access essential supplies, schooling, medical care, religious services and other essential functions for these two highly-integrated, and very isolated communities. We are likewise confident that residents of Hyder and Stewart would adhere to any restrictions needed to facilitate their reunification. To date, there has not been a single diagnosed case of COVID-19 in either community. The current travel restrictions are having an increasingly negative impact on these communities, and for these reasons we support the request of the residents of Hyder and Stewart to ease the current restrictions, including easing the travel quarantine requirement, in a responsible and safe way. These are starting suggestions, of course, and we are committed to working together with you, your administration, and your staff, as necessary to resolve any concerns or logistical issues. Our hope in sending this letter is to cut through the noise and bring these humanitarian issues to your attention. We each know from personal experience the many difficulties that come with managing a government during a pandemic. Our state and federal governments and our health officials stand ready to work with our Canadian neighbors and counterparts on a humane solution to these great challenges. Our collaboration thus far has been productive, and for that we thank you. Let's move forward together.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401825,Delegation: Tongass Exemption Will Help Build Sustainable Economy in Southeast Alaska,2020-10-29,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ketchikan, AlaskaU.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) published aRecord of Decision(ROD) and final rule exempting the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Roadless Rule). The Tongass is home tomanyAlaskans who want what most Americans take for grantedthe opportunity to live, work, and raise their families in the communities in which they grew up,said Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.A full exemption from the Roadless Rule means access to more affordable and renewable energy to power homes and schools, access to technology at a time when more Americans are logging online for health care and education, and access for transportation and recreation to promote jobs and economic activity in the regionall while ensuring continued good stewardship of our lands and waters. I thank the USDA and Forest Service team for recognizing that one-size-fits-all federal policies are not appropriate in Alaska, and sometimes simply do not fit at all. Alaskans in Southeast have seen their opportunity to harvest timber, advance vitalrenewableenergy and mineral projects, build basic infrastructure and connect communities stifled for too long as a result of the 2001 Roadless Rule,said Sullivan. These opportunities are finally back on the table with thefinalization today ofa full exemption for the Tongass from this overly-burdensome and out-of-touch regulation. I will always fight to take control from bureaucratic D.C. agencies and put it into the hands of Alaskans who rely on our lands to make a living and understand intimately the important balance of conservation and local economies. I commend Secretary Perdue and the administration for working closely with Alaskans throughout this process and bringing us to this historic day. This is a great day for the State of Alaska, our economy, and Alaskans' right to govern themselves,said Young. For years, I have said that the one-size-fits-all Roadless Rule was a disaster for Alaska. This Congress, I have been working closely with the President and senior White House staff to secure a Roadless Rule exemption for the Tongass. Not only has the Roadless Rule put an unconscionable economic and social burden on Southeast Alaska, it also violates ANILCA and the no more' clause by locking up land from the people of Alaska. Today's ROD is incredible news for our state and our economy, particularly in Southeast. I want to thank the Administration for working with me, our Congressional Delegation, Governor Dunleavy, and, most importantly, for listening to Alaskans. We know that this is the right thing to do, both for our economy and the health of our forests. I very much look forward to lifting the Roadless Rule and unleashing our state's full potential. In Congress, I will always stand up for our right to manage our own lands. In 2018, the Forest Service announced it would develop a state-specific Roadless Rule focused on the Tongass National Forest. The final rule issued today exempts the Tongass from the 2001 rule, which established sweeping prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvest on inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. The new rule responds to a petition from the State of Alaska requesting a full exemption from the 2001 rule for the Tongass, which the delegation strongly supported. The Tongass spans nearly 16.7 million acres, covering nearly all of southeast Alaska, and is home to 32 islanded communities. For decades, successive layers of federal law and regulation, including the 2001 rule, have continually restricted access needed for timber, mining, tourism, recreation, and the development of renewable resources such as hydropower. The result has been a weaker regional economy that is largely seasonal in nature, with local communities facing fewer employment opportunities and higher energy costs. The ROD and final rule represent a major milestone in the delegation's efforts to restore balance and provide greater flexibility in federal land management, including roadless management, on the Tongass. Protecting the unique roadless values within the Tongass has always been a priority and will not change under this new rule. Congress has enshrined those protections in law, designating nearly 5.7 million acres of wilderness and another 728,000 acres that are to be managed in a roadless state.When combined with national monument and other natural-settingland-use designations, more than 13million acres (nearly 80 percent) of the Tongass are already explicitly restricted from resource development or required to be managed as roadless areas. Excerpts from the Forest Service's Announcement The Tongass Forest Plan along with other conservation measures, will assure protection allowing roadless area values to prevail on the Tongass National Forest while offering additional flexibility to achieve other multiple-use benefits. Although 9.4 million acres would no longer be subject to the 2001 Roadless Rule with the final rule, only 186,000 more acres would become available for timber production, and road construction is estimated to increase Tongass-wide from 994 miles in the no-action alternative to 1,043 miles in the final rule over the next 100 years. From 2001 to 2011, the Tongass National Forest was exempt from the 2001 Roadless Rule. During this time, about 4,300 acres of [inventoried roadless areas] were entered for timber harvest and about 19 miles of roads were constructed in association of that timber harvest. Of that only 300 acres of timber harvest and 0.5 miles of road were authorized during the exemption period and the remaining timber harvest and road construction were authorized prior to the promulgation of the 2001 Roadless Rule. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401827,"Following Advocacy from Congressman Don Young, U.S. Coast Guard Dispatches Icebreaker to Alaska",2020-10-29,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, the United States Coast Guard announced that for the first time since 1984, it will send a U.S. icebreaker, the USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10), north of the Arctic Circle for an 82-day deployment in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. This announcement demonstrates the strategic importance of the Coast Guard's Arctic mission following the loss of the USCGC Healy's operational capability on August 18, 2020, due to fire. With the Healy's loss, the USCG was left with only one operational icebreaker, which underscores the Polar Security Cutter Program's importance. Recognizing the need to bolster the Coast Guard's icebreaking capability,Alaska Congressman Don Youngsent a letterto Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf, urging him to consider leasing a U.S. flagged icebreaking vessel to provide icebreaking assistance to the region until the USCGC Healy can be repaired and returned to service. Today's announcement by the Coast Guard provides a much-needed demonstration of the Coast Guard's commitment to the region, and highlights the importance of Congressman Young's continued focus on the Arctic. While not a final solution for the lack of American icebreaking capabilities, the Polar Star's mission to protect maritime sovereignty and security in the region fills a near-term critical gap in America's Arctic presence and national security posture. With more coastline than all of the states in the Union combined, Alaskans know firsthand how essential the Coast Guard's mission is for protecting our waters, defending our borders, and frequently, serving as first responders to maritime emergencies, said Congressman Don Young. The United States is an Arctic nation because of Alaska, and icebreakers are essential not only for keeping our waters safe for mariners, but also for our broader national security needs. As a longtime advocate for Arctic domain awareness, I am acutely aware of the danger posed by the absence of the USCGC Healy. I am very pleased that the Coast Guard will be sending the USCGC Polar Star to our region to help ensure safety and security. We must continue working to bolster our icebreaker fleet. Given the significant amount of time required to construct a new Polar Security Cutter, I continue being an outspoken advocate for leasing and deploying any available U.S. flagged icebreakers to defend the Arctic. This is a commonsense, practical approach that I look forward to working on with our partners in the Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard. In the meantime, I want to thank the Coast Guard for dispatching the Polar Star to the Arctic, particularly as threats from Russia and China continue to grow. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/-delegation-tongass-exemption-will-help-build-sustainable-economy-in-southeast-alaska,Delegation: Tongass Exemption Will Help Build Sustainable Economy in Southeast Alaska,2020-10-29,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.29.20 Delegation: Tongass Exemption Will Help Build Sustainable Economy in Southeast Alaska U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) published aRecord of Decision(ROD) and final rule exempting the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Roadless Rule). The Tongass is home tomanyAlaskans who want what most Americans take for grantedthe opportunity to live, work, and raise their families in the communities in which they grew up,said Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.A full exemption from the Roadless Rule means access to more affordable and renewable energy to power homes and schools, access to technology at a time when more Americans are logging online for health care and education, and access for transportation and recreation to promote jobs and economic activity in the regionall while ensuring continued good stewardship of our lands and waters. I thank the USDA and Forest Service team for recognizing that one-size-fits-all federal policies are not appropriate in Alaska, and sometimes simply do not fit at all. Alaskans in Southeast have seen their opportunity to harvest timber, advance vitalrenewableenergy and mineral projects, build basic infrastructure and connect communities stifled for too long as a result of the 2001 Roadless Rule,said Sullivan. These opportunities are finally back on the table with thefinalization today ofa full exemption for the Tongass from this overly-burdensome and out-of-touch regulation. I will always fight to take control from bureaucratic D.C. agencies and put it into the hands of Alaskans who rely on our lands to make a living and understand intimately the important balance of conservation and local economies. I commend Secretary Perdue and the administration for working closely with Alaskans throughout this process and bringing us to this historic day. This is a great day for the State of Alaska, our economy, and Alaskans' right to govern themselves,said Young. For years, I have said that the one-size-fits-all Roadless Rule was a disaster for Alaska. This Congress, I have been working closely with the President and senior White House staff to secure a Roadless Rule exemption for the Tongass. Not only has the Roadless Rule put an unconscionable economic and social burden on Southeast Alaska, it also violates ANILCA and the no more' clause by locking up land from the people of Alaska. Today's ROD is incredible news for our state and our economy, particularly in Southeast. I want to thank the Administration for working with me, our Congressional Delegation, Governor Dunleavy, and, most importantly, for listening to Alaskans. We know that this is the right thing to do, both for our economy and the health of our forests. I very much look forward to lifting the Roadless Rule and unleashing our state's full potential. In Congress, I will always stand up for our right to manage our own lands. In 2018, the Forest Service announced it would develop a state-specific Roadless Rule focused on the Tongass National Forest. The final rule issued today exempts the Tongass from the 2001 rule, which established sweeping prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvest on inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. The new rule responds to a petition from the State of Alaska requesting a full exemption from the 2001 rule for the Tongass, which the delegation strongly supported. The Tongass spans nearly 16.7 million acres, covering nearly all of southeast Alaska, and is home to 32 islanded communities. For decades, successive layers of federal law and regulation, including the 2001 rule, have continually restricted access needed for timber, mining, tourism, recreation, and the development of renewable resources such as hydropower. The result has been a weaker regional economy that is largely seasonal in nature, with local communities facing fewer employment opportunities and higher energy costs. The ROD and final rule represent a major milestone in the delegation's efforts to restore balance and provide greater flexibility in federal land management, including roadless management, on the Tongass. Protecting the unique roadless values within the Tongass has always been a priority and will not change under this new rule. Congress has enshrined those protections in law, designating nearly 5.7 million acres of wilderness and another 728,000 acres that are to be managed in a roadless state.When combined with national monument and other natural-settingland-use designations, more than 13million acres (nearly 80 percent) of the Tongass are already explicitly restricted from resource development or required to be managed as roadless areas. Excerpts from the Forest Service's Announcement The Tongass Forest Plan along with other conservation measures, will assure protection allowing roadless area values to prevail on the Tongass National Forest while offering additional flexibility to achieve other multiple-use benefits. Although 9.4 million acres would no longer be subject to the 2001 Roadless Rule with the final rule, only 186,000 more acres would become available for timber production, and road construction is estimated to increase Tongass-wide from 994 miles in the no-action alternative to 1,043 miles in the final rule over the next 100 years. From 2001 to 2011, the Tongass National Forest was exempt from the 2001 Roadless Rule. During this time, about 4,300 acres of [inventoried roadless areas] were entered for timber harvest and about 19 miles of roads were constructed in association of that timber harvest. Of that only 300 acres of timber harvest and 0.5 miles of road were authorized during the exemption period and the remaining timber harvest and road construction were authorized prior to the promulgation of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Related Issues: Energy",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-welcomes-coast-guard-heavy-icebreaker-deploying-to-the-arctic,Murkowski Welcomes Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker Deploying to the Arctic,2020-10-29,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.29.20 Murkowski Welcomes Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker Deploying to the Arctic Safeguarding Economic and National Security Interests in the Arctic Region U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announcement that the USCG's POLAR STAR, our nation's sole operational icebreaker is deploying to the Arctic. The U.S. Coast Guard announced that beginning in early December 2020, POLAR STAR, a heavy icebreaker, will conduct an 82-day deployment in the Arctic, primarily in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, to execute Coast Guard statutory missions, reduce regional maritime risks, and advance national security objectives. This will mark the first time since 1984 the Arctic had a U.S. polar class icebreaker in the region. I am working hard to ensure that America is well positioned to assert and defend our interests as geo-strategic activity in the Arctic increases at remarkable rates. As we continue to push for more icebreakers, I welcome news that America's only operational heavy icebreaker, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter POLAR STAR and her crew, will serve in America's Arctic this winter. While the USCGC POLAR STAR typically operates in Antarctica on resupply missions, this year Antarctica will be resupplied by aircraft and our area will enjoy USCGC POLAR STAR's presence instead, said Senator Murkowski. I look forward to a strong Coast Guard maritime domain asset in our waters and will be excited to see the great work the crew will accomplish during this time. USCGC POLAR STAR providing maritime domain presence and leadership this year will be a tremendous asset to the region, and in the years to come I look forward to the future fleet of Polar Security Cutters providing the same. Background: Senator Murkowski is committed to raising awareness of America's role as an Arctic nation as well as action necessary to support it. Murkowski has advocated for assets and capabilities needed for the region, such as a full fleet of Polar Security Cutters icebreakers to support America's national security and solidify our leadership in both the Arctic and Antarctic. In the Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations bill, Senator Murkowski successfully advocated for robust funding for the U.S. Coast Guard, including assets and infrastructure which provided $100 million for long-lead time materials for design and construction for a second Polar Security Cutter. In the Fiscal Year 2019 bill, Murkowski successfully secured full funding for design and construction of a heavy Polar Security Cutter, the nation's the first heavy polar security cutter in more than forty years. The bill also provided $20 million for long-lead time materials for a second Polar Security Cutter. The POLAR STAR previously has been operating in the Antarctic to support an annual joint military service mission called Operation Deep Freeze (ODF). But due to weather and ice conditions and risks related to COVID-19, the POLAR STAR is not required to deploy in support of ODP this year. Murkowski is the senior Senator for Alaska, America's only Arctic state. She is also co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus and a member of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region. Related Issues: Defense, Arctic Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/delegation-tongass-exemption-will-help-build-sustainable-economy-in-southeast-alaska,Delegation: Tongass Exemption Will Help Build Sustainable Economy in Southeast Alaska,2020-10-29,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"Anchorage, Alaska—U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) published a Record of Decision (ROD) and final rule exempting the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Roadless Rule). “The Tongass is home to many Alaskans who want what most Americans take for granted—the opportunity to live, work, and raise their families in the communities in which they grew up,” said Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “A full exemption from the Roadless Rule means access to more affordable and renewable energy to power homes and schools, access to technology at a time when more Americans are logging online for health care and education, and access for transportation and recreation to promote jobs and economic activity in the region—all while ensuring continued good stewardship of our lands and waters. I thank the USDA and Forest Service team for recognizing that one-size-fits-all federal policies are not appropriate in Alaska, and sometimes simply do not fit at all.” “Alaskans in Southeast have seen their opportunity to harvest timber, advance vital renewable energy and mineral projects, build basic infrastructure and connect communities stifled for too long as a result of the 2001 Roadless Rule,” said Sullivan. “These opportunities are finally back on the table with the finalization today of a full exemption for the Tongass from this overly-burdensome and out-of-touch regulation. I will always fight to take control from bureaucratic D.C. agencies and put it into the hands of Alaskans who rely on our lands to make a living and understand intimately the important balance of conservation and local economies. I commend Secretary Perdue and the administration for working closely with Alaskans throughout this process and bringing us to this historic day.” “This is a great day for the State of Alaska, our economy, and Alaskans' right to govern themselves,” said Young. “For years, I have said that the one-size-fits-all Roadless Rule was a disaster for Alaska. This Congress, I have been working closely with the President and senior White House staff to secure a Roadless Rule exemption for the Tongass. Not only has the Roadless Rule put an unconscionable economic and social burden on Southeast Alaska, it also violates ANILCA and the ‘no more’ clause by locking up land from the people of Alaska. Today's ROD is incredible news for our state and our economy, particularly in Southeast. I want to thank the Administration for working with me, our Congressional Delegation, Governor Dunleavy, and, most importantly, for listening to Alaskans. We know that this is the right thing to do, both for our economy and the health of our forests. I very much look forward to lifting the Roadless Rule and unleashing our state’s full potential. In Congress, I will always stand up for our right to manage our own lands.” In 2018, the Forest Service announced it would develop a state-specific Roadless Rule focused on the Tongass National Forest. The final rule issued today exempts the Tongass from the 2001 rule, which established sweeping prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvest on inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. The new rule responds to a petition from the State of Alaska requesting a full exemption from the 2001 rule for the Tongass, which the delegation strongly supported. The Tongass spans nearly 16.7 million acres, covering nearly all of southeast Alaska, and is home to 32 islanded communities. For decades, successive layers of federal law and regulation, including the 2001 rule, have continually restricted access needed for timber, mining, tourism, recreation, and the development of renewable resources such as hydropower. The result has been a weaker regional economy that is largely seasonal in nature, with local communities facing fewer employment opportunities and higher energy costs. The ROD and final rule represent a major milestone in the delegation’s efforts to restore balance and provide greater flexibility in federal land management, including roadless management, on the Tongass. Protecting the unique roadless values within the Tongass has always been a priority and will not change under this new rule. Congress has enshrined those protections in law, designating nearly 5.7 million acres of wilderness and another 728,000 acres that are to be managed in a roadless state. When combined with national monument and other natural-setting land-use designations, more than 13 million acres (nearly 80 percent) of the Tongass are already explicitly restricted from resource development or required to be managed as roadless areas. Excerpts from the Forest Service’s Announcement “The Tongass Forest Plan along with other conservation measures, will assure protection allowing roadless area values to prevail on the Tongass National Forest while offering additional flexibility to achieve other multiple-use benefits.” “Although 9.4 million acres would no longer be subject to the 2001 Roadless Rule with the final rule, only 186,000 more acres would become available for timber production, and road construction is estimated to increase Tongass-wide from 994 miles in the no-action alternative to 1,043 miles in the final rule over the next 100 years.” “From 2001 to 2011, the Tongass National Forest was exempt from the 2001 Roadless Rule. During this time, about 4,300 acres of [inventoried roadless areas] were entered for timber harvest and about 19 miles of roads were constructed in association of that timber harvest. Of that only 300 acres of timber harvest and 0.5 miles of road were authorized during the exemption period and the remaining timber harvest and road construction were authorized prior to the promulgation of the 2001 Roadless Rule.” # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:34:36Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/alaska-delegation-proposes-us-canada-border-crossing-solutions,Alaska Delegation Proposes US-Canada Border Crossing Solutions,2020-10-28,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.28.20 Alaska Delegation Proposes US-Canada Border Crossing Solutions In an effort to address US-Canada border crossing issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Congressman Don Young, and Governor Mike Dunleavy (all R-AK) sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, raising issues severely impacting Alaskans. In their letter, the Alaska Delegation highlighted specific, persisting challenges impacting the health and safety of Alaskans and proposed reasonable solutions. As we continue to work together to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, to keep our residents and citizens safe and healthy, we appreciate the consideration for reasonable land crossing exceptions for essential travel between Alaska and the contiguous United States through your country. The Delegation explained that each year Alaskans, many elderly and with medical conditions, journey south, traveling through Canada to the contiguous United States, in order to be closer to comprehensive medical facilities better equipped to address their healthcare needs in addition to being in a warmer climate, which is easier on their health. Such travel is currently considered non-essential according to Canada's cross-border travel restrictions. In addition, the Delegation raised the unique circumstance of residents in Hyder, Alaska who are being impacted by current border closures. For example, the only grocery store in the region is located in nearby Stewart, British Columbia, and Hyder children typically attend the nearby Canadian schools. While there are many more individual instances of travel restrictions impacting daily lives, we highlight these two as some of the most pressing issues, but ones for which we think there are reasonable solutions to ensure the safety and health of both Canadians and Alaskans alike. We all agree that we must remain vigilant against the threats to the health and wellbeing of our people that COVID-19 has created. We have at-risk Alaskans who will soon be unable to complete their journey south by road due to snow and difficult winter conditions. We have Alaskans and Canadians, neighbors and families, separated by a single border post, unable to connect and collectively bear the burdens these global conditions have imposed on them. The Delegation proposed the following solutions, which would allow Alaskans to move forward with necessary travel while protecting Canadians from additional exposure to COVID-19: Allow an exception for non-discretionary, essential travel permitting Alaskans to transit south for the winter. This includes supporting a requirement that each Alaskan allowed to travel must present a negative COVID-19 test prior to transiting through Canada. Ease the current travel restrictions and grant a travel bubble to Hyder and Stewart, allowing residents to visit family and access essential supplies, schooling, medical care, religious services and other essential functions for these two highly-integrated, and very isolated communities. Click here for the Alaska Delegation letter, which is also below. Dear Prime Minister, We write to you as a united delegation from Alaska, the state with the most extensive shared border with Canada, to bring to your attention some specific issues severely impacting our constituents as the border crossing restrictions due to COVID-19 continue. Thank you, and your Canadian colleagues, for the high level of support and understanding in regard to the unique travel needs between our shared borders. As we continue to work together to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, to keep our residents and citizens safe and healthy, we appreciate the consideration for reasonable land crossing exceptions for essential travel between Alaska and the contiguous United States through your country. The purpose of this letter is to highlight some of those challenges which persist, but for which we believe, through working together, we can find reasonable solutions in a safe and healthy manner. Canadians and Alaskans alike know that winter will soon be upon us. Each year, Alaskans, many elderly and with medical conditions, pack up their vehicles and journey south to the contiguous United States. They travel south because Alaska's winter can be harsh, complicating underlying medical conditions. Their winter homes in the Lower 48 are closer to comprehensive medical facilities which are better equipped to address their healthcare needs. There, they can receive ongoing care in a warmer climate that is easier on their health. A recent challenge expressed by many Alaskans trying to return to their winter homes relates to current cross-border travel restrictions, which presently consider this travel non-essential. We submit that such travel is essential for these senior citizens, as well as for the health and safety of broader populations in regions where access to healthcare is limited. We understand and appreciate the magnitude of the task facing your government. Due to our own unique challenges, Alaska was the first state in the United States to require COVID-19 testing in our airports. Early on, we made the hard decision to shut down intrastate travel to protect our rural communities. We have been relatively fortunate so far; Alaska has seen no increase in excess mortality the gold standard by which a pandemic response can be judged. Alaskan residents of the community of Hyder also face unique challenges. Hyder, Alaska, and the British Columbia community of Stewart, straddle the border of our two countries, and have been living as one community for generations. Hyder's children attend Canadian schools, and their only road connects solely to Canada. The town's utilities and grocery needs are wholly located in Stewart. Hyder and Stewart remain divided by the current border closure. Families, some facing end-of-life issues, have been separated for over half the year. Hyder residents are disallowed from visiting their family down the street in Stewart, their children barred from school. Stewart's residents can walk down the road into Hyder, but must quarantine for two weeks upon return. While there are many more individual instances of travel restrictions impacting daily lives, we highlight these two as some of the most pressing issues, but ones for which we think there are reasonable solutions to ensure the safety and health of both Canadians and Alaskans alike. We all agree that we must remain vigilant against the threats to the health and wellbeing of our people that COVID-19 has created. We have at-risk Alaskans who will soon be unable to complete their journey south by road due to snow and difficult winter conditions. We have Alaskans and Canadians, neighbors and families, separated by a single border post, unable to connect and collectively bear the burdens these global conditions have imposed on them. In recent weeks, we have had several conversations with members of your government and provided specific suggestions, which we believe, would allow Alaskans to move forward with necessary travel while protecting Canadians from additional exposure to COVID-19. These include the following: First, allow an exception for non-discretionary, essential travel permitting Alaskans to transit south for the winter. Currently, Canada has very reasonable travel requirements for land crossings, including limited time in which to move from border to border, limiting time within the vehicle, no stops except for non-recreational purposes, etc. Those restrictions reasonably limit the amount of time any Alaskan would spend transiting border crossings. We know many presently need to transit via motorhomes, further limiting their time outside the vehicle. For Alaskans wishing to travel as described above, we would support a requirement that each Alaskan allowed to travel must present a negative COVID-19 test prior to transiting through Canada. This is currently a requirement that the State of Alaska has in place for all out-of-state air travelers, including Alaskans returning to the state, and is a reasonable requirement for non-residents. Alaskans currently have many means of access to free COVID-19 testing; therefore, we do not believe this would be a significant problem for such travelers. We are certain Alaskans journeying south would respect any conditions your government sets for them as they undertake passage through Canada. Second, ease the current travel restrictions and grant a travel bubble to Hyder and Stewart, allowing residents to visit family and access essential supplies, schooling, medical care, religious services and other essential functions for these two highly-integrated, and very isolated communities. We are likewise confident that residents of Hyder and Stewart would adhere to any restrictions needed to facilitate their reunification. To date, there has not been a single diagnosed case of COVID-19 in either community. The current travel restrictions are having an increasingly negative impact on these communities, and for these reasons we support the request of the residents of Hyder and Stewart to ease the current restrictions, including easing the travel quarantine requirement, in a responsible and safe way. These are starting suggestions, of course, and we are committed to working together with you, your administration, and your staff, as necessary to resolve any concerns or logistical issues. Our hope in sending this letter is to cut through the noise and bring these humanitarian issues to your attention. We each know from personal experience the many difficulties that come with managing a government during a pandemic. Our state and federal governments and our health officials stand ready to work with our Canadian neighbors and counterparts on a humane solution to these great challenges. Our collaboration thus far has been productive, and for that we thank you. Let's move forward together. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-smith-introduce-bill-to-extend-important-flexibility-and-funding-to-after-school-programs,"Murkowski, Smith Introduce Bill to Extend Important Flexibility and Funding to After School Programs",2020-10-28,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.28.20 Murkowski, Smith Introduce Bill to Extend Important Flexibility and Funding to After School Programs Will help afterschool programs support students and parents struggling with online learning during the school day. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program provides competitive grants to school districts, community based organizations, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations that provide supplemental academic and enrichment activities for students during non-school hours or periods when schools are not in session. The value of 21st CCLC-funded afterschool programs is well-established, ensuring children have an opportunity to access engaging learning activities while giving working parents peace of mind that their kids are safe when school is out. Unfortunately, 21st CCLC programs have been limited in their ability to support students whose schools are offering online-only or hybrid instruction during the COVID-19 health emergency. U.S, Senate Afterschool Caucus Co-Chairs, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tina Smith (D-NM), introduced the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 to ensure that these students can receive the support they need to succeed. The bill also includes funding to help programs meet state and local health mandates. 21st Century Community Learning Centers have provided high-quality educational programming for over 20 years, inspiring students of all ages to learn, grow, and succeed. Through my roles on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee, I've been a strong and consistent advocate for the 21st CCLC program. However, grantees have been unable to use the funding we've secured to deliver school-day support to students who have transitioned to virtual learninga significant disservice to not only children, but also their parents, said Senator Murkowski. COVID-19 has been a major adjustment for everyone, but particularly for our students, teachers, and parents. We must ensure that our learning environments have the flexibility, support, and safety precautions needed to navigate this difficult time. This legislation is incredibly significant for families in Alaska and across the nation, helping to ensure that all students who are taking part in remote learning continue to receive the support and resources they need to succeed. ""During the pandemic, many afterschool programs have gone above and beyond to support students and families,"" said Senator Smith. ""Our bipartisan legislation will support and build upon this great work. It will help afterschoool programs provide in-person and virtual services during the day to fill-in gaps in students' hybrid or distance learning schedules. It will also require afterschool programs to follow local public health guidelines, and help them get cleaning, sanitation and PPE supplies. I'm glad to support afterschool programs and will continue to promote them in Minnesota and across the country. Afterschool programs have stepped up to meet the growing academic and social-emotional needs of students caused by the pandemic. The 21st Century Community Learning Center Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 addresses the immediate need for great flexibility so afterschool programs can continue to support student academic achievement. This bill provides critical funding to ensure afterschool programs can expand hours of service, hire additional staff to maintain social distancing, and to pay for cleaning, sanitation, and PPE supplies to mitigate against the spread of the virus. The Alaska Afterschool Network applauds Senator Murkowski for her continued leadership in ensuring Alaska's most vulnerable students have access to these critical afterschool programs during this national public health crisis, said Thomas Azzarella, Director of Alaska Afterschool Network. This bill will allow our 21st CCLC programs to focus their attention on supporting students and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to Senator Murkowski for her leadership on issues facing Alaska's students, said Alaska Education Commissioner Dr. Michael Johnson. Introduction of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 in the U.S. Senate offers hope to students and families at a time when many are struggling terribly with school closures and adjustments caused by the pandemic. This bill would allow out-of-schooltime programs to do more to help families meet the unprecedented challenges they face today by stepping in to keep kids safe and help them learn. We are especially pleased that it provides both the flexibility and funding afterschool programs need to provide more help. We commend Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) for introducing this legislation and urge Senate leaders to make its passage a priority. The House passed a version of it last month. Our country's students, families, and schools will be better off when the Senate does the same, said Jodi Grant, Executive Director of the Afterschool Alliance. ""Bipartisan Policy Center Action applauds the work by Senator Murkowski and Senator Smith to provide flexibility and funding to the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program. As rotating school schedules, online instruction, and periodic closures are commonplace across the country while the nation continues to combat the spread of the coronavirus, working parents need safe, supervised care arrangements for their young children while they are not in school. The 21st Century Program fills a crucial need for families during these unprecedented times. This bipartisan legislation will provide the flexibility needed to help parents get the care they need, and ensure children receive consistent academic assistance needed to thrive, said Michele Stockwell, Executive Director of Bipartisan Policy Center Action. During this unprecedented time, access to supervised learning and educational support at Boys & Girls Clubs is even more critical to kids and families, said Jim Clark, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. We applaud Senators Murkowski and Smith for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020. The support will be critical to offset education disruptions that can increase learning loss, and provide needed flexibility for 21st Century Community Learning Centers programs providing full day virtual learning support. Bill Highlights: Allows 21st CCLC programs to provide services, virtually or in-person, to students during the school day if the students are not getting full-time in-person instruction in school. Requires 21st CCLC programs to follow health mandates and to submit an addendum of their application to their State education agency outlining how they're going to provide services during the school day and comply with the health mandates. Authorizes and appropriates $1.2 billion to help these programs provide additional hours of service, hire more staff to maintain social distancing, and pay for cleaning, sanitization, and PPE supplies. For the full bill text, click here. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-proposes-us-canada-border-crossing-solutions,Alaska Delegation Proposes US-Canada Border Crossing Solutions,2020-10-28,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"Aims to Ensure Access to Food, Healthcare, and Other Essential Transportation for Alaskans WASHINGTON, D.C.— In an effort to address U.S.-Canada border crossing issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, Congressman Don Young, and Governor Mike Dunleavy (all R-AK) sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, raising issues severely impacting Alaskans. In their letter, the Alaska Delegation highlighted specific, persisting challenges impacting the health and safety of Alaskans and proposed reasonable solutions. “As we continue to work together to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, to keep our residents and citizens safe and healthy, we appreciate the consideration for reasonable land crossing exceptions for essential travel between Alaska and the contiguous United States through your country.” The Delegation explained that each year Alaskans, many elderly and with medical conditions, journey south, traveling through Canada to the contiguous United States, in order to be closer to comprehensive medical facilities better equipped to address their healthcare needs in addition to being in a warmer climate, which is easier on their health. Such travel is currently considered non-essential according to Canada’s cross-border travel restrictions. In addition, the Delegation raised the unique circumstance of residents in Hyder, Alaska who are being impacted by current border closures. For example, the only grocery store in the region is located in nearby Stewart, British Columbia, and Hyder children typically attend the nearby Canadian schools. “While there are many more individual instances of travel restrictions impacting daily lives, we highlight these two as some of the most pressing issues, but ones for which we think there are reasonable solutions to ensure the safety and health of both Canadians and Alaskans alike. We all agree that we must remain vigilant against the threats to the health and wellbeing of our people that COVID-19 has created. We have at-risk Alaskans who will soon be unable to complete their journey south by road due to snow and difficult winter conditions. We have Alaskans and Canadians, neighbors and families, separated by a single border post, unable to connect and collectively bear the burdens these global conditions have imposed on them.” The Delegation proposed the following solutions, which would allow Alaskans to move forward with necessary travel while protecting Canadians from additional exposure to COVID-19: Allow an exception for non-discretionary, essential travel permitting Alaskans to transit south for the winter. This includes supporting a requirement that each Alaskan allowed to travel must present a negative COVID-19 test prior to transiting through Canada. Ease the current travel restrictions and grant a “travel bubble” to Hyder and Stewart, allowing residents to visit family and access essential supplies, schooling, medical care, religious services and other essential functions for these two highly-integrated, and very isolated communities. Click here for the Alaska Delegation letter, which is also below. Dear Prime Minister, We write to you as a united delegation from Alaska, the state with the most extensive shared border with Canada, to bring to your attention some specific issues severely impacting our constituents as the border crossing restrictions due to COVID-19 continue. Thank you, and your Canadian colleagues, for the high level of support and understanding in regard to the unique travel needs between our shared borders. As we continue to work together to address the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, to keep our residents and citizens safe and healthy, we appreciate the consideration for reasonable land crossing exceptions for essential travel between Alaska and the contiguous United States through your country. The purpose of this letter is to highlight some of those challenges which persist, but for which we believe, through working together, we can find reasonable solutions in a safe and healthy manner. Canadians and Alaskans alike know that winter will soon be upon us. Each year, Alaskans, many elderly and with medical conditions, pack up their vehicles and journey south to the contiguous United States. They travel south because Alaska’s winter can be harsh, complicating underlying medical conditions. Their winter homes in the “Lower 48” are closer to comprehensive medical facilities which are better equipped to address their healthcare needs. There, they can receive ongoing care in a warmer climate that is easier on their health. A recent challenge expressed by many Alaskans trying to return to their winter homes relates to current cross-border travel restrictions, which presently consider this travel non-essential. We submit that such travel is essential for these senior citizens, as well as for the health and safety of broader populations in regions where access to healthcare is limited. We understand and appreciate the magnitude of the task facing your government. Due to our own unique challenges, Alaska was the first state in the United States to require COVID-19 testing in our airports. Early on, we made the hard decision to shut down intrastate travel to protect our rural communities. We have been relatively fortunate so far; Alaska has seen no increase in excess mortality – the gold standard by which a pandemic response can be judged. Alaskan residents of the community of Hyder also face unique challenges. Hyder, Alaska, and the British Columbia community of Stewart, straddle the border of our two countries, and have been living as one community for generations. Hyder’s children attend Canadian schools, and their only road connects solely to Canada. The town’s utilities and grocery needs are wholly located in Stewart. Hyder and Stewart remain divided by the current border closure. Families, some facing end-of-life issues, have been separated for over half the year. Hyder residents are disallowed from visiting their family down the street in Stewart, their children barred from school. Stewart’s residents can walk down the road into Hyder, but must quarantine for two weeks upon return. While there are many more individual instances of travel restrictions impacting daily lives, we highlight these two as some of the most pressing issues, but ones for which we think there are reasonable solutions to ensure the safety and health of both Canadians and Alaskans alike. We all agree that we must remain vigilant against the threats to the health and wellbeing of our people that COVID-19 has created. We have at-risk Alaskans who will soon be unable to complete their journey south by road due to snow and difficult winter conditions. We have Alaskans and Canadians, neighbors and families, separated by a single border post, unable to connect and collectively bear the burdens these global conditions have imposed on them. In recent weeks, we have had several conversations with members of your government and provided specific suggestions, which we believe, would allow Alaskans to move forward with necessary travel while protecting Canadians from additional exposure to COVID-19. These include the following: First, allow an exception for non-discretionary, essential travel permitting Alaskans to transit south for the winter. Currently, Canada has very reasonable travel requirements for land crossings, including limited time in which to move from border to border, limiting time within the vehicle, no stops except for non-recreational purposes, etc. Those restrictions reasonably limit the amount of time any Alaskan would spend transiting border crossings. We know many presently need to transit via motorhomes, further limiting their time outside the vehicle. For Alaskans wishing to travel as described above, we would support a requirement that each Alaskan allowed to travel must present a negative COVID-19 test prior to transiting through Canada. This is currently a requirement that the State of Alaska has in place for all out-of-state air travelers, including Alaskans returning to the state, and is a reasonable requirement for non-residents. Alaskans currently have many means of access to free COVID-19 testing; therefore, we do not believe this would be a significant problem for such travelers. We are certain Alaskans journeying south would respect any conditions your government sets for them as they undertake passage through Canada. Second, ease the current travel restrictions and grant a “travel bubble” to Hyder and Stewart, allowing residents to visit family and access essential supplies, schooling, medical care, religious services and other essential functions for these two highly-integrated, and very isolated communities. We are likewise confident that residents of Hyder and Stewart would adhere to any restrictions needed to facilitate their reunification. To date, there has not been a single diagnosed case of COVID-19 in either community. The current travel restrictions are having an increasingly negative impact on these communities, and for these reasons we support the request of the residents of Hyder and Stewart to ease the current restrictions, including easing the travel quarantine requirement, in a responsible and safe way. These are starting suggestions, of course, and we are committed to working together with you, your administration, and your staff, as necessary to resolve any concerns or logistical issues. Our hope in sending this letter is to cut through the noise and bring these humanitarian issues to your attention. We each know from personal experience the many difficulties that come with managing a government during a pandemic. Our state and federal governments and our health officials stand ready to work with our Canadian neighbors and counterparts on a humane solution to these great challenges. Our collaboration thus far has been productive, and for that we thank you. Let’s move forward together. Sincerely, # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:34:36Z http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401823,Alaska Delegation Welcomes Federal Approval for Willow Master Development Plan,2020-10-27,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Don Young,Y000033,donyoung.house.gov,,,legacy,"Anchorage, Alaska U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released itsRecord of Decisionfor the Willow Master Development Plan in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). As we navigate these uncertain times, the federal approval of a major new North Slope development project provides real opportunities for Alaska and a path forward to help rebuild and strengthen our economy for years to come,said Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Willow could put hundreds of Alaskans back to work, boost state revenues, and generate more than 160,000 barrels of daily throughput for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. I thank the BLM team for their work to complete this comprehensive review, and appreciate ConocoPhillips' efforts to address community concerns in their project design. With this important Record of Decision completed, the NRP-A is slated to be among the hottest energy prospects in the world,said Sullivan. The Willow project alone willbemassiveandbring to our state hundreds of good-paying jobs forhard-workingAlaskans, more than one hundred thousand barrels a day in TAPS throughput, and billions of dollars in economic activitywithout negatively impacting the environment Alaskans cherish.We as a delegation have fought hard with the administration against those in the Lower 48 who want to shut Alaska's economy down, and I have every intention of protecting what we've earned.I thank the Department of Interior for their work on this important project. The Willow project represents immense potential for our state, and this ROD comes at a critical time,said Young.The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our economy. We must continue making progress on projects like Willow that could bring good-paying jobs, significant revenue, and the resources we need to make America energy independent. This milestone is an important one, not only for Alaska but for the countless families who depend on the oil and gas industry to make a living. I am grateful to everyone at BLM, who helped deliver today's ROD. I also want to thank ConocoPhillips for making crucial investments in our state, workforce, and economy. I look forward to our continued progress on this critical project. The Willow project is a multi-billion dollar development proposed by ConocoPhillips in the NPR-A. It is located to the west of the Greater Mooses Tooth-1 and Greater Mooses Tooth-2 developments. The NPR-A is administered by BLM and covers more than 23 million acres on the western North Slope of Alaskaan area roughly the size of Indiana. In 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that NPR-A contains an estimated 8.7 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil. Read the Alaska delegation's prior letters to the Department of the Interior about the importance of the projecthereandhere. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/alaska-delegation-welcomes-federal-approval-for-willow-master-development-plan-,Alaska Delegation Welcomes Federal Approval for Willow Master Development Plan,2020-10-27,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.27.20 Alaska Delegation Welcomes Federal Approval for Willow Master Development Plan U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released itsRecord of Decisionfor the Willow Master Development Plan in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). As we navigate these uncertain times, the federal approval of a major new North Slope development project provides real opportunities for Alaska and a path forward to help rebuild and strengthen our economy for years to come,said Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Willow could put hundreds of Alaskans back to work, boost state revenues, and generate more than 160,000 barrels of daily throughput for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. I thank the BLM team for their work to complete this comprehensive review, and appreciate ConocoPhillips' efforts to address community concerns in their project design. With this important Record of Decision completed, the NRP-A is slated to be among the hottest energy prospects in the world,said Sullivan. The Willow project alone willbemassiveandbring to our state hundreds of good-paying jobs forhard-workingAlaskans, more than one hundred thousand barrels a day in TAPS throughput, and billions of dollars in economic activitywithout negatively impacting the environment Alaskans cherish.We as a delegation have fought hard with the administration against those in the Lower 48 who want to shut Alaska's economy down, and I have every intention of protecting what we've earned.I thank the Department of Interior for their work on this important project. The Willow project represents immense potential for our state, and this ROD comes at a critical time, said Young.The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our economy. We must continue making progress on projects like Willow that could bring good-paying jobs, significant revenue, and the resources we need to make America energy independent. This milestone is an important one, not only for Alaska but for the countless families who depend on the oil and gas industry to make a living. I am grateful to everyone at BLM, who helped deliver today's ROD. I also want to thank ConocoPhillips for making crucial investments in our state, workforce, and economy. I look forward to our continued progress on this critical project. The Willow project is a multi-billion dollar development proposed by ConocoPhillips in the NPR-A. It is located to the west of the Greater Mooses Tooth-1 and Greater Mooses Tooth-2 developments. The NPR-A is administered by BLM and covers more than 23 million acres on the western North Slope of Alaskaan area roughly the size of Indiana. In 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that NPR-A contains an estimated 8.7 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil. Read the Alaska delegation's prior letters to the Department of the Interior about the importance of the projecthereandhere. Related Issues: Energy Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-welcomes-federal-approval-for-willow-master-development-plan,Alaska Delegation Welcomes Federal Approval for Willow Master Development Plan,2020-10-27,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its Record of Decision for the Willow Master Development Plan in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). “As we navigate these uncertain times, the federal approval of a major new North Slope development project provides real opportunities for Alaska and a path forward to help rebuild and strengthen our economy for years to come,” said Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Willow could put hundreds of Alaskans back to work, boost state revenues, and generate more than 160,000 barrels of daily throughput for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. I thank the BLM team for their work to complete this comprehensive review, and appreciate ConocoPhillips’ efforts to address community concerns in their project design.” “With this important Record of Decision completed, the NRP-A is slated to be among the hottest energy prospects in the world,” said Sullivan. “The Willow project alone will be massive and bring to our state hundreds of good-paying jobs for hard-working Alaskans, more than one hundred thousand barrels a day in TAPS throughput, and billions of dollars in economic activity—without negatively impacting the environment Alaskans cherish. We as a delegation have fought hard with the administration against those in the Lower 48 who want to shut Alaska’s economy down, and I have every intention of protecting what we’ve earned. I thank the Department of Interior for their work on this important project.” “The Willow project represents immense potential for our state, and this ROD comes at a critical time,” said Young. “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our economy. We must continue making progress on projects like Willow that could bring good-paying jobs, significant revenue, and the resources we need to make America energy independent. This milestone is an important one, not only for Alaska but for the countless families who depend on the oil and gas industry to make a living. I am grateful to everyone at BLM, who helped deliver today's ROD. I also want to thank ConocoPhillips for making crucial investments in our state, workforce, and economy. I look forward to our continued progress on this critical project.” The Willow project is a multi-billion dollar development proposed by ConocoPhillips in the NPR-A. It is located to the west of the Greater Mooses Tooth-1 and Greater Mooses Tooth-2 developments. The NPR-A is administered by BLM and covers more than 23 million acres on the western North Slope of Alaska—an area roughly the size of Indiana. In 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that NPR-A contains an estimated 8.7 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil. Read the Alaska delegation’s prior letters to the Department of the Interior about the importance of the project here and here. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:34:36Z https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-votes-to-confirm_judge-amy-coney-barrett-to-supreme-court,Murkowski Votes to Confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court,2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Republican,House,AK,Lisa Murkowski,M001153,www.murkowski.senate.gov,,,legacy,"10.26.20 Murkowski Votes to Confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today voted to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve as the next Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The nomination was confirmed by a vote of 52-48. On Saturday, prior to the vote, Senator Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor to explain her opposition to the process, but turning to the decision of whether Judge Amy Coney Barrett is qualified to serve on the highest court in the land, announced she would vote in favor of the nominee. My constitutional responsibility is to now look beyond process and to vote based on a solid evaluation of her qualifications and fitness of judicial temperament, said Senator Murkowski. I have reviewed Judge Barrett's confirmation hearing and her writings. I also had a lengthy discussion with her this week to delve further into her record and views of jurisprudence. It is clear that she is qualified by any objective standard and has received the highest possible rating from the American Bar Association. She has demonstrated a strong command of the law, intellect, discipline, and, ultimately, the capability to hold the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. In Case You Missed It: Click here for Senator Murkowski's full statement announcing her vote. Click here to watch Senator Murkowski's floor speech. Click here to read Senator Murkowski's floor speech. Speech Excerpts: I have looked inward, considering in these difficult days what I believe is best for the institutions of our government. And I recognize that confirming this nominee is not going to heal, it's not going to salve the wounds that those institutions have endured. But neither will threats that, should the balance of power in this chamber change, that everything is on the table including the end of the legislative filibuster and packing the Court. I do not believe that moving forward on a nominee just over a week removed from a pitched presidential election, when partisan tensions are running about as high as they could, I don't believe this will help our country become a better version of itself. But frankly, I have lost that procedural fight. So what I can do now is be consistent with the precedent that I set for myself, and oppose a process that I said should not move forward. And I have done that. But at the end of the process is the substantive question of whether Judge Barrett should be categorically rejected as an Associate Justice in order to underscore my procedural objection. I've done my due diligence in my role of advice and consent. I have worked through the articles that she has written, the cases that she has written. I have engaged in a lengthy one-on-one with her. I watched both full days when she appeared before the Judiciary Committee. She presented herself admirably under a difficult situation. I have concluded that she is the sort of person we want on the Supreme Court. Her legal writing is excellent and will be an asset to her, as well as future generations of lawyers as they read through her opinions. Her intellectual curiosity, which is demonstrated by the depth and breadth of her academic work as a professor, will also serve the country well. Her temperament and her very patient nature were on full display over the course of the hearing. I had a good, I think very substantive, discussion with Judge Barrett about some Alaska related matters, focusing on Alaska-specific statutes like ANILCA. I raised some of the public safety challenges that we face in my home state that serve to undermine the principal of equal justice under the law. I raised the issue of voting rights and access to the ballot. It was important for me to hear and to better understand her views on precedent and her evaluation process, specifically the weight that she affords reliance on decisions that have been in place for decades, such as Roe v. Wade. We discussed the doctrine of severability in regards to the Affordable Care Act case. We spoke at length about my concern that the Supreme Court is increasingly viewed as political by the public and what that then does to erode the public confidence in the impartiality of our courts. We talked about the criteria and the evaluation that a Justice would undergo for purposes of a recusal from a matter. Justices should come to the Court with an open mind, willing to be convinced by the arguments presented in each case, to exchange thoughts with their colleagues, to learn new things, and rule as the law requires. And I am convinced that Judge Barrett will do just that. Print Email Tweet",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-votes-to-confirm-barrett-to-supreme-court,Sullivan Votes to Confirm Barrett to Supreme Court,2020-10-26,2020,2020-10,Republican,Senate,AK,Dan Sullivan,S001198,www.sullivan.senate.gov,sullivan,https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=47,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today released the following statement after voting to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve as the next Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. “Judge Barrett has demonstrated herself to be a distinguished and respected jurist who understands the proper role of a judge – to have fidelity to the written law and Constitution, not to make policy.” said Senator Sullivan. “Based on her record as a scholar and federal court of appeals judge, the Senate’s confirmation hearings, and my in-depth discussion with her, I am confident that Judge Barrett understands the issues important to Alaskans, including upholding our Second Amendment rights, restraining the expansive powers of federal agencies, and giving special attention to unique federal laws that relate to Alaska. For all of these reasons, I believe Judge Barrett is exceptionally well-qualified to be an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court.” Senator Sullivan delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate on October 21 announcing his support for Judge Barrett’s nomination. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:34:36Z