Articles & Op-eds
KTUU: $16M funneled into Alaska healthcare system via CARES Act
by Beth Verge
Nearly $16 million in funding will be funneled to Alaska after being appropriated by the Health Center Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The monies, according to a release from Alaska's delegation comprising Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young, will go toward helping community health centers prevent and respond to the current coronavirus pandemic. Murkowski said in a statement… Continue Reading
04.08.20
Homer News: Seawatch: Fishermen get briefed on CARES Act
by Christy Fry
Alaska's congressional delegation held a conference call with 65 of Alaska's fishery leaders last week and laid out some details of the federal assistance available to fishermen through the $2 trillion CARES Act. The call was set up by United Fishermen of Alaska, and Executive Director Frances Leach had praise for the delegation. "Obviously the senators and congressman are very concerned about our industry, and they're doing everything they can to make sure that we have what we need," she said… Continue Reading
04.08.20
KTUU: $16M funneled into Alaska healthcare system via CARES Act
by Beth Verge
Nearly $16 million in funding will be funneled to Alaska after being appropriated by the Health Center Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The monies, according to a release from Alaska's delegation comprising Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young, will go toward helping community health centers prevent and respond to the current coronavirus pandemic. Murkowski said in a statement… Continue Reading
03.30.20
Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman: Congressman, Senators join Governor on press conference to address COVID 19
by Tim Rockey
Gov. Mike Dunleavy welcomed Congressman Don Young and Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan on Monday's press conference to discuss the state's response to the outbreak of COVID 19. Dunleavy announced that five more Alaskans had tested positive for COVID 19 since the last online report on the Department of Health and Social Services website on Sunday. Of the five new cases, two each were discovered in Anchorage and Fairbanks and the last positive case was found in Palmer. Palmer has all thre… Continue Reading
03.30.20
KTVA: Alaska's US lawmakers say $2 trillion stimulus will bolster small businesses
by Elizabeth Roman and Jes Stugelmayer
In the first news conference of the week, Alaska's governor and public health officials announced there were just five new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. Experts say the number of people infected will peak over the course of the next few weeks. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink said all of the new patients identified were between 30 and 59 years old. Two cases were in Anchorage, two in Fairbanks and one in Palmer. Gov. Mike Dunleavy was joined by Rep. Don Young, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Su… Continue Reading
03.30.20
KTVF: Governor, congressional delegation coordinate Alaska COVID-19 efforts
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) today announced five new cases of COVID-19 in three Alaska communities - Anchorage (2), Fairbanks (2) and Palmer (1). This brings the case count total for Alaska to 119. All of the new cases are in adults aged 30-59. Four are female and one is male. There are no new hospitalizations or deaths today. So far the communities in Alaska that have had laboratory-confirmed cases include Anchorage (including JBER), Eagle River/Chugiak, Girdwoo… Continue Reading
03.30.20
Juneau Empire: Congressional delegation says billions in relief coming to Alaska
by Peter Segall
Alaska is set to get its share of the $2 trillion stimulus package recently approved by Congress, the state's congressional delegation said during a teleconference Monday evening. "All elected officials are working very closely on this unprecedented crisis," said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaking from Washington, D.C. The delegation discussed the provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, (CARES) that will inject vast amounts of funds into America's economy. The b… Continue Reading
03.29.20
OP-ED: Anchorage Daily News: Alaskans will make it through COVID-19 together. Here’s how we’re helping.
by Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Don Young
We understand what a challenging and unprecedented time this is for Alaskans. The COVID-19 virus has been an evolving pandemic, spreading worldwide and severely disrupting life across America and our state. Alaskans are worried not only about their personal health and the impacts that Alaska's health systems may face, but also the potential short-and long-term economic impacts on working families, jobs and small businesses across the state. But in true Alaska fashion, folks in the state have al… Continue Reading
03.19.20
Delta Discovery: Murkowski addresses crisis of MMTIW
"Ashley was one of those kids who loved purple-a beautiful young child growing up in Kotzebue who would have gone on to have a good and productive life in an Inupiaq community in the northwestern part of the state. But Ashley Johnson-Barr is remembered now, because at the age of 10 years old she was brutally raped and murdered. She was literally taken from the kids' playground and taken to a location not too many miles outside of the community and her death and the tragedy around the circumstanc… Continue Reading
03.18.20
KTUU: Sen. Murkowski reacts to latest coronavirus developments
While millions of Americans are holed up at home against the coronavirus, Senate Democrats are proposing a new aid package. The legislation would allocate $750 billion to boost hospital capacity, unemployment insurance and other direct aid for American households, businesses and the health care industry. The 100-member Senate was scheduled to meet and hold an evening vote -- a potentially stunning sight of people gathered. While different authorities around the country have issued conflicting … Continue Reading
03.17.20
Washington Examiner: GOP senators push Saudis to stop flooding oil market
by Tim Pierce
A group of senators is asking Saudi Arabia to end its oil price war with Russia and stop flooding the international market.Thirteen Republican senators signed a letter sent to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday. The lawmakers argue that Saudi oil production is harming the global response to the coronavirus pandemic. "As the United States and the rest of the world - including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - are dealing with COVID-19 pandemic response, mitigation and prevention effort… Continue Reading
03.15.20
KVRR: US Senate Passes Savanna’s Act
by Kendra Johnson
Work continues on capitol hill this morning to finally get Savanna's Act passed through Congress. The bill named for Savanna Greywind, the 22-year-old Fargo woman who was killed for her unborn baby, has passed both the Senate and the House Judiciary Committee. Greywind was a member of the Spirit Lake Tribe. Savanna's Act would require the Justice Department to develop protocols to address missing and murdered Native Americans, including information sharing and training for law enforcement. I… Continue Reading
03.15.20
KYUK: Bethel Resident Becky Trimble Faces Deportation, But Gets Help From Neighbors
by Greg Kim
A Bethel resident is facing deportation. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has ordered Becky Trimble to leave the country by this Saturday, March 14, but Trimble has lived in this country since she was three days old. She didn't know she wasn't a U.S. citizen until she was 22. She shared how she's feeling, and what she plans to do. On Feb. 10, Trimble received a letter with the potential to upend her and her family's life. "My husband opened it up first. His face just kind… Continue Reading
03.15.20
Real Clear Energy: For Energy and Climate, Don’t Forget About One of America's Most Important Resources
by Lynn Abramson, Bill Easter, and Sue Easter
The topic of climate change - and what we can do about it - rightly dominates public discourse today as a central issue no party or business leader can ignore. Exit polls in New Hampshire last month showed 25% of Democratic voters in the state valued climate change as their top issue; other polls confirmed similar sentiments among primary voters in Iowa and Nevada. Reflective of the times, Republicans have also demonstrated real interest in advancing various climate-related bills as key voting b… Continue Reading
03.14.20
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Updates on COVID-19: Anchorage case, congressional delegation, Legislative action
by Erin McGroarty
This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)-also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19-isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. Here are updates from health officials, local agencies and organizations, the Legislature and other groups with updates on the state's response to COVID-19. Anchorage Case The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities released more information about the … Continue Reading
03.13.20
The Hill: Senate confirms Trump pick for energy commission seat
by Rachel Frazin
The chamber voted 52-40 to confirm President Trump's pick for a Republican seat on the commission that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. "Mr. Danly has an impressive academic and professional background," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who spoke in the chamber in favor of the nomination. "This is the type of individual who knows his stuff, has a great grasp and a keen understanding of these energy related matters." Danly's nomination was somewhat… Continue Reading
03.12.20
Yakima Herald: Savanna's Act to address missing, murdered indigenous women clears hurdles in Congress
Legislation to combat the epidemic of murdered and missing indigenous women cleared two big hurdles in Congress on Wednesday. Members of the House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Savanna's Act, sending it to the full House of Representatives on Wednesday. The Senate's version of the bill was approved by the full Senate in the afternoon. Among other steps, the legislation would improve data collection and information sharing, standardize law enforcement protocols for responding to case… Continue Reading
03.12.20
KINY: Murkowski’s legislation on missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous people passes Senate
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski today applauded the unanimous Senate passage of two of her bills to address the crisis of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women. The bills, Savanna's Act and Not Invisible Act, are both led by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Catherine Cortez Masto and aim to combat the epidemic by improving the federal government's response through increased coordination, development of best practices, and creation of an advisory committee on violent crime. "The rates of … Continue Reading
03.09.20
Daily Energy Insider: Alaska LNG Project moves forward with final environmental impact study from FERC
by Chris Galford
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) published its final environmental impact study (EIS) for the 800 mile Alaska LNG Project this week, earning cheers from proponents at the opportunity to move forward. "This is a key step forward for Alaska LNG and a significant milestone for the project," U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said. "This final EIS is the culmination of years of research, analysis, and public process. I thank all of the staff at FERC who worked diligently to complete th… Continue Reading
03.09.20
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Coronavirus testing increases in Alaska, no confirmed cases yet
by Erin McGroarty
There are still no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Alaska, according to Gov. Mike Dunleavy who met with state health officials and reporters Monday morning. But the state is ramping up its testing as cases increase around the world. "We have seen a steady increase in testing even over the weekend," said State Chief Medical Officer Anne Zink. "We should expect more cases. We don't have any right now but we should expect more." As of Monday morning, 23 people in Alaska had been teste… Continue Reading
