Articles & Op-eds
KTUU: Family, friends help unveil Senator Ted Stevens' portrait in Old Senate Chamber
by Peter Zampa
The Alaskan of the 20th Century took his historic place in the halls of Capitol Hill Wednesday. The unveiling of Senator Ted Stevens' (R-AK) portrait took place in the Old Senate Chamber with folks from around the country in attendance. Stevens was one of the longest serving Republicans in Senate history, serving as President Pro Tempore from 2003 to 2007. The unveiling of Senator Ted Stevens' portrait immortalized the late senator in the building he walked more than almost anyone. "The artis… Continue Reading
10.21.19
Alaska Public Media: Pushed by young people, AFN declares a climate emergency
by Zachariah Hughes
The 53rd Alaska Federation of Natives convention wrapped up in Fairbanks late Saturday afternoon. Conference attendees heard remarks by both U.S. senators, and voted on a number or resolutions, which included a contentious debate on climate change, a topic that came up repeatedly. AFN delegates approved a measure declaring a state of emergency over climate change. The resolution was authored by young participants in the Elders and Youth conference, and also called for the creation of a leadershi… Continue Reading
10.21.19
KTVA: Murkowski bill aims to protect Alaska Native women
by Jennifer Summers
A new bill introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski aims to help tribes protect and defend Alaska Native women. A pilot program under the bill would allow certain Alaskan tribes jurisdiction over everyone in their village, including non-natives. According to Murkowski's office, the Alaska Tribal Public Safety Empowerment Act would expand the Violence Against Women Act of 2013 (VAWA) now available in Indian Country to Alaska Native villages. Murkowski's bill addresses the high rate of domestic violence… Continue Reading
10.21.19
Murkowski bill aims to protect Alaska Native women
by Jennifer Summers
A new bill introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski aims to help tribes protect and defend Alaska Native women. A pilot program under the bill would allow certain Alaskan tribes jurisdiction over everyone in their village, including non-natives. According to Murkowski's office, the Alaska Tribal Public Safety Empowerment Act would expand the Violence Against Women Act of 2013 (VAWA) now available in Indian Country to Alaska Native villages. Murkowski's bill addresses the high rate of domestic violence… Continue Reading
10.17.19
E&E News: Nobel-winning scientist on 100% renewables, EVs and Murkowski
by David Laconangelo
Lithium-ion batteries have become a cornerstone of backing up wind and solar power, but one of the scientists who won a Nobel Prize last week for helping develop the technology says a world of 100% renewables may not be desirable. "I'm not sure you ever want to go to 100% of anything," said Stan Whittingham, a longtime professor of chemistry and materials science at the State University of New York's Binghamton campus, known as Binghamton University, during a phone interview after the Nobel ann… Continue Reading
10.17.19
Peninsula Clarion: Murkowski writes bill to address domestic violence in rural Alaska
by Peter Segall
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced the introduction of legislation Thursday meant to address domestic violence in rural Alaska. The Alaska Tribal Public Safety Empowerment Act would expand the jurisdiction of the 2013 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) on a pilot basis for five years, according to the text of the bill. A press release from Murkowski's office said VAWA "provided that tribes have the power to prosecute certain non-Natives who violate qualifying protection orders or com… Continue Reading
10.17.19
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: 'The challenge is very great': Public safety a major topic at AFN
by Kyrie Long
Discussion of public safety issues drove the dialogue during the afternoon portion of the annual Alaska Federation of Natives Convention's opening day. The first of two panels dedicated to public safety in Alaska Native communities was preceded by remarks from U.S. Attorney General William Barr, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan, introduced by AFN President Julie Kitka. Barr came to Alaska this spring and, after visiting several communities, issued a federal declaration of emergency fo… Continue Reading
10.17.19
Anchorage Daily News: U.S. Attorney General announces additional $42 million for rural Alaska public safety
by Kyle Hopkins
The U.S. Department of Justice will give $42 million to Alaska Native tribes and to support tribal victim services and village law enforcement, Attorney General William P. Barr said Thursday. Barr announced the funding in a video broadcast at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Fairbanks, the largest annual gathering of Alaska Natives in the state. A Daily News and ProPublica investigation, published in May, found that one in three Alaska communities have no local law enforcement. Ba… Continue Reading
10.15.19
Anchorage Daily News: Trump administration proposes lifting restrictions on logging, road building in Tongass National Forest
by James Brooks
The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to end development restrictions in Southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the agency announced Tuesday. The proposal comes in response to a request from the state of Alaska and is the latest turn in almost two decades of debate, discussion and lawsuits over the proper use of the Tongass. In a written statement, the Forest Service said it will soon open public comment on the proposal, which would create an exemption to the 2001 Roadless Rule that bans m… Continue Reading
10.14.19
Ms. Magazine: Congress Can Help Girls Worldwide Stay in School
by Kefai Debebe
Every year on October 11, when the world celebrates the International Day of the Girl Child, I think of young women like Alem, who I met in Ethiopia this past summer. Alem was thirteen when her father arranged for her to marry one of the older men in her village. She ran away and came to the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, to find work. In Ethiopia, where my family is from, child marriage is the norm. There, as in many countries around the world, girls like Alem are married to near-stran… Continue Reading
10.14.19
Alaska Journal of Commerce: High hurdles remain on efforts to control health care costs
by Elwood Brehmer
State health officials are promising better communication with their private sector counterparts while national lawmakers struggle to advance seemingly popular health care reforms. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum and Sen. Lisa Murkowski recalled recent challenges and discussed their views on the future of health care policy Oct. 2 at the Alaska State of Reform health care conference held each fall in Anchorage. Crum acknowledged that the first 10 months o… Continue Reading
10.08.19
Bloomberg: INSIGHT: NELA—A Big, Bipartisan Opportunity for Nuclear Power
by Sarah E Hunt
After the recent closing of Three Mile Island, the U.S. needs to follow the bipartisan goals of the proposed Nuclear Energy Leadership Act to support the continued development of American advanced nuclear technologies by boosting investment in research and development, fuel security, and workforce development, writes Sarah E. Hunt, co-founder and CEO of the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy. Nuclear science is hard, and most Americans don't realize how close our country is to losing the sk… Continue Reading
10.08.19
Anchorage Daily News: Alaska senators condemn Trump administration’s U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria
by Zaz Hollander
Joining other Republicans in Congress, both of Alaska's senators are criticizing President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria's northern border with Turkey. The decision, announced late Sunday, has already started the withdrawal of a small contingent of forces, estimated at 50 to 100, participating in joint patrols under a U.S.-Turkish agreement to establish a safe zone on the Syrian side, according to the Washington Post. Republican lawmakers are calling on the preside… Continue Reading
10.07.19
mHealth Intelligence: Senators Ask HHS to Sustain Project ECHO Telemedicine Programs
by Eric Wicklund
Close to two dozen senators are urging the Health and Human Services Department to find sustainable funding for Project ECHO telemedicine programs. In a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, 22 senators urged the federal agency to issue CMS guidance to states and healthcare providers on available Medicaid financing for the innovative telehealth service, and to explore funding opportunities through existing Medicare programs. They called the connected health platform a key cog in the framework of … Continue Reading
10.04.19
Lexology: PROTECT Act Seeks to Bolster Domestic Electric Grid Cybersecurity
by Todd Mullins
On Sept. 26, 2019, the Protecting Resources on the Electric Grid with Cybersecurity Technology (PROTECT) Act was introduced in the Senate. An amendment to the Federal Power Act, the PROTECT Act aims to more effectively safeguard and defend the U.S. electric grid from global cyber intruders. Sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), chair of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and introduced by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Angus Ki… Continue Reading
10.03.19
KTUU: Trump relaxes EPA emission regulations on generators in rural Alaska
by Gilbert Cordova and Lex Treinen
The White House Press Office says President Trump signed into law a rule to exempt rural Alaska from emissions requirements for diesel generators. The bill, "Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act," rolls back some Obama-era regulations on diesel generators. But according to Dave Messier, the rural energy coordinator for Tanana Chiefs Conference, the new rules could actually decrease emissions, as the previous requirements made purchasing newer generators cost-prohibitive. "So… Continue Reading
10.03.19
Daily Energy Insider: Trump announces intent to nominate James Danly to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
by Kevin Randolph
President Donald Trump announced his intent this week to nominate James P. Danly as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Danly would serve the remainder of a five-year term expiring June 30, 2023. "I welcome the President's decision to nominate a Republican commissioner and to fill a critical seat that has now been vacant for nine full months," Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said. "We will need to receive both … Continue Reading
10.02.19
Ripon Advance: Cassidy introduces bipartisan bill creating exceptions process for medication step therapy
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) is cosponsoring a bipartisan bill that would require a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan to provide an exceptions process for any medication step therapy protocol. Such protocols are used by health plans to control spending on patient's medications and to ensure patients may safely and efficiently access treatment. In some instances, step therapy protocols may ignore a patient's unique situation and medical histor… Continue Reading
10.02.19
KTVA: Sen. Murkowski says Alaskans should feel sick about high rates of sexual assault and domestic violence
by Lauren Maxwell
Sen. Lisa Murkowski urged Alaskans to take a stand against domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse at an event Tueday at Southcentral Foundation to mark the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. "We have statistics that no one should be proud of," said Murkowski, referring to what are consistently some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the country, including a new one that says rape in Alaska has increased to four times the national average. "We cannot accept it. We … Continue Reading
10.01.19
Maritime Executive: Op-Ed: Congress Should Honor WWII Merchant Marine Veterans
by Denise Krepp
The House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 550, Merchant Mariners of World War II Congresional Gold Medal Act of 2019. The bill was sponsored by Representative John Garamendi (D-CA) and it passed by voice vote. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced identical langauge in the Senate, S. 133, but to date the Senate hasn't voted on it. Both bills reference the merchant mariners' contribution to winning the war. Merchant mariners transported combat equipment, fuel, food, commodities, and… Continue Reading
