Articles & Op-eds
Fairbanks Daily News Miner: Federal funding to support Yukon-Kuskokwim salmon projects
by Jack Barnwell
The large $1.7 trillion omnibus bill approved by Congress last week contains a number of environmental measures that will benefit Alaska's fisheries, including those in the Interior. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who secured some of the funding through her Congressionally Directed Spending requests, and U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola both applauded the inclusion of the items in the omnibus bill. The state will receive $2 million to monitor the salmon population in the Kuskokwim and Yukon River watersheds. … Continue Reading
12.29.22
Alaska Beacon: Private legislation signed by Biden ends legal limbo for former Alaska resident
by Yereth Rosen
A former Alaska resident once threatened with imminent deportation to Mexico because of a paperwork glitch involving her adoption as a newborn has now been granted permanent resident status and a path to citizenship. Rebecca Trimble is the subject of private legislation that was championed by the Alaska Congressional delegation and signed into law by President Biden on Tuesday. Private legislation, which applies to specific individuals, is rare. This was the first piece of private legislation … Continue Reading
12.29.22
Anchorage Daily News: University of Alaska set to receive thousands of acres of land in federal spending package
by Morgan Krakow
The University of Alaska is set to gain hundreds of thousands of acres of land because of a provision in the recently passed, $1.7 trillion federal spending package. The institution, which is a land grant university, has only received a fraction of the land Congress had intended for it. The university has about 30%, or 150,700 acres of the land it's owed. Delaware is the only state with a smaller land grant. The clause in the new spending package creates an avenue for the university to gain ar… Continue Reading
12.29.22
Alaska’s News Source: Woman granted immigration status adjustment after long battle — in Rep. Don Young’s final legislation
by Tim Rockey
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A U.S. Army officer's wife who previously lived in Bethel has finally been granted a status adjustment to allow for her lawful permanent residency in the United States after an eight-year-long battle working toward American citizenship. Rebecca Trimble moved to the U.S. from Mexico when she was just days old to live with her adoptive parents in 1989. She believed that she was an American citizen - and had a birth certificate and social security card - until applying f… Continue Reading
12.29.22
Frontiersman: Murkowski brings home the bacon, including for Mat-Su
by Tim Bradner
Mat-Su communities fared well in the end-of-year bag of programs funded by Sen. Lisa Murkowski's designated projects in the federal omnibus budget bill. In total, Murkowski, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, steered $500 million to Alaska in special funding for 130 projects. The budget bill also approved 12 federal agency appropriation bills including for the Department of Defense, which is important for Alaska. The defense bill included a 4.6 percent pay raise for milit… Continue Reading
12.28.22
Center Square: Millions for Alaska's fisheries included in omnibus package
by Kim Jarrett
(The Center Square) - The $1.7 trillion spending bill passed by Congress includes millions for Alaska's fisheries and a provision that creates a task force to study Alaska's Pacific salmon. The Alaska Salmon Research Task Force will have between 13 and 19 members, with most of them appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, according to a news release from U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy will appoint one member from the state. The task force will be created 90 days from Dec. 23,… Continue Reading
12.27.22
Alaska Public Media: Mount Young: Aleutian volcano is renamed for explosive Alaska congressman
by Liz Ruskin
Any day now, President Joe Biden is expected to sign into law a bill that renames a volcano on a small Aleutian Island after the late Congressman Don Young. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she knew Young's softer side, as well as the reasons for his volatile reputation. She said she and U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan intentionally chose a volcano. "As we were looking for something that might be fitting, we looked not only at mountains, but we looked at mountains that continue to blow their top to this v… Continue Reading
12.27.22
Alaska Landmine: President Biden signs private bill for Rebecca Trimble, military wife and mother government tried to deport
by Jeff Landfield
Rebecca Trimble received a rare and long-awaited Christmas present this year. On December 15, the Senate unanimously passed a private bill for Trimble. The bill was introduced by the late Don Young and passed the House unanimously on June 7. President Joe Biden signed it into law today. The bill allows Trimble, who was inadvertently brought into the U.S. illegally by her adoptive parents when she was only days old, to remain in the country indefinitely. Private bills, which benefit a specific i… Continue Reading
12.27.22
Alaska Public Media: Congress passes bill to help former Bethel resident who faced deportation
by Francisco Martínezcuello
If everything goes right, former Bethel resident Rebecca Trimble will be an American soon. It's a moment that has taken years to reach. Her husband John Trimble, a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, said that they're waiting for a final decision before they celebrate. "You know, like, we've gotten so hopeful so many times along the way and then been disappointed," he said. "That's just how I feel about it. It's definitely exciting, but we've kind of trained ourselves to not get too, too excited… Continue Reading
12.27.22
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Alaska delegation seeks Willow project decision
by Jack Barnwell
Groups from all sides are pressing President Joe Biden to make a decision on the Willow project, a prospective major North Slope oil development on federal land. While conservation groups are pushing the federal government to deny permits for the $8 billion ConocoPhillips project, the Alaska Delegation has been pushing the other way. In a joint news statement, Sens. Lisa Murkowksi and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Mary Peltola said they've met twice with senior Biden officials in an effort to move the… Continue Reading
12.24.22
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Bill naming volcano, federal building after Young heads to White House
by Jack Barnwell
The late Rep. Don Young's legacy will continue to endure in Alaska's history books and on the state's landmarks - including an Aleutian Islands volcano. Mount Cerberus, one of the Aleutian Islands most active volcanoes, will be renamed Mount Young should the president signs the Don Young Recognition Act. Both the House and Senate unanimously passed the bill and sent it to President Joe Biden for final approval. The bill also designates the downtown Fairbanks Federal building at 101 12th Avenu… Continue Reading
12.24.22
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Massive spending bill heads to president, with millions for Interior
by Jack Barnwell
A $1.7 trillion spending bill that include millions for Fairbanks projects passed through the House of Representatives and Senate and hit the president's desk Friday. Sen. Lisa Murkowski secured nearly $500 million in Congressionally Directed Spending projects for Alaska in the omnibus bill that benefit several sectors, from military to workforce, housing and food security. "I'm particularly pleased with the funding we secured to help address those challenges, which will make our communities s… Continue Reading
12.23.22
Alaska Beacon: Fishery disaster aid and nearly $500 million worth of Alaska projects included in omnibus budget bill
by Yereth Rosen
Aid to Alaska fishermen, companies and communities was included in the year-end omnibus appropriations package that won final passage last Friday. The $300 million in aid funding follows official disaster declarations issued last week by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo for Alaska salmon and crab fishery failures dating back to 2020, as well as some salmon failures in Washington state dating back to 2019. "This will be relief for commercial, recreational, subsistence harvesters, all those… Continue Reading
12.23.22
Anchorage Daily News: What’s in the $1.7 trillion government spending bill for Alaska? Lots.
by Riley Rogerson
WASHINGTON - Congress passed a $1.7 trillion spending package Friday to fund the government through September 2023. The omnibus bill funds all corners of the federal government, with $773 billion for domestic spending, $858 billion for military spending and nearly $45 billion for Ukraine assistance. Congress passed the bill in the nick of time, averting a looming shutdown that would have started after government funding expired Friday. The bill also includes millions in appropriations for proj… Continue Reading
12.19.22
KINY: Senate passes Sullivan-Murkowski Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act
by KINY
Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The U.S. Senate last week voted unanimously to pass the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act. The legislation, introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, would form a panel of Alaska's salmon stakeholders and research experts to study Pacific salmon trends and create a coordinated research strategy for Pacific salmon in Alaska to support robust salmon runs. The Research Task Force would be directed to conduct a comprehensive review of Pacific salmon scienc… Continue Reading
12.19.22
Frontiersman: Senate passes the Sullivan-Murkowski Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act
by Frontiersman
In a unanimous vote this week, the U.S. Senate passed the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, legislation introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, which would enable the formation of a panel of Alaska's salmon stakeholders and research experts to study Pacific salmon trends and create a coordinated research strategy for Pacific salmon in Alaska to support strong salmon runs. "Salmon are a fundamental part of life in Alaska-for our families, our communities, our economy, and ou… Continue Reading
12.16.22
Anchorage Daily News: Federal government declares disasters for Alaska fisheries
by Riley Rogerson
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department on Friday announced a series of fishery disaster declarations in Alaska dating back to 2020, a key step toward securing federal disaster assistance. Now that Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has made the determination, the fisheries are eligible to receive disaster assistance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, if Congress appropriates the necessary funds. The announcement comes months after Alaska officials canceled this year's B… Continue Reading
12.13.22
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Pending defense priorities include addressing Alaska's soldier suicide problem
by Amanda Bohman
A bill poised for a vote in the U.S. Senate soon calls for unspecified special duty pay, or "Arctic Pay," for military service in Alaska and authorizes $99 million for a physical fitness annex at Fort Wainwright. The legislation is aimed at setting national defense priorities for the federal fiscal year that started Oct. 1 and also authorizes up to $150 million for acquisition of a commercially-available icebreaker for the U.S. Coast Guard. The National Defense Authorization Act passed the U.S… Continue Reading
12.13.22
KINY: Bill recognizing Congressman Don Young’s legacy approved in U.S. Senate
Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan applauded Senate passage of their legislation, the Don Young Recognition Act. The bill honors the legacy of the late Don Young, Congressman for All Alaska and Dean of the House, who passed away in March 2022 after serving Alaska in the House of Representatives for 49 years. The legislation recognizes Congressman Young's lifelong contributions to Alaska by designating one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian Islands, … Continue Reading
12.12.22
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Bill naming federal building, a volcano and a job center after Don Young clears U.S. Senate
by Amanda Bohman
The U.S. Senate approved a resolution on Monday aimed at naming the federal building in Fairbanks, a volcano and a job center after the late Congressman Don Young. The measure sponsored by Alaska's two senators was approved by unanimous consent. Now it's up to the U.S. House, where Young served for 49 years, earning the title Dean of the House, until he died in March. He was 88. "We miss him every day," said U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, who joined U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski in sponsoring legislation … Continue Reading
