United States Senator Lisa Murkowski

U.S. Senate Events 

We Are Not Running Out of Energy, We Are Running Out of Excuses

(Click to watch 1:25 floor remarks)

Alaskan Impact: Not only has Senator Murkowski toured Alaska’s traditional and renewable energy sites recently, she has also toured successful resource development projects in North Dakota, the Gulf of Mexico and West Virginia. Her #1 takeaway?  It is within our power to end our dependence on OPEC oil by increasing domestic productions – creating jobs and raising revenues at the same time. Senator Murkowski spoke about this crucial issue on the Senate floor this morning.

Alaska Weighs in on Federal-Tribal Relationship

Alaskan Impact: Tribal sovereignty has been an issue in Alaska since before the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971. Since that time, a number of cases have been tried in Alaskan courts over tribal self-governance and self-determination.  Today, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will discuss the progress of Federal-Tribal relationships from a panel, including Alaska’s own Ian Erlich of the Maniilaq Native Association.

10:15am AKDT
Senate Indian Affairs Committee Hearing
Topic: “Advancing the Federal-Tribal Relationship through Self-Governance and Self-Determination”
Testimony from:

• Deputy Assistant Interior Secretary-Indian Affairs Lawrence Roberts
• Ian Erlich, President of Maniilaq Native Association (Alaska)
• Charles Head, Secretary of State for the Cherokee Nation

Watch the entire hearing online: http://1.usa.gov/Qnkf6T

House of Representatives Events

Fast and Furious Findings

Alaskan Impact: Yesterday’s internal Justice Department review of the controversial Fast and Furious operation urges disciplinary actions for 14 DoJ officials guilty of a “disregard for public safety.”  Closer to home, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms came under fire by Alaskans earlier this year for illegally contacting a local gun owner about customer sales receipts.  Today, members of the House pressed for more details about the DoJ’s practices and the Fast and Furious report.    

5:30am AKDT
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Hearing
Topic: “IG Report: The Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General Examines the Failures of Operation Fast and Furious”
Testimony from:

• Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz

Watch the entire hearing online: http://1.usa.gov/v3uZvX

Strengthening U.S. Coast Guard Assets

Alaskan Impact: Sen. Murkowski toured a number of U.S. Coast Guard facilities during the August Senate recess, saying during a Kodiak field hearing she wants to ensure Guard members are not subjected to undue danger.  The Coast Guard has been working to replace some of its aging assets since the 1990s, but cost overruns and construction delays have put the project 10 years behind schedule, and left the Coast Guard with crumbling infrastructure.  How do we move forward?

10:00am AKDT
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing
Topic: "A Review of the Challenges Maintaining Legacy Assets Pose to United States Coast Guard Mission Performance."

Testimony from:

• Rear Adm. Ronald Rabago, Assistant Coast Guard Commandant for Engineering and Logistics
• Stephen Caldwell, Government Accountability Office

Watch the entire hearing online: http://1.usa.gov/SM4BVF