Murkowski Morning Meeting For Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Note to readers: Yesterday and today are big days for Alaska’s military community, as U.S. Army officials hold listening sessions with Anchorage (Monday) and Fairbanks (today) to hear from Alaskans about the importance of the Army to both our nation’s defense and the Alaskans who are their neighbors, friends and colleagues statewide. With the U.S. Army considering potential troop reductions in some American locations, Senator Murkowski joined dozens of Alaskans and laid out a strong case why “America Needs Alaska.”

What DC is Reading

• Wall Street Journal: The President Won’t Think Clearly About The Islamic State?
• Politico: Behind The Curtain, Troubles Persist In Healthcare.Gov
• USA Today: Keystone XL Pipeline Veto is Purely Political

U.S. Senate Events

Interior Department’s “Unprecedented Attack”

Alaskan Impact: From the Secretary Sally Jewell’s refusal to build a one-lane, 10-mile, non-commercial use, life-saving road for the community of King Cove, to the Obama administration’s proposal to take 12 million additional acres off the table for responsible resource development, the Department of Interior’s decision making has been disruptive and harmful to Alaskans. Today Secretary Jewell testified in front of Chairman Murkowski – who expressed frustration at the Interior Department’s “unprecedented attack.” Murkowski also continued to push Jewell for answers and a life-saving solution for the people of King Cove.

6:00a.m. AKST

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing

Topic: “Department of the Interior’s FY 2016 Budget.”

Witness:

• Sally Jewell, Secretary of Interior

(Click here to watch Senator Murkowski’s opening statement.) (Click here to watch Senator Murkowski question Secretary Jewell’s commitment to Alaska.)

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.

Kerry: Russia Lied “to My Face”

Alaskan Impact: Though Secretary of State John Kerry recently sat down with Senator Murkowski to discuss Arctic matters, a lot of global crises are on his plate — from nuclear negotiations with Iran, to the ISIS fight in Syria and Iraq, to sanctions against Russia. From her vantage point, Senator Murkowski remains incredibly skeptical of the Administration’s fuzzy foreign policy. Today Secretary Kerry told the Senate Appropriations committee that Russia is being dishonest about its activities on the Ukrainian border.

6:00a.m. AKST

Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing

Topic: State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee Hearing on “Department of State’s FY 2016 Budget.”

Witness:

• John Kerry, Secretary of State

U.S. House Events

Protecting College Savings

Alaskan Impact: Alaskan parents were concerned last month when President Obama threatened to tax withdrawals from 529 college savings accounts – a key way that middle class families try to afford college. Senator Murkowski was pleased that the Administration listened to the American people in this instance, and reversed its decision to tax this critical tax savings plan. Today the House Rules Committee considered a bill to update this particular tax code.

1:00p.m. AKST

House Rules Committee Hearing

Topic: “H.R.529, to Amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to Improve 529 Plans.”

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.