Sequestration and Alaska’s Military

What DC’s Reading

• Politico: “Health Care Official – More Bad News is Coming”
• Stars and Stripes “Senators Pushing to Protect Military Sexual Assault Victims”
• New York Times: “GOP Seeking to Curb Fringe Influence”

U.S. Senate Events

Sequestration and Alaska’s Military Infrastructure

Alaskan Impact: Alaska’s military population is a valuable component of our state and culture. Disruptive sequestration cuts – the blind, across-the-board cuts to federal programs without any discretion – are a great concern to America’s Armed Forces. Senator Murkowski has advocated for smarter judgment when making cuts to the military – cutting things like Super Bowl flyovers before funds for training, for example. Today the Senate Armed Services examined the ripple effect of cuts on military readiness and morale.

5:30am AKDT

Senate Armed Services Committee

Topic: “The Impact of Sequestration on the National Defense”

Testimony From:

• General Raymond Odierno, Army Chief of Staff
• Admiral Johnathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations
• General James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps
• General Mark Welsh III, Chief of Staff of the Air Force

(Click image for excerpt)

USAF General Welsh: Alaskan airmen getting frustrated at sequestration impacts.

Watch the entire recorded hearing online: armed-services.senate.gov

Alaskan Affordable Housing Options

Alaskan Impact: Affordable housing poses unique challenges in Alaska, but some communities are making headway. In Juneau, the Affordable Housing Commission is working on addressing a housing deficit. Keeping heating costs low for Alaskans in low income housing was helped last year by Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grants. In Anchorage, ensuring housing remains affordable is the main priority for the 2014 Housing and Development Plan. Today a Senate Committee examined possibilities for making housing affordable across the state and the nation.

6:00am AKDT

Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing

Topic: “Essential Elements to Provide Affordable Options for Housing”

Testimony from:

• Hilary Shelton, Executive Director, NAACP
• Rick Judson, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders
• Sheila Crowley, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition

(Click for excerpt)

Crowley shares story of woman who “hopes to get housing before she dies.”

Watch the entire meeting online: banking.senate.gov

U.S. House Events

House not in session

In Case You Missed It – “Words Are Not Solving the Problem” of Military Sexual Assault

Yesterday, Senator Murkowski joined a broad political coalition of her Senate colleagues to push for the passage of the Military Justice Improvement Act – designed to improve protections for victims of sexual assault in our armed forces.

(Senator Murkowski cites need for Military Justice Improvement Act – Click image to view)