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Murkowski Morning Meeting for Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Murkowski Morning Meeting
The DC Daybook with Alaska in Mind
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
BREAKING – Debt/Deficit Update
Last night, the House passed the debt deal – with a surprise guest. Just moments ago, Senator Murkowski voted in favor of the budget bill, but said it’s just “the end of the beginning” in dealing with our deficit.
U.S. Senate – Events
Alaskan Kids Without Care?
Alaskan Impact: Alaska is 1 of 17 states not allowing child only enrollment for health insurance, according to a survey released in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee today. One reason: A provision in health care legislation allows parents to get their child covered at anytime – including scenarios where a parent is taking his/her child to the hospital, causing insurance providers to opt out. Some states offer an “open enrollment” period for child enrollment. Could that work for Alaska?
6:00am AKDT
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Hearing
Topic: “Health Reform and Health Insurance Premiums”
Testimony from:
- Steve Larsen, director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- John Dicken, director of health care, Government Accountability Office
Sen. Murkowski asking Larsen about how to help Alaskans: http://bit.ly/rgTd3l
Addressing the Nation’s Mortgage Meltdown
Alaskan Impact: Alaska’s housing market has seen a serious spillover from the Lower 48’s mortgage crisis. Senate Banking Committee heard testimony on development of new national mortgage servicing standards. Setting new standards has been in the works after a report from federal regulators stated that the mortgage servicing industry was unprepared and poorly structured to address rapid increased in defaults and foreclosures after the financial crisis.
6:00am AKDT
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing
Topic: “National Mortgage Servicing Standards”
Testimony from:
- Jack Hopkins, president and CEO of CorTrust Bank
Questioning/Hearing: http://1.usa.gov/redU6e
House of Representatives – Events
Russia Joins the Fight Against Alcoholism
Alaskan Impact: Alaska’s alcoholism rates are staggering, with rates for men in rural communities even larger – as well as the highest rate of babies born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (49 percent between 1996 and 2002) in the nation. Some communities around Alaska have placed bans on alcohol in an effort to decrease high teenage alcohol abuse rates. The Helsinki Commission heard what else can be done to reduce the high rates of alcoholism in the U.S.
8:30am AKDT
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) Briefing
Topic: “Russian-U.S. Cooperation in the Fight Against Alcoholism”
Participants:
- Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md.
- Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J.
Video: http://1.usa.gov/o8LxeK
Off the Hill – Events
America’s “Energy Mix”
Alaskan Impact: Today the American Energy Project discussed our nation’s energy choices: more domestic oil production and natural gas, to renewable projects and other new technologies. Senator Murkowski supports an “all of the above” approach to energy security. The opportunities for our energy solution to creating jobs and reducing America’s dependency on foreign oil seem endless – but what else can be done to develop new technologies?
8:30am AKDT
The American Security Project – Discussion
Topic: “Energy Mix”
For more information on what’s happening in Washington, D.C. or to find out Senator Murkowski’s view on these issues – contact the Communications Office at 202-224-9301.