Murkowski Morning Meeting For Thursday, April 23, 2015

Note to readers: Earlier today, Senator Murkowski cast her vote against advancing the nomination of Loretta Lynch and will be opposing her in the final yes/no vote being held later. To read the details of her reasoning, click here.

What DC is Reading

• New York Times: Accountability? Few V.A. Execs From Scandal Punished
• Washington Post: Inequality’s Big Enabler? The Tax Code
• USA Today: New Postal Service Fleet Could Include Drones

U.S. Senate Events

Stifling Innovation

Alaskan Impact: Alaskans are already having a difficult time with the costly and flawed implementation of the affordable care act. The medical device tax, a provision of the Affordable Care Act, is harmful in a less-visible way: by stifling innovation and sending jobs out of the country. Back in 2013, Senator Murkowski voted to repeal this tax on pacemakers and artificial joints, as part of the effort to end the government shutdown and has sponsored legislation to undo it. Today the Senate Finance Committee revisited the issue of the medical device tax—and looked at its unintended, and harmful, consequences.

6:00a.m. AKST

Senate Finance Committee Hearing

Topic: “A Fresh Look at the Impact of the Medical Device Tax on Jobs, Innovation, and Patients.”

Witnesses:

• Bruce A. Heugel, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, B.Braun of America
• Quinton J. Farrar, Principal Partner, West Surry Strategies, LLC.
• Alyra Donisvitch, Diabetes Patient
• Mark Judge, Patient Advocate, South Fayette Township, PA

(Click image to watch video.)
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC): “It’s not just a 2.3% tax, it adds up to nearly 30%! It’s an elimination of resources to innovate, to create, to extend the lives of Americans.”

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.

Making Alaska’s Skies Safe

Alaskan Impact: With more than 80 percent of our communities off the road system, Alaskans depend heavily on aviation – it’s a lifeline. And with so much of Alaska accessible only by air, it’s no wonder we have more private planes per capita than any other state. Since we’re such an aviation-dependent state, the Federal Aviation Administration plays a huge role in Alaska. Every several years, Congress is required to enact legislation to authorize funding and set policy priorities for the FAA. As the current law expires this fall, today the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee examined the funding of airport capital needs and small community air service issues.

5:45a.m. AKST

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Hearing

Topic: Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing on “FAA Reauthorization: Airport Issues and Infrastructure Financing.”

Witnesses:

• Gerald Dillingham, Government Accountability Office
• Sharon Pinkerton, Senior Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Airlines for America
• Todd Hauptli, President and CEO, American Association of Airport Executives
• Mark Reis, Managing Director, Aviation Division, Port of Seattle
• Michael J. Minerva, Vice President, Government and Airport Affairs, American Airlines

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.

U.S. House Events

Combatting Drug Abuse

Alaskan Impact: It’s the sad truth that drug abuse is a reality in Alaska—something we must combat on every front. It’s taking a heavy toll on our state, and it impacts everyone—veterans, Natives, our youth. In 2013, Senator Murkowski cosponsored legislation that addressed the issue of prescription drug abuse among our nation’s service members and veterans, giving them an avenue to return a dispose of unneeded and dangerous drugs. Today the House Energy and Commerce Committee heard from health professionals on what needs to be done to combat this epidemic.

6:15a.m. AKST

House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing

Topic: “Combatting the Opioid Abuse Epidemic: Professional and Academic Perspectives.”

Witnesses:

• Dr. Robert L. DuPont, President, Institute For Behavior and Health
• Dr. Marvin D. Seppala, Chief Medical Officer, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
• Dr. Laurence M. Westreich, President, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
• Dr. Anna Lembke, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Medical Center Psychiatry Department
• Dr. Adam Bisaga, Columbia University Medical Center, NYS Psychiatric Institute
• Dr. Patrice Harris, American Medical Association

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.