Murkowski Morning Meeting For Thursday, July 17, 2014

What DC is Reading

• Washington Post: New Obamacare Challenge: Americans Don’t Understand It
• U.S. News and World Report: State Department Names Former Coast Guard Commandant to oversee US policy in Arctic
• The New York Times: Rupert Murdoch To Buy Time Warner?

U.S. Senate Events

Delivering for the Military’s Bottom Line

Alaskan Impact: Whether it’s our military installations or geographic location, the Department of Defense has a significant presence in Alaska, and its yearly budget is a reflection of the nation’s appreciation and support for the military. Senator Murkowski today inserted amendments into the FY15 Defense Appropriations bill reflecting Alaskan priorities including: missile defense spending, combat rescue helicopters utilized by the Air National Guard, Arctic icebreakers, seafood certification, and ALS medical research.

6:30a.m. AKDT

Senate Appropriates Committee Markup

Topic: “Full Committee Markup of the FY2015 Defense Department Appropriations Bill.”

Click here to listen to Senator Murkowski’s remarks on the legislation.

Watching the Border Crisis

Alaskan Impact: As more information is coming out about the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, Senator Murkowski wants to get to the root of the issue and find out why so many young children are escaping from their home countries and crossing the border illegally. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today asked that question in order to determine the next steps to stem the flow of unaccompanied minors at the border.

6:00a.m. AKDT

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing

Topic: “Dangerous Passage: Central America in Crisis and the Exodus of Unaccompanied Minors.”

Witnesses:

• Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., Counselor, Department of State
• Bruce Schwartz, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of Justice
• Sonia Nazario, author and journalist
• Cynthia Arnson, Director, Latin America Program, Woodrow Wilson Center
• Stephen Johnson, Regional Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, International Republic Institute

Watch the hearing by clicking here.

Protecting Our Patients

Alaskan Impact: With the recent news that four major Alaskan hospitals may face fines from the federal government because of high infection rates and serious complications, Senator Murkowski wants to make sure Alaskan patients receive the care they deserve. Today the HELP Committee determined how to increase the quality of patient care and decrease the number of preventable deaths.

6:00a.m. AKDT

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Primary Healthy and Aging Subcommittee Hearing

Topic: “More Than 1,000 Preventable Deaths a Day Is Too Many: The Need to Improve Patient Safety.”

Witnesses:

• John James, Founder, Patient Safety America
• Dr. Ashish Jha, Harvard School of Public Health
• Dr. Tejal Gandhi, President, National Patient Safety Foundation
• Lisa McGiffert, Director, Safe Patient Project

Watch the hearing by clicking here.

U.S. House Events

Demanding Answers from the IRS’ Political Profiling

Alaskan Impact: Alaskans deserve a fair and impartial investigation, either by the DOJ or a special prosecutor, into the IRS’s “political profiling” of conservative groups and the disappearance of Lois Lerner’s emails. As claims come forward that the Justice Department may not be able to conduct a truly independent investigation into the IRS targeting scheme, the House Oversight Committee discussed what the next course of action should be.

5:00a.m. AKDT

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Economic Growth, Job Creation, and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee Hearing

Topic: “Examining the Justice Department’s Response to the IRS Targeting Scandal.”

Watch the hearing by clicking here.