Murkowski Morning Meeting For Thursday, March 19, 2015

What DC is Reading

• The Hill: $5.7 Billion in Waste Within Health Care Reform Thus Far
• Politico: Clinton’s Blackberry Far Less Secure than a Government Issued Device
• Wall Street Journal: Republican Plan Would Balance Budget in Ten Years

U.S. Senate Events

Outdated Oil Export Ban Should Be Lifted

Alaskan Impact: Since 1975, federal law has allowed Alaska the flexibility to export oil, which has provided new markets for Alaska when its traditional West Coast buyers have been oversupplied. A lot has changed to global markets since 1975, however. Removing the ban on oil exports from the Lower 48 will allow American producers to access global markets, which will boost production, create jobs, increase our energy security, and keep oil affordable. In today’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Chairman Senator Murkowski highlighted the economic and geopolitical benefits of ending the outdated federal ban on exporting most domestic oil production.

6:00a.m. AKDT

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing

Topic: “U.S. Crude Oil Export Policy.”

Witnesses:

• Carlos Pascual, Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy of Columbia University and Senior Vice President of IHS
• Ryan Lance, Chairman and CEO, ConocoPhillips
• Elizabeth Rosenberg, Senior Fellow & Director of the Energy, Economics & Security Program, Center for a New American Security
• Charles T. Drevna, President, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
• Jeff Warmann, CEO, Monroe Energy, LLC

Murkowski Asks Witnesses About Real Effects of Lifting Crude Export Ban

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.

Serving Those Who Served America

Alaskan Impact: From understaffed clinics to long wait times to receive care, Alaska veterans have had their fair share of problems with the VA. Today in a Military Construction/Veterans Administration Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, VA officials updated Senators on what steps they are taking to ensure that veterans are getting the customer experience they deserve.

6:30a.m. AKDT

Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing

Topic: Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Hearing on the FY2016 and FY2017 Budget Request for the Veterans Benefits Administration.

Witnesses:

• Allison Hickey, Undersecretary, Veterans Benefits Administration
• James “Jamie” Manker Jr., CFO, Veterans Benefits Administration
• Thomas Murphy, Director, Veterans Benefits Administration’s Compensation Service

U.S. House Events

Safeguards Against Hackers

Alaskan Impact: This week, Alaskans learned that the Premera Blue Cross IT system was hacked into, potentially risking the personal and financial information of over 11 million Americans. Senator Murkowski believes this is just a further example of the need for a comprehensive cybersecurity bill in the Senate. Today the House Intelligence Hearing heard from various experts on how to prevent cyber-attacks in the future, in order to protect America’s consumers.

5:00a.m. AKDT

House Intelligence Committee Hearing

Topic: “The Growing Cyber Threat and its Impact on American Business.”

Witnesses:

• Tim Pawlenty, CEO, Financial Services Roundtable
• John Latimer, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, TSYS
• Richard Bejtlich, Chief Security Strategist, FireEye
• Andrew Tannenbaum, Counsel for Cybersecurity, IBM