Murkowski Morning Meeting For Thursday, November 14, 2013

What DC’s Reading

• USA Today – Obama: We “Fumbled” Health Care, Backs off Broken Promise
• Washington Post – VA Secretary Shinseki Continues Pushing to Cut Claim Backlog
• Associated Press – Pentagon Stops Buying Russian-Made Helicopters

U.S. Senate Events

Curbing Alaska’s High Energy Costs Through Domestic Development

Alaskan Impact Alaskans face some of the highest energy costs in the country and understand the importance of access to affordable, reliable energy. Currently, we’re producing more fossil fuels domestically and improving their environmental performance. Chris Smith, the new nominee for Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy at the Department of Energy, will be counted on to ensure that hydrocarbons remain a part of the country’s balanced energy mix. Another area of interest to Alaskans is the great strides Prudhoe Bay has made in methane hydrate research. Earlier today in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Mr. Smith committed to Ranking Republican Lisa Murkowski that he will work to ensure that methane hydrate research receives adequate funding so it has the maximum chance of being successful.

(Nome gas prices, August)

6:00 AKDT

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing

Testimony From:

• Mr. Steven P. Croley to be the General Counsel of the Department of Energy
• Mr. Christopher A. Smith to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (for Fossil Energy)

(Murkowski questions the nominee Christopher Smith on methane hydrates – Click image to watch.)

Watch the entire hearing online: energy.senate.gov

Shortchanging Tribal Health

Alaskan Impact: Though Alaska has watched new tribal health care facilities get built across our state, the federal government is not holding up its side of the bargain on contract support costs that fund the doctors, nurses, contractors and staff. The Supreme Court recently ruled the federal government is required to pay these contract support costs, but the White House is ignoring this requirement. Senator Murkowski was encouraged to hear President Obama acknowledge this issue at the Tribal Nations Summit yesterday, and today she raised these issues in the Senate Committee for Indian Affairs – as well as how sequestration is adding a new level of uncertainty.

(Senator Murkowski touches on Contract Support Cost concerns outside of White House Tribal Nations Conference 11/13 – Click image to watch)

10:30 AKDT

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing

Topic: “Contract Support Costs and Sequestration: Fiscal Crisis in Indian Country.”

Testimony From:

• Kevin Washburn, U.S. Department of the Interior
• Yvette Roubideaux, Indian Health Service
• Alfred “Bud” Lane, Vice Chairman, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians

Watch the entire meeting online: indian.senate.gov

U.S. House Events

Alaskans Should Keep Their Health Care

Alaskan Impact: Though President Obama announced today that he follow through on his frequent 2009 promise and allow Americans to keep their health care plans after all, questions remain over whether he can unilaterally make this change without Congressional input. Senator Murkowski is a co-sponsor of the “If You Like Your Health Care Plan, You Can Keep It” Act, and today a similar bill was discussed in the House to investigate what happens next.

11:00 AKDT

House Rules Committee Meeting

Topic: H.R. 3350, the “Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013”

Watch the entire meeting LIVE online: oversight.house.gov