Murkowski Morning Meeting for Thursday, November 3, 2011

Murkowski Morning Meeting
The DC Daybook with Alaska in Mind
Thursday, November 3, 2011

U.S. Senate – Events

Protecting Veterans From Predators On the Home Front

Alaskan Impact: Alaska has the highest concentration of veterans in the nation: 77,000, or 17 percent of our population. Today’s veterans face a complicated range of challenges when they return home – coping with mental illness and medical expenses, high unemployment rates, and homelessness. But many also deal with financial issues, turning to payday loans that can turn a $500 loan into $15,0000 of debt. With Alaska-based military deployments expected to rise, the Senate Banking Committee examined what protections are in place for veterans and what more can be done to assist service members and their families.

6:00am AKDT
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing
Topic: “Veteran Consumer Financial Protections”
Testimony from:

• Holly Petraeus, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Bonnie Spain, executive and CEO of the Rushmore Consumer Credit Resource Center
• Retired Adm. Charles Abbott, president and CEO of Navy-Marine Corps Relief

Questioning/Hearing: http://1.usa.gov/uj3CrC

Petraeus: Millions of “unscrupulous” lenders operating outside the law, targeting America’s military.

House of Representatives – Events

Getting Solyndra Information “Like Extracting a Tooth without Anesthesia”

Alaskan Impact: Earlier this morning, the House Energy and Commerce Oversight Subcommittee voted 14-9 to subpoena internal White House documents on Solyndra – an issue that Senator Murkowski has publicly questioned for weeks. As details continue to emerge, she is pressing Senate Democrats to hold an oversight hearing on the Department of Energy’s loan guarantee program following the bankruptcies of the Solyndra and Beacon renewable energy companies.

(Link: Murkowski calling loan guarantee “a colossal failure.”)

5:00am AKDT
House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing
Topic: “Solyndra Loan Guarantee Subpoena”Information on Hearing:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=9066

Washington Post:

“Do More With Less” – U.S. Coast Guard Needs More

Alaskan Impact: The U.S. Coast Guard is vital to U.S. Arctic exploration, providing needed research and analysis. But it needs more icebreakers, having only one medium icebreaker compared to Russia’s fleet of 33. Senator Murkowski recently got a first-hand look at the latest technologies aboard the USCG’s newest national security cutter. As the USCG continues to balance its Arctic mission in the wake of budget cuts, action is needed for further development before U.S. capacity to develop our resources falls behind countries like Russia and China.

1:00am AKDT
House Rules Committee Hearing
Topic: “Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act”

Questioning/Hearing: http://1.usa.gov/uJaGf2

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.
www.murkowski.senate.gov