Murkowski Morning Meeting For Tuesday, April 29, 2014

What DC is Reading

• Washington Post: Health Insurers Planning to Raise Costs in 2015
• USA Today: Obama Approval Ratings Reach New Low
• Wall Street Journal: 40% Minimum Wage Increase Would Cost 500K Jobs (Paywall)

U.S. Senate Events

“Building a Better Air Force”

Alaskan Impact: Last summer Senator Lisa Murkowski testified before the Commission on the Structure of the Air Force and pushed back against the proposal to move the F-16’s from Eielson Air Force Base. After this move was rethought, the Air Force reinforced the importance of Alaska as a strategic location for the Pacific theatre by announcing it was considering moving F-35’s to Alaska. Today, the Commission discussed where they are in the process.

5:30 am AKDT

Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing

Topic: “The National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2015 and the Future Years Defense Program.”

Witness:

• Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Deborah Lee James
• Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III
• Retired Lt. Gen. Dennis McCarthy, chair of the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force
• Erin Conaton, vice chair of the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force

(Click to watch)
Sen. Donnelly: What lessons has the Air Force learned through this process?

Watch the hearing here: armed-services.senate.gov

Down Payments on Progress

Alaskan Impact: Developing a young state like Alaska took investment from the federal government to build an infrastructure – and we clearly still have a way to go there. What is not seen as frequently is all the federal government does to innovate and contribute to society in other ways. The Appropriations Committee will discuss this issue later today, and Senator Murkowski plans to ask about the lack of focus on developing an Arctic strategy, as well as the government’s capacity to help fight Lou Gehrig’s disease.

10:30 am AKDT

Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing

Topic: “Driving Innovation through Federal Investments.”

Witnesses:

• John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Ernest Moniz, Energy Secretary
• Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health
• France Cordova, director of the National Science Foundation
• Arati Prabhakar, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Watch the hearing here: appropriations.senate.gov

U.S. House Events

Alaska’s Energy Economy

Alaskan Impact Alaska has a long history of producing and securing jobs for skilled energy workers. Altogether, half of Alaska’s jobs (187,000) can be traced to oil development. If Alaska is any example, energy jobs can revolutionize a community and provide solid skill training and future opportunities. Today the House of Representatives discussed all the potential still held within the energy sector.

6:00 am AKDT

House Natural Resources Committee Hearing

Topic: “American Energy Jobs: Opportunities for Skilled Trade Workers.”

Witnesses:

• Mike Rowe, CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation
• Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions
• Robert Flurer, vice president of Skeels Electric Company
• Monica Martinez, president and secretary of the Hispanics in Energy

Watch the hearing here: naturalresources.house.gov