Murkowski Morning Meeting for Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Murkowski Morning Meeting
The DC Daybook with Alaska in Mind
Tuesday, December 13, 2011

U.S. Senate – Events

Alaska’s Water Infrastructure: Challenges and Opportunities

Alaskan Impact: While the lower 48 debates improvements to existing infrastructure, Alaskan communities like Kake and Buckland have only recently flushed a toilet for the first time – and others are still waiting. Sometimes Alaska’s most basic infrastructure projects are blocked by mere bureaucracy, adding time and money to the process. Today the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee heard from EPA officials on the challenges faced in the upkeep and development of water infrastructure.

6:00am AKST
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing
Topic: “Water Infrastructure”
Testimony from:

• James Hanlon, Director – Office of Wastewater Management Environmental Protection Agency
• Greg DiLoreto, President-Elect – American Society of Civil Engineers
• Joe Freeman, Chief – Financial Assistance Division
  State of Oklahoma Water Resources Board

Questioning/Hearing: http://1.usa.gov/u1zA6l
Sen. Sessions to Director Hanlon: What can we do for our water infrastructure in financially lean times?

House of Representatives – Events

National Public Alert System – Is It Working In Alaska?

Alaskan Impact: Alaskans are familiar with the need for alert systems – from our regular earthquakes to strong winds to tsunamis – but questions about the efficiency of these warnings arose this summer with two false alarms in Homer and other Kachemak Bay communities. The Homer City Council has taken steps to opt out of the system controlled by the National Weather Service, relying instead on the Northwest Coast and Alaska Tsunami Center. The House Transportation Committee heard from FEMA and FCC officials on challenges and improvements to the National Public Alert system.

5:30am AKST
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing
Topic: “National Public Alert System’s Effectiveness”
Testimony from:

• Damon Penn, Federal Emergency Management Agency
• James Barnett Jr., chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau
  Federal Communications Commission
• Suzanne Goucher, president and CEO of the Maine Association of Broadcasters

Questioning/Hearing: http://1.usa.gov/uOQQ05

Off the Hill – Events

From the Frontlines to Unemployment Lines

Alaskan Impact: A month has passed since Congress passed much of Senator Murkowski’s “Hiring Heroes” legislation, in an attempt to help veterans who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan as they face staggering unemployment rates. Our youngest veterans, aged 18 – 24, had a 30.4 percent jobless rate in October – double the rate from a year ago. In Alaska, there are 77,000 veterans, with hundreds homeless and looking for work. And as troops return from Iraq this Christmas, numbers are estimated to rise. Today the U.S. Chamber of Commerce discussed their “Hiring Our Heroes” initiative aimed at giving veterans and their families support while transitioning into civilian careers – and why it’s good business.

4:00am AKST
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Topic: “Veterans and Jobs”

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