Murkowski Morning Meeting For Tuesday, June 16, 2015

What DC is Reading

• Wall Street Journal (Paywall): U.S. Payments to Health Insurers Still Lack Verification
• Politico: Democrats Block Cybersecurity Bill, Leaving Measure In Limbo
• New York Times: Three Simple Rules for Eating Seafood

U.S. Senate Events

Overseeing the Interior Department’s Agenda

Alaskan Impact: The Department of the Interior has an oversized presence in Alaska, meaning the Interior Appropriations bill has an oversized impact on our state. As Chairman of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murkowski and Alaska is in the position to advance Alaskan priorities through the budgeting process Today, the 2016 spending bill will be released that reflects negotiations with committee members and addresses many Alaska issues, including Arctic initiatives, energy development, public safety projects, and land conveyance issues.

10:30a.m. AKST

Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing

Topic: Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Markup of the FY2016 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.

Boosting Alaska’s Exports

Alaskan Impact: One-third of our state’s exports—almost $1.6 billion annually in goods—are traded with markets in the Asia-Pacific Rim. Last month, Senator Murkowski supported legislation in the Senate to update trade laws and open doors for more trade with some of Alaska’s closest neighbors. Today the Senate Foreign Relation Committee explored what increased trade in the Asia-Pacific means for the nation.

10:30a.m. AKST

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing

Topic: East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy Subcommittee Hearing on “Strategic Implications of Trade Promotion and Capacity-Building in the Asia-Pacific Region”

Witnesses:

• Kurt Tong, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Jason Foley, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Asia Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.

U.S. House Events

Accessing Arctic Resources

Alaskan Impact: In the 1980s, there were 42 wells between the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas that were successfully explored without incident—Shell’s plans for exploration in the Arctic are not the first of its kind. Senator Murkowski is a firm believer that environmental protection and economic activity in the Arctic are not mutually exclusive—oil development on Alaska’s North Slope brought 200 years’ worth of economic development and advancement in a period of roughly 30 years. Today the House Natural Resources Committee heard from industry experts, many from Alaska, on what’s at stake if the U.S. finds further behind other countries in terms of resource development in the Arctic.

6:30a.m. AKST

House Natural Resources Committee Hearing

Topic: Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee Hearing on “Arctic Resources and American Competitiveness”

Witnesses:

• Brian Salerno, Director, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Interior
• Richard Glenn, Executive Vice President of Lands and Natural Resources, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
• Drue Pearce, Senior Policy Advisor, Crowell & Moring
• Christine A. Resler, GeoMarket Manager, Sclumberger Ltd.—Alaska
• Michael LeVine, Pacific Senior Counsel, Oceana

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.