Murkowski Morning Meeting For Wednesday, April 2, 2014

What DC is Reading

• Washington Post: Intelligence Director Confirms Warrantless Searches of Americans
• Associated Press: Rural Health Care Costs More Expensive With Health Care Law
• The Hill: The Top Five Myths About Foreign Aid

U.S. Senate Events

Talking Alaska with the Air Force Secretary

Alaskan Impact: Alaska’s F-16s are staying at Eielson and the Air Force recently announced F-35s could be on the way, both announcements signaling that our state’s geographic position – both in terms of defending us from the threats across the Pacific and positioning us near the Arctic Circle – is prized by the Pentagon. Earlier today, Senator Lisa Murkowski asked the Secretary of the Air Force about the Pentagon’s vision for Alaska and the National Guard’s plan to address sexual assault among the ranks.

6:00 am AKDT

Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing

Defense Subcommittee

Topic: “Proposed budget estimates for FY2015 for the Department of the Air Force.”

Witnesses:

• Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force
• Gen. Mark Welsh III, chief of staff of the Air Force
• Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau

(Click to watch clip)

Watch the hearing here: appropriations.senate.gov

Protecting Our First People

Alaskan Impact: Alaska Native children and families face staggering statistics of obesity, domestic violence, health ailments and substance abuse. Senator Murkowski recently has introduced or co-sponsored four separate bills to address these challenges. Today, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs heard testimony from witnesses – including an Alaskan – to explore improving the quality of life for Alaska Natives, Native Americans and Native Hawaiians.

10:30 am AKDT

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Hearing

Topic: Consideration of S.1474 the Safe Families and Village Act of 2013, S.1570, to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to authorize advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service and S.1622, to establish the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children

Witnesses:

• Former Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., founder and chairman of the Aspen Institute’s Center for Native American Youth
• Kevin Washburn, Assistant Interior Secretary for Indian Affairs
• Lillian Sparks, commissioner of the HHS Administration of Native Americans
• Natasha Singh, tribal judge of Stevens Village, Stevens Village, Alaska
• Leander McDonald, chairman of the Spirit Lake Dakota Nation, Fort Totten, N.D.

Watch the hearing here: indian.senate.gov

U.S. House Events

America, the Energy Exporter

Alaskan Impact: Senator Lisa Murkowski has been leading the national debate over lifting the ban on oil exports. In her testimony before the House committee, she once again laid out a three-step road map for the Obama administration to end the ban on crude exports. Murkowski pointed to a report she released last month detailing steps Congress has already taken to give the president the authority to declare oil exports in the national interest.

10:00 am AKDT

House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing

Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee

Topic: “The Crude Truth: Evaluating U.S. Energy Trade Policy.”

Witnesses:

• Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Senate Energy and Natural Resources
• Michael Jennings, CEO and president of the HollyFrontier Corporation
• Erik Milito, American Petroleum Institute
• Kenneth Medlock III, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at the James A Baker III Institute for Public Policy

Watch the hearing here: foreignaffairs.house.gov