Murkowski Morning Meeting For Wednesday, April 22, 2015

What DC is Reading

• Washington Post: A Chill is Already in the Air Ahead of the Arctic Council
• Wall Street Journal: Obama’s Shadowy Yemen Move
• U.S. News: It’s Not Your Imagination: Congress Really Is Working More

U.S. Senate Events

Public Lands Don’t Feel Public

Alaskan Impact: For Alaskans, where 63 percent of our lands are already held by the federal government, and where access to lands is sometimes solely by boat or plane or snowmachine, maintenance of facilities is a critical link between users and otherwise inaccessible lands. Today, the Energy Committee discussed the Land and Water Conservation Act, and Senator Murkowski highlighted the need for a switch from federal land acquisition to maintenance and enhancing accessibility. At a time when federal land management agencies are facing a growing maintenance backlog, access priorities need to be clearly defined.

6:00a.m. AKST

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Hearing

Topic: “Reauthorization of and Potential Reforms to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.”

Witnesses:

• Michael Conner, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior
• Lewis Ledford, Executive Director, National Association of State Park Directors
• Lynn Scarlett, Managing Director of Public Policy, The Nature Conservancy
• Reed Watson, Executive Director, The Property and Environment Research Center

(Click image to watch)
Murkowski: These are public spaces, but they don’t feel public to us.

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.

Improving Federal Disaster Response

Alaskan Impact: While our mild winter caused quite a challenge for this year’s Iditarod, it means good news for our state’s low potential for ice jam flooding this spring. In the past, FEMA has been instrumental in assisting Alaskans during disasters and in the aftermath—and we continue to learn valuable lessons from those experiences. Today Senator Murkowski plans to question FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on many Alaska-related issues, including whether or not FEMA staff is sent into Alaska and our native communities with any local or cultural knowledge. (Hearing may be cancelled due to Senate votes)

10:00a.m. AKST

Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing

Topic: Proposed Budget Estimates and Justification for FY2016 for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

U.S. House Events

Iran Wariness

Alaskan Impact: Alaskans are watching the ongoing conversations about the potential Iran nuclear deal. Senator Murkowski recently co-sponsored legislation mandating that the final Iran deal be presented to Congress for consideration. But can America trust the Iranian government to uphold their side of the bargain, especially given the fact the U.S. just sent warships to monitor vessels traveling from Iran in suspicion of providing weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen? Today the House Foreign Affairs Committee discussed how to ensure the Iran nuclear deal is enforceable, verifiable, and accountable.

10:00 am

House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing

Topic: “Nuclear Agreement with Iran: Can’t Trust, Can We Verify?”

Witnesses:

• David Albright, Founder and President, Institute for Science and International Security
• Charles Duelfer, Chairman, Omnis, Inc.
• Stephen Rademaker, National Security Advisor, Bipartisan Policy Center

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.