Murkowski Morning Meeting For Wednesday, February 12, 2014

What DC is Reading

• National Journal – “House Bill Pays to Restore Veterans Benefits Cuts, Heads to Senate”
• Washington Post – “Obama Picks and Chooses Health Care Law Enforcement”
• New York Times – “Snowden Took Advantage of ‘Perfect Storm’ of Security Lapses”

U.S. Senate Events

“Chilling Effect” of Data Collection

Alaskan Impact: The threat of the government spying on telephone calls is enough to give Alaskans chills, who believe in a proper balance of security and privacy. Now Americans are finding that the NSA snooping didn’t make America much safer. Senator Murkowski has been extremely wary of the federal government’s surveillance programs for over a decade. This hearing is to understand and look at reforms to the Telephone Records Program and Foreign Surveillance Court.

6:00 am AKDT

Senate Judiciary Committee – Hearing

Topic: “Reforms to the Section 215 Telephone Records Program and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.”

Witnesses:

• Chairman David Medine, Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB)
• Rachel Brand, PCLOB
• Elisebeth Collins Cook, PCLOB
• James Dempsey PCLOB
• Patricia Wald, PCLOB

(Click to watch)
Chairman Medine: Phone log and data collection is having a “chilling effect” among Americans.

Watch the hearing here: judiciary.senate.gov

Illegal Fishing – a “Half a Billion Dollar Problem for Alaska”

Alaskan Impact: Senator Lisa Murkowski will provide expert testimony on Wednesday in front of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations about the multi-million dollar cost of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing on Alaska’s seafood industry. She is teaming up with Oceans Caucus co-chair Senator Whitehouse to open the hearing.

10:30 am AKDT

Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Hearing

Topic: “Fisheries Treaties and Port State Measures Agreements.”

Witnesses:

• Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; United States Senator
• Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; United States Senator
• Mr. Mark Gleason, Executive Director, Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers
• The Honorable David Balton, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Mr. Russell Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce

Watch the hearing here: foreign.senate.gov

Justice for Rural Alaska

Alaskan Impact: With the release of the U.S. Indian Law & Order Commission in November, the results for Alaskan villages stoked the debate over justice in rural Alaska. Pursuing justice in rural Alaska is difficult with the lack of tribal sovereignty and this hearing will look to address some of these concerns.

10:30 am AKDT

Senate Indian Affairs Committee – Hearing

Topic: “The Indian Law and Order Commission Report: A Roadmap for Making Native America Safer.”

Witnesses:

• The Honorable Kevin Washburn, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington DC
• The Honorable Timothy Q. Purdon, U.S. Attorney, District of North Dakota, U.S. Department of Justice, Fargo, ND
• Mr. Troy Eid, Chairman, Indian Law and Order Commission, Denver, CO
• Ms. Affie Ellis, Commissioner, Indian Law and Order Commission, Cheyenne, WY
• Ms. Tamra Truett Jerue, Director of Social Services and Tribal Administrator, Anvik Tribal Council, Anvik, AK

Watch the hearing here: indian.senate.gov