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Murkowski Morning Meeting For Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Note to readers: After yesterday’s update was sent out, the VA’s Office of the Inspector General made public the findings of an investigation of the Wasilla clinic and Alaska VA done at the request of Senator Murkowski. Senator Murkowski told reporters is was a “scathing report” that confirmed many of Alaskans “worst suspicions” – and urged the VA to swiftly implement the reforms suggested by the report.
What DC is Reading
- Business Insider: US Coast Guard Chief: We Are ‘Not Even In The Same League As Russia’ In The Arctic
- Washington Post Editorial: Administration Still Without a Syria Plan
- New York Times: Ever-Growing Waits for Veterans’ Care
U.S. Senate Events
Balancing Security and Privacy
Alaskan Impact: Giving up some privacy for some security is something that has never made Alaskans feel comfortable. Senator Murkowski agrees, just recently co-sponsoring the USA Freedom Act, a piece of legislation that strikes an important balance between privacy and safety. Today the Senate Judiciary Committee discussed how to protect our country against potential attacks, while also protecting Americans’ freedom and personal liberty.
6:00a.m. AKDT
Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
Topic: “Going Dark: Encryption, Technology, and the Balance between Public Safety and Privacy.”
Witnesses:
- Sally Quillian Yates, Deputy Attorney General
- James Comey, FBI Director
- Cyrus Vance, District Attorney, New York County
- Herbert Lin, Senior Research Scholar, Center for International Security and Cooperation, and Research Fellow, Hoover Institution
- Peter Swire, Professor of Law and Ethics, Georgia Institute of Technology
Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.
Bird Flu Concerns
Alaskan Impact: The good news, as reported in the Alaska media this week, is that the Lower 48 strain of avian flu hasn’t reached our state yet – but it could. The fact that Canadian poultry has been banned for sale in foreign countries reminds us that it’s a reality nearby. There are a few quick, common-sense fixes that the federal government can make in stepping up the fight against bird flu, and today the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs discussed the options.
6:00a.m. AKDT
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Hearing
Topic: “Stopping an Avian Influenza Threat to Animal and Public Health.”
Witnesses:
- John Clifford, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture
- Anne Schuchat, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and Assistant U.S. Surgeon General
Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.
U.S. House Events
Full Extent of OPM Breach
Alaskan Impact: There are thousands of federal employees in Alaska and the increasing frequency of cybersecurity attacks has Senator Murkowski concerned about how best to protect Americans’ personal information. Last month, the Office of Personnel Management announced that the personal records of 4.2 million current and former federal employees had been stolen. Now it’s come out that there was a 2nd security breach—this time accessing the federal security clearance forms containing sensitive information. Today the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee learned what the extent of the breach was from those who are responding to it.
10:00a.m. AKDT
House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Hearing
Topic: Research and Technology Subcommittee and Oversight Subcommittee Hearing on “Is the OPM Data Breach the Tip of the Iceberg?”
Witnesses:
- Michael Esser, Assistant Inspector General for Audits, Office of Personnel Management
- Charles Romine, Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Information Technology Laboratory
- Gregory Wilshusen, Director of Information Security Issues, Government Accountability Office
Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.