Murkowski Morning Meeting for Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Good morning, Alaska – Senator Murkowski was pleased to hear the news regarding the delay of the proposed F-16 move yesterday after months of pressure from Alaskans, saying “we need to use this time and opportunity to make today’s victory a permanent one for Alaska and the nation’s defense.”

U.S. Senate Events

Delivering Alaskan Vets Care Closer to Home

Alaskan Impact: 77,000 veterans live in Alaska, the highest rate of veterans per capita of any other state. Thousands of them live off the road system, making medical care more difficult to receive – a point Senator Murkowski highlighted with VA Secretary Eric Shinseki earlier this year. There are numerous ways to make the system more efficient, like the recent agreement for veterans to receive care at nearby Native health clinics. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee discussed other bipartisan solutions today.

6:00am AKDT
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hearing
Topic: “Veteran Health and Benefits Legislation”
Testimony from:

• Madhulika Agarwal, Veterans Health Administration
• Joy Ilem, deputy national legislative director of Disabled American Veterans

Senator Al Franken: 40 percent of veterans live in rural areas nationwide.

Renaming Denali

Alaskan Impact: The word Denali means “the High One” in Tanana Athabascan, a fitting name for North America’s highest peak. Senator Murkowski recently proposed a bill to officially rename Mt. McKinley as Denali, as well as a bill to designate the Talkeetna Ranger Station as the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station. Both bills will be taken up by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today.

11:00am AKDT
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing
Topic: “Renaming Mt. McKinley Denali, naming the Talkeetna Ranger Station”
Testimony from:

• Herbert Frost, National Park Service
• Ingrid Kolb, director of the Energy Department’s Office of Management

Watch the entire webcast LIVE: http://bit.ly/LzTQ5F

House of Representatives Events

Connecting Alaska to the World

Alaskan Impact: Despite recent efforts by GCI and a move by Alaska’s largest state-based telecom providers to connect Rural Alaska to faster internet and mobile phone service, much of the state continues to be a technological dead zone. Alaskan residents pay a higher premium for access to technology many Lower 48 residents take for granted. This morning, the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee took a look at how to better connect the residents of our state.

6:00am AKDT
House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Hearing
Topic: “The Future of Video”
Testimony From:

• David Barrett, president and CEO of Hearst Television Inc.
• Charlie Ergen, chairman of DISH Network
• Michael Powell, National Cable & Telecommunications Association