Murkowski Morning Meeting For Wednesday, June 3, 2015

What DC is Reading

• Washington Post: Congressional Action on NSA is Milestone in Post-9/11 World
• Wall Street Journal: IRS Takes Step to Tighten Security for Tax System
• Politico: Democrats Consider Filibuster of Defense Bill

U.S. Senate Events

Making College Affordable

Alaskan Impact: College graduates between ages 25-32 earn on average $17,500 more a year than those with only high school diplomas. As a mother and as the former Commissioner of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, Senator Murkowski is concerned about the rising costs of college tuition and is committed to removing barriers to obtaining an undergraduate degree. Today the Senate HELP Committee heard from higher education experts on the resources available to make student debt manageable.

6:00a.m. AKST

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Hearing

Topic: “Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: Ensuring College Affordability.”

Witnesses:

• Dr. Elizabeth Akers, Fellow, Brown Center on Education Policy, The Brookings Institution
• Michael Mitchell, Policy Analyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Dr. F. King Alexander, President and Chancellor, Louisiana State University
• James Kennedy, Associate Vice President for University Student Services and Systems, Indiana University

(Click image to watch video.)
Senator Murkowski: How do states utilize federal leverage to make college more affordable?

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.

Impacts of Iran Nuclear Deal

Alaskan Impact: Senator Murkowski recently voted in support of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, to ensure that any nuclear deal reach with Iran is verifiable and enforceable. Reports recently surfaced that Iran’s nuclear stockpile continues to increase, despite the Obama Administration’s claims that the country’s nuclear program has been “frozen” during negotiation. Today the Senate Foreign Relations Committee discussed what a nuclear deal with Iran could mean for the rest of the Middle East.

5:30a.m. AKST

Senate Foreign Relations Transportation Committee Hearing

Topic: “Implications of the Iran Nuclear Agreement for U.S. Policy in the Middle East.”

Witnesses:

• James Jeffrey, Philip Solondz Distinguished Visiting Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
• Martin Indyk, Executive Vice President, The Brookings Institution

Watch the hearing by clicking here.

U.S. House Events

How Construction Projects Help Small Businesses

Alaskan Impact: Though Alaskans like to say we have two seasons – winter and construction season – the truth is we need our roads to be in good shape for daily traffic and commerce. Alaska has fewer roads than any other state in America, meaning that we need to protect and sustain the roads we do have. Our transportation system gets thousands of Alaskans to work, to school, or to recreation and serves as the backbone of our economy—without road and marine highway systems that function properly, growth is stymied. Today the House Small Business Committee Hearing discussed how small businesses are impacted by the need for long-term surface transportation reauthorization.

7:00a.m. AKST

House Small Business Committee Hearing

Topic: “The Road Ahead: Small Businesses and the Need for a Long-Term Surface Transportation Reauthorization.”

Witnesses:

• William Schmitz, Vice President for Sales and Quality Control, Gernatt Asphalt Company, on behalf of the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association
• Don Shilling, President of General Equipment and Supplies, on behalf of the Associated Equipment Distributors
• Matt Davis, Director of the Build Our New Bridge Now Coalition
• Jonathan Gifford, Professor and Director of the Center for Transportation Public-Private Partnership Policy at George Mason University’s School of Public Policy

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.