Murkowski Morning Meeting For wednesday, March 25, 2015

What DC is Reading

• Washington Post: Nuclear Watchdog – Iran Not Allowing Needed Access
• Wall Street Journal (Paywall): Obama’s Israel Tantrum
• The Hill: Obama’s Foreign Policy “Weak and Uncertain”

U.S. Senate Events

Continuity in Care for our Military

Alaskan Impact: With the U.S. Army currently making decisions of where to cut troops across the country, the future Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fort Wainwright remains up in the air. Senator Murkowski knows the loss of a major combat unit at either base might create a ripple effect, like downsizing the only Army hospital in Alaska that serves other branches of our military. Today during a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Senator Murkowski questioned the Army and Air Force Surgeons General on the importance of ALS research funding and the potential impacts of force reductions in Alaska to the availability of military health services.

5:00a.m. AKDT

Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing

Topic: Defense Subcommittee Hearing on the Proposed Budget Estimates and Justification for FY2016 for the Defense Health Program.

Witnesses:

• Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, Surgeon General, United States Army
• Vice Adm. Matthew Nathan, Surgeon General, United States Navy
• Lt. Gen. Thomas Travis, Surgeon General, United States Air Force

(Click image to watch video.)

Sen. Murkowski: Do you find ALS research funds to be a useful investment in your work?

(Click image to watch video.)

Sen. Murkowski: Would any troop reductions degrade the care levels for soldiers and airmen?

Energy in Alaska

Alaskan Impact: Alaskans continue to pay some of the highest costs for energy out of any state in the nation, and as Chair of Energy and Natural Resources, Senator Murkowski is pursuing implementing policies of abundance to help us access our rich resources, the first step to making energy affordable. Today in an Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Senator Murkowski will ask the Secretary of the Department of Energy Alaska-focused questions, including calling on the DOE to prioritize greater assistance to states with higher energy costs.

10:30a.m. AKDT

Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing

Topic: Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Hearing on the Proposed Budget Estimates and Justification for FY2016 for the Energy Department.

Witnesses:

• Ernest Moniz, Secretary, Department of Energy
• Franklin Orr, Undersecretary for Science and Energy, Department of Energy

U.S. House Events

Keeping the Internet Fair and Free

Alaskan Impact: The Internet has been crucial to the free flow of information and plays a vital role in education and information, especially in remote Alaska. It’s been an important innovation supporting small businesses and jobs throughout our country—which is why Senator Murkowski remains wary of the FCC’s attempt to regulate the Internet like a utility instead of an information service rather than Congress performing the needed oversight.

10:00a.m. AKDT

House Judiciary Committee Hearing

Topic: “Wrecking the Internet to Save It? The FCC’s Net Neutrality Rule.”

Witnesses:

• Tom Wheeler, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• Ajit Pai, Commissioner, FCC
• Joshua Right, Commissioner, FCC