Murkowski Morning Meeting For Wednesday, May 20, 2015

What DC is Reading

• New York Times: Russia and U.S. Find Common Cause in Arctic Pact
• Wall Street Journal: The Oil-Export Ban Harms National Security (Paywall)
• The Hill: Hillary Clinton Can’t Shake E-mail Scandal, Questions

U.S. Senate Events

Fighting for Fisheries

Alaskan Impact: Alaska’s fishing industry accounts for $3 billion annually – but illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens our fish stocks, the ability of Alaska’s fishermen to make a living, and consumers who may unknowingly purchase illegally-caught fish. Just last week, Senator Murkowski introduced legislation with Senator Sullivan to combat the multi-million dollar threat posed by pirate fishing. Today the Senate Commerce Committee reviewed this proposed legislation, aimed at leveling the playing field for America’s fisheries.

6:30a.m. AKST

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Hearing

Topic: Executive Session to Consider Legislation and Nominations.

(Click image to watch video.)
Senator John Thune (R-SD) introduces the pirate fishing legislation in the Commerce Committee.

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.

Justice for Sexual Assault Victims

Alaskan Impact: In Alaska, domestic violence and sexual assault rates are at an epidemic level. To make matters worse, our state has a huge backlog of rape kits waiting on shelves, one of the reasons that Senator Murkowski co-sponsored the Sexual Assault Forensics Evidence Reporting (SAFER) Act last Congress. Today the Senate Judiciary Committee discussed the ever-growing rape kit backlog that multiple states are facing.

10:30a.m. AKST

Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

Topic: The Constitution Subcommittee hearing on “Taking Sexual Assault Seriously: The Rape Kit Backlog and Human Rights.”

Witnesses:

• Debbie Smith, Sexual Assault Survivor, Founder, Hope Exists After Rape Trauma (HEART)
• Scott Berkowitz, Founder and President, Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
• Skylor Hearn, Assistant Director, Texas Department of Public Safety
• Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, State of Illinois
• Sarah Haacke Byrd, Managing Director, Joyful Heart Foundation

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.

U.S. House Events

Affordable Care Act: An “Unworkable” Law

Alaskan Impact: Alaskans have repeatedly expressed their frustrations over the flawed and poorly constructed Affordable Care Act, not to mention how far from “affordable” the health care law actually is in our state. Senator Murkowski recognizes that this legislation is “unworkable,” offering multiple pieces of legislation to remedy the ACA. Today the House Ways and Means Committee discussed the legality of the Administration’s actions regarding the ACA—actions that prompted authors of the bill to ask: “how can they change the law?”

6:00a.m. AKST

House Ways and Means Committee Hearing

Topic: “Use of Administrative Actions in Affordable Care Act Implementation.”

Witnesses:

• Elizabeth Papez, Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP
• Jonathan Adler, Professor of Law, Case-Western Reserve University School of Law
• Grace-Marie Turner, President, The Galen Institute
• Robert Weiner, Partner, Arnold & Porter LLC

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.