Murkowski Morning Meeting For Wednesday, May 21, 2014

What DC is Reading

• Los Angeles Times: White House Funneling Billions to States for Health Care Bailout
• Defense News: Military Special Operations Units Focus on Arctic Challenges
• New York Times: Pragmatic Republicans Succeed, Advance in Senate Primaries

U.S. Senate Events:

“Urgency” Needed in the Arctic

Alaskan Impact: This week’s Government Accountability Office report echoed Alaskan’s concerns: we are falling behind in the Arctic and an Arctic Ambassador would turn the tide. As nations around the world race to invest in the Arctic and the Pentagon focuses on the Asia-Pacific region, Alaska’s position in the world is increasingly important. Today in the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murkowski focused in on the need for greater urgency regarding Artic awareness and investment.

6:00am AKDT

Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee

Topic: “Energy Security and Research”

Witnesses

• Edward Thomas Morehouse, Jr., Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Operational Energy Plans and Programs
• Daniel Y. Chiu, PhD, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy OUSD
• Brigadier General Kenneth Lewis, Director of Trans-Regional Policy and Partnership Strategy, Joint Staff

Watch full recording of hearing by clicking here.

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Senator Murkowski: This week’s GAO report proves we’ve got to get to work.

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Brigadier General Lewis: We are working to create a safe and secure Arctic region.

Keeping the FBI Honest

Alaskan Impact: Alaskans want to have faith in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but the FBI continues to lack the transparency needed for that to happen. Senator Murkowski questioned Attorney General Eric Holder’s “harsh discipline” last month toward the FBI investigators who illegally hid evidence during the investigation of Senator Ted Stevens. Today the Senate Judiciary Committee reviewed the progress being made in transparency within the FBI.

2:00am AKDT

Senate Judiciary Hearing

Topic: “Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation”

Witnesses:

• FBI Director James Comey

Watch the LIVE hearing by clicking here.