Murkowski Morning Meeting For Wednesday, October 21, 2015

What DC is Reading

• Washington Post: Embattled Syrian President Flies to Moscow to Meet with Putin
• The Hill: Senate Dems Block ‘Sanctuary Cities’ Bill
• New York Times: Tests of New Features on HealthCare.gov Go to the Wire

U.S. Senate Events

Strengthening Tribal Funding Programs

Alaskan Impact: The 477 program has been a useful tool for Alaska Natives— proven successful at pooling money from different federal agencies to fund worthwhile projects that would create jobs within native communities nationwide. Senator Murkowski joined Senator Sullivan to introduce legislation to strengthen, streamline, and expand this program. Today the Senate Indian Affairs reviewed Murkowski’s legislation, as well as multiple other education and land measures.

10:00a.m. AKDT

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Hearing

Topic: “Business Meeting to Consider Pending Indian Affairs Education and Land Measures.”

Watch the hearing by clicking here.

U.S. House Events

Protecting our Electric Grid

Alaskan Impact: Massive cyberattacks are not just a potential threat to our nation, they are a reality. Just recently the NSA Director was quoted as saying the threat of cyberattacks that cause infrastructure damage is what keeps him up at night. As Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the security of our nation’s electric grid has and will continue to be a top priority for Senator Murkowski. The committee passed bipartisan energy legislation in July, which included provisions that would enhance America’s electric grid and would facilitate risk assessment of cybersecurity threats to protect our energy systems. As the Senate debates cybersecurity legislation today, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee heard from experts on cyber threats to our power grid.

6:00a.m. AKDT

House Science, Space and Technology Committee Hearing

Topic: “Cybersecurity for Power Systems.”

Witnesses:

• Brent Stacey, Associate Lab Director, National & Homeland Science and Technology, Idaho National Lab
• Bennett Gaines, Senior Vice President, Corporate Services and CIO, FirstEnergy Service Company
• Annabelle Lee, Senior Technical Executive, Power Delivery and Utilization Sector, Electric Power Research Institute
• Greg Wilshusen, Director, Information Security Issues, Government Accountability Office

Watch the entire hearing by clicking here.