Murkowski Morning Meeting for Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Murkowski Morning Meeting
The DC Daybook with Alaska in Mind
Wednesday, September 14, 2011

U.S. Senate – Events

Human Trafficking: “Nothing Short of Modern Slavery” (With Video)

Alaskan Impact:
Sex trafficking in Alaska is a statewide problem, with Alaska Natives a vulnerable group. Steps like the “Choose Respect” campaign – with participants from Alaska to Capitol Hill – are a piece of the solution. Letter campaigns like the one Attorney General
John Burns joined this month is another. It’s also a major nationwide issue, with high profile investigations occurring in cities across the country. Earlier today, the Senate Judiciary Committee examined how to better protect Americans.

6:00am AKDT
Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
Topic: “Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization”
Testimony from:

• Mary Lou Leary, Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs
• Luis CdeBaca, State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking In Persons
• Kelly Ryan, Immigration and Border Security

CdeBaca – 27 million men, women and children are victimized worldwide: http://bit.ly/oktfDm
Questioning/Hearing: http://1.usa.gov/neDQWQ

Mortgage Crisis Turning Around?

Alaskan Impact:
Even though Alaska is thousands of miles away from the core of the mortgage meltdown in the lower 48, distance hasn’t protected us. But with promising news that mortgage applications rose last week, the Senate Banking Committee examined the ideas to restructure our mortgage system to maintain this momentum.

10:00am AKDT
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing
Topic: “Mortgage Loan Refinancing and Restructuring Ideas”
Expected to Testify:

• David Stevens, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association
• Richard Smith, CEO of the Realogy Corporation
• Anthony Sanders, professor of finance, George Mason University

Questioning/Hearing: http://1.usa.gov/nXDdYb

House of Representatives – Events

Mining and Resource Development Mean Jobs

Alaskan Impact:
With the national debt $14 trillion and rising, the energy industry could bring the nation added revenues – and jobs. Today the House Natural Resources Committee discussed the Obama Administration blocking opportunities to explore our vast natural resources
and the effect on American jobs. More than 15,000 Alaskans were employed in 2010 from mining opportunities – a 53.5 percent change over the last decade. With costs of mining rising and continued blocking of exploration, those workers could be out jobs during a time with already high unemployment rates.

6:00am AKDT
House Natural Resources Committee Hearing
Topic: “Domestic Mining Opportunities and Hurdles”
Testimony from:

• Mayor Tom Murphy, City of Gillette, Wyoming
• Hal Quinn, President and CEO, National Mining Association
• Theresa O’Donnell, Geology Technician, Teck, Pend Oreille Mine

Questioning/Hearing: http://bit.ly/pon3ua

Off the Hill – Events

Natural Gas And Renewables … Not ‘Or’

Alaskan Impact:
While Senator Murkowski has made it clear she supports an “all of the above” approach to Alaska’s energy equation, the Lower 48 is reckoning with how to combine renewables and natural gas resources in meeting our future power needs. They wonder if natural gas is a bridge resource or renewable “killer”. Today a conference call was conducted to inform the national discussion.

8:00am AKDT
The American Council on Renewable Energy – Conference Call Briefing
Topic: “Renewable Energy and Natural Gas”
Participants:

• Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn, President ACORE
• Chris Berendt, Drinker Biddle
• Bill Holmes, Stoel Rives

For more information on what’s happening in Washington,
D.C. or to find out Senator Murkowski’s view on these issues – contact the
Communications Office at 202-224-9301.
www.murkowski.senate.gov