| Updates from Alaska and Washington, D.C. |
Dear Alaskans,
Fall is officially here, and it's been a busy October in both Alaska and Washington, D.C. I recently traveled back home as part of the October district work period and greatly enjoyed speaking with Alaskans and discussing their legislative priorities. I hope you'll take a moment to read my newsletter so that you too can get up-to-speed on legislation I've introduced and the various issues facing Congress. As always, if you need help with a Federal agency or believe I can be of assistance to you in any way, don't hesitate to reach out to my office. |
| The Last Frontier Honor Flight |
Our nation’s capital is home to many incredible monuments commemorating the service and sacrifice of America’s Armed Forces. As a veteran myself, it was my great honor to welcome the Last Frontier Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. as these heroes experienced these important sights up close. I would like to thank the many volunteers who made this special trip for Alaska’s veterans possible. Click here to watch short video of some of the best snapshots from our very special meeting in Washington, D.C. May God bless our veterans!
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| Surveying Swan Lake Fire Damage |
This summer, the Swan Lake Fire devastated communities on the Kenai Peninsula and caused significant damage to the electric infrastructure in the region. It’s essential that we get power restored and electric lines repaired as soon as possible. I joined Governor Mike Dunleavy and representatives from the Alaska Energy Authority on an aerial tour to get a better understanding of the work ahead to repair utilities in the area.
State and federal coordination will be critical to restoring services and stabilizing the cost of electricity, and I’ll be working in Congress to ensure the federal response is effective and doesn’t stand in the way of state efforts to get Kenai back online. Click here for coverage of our aerial assessment.
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| Honoring Senator Ted Stevens |
It was wonderful to join my Alaska Delegation colleagues, the Stevens family and so many Alaskans as we celebrated the legacy of Senator Ted Stevens at the unveiling of his official President pro tempore portrait. Ted was a true public servant -- he fought for our country in World War II, would go on to serve in the State Legislature, and spent the remainder of his career standing up for Alaskans in the United States Senate. He was a force to be reckoned with but was also a man of great faith and dedication to family. I miss my friend greatly, but I am heartened to know that this portrait will serve as a reminder of a life spent giving it all to our state and country. Click here for complete video of the unveiling, and click here to read more about this special evening.
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| Ammo Can Coffee |
Trips back home are always jam-packed with meetings and visits, so I appreciated the opportunity to stop by Ammo Can Coffee in Soldotna to briefly talk about the issues with staff and patrons. Ammo Can is family owned and run by strong Second Amendment advocates – certainly a uniquely Alaskan business!
Our small businesses are important not only to Alaska’s economy, but to our way of life. It’s critical that Congress is working to support our small businesses, and their success will continue to be one of my highest priorities. Thank you to Ammo Can Coffee for hosting me, for being a great place for neighbors to gather and for making a great cup of Joe!
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Protecting Alaskans from EPA Overreach
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President Trump has signed into law legislation I introduced with Senator Dan Sullivan to update EPA regulations allowing Alaskans in remote communities to reliably and affordably power their villages. New generators are very costly, and families shouldn’t be burdened by an arbitrary ban made by EPA bureaucrats four thousand miles away. Many Alaskans depend on diesel generators to heat their homes, run their appliances, and keep their lights on, and Washington D.C. shouldn’t be getting in the way of their everyday lives.
I am proud to have worked with Senator Sullivan on this issue that affects so many rural families. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to President Trump for signing our legislation into law and also to my friends in both chambers of Congress for supporting a bill crucial to many Alaskans. Click here to read more about our bill.
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| Supporting the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation |
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has been a strong and valued partner for Alaska since its creation, and we must make sure it is re-authorized long-term so that it can continue the important mission of conservation and environmental protection. I’m proud to introduce long-term re-authorization legislation with my good friend, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. Supporting conservation efforts is one of my highest priorities in Congress, and I'll keep working to ensure our ecosystems are protected for years to come. Click here to read more about our legislation.
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| Assembling Care Packages for our Deployed Servicemembers |
Our troops deployed overseas make many sacrifices to keep our country safe, and it’s important that they know how much we appreciate everything they do. My team and I joined the USO to help assemble care packages for deployed and deploying servicemembers. As a veteran myself, I’m very proud to have four fellow veterans on my staff, and I’m grateful that three of them were able to join me today. There is no way we can fully repay them for their service, but these care packages are just one small way to provide encouragement, comfort, and reminders of home to our Armed Forces. God bless our troops!
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| Keeping Alaska's Fishermen Safe |
Fishing is one of Alaska’s most important industries, and we need to be doing all that we can to ensure our fishermen remain safe on the job. The FISH SAFE Act is an important piece of legislation to provide the resources and training necessary to protect not only Alaska’s fishermen, but fishermen across the country. I am proud to partner with Congressman Jared Golden of Maine on this critical issue, and look forward to continuing working with my friends on both sides of the aisle to support America’s fishermen. Click here to read more about the FISH SAFE Act.
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| Touring Alaskan Cannabis Businesses |
I’ve always been a passionate supporter of states’ rights, and that extends to the issue of cannabis policy. Very frankly, the federal government should not be standing in the way of states that have acted to set their own cannabis policies. In October, I toured several cannabis businesses in Alaska to learn how they operate, and to discuss their unique business needs. On these visits, I witnessed cannabis production, processing, and finally, retail sales. These stops were very interesting, and I’m grateful to everyone involved for helping to make them possible.
I was very pleased to share with these businesses that with my support and advocacy, the House recently passed the SAFE Banking Act. When cannabis businesses are not permitted to utilize traditional financial institutions, they’re forced to operate cash-only businesses, leaving large amounts of cash out in the open and making them targets for robbery and other crime. The SAFE Banking Act takes action to correct this, and is as much a public safety bill as it is a cannabis bill. I’m very happy to have cosponsored this legislation, and remain encouraged that the Senate will act on this bill and help get it to the President’s desk. I’ll keep working as Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus to see it to the finish line.
Click here to read more about the SAFE Banking Act, and click here for full coverage of my visits to cannabis businesses.
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| Guardian Flight Fairbanks Hanger Visit |
Our state’s vast size and geography presents many challenges for Alaskans in rural communities, including access to emergency medical care from first responders. Fortunately, organizations like Guardian Flight exist to ensure that Alaskans from across our state can receive life-saving assistance from paramedics as they are transported to larger medical facilities. I appreciated the opportunity to tour Guardian Flight’s Fairbanks hanger and to discuss ways we can better support their mission of providing air medical transport. Their paramedics, flight nurses, and pilots are top-notch experts in their field, and a great example of how Alaskan ingenuity can overcome challenges and save lives. Thank you for sharing your firsthand experiences and for the thoughtful discussion!
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