| Updates from Alaska and Washington, D.C. |
Dear Alaskans,
The holidays are in full swing, and it has been an incredibly busy time in both Washington, D.C. and Alaska. These periodic eNewsletters are a great way for me to keep you updated on my work on behalf of Alaskans, and I hope you'll take a moment to read about what has been happening over the past few weeks. Around this time each year, we gather with loved ones, bake cookies, and sit down to enjoy classic Christmas movies. It is a time I have always cherished, and I hope you and your family can share fond memories and take some well-deserved time off. As we look ahead to 2020, I want you to know that I am ready to continue fighting for Alaska and their priorities in the second session of the 116th Congress. May God Bless you and your family!
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| Supporting our Armed Forces |
I proudly helped the House pass the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation contained many important provisions, including a pay raise for the brave men and women in our military; an amendment helping Alaska Native organizations to better provide their services to the Department of Defense; my initiative to study and implement oversight on Chinese investment in the Arctic.; and $8.6 million for the construction of the F-35A AME Storage facility at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks.
This is a very good bill, and I am proud to see such broad bipartisan support for our nation’s military. My commitment is to the men and women who risk their lives to keep us safe. In Congress, I will continue to champion their causes and make sure they know that we have their backs. Click here to read more about the FY 2020 NDAA.
| Government Funding Packages |
Today, I voted in support of two government funding bills that include important provisions for Alaska. I am pleased to see that these final appropriations bills provide crucial funding for our military, and repeal harmful taxes that drive up the cost of health care and hurt middle-class families.
I am also proud to have helped secure a 2-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools Program that many Alaskan communities rely on to fund schools and infrastructure. The appropriations package also contained important wins for our rural hospitals and village clinics, in addition to providing critical funding to help combat hunger and expand access to proper nutrition in our communities. I have been a strong advocate for combating domestic violence and child abuse, particularly in rural areas, and I am pleased to see resources made available to combat violence against women and bring perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice. This was a well-rounded bill that delivers many important results for Alaskans, and I look forward to President Trump signing these packages into law. Click here to read more. |
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| Supporting Deployed Servicemembers |
For our deployed servicemembers, the holiday season can be challenging. Spending the holidays away from home and far removed from family is an incredible sacrifice that so many of our brave men and women are making on behalf of our nation. My staff and I were very fortunate to be able to send letters of gratitude to troops spending the holidays far from home as part of the American Red Cross’s Holidays for Heroes program. This is a very important program made even more special by the fact that two of my staff members who accompanied me are themselves veterans. Thank you to the American Red Cross and to the volunteers who made it possible. May God Bless our troops and keep them safe during the holiday season!
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| Combating the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls |
President Trump recently signed an executive order creating a federal task force to combat the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). The statistics are grim. Indigenous women and girls across the country face disproportionately high levels of violence, and too many Native communities in Alaska and across the country have faced this situation first-hand. I am grateful to President Trump for taking this grave issue very seriously, and establishing a federal partnership to turn the tide in this epidemic. Our work won’t end until our most vulnerable populations can raise their families in safe communities. As Vice Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, combating the MMIWG crisis will continue to be one of my highest priorities. Click here to read the full Executive Order.
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| A First-Hand Look at the F-35 |
The Alaska Delegation recently wrapped up a very productive visit to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 assembly plant in Fort Worth, Texas. What Lockheed Martin has accomplished with the F-35 is good news not only for our country’s continued advancements in military technology, but for the State of Alaska, where some of the jets on display today will soon end up. Alaska’s unique geography and location make it an asset to our nation’s national defense posture. Additionally, our state’s vast airspace helps create an ideal home base for the F-35. The arrival of these jets will also provide a significant economic benefit to our state, and I look forward to welcoming the pilots and mechanics, and their families to the Great State of Alaska.
As the Arctic’s importance to our national defense continues to grow, I will keep fighting to make sure Alaska helps lead the way to superiority in the sky. Click here to learn more about our Delegation visit to the F-35 plant.
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| Protecting Endangered Species |
The Multinational Conservation Fund Stamp has raised over $5 million for conservation projects that protect our planet’s most vulnerable species. Unfortunately, authorization for this important program expired last year. It’s critical that this valuable funding source is reauthorized so that conservation efforts can continue. With my support, the House passed the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2019. I was proud to cosponsor this bill and am very pleased to see my friends on both sides of the aisle come together in the name of conservation.
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| Preserving Native Languages |
Alaska Native heritage is central to the culture of our great state, and the diverse languages of our Native communities should be preserved and protected for future generations. Sadly, we have witnessed a steady decline in the number of speakers of various Native languages and dialects. It is urgent that we turn the tide so that these languages aren’t forever lost to history.
The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act represents tremendous progress in our efforts to promote Native language education, and the funding provided to language initiatives by the Esther Martinez Program goes a long way toward revitalizing Indigenous languages in Alaska and across the country. I’m grateful to my friends on both sides of the aisle for passing this critical bill and look forward to President Trump signing it into law. Click here or on the image above for my full speech on the House Floor in support of this effort.
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| Improving Ocean Data Collection |
I’m very proud that another one of my bills has passed the House. Earlier this month, we passed the Integrated Coastal Ocean Observing System (ICOOS) Act. This legislation is critical to helping improve data collection and information sharing between the federal agencies and coastal observation partners dedicated to monitoring oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes.
Equipping our fishermen and ship captains with the best possible data is essential to making our waters safer and more navigable. Accurate data collection is also critical to maritime search and rescue operations, the health of fisheries, and the mitigation of coastal hazards. I’m very grateful to my friends on both sides of the aisle for supporting this important effort. Click here to read more about my bill.
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| Celebrating the Alaska Pipeline |
I’m proud to have authored and passed legislation creating the Trans-Alaska Pipeline when I first arrived in Congress. This month, the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company -- operator of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System -- announced the 18-billionth barrel of oil entered Pump Station 1 of the 800-mile pipeline. This milestone is good news for our resource economy, and serves as further proof of the safe operation of the Trans Alaska Pipeline by the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.
Carefully balancing energy development with environmental stewardship has always been a top priority for our state, and Alyeska continues to set the gold standard for energy production and transportation. I congratulate Alyeska on this incredible milestone, and look forward to continuing to work with the Alaska Delegation and the Trump Administration to ensure that Alaska is front-and-center in making America energy dominant.
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| Fighting the Opioid Crisis |
The opioid epidemic is a challenge in Alaska and across the nation, robbing us of our youth and weighing heavily on our families. Combating this epidemic has been one of my priorities in Congress, and I was proud to be recognized with the Fight for Good Award from the Salvation Army for my work fighting opioid abuse. Our work won't end until this crisis stops tearing families apart, and I will continue engaging with communities and leaders in Congress to find effective policies to help save lives.
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