Alaska

Legislation also expands business tax credits, extends unemployment benefits

November 5, 2009 -- In an effort to help recharge Alaska's economy and hundreds of small businesses, U.S. Senator Mark Begich today supported legislation to extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit, and the expansion of a program allowing businesses to relieve their tax burden.

The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act passed the Senate by a vote of
98 to 0. The Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Begich, continues the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit through April 30, 2010, allowing purchasers with a valid contract an additional 60 days to close after that date. It also provides a $6,500 credit to new purchasers who have lived in their current residence for five years or more.    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that more than $38 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being awarded to 4 states to support energy efficiency and conservation activities. Under DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, these states – Alaska, Kansas, Utah and West Virginia - will implement programs that lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs locally.    » read more »

October 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- Bill J. Allen and Richard L. Smith were each sentenced in separate hearings today for their participation in a corruption scheme in which they provided approximately $395,000 in corrupt payments to public officials from the state of Alaska, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division. Allen and Smith were sentenced in U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska by U.S. District Court Judge John W. Sedwick.    » read more »

Award to Alaska Growth Capital will provide loans

October 30, 2009 -- Following an announcement by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Senator Mark Begich commended the Department of the Treasury for allocating $50 million in tax credits to Alaska Growth Capital BIDCO, INC (AGC), of Anchorage. Funds will be used for loans to businesses, disadvantaged communities, and low income populations for expansion of real estate projects with "high community impacts."    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich released the following statement after learning the Department of Defense will not be putting any of the first 250-300 aircraft of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) at any of Alaska's military bases:

"Given Alaska's important geographic and strategic advantages for the overall defense of our country, I am disappointed to learn that none of Alaska's Air Force bases were chosen as one of the preferred locations to base a portion of the Air Force's first 250-300 aircraft in the F-35 JSF. This is particularly disappointing since the Air Force indicated last fall that Eielson was on the "short list."    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich today announced the award of over $15 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for development of geothermal fields and research into new geothermal technologies for three Alaska based entities.

"Alaska already leads the nation in producing electricity from the lowest temperature geothermal waters. However, our efforts to use this abundant energy source have barely broken the surface of potential energy production," Sen. Begich said. "The Department of Energy is right to look to our state when developing new clean energy technologies. Alaskans have as much to gain from the development of affordable and clean energy technology as anywhere in the United States."

The awards include:    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- In response to a decision by the Department of Defense, U.S. Senator Mark Begich commended Secretary of Defense Robert Gates for committing to finish silo construction at Fort Greely's Missile Field 2 over the next two years.

This decision follows a strong and continuing push from Begich to make necessary investments in the ground based mid-course missile defense (GMD) system modernization and infrastructure amidst increasing Iranian missile launches.    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - The Alaska Congressional Delegation is pleased to announce the following grants awarded to communities in the State of Alaska:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
• $1,679,035.50 to the City of Emmonak. The project will restore the City of Emmonak's dock to pre-disaster condition, and includes embankment repair, and in-water work.
• $1,166,174.72 to the Alaska Railroad Corporation to provide both repairs and mitigation to damages to the Alaska Railroad which were sustained from record-breaking ice-jam and flooding.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich issued the following statement today after learning The Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) has approved, with conditions, Shell Offshore, Inc.'s Exploration Plan to explore two leases in the Beaufort Sea:

"I am pleased to hear that the MMS has approved Shell's Exploration Plan for the Beaufort Sea. Alaska has long been America's energy storehouse and this positive development demonstrates that our state's role in helping meet the nation's energy needs will continue.    » read more »

Proposed Mine Could Destroy World's Largest Salmon Run and Local Fishing Industry

LOS ANGELES (October 13, 2009) –The Natural Resources Defense Council announced today a new BioGem campaign to save Alaska’s Bristol Bay, the world’s most productive salmon fishery, from the development of Pebble Mine, one of the largest gold and copper mines ever proposed.

“There are few human activities as toxic as large-scale mining,” said Joel Reynolds, senior attorney and director of NRDC’s marine mammal protection project. “The Pebble Mine project could lead to widespread water contamination, which would destroy the salmon runs of the Bristol Bay watershed and thereby devastate the native communities and abundant wildlife the salmon have supported for thousands of years.”    » read more »

October 13, 2009, Bethel, Alaska – With a focus on revitalizing the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell today called for a greater partnership between the state and communities to increase training, recruiting and retention efforts. Of the 71 funded VPSO positions, only 52 are filled.

“I want to see a far greater and more meaningful law enforcement presence in the villages,” Governor Parnell said. “I’m asking for your help in identifying solid prospects for these law enforcement positions.”

Speaking at the Association of Village Council Presidents’ 45th annual convention in Bethel, the governor also addressed fisheries and energy issues.    » read more »

Tax Credits for Alaska Tourism Marketing

October 6, 2009, Fairbanks, Alaska – Noting how hard-hit Alaska’s travel industry has been by the recession, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell today announced support for corporate income tax credits to incentivize greater Alaska tourism marketing. The income tax credits will go to seaside operators, or cruise lines, that contribute to the general Alaska marketing program implemented by the Alaska Travel Industry Association on behalf of the state.

“Our travel industry faces serious challenges,” Governor Parnell said. “To lure visitors to Alaska, we have to be able to compete through top-notch marketing of Alaska’s wonders. The tax credit can provide a consistent source of dollars to pay for that marketing.”    » read more »

October 6, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sean Parnell today unveiled a proposal that would allow all Alaska high school students to earn tuition scholarships for use after high school at qualifying Alaska schools. The Governor’s Performance Scholarship, or GPS, is a merit-based scholarship for Alaska high school students. To qualify, students will have to take four years of math, language arts and science, in addition to three years of social studies.

“We’ve seen too many young people leave high school without graduating and too many young people need remedial help after graduating high school,” Governor Parnell said. “I want to set the bar higher for our high school students to promote preparedness.”    » read more »

Bill moves to the Senate floor with ATG language, support for Locality Pay

October 7, 2009 -- Successfully making the case that members of Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) who defended Alaska and the interests of the United States during World War II earned and deserve retirement pay, U.S. Senator Mark Begich today announced the language supporting the retirement benefits is part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 as it moves to the Senate floor for a final vote.

Working with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Begich succeeded in keeping language supporting the benefits in the bill after a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) came out from the Obama administration late last month opposing the benefits.    » read more »

October 7, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - The final conference agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (NDAA) released today contains important Federal workforce provisions, including the Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act (S. 507), sponsored by Senator Daniel K. Akaka and cosponsored by Senators Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Mark Begich (D-Alaska), which would provide fairness in retirement pay for the roughly 50,000 Federal workers in Hawai‘i, Alaska, and the Territories.

After sponsoring the original legislation, Senator Akaka spoke in support of the provision on the Senate floor and advocated for it during the Armed Services Committee conference.    » read more »