Alaska

Senate hearing on Alaska Native Corporations planned for July 16th

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight continues its investigation into Alaska Native Corporations (ANC) and contracting policies that favor them, Chairman Claire McCaskill today released a preliminary analysis of publicly-available data about contracts awarded to ANCs from 2000 through 2008.

This information shows that federal government contracts to ANCs have increased dramatically and that ANCs have received a disproportionate share of small business loans. The preliminary analysis also indicates many ANCs are not based in Alaska and most of the work awarded to ANCs, which primarily contract through the Department of Defense, is not performed in Alaska at all.    » read more »

June 23, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today signed legislation expanding the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. The bill adds a rural representative to the council. It also adds a representative from the Department of Corrections.

“As Alaska’s governor, as a wife, mother, and as a woman, I am very aware of the atrocious domestic violence and sexual abuse and exploitation statistics that plague our state,” Governor Palin said. “Objectification contributes to high rates of abuse and exploitation by reinforcing a victim's belief that he or she has to endure abuse instead of being empowered to break away from it. This council's expanded efforts can help stop this violence. Together we can stand for what’s right and end abuse in Alaska.”    » read more »

June 23, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – The 15th ethics complaint filed against Alaska Governor Sarah Palin or one of her staff has been dismissed. The complaint, filed by Andree McLeod against Anchorage Office Director Kris Perry, alleged Perry used her official position for personal gain by traveling with the governor on three occasions.    » read more »

Application for Part 1 of Alaska’s State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

June 22, 2009 -- U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that more than $76 million is now available for Alaska under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. Alaska will be eligible to apply for another $37.5 million this fall.

Today’s funding is being made available per Alaska’s successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.    » read more »

June 22, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling upholding a permit held by Coeur Alaska to dispose of mine tailings from the Kensington Gold Mine near Juneau into a nearby lake.

"Today's decision is good for Southeast Alaska jobs and brings clarity to a 20-year-old dispute. It's time for the federal agencies to work with the Kensington team to move the project forward.

"This is particularly important given the current economic downturn in Southeast Alaska. I expect Coeur will honor their commitments to train and employ Alaskans while developing this resource in a responsible manner. The hundreds of jobs this project is likely to create will be welcome at just the right time."

Source: Senator Mark Begich

June 22, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today welcomed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Kensington mine, a gold mining project near Juneau.

Today’s ruling reversed a decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and confirmed the validity of a previously issued permit from the Corps of Engineers for disposal of tailings. The project is being developed by Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation.

The state supported Coeur’s legal efforts to move the project ahead at every level of court review, including intervening in the lawsuit at the outset, litigating the case in the Ninth Circuit, filing a petition asking for review by the Supreme Court, and briefing the case in the Supreme Court on the merits.    » read more »

Presses for Alaska gas line, balanced OCS leasing

June 18, 2009 -- At a time of increasing tension around the world, the U.S. should be doing everything possible to encourage domestic energy production, including continuing incentives for oil and gas development and building Alaska's natural gas pipeline. That was the message today from U.S. Senator Mark Begich, speaking to the leaders of more than two dozen of the world's largest oil and gas companies.

Sen. Begich was the noon guest speaker at the American Petroleum Institute (API) Policy Committee meeting in Washington, D.C.    » read more »

August trip to include impacted areas, new energy technology

June 19, 2009 -- To see first-hand the impacts of climate change on America's only Arctic state, U.S. Senator Mark Begich is attracting a number of senators to Alaska this August.

The delegation is scheduled to see erosion in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region; climate change impacts on glaciers and forests in Southcentral Alaska; and a visit to the North Slope of Alaska to view new energy technologies used in northern oil and gas production.    » read more »

June 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this evening issued the following statement after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the Exxon Mobil Corporation to pay $507.5 million in punitive damages from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil disaster.

In addition, the Court also ordered Exxon Mobil to pay 5.9 percent interest accrued from the 1996 trial judgment:

“I am gratified by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision to award interest to the plaintiffs of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.    » read more »

June 17, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior expressing her support for the exchange of state-owned land for federal land within the Izembek and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuges.

In the letter, Governor Palin urged Secretary Ken Salazar to initiate proceedings for an environmental impact statement, which is required under the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange Act.    » read more »

Former Alaska Senator Steven A. Rieger

June 15, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today appointed former Alaska Senator Steven A. Rieger to the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation Board of Trustees.

“It is a pleasure to have a man with Steve Rieger’s broad experience, impressive credentials and statesmanlike temperament as the newest Permanent Fund trustee,” Governor Palin said. “I have every confidence that Steve’s addition to the board will help continue its strong record of prudent management of Alaskans’ most important financial institution.”    » read more »

June 9, 2009 -- With Alaska at "ground-zero" in experiencing the impacts of global climate change, Senator Mark Begich today proposed five major policy initiatives to better help the 49th state and America adapt to what he called the "Second Arctic Century."

Building on the 100-year anniversary of the "discovery" of the North Pole, Begich called for ratification of two international treaties affecting the Arctic; creation of a Regional Citizens Advisory Council for the Arctic; appointment of an Arctic ambassador to advocate for American interests in the region; more funding for and better coordination of Arctic science; and a significant new investment in the infrastructure needed for a permanent American presence in the Arctic, including new ice-breakers and Coast Guard facilities.    » read more »

$11 million Satellite Facility funded by Recovery Act

June 5, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich today praised the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for choosing Fairbanks to host the first NOAA project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Alcan Builders, Inc. of Fairbanks has been selected to build a new 20,000 square foot NOAA satellite operations facility in Fairbanks. The project will replace the existing Command and Data Acquisition Station building, which has been in operation since 1961. The contract is worth $11.7 million, $9 million of which is funded by the ARRA.    » read more »

Former State Representatives Be Released

June 4, 2009 -- The Department of Justice today asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to remand the cases of former Alaska State Representatives Victor Kohring and Peter Kott, who were convicted on corruption charges in 2007, to the District Court. The Department also asked the Court of Appeals to release the two on personal recognizance, after the Department uncovered material that appears to be information that should have been, but was not, disclosed to the defense prior to trial.

Attorney General Eric Holder also instructed the Department’s Criminal Division to review the Department’s public corruption investigation in Alaska to ensure that all other discovery obligations have been met.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), today introduced legislation designed to protect and improve important aviation programs in Alaska, including an exemption that would allow the Iditarod Air Force to accept cost deferments for flying in support of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Murkowski’s bill, the Alaska Omnibus Aviation Improvement Act (S.1170), was introduced in advance of Senate consideration of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill during the 111th Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of an FAA reauthorization bill (H.R. 915) last month.

“I hope the Senate will consider these Alaska priorities as we debate the upcoming FAA reauthorization bill,” Murkowski said.    » read more »