WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The U.S. Senate confirmed the nominations of four individuals for positions in the judicial branch on Feb. 12: Joshua M. Kindred, of Alaska, to be United States District Judge for the District of Alaska. Matthew Thomas Schelp, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri. John Fitzgerald Kness, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. Philip M. Halpern, of New York, to be United State  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: Alaska Congressman Don Young released his office's final metrics for constituent service and legislative activity in 2019. "Ensuring that the federal government works for you has always been my highest priority," said Congressman Don Young. "I am very proud that last year, my office responded to nearly 60,000 of your calls and letters. "You know as I do that Alaskans are incredibly engaged. As your Congressma  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The report (GAO-20-305) is entitled "Recent Economic and Workforce Trends". The report was sent to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Educati  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- The U.S. House of Representatives conducted 23 committee hearings on Feb. 11, 2020: ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FROM LOCAL AGRICULTURAL MARKETS Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research held a hearing entitled "Economic Opportunities from Local Agricultural Markets". Testimony was heard from public witnesses. AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE PUBLIC WITNESS DAY 1 Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment,  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- The U.S. House of Representatives conducted 23 committee hearings on Feb. 12, 2020: AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE PUBLIC WITNESS DAY 2 Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies held a hearing entitled "American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Day 2". Testimony was heard from public witnesses. APPROPRIATIONS--FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The House Oversight and Reform Committee issued the following joint testimony on Feb. 12 by Nick Marinos, director for information technology and cybersecurity, and J. Christopher Mihm, managing director for strategic issues at the at the Government Accountability Office, at a hearing on preparations for the decennial census: We are pleased to be here today to discuss the operational status of the 2020 Decennial Census. After many years of research, planning, and testing,  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The House Oversight and Reform Committee issued the following testimony on Feb. 12 by U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham at a hearing on preparations for the decennial census: I appreciate the support of Congress and this Committee's commitment to a successful 2020 Census. The 2020 Census has begun in remote Alaska, and Census Day, April 1, is approaching. Our mission is to count every person living in the United States once, only once, and in the right place.  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- The House Oversight and Reform Committee issued the following hearing information: "With Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham" at 2154 Rayburn House Office Building at 10 a.m. on Feb. 12: BACKGROUND * At the hearing, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office will publicly release a troubling new report that highlights serious concerns about preparations for the 2020 Census. * This year's Census count has already begun in Alaska, and is set to begin across  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- The U.S. House of Representatives has scheduled 23 committee hearings for Feb. 11, 2020. Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research, hearing entitled "Economic Opportunities from Local Agricultural Markets", 10 a.m., 1300 Longworth. Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, hearing entitled "American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Day 1", 9 a.m., 2008 Rayburn. Subcommitte  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- The U.S. House of Representatives has scheduled 23 committee hearings for Feb. 12, 2020. Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, hearing entitled "American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Day 2", 9 a.m., 2008 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, budget hearing on the Farm Credit Administration, 10 a.m., 2362-A Rayburn. Subcommittee on Legisla  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * - Award Acknowledges Rep. Kilmer's Efforts to Create Jobs in Indian Country and Make Government Work Better for Tribal Communities * * * On Tuesday, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) received the 2020 Congressional Leadership Award from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the intere  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Tom McClintock, R-California, issued the following remarks on Amendment to require County approval of Wilderness Designations (H.R. 2546): The federal government owns just 7/10ths of one percent of the State of New York. It owns just 1.1 percent of the State of Illinois. It owns just 1.8 percent of the State of Texas. The federal government owns only one fourth of Washington, D.C. But then go farther west and you will see the problem. The Federal Government owns an  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a $20 million grant to the Port of Alaska in Anchorage as part of its Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). Alaska Congressman Don Young, former Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released the following statement: "I am pleased that the Department of Transportation has awarded an additional $20 million grant to the Port  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, issued the following remarks: This week, Alaska Congressman Don Young, Vice-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, addressed the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) at its 2020 Executive Council Winter Session in Washington, D.C. In his remarks, Congressman Young outlined his work on behalf of Alaska Natives and American Indians across the nation. Additionally, he highlighted his Native policy priorities this Congress, inclu  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, issued the following statement on a House vote to remove the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment: "Let me be very clear: I support the ERA, but doing it the right way. Discrimination based on sex is wrong, and very frankly, should not be happening in the year 2020. Alaska ratified the ERA in 1972, and I am very proud of that. However, amending our Constitution requires following a very specific process; three-quarters of t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, issued the following statement: With the support of Alaska Congressman Don Young, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1980 - the Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act. This bipartisan legislation was cosponsored by Congressman Young, and would establish a Women's History Museum on the National Mall. Following House passage, Congressman Young released the following statement: "This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, whi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: Congressman Don Young (R-AK) and Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) have introduced H.R. 5790, the Advancing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Research, Prevention, and Services Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bipartisan legislation is counterpart to S. 2879, which has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. "Too many families in Alaska and across our nation have been affected by FASD, and  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement after President Trump unveiled a budget blueprint for fiscal 2021: "The President's request marks the start of the budget process and clearly outlines the administration's priorities. Those of us in Congress will take those requests under consideration as we work to determine what programs to fund and at what levels. As an Appropriator, I look forward to moving through the Fiscal Year 2021 process in a manner t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement on Feb. 13 after joining her colleagues to pass a bipartisan bill, the Iran War Powers Resolution: "My vote today was to terminate the use of hostilities against Iran." said Senator Murkowski. "The passage of this resolution in no way restricts the president's ability to defend our troops nor does it place them in greater danger. "It clearly establishes the lines and responsibilities of the executive and legi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski announced she is co-sponsoring S. 561, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, as the lead Republican on the bill. Sponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the legislation improves certain provisions of the original, bipartisan Voting Rights Act of 1965, which were determined to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013. Murkowski co-sponsored this same legislation in both th  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, sent a letter this week to the chief executives of 11 major banks in response to a misguided letter that a number of their Democratic colleagues sent in late January. The delegation's letter calls out mischaracterizations being made as part of an effort to deter investment in responsible energy production in a small part of the Arcti  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) held a business meeting to advance the following nominees to the full Senate for confirmation: * Ms. Katharine MacGregor to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior, and * Mr. Lanny Erdos to be Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement at the Department of the Interior. "Ms. MacGregor and Mr. Erdos are both  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $20 million Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant to the Port of Alaska, located in Anchorage. "I want to thank Secretary Chao for recognizing the dire state of one of Alaska's most important pieces of infrastructure and heeding the call of Alaskans by approving this much-needed PIDP g  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, sent a letter this week to the chief executives of 11 major banks in response to a misguided letter that a number of their Democratic colleagues sent in late January. The delegation's letter calls out mischaracterizations being made as part of an effort to deter investment in responsible energy production in a small part of the Arctic   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release on Feb. 14: In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee this week, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) received strong support for Arctic and Alaska-specific defense priorities from General Terrance O'Shaughnessy, the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) commander, and Admiral Charles Richard, the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) commander. During the hearing, General O'Shaughnessy agreed with many o  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: With the support of U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), the U.S. Senate confirmed Joshua Kindred to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the District of Alaska. Before the confirmation vote, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan spoke on the Senate floor in support of Kindred's confirmation. "Josh Kindred's experience in civil, criminal, and administrative law, at both the s  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) today held a business meeting to advance the following nominees to the full Senate for confirmation: * Ms. Katharine MacGregor to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior, and * Mr. Lanny Erdos to be Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement at the Depar  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news: U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, sent a letter this week to the chief executives of 11 major banks in response to a misguided letter that a number of their Democratic colleagues sent in late January. The delegation's letter calls out mischaracterizations being made as part of an effort to deter investment in res  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * - Moving Ahead to Increase the Safety of American Indians and Alaska Native Women * * * Building on her long-standing efforts to address rural Alaska's public safety emergency, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) helped lead a Capitol Hill briefing with U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) on ways to increase the safety of Native women and address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * - Equipping Individuals to Recognize, Prevent and Respond to Signs of Human Trafficking * * * According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), every two minutes a child is being victimized for sexual exploitation. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act of 2020, which would prevent the human traffic  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * - Senators Say the Department of Education Miscounts Students in at Least Two Ways * * * U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) pressed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to stop undercounting the number of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students in America's schools. Inaccurately identifying students leads to an incomplete picture of whether or not a school is adeq  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * - Senators Say the Department of Education Miscounts Students in at Least Two Ways * * * U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) pressed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to stop undercounting the number of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students in America's schools. Inaccurately identifying students leads to an incomplete picture of whether or not a school is  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * - Senators' Legislation Would Provide Training to Recognize, Prevent and Respond to Signs of Human Trafficking * * * According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), every two minutes a child is being victimized for sexual exploitation. U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)--along with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)--introduced the bipartisan Human Trafficking  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Security, and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the True Reciprocity Act of 2020, legislation to address the substantial imbalance in the relationship between the United States and China across a number of sectors, including diplomacy, trade, communications, and education. Specifically, the legislation directs the Trump a  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * - FDA Regulations Fall Short of Protecting Youth and Public Health, as Data Shows 5 Million Youth Tried E-Cigs Over 30 Day Period * * * U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) in a bipartisan letter to the director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Ce  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Security, introduced the True Reciprocity Act of 2020, legislation to address the substantial imbalance in the relationship between the United States and China across a number of sectors, including diplomacy  more