Press Releases
Currently showing results in the 114th Congress
Sullivan Convenes Polar Bear Summit to Resolve Concerns over Subsistence Quota
WASHINGTON, DC - Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) convened a summit between Alaskans from the North Slope and representatives with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State Department regarding a dispute over the number of Chukchi Sea polar bears that may be harvested for subsistence purposes. The harvest of the bears is subject to a treaty between the U.S. and Russia. "Alaskans on the North Slope are very concerned about the real threat of criminal penalties for doing what their communi… Continue Reading
06.15.16
Cantwell, Sullivan Introduce Bill to Bolster Marine Mammal Rescue and Response
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced the Marine Mammal Research and Response Act of 2016, a bill that would strengthen the government's efforts to protect and preserve marine mammals such as orcas, seals, sea lions, and sea otters. The Act would reauthorize and expand the NOAA John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Grant Program, the primary funding source for organizations that rescue and rehabilitate sick or injured marine mammals. … Continue Reading
06.14.16
Sullivan Fights for Arctic and Alaska Defense Priorities
WASHINGTON, DC - Today the United States Senate, with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan's (R-AK) support, passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 by a vote of 85-13. This bill authorizes $602 billion in critical defense spending and includes numerous Arctic and Alaska priorities. "As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I know that our military depends on the annual defense authorization to ensure that our fighting men and women have everything they need to… Continue Reading
06.13.16
Delegation Comments on Alaska Changes Within VA Choice Program
WASHINGTON, DC - The Department of Veterans Affairs has informed Alaska's congressional delegation that as of July 10, 2016, the scheduling for Choice Act medical appointments in Alaska will revert back to being handled by local VA integrated care personnel, instead of its current practice of outsourcing scheduling requests to contractor-operated call centers in the Lower 48. The delegation has been demanding this change after hearing from numerous Alaska veterans who have been ill-served by the… Continue Reading
06.12.16
Sullivan Statement on Orlando Shooting
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement in response to the tragic shooting in Orlando, Florida: "I join with my fellow Alaskans and the country in mourning the horrific acts of violence and terrorism in Florida. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and to the state of Florida. The killer, regardless of official ties to ISIS or any other extreme Islamic terrorist organization, shared their goal of destroying everything that binds us … Continue Reading
06.08.16
Sullivan, Ernst, Gardner Conclude Productive CODEL to East Asia
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) returned this week from a congressional delegation trip to South Korea, Burma, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan focused on critical issues underpinning U.S. relations in the region, including strengthening our security ties, growing trade opportunities to bolster American exports, and promoting homegrown American energy. "Our visit reinforced that America has a wealth of allies, especially in Asia, and th… Continue Reading
06.08.16
Sullivan Applauds Indian Prime Minister Modi’s Address to Congress
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement today after attending Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's joint address to Congress: "I want to extend my deep respect and thank Prime Minister Modi for his remarks to Congress today. His visit reflects both the continuation of the strong bilateral relationship between our two countries, as well as an era of new partnerships on many fronts. "U.S.-India economic ties have expanded for the last several decades. … Continue Reading
05.29.16
Senator Sullivan Releases Special Memorial Day Message
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following video message in observance of Memorial Day. "Memorial Day holds a special significance to those of us who wear the uniform and to the families and communities who sustain us. On this day we not only honor the fallen but take time to remember those who are still missing. "Words cannot express and monuments cannot console the heartfelt loss we feel. "But we have a solemn obligation to mark this day in honor of the… Continue Reading
05.25.16
Sullivan Holds Hearing on the Implementation of WOTUS
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife, chaired a hearing yesterday entitled, "Erosion of Exemptions and Expansion of Federal Control - Implementation of the Definition of Waters of the United States." The principal topic of discussion was how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are expanding federal control over land and water, including implementing… Continue Reading
05.20.16
Sullivan Urges Ban of Russian Team from Rio Olympics Pending Doping Investigation
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today wrote International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach expressing concern over recent reports that the Russian government - including President Vladimir Putin - endorsed a widespread doping program over several past Olympic Games and a variety of sporting events. Sullivan holds the seat of the late Senator Ted Stevens who was responsible for 1978 legislation that established the U.S. Olympic Committee. Sullivan called on the IOC,… Continue Reading
05.18.16
Murkowski, Sullivan, Young Press Interior on Alaska OCS Development
Washington, D.C. - Alaska's congressional delegation - Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young - on Tuesday sent a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell urging the Department to keep all three lease sales proposed for Alaska's OCS in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) final Five-Year Program for the years 2017 to 2022. "The areas under consideration for leasing in Alaska's OCS contain vast resources that our nation will need to maintain its economy and security.… Continue Reading
05.18.16
Senate Passes Sullivan-Schatz-Markey International Fisheries Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed S.1335, the Ensuring Access to Fisheries Act. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), will implement treaties ratified by the Senate last year to better manage certain fisheries in the North and South Pacific and the North Atlantic. "The Ensuring Access to Fisheries Act will rightfully give the United States a voice and assert our influence in bo… Continue Reading
05.17.16
Sullivan Chairs Hearing on Marine Debris
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, held a hearing today entitled "Marine Debris and Wildlife: Impacts, Sources, and Solutions," exploring the sources of marine debris, its impacts on wildlife populations, and potential solutions to this issue. "Alaska is home to more coastline than the contiguous United States, and is disproportionately affected by the crisis we are se… Continue Reading
05.16.16
Anchorage Land Transfer Bill Headed to President’s Desk
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation introduced by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Congressman Don Young (R-AK) to allow for the sale of nine acres of unused and undeveloped federal property to the Municipality of Anchorage. S. 1492 facilitates the conveyance of the National Archives and Records Administration property located at 400 East 40th Avenue in Anchorage to the Municipality for no less than fair market value. "Working closely alongsi… Continue Reading
05.14.16
Senator Sullivan Delivers The Republican Weekly Address
WASHINGTON, DC - In the Weekly Republican Address, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, discusses our nation's lack of economic growth under the Obama Administration. "Our economy is stagnant...We can do so much better for America. But President Obama tells us differently. He lowers expectations by calling his very weak economic record the 'new normal." Sen. Sullivan says, "Strong economic growth made the United States the g… Continue Reading
05.13.16
Sullivan Fights for Alaska Priorities in National Defense Authorization Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday, with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan's (R-AK) support, passed out of committee legislation to authorize $602 billion in critical defense spending for Fiscal Year 2017. "A critical piece of legislation, the National Defense Authorization Act sets our nation's security priorities and allocates the resources our military needs to rapidly respond to threats against the homeland and across the globe," Senator Dan Sullivan said. "Today the wor… Continue Reading
05.13.16
Senator Sullivan to Deliver Weekly National Republican Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) was selected by the Republican Party to deliver the weekly national address to the nation. During his remarks, Senator Sullivan, will focus on the lost decade of economic growth under the Obama administration. The address will be available nationwide overnight and Alaska reporters will receive the audio, video and text of the message at 8:00 am on Saturday morning for inclusion in weekend newscasts. ###… Continue Reading
05.13.16
Senators Honor Heroes of the Last Frontier
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate passed a resolution (attached), introduced by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Alaska State Troopers and honoring the "first responders of the last frontier" and their families for their service and sacrifice. In 1941, the 15th Territorial Legislature established the Alaska Highway Patrol, an organization created for the sole purpose of enforcing the traffic code in the territory. That organization grew an… Continue Reading
05.12.16
Alaska Delegation Calls for International Cooperation on Canadian Mines
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Amid concerns about how the development of several hardrock mines in British Columbia could negatively affect waterways and fisheries in Southeast Alaska, Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young wrote a letter (attached) to Secretary of State John Kerry, urging for action. The Alaska Congressional Delegation called upon the Secretary to raise these issues and concerns at the international level and secure commitment from Canadian leaders to ensure that… Continue Reading
05.06.16
The truth about our continuing combat role
by Sen. Dan Sullivan
When the president is in open disagreement with the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on one of the most critical issues our nation faces - whether to send our sons and daughters into combat - it should be cause for significant national concern. President Obama has repeatedly told the American people that U.S. troops are not in combat in the Middle East. In 2010, he announced that "our combat mission is ending" in Iraq. He used the same words in 2014 regarding A… Continue Reading