Press Releases
Sullivan, Murkowski Resolution Recalls Exxon Valdez Tragedy
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) yesterday introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate marking the 30th anniversary of the disastrous Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The collision of the Exxon Valdez tanker with Bligh Reef in the early morning of March 24, 1989 resulted in the release of roughly eleven million gallons of crude oil into the open ocean, impacting more than 1,300 miles of coastline. "The Exxon Valdez disaster marked a tur… Continue Reading
03.25.19
Sullivan Bill to Update and Permanently Reauthorize Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today introduced the Spill Response and Prevention Surety Act, legislation to modify and permanently reauthorize the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. The fund was established under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to ensure the federal government is able to pay for the swift removal of spilled oil and compensate individuals, communities and businesses impacted by a spill disaster. "The Exxon Valdez oil spill taught us that speed and well-pla… Continue Reading
03.25.19
Senator Sullivan Applauds Successful “Salvo” Test of GMD Element of the U.S. Missile Defense System
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, applauded the successful "salvo" test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of our missile defense system. During this salvo test, two Ground-based Interceptors (GBIs) launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base were fired at a single threat-representative ICBM target, the first GBI successfully intercepting the target and the second GBI intercepting the next "most lethal" object.… Continue Reading
03.15.19
Sullivan Honors Alaskan of the Week: Iditarod Winner, Pete Kaiser
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) spoke yesterday on the Senate floor to recognize Pete Kaiser, of Bethel, who won the 2019 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 9 days, 12 hours, 39 minutes, and 6 seconds. Kaiser is the first person from Bethel, the fifth Alaska Native, and the first person of Yupik descent to win the title. Senator Sullivan recognized Pete as part of his series, "Alaskan of the Week." TRIBUTE TO PETE KAISER: Mr. President, it is that time of day on the Senate… Continue Reading
03.15.19
Alaska Delegation Moves to Protect Native Craftsmen
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Congressman Don Young (R-AK) this week introduced the Empowering Rural Economies Through Alaska Native Sustainable Arts and Handicrafts Act, in the House and the Senate. The legislation would preempt states from banning walrus ivory, whale bone, and other marine mammal products that have been legally carved by Alaska Natives under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Additionally, the bill preempts states from issuing… Continue Reading
03.14.19
Sullivan Statement on National Emergency Resolution
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement after voting today against the resolution of disapproval. "For weeks, I have extensively studied this emergency declaration-the underlying crisis, historical uses of executive authority, the statutes invoked by the President, and the role of Congress under our Constitution. After much reflection, I have concluded that today's vote was primarily about the underlying emergency and, as I have consistently stated, th… Continue Reading
03.12.19
Historic Alaska Native Vets Allotment Provision Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today thanked President Donald J. Trump for signing S. 47, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The legislation includes a version of Senator Sullivan's Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act. This provision will allow several thousand Alaska Natives who served during the Vietnam era (or their heirs) to apply for their congressionally-promised Native allotment after they missed their initial opportunity… Continue Reading
03.12.19
Senators Introduce Bill to Improve Access to Justice in the West, Create New Twelfth Circuit
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Martha McSally (R-AZ), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have introduced the Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act of 2019, a bill that would codify the Judicial Conference's most recent recommendations as well as other important measures to enhance the effectiveness of the federal judiciary. The legislation would authorize 56 permanent district court judgeships, convert eight temporary district court judgeships into permanent posts,… Continue Reading
03.08.19
Sullivan Hosts First Commerce Security Subcommittee Hearing as Chair on China
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) convened the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Security for the first time as chairman. The hearing examined the security implications of China's harmful practices in the marketplace, including issues of manufacturing competitiveness, intellectual property (IP) challenges, data localization requirements, standards-setting, and cybersecurity threats. The conversation is relevant as policy makers work to fortify current and future America… Continue Reading
03.06.19
Sullivan Honors Alaskan of the Week: Congressman Don Young
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor in tribute to Congressman Don Young today, the day that Young officially became the longest continuously-serving Republican in Congress, in both the House and the Senate. He's consistently ranked among the most effective legislators-just recently ranked the most effective member of Congress by the nonpartisan group, the Center for Effective Lawmaking. In his 46 years in Congress, nearly every project that has advanced mo… Continue Reading
03.06.19
Sullivan Discusses the “Green New Deal”
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) spoke today on the Senate floor regarding the "Green New Deal," a version of which was introduced as a resolution in the House and Senate last month, and the impact that resource development has had on the health and well-being of Alaskans. Senator Sullivan's full remarks are included below. SENATE FLOOR REMARKS Mr. President. First, I want to thank all of my colleagues for coming down here and having this important discussion. And I wa… Continue Reading
03.06.19
Sullivan Supports Abizaid Nomination as U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) delivered introductory remarks before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today at the confirmation hearing of retired Army General John Abizaid, nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. From 2005-2006, Senator Sullivan was recalled to active duty by the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a staff officer to General Abizaid during his tenure as the longest serving commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in histo… Continue Reading
03.01.19
Sullivan Honors Alaskan of the Week: Jean Pollard of Anchorage
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor in recognition of Anchorage resident and educator, Jean Pollard. Through sheer tenacity, Ms. Pollard has brought to the forefront the story of the African American Army Engineers of the 93rd, 95th, and 97th Regiments who were in the U.S. Army during World War II and stationed in Alaska. More than 3,000 of these brave soldiers were integral in building the Alaska-Canada (ALCAN) Highway, one of the 20th century'… Continue Reading
03.01.19
Sullivan, Klobuchar, Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address the Shortage of Affordable, Quality Child Care
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act to address the national shortage of affordable, quality child care, especially in rural communities. While many families struggle to find access to available child care, states are continuing to experience a noticeable decline in the number of child care providers, leading to the expansion of "child care deserts." In the House of Representatives, a companion bill was… Continue Reading
02.28.19
Blumenthal, Boozman, Sullivan, Hirono & Brown Introduce the Reach Every Veteran In Crisis Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in introducing legislation that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve the operation, oversight, and evaluation of its suicide prevention media outreach campaigns. The Reach Every Veteran in Crisis Act adopts several recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which reported in D… Continue Reading
02.26.19
Sullivan, Udall, Ruiz, Wenstrup Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Strengthen Burn Pit Registry
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) and Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) introduced bipartisan legislation, the Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act, to strengthen and enhance the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) registry of service members and veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes from open-air burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. As early as 2002, U.S. military installations in Afghanistan and… Continue Reading
02.21.19
Tester, Sullivan, Udall, Murkowski Team Up to Improve VA Outreach to Native American Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are teaming up to improve the VA's outreach, health care and benefits for Native Americans. The Senators introduced the bipartisan VA Tribal Advisory Committee Act to establish a VA Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs. The Committee will facilitate communication and understanding between the VA and Tribal governments to better address the unique barriers… Continue Reading
02.20.19
ICYMI: Congress Funds First Polar Icebreaker in Four Decades
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) applauded the Senate's passage of a major appropriations package last week that includes $655 million dedicated to the design and construction of a new heavy polar security cutter, $20 million to acquire long lead-time materials for a second polar security cutter, and $400 million for offshore patrol cutters and $340 million for fast response cutters, six of which will be based in Alaska. Additionally, the bill provides $53 million for shore-si… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Sullivan Votes to Confirm Barr as Attorney General
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement after voting in support of William Barr to be the next Attorney General of the United States. "William Barr is one of the most-qualified candidates ever to be nominated as Attorney General, having served honorably in the same position in the George H.W. Bush administration," said Senator Sullivan. "Alaskans can take heart in knowing Mr. Barr is a firm, unwavering supporter of our Second Amendment rights and under… Continue Reading
02.13.19
Sullivan at Military Privatization Housing Oversight Hearing: “We Need to Fix the Program for Today and for the Future”
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), chairman of the Senate Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee, joined with the Senate Personnel Subcommittee to receive testimony from military family members, companies, and the Department of Defense on the current condition of privatized military housing, the problems military families have had to grapple with, and solutions to ensure military families have the best possible housing. The hearing comes on the heels of recent news report… Continue Reading