Press Releases
Sullivan, Booker Amendments to Marine Debris Program Pass Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, applauded the Senate's December 10th passage of the Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2016. The legislation reauthorizes NOAA's Marine Debris Program and provides for a new funding mechanism to respond to clean-up efforts from a "Severe Marine Debris Event" as determined by the NOAA Administrator. Examples of a Severe Marine Debris Event include earthquakes,… Continue Reading
12.14.16
Senate Passes Sullivan-Schatz-Markey International Fisheries Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - On Saturday morning, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Ensuring Access to Fisheries Act. The bipartisan legislation, introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), will implement treaties ratified by the Senate two years ago to better manage certain fisheries in the North and South Pacific, and to improve international fisheries management in the North Atlantic."This legislation will rightfully give the Unite… Continue Reading
12.12.16
Water Infrastructure Development Bill Headed to President’s Desk
WASHINGTON, DC - This past weekend, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) voted in favor of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016 (WIIN), which includes several key provisions vital to Alaska's water and infrastructure future, and encourages the development of a future deep-water Arctic port. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 78-21 and now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. Under a provision secured by Senator Sullivan in WIIN 2016, a new water infr… Continue Reading
12.12.16
Sullivan Statement on General John Kelly as DHS Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) issued the following statement on President-elect Trump's intent to nominate retired General John Kelly to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. "I applaud President-elect Trump on his choice to nominate General John Kelly, a man of great integrity, to be the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. General Kelly's experience as Commander of U.S. Southern Command, where he worked to counter transnational threats and… Continue Reading
12.09.16
Alaska Delegation Slams President Obama’s Latest Executive Order
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today the Alaska Congressional Delegation spoke out against an Executive Order by President Obama creating a "Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area" for over 112,000 square miles off Alaska's western coast, in addition to withdrawing 40,300 square miles of federal waters from oil and natural gas leasing. "This is the first time we have ever seen the term 'climate resilience area' in Alaska or anywhere else," Senator Lisa Murkowski said. "We have no idea what that design… Continue Reading
12.09.16
Supporting Alaska's Law Enforcement Community and Honoring Sergeant Allen Brandt
Mr. President, the holidays are nearly upon us. It is the time when Christmas cheer descends on us, when hearts open and we reach out to our neighbors, friends, and even strangers, particularly those who are in need. Today I want to reach out to the police force in Alaska. These men and women put their lives on the line every day for us, and anyone who has seen the news in these past few months knows it has been a particularly difficult time for police officers all across the country, who have … Continue Reading
12.09.16
Final Tongass Plan Has Dire Implications for Southeast Economy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Forest Service released its Final Record of Decision (ROD) to amend the Tongass Land Management Plan (plan). "By finalizing a new plan on its way out of office, the Obama administration has blatantly disregarded some of the Tongass Advisory Committee's most important recommendations and imperiled the economic future of Southeast Alaska,"… Continue Reading
12.08.16
Sullivan Praises National Defense Bill that Includes Critical Alaska Priorities
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined 91 of his Senate colleagues in passing the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. The FY 2017 NDAA - continuing the 55-year bipartisan tradition of passing this bill - authorizes $619 billion in critical defense spending, and includes a number of provisions important to Alaska. "This time last year, many of my colleagues and I … Continue Reading
12.07.16
Sullivan Statement on Oklahoma Attorney General Pruitt as EPA Administrator
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement on President-elect Trump's intent to nominate Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "I commend President-elect Trump on his choice for EPA Administrator. Each time Attorney General Pruitt has testified before the EPW Committee, I've been impressed by his eloquent legal analysis and his… Continue Reading
12.07.16
Sullivan Applauds Passage of the 21st Century Cures Act
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today joined 93 of his colleagues in passing the 21st Century Cures Act, which will support advancements in medical research toward the development of new cures and treatments for serious diseases, along with other priorities of Senator Sullivan. "I am excited to see members of Congress coming together in this ambitious effort to accelerate the discovery of new cures and treatments for diseases afflicting millions of Americans and many Alaskans,… Continue Reading
12.05.16
How to Put Building Permits on a Fast Track
by Sen. Dan Sullivan
President-elect Donald Trump has made investing in U.S. infrastructure a priority. This country urgently needs to build and repair roads, bridges, airports, pipelines and rail lines. But a huge roadblock is the federal permitting system. Even with a more business-friendly administration, a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan won't accomplish much unless Congress reforms the way public-works projects are approved. America used to be the envy of the world in building great projects responsibly, e… Continue Reading
12.01.16
Sullivan Votes to Extend Sanctions on Iran
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today voted in favor of an extension of the Iran Sanctions Act, which passed the Senate on a vote of 99 to 0. The Act extends sanctions on Iran through 2026. "As many of us who opposed President Obama's Iran nuclear deal predicted, Iran has not curbed its support for terrorism, development of its ballistic missile capabilities, nor its efforts to destabilize the Middle East," said Senator Dan Sullivan. "In fact, just yesterday, Army General Jose… Continue Reading
11.30.16
Sullivan Works to Reverse Obama’s Army Drawdown; Future of Alaska’s 4-25 Looks Promising
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today signed the Conference Report to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill includes increased funding authorization to increase force structure for all four services. The NDAA authorizes an additional 16,000 U.S. Army soldiers, halting and reversing an ongoing drawdown of Army forces by the Obama administration. This drawdown included the 4-25 Infantry Bri… Continue Reading
11.18.16
Alaska Delegation Slams Decision to Strip Arctic Leases from New OCS Plan
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today condemned the Obama administration's decision to remove two Alaska lease sales - one each in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas - from its "Proposed Final Program" for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing for 2017-2022. Eliminating the program's Arctic sales will yield the weakest offshore development plan in American history and lock up vast resources that are needed to grow our economy… Continue Reading
11.18.16
Sullivan Statement on President-elect Trump’s Selection for Attorney General
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) issued the following statement on President-elect Trump's intent to nominate Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to be Attorney General of the United States. "I am encouraged to hear about the nomination of my Senate colleague Senator Jeff Sessions to be the next Attorney General of the United States. Senator Sessions has a long record of exemplary public service, and is a passionate defender of our Constitution and the rule of law. I look forward t… Continue Reading
11.09.16
Sullivan Statement on 2016 Elections
ANCHORAGE, AK - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) issued the following statement today on the 2016 elections: "I want to congratulate President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence on their historic victory last night. They clearly heard and gave voice to the concerns of millions of our citizens who feel the American dream is slipping away. "I look forward to working closely with our new president and his administration on issues critical to Alaska and America: energy independen… Continue Reading
11.04.16
Sullivan Statement on Governor Walker's Cancer Diagnosis
ANCHORAGE, AK - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement today regarding Governor Bill Walker's announcement that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Governor Bill Walker and his family during this difficult time. Governor Walker has long been a fighter, and I'm sure he will bring the same unwavering spirit to this battle and will have a speedy recovery. I appreciate that the governor brought this issue to the attention of Ala… Continue Reading
11.01.16
Sullivan Applauds FCC Order Expanding Broadband in Rural Alaska
ANCHORAGE, AK - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week issued an order that expands the Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II) program for Alaska's price cap carrier to deploy broadband services throughout Alaska. This order will provide approximately $19.4 million per year for 10 years and will improve voice and broadband service for more than 31,000 locations throughout rural Alaska - many of which are without any broadband today. "Earlier this year, during a Senate Commerce Co… Continue Reading
10.24.16
Sullivan Extremely Frustrated by Ninth Circuit Ruling Allowing Bearded Seal Listing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today expressed frustration at a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit opinion overturning a District Court's 2014 ruling that found the 2012 listing of the bearded seal as "threatened" by the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was unwarranted. "I am deeply troubled by the 9th Circuit's decision today to allow unnecessary and crushing federal regulatory burdens to move forward, which will impact lar… Continue Reading
10.19.16
Alaska Senators Honor 50 Years of the Alaska Federation of Natives
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate recently passed a resolution (attached), introduced by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN). AFN was formed in October 1966 when more than 400 Alaska Natives, representing 17 Native organizations, conducted a historic 3-day meeting to address Alaska Native land rights. "I'm proud to honor and recognize the significance of AFN and what this organization has achieved. I look … Continue Reading