Press Releases
Alaska Delegation Urges State Department to Focus on Transboundary Issues
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Alaska Congressional Delegation joined together to again urge Secretary of State John Kerry to address the downstream risks that mining in British Columbia may pose to Alaska and Alaskans. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young wrote a letter (attached) to Secretary Kerry, seeking his Department's engagement in their efforts to ensure that British Columbia institutes appropriate safeguards to prevent potential negative impacts to transboundary wat… Continue Reading
09.06.16
Senate Democrats filibuster critical troop funding a sixth time
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) took to the Senate floor today to rebuke Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Democrats for again filibustering the defense appropriations bill, the sixth such filibuster in the past year and a half. The legislation, which includes critical funding for America's troops serving overseas, passed out of committee with unanimous bipartisan support. "We just saw another filibuster of spending for the men and women who serve in the United Stat… Continue Reading
09.01.16
Alaska Delegation Congratulates Hockey Legend Scotty Gomez
ANCHORAGE, AK - Today, the Alaska Congressional Delegation congratulated Scotty Gomez on his retirement from the National Hockey League (NHL). "Scotty Gomez has had the most decorated hockey career of any Alaskan in history. Alaskans have been proud to watch one of our own achieve so much - from 16 seasons in the NHL including Rookie of the Year and two Stanley Cups to appearing in two NHL All-Star Games and even representing the U.S. in the Winter Olympics. He has captured the attention of eve… Continue Reading
08.31.16
Senator Sullivan Comments on FCC’s Alaska Plan
KETCHIKAN, AK - Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an order which provides Alaska telecommunication rate-of-return carriers with the financial certainty they need to invest in telecommunications infrastructure and expand broadband capabilities throughout Alaska. This order will provide over $1 billion of federal Universal Service Fund (USF) money to 15 Alaska-based wireless and wireline telecommunications providers over a 10-year period. "I commend the FCC for acknowled… Continue Reading
08.05.16
Sullivan Condemns U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Rule That Preempts State Wildlife Management
ANCHORAGE, AK - U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan today condemned a rule from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that would fundamentally alter wildlife management on Alaska's 77 million acres of national wildlife refuge land. This rule targets the State of Alaska's proven, science-based wildlife management strategies that have been subject to rigorous public review and participation. Instead, the Fish and Wildlife Service rule preempts the State's management authority, a principle that was enshrine… Continue Reading
08.02.16
Alaska Delegation Praises F-35 Progress
ANCHORAGE, AK - Today the Alaska Congressional Delegation released the following statements after the U.S. Air Force announced that the first F-35A squadron capable of handling a range of combat missions, known as Initial Operating Capability (IOC), is now ready. IOC demonstrates the confidence the Air Force has in the F-35 program and their success in ensuring the first squadron is ready for combat. "This is a great step forward in our efforts to bring two squadrons of F-35s to Alaska. The IOC… Continue Reading
07.29.16
Sullivan: No Relief In Sight for American Worker in Stagnant Obama Economy
ANCHORAGE, AK - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) numbers, released by the U.S. Department of Commerce earlier today, showing the economy grew only 1.2 percent in the second quarter of this year. GDP is one of the primary indicators used to gauge the health of a country's economy. In the United States, the growth rate since 1790 has averaged an annual rate of 3.7 percent, almost 4 percent GDP. The Obama administration's average … Continue Reading
07.25.16
Sullivan to Convene Alaska Wellness Summit: Conquering the Opioid Crisis
ANCHORAGE, AK - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today announced that he will be convening a Wellness Summit next Thursday, August 4th in Palmer, Alaska. The summit will be dedicated to conquering the opioid and heroin epidemic scourging our nation and great state of Alaska. Federal officials from several agencies will attend to hear what unique obstacles Alaskans face when seeking treatment and recovery, as well as witness the indomitable spirit of Alaskans who have overcome those obstacles. … Continue Reading
07.14.16
Alaska Delegation Introduces Stand-Alone King Cove Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, this week introduced identical bills in both chambers of Congress to facilitate a life-saving road for the isolated community of King Cove, Alaska. Without the road, local residents continue to be at the mercy of high winds, dense fog, and strong storms that prevent safe and timely transportation during medical emergencies. "It has now been more than 30 months since Sec. Jewell callously … Continue Reading
07.14.16
Sullivan Cosponsors Countering Iranian Threats Act
WASHINGTON, DC - One year to the day since President Obama's Iran nuclear deal was announced, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) joined U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) as an original cosponsor of the Countering Iranian Threats Act of 2016. This legislation would extend the Iran Sanctions Act; expand sanctions for ballistic missile development, support for terrorism, and other illicit Iranian activities; sanction transfer… Continue Reading
07.13.16
Bill to Combat Opioid Epidemic Headed to President
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today lauded the Senate's passage of the conference report on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), legislation to combat the opioid epidemic across the nation, including Alaska. CARA overwhelmingly passed the Senate on a vote of 92-2 and last week passed the House 407-5. "After months of gridlock, senators today came together to pass a comprehensive package to combat the opioid and heroin addiction crisis," said Senator Dan Sul… Continue Reading
07.13.16
Sullivan Supports FAA Reauthorization Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, today supported the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through September 2017. The legislation contains several key provisions secured by Senator Sullivan that are important to Alaska. "With more than 100 communities in our state wholly reliant on aviation to get in or out - including regional centers like Bethel, Nome and Kotzebue - today's reau… Continue Reading
07.12.16
Senators Decry Democratic Filibuster of Critical Troop Funding
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) today joined in a colloquy on the Senate floor to speak about the Democratic filibuster of the FY 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill. The funding bill came out of the Senate Committee on Appropriations with the unanimous support of Democrat and Republican members. However, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said that his members are blocking critical funding for our troops so that his party… Continue Reading
07.12.16
Sullivan Keynotes South China Sea Policy Conference
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) delivered the keynote address at the Center for Strategic and International Study's (CSIS) 6th Annual South China Sea Conference today, where he highlighted the need for the U.S. to strengthen economic ties and military partnerships with its regional partners and to regularly navigate the disputed areas of the South China Sea to preserve the freedom of navigation in international waters. "Freedom of the seas is a bedrock commitment ingrained into the… Continue Reading
07.12.16
Statement by Senators McCain and Sullivan on South China Sea Arbitration Award
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), released the following statement on the Permanent Court of Arbitration's award in the case of Philippines v. China concerning the South China Sea: "We welcome today's award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the case of The Republic of the Philippines v. The People's Republic of China, and view it as binding on all parties involved. "Today's completion of … Continue Reading
07.08.16
Sullivan Comments on Interior’s Final Regulations for Drilling in the Arctic OCS
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of the Interior's final regulations for drilling in the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS): "While I am still reviewing the specifics of this regulation, it is important to remember this alarming statistic: it took Shell 7 years and more than $7 billion to drill one exploratory well in less than 100 feet of water in the Arctic. This was a direct result of an overly burdensome regul… Continue Reading
06.30.16
Missile Defense Agency Moves Forward on Missile Defense Tests in Kodiak
WASHINGTON, DC - Today the Alaska Congressional Delegation praised the announcement by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) that it has awarded a sole source contract to the Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC) to support two flight tests of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Systems (THAAD) at the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska on Kodiak, Alaska. The contract, which could total up to $80.4 million, will support MDA's flight test requirements for the 3rd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2017 and will inc… Continue Reading
06.29.16
Senators Pass Bill out of Committee to Give Fishermen Voice in Grant Process, Boost U.S. Seafood
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, S. 3087, the American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act, introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), passed unanimously out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The Saltonstall Kennedy (SK) Act, enacted in 1954, provides funding for fisheries research and development. These funds are derived from a portion of fishery import duties. To inform how these funds are allocated, Congress authorized a gr… Continue Reading
06.29.16
Sullivan, Cantwell, Murkowski Applaud Committee Passage of Alternate Safety Compliance Program Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, S. 3088, legislation to provide increased fishing industry consultation and to ease the deadline for compliance with the pending Coast Guard Alternate Safety Compliance Program, introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), passed unanimously out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The 2010 and 2012 Coast Guard Authorization bills imposed a number of new safety requirements on fishing vessels. On… Continue Reading
06.16.16
Top Air Force General Commits to Looking at Alaska for Future KC-46 Basing, Says “Alaska is Strategic”
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today received the commitment of General David Goldfein, nominee to be chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, to travel to Alaska in his first year, should he be confirmed, and to look seriously at basing the KC-46 fuel tanker in Alaska in the upcoming Air Force decision. The exchange took place in a confirmation hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "With the Air Force's recent decision to base two squadrons of F-35As at Eielson, placi… Continue Reading