Press Releases
Military investments should help Alaska weather economic challenges
by Sen. Dan Sullivan
Alaska is facing tough economic times. Budgets are being squeezed, workers are being laid off and families are making due with less. But it's important to understand that we've been here before, and we've come out stronger because of it. It's also important to remember that just like in past recoveries, the federal government has a significant role to play in Alaska. Working together again, Alaska's congressional delegation is united on this issue. We are making sure that Alaska gets its f… Continue Reading
04.22.16
Sullivan Applauds First Production at Point Thomson
WASHINGTON, DC - Today U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) congratulated the state of Alaska and ExxonMobil for beginning production at the Point Thomson project on Alaska's North Slope, Exxon's first operated project in Alaska. The challenging field, which over the decades had numerous plans for development, contains a quarter of the North Slope's massive natural gas reserves. Development of the field is a foundational element in a project that will commercialize Alaska's North Slope natural gas. … Continue Reading
04.22.16
Alaska Delegation Praises Missile Defense Agency Announcement for Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska
WASHINGTON, DC - Today the Alaska Congressional Delegation welcomed the announcement by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) that it is examining the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak as a potential site for missile defense flight testing for regional missile defense systems, such as the Theatre High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system. MDA today released a Notice of Intent for a Sole Source Contract for the Alaska Aerospace Corporation in Federal Business Opportunities, the federal government's o… Continue Reading
04.20.16
Sullivan Congratulates Senator Murkowski on Passage of Bipartisan Energy Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today applauded the Senate's passage of the Energy Policy Modernization Act, the first major energy policy legislation in nearly a decade. The bill was sponsored by Alaska's Senator Lisa Murkowski, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "In February, the energy bill hit up against seemingly insurmountable gridlock. But Senator Murkowski did not give up," said Senator Sullivan. "She did the hard work, meeting with stakeholde… Continue Reading
04.19.16
Senate Passes Major FAA Bill with Key Provisions Benefitting Alaska
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, today welcomed the overwhelming passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill. The legislation contains several key provisions secured by Senator Sullivan that are important to Alaska. One of the essential focuses of the bill is on the general aviation industry, which contributes more than $1 billion to the Alaska economy. Aviation in general s… Continue Reading
04.13.16
Sullivan Commemorates the 40th Anniversary of the Magnuson Stevens Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, on the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement: "It's difficult to overstate the positive impacts the Magnuson-Stevens Act has had on the state of Alaska and its importance to our fishing industry," said Senator Sullivan. "More Alaskans are employed by the fishing industry than any other industry in the state. Countless Alaska communities rely on the health and abundance of our fisheries. … Continue Reading
04.11.16
Sullivan Bill Blocks Iran’s Access to U.S. Financial System
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) has introduced S. 2757, the Iran Financial System Access Limitation Act of 2016, legislation that would prohibit Iran from accessing the U.S. financial system until Iran is no longer designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. The bill comes amidst reports that the Obama Administration's Department of Treasury is contemplating giving Iranian banks access to U.S. dollars through offshore "clearing houses," a practice which is currently prohibited.… Continue Reading
04.07.16
Army Chief on Administration’s Planned Troop Reductions: “High Military Risk"
WASHINGTON, DC - Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army General Mark Milley today testified to Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) before the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Obama Administration's plan to reduce the size of the Army to 450,000 active duty troops and 980,000 total troops represents "high military risk" in light of potential conflicts around the globe. Over the last year, Sullivan has been pressing senior Department of Defense officials on the drawdown, including the elimination of Alas… Continue Reading
04.06.16
Sullivan Applauds Senate Passage of Anchorage Land Transfer Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation introduced by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) to allow for the sale of 9 acres of unused and undeveloped federal property to the Municipality of Anchorage. S. 1492 facilitates the sale 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. "After years of Senate gridlock, I am pleased to see this commonsense land transfer o… Continue Reading
04.05.16
Sullivan Reacts to DOJ’s Decision to Deny Investigation of Bill Allen
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement today after the Department of Justice (DOJ) chose to deny Alaska Attorney General Craig Richard's request to pursue charges against Bill Allen for alleged Mann Act violations: "I find it incredibly frustrating that it took the threat of violating a new federal law for the Department of Justice to finally and directly answer a question that Alaskans have been asking for years. There was ample evidence in this case to allow… Continue Reading
04.04.16
AK Delegation: Military Boost Coming to Alaska, F-35 Squadrons Officially to be Based at Eielson AFB
WASHINGTON, DC-Today the Alaska Congressional Delegation praised the news that Eielson Air Force Base was selected as the new home for the U.S. Air Force's first F-35As in the Pacific Theatre. Construction is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2017, with the arrival of the F-35s expected in 2020. The Record of Decision was signed this morning by the Air Force, finalizing plans to base the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter at Eielson, bringing 54 new aircraft and 2,765 additional residents to Interior Al… Continue Reading
03.22.16
Supreme Court Delivers Setback to Federal Overreach
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion on Sturgeon v. Frost, remanding the case back to the lower courts. In an 8-0 opinion, the court overturned the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision that the National Park Service could ban the use of hovercraft in eastern Alaska's Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. The court found the 9th Circuit's decision "surprising" and "topsy-turvy." While not a decisive victory for John Sturgeon, the Alaska moose hunter who br… Continue Reading
03.21.16
Alaska Congressional Delegation Applauds Army Decision to Keep 4-25 Brigade Combat Team Intact
WASHINGTON, DC - Alaska's Congressional Delegation today responded to the news that the U.S. Army has officially announced that it is delaying its decision to remove 2,600 soldiers from the 4-25 Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. In July 2015, the U.S. Army announced the reduction at JBER as part of a larger force-structure reduction from 490,000 to 450,000 troops. Since that announcement, a unified Alaska Congressional Delegation has fought to … Continue Reading
03.18.16
Sullivan Fights for Key Alaska Provisions in Reauthorization of FAA Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - With U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan's support, the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee has approved the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which incorporates several key provisions included by Senator Sullivan, as a member of that committee, that are important to Alaska. Senator Sullivan's provisions in the bill include increasing investment in aviation infrastructure, a Pilot's Bill of Rights, which benefits Alaska pilots and passengers, air t… Continue Reading
03.17.16
Alaska must have clear path to pursue justice for young women in Allen case
by Sen. Dan Sullivan, Alaska AG Craig Richards
As many Alaskans know, the state still hasn't fully recovered from the corruption scandal that beginning in 2006 rocked the state and sowed the seeds of mistrust between the people and their government. Certain prior actions by the U.S. Department of Justice -- the most powerful guardian of justice in our country -- have contributed to that lingering mistrust. However, there is a new opportunity for U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to right past wrongs. That's why we announced last month tha… Continue Reading
03.17.16
Secretary of Defense Would Support Army’s Recommendation to Keep Troops in Alaska
WASHINGTON, DC - In the latest development regarding the U.S. Army's decision to remove the 4-25 Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Alaska, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter told Senator Dan Sullivan today in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that he would support a recommendation from the U.S. Army to retain the 4-25 IBCT (ABN) at JBER, the only Army airborne combat brigade in the Pacific and the Arctic, and the only one with extreme-col… Continue Reading
03.16.16
Sullivan Issues Statement on Nomination of Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) issued the following statement today after President Obama announced he has nominated Merrick Garland to the United States Supreme Court: "The President has the constitutional authority to nominate and the U.S. Senate has the authority to advise and consent. The decision to withhold advancement of Mr. Garland's nomination isn't about the individual, it's about the principle. Alaskans, like all Americans, are in the midst of an important national… Continue Reading
03.15.16
Sullivan Statement on Interior Department’s Proposed 5 Year OCS Plan
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement today regarding the Department of Interior's proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017-2022 in Alaska: "While on the surface the Department of the Interior's proposed OCS lease plan - which includes acreage in Cook Inlet and the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas - sounds positive, it's akin to a car dealership announcing a lease sale without providing any keys. For production to be reali… Continue Reading
03.15.16
Sullivan Congratulates Dallas Seavey on Iditarod Victory
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan today congratulated Dallas Seavey of Willow, Alaska on winning the 2016 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, his fourth win in five years. "Dallas Seavey is becoming a living legend of sorts, taking his 4th Iditarod title in just the last five years, and again setting a new speed record for the history books," said Senator Dan Sullivan. "And to make the race even more meaningful, Dallas was soon joined by his dad, Mitch Seavey, who finished a close second. Mi… Continue Reading
03.10.16
Sullivan Responds to Joint U.S. – Canada Announcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today reacted to the joint announcement by President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau on climate change and "Arctic leadership." The announcement promises a host of new, legally suspect regulations on our country's energy sector. The announcement would also subject the United States to a global initiative which could seriously undermine the opportunity for America to truly realize energy security, and would take "concrete steps" to loc… Continue Reading