Press Releases
Sullivan Testifies In Support of Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) recently testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining in support of S. 1955, the Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act. The legislation, introduced by Senator Sullivan and co-sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski, would allow approximately 2,800 Alaska Natives who served in Vietnam, and missed an earlier opportunity because of that service, to apply for their government-promi… Continue Reading
10.09.15
Bipartisan Tsunami Bill Unanimously Passes Senate, Strengthens Coastal Disaster Preparedness
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) announced their tsunami detection and warning systems legislation unanimously passed the Senate. The bill reauthorizes and enhances tsunami preparedness and increases investment in research to protect coastal communities. The Tsunami Warning, Education and Research Act of 2015 would strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) tsunami warning system and advance new res… Continue Reading
10.09.15
Sullivan Statement on Nationwide Stay of EPA’s WOTUS Rule
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works' Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, released the following statement regarding the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision to issue a nationwide stay on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) flawed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: "I'm grateful that the court has halted this over-reaching jurisdictional expansion - known as the Waters of the U.S. r… Continue Reading
10.07.15
Sullivan Applauds Senate Passage of NDAA Conference Report
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. Senate passed the conference report for the FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, successfully included an amendment in the final NDAA Conference Report that aims to respond to the plan to downsize the 4-25 Airborne Brigade Combat Team currently stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, AK. As Russia militarizes the Arctic Region, Sen. Sullivan's amend… Continue Reading
10.07.15
VA Announces Pilot Program to Help Fix Alaska’s Broken VA Health Care System
WASHINGTON, DC - At a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on pending health care and benefits legislation, Dr. Thomas Lynch, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health Clinical Operations, announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be creating a new pilot program in Alaska to address the failed implementation of the Veterans Choice Program in the state. The announcement of an Alaska VA pilot program follows a Veterans' Affairs Committee field hearing held by Senator Sull… Continue Reading
09.28.15
Sullivan Reacts to Shell Arctic OCS Announcement
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement today after Shell's announcement that it is abandoning its Arctic drilling program, citing high costs and the "challenging and unpredictable federal regulatory environment." Senator Sullivan said: "Shell's announcement is being cheered by environmental groups, but it's a very sad day for Alaska and for working Alaskans and Americans across the country. From the beginning, through unprecedented regulatory hurdles … Continue Reading
09.18.15
Senator Continues to Drive Timeline On Fixing Alaska’s Broken VA System
WASHINGTON, DC - At a recent Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing, committee member Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) continued to press the Veterans Administration (VA) on the importance of immediately fixing the implementation of the Choice Act, which has resulted in a broken VA healthcare program in Alaska. At the hearing, Thomas Lynch, the VA's assistant deputy under-secretary for Health Clinical Operations, gave assurances that the VA was working to fix the problems and committed to moving up the … Continue Reading
09.18.15
ICYMI: Sullivan Highlights Obama Administration’s Contradictory Policies in South China Sea
WASHINGTON, DC - During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing yesterday, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) continued to highlight the Obama administration's conflicting and confused policies in the South China Sea, where China has been feverishly building islands by piling sand onto reefs in disputed territory. According to Ambassador David Shear, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, "China has now reclaimed more than 2,900 acres, amounting to 17 times more land i… Continue Reading
09.17.15
Alaska Senators Co-Sponsor Legislation to Repeal “Cadillac Tax”
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Alaska Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski joined Senators Dean Heller (R-NV) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) in introducing S. 2045, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation will fully repeal tax provisions on high-cost insurance plans in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) known as the "Cadillac Tax". Beginning in 2018, the "Cadillac Tax" would tax employers whose health insurance plans cost more than $10,200 a year for individual… Continue Reading
08.31.15
Sullivan brings Washington to vets
An idea that started in Alaska to provide better care by the Veterans Administration for vets known as the Veterans Access, Choice & Accountability Act seems to have backfired for Alaskan vets according to freshman U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R) Alaska. "Ultimately this was about bringing Washington D.C. to Alaska," Sullivan told the Dispatch in an interview before the Kenai hearing. "To have some of the senior VA officials here in Alaska. The Secretary of the VA was here two weeks ago and to… Continue Reading
08.27.15
President must experience 'real' Alaska through its people
by Sen. Dan Sullivan
Alaska has benefited from many Presidential visits, and it's always good to have the national spotlight shine on us. President Ronald Reagan's visits were particularly memorable, given his keen appreciation for Alaska's vast natural resources and understanding of the federal government's history of locking up those resources by taking Alaska lands. "It's absolutely ridiculous," President Reagan said in a 1979 campaign stop, bemoaning federal land-grabs. "It's gotten to the point where a tourist… Continue Reading
08.27.15
Fixing Alaska's model VA system: Used to reform national veterans' care, state system now needs help
by Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Editorial Board
News-Miner opinion: A year and a half ago, the national Veterans Affairs health system was in disarray. At clinics across the Lower 48, veterans waited for care for weeks and months, in some cases dying before receiving treatment. But the Alaska system was a different story. Thanks to reforms pushed by the state's congressional delegation, the Last Frontier's veterans had shorter waits and better access to care. So Congress developed a national system akin to Alaska's - only to have its rollout … Continue Reading
08.17.15
Sullivan: Russian moves highlight Arctic concerns
by Becky Bohrer
JUNEAU, Alaska - U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan said the Russians are looking to militarize the Arctic, making it all the more important for the U.S. to have a broad Arctic strategy that includes having sufficient troops based in Alaska. Sullivan said Monday that's why he has been critical of proposed troop reductions in Alaska as part of a cost-saving plan announced by the Army this summer. His office said Sullivan got included in the Senate version of a defense spending bill a provision to r… Continue Reading
08.07.15
Sullivan says August is Opportunity for Vets to be Heard, Announces VA Listening Sessions & Field Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Given the importance of Alaska veterans to the state and to the country, the month of August will be a great opportunity for Alaskans to directly engage with VA officials in the state, including with VA Secretary Bob McDonald, and David Shulkin, the VA Undersecretary of Health. At U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan's request, Dr. Shulkin, along with other state officials, will attend two listening sessions and an official field hearing on August 24 and 25, focusing on problems with the… Continue Reading
08.05.15
Sullivan Introduces the RED (Regulations Endanger Democracy) Tape Act
WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced S. 1944, The RED (Regulations Endanger Democracy) Tape Act to help grow our country's economy by freezing the growing number of federal regulations promulgated each year. If the legislation is enacted, a federal agency will be required to remove a regulation from the Federal Register for every new one promulgated. If they refuse to do so, the cost of living adjustment for agency personnel will be withheld until the agency abid… Continue Reading
08.05.15
Alaska Delegation Seeks Answers on Reductions in U.S. Army Alaska Force Structure
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter to Secretary of the Army John McHugh, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young this week requested additional information and documentation relating to the Army's recent decision to reduce Alaska force structure by 2,600 troops. "In accordance with our Congressional responsibility to provide oversight, we request the documentation used by senior U.S. Army leadership to make this strategically short-sighted decision," the delegation wrote… Continue Reading
07.30.15
Alaska Priorities Included in Long-Term Highway Reauthorization Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) voted in support of the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, a bipartisan six-year highway reauthorization bill, which passed the U.S. Senate on a vote of 65-34. "Our nation's roads and bridges are critical to this country's economic growth and our way of life," said Senator Sullivan. "Today's passage of the DRIVE Act will provide fiscal certainty and a funding structure for our country's roads and inf… Continue Reading
07.17.15
Sullivan Urges Secretary Kerry Against Introducing UN Resolution to Lift Iranian Sanctions
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) wrote a letter today to Secretary of State John Kerry, urging him not to introduce a resolution to the United Nations that would void sanctions on Iran prior to Congress debating and voting on the nuclear agreement finalized earlier this week. Secretary Kerry is expected to introduce the UN resolution as early as Monday as part of the United States' negotiated commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Congress passed the Iran Nuclear … Continue Reading
07.14.15
Senator Sullivan Statement on Iran Nuclear Deal
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) issued the following statement today regarding the Obama Administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran: “The principal objective of entering into negotiations with Iran from the beginning was to keep that country—the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism—from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Senator Sullivan said. “However, we have moved from the clear objective of dismantling Iran’s nuclear weapons capability to managing the proliferation of… Continue Reading
07.08.15
AK Congressional Delegation Speaks Out Against Troop Cuts at Fort Richardson
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska’s Congressional Delegation today is responding to the news of continued significant reductions in the size and capability of the U.S. Army. In addition to cuts in Georgia and Hawaii, the Army told the delegation it will be downsizing its operations in Alaska at Fort Richardson by cutting 2,600 soldiers there and 75 soldiers at Fort Wainwright. “Along with thousands of Alaskans, I find this decision devastating, far beyond what it means to our state economy, but what… Continue Reading