Articles & Op-eds
Edgy: New Lithium Production Breakthrough Revolutionizes EV Industry
by Zayan Guedim
Without battery technology, there would be no electric cars, and the best batteries that currently can meet the industrial quantity and quality standards are lithiu-ion batteries. Lithium is where things get a bit, well, electric, for electric vehicles. Known for decades for its virtues in the treatment of manic-depressive disorders, lithium is the same metal that powers electric cars. In the global arms race over lithium or "white petroleum", China is dominating for now - and not only because… Continue Reading
05.22.19
CNBC: OPINION: US must ‘reassert global leadership’ in nuclear energy or lose out to Russia and China
by Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island)
As partisan gridlock on a few high-profile issues dominates headlines, it is easy to lose sight of goals members of both parties share. For us, one bipartisan goal is protecting America's longstanding leadership on nuclear energy. Our bipartisan work comes as American nuclear energy leadership faces stiff headwinds. Nuclear plants are shuttering nationwide due to competition from cheap natural gas. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported twelve U.S. reactors with a combined c… Continue Reading
05.22.19
Utlity Drive: Murkowski questions need for renewables tax credits
by Robert Walton
Dive Brief: Phasing out the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for wind and solar generation could lead to "regional disparities" in adopting renewables and leave best available technologies behind, industry experts told the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Tuesday. Chairwoman Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, questioned whether the credits are still necessary as many renewable technologies are "standing on their own now." The solar credit begins… Continue Reading
05.22.19
Juneau Empire: OPINION: Sen. Murkowski leads bipartisan bill in support of rural, LGBTQ elders
by Julie Schmidt
This month, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, took a bold and admirable step on behalf of older Alaskans and elders around the nation by becoming an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Inclusive Aging Act. I am grateful for her leadership in introducing legislation that would help reduce isolation and improve much-needed access to sexual health care for older Americans. This is even more significant for people like me. I'm a 76-year-old lesbian, and the bill Murkowski introduced, along with … Continue Reading
05.22.19
Anchorage Daily News: OPINION: Funding child care strengthens Alaska
by Abbe Hensley
Across Alaska, parents, educators and early childhood education advocates are working hard to ensure our children receive high-quality care and education that supports their healthy development. And while all of us are doing our best to ensure Alaska's children have the programs and support they need to have the strongest start possible in life, a lack of resources constrains our ability to serve more families and enhance the quality of care our state's children receive. Thankfully, Congress pro… Continue Reading
05.22.19
Op-Ed: Anchorage Daily News: Spruce beetle outbreak will require all hands, all lands solutions
by Senator Lisa Murkowski
Southcentral Alaska is experiencing a spruce bark beetle outbreak, the likes of which we have not seen since the late 1990s. Over the past two summers, the U.S. Forest Service documented 910,000 acres of spruce beetle infestation in the Susitna River Valley and on the Kenai Peninsula. The number of acres affected will most certainly increase after the next round of monitoring flyovers scheduled for this summer. The spruce beetle is a winged, quarter-inch size insect that is native to Alaska an… Continue Reading
05.21.19
Maritime Executives: New Study Reveals Maritime Sector's Impact in Pacific Northwest
by Marex
Just in time for National Maritime Day, the Transportation Institute and the National Maritime Partnership have released the results of a study showing the impact of the American domestic shipping industry on the Pacific Northwest economy. According to a new report prepared by leading consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on behalf of the Transportation Institute, U.S. domestic shipping is responsible for $2 billion in economic activity in Alaska and another $6 billion in Washington State. R… Continue Reading
05.21.19
Navajo-Hopi Observer: Reintroduction of Savanna’s Act gives hope to many in Indian country
Last week, a bipartisan group of congressional members reintroduced Savanna's Act, a bill that aims to clarify future responsibilities that law enforcement has in responding to missing and murdered indigenous people and increase communication between federal, state and tribal officials. Representatives Torres (D-CA), Newhouse (R-WA), and Haaland (D-NM), working in coordination with the offices of Senators Murkowski (R-AK) and Cortez-Masto (D-NV), crafted this important legislation in order to co… Continue Reading
05.21.19
Fosters: OPINION: Another View: Keep competition for minerals from erupting into a conflict
by V.K. Mathur
Amid a growing need for materials deemed critically important in the production of a multitude of commercial products ranging from cell phones and laptops to flat televisions and batteries for electric vehicles, one of the enigmas is how the United States can ignore its growing dependence on imported minerals and metals. Our country is 100 percent import-reliant on 18 minerals and metals considered "critical" by the defense or interior departments. And more than 50 percent reliant on many more … Continue Reading
05.21.19
KFSK: Forest Service chief: agency auditing Alaska region timber program
by Joe Viechnicki
The chief of the U.S. Forest Service has responded to the Petersburg borough that the federal agency is conducting an audit of the timber program on national forest land in the Alaska Region. Vicki Christiansen's May 8th letter to borough mayor Mark Jensen apologizes for a delayed response. It also says the National Forest system's acting deputy chief Christopher French on April 20, 2018 requested a formal audit of the Alaska Region's timber program, including timber cruise and appraisals. Chri… Continue Reading
05.20.19
American Maritime Partnership: The Domestic Maritime Industry Creates 6,520 Jobs and $1.98 Billion of Economic Impact in the State of Alaska
The Alaska Federal Delegation joined the American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the domestic maritime industry, to announce a 44 percent increase in jobs in the domestic maritime industry in Alaska. According to the findings of a new report conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on behalf of Transportation Institute (TI), the Jones Act fuels a strong domestic maritime industry in Alaska and across the region. The industry employs more than 6,500 individuals, produces $1.98 billion… Continue Reading
05.20.19
National Law Review: Surprise Billing Comparison: What You Need to Know
The question is not if, but how: How will lawmakers tackle surprise billing? What started out as question for a small Senate working group in 2018 has turned into one of the major health priorities of both parties. Over the past year, discussion drafts were released, bills were introduced, and lawmakers sought feedback from stakeholders in an effort to produce bipartisan comprehensive legislation. In the last three days, two major bills have emerged (and more are on the way): On May 14, 2019, R… Continue Reading
05.19.19
Richmond Times-Dispatch: OPINION: David Banks column: Make smart changes to the General Mining Law
by David Banks
Clamp a royalty on minerals and metals mined on federal lands in the United States? Congress is considering doing so as part of an effort to radically change the General Mining Law. It would be a mistake that would penalize U.S. companies and workers, make worse our dependence on foreign sources of metals and minerals critical to the national defense, and hamper efforts to reduce carbon pollution. The most destructive effect of a bill introduced by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) would be on U.S. … Continue Reading
05.17.19
Detroit Authority: Senators Look to Rally U.S. EV Material Production
by Joseph Szczesny
While the Trump administration - through the Environmental Protection Agency - continues to press for changes in fuel economy regulations that would to sideline efforts to put more EVs on the road across the United States, the U.S. Congress is getting nervous about China's fast moving electric-car effort. Both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate are voicing support for a national electric car supply chain policy in the United States Senate, according to a report from Reuters. The Sena… Continue Reading
05.17.19
Becker's Hospital Review: Senators release plan to end surprise medical bills with arbitration: 8 things to know
by Kelly Gooch
A bipartisan group of senators has unveiled legislation to end surprise medical bills. Eight things to know: 1. Sens. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Bill Cassidy, R-La., and a bipartisan group of senators introduced the STOP Surprise Medical Bills Act May 16. Ms. Hassan and Mr. Cassidy, along with Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Todd Young, R-Ind., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Tom Carper, D-Del., announced the introduction of the bill. 2. The legislation would prohibit surprise billing for emergency … Continue Reading
05.17.19
KITV4: Schatz introduces legislature to help Defense Dept. take on child pornography
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) re-introduced bipartisan legislation that would help the Pentagon stop the use of the Defense Department's network to possess, procure and even produce child pornography. The measure, End National Defense (END) Network Abuse Act is said to give military leaders tools needed to get rid of child pornography on DoD's network, go after offenders and protect children. "The widespread abuse of the Department of Defense's network to … Continue Reading
05.17.19
KTUU: Air Force plan will permanently station six more F-22 fighter jets at JBER
by Laura Holman
The Air Force has released a plan to permanently station six additional F-22 fighter jets at Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson. The jets were previously based at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, but moved to JBER after Tyndall was severely damaged during hurricane Michael. Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, applauded the Air Force on the potential plan. "We have long advocated for our military in Alaska, including the importance of our … Continue Reading
05.17.19
Arctic Today: Will the Arctic Council begin addressing national security?
by Melody Schreiber
This year's Arctic Council ministerial meeting showcased increasingly complicated issues in the region - from national security to climate change and more - and the subsequently complex discussions around them. In its aftermath, attendees and observers are debating where the organization will go from here, and whether its mandates - particularly the exclusion of national security issues - will change. Although it's unlikely the council will take on defense issues, observers say, conversations a… Continue Reading
05.15.19
E&E News: Murkowski hopes it's 'finally the year' for minerals bill
by Dylan Brown
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski refuses to give up on passing legislation to encourage the domestic extraction of minerals for electric vehicles and other technologies. The Alaska Republican held a seventh hearing on her "American Mineral Security Act," S. 1317, making the case once again that reliance on foreign minerals is the nation's "Achilles' heel" as the Trump administration levies more tariffs on China. "I hope that this is finally the year that Congress w… Continue Reading
05.14.19
Indian Country Today: Deb Haaland announces U.S. House version of Savanna’s Act and addresses efforts for MMIW
by Vincent Schilling
Haaland: 'Congress has never had a voice like mine, a Native American woman who sees the blind spots that have existed for far too long' On a media conference call Tuesday morning, Rep. Deb Haaland (NM-01) announced the U.S. House version of Savanna's Act 2019, a bill that will supplement the Senate bill introduced by Lisa Murkowski in January of this year. As previously reported on by Indian Country Today, Savanna's Act will combat the epidemic of murdered and missing Native women and girls b… Continue Reading
