Murkowski to Hold Anchorage Field Hearing on U.S. Arctic Policy
Witnesses Include Alaska Governor Sean Parnell and Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of U.S. Coast Guard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that she will hold a field hearing on the strategic importance of the Arctic and U.S. Arctic Policy on Thursday, August 20, 2009, from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the UAA/APU Consortium Library, Lew Haines Memorial Room (room 307). This hearing will be held by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, of which Sen. Murkowski is a member.
Witnesses scheduled to testify at the hearing include Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell; Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard; Dr. Lawson Brigham of the University of Alaska Fairbanks; David Benton, Executive Director, Marine Conservation Alliance; Edward Itta, Mayor, North Slope Borough and Mead Treadwell, Chairman, U.S. Arctic Research Commission
“We are holding this hearing to learn about the significant changes that are occurring in the region and how the United States must prepare for an ice diminished Arctic,” said Murkowski. “The Arctic is becoming more accessible due to a loss of summer sea ice and increases in technology. Increased maritime activity relating to the transportation of goods, oil and gas development, mineral extraction, tourism and research will demand new infrastructure and investment and a greater presence in the region.”
Details of Sen. Murkowski’s field hearing follow:
Who: U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski
What: Field Hearing of the United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security on the strategic importance of the Arctic and U.S. Arctic Policy.
When: 2:30 p.m., Thursday, August 20, 2009
Where: University of Alaska Anchorage - Consortium Library
Lew Haines Memorial Room (Room 307)
3211 Providence Drive
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