WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, D.C.--U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), co-chairs of the Senate Arctic Caucus, have introduced a bill to expand and improve economic ties with Iceland. Currently, Icelanders are not eligible for economic visas to visit and conduct business in the United States, one of the only Arctic nations whose residents face such a barrier. The Nordic Trader and Investor Pari  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, D.C.--U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Angus King (I-Maine), co-chairs of the Senate Arctic Caucus, have introduced a bill to expand and improve economic ties with Iceland. Currently, Icelanders are not eligible for economic visas to visit and conduct business in the United States, one of the only Arctic nations whose residents face such a barrier. The Nordic Trader and Investor Parity  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, issued the following news release on Oct. 3, 2023: Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sent a letter to the leaders of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs requesting that the committee hold an oversight hearing on how to address the fentanyl crisis that has affected every part of our country, but has been particularly devastating for Indian Country. Sen. Cantwell is the former Chair of the Indian Affairs Committee and a   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10926) on Mongolia on Oct. 4, 2023, by Asian policy analyst Maria A. Blackwood. Here are excerpts: * * * Mongolia Overview Mongolia is a landlocked country that shares borders with two powerful neighbors, Russia and China. With a population of about 3.3 million and a land area slightly smaller than Alaska, Mongolia is the most sparsely inhabited country in the world. About half of the c  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee issued the following testimony by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg involving a hearing on Sept. 20, 2023, entitled "Oversight of the Department of Transportation's Policies and Programs": * * * Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, congratulations on taking up these well-deserved leadership roles since I last was before this committee. And before I start, I want to take a moment to send our most heartfelt con  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, issued the following statement: * * * Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chairman of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 336,000 in September and the unemployment rate stayed at 3.8%. The unemployment rate was 5.7% for Black workers, 4.6% for Hispanic worke  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola, D-Alaska, issued the following news release on Oct. 6, 2023: Today, Representative Peltola announced her plans to return to the nation's capital. The Representative has been spending time with family following the passing of her husband, Eugene "Buzzy" Peltola on September 12th. "The past few weeks have been some of the most difficult in my life," said Representative Peltola. "I am so thankful for the space that Alaskans have given me to celebra  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) released the following statement today regarding a devastating military vehicle accident that occurred near Salcha, Alaska on Monday which took the lives of two Ft. Wainwright soldiers and injured twelve others. "Julie and I are praying for the family members of the Ft. Wainwright-based soldiers who lost their lives yesterday in a tragic vehicle crash, as well as for the 1  more