WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12006) on April 4, 2025, by natural resources policy specialist Laura B. Comay. Here are excerpts: * * * Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Status of Oil and Gas Program The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR, or the Refuge) comprises 19 million acres in northeast Alaska, administered primarily by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in the Department of the Interior (DOI). ANWR's Coas  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Bipartisan Senate Leaders Urge Reversal of Course on LIHEAP Staffing Cuts Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), and ten of their Senate colleagues who are LIHEAP champions sent a letter urging the Trump Administration to reverse course on the recent reported elimination of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) staff at  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Nicholas J. Begich III, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Nick Begich Co-Sponsors Bill to Expand Healthcare Options for Alaska's Veterans WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 31, 2025 - Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) announced his strong support for H.R. 740, the Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025, joining House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL) as a co-sponsor. This legislation strengthens the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP), e  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Nicholas J. Begich III, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Nick Begich Co-Sponsors Legislation to Establish a Secretary of the United States Coast Guard WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 3, 2025 - Today, Congressman Nick Begich (AK-R), announced his co-sponsorship of the Secretary of the Coast Guard Act of 2025, led by Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (MS-R). The legislation establishes a dedicated Secretar  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich, Murkowski Legislation to Promote Tribal Forest Management Passes Out of Committee WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, announced that their Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act passed out of the Sena  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Nicholas J. Begich III, R-Alaska, issued the following news release on April 2, 2025: * * * ICYMI: Congressman Nick Begich Joins House Republicans to Reinforce Maximum Pressure on Iran WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 2, 2025 - Yesterday, Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) joined fellow House Republicans for a press conference announcing a maximum pressure initiative to hold Iran fully accountable for their continued state-lead sponsoring of regional and global terrorism. The   more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, issued the following news: * * * Jayapal Statement on the Closure of Seattle's Department of Health and Human Services Office SEATTLE, WA - U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement regarding information that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be closing its Seattle field office, resulting in the termination of hundreds of employees. "The HHS Region 10 Seattle Field Office   more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Murkowski Secures Commitments from Key Interior and Energy Nominees Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), former Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR), this week secured important commitments for Alaska from Deputy Secretary of Interior nominee Katharine MacGregor and Deputy Secretary of Energy nominee James Danly. Both committed to assist the Alaska Congression  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Murkowski, Colleagues Lead Bipartisan Push to Support Survivors Of Military Sexual Trauma Washington, D.C. - This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve military sexual trauma (MST)   more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Murkowski, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Bolster Commercial Fishing Industry Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), introduced legislation vital to the fishing industry, the economy, and the food supply chain. The Save Our Seafood (SOS) Act would exempt fish processors from the H-2B visa caps in order to help the seafood industry meet workforce demands.   more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, vice chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on April 3, 2025: * * * Murkowski, Schatz Lead Oversight Hearing On Federal Programs That Support Native American Students At The Department Of Education WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Vice Chairman of the Committee, led an oversight hearing en  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairwoman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * MURKOWSKI, SCHATZ LEAD OVERSIGHT HEARING ON FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Vice Chairman of the Committee, led an oversight hearing entitled "Native American Educ  more

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairwoman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on April 4, 2025: * * * MURKOWSKI: NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATION PROGRAMS MUST REMAIN A FEDERAL PRIORITY U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led an oversight hearing entitled "Native American Education - Examining Federal Programs at the U.S. Department of Education." "We have spent a lot of time in Comm  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Pingree, Blumenthal, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Push to Support Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are teaming up to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to help survivors of military sex  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, vice chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Schatz Leads Bipartisan Senate Resolution Recognizing Significant Contributions Of Native Women, Including 6 Native Hawaiians WASHINGTON - In celebration of Women's History Month, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, led  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, vice chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on April 2, 2025: * * * Senate Passes Schatz, Murkowski Resolution Recognizing Native Women's Achievements and Contributions WASHINGTON - As part of Women's History Month, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution led by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI),  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * Sullivan, Graham, and Blumenthal Introduce Hard-Hitting Russia Sanctions WASHINGTON -U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) this week introduced legislation with primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and global actors supporting Russia's aggression in Ukraine. ~~ ~~ These sanctions wo  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * Trump, Musk Shutter HHS Pacific Northwest Regional Office Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement after the Trump administration closed the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Region 10 office in Seattle that covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. "HHS regional staff in Seattle work with our communities to help promote public health, get W  more