I think there is a good sense of hope for the future of tourism in our Native communities.

I think we recognize that we have seen an unprecedented amount of Federal funding that has been directed to provide assistance for our tribes, for our Native people.

Do you see, either through EDA, or the BIA grants that Mr. Rodman is speaking to, that these could be helpful within Native tourism?

One point three million tourists come to the State of Alaska on a cruise ship.

We have a lot more work to be doing with regards to that.

The State of Alaska did a survey that was released on Thursday that indicated that people are not looking to you all for guidance.

I just, at 11:30, got new information that the CDC's last traunch of guidance still requires additional guidance to be published.

Well, it was news to me to, again, just see that there is yet another thing that has come up just this morning, so I would ask you to take a look at that.

We are all tired with COVID. We are done with COVID. But, as many have said, COVID is not yet done with us.

Should I just tell folks back home do not even bother ramping up your seasonal operations because it is just not coming, we cannot get that guidance from the CDC?

One thing that happens too often in my State is that you have certain groups, outside groups, some of the more extreme environmental groups, that want to shut down economic opportunity in places like Alaska.

That really impacts the indigenous populations.

Yet, when you try to build a road anywhere in my State, you will get 20 lower 48 environmental groups to stop the building of a road.

my colleague Senator Murkowski did a good job of explaining some of the economic challenges--actually, the dramatic economic challenges--facing our State: small businesses, families, workers by the thousands who are really hurting right…

as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be discharged from further consideration of S. 593 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. I ask unanimous…

we talked a lot about the pandemic and all that it has brought. I would like to take just a few moments here, at the outset, before I ask for full consideration, to share with colleagues, very briefly, what we have faced in the State of…

to just wrap up this discussion, I really appreciate the comments from my colleague Senator Sullivan because I think you have really keyed in on where we are today. The Alaska Tourism Restoration Act is such a narrowly defined in scope…

We need you to be working with us on these PLOs, the withdrawal that, again, I think, was not only extraordinarily unfortunate and short-sighted when that decision was made just a couple months ago.