Lisa Murkowski

I have appreciated how you and I have been able to work on the committee under your leadership, and I thank you for that.

I raised with you a number of recent actions that the administration has taken of late that either has or has the potential to do enormous damage to my State.

I do not see how making it more expensive and difficult to do business on public lands is good, sound policy.

I would like to welcome everyone to the first hearing of our Interior Appropriations Subcommittee.

I do think that demonstrates wishful thinking and not the governance we need with this budget.

I mention to my colleagues here at the committee these issues again so that you are aware that these are priorities not just for me but priorities for Americans that live in perhaps some very unique and different situations.

I feel pretty strongly that we need to get back to regular order.

I thank you for your engagement and your work as we move forward with the committee.

Thank you Chairwoman Murkowski and Ranking Member Udall and the entire subcommittee for the opportunity to submit testimony.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony regarding the fiscal year 2016 funding level for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

I urge Congress to provide $155 million for NEA in the fiscal year 2016 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

We urge you to support $1.6 billion for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in fiscal year 2016

We ask the United States to step up and honor the agreements and treaties between our great Nations and protect the funding of Native American programs.

I sincerely hope that you and the subcommittee will consider our request to provide funding of the American Battlefield Protection Program's land acquisition grants program at its authorized level of $10 million.

Chairwoman Murkowski, Ranking Member Udall, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony.

When she is in rural Alaska she hears as much or more about this issue than any other.

I commend the President for advocating a switch to mandatory funding of LWCF.

I am a cosponsor of legislation to permanently reauthorize LWCF and expect Congress will address this reauthorization effort.

I believe, pretty strongly, that we need to have a renewable energy plan in the amendment to the Tongass plan.

The Forest Service has broken the federal government's promise to actively manage our National Forests.

I also support provisions in this budget that would increase the land management activities that reduce fire risk, improve water quantity and quality and enhance carbon sequestration.

Recreation and tourism are not substitutes for responsible resource development on federal lands.

I also appreciate the way the Administration has viewed timber harvesting as a means of restoration.

I believe the President's budget is a strong proposal that will enable the Forest Service to fulfill its motto of, 'caring for the land and serving the people.'

That is not something that is right, and it is not something I can tolerate.