Lisa Murkowski

I am pleased to note the President's budget proposal emphasizes forest restoration.

I worry there's not going to be anything to transition to given what we have seen coming out of the Forest Service operations.

The timber industry can be sustainable but the funding required for Secure Rural Schools in the absence of timber harvesting simply is not sustainable.

I would also like to commend the President for a strong commitment to fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund in this budget.

I support fixing the Forest Service fire transfer problem which has placed enormous strain on its budget for more than a decade.

I would ask that you not forget the smaller communities where we see--we see an addiction and a devastation truly just taking our communities, just wiping them out.

I agree with you. We have got a lot of work to do, and I look forward to those conversations with you and your team.

I would like your commitment that you will work with me.

The public safety challenges that face Alaska Native villages run the gamut.

I want to point out the aspects of your budget that focus on tribal law enforcement.

I have committed to working with tribes in Alaska and advancing an effort to move contract support cost accounts into mandatory spending.

I think we have been doing the leg work on our end with the assumption that this report was required.

I am going to suggest that they consider new leadership. Because we just haven't seen the results and the partnership that we have been hoping for.

I will send that out to you and we would look forward to your response.

It was too long in coming, and I am glad that we are here.

I oppose this Administration's decision on ANWR. I oppose its decision offshore.

They walked away from the mess and the responsibility, and we have been trying now for decades to get them cleaned up.

The President has withdrawn over 22 million more acres of Alaska from energy production just in recent weeks.

The decisions from Interior have lacked balance and, instead of recognizing the many opportunities that Alaska has with regard to resource production, you have enabled an unprecedented attack on our ability to responsibly bring these…

The actions from this Administration seem destined to shut down our Trans-Alaska pipeline, weakening our economy.

It violates the Budget Control Act ignoring the statutory caps and proposing new spending as if we had already lifted sequestration.

Interior's decisions are hurting Alaskans. You are depriving us of jobs, revenues, security and prosperity.

I want to be very clear today that it is not just me banging the table. I do not think that I am overreacting. I think I am speaking clearly and articulating concerns expressed by most Alaskans.

I want to note we have a group of young Alaskans that are part of the Close Up Program that have been watching this.

I hope that this revolutionary approach pans out.