Lisa Murkowski

I just wanted to add to what Senator Lujan raised about the Office of Tribal Affairs.

But you are not ruling it out?

Do you agree that IHS has the authority to fund the operation and maintenance costs for sanitation systems?

I think it highlights why it is so important that we go through the level of curing that we do just prior to moving an application forward.

There was an additional $2 billion to the Tribal Broadband Program in the Bipartisan Bill, but that grant funding is still oversubscribed.

I spent a lot of time last year working to advance this to make sure that we were able to get it over the finish line.

Successful implementation is going to require interagency coordination, robust tribal consultation, and intergovernmental collaboration at all levels.

We need to prioritize the needs of our Native communities in the implementation of this act.

If there is not a legislative fix on program support, are there options that you are considering to ensure these projects can be completed in a timely manner?

Now that the infrastructure law has provided full funding for all of the sanitation projects within the IHS sanitation deficiency system database, would IHS be supportive of using part of its annual sanitation facilities construction…

You have record inflation going on, you have proposals that were submitted last summer, and they will be awarded later this summer.

The first theme is optimism about the unprecedented level of funding. But the second theme is concern about missing out on this once in a generation opportunity.

We need to be doing more in the broadband space, and we need to make sure that we have these tribal set-asides.

I was also pleased to hear Congresswoman Murkowski advocating for IHS to receive a permanent director capable of submitting this budget proposal.

I can say with real certainty that was not the case.

I think that this has been one of those areas where we do have bipartisan support.

Our national security interests require that we increase our domestic supply of these resources, including from our offshore areas.

I want to thank the Administrator for being here this morning, for the engagement that you have had with each of us on issues.

This is an issue where you have a real genuine, committed effort by those in the community to address a problem.

We have got to start making meaningful impact on PFAS contamination while we wait for Federal standards.

We have challenges in Alaska with recycling efforts, just limited capacity.

I strongly support it, but that can occur even as Access Project continues.

Alaska is willing, and able, and ready to increase our Nation's and our allies energy security.

Alaska stands ready, willing, and certainly able to be a big part of that solution, all while we insist on meeting the highest environmental standards in the world.

I firmly believe that we need to have a realistic plan for the future of our energy supply.