Lisa Murkowski

Thank you for the opportunity to review the budget that is before us today, the President's proposed budget, pretty stunning increase actually, $2.5 billion increase for this subcommittee's programs.

I respect that. I know that Alaskans are looking forward to your promised visit later this summer...

We expect you to follow the law and the law mandates an oil and gas leasing program.

We promised we were going to give you the lands that were part of the Native Claims Settlement Act. We give you lands that are so contaminated you cannot use them. It is absolutely a travesty.

I do believe that that's pretty clear.

I will bring my own water bottle. It is one of my favorites. And we will lead by example.

This is a big, big, big issue for us.

So this is--this is important. So let us keep working on this.

The Targeted Airshed Grant Program has been really helpful for them. So I am pleased that we were able to secure a $14.7 million grant Fairbanks North Star Borough to take actions like woodstove change out.

I think that this is--this is an area that is so often overlooked, or to use your term, a wish recycling, and I think we need to be honest.

We can't get rid of the contaminated materials.

Well, I appreciate that my time has expired, Mr. Chairman. But again, what I am hearing from folks back home is when are they going to be listing this?

Well, if we can just keep really close on this because, again, people want to make the investments.

This is an injustice that most Americans would say: I cannot believe that this is happening.

I am very concerned about the implications for health, and what we are doing.

It is critical that remote and rural communities are able to easily access funding, which is a challenge many such communities face.

I have worked hard to provide increases to the many EPA programs that achieve the real substantive results in attaining cleaner air, water, and lands for the people of Alaska, and across this great country.

I have described the Obama administration's approach to WOTUSs as a showstopper, certainly negative consequences to Alaska.

I will say that I am disappointed to see that the Alaska Native Villages Program and the targeted Airshed Program are held flat in a request that does include so many increases.

I appreciate that, and the fact that you are going out, whether it is to North Dakota, or other places, you are holding listening sessions.

This budget request and the American Jobs Plan are both proposals as of now, and of course Congress will ultimately decide the fate of both.

You made an early commitment to work with me on a number of issues that uniquely affect my State, that are important to Alaska.

We have no place to dispose of hazardous materials.

But they also want to know that--that the wood stoves that they are purchasing are actually going to be in compliance.

I was in North Dakota last week discussing this very rule.