Mark Begich

Yes, junk bond status.

Businesses are investing.

It is essential that in putting the unnecessary crisis behind us we do not put our heads in the sand and ignore the effects of the shutdown on people's lives.

It is outrageous and unacceptable that Congress' dysfunction jeopardized the hard-earned pay and benefits of the men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our country.

That is real money out of the pockets of Alaska fishermen.

Veterans were turned away when attempting to file medical claims.

I rise as well to thank the senior Senator from Washington for her insight and to echo the comments from my colleagues, especially my good friend from Alaska. The not-for-profit student loan servicer in my State, the Alaska Student Loan…

Let me ask you the issue we briefly talked about yesterday, but you mentioned close to your closing there, on the U.S. weather research program.

I think of Georgetown, Minnesota, which is threatened every time the Red River rises and the Buffalo River overflows.

Let me ask you another issue, on the Arctic operations.

What a better day to have on weather, to talk about it, where Alaska is warmer and the rest of the country is colder.

I strongly support a renewed emphasis on ensuring the necessary management policies and resources are directed toward improving our ability to forecast and warn in advance of severe weather events.

I do want to say at least in the Alaska region things are improving and we want to recognize that and give you credit for that.

It does take dedication and time away from your family, and the hours will be longer than you probably expected or whatever they told it would be.

But it is a government-to-government relationship.

That is the fundamental issue here, it is a government-to-government relationship.

But it is a percentage?

But the challenge is, we took their land. So they are trying to get their land back.

But one city doesn't regulate another city.

I also want to say that I am anxious to see what the House does and produces.

I can't think of one project that just kind of like planted themselves down in our community ... and just suddenly, they are in business.

We have to fix that.

We are one of those 15 cases, I think you said 15 different cases. We are one of them.

I don't want to have anything in this legislation that changes the way Alaska has been operating.

I think this is very telling of what we should be doing.