eNews from Sen. Lisa Murkowski - Vol. 1, Issue 9

eNews from Sen. Lisa Murkowski - Vol. 1, Issue 9

WORKING RECESS IN ALASKA

Right now the Senate is in the middle of a Holiday recess and will resume its work in two weeks. Before we adjourn for the year, I hope that we will be able to conclude our efforts toward opening ANWR and resume discussion on reauthorization of the Patriot Act.

The House comes back into session next week and the Senate will return on Dec. 12. I'll send another update on what we have accomplished when we adjourn for the year. Until we come back into session, I'll be in Alaska traveling between Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley and Fairbanks. Below are some events that may be of interest.

FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE IN ALASKA -

On Dec. 6, I will chair a field hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to examine economic ties and opportunities
between the United States and Pacific Rim nations, with a focus on trade between Asia and Alaska. The hearing will take place at the Loussac Library Assembly Chambers in Anchorage at 1 pm. The hearing is open to the public and anyone with an interest in Alaska's economy is encouraged to attend.

PANCAKES and POLITICS -

On Dec. 8, I will speak at the Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce's Pancakes and Politics Forum. The event takes place at 8 am, at the North Slope Restaurant Banquet Room in Eagle River.

RESOURCE CONSERVATION and DEVELOPMENT -

On Dec. 8 at noon, I will speak at the 8th Annual Economic Development Conference in Wasilla. Sponsored by the Mat-Su Resource Conservation & Development Council, the conference brings local, state, and federal officials together to discuss responsible use of resources and economic expansion. The Conference will be held at Evangelo's meeting facility in Wasilla between 9 am and 4 pm.

IMPROVING TEACHER HOUSING

To help improve the quality of life for educators in rural Alaska, I recently introduced the Rural Teacher Housing Act of 2005 (S.1980). This bill is similar to legislation I introduced in 2003 and would use funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide good quality housing for teachers, administrators, and other school staff in rural areas of Alaska. School districts would be able to apply for grants and loans through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to either construct, rehabilitate, or purchase housing for educators.

Traveling throughout the State, I've seen many examples of educators in inadequate living situations, including teachers sleeping in school broom closets and on classroom floors because of a lack of available housing. In order to attract the best qualified teachers to our schools throughout the State, we must ensure that they will have good housing and a place to call their own outside of the classroom. The bill has been introduced and referred to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, of which I am a member. I look forward to working toward its passage next year.

WORLD AIDS DAY

Today, December 1, is World Aids Day, a day to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS and to recommit ourselves to fighting and preventing HIV/AIDS. Since 2003, we have spent nearly $7 billion to support treatment, prevention, and care programs and to support and strengthen the AIDS-fighting strategies of many nations. Additionally, the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill still being worked on in Congress contains $100 million for the Global Fund to fight AIDS. With more than 40 million people living with this disease, including more than one million Americans, we must continue our efforts to support those infected and prevent further infections.

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U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski :: eNews

HIGH HONORS

Congratulations to the Pratt Museum in Homer for being named one of three recipients of the 2005 National Award for Museum Service, the nation's highest honor for extraordinary community service provided by a museum. These national awards honor institutions for their outstanding social, educational, environmental or economic contributions to their respective communities and are given by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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