U.S. Sen. Mark Begich today issued the following statement after the Army
Corps of Engineers issued a decision that will allow Coeur Alaska, Inc. to
proceed with the Kensington Mine project near Juneau.
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February 2, 2010
Washington D.C.
Confirmation Hearing of Larry Persily as Federal Pipeline Coordinator
Sen. Begich will introduce Mr. Persily to the Energy Committee
9:30 a.m. (EST)
Dirkson Senate Office Building Room 366
February 4, 2010
Washington D.C.
Constituent Coffee
Alaskans in D.C. visit
with Sen. Begich
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. (EST)
Location TBA
February 11, 2010
Washington D.C.
Constituent Coffee
Alaskans in D.C. visit
with Sen. Begich
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. (EST)
Location TBA
Washington, D.C. is especially busy this week focused on the economy and reducing the federal debt. President Obama presents his State of the Union address Wednesday where I expect to hear details on continued efforts to improve the economy, creating jobs for Americans, and a renewed commitment to get the nation’s debt and deficit under control. I was pleased to see the President announce his support for a bi-partisan fiscal task force. I am a co-sponsor of legislation sponsored by Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) to create an independent commission with the power to force Congress to vote on major deficit reduction steps this year.
I was pleased to spend more than a week in Alaska earlier this month to welcome two top federal officials to our state – Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and the Director of the Missile Defense Agency, Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly. Gen. O’Reilly gave an excellent update on the missile defense systems at Ft. Greely at a Commonwealth North luncheon. Secretary Locke issued a disaster declaration for Yukon River Chinook salmon fishery for 2008 and 2009. He also joined me in a meeting with Alaska business leaders to discuss expanded business opportunities, and we visited the Census office in Anchorage as part of the build-up to the Census 2010 launch which is today in Noorvik.
Sincerely,
Senator Mark Begich
Begich Votes to End TARP Program
Sen. Begich joined Republicans and Democrats last week in an effort to end the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Begich voted for an amendment from Sen. John Thune (R-SD) that would have barred the Treasury Department from releasing any remaining funds from the $700 billion bailout of banks, automakers and financial firms formulated under the Bush Administration. The amendment, which would have mandated all returned TARP funds be used to lower the national debt, ultimately failed. “It’s time to end the TARP bailout funds and focus on efforts to improve the
federal debt and reduce the need to increase the debt limit,” Begich said. “The original intent of TARP was to keep the financial markets from crashing and limit the impact on Americans’ pensions, savings and investments. Since that time, the economy has slowly started to turn around, markets are stable, and further TARP funding is unnecessary.”
Alaskans Dig Deep for Haiti Relief
Alaskans have joined millions across the country and around the world in supporting earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. Sen. Begich was a proud co-sponsor of legislation, signed by the President Friday, which allows those who give cash donations to earthquake relief efforts before March 1, to get a tax credit on their 2009 tax returns. Begich’s office helped get two Alaskans out of Haiti right after the earthquake. Christa and Julian Brelsford of Anchorage were doing volunteer work in Haiti at the time of the quake. Their father called Begich’s office right after it hit, asking for help. Daylong efforts by Begich staff resulted in an emergency evacuation out of the country for Christa, who needed immediate medical attention. The office also helped get Julian out of Haiti shortly after his sister left.
Census 2010 Underway in Alaska
The 2010 Census gets underway today in Noorvik. U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves, accompanied by Sen. Begich’s Rural Director Tiffany Zulkosky and others, will start the nation’s once a decade population headcount personally in the small village. Census takers are getting a head start in rural parts of Alaska before residents head out for hunting, fishing and other subsistence activities in the spring. Residents of Anchorage, Fairbanks and other larger Alaska cities will receive their 2010 Census questionnaires by mail in mid-March like the rest of the country.
Alaska a Great Place for Expanded Military Aviation Operations
With Alaska’s global strategic location and thousands of miles of uninterrupted airspace, the state is an excellent site to operate more unmanned aircraft. That’s one of the messages Senator Begich delivered to an estimated 300 top military leaders in Washington last week. Begich, the first Alaskan member of the Senate Armed Services Committee since 1968, said that as military and civilian activities increasingly conflict in the Lower 48, Alaska is a perfect place to conduct
additional military operations, including unmanned aircraft. Quoting Alaska Commander Gen. Dana Atkins, he said there is no other place in the world besides Alaska “where one can train in five domains – air, land, sea, space and cyber-space-completely unencumbered.” The senator also touted Alaska as a great site for aviation education, given the University of Alaska’s already excellent programs and Alaska having six times more pilots per capita than the rest of the country. Begich’s speech was the subject of a news story in Politico.
U.S. Sen. Mark Begich today announced Army Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Johnson has been selected to serve as a Military Fellow in Begich’s Washington, D.C. office during the calendar year 2010. With an extensive background in operations and Department of Defense research, LTC Johnson has top notch leadership skills and anti-terrorism experience.
Washington D.C. — U.S. Sens. Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski today announced that two high school students — Haley Nelson of Juneau and Anum Qadir of Anchorage — have been selected as delegates to the 48th Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) to be held March 6-13, 2010, in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Sen. Mark Begich today announced two community health centers in Alaska will receive nearly $6 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The money is part of a nationwide distribution of $600 million to support major construction and renovation projects at 85 community health centers and to also assist networks of health centers in adopting Electronic Health Records and other Health Information Technology systems.
In the continual effort to make health care and health insurance more affordable and accessible for Alaskans and other Americans, U.S. Sen. Mark Begich today joined a group of eleven freshmen Democrats introducing a package of amendments to the health care bill designed to lower costs and increase innovation.
Responding to a troubling report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Sen. Mark Begich is calling on Secretary of Veterans Affairs Erik Shinseki to immediately address reported deficiencies at the VA Regional Office in Anchorage.
December 21, 2009
Happy Holidays
As Alaskans celebrate the shortest day of the year today and the slow return of daylight, we are seeing light at the end of our health reform tunnel in Washington, D.C. As you know, we’ve been working day and night on moving this historic legislation forward. There truly are many items in the bill that will make health care and health insurance more accessible and more affordable for Alaskans and all Americans. I hope you will pay attention to the details as we move ahead. I am
proudly supporting a bill that I believe will save lives, save money, and save Medicare. Because this legislation is so historic, I am committing this entire newsletter to outlining some of the benefits you will see. There are many, and you can go to my website for more detail.
I also want to take a moment to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I wish you a safe and happy holiday with friends and family, and may 2010 bring peace, good health and happiness to all.
Sincerely,
Senator Mark Begich
Health Reform: Immediate Benefits for Alaska Families and Small Business
Ending Insurance Company Discrimination – In 2010, the bill provides affordable insurance choices for people who have been denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, and who have been uninsured for six months. The provision begins immediately for those who would otherwise not have coverage until the new health insurance marketplaces, or exchanges, are up and running.
Stopping Harmful Insurance Company Practices – Beginning in 2010, the bill makes it illegal for insurers to drop coverage when people get sick. Within six months of passage, the bill also will bar insurance companies from limiting total benefits Americans can use over their lifetimes or unreasonably restricting annual benefits.
Guaranteeing Family Coverage up to Age 26 – Within six months of enactment, the Senate reform bill requires insurance plans that cover dependents to provide benefits to children up to age 26.
Ensuring Seniors Have Access to Doctors – In 2010, Congress will work on a permanent fix to reimbursements for Medicare providers. By 2011, primary care practitioners in Medicare will get a 10 percent bonus. The bill also extends a Medicare program helping small rural hospitals provide vital services to their communities
Providing Small Business Tax Credits – Tax credits will be offered to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Credits of up to 50 percent of premiums will be available to firms offering coverage. Small businesses with 50 or fewer workers would be exempt from employer responsibility provisions.
Video: Health Reform in Alaska
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueuHwx2DKjU
On Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, Sen. Begich delivered a speech outlining what the proposed health reform bill would mean for Alaska.
Begich Proposals Added to Health Reform Bill
Key provisions drafted or co-sponsored by Sen. Begich focus on increasing the health care workforce; addressing Alaska’s Medicare problem; supporting hospitals and expanding health clinics; enhancing coverage options and affordability for small businesses; improving access to care for military veterans and Alaska Natives; and containing costs within the health delivery system. Specifics include:
More providers – A Begich amendment will increase loan repayments from $35,000 to $50,000 annually for National Health Service Corps provider across the country. The program serves Health Professional Shortage Areas, including 77 in Alaska. This and other provisions are expected to attract more than 24,000 new primary care providers to the workforce.
Hospitals – Another Begich amendment reauthorizes a Medicare project supporting hospitals in smaller communities and rural states. This allows facilities in Soldotna, Juneau and Sitka to offer needed services and treat more patients in their own communities.
Indian Health Service – The bill reauthorizes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act for the first time in 21 years – a major accomplishment pushed for by Begich and eight other senators. It also protects Alaska Natives from penalties for not acquiring insurance and expands coverage to other public programs.
Health Reform by the Numbers: Alaskans to See Many Benefits
Alaska families, businesses, seniors and individuals will see multiple benefits in the health reform legislation currently being discussed in Congress. Lost in much of the partisan debate and hype have been many of the significant improvements that will make health care more affordable and accessible for Alaskans.
Expanding health care coverage – Most of an estimated 133,000 Alaskans who do not currently have insurance, and 27,000 residents who now buy expensive individual premiums, could get affordable new coverage, through the new health insurance exchange and other provisions.
Providing affordability through tax relief – More than 52,000 Alaskans could qualify for tax credits to help them purchase health coverage. In Alaska, credits are available for single people earning up to $54,144 and for a family of four earning up to $110,304.
Covering more children – Under reform, enrollment in Alaska’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (under Denali KidCare) will nearly double to more than 15,000.
Ending the “hidden tax” on families – About $119 million is spent on uncompensated care in Alaska and passed on to insured families through a hidden tax averaging $1,900 per year. By expanding coverage to the uninsured, reform will help eliminate this burden.
Reducing prescription drug spending – About 10,600 Alaskans hit the “doughnut hole” in Medicare drug coverage, which can cost some seniors more than $4,000 per year. Reform will provide a 50 percent discount for brand-name drugs in this coverage gap.
Covering free preventive services – Currently seniors in Medicare pay part of the cost of preventive services. A seniors’ share of a colonoscopy can cost nearly $200 – a price that can be prohibitive for those on fixed budgets. Under reform, a senior will not pay anything for that service or for regular checkups or other preventive services.
U.S. Sen. Mark Begich today praised talks between the U.S. and Canadian governments aimed at advancing construction of an Alaska natural gas pipeline project. Energy experts from both nations met in Ottawa today to review world natural gas prices, regulatory processes by both countries affecting gasline construction and ways to push for construction of what would be North America’s largest private construction project.
U.S. Senator Mark Begich issued a statement today in response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s proposal to establish a critical habitat for Cook Inlet’s beluga whale population. Following this announcement, NOAA will hold a public meeting and accept comments on the proposed habitat for a period of 60 days. The proposed habitat consists of approximately a third of Cook Inlet.
U.S. Sen. Mark Begich issued the following statement in reaction to President Obama’s address to the nation this evening on his proposed new strategy for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan:
Recognizing the vital role the internet plays in educating youth, extending health care and growing small business, U.S. Sen. Mark Begich today announced $1.9 million in grants for broadband mapping and planning in Alaska. The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) funds, awarded in two grants to the Denali Commission, will assist the development of high speed internet access across
Alaska. The program is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) passed by Congress in February.
With the U.S. Senate expected to begin vigorous debate on health care legislation after the Thanksgiving holiday, Sen. Mark Begich is focused on several proposals to ensure Alaskans can get quality, affordable health care.
News from Senator Begich
November 23, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is upon us. This year has gone by so quickly. The Senate is geared up for good debate and discussion after the Thanksgiving holiday on the health care legislation currently on the Senate floor. This weekend’s cloture vote just moved it to the floor; it was not a vote on the overall legislation. You’ll see and hear in the coming days and weeks that I still have concerns about the legislation and will continue to talk to my colleagues and work on amendments that make health care more affordable and accessible for Alaskans and all Americans. We also celebrated Veterans Day earlier this month, and I was pleased to be able to
be in Alaska to attend events at home. The day after Veterans Day, President Obama made a brief refueling stop at Elmendorf Air Force Base and gave a great speech to the thousands of troops and families assembled about the importance of the military and his commitment to giving our service men and women what they need to be successful. I share the president’s commitment to that and will continue to work on legislation that helps our military, their families, and our veterans.
I’ll close with a sincere Happy Thanksgiving wish to you and yours. We all have much to be thankful for. Have a wonderful holiday.
Sincerely,
Senator Mark Begich
In an effort to move forward on landmark legislation to reform America’s health insurance industry and provide affordable, accessible insurance to Alaskans and all Americans, U.S. Sen. Mark Begich tonight voted in favor of moving the bill under consideration to the Senate floor. The cloture vote on the Patience Protection and Affordability Act is procedural and moves
the legislation to the floor so it can be debated, discussed and amended. It is not a vote on the final legislation.