News from Senator Begich: January 25, 2010

Posted: January 26th, 2010 | Author: KSDP Public Affairs | Filed under: 2009

January 25, 2010 – Back to Work

Upcoming Events:

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.

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