Press Releases
Currently showing results in the 115th Congress
Sullivan Chairs Hearing on Marine Debris Crisis
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) on Tuesday chaired a hearing of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard regarding the global marine debris crisis affecting many coastal communities and ecosystems, including in Alaska. Among the witnesses testifying at the hearing were David Balton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and Fisheries, and Nancy Wallace, Director of the Marine Debris Program for the National Oceanic and Atmosphe… Continue Reading
07.27.17
Sullivan Applauds Additional Sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today after voting in support of H.R. 3364, the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 98-2. "With passage of this legislation, the United States Congress today sent a clear message to Iran, Russia and North Korea that we will not tolerate aggressive behavior around the world," said Senator Sullivan. "Whet… Continue Reading
07.25.17
Sullivan Keeps Promise, Votes to Debate ObamaCare Fix
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement today after voting to proceed to consideration of healthcare reform legislation. "I'm heartened that my colleagues in the Senate kept their promises to their constituents to begin the process to repeal and repair the Affordable Care Act. Now, the Senate will start an open amendment process that will begin to consider various solutions to address the harm being done by this act. "Since December, I have met with … Continue Reading
07.21.17
Sullivan Introduces Comprehensive G.I. Bill Reforms
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, this week co-introduced the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 with Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Jon Tester (D-MT), the chairman and ranking member of the committee. The legislation would enhance the post-9/11 G.I. Bill and improve veterans' benefits, most notably eliminating the 15-year expiration date for veterans to use their G.I. benefits. "The G.I. Bill has… Continue Reading
07.20.17
Murkowski, Sullivan Commend House Passage of King Cove Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 218, legislation to authorize a land exchange needed to construct a short road between the isolated communities of King Cove and Cold Bay, Alaska. H.R. 218 was introduced and championed by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, and passed the House with bipartisan support from 248 members. "I commend Congressman Young for his leadership and … Continue Reading
07.20.17
Sullivan Congratulates Balash on Interior Nomination
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today congratulated Joe Balash, the senator's chief of staff, on his nomination by President Trump to become Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Mineral Management. "While I'm sad to see Joe leave the Senate, his departure is a big gain for Secretary Zinke, the Department of Interior, the United States and Alaska," said Senator Sullivan. "His wealth of knowledge and passion for Alaska - and more broadly, federal land issues - cannot… Continue Reading
07.14.17
Sullivan Honors Alaskan of the Week: Gene Zerkel
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) spoke yesterday on the Senate floor in recognition of Gene Zerkel, of Anchorage, a legend of Alaska's aviation industry who sadly passed away last week. Zerkel was recognized as part of Senator Sullivan's series, "Alaskan of the Week." The following is the statement submitted to the Congressional Record: TRIBUTE TO GENE ZERKEL Mr. President, as you know, for months now, I have been coming to the floor to recognize a special Alaskan, some… Continue Reading
07.12.17
Sullivan Lauds Committee Passage of BUILD Act
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, thanked his colleagues for passing S. 822, the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development (BUILD) Act of 2017, out of committee today. The BUILD Act includes an amendment, co-sponsored by Senator Sullivan, that would protect Alaska Native Villages and Corporations from liability for the clean-up of contaminated lands conveyed to them under the Alaska Native Claims Set… Continue Reading
07.11.17
Sullivan Applauds State Innovation Waiver for Alaska
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today commended the Trump Administration - including Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Seema Verma - for working with the State of Alaska to grant a State Innovation Waiver under Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act. The state applied for the waiver following legislation signed by Governor Bill Walker last year which appropriated $55 million to the Alaska Reinsuran… Continue Reading
07.11.17
Sullivan Leads Effort to Postpone August Recess
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), David Perdue (R-GA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Luther Strange (R-AL), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) released the following statement regarding Majority Leader McConnell's decision today to cancel the first two weeks of the Senate's scheduled August state work period. "We are glad leadership took our concerns into consideration. It is time to get results f… Continue Reading
07.11.17
Sullivan Lauds Successful THAAD Missile Defense Test on Kodiak
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today commended the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the Ballistic Missile Defense Operational Test Agency, and U.S. Army soldiers of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade from Fort Bliss on the successful test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system at the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island. "Last night's successful THAAD test provided further confirmation t… Continue Reading
07.07.17
Sullivan Supports FAA Reauthorization Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, last week joined his colleagues in advancing the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) out of committee. The legislation, which reauthorizes the FAA through 2021, contains several key provisions secured by Senator Sullivan that are important to Alaska. "Alaska is an aviation state, home to more than 250 communities exclusively accessed by air, and … Continue Reading
07.07.17
Sullivan, Tester Introduce Serving Our Rural Veterans Act
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Jon Tester (D-MT), members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, recently introduced the Serving Our Rural Veterans Act of 2017, legislation that would authorize a new Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to have medical students conduct their residencies with the VA at tribal healthcare facilities in rural communities. "Veterans living in rural communities, far from population centers, face unique challenges accessing th… Continue Reading
06.30.17
Sullivan Honors Alaskan of the Week: Solomon Atkinson
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) spoke yesterday on the Senate floor in recognition of Solomon "Sol" Atkinson, of Metlakatla, an extraordinary Alaskan who served as one of the first ever U.S. Navy SEALs. Atkinson was recognized as part of Senator Sullivan's series, "Alaskan of the Week." The following is the statement submitted to the Congressional Record: TRIBUTE TO SOLOMON ATKINSON Mr. President, every week I have been coming down to the floor of the Senate to talk ab… Continue Reading
06.30.17
Murkowski and Sullivan Introduce Package of Bills to Improve the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, this week introduced a total of 15 bills to improve the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and ensure that it continues to serve Alaska Native residents, tribes, and corporations. "ANCSA was intended to be a living measure that would change as the needs of Alaska Natives changed," Murkowski said. "Over the years, Congress has amended the Act more than 40 times, and this package contains the latest series of … Continue Reading
06.30.17
Group Of Senators Call For Cancellation Of August Recess
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan was joined by Senators David Perdue (R-GA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Luther Strange (R-AL) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), in asking Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to cancel the Senate's scheduled August state work period if meaningful progress has not been made on the following five priorities: fixing health care, funding the government, dealing with the debt ceili… Continue Reading
06.30.17
Sullivan, Van Hollen Convene Senate Foreign Service Caucus
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) this week were joined by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon for the inaugural meeting of the Senate Foreign Service Caucus. Other members attending the meeting included Senators Hatch (R-UT), Murphy (D-CT), Risch (R-ID), and Cortez-Masto (D-NV). "Having worked with many foreign service officers over the years, I know they are every bit as patriotic and service-oriented as members of our m… Continue Reading
06.29.17
Sullivan’s Missile Defense, Alaska Priorities Included in FY18 Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, the Senate Armed Services Committee, with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan's (R-AK) support, unanimously passed out of committee legislation to authorize $640 billion in critical defense spending for Fiscal Year 2018. "In an increasingly dangerous world, this year's NDAA begins the important process of rebuilding our military so that our service members have the tools and resources they need to protect America and our interests around the globe," said Senator Sullivan. "Fro… Continue Reading
06.29.17
Sullivan Secures Authorization of Six New Polar Icebreakers in Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, the Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously passed out of committee the FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a provision authored by U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) to authorize the procurement of up to six U.S. Coast Guard polar-class icebreakers. "The United States continues to be late to the game in the Arctic, as evidenced most clearly by our meager existing fleet of Coast Guard icebreakers capable of operating in this important … Continue Reading
06.28.17
VA Appeals Modernization Bill Advances to Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, applauded the unanimous passage of S. 1024, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, out of committee today. "One of the most serious failings of the VA system in recent years has been the unconscionable backlog of disability claims," said Senator Sullivan. "Each of those unanswered appeals is a veteran awaiting a decision the VA owes them. With more than 470,000 veterans waiti… Continue Reading