Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Senate Appropriation Committee and Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, announced investments for Sitka on the six-bill Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations package. The bill passed the Senate in a bipartisan 78-22 vote.
“After months of unnecessary delay, Congress has finally taken a big step by passing six of our 12 appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2024 on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis. Considering the vast size of our state and limited infrastructure, the significant investments I have included in these measures are well-justified and much-needed,” Murkowski said. “From programmatic wins to congressionally directed spending projects, the funding I have secured is the direct result of working together with Alaskans from across the state to address the needs of their communities. This package invests in our military while enabling us respond to workforce shortages, food insecurity, clean drinking water needs, the housing crunch, the high cost of energy, crises in our fisheries, and more.”
“The effects of the housing shortage have been seen across the state, but nowhere are the impacts felt more acutely than in Sitka. Securing over $2 million for the Sitka Community Development Corporation to build a new apartment complex will offer new home ownership opportunities for first time buyers, with the Trust’s model of ownership preserving that affordability permanently. Thanks to the partnership of the city and the borough, we are looking at a new neighborhood of fourteen homes plus apartment units.”
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Alaskans have expressed their appreciation for Senator Murkowski’s work to deliver these strategically targeted investments.
“The Sitka Community Land Trust is deeply grateful for the funding which Senator Murkowski has secured for an apartment building in Sitka,” said Randy Hughey, Sitka Community Land Trust. “This CDS will enable the work of this non-profit to continue for years. This helps Sitka a great deal!”
“Senator Murkowski’s support for the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association’s Boat Energy Transition Accelerator (ALFA BETA) Feasibility Study is a huge step toward lowering energy costs in Alaska’s seafood industry and reducing our fleet's carbon footprint,” said Linda Behnken, Executive Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association. “With Senator Murkowski’s leadership, our fishing communities will drive the transition to locally-generated and renewable energy. We are tremendously grateful for Senator Murkowski relentless advocacy for Alaska’s fisheries.”
FY24 Six-Bill Appropriations Package Highlights for Sitka:
Expanding Housing, Childcare, and Community Development Access
Murkowski listened to the needs of Alaskans and worked to bring home funding for housing and childcare facilities in the state. She also focused on protecting Alaska’s diverse history and landmarks—from the Iditarod Trail to Native languages, Murkowski is working to ensure future generations have access to our state’s rich history.
· Statewide: $3.3 million for the Alaska Department of Public Safety to establish rural public safety housing.
· Sitka: $2.17 million for the Sitka Community Development Corporation to build an apartment complex.
Cleaner and More Affordable Energy
As a leading voice on energy, Murkowski continues to provide crucial support to advance Alaska projects and make our state’s energy cleaner and more affordable. In this package she provided support for tidal energy projects, secured funding for critical mineral activities, and provided for the Arctic Energy Office to support projects in rural communities and throughout the Arctic.
· Sitka: $514,000 for the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association to research and identify decarbonization and clean energy transition options for vessel owners and shoreside businesses.
Strengthening Alaska Fisheries and Oceans Research
Alaska’s oceans and fisheries are the heartbeat of communities across the state—and that’s why Murkowski worked hard to include provisions throughout the appropriations package that will strengthen our blue economy, support coastal communities, promote electronic monitoring development and installation, and enhance research abilities to create healthier fisheries.
Murkowski helped secure more than $205 million for Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys, and Assessments; $44 million for Regional Fishery Management Councils and Fisheries Commissions; and $65 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund.
She also secured the following CDS requests to strengthen Alaska’s fisheries and oceans research abilities:
· Statewide: $2.01 million for the Marine Exchange of Alaska to create a user guide to keep ships sailing safely in the Arctic.
· Statewide: $1.2 million for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to fund coastal marine surveys that support sustainable salmon management in the northern Bering Sea, southern Bering Sea, and western Gulf of Alaska.
· Statewide: $2.5 million for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to better equip their research vessels with necessary technology and upgrades.
· Statewide: $4 million for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to fund juvenile Pacific salmon research.
· Statewide: $2 million for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for research and equipment related to Alaska critical salmon stocks.
· Statewide: $2.8 million for the University of Alaska System to research the impacts of environmental stressors on freshwater and marine aquatic life in Alaska.
Fighting Illegal Drug Use
As illegal drugs devastate families and communities throughout Alaska, Murkowski continues to fight for drug prevention efforts and support for those impacted by this terrible scourge. In addition to the recently enacted FEND Off Fentanyl Act, she has supported the Community Based Coalition Enhancement Grant Program, which will encourage community-led coalitions to raise awareness of fentanyl and prevent drug overdose deaths caused by the drug.
· Statewide: Murkowski continues to support the Drug Free Communities program and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program.
· Statewide: Murkowski has pushed to ensure that medication assisted treatment is available and accessible to individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). The bill includes language to permanently require state Medicaid plans to cover medication-assisted treatment, and to allow treatment of SUD at institutions
Supporting Victim Services, Public Safety and Services Efforts, and Vulnerable Populations
Murkowski continues to focus on preventing domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska and providing critical services for victims. From funding the Sexual Assault Services Program at $80 million, to advocating for increases to the Services for Rural Victims program—she is working to provide significant support for Alaskans who are at risk or in need. Murkowski is also dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault while investing in projects that work to stop the violence from occurring in the first place.
· Statewide: $4 million for the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to support victim services organizations.
Ensuring Access to Quality Health Care
Murkowski continues to fight for funding to increase access to health care. She has continued to support additional funding for the Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps, programs that provide critical care to Alaskans throughout the state.
This appropriation’s package also includes a boost in Medicare pay for doctors to address the additional strain that physicians saw when physician reimbursement was cut on January 1, ensuring our providers receive adequate reimbursement and that our Seniors continue to have access to their providers. Community Health Centers were reauthorized through 2024, with a much needed increase of $270 million in annual funding.
Bolstering Food Security
Murkowski worked with her colleagues to ensure support for Alaska’s farmers and help them increase food security. Some of her top priorities were ensuring programmatic funding for essential programs for Alaska’s food security, including an increase for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Additional programmatic wins include increasing for the Summer Food Service Program, enabling children in low-income families to receive the nutrition they need when schools are closed.
Background:
H.R. 4366 includes the annual funding bills from the Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
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For further information, please contact Senator Murkowski’s press office at 202-224-9301 or 202-224-8069. Visit our website at http://murkowski.senate.gov