News from Senator Begich; December 5, 2011: Stay Safe Spartans

Supporting nearly $400 million in new military facility investments in Alaska, the U.S. Senate passed an important piece of military funding legislation last week. The legislation secures a 1.6 percent pay raise for military members and supports the work of the nearly 9,000 Alaska-based troops serving in Afghanistan, as well as U.S. military around the globe. As a result of work by Sen. Begich, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Alaska’s military members and operations around the state will receive funding for a number of key projects, missions and programs including Fort Wainwright, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Eielson Air Force Base. For a full list of projects click here.

Sen. Begich applauded the Department of Interior (DOI) annoucement that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Environmental Protection Agency have reached an agreement in principle with ConocoPhillips regarding the company’s proposed Alpine Satellite Development Plan (CD-5) in the National Petroleum Reserve –Alaska (NPRA):

“This is a great way to ring in the holiday season at a time when Alaska’s oil and gas industry needs to hear some good news on the development front. “It’s been a long and sometimes frustrating process to get to this decision. I commend ConocoPhillips and the Interior Department for sticking with it. This foothold into the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska will bring new jobs and millions of barrels of oil to help fill the pipeline.”

Sen. Begich is fighting back against misguided attempts to end Alaska’s Bypass Mail Program which provides universal postal service to rural Alaska. The latest attempt came from the Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General which issued an under-researched report saying Alaskans should pay higher rates than the rest of the country to receive their mail. In a letter last week which stressed their support for the program, the Alaska Delegation pointed out several of the reports inaccuracies, including a claim that milk in Bethel costs less than milk in Anchorage.

In Washington, D.C., members of Congress from the Lower 48 don't understand the importance the post office plays in Alaska's villages and rural communities. To help show members of Congress how important the post office and mail service is to rural Alaska, Sen. Begich is asking Alaskans to send him photos of items they’ve received through the Bypass Mail Program that they “Can’t Live Without.” By collecting your photos Sen. Begich will show Congress that mail in rural Alaska isn’t just holiday gifts, it’s groceries, medicine, vehicle parts and items we “Can’t Live Without.”

As part of President Obama’s annual Tribal Nations Conference, Alaskan Teressa Baldwin of Kotzebue and Sitka, was named a “Champion of Change” by the President and his administration. She is known across Alaska for founding the anti-suicide organization Hope4Alaska. After her father committed suicide when she was five and her boyfriend took his own life last year, Teressa has overcome personal tragedy to build a positive message for young Alaskans. “A senior in high school, Teressa has transformed the tragedy in her own life into a positive message to be shared with other Alaskans. Her organization, Hope4Alaska, is a powerful tool in our collective fight against suicide, and provides countless young people with the power they need to help themselves and others,” Sen. Begich said. “All of Alaska’s elected officials, community leaders and youth advocates should join hands with Teressa and work together to fight one of Alaska’s most notorious problems.”