Peter Granitz, NPR- Washington DC
pgranitz (at) alaskapublic (dot) org | 202.488.1961 | About Peter
Officials Seek Help Remediating NPR-A Wells
Officials from the State of Alaska urged a U.S. Senate panel today for help in remediating wells in the National Petroleum Reserve. The hearing illustrated a deep divide between a state and federal agency.
U.S. House Repeals Health Care Overhaul
The U.S. House of Representatives just voted to repeal President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul. Representative Don Young joined his entire party in the vote.
Environmental Groups Say Shell’s Spill Response Plan is Inadequate
Environmental groups are suing the federal government, arguing that Shell Oil does not have an adequate plan to deal with a spill. The coalition says the goal is not to delay drilling this summer.
Transportation Bill Would Give Alaska Railroad $31 Million
Congress is set to vote on a transportation bill by the end of the week. The plan will fund construction projects for the next two years, and both parties are touting it as a major jobs package.
Murkowski, Begich Split On Health Care Decision
Alaska’s members of Congress are reacting with mixed emotions to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the health care overhaul bill. The break down is along expected political lines.
Begich Applauds Health Care Act Benefits For Alaska
U.S. Senator Mark Begich is applauding the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the key element of President Barack Obama’s signature health care overhaul. Begich says the bill maintains several elements that, he says, will benefit Alaska – like a permanent authorization for the Indian Health Services.
Congress Debates Mount McKinley Name Change
The National Park Service does not object to renaming the continent’s largest peak Mount Denali, though it’s stopping short of recommending the name change. In a Senate subcommittee hearing on the National Parks today, Senator...
Department of Interior Announces Arctic Lease Schedule
The U.S. Department of Interior will release its five year leasing plan for off-shore drilling later this week. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said it’s “highly likely” Shell will receive permits to launch exploratory wells this summer.
Senate Passes Farm Bill With Minor Cuts to Food Stamps
The United States Senate passed a massive Farm Bill Thursday afternoon. The five year plan cuts long-sacrosanct direct payments to farmers and ends other subsidies, but it largely maintains billions of dollars for food stamps.
US House Passes Sealaska Lands Bill
The U.S. House passed a bill today ceding tens of thousands of acres of the Tongass National Forest to the Sealaska Native Corporation. Representative Don Young was the chief sponsor of the Sealaska bill.
Lawmakers Back in Washington, DC
Lawmakers in Washington, DC are back at the Capitol for the long-grind before the campaign completely takes over later this fall. They’re facing a number of tight deadlines and a less-than-forgiving schedule. APRN’s Washington correspondent Peter Granitz is looking into that schedule.
Bill Would Force Annual Lease Sale In NPR-A
House Republicans are introducing a bill that would force the Secretary of the Interior to hold an annual lease sale for oil and gas drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve. It’s part of a politically-tinged energy package.
EPA Holding Bristol Bay Watershed Draft Assessment Public Comment Hearings
The EPA is holding a public comment hearing on its draft assessment of the Bristol Bay watershed until 9:00 p.m. Monday night in Anchorage. There will be more hearings around the state on the assessment later this week. Advocates for and against the proposed Pebble Mine are reacting to the assessment with differing and predictable points of view.
Congress Faces Full Plate After Holiday Recess
The U.S. House and Senate are out of session at the moment, but when the two chambers return from the Memorial Day recess, they’ll have a full plate. July is usually reserved for appropriations - the giant bills that fund all the different agencies of the government. Congress has been writing and marking up all sorts of appropriations bills, and getting them ready for up or down votes come summertime.
Stevens Prosecutors Suspended Without Pay
Two prosecutors in the bungled corruption case of former Senator Ted Stevens have been ordered suspended without pay. The suspension comes as part of a new report on the trial. This is the harshest punishment to date.
Committee To Address Law of the Sea Treaty This Year
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry announced at a hearing Tuesday he will bring up the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea treaty this year. Both of Alaska’s Senators strongly support treaty ratification But Kerry will wait until after the November election to bring it to a vote.
Air Force To Release Report On Eielson F-16 Move
The Air Force is set to release a report by May 31 on relocating the F-16 squadron from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The state’s Congressional delegation is pulling out the stops to block the move.
Defense Authorization Facing Presidential Veto
Representative Don Young voted to increase Pentagon spending on Friday. Defense authorization is facing a veto from the president.
Federal Government Unprepared To Deal With Tsunami Debris
The federal government is woefully unprepared for the tsunami debris washing ashore. Government officials testified on Capitol Hill on Thursday, and complained their agencies are underfunded, under-staffed and haven’t done nearly enough research.
Activists Protest Arctic Ocean Exploratory Wells
Activists in Washington, D.C. are urging President Barack Obama to stop Shell Oil from drilling exploratory wells in the Arctic Ocean this summer. They organized a small protest at the White House Tuesday.