
Lisa Murkowski
73:39 - 74:50
"what I would like is your commitment to work with this committee as well as those of us on the Interior Appropriations Committee and our tribal leaders to really figure out how we are addressing the many issues that are in front of us with contract support costs and 105L."
“what I would like is your commitment to work with this committee as well as those of us on the Interior Appropriations Committee and our tribal leaders to really figure out how we are addressing the many issues that are in front of us with contract support costs and 105L.”
Thank you, Senator. Mr. Cruz, you and I had an opportunity to speak a little bit about 105L lease payments and the concern that I expressed that it's this balance we've got to continue supporting tribal self-determination while we also address the funding pressures that are associated with both contract support costs and 105L. And I don't expect you to, in 1 minute or less, be able to solve the problem, but I do recognize that you have— you have some history and some background in this, in your experience at both Interior and HHS. And so what I would like is your commitment to work with this committee as well as those of us on the Interior Appropriations Committee and our tribal leaders to really figure out how we are addressing the many issues that are in front of us with contract support costs and 105L. Yeah, absolutely, Chair.
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a confirmation hearing Wednesday for Mark Cruz, a Klamath Tribes citizen nominated as the 12th IHS Director, with Chair Murkowski signaling early support and pressing Alaska-specific priorities including sanitation, self-governance, and contract support costs.
